Monday, July 04, 2005

Oil 'will hit $100 by winter'

Now aren't you glad you weren't one of those suckered into buying one of their gas-guzzling SUVs!

Pity that poor beast manunleashed! The non-prescient among us went out in droves to buy huge gas-guzzlers, and now their consumptive ways have, perhaps, caused the crisis we are about to witness.

Won't get fooled again?

Yeah, right!

Sunday, July 03, 2005

Which spice is best? Salt, pepper, mustard or ketchup?

I like all four spices. I've even heard there was another one out there somewhere...probably in China or something. But I am glad we have four spices in this country. A hotdog with pepper and salt would not be right. And ketchup on eggs, although done, is really not right.

Since Charlotte is the ketchup-consumption capital of America, I should loyally eat it at every occasion, but I do not. In fact I am almost sick of ketchup. Sorta like Oskar Matsarath getting sick of fish in "The Tin Drum".

From archaeoethnobotany, we learn that salt has caused the death of more civilizations than all wars combined. And yet, I still like it. It makes things taste salty.

And Dr. Lendon Smith said we should never eat black pepper, but alas, he died.

And mustard is in the Bible, so we have to eat it.

In conclusion, and in order the create that final paragraph that should be edited out, I want to say that four spices are good. We don't need any more, and if anyone tries to invent new ones, tell them to go to Heck.

END OF DISSERTATION

Recent News & Opinion

Jimmy Breslin asks: If George W. Bush wants young people to get into this war so much, why doesn't he send his two daughters over to Iraq and fight for their country? (GreatWhiteBear)

How the Mighty Have Fallen: Ralph Reed, the former Golden Boy of the Christian Coalition, and George Bush’s longtime political adviser, is under investigation in Washington and taking fire at home. (Bill Berkowitz )

Afghanistan was held up as an example of U.S.-led nation-building just three months ago. But that optimism has succumbed to near-daily ambushes, bombings, execution-style killings and this week's downing of a U.S. military helicopter.

When you don’t like the facts - just change them
The White House’s White-Out Problem
The Bush administration has gotten into the nasty habit of doctoring its reports whenever the facts don’t match its preconceived agenda. Here are some instances of the White House’s magic pen at work: (From In These Times' blog)

How to predict the end of the Iraq War

A few easy steps

Rove does the Perpwalk

Picture

President Kong

Cartoon by Mike Luckovich

Another take on the War Speech...

Project for the OLD American Century

liberal news from unbiased sources

Saturday, July 02, 2005

Arnold to Bush FACE IT!

BreakingNews.ie: Arnie tells Bush to face up to global warming

Rock and Roll & the Internet Make Poverty History

Much better than fireworks!

Talk about eyeballs! This is the future of television. Or eyeballs.

WORLD WOODSTOCK WAKES WEINERS

It is so much better on the Internet than on TV. For one thing, you can select which venue you want to attend, rather than just get what the one or two channels of TV toss at you. I'm watching the great Bjork right now, waiting for the rebroadcast of Pink Floyd. Sir Paul McCartney, Annie Lennox, Travis, Keane, The Verve, McFly, Sir Elton, Dido, REM, Duran Duran, Neil Young, Green Day and U2 have already played. Great all. Replays on.

The visionary, humanitarian people of Rock would do something big, yet again. Funny that reactionary forces are still, well, reacting against it. AOL is to be commended for their great work as well. Richard Ashcroft is not to be confused with John Ashcroft, who is, well, different.
One sings a bittersweet symphony, the other creates a bitter tutti. As if you didn't know already.

Sign the Live 8 list here...and help make poverty history.

A Technorati moment
1.
“Live8”
2.
“Ian Turner”
3.
“Live 8”
4.
“Google Earth”
5.
“Karl Rove”
6.
“Luther Vandross”
7.
“Sandra Day O'connor”
8.
“Bobby Brown”
9.
“Tom Cruise”
10.
Tour De France

From the Anonymoses Archives: "Joseph Wilson Rove handcuffs"



ANONYMOSES, September 3, 2003

Get your Joseph Wilson Rove handcuffs here!

What people are saying!

"At the end of the day, it's of keen interest to me to see whether or not we can get Karl Rove frog-marched out of the White House in handcuffs. And trust me, when I use that name, I measure my words."- Ambassador Joseph Wilson

READ ALL ABOUT IT!

Zogby: No Bounce: Bush Job Approval Unchanged by War Speech; 2 in 5 favor Impeachment

Zogby International

President Bush’s televised address to the nation produced no noticeable bounce in his approval numbers, with his job approval rating slipping a point from a week ago, to 43%, in the latest Zogby International poll. And, in a sign of continuing polarization, more than two-in-five voters (42%) say they would favor impeachment proceedings if it is found the President misled the nation about his reasons for going to war with Iraq.

IT WAS ROVE! So the genius WAS evil!

Looks like Karl Rove will be going to the Nucular Chair for his bad behavior...

MSNBC Analyst, Says Cooper Documents Reveal Karl Rove as Source in Plame Case

Here is the transcript of O'Donnell's remarks:

"What we're going to go to now in the next stage, when Matt Cooper's e-mails, within Time Magazine, are handed over to the grand jury, the ultimate revelation, probably within the week of who his source is.

"And I know I'm going to get pulled into the grand jury for saying this but the source of...for Matt Cooper was Karl Rove, and that will be revealed in this document dump that Time magazine's going to do with the grand jury."

Monday, June 27, 2005

What is blogging?


"Is blogging self-expression, personal publishing, a diary, amateur journalism, the biggest disruptive technology since e-mail, an online community, alternative media, curriculum for students, a customer relations strategy, knowledge management, navel-gazing, a solution to boredom, a dream job, a style of writing, e-mail to everyone, a fad, the answer to illiteracy, an online persona, social networking, resume fodder, phonecam pictures, or something to hide from your mother? It's all of these and more."

"A blog is a collection of digital content that, when examined over a period of time, exposes the intellectual soul of its author and authors. Blogging is the act of creating, composing, and publishing this content; and a blogger is the person behind the curtain. Part social software and part web building, blogging is peer-to-peer publishing -- the future of our connected lives."

-Biz Stone, "Who Let the Blogs Out?"



Memorize this, so that the next time someone asks you what blogging is, you can just say self-expression, personal publishing, a diary, amateur journalism, the biggest disruptive technology since e-mail, an online community, alternative media, curriculum for students, a customer relations strategy, knowledge management, navel-gazing, a solution to boredom, a dream job, a style of writing, e-mail to everyone, a fad, the answer to illiteracy, an online persona, social networking, resume fodder, phonecam pictures... a collection of digital content that, when examined over a period of time, exposes the intellectual soul of its author and authors...the act of creating, composing, and publishing this content; peer-to-peer publishing -- the future of our connected lives. And they will hand over the money. Both dimes.

But seriously, people memorize schpiels (how is that schpelt again?), perorations, litanae, librettae, rap lyrics, and grace all the time. They might even know that "No place like yours to study history wisely" is a mnemonic for the succession of English kings, from Norman, Plantagenet, Lancaster, York, Tudor, Stuart, Hanover, to Windsor. Or maybe they have memorized The Tale of Genji, Finnegans Wake or Proust. Perhaps they have even taken the time to learn how to underarm-fart Blue Rondo a la Turk. This would not surprise me. Were it real...now that would surprise me. Although I woundn't stick around to hear the 4/4 transition. Not unless it were my own. Sorry. I did hesitate. And was, of course, joking.

Al Franken wins rare radio award for his breakthrough work

MediaGuardian.co.uk | Media | The truth about lies

excerpts:

"I really do see the serious corrupting effect Fox, talk radio and many commentators on the right have on America. A lot of people in the mainstream media think it's beneath them to debunk it. And it's not. These people need to be subjected to scorn and ridicule. Someone has got to be willing to get down in the weeds and fight them.'"

"Rush is a talented radio guy. It's just that he has no fidelity to the truth at all."

When Franken began accusing Bush of lying, it was, he recalls, "a big deal". But that's changed. "Now people are much more willing to say the government was lying, for instance, over the war."

Charlotte's Billy Graham is the exemplar

Forget all those fakes. Billy is the real deal, and he apparently showed it in New York. And it wasn't George W. Bush Inc. who was by his side. It was a loving couple, one of whom is an ex-President, and the other, perhaps, a future President.

Oh. That's right. She is hated! And I suppose we Americans have to kowtow to haters now? Methinks the reign of hate of running out of gas. (See below.)

Elect a Republican and see what you get

Think twice before you vote. You may be contributing to this...

(Don't worry. There are no sex pictures.)

Exxon says N. America gas production has peaked

Yada yada yada

Yeah, yeah! The sky is falling. Exxon, will you just shut up and quit whining!

Sunday, June 26, 2005

Iddybud and Eliot Spitzer


Jude knows the most interesting people!

MS embraces RSS

phil ringnalda dot com

Rumsfeld says: "There is no question but that"

from Anonymoses Archives - March 23, 2003

Rumspeak made its way onto FOX, NBC and ABC today, which made me think of a post I did a couple of years ago on the matter. When he says "there is no question but that..." does he mean "There is no question that" or "There is no question except that"? Cleverly ambiguous. Whenever he says it, I assume he is not being forthright.

Reprinted:

NO QUESTION BUT THAT RUMSPEAK IS PROLIFERATING

What's with all the "but that"s?

"There's no question but that Germany is an important contributor in the global war on terrorism. "
- Rummy (not Rumi)

"There’s no question but that the strike on that leadership headquarters was successful."
- Rummy

""There is no question but that regime is not going to be there in the future."
- Rummy

"“The read we get on the people of Iraq is there’s no question but that they want to get rid of Saddam Hussein."
- Dick Cheney

There is no question but that we are very close to the end."
-Colin Powell (Not Powell too!)

"There is no question but that anyone who looks at the threat matrix every day knows that there are threats all over the world..."
-Rummy

"There's no question but that you have Saddam Hussein who's been there and has not responded to political diplomacy... "
-Rummy

"there's no question but that there are risks to acting, and they're real risks..."
-Rummy


...and then there is the use of nexus. Another day perhaps...

equivocation

\E*quiv`o*ca"tion\, n. The use of expressions susceptible of a double signification, with a purpose to mislead.

Syn: Prevarication; ambiguity; shuffling; evasion; guibbling. See Equivocal, a., and Prevaricate, v. i.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

equivocation

n 1: a statement that is not literally false but that cleverly avoids an unpleasant truth [syn: evasion] 2: intentionally vague or ambiguous [syn: prevarication, evasiveness] 3: deliberate vagueness or ambiguity [syn: evasiveness] 4: falsification by means of vague or ambiguous language [syn: tergiversation]

Source: WordNet ® 1.6, © 1997 Princeton University

A Hundred Miles from Blogsboro

Barbaric Yawps from The Hinterland

It's a Pixelated Life...: The Tarheel Tavern #18 is up!

...and what a wonderful job!

Go check out the beautiful work of Mandie...

Monday, June 20, 2005

Mistersugar's Tarheel Tavern is up

...and I hate that I missed it!
Jude told me at about 7pm on Saturday
that the deadline was 6pm. Just my luck!
Go check it out!

Sunday, June 19, 2005

Thoughts on a Father's Day



I am not rich. That would be overkill. Compensation is for those who are lacking. I am not one of those.

When it comes to all other joys, my cup runneth over. Chief among my joys are my gentle and wondrous parents, who have been an education and an inspiration for as long as I can remember. Their partnership has been so strong for so long, it is hard to separate them out. They are like a force. For good, I might add. When they were travelling around China and the Soviet Union studying medical practices, for instance, I had the feeling that the people they encountered felt better about Americans just from having seen intellectually curious, non-arrogant, normal folks. And the smiles they said they encountered were surely a healing medicine, as were the stories they brought back.

Now in his 80s, Papa rarely if ever hears that he reminds anyone of Gregory Peck or a brown-eyed Paul Newman, although an occasional Prince Ranier might be posited...so as one of the eternally youthful souls, he might be taken aback by such camparisons. But like these fine folks, Dad was and is always the gentleman. I suppose I could count the times he raised his voice in anger on one hand, or a couple of fingers. I wish I had his patience.

I'm reminded of my first day at high school. It was the first year of busing, and I was assigned to a formerly all-black high school across town...and many people were panicking to get re-assigned. Some moved, some merely said they moved. All in order stay in whiteville, so to speak. At our house, there was no panic. Of course I would go, and when the time came, I was the only kid on my bus. It apparently made national news.

As years passed, I would often bring home friends from different religions, cultures, countries, and never did they show xenophobia, and rarely did my friends fail to form a bond of affection for the old dears. And as more years passed, "the folks" (as they are called) would plop themselves down in strange environs, and be treated with equal acceptance, while I was beginning to explore America.

It is interesting to note that many of those who moved to avoid busing, went on to live similarly sheltered lives, and in some cases, still live in a sphere no bigger than a few streets.

I could go on, so I will. But right now I just want to thank my father for being exactly as he is. And acknowledge all good fathers living and past. There is a reason why our elders are called The Greatest Generation. We have big shoes to fill, tall shoulders to stand on. May we have the wisdom to learn their best lessons.

Love ya, Papa! Always have. Always will.

Friday, June 17, 2005

Juan Cole on the Rise of the Blog Estate

Informed Comment

The gatekeepers at the New York Times and the Washington Post can no longer decide whether a leak is a story or a non-story. The public decides what a story is.

Imagine News without bloggers or the internets. Lordy, Lordy! Talk about a koolade moustache spanning the collective mug of Man (only used for alliteration) -- what an unhealthful, retrogressive pack of cheesefood that would be! Individually wrapped in sanitary plastic...to keep truth out...just the type of bogus nourishment needed to keep them gathering at the trough.
Content with any happy noninvasive fiction.

Thursday, June 16, 2005

Exuberance Found Hidden in Bunker



"The originators, the exuberant men, are extinct and in their place subsists and modestly flourishes a generation notable for elegance and variety of contrivance." - Evelyn Waugh

"So how can you laugh when your own mother's hungry, and how can you smile when
the reasons for smiling are wrong?"
- Jethro Tull

"Aw shucks!" - Jethro Borodin

Carolina Blog Consultants

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Carolina Blog Consultants


If you are a seasoned blogger and would like to be considered for inclusion within the consultancy, please drop us a line and/or a link to some of your best blogs...


Why a blog consultancy?

You may or may not know it yet, but there is a revolution afoot in the world, and it is being fueled by blogs. Not only are more and more individuals waking up to find that they are a blogger, but so are companies, newspapers, radio and TV stations, organizations, schools, local government agencies, CEOs, and yes...barber shops.


Only the quick of head get the best names

There are a host of reasons for these dynamic societal and technological advances, which you will find out, as well as a host of reasons why you should realize that blogs are today what websites were in 1994 or 5...which is to say that they are something that nearly all people and businesses will have, but only the quick of head get there first, and thus snatch up the best names.


whydidittakesolongformetogetit.com

In 1994 or 5, one was able to secure a name like "weather.com" or "genealogy.com", while slower competitors, years later, would wind up with names like "whydidittakesolongformetogetit.com"... or worse..."why-did-it-take-so-long-4-me-2-gitit.net", where you would have to through the extra work of also saying "get is spelled with an 'i' and the last two words are fused. It is also a dotnet, not a dotcom."

The same is true, today, for blogs. Want a good name? You better jump in, right now, and get it, because the good names are not going to be there forever. In fact, they are not going to be there very long at all. Millions of names have already been scooped up. But...if you think you will be satisfied with "Dawgheadpundit37xpf" or "Thelastonetoknowbloggg", go ahead and wait around for the next wake-up call.


Everyone needs help

Last night, I was visiting a particularly gifted digital artist. Over the years, he has been able to create thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of wondrous works of art.

He was telling me about a graphic trick, a shortcut, he had only recently learned...which takes about two seconds to do. Prior to learning this trick, he was doing that same thing longhand, if you will. In other words, instead of two seconds, it might take several minutes. At times, fifteen or more. In a few cases, it would take nearly an hour.

Doing the math, I realized that had he learned this "trick" or shortcut years before, he would have save thousands of hours.

Everyone needs help. No one knows how to do it all. But some people have enough experience that they can prevent you from wasting thousands of hours.

This is one reason why we are creating a blog consultancy. We have the experience to save you thousands of hours, and show you how best to create and maintain your blog at the highest level possible.

As seen on CNN...Iddybud!



My first blog student, Jude, makes it onto CNN's "Inside the Blogs". Congratulations to the student that has far exceeded her "teacher".

Kurtz on the Pussilanimous Mainstream Media (MSM)

Backlash on the Left

Thursday, June 09, 2005

Reading The Burgess 99

Anthony Burgess

About the Burgess 99
In 1984, Anthony Burgess put together a list of the ninety-nine best English language novels of the previous forty-five years.

Wednesday, June 08, 2005

Harvard Commencement 2005

354th Harvard Commencement
Thursday, June 9, 2005

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Dr. Emilio Lizardo to speak
to the monkeyboys and girls

Live video stream of Commencement events to begin at 9:00 am, Thursday, June 9. (Link will be made live prior to broadcast.)

Portrait of a Blogfather as a Young Man


Young Ed Cone
lackbeard


Funniest lifeform ever,
Mr. Sun, presents his latest offering: Nerd Up. The chronico-strange tale of the blogfather as a channelfount to current forces. In this case, Mr. Sun.

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Ed Cone with extra hair migrated to chin

The King of Cambodia's blog



Welcome to my Web site

(thanks to Jack for alerting me to this, apparently on NPR)

ConvergeSouth: Bigger Than The Beetles!

Carolina Art Blog

Yes, you heard right! Bigger Than The Beetles has agreed to perform at ConvergeSouth 2005, and the Carolina Art world will never be the same. Granted, it would have never been the same anyway. But let that not diminish the sheer grooviness (to be perhaps overly clinical) of this good fortune, rather let the flow of good tiding keep you in good stead, knowing that, alas, you do have a bright future, at least until the conclave of bloggerly souls rolls in its final carpet, and the future is tossed to the next good steward for our better angel's good keeping.

For more from and about Bigger, you may look here and here and here.

Bigger Than The Beetles, Jamzoo, Jimy Jamz, Naked Karma, and JaWW are all pseudonyms of Woody Williams, the world's most unusual man, and musician, composer, artist, poet, entertainer and alien. His music was #1 on MP3 for North Carolina for months and months, if not years, and he was in the top 100 nationally. I have personally enjoyed his astonishing talents for nearly 30 years. His musical styles range from folk to country to techno to trance to experimental electronic to vocal tone poems and lands safely in polka, where many people have the squitters and do not even realize it, or, sadly, care. A one-of-a-kind musical genius, he also does all his own art, which, as you will see, is also of high originality.

Woody hopes to be able to contribute music and art to the ConvergeSouth celebration, and urges other artists to donate their time and good name for this excellent educational event.

Tuesday, June 07, 2005

Whistle Blower deified and given One Billion Dollars

Pandemic of Whistle Blowing grows as Payouts Top One Trillion Dollars

Well, maybe that's not the message we want to send...

Another Book Meme!

Last Book I Bought:
The Bible

Last Book I Read:
The Bible

Five Books That Mean A Lot To Me:
The Bible.
A Bible.
An Bible.
This Bible.
Kiss My Left Behind.


Now which bloggers to tag? Hmm... John Edwards? Howard Rheingold? Arianna Huffington? Prince Albert Gore Vidal Sassoon? Osama ben Franklin Roosevelt Greer Garson Kanin Abel? George Michael Jackson Browne? You be the judge.

OK. OK. I'll try harder next time.

Guess Who's Coming to ConvergeSouth 2005?

ConvergeSouth 2005

Guess who's coming to ConvergeSouth?

Amanda Congdon - Rocketboom
Michael Bowen - Cobb
Dave Winer - Scripting News
Ed Cone - EdCone.com
Jimmy Wales - Wikipedia
Tiffany Brown - BlackFeminism.Org
Billy (the Blogging Poet) Jones - bloggingpoet.squarespace.com
Ben Hwang - Lux.et.Umbra
Jay Ovittore - jovittore.blogspot.com
So far!!!

It is even rumored that anonyMoses...naaa...impossible...well maybe?! Could it be? The excitement builds. What pipes and timbrels! What wild ecstasy!

Vote for me and I'll set you free...

The Art of Business Blog Writing

Rap on, brother, rap on...

Sunday, June 05, 2005

BloggingPoet.com - Tarheel Tavern Open For Business

Supper's Ready

Walk, no, run to your nearest Tarheel Tavern, where jocularity meets ribaldry, and they bowl a few matches, inwardly, then cacophonize with the pitchbend, only to realize they are none the wiser for their serendipitude. That said, a monkeyboy WILL wax territorial when foisted upon the plank of their own phyrric defeat, wobbly from the fount, cornheaded and lipless, moonglade blindness, the death of Baba Ghanooj. All within the outfangthief of our Taverner, John, his whale, his Hovhanessian, Khachaturianistic Rubiyat, opened to page one, candle blown, flashes of lightning.

Enter the tavern.

Saturday, June 04, 2005

Aliens Ate My Blogosphere

(for Billy Jones)


The Blogosphere prior to being eaten

I am really pissed at those aliens. I was just sitting there, crying in my grits, Jean Valjean yawping "Bring him Home" over the telly, hot tears streaming from my face, when the phone call arrives. "The blogosphere is gone", a little voice over the wires came leaping. Now honoured among wagons I was prince of the apple towns, and so when the news came of this strange disappearance, mon semblable, mon frère -- clanging, clanging upon my heart as upon an anvil -- short was the time for me to act on my disbelief and dare to disturb the universe.



"Open Sesame!", I shout to the refrigerator door then clap twice loudly. The door springs open revealing a dozen cans of Pabst, a half-eaten can of Veenerweeners, and...Pandora's Box...only to brook yet another rivulet of confusion, where mind and matter glide swift into the vortex of immensity. Howls the sublime, and softly sleeps the calm Ideal, in the whispering chambers of Imagination.

"All is dross that is not the blogosphere.", I thought to myself as I popped the can and performed gravitational experiments upon the ablutive. "What wild ecstasy must be drunkening the minds of those mimsy borogoves. What headmusick drives these misdaisies? "

- "Anon they move in perfect phalanx to the Dorian mode of flutes and soft recorders."

"Well I would not have guessed that!" I said to my doppelgangstress. "I would've thought Phrygian, or even Locrian, considering the gravity of the matter. And maybe sackbuts and melotrons."


And so the search for the blogosphere went on in this soft morning city and in Edwardian Blogsboro. Until a blip, and the TV returns, lighting up the hungry eyes, redrawing the koolaid moustaches on all her little children.

Friday, June 03, 2005

Downing Street: How many new dead? How many new killers?

Big Brass Alliance

A friend and I were talking tonight about the Downing Street memo and its implications, and was lamenting the future needless dead. I lamented the future needless killers.

If America attacked Iraq, not out of self-defense, but just because that was Bush's notion and desire...does that mean our soldiers are simply killing people for another man's notion? Will the psychological effects on the surviving soldiers equal that of those suffered by the friends and families of those who do not survive?

What good can come out of a project that is little more than a killer-maker machine? And what can be said of the inventors of this machine?

Our soldiers can be forgiven, as they were sold a bill of goods, and told that things were other than they really are. But what of those who have created so much Hell in the world?

How can we carry on, when the survivors are just as broken as the dead?

It is not polite to make others do your dirty work. It is not a gentlemenly thing to do. When will gentlemen separate themselves of such people? When will the real peacemakers be allowed to mend the wounds and begin weaving a little Heaven back into the fabric of life in the world?


The Art of Business Blog Writing

Ezine article by Dave Beckwith

Thursday, June 02, 2005

A White House of Bloggers

In the future, the White House will have a hundred bloggers who interact and gauge the pulse and problems of people of all walks, regardless of the size of their wallets. Meetings will be held where the President discusses the day or week's findings, and solutions are sought immediately, with progress reports due the following week.
Around America and the world, bloggers are also reeling you in...

No! That is not where I wanted it to go!

But you see, there will always be reactionaries, and thus some people will, quite automatically, seek the worst motives, and posit them as your own, which, of course only the contrary could be true. And yet still, even by trumping the reactionaries, I also trump myself, inasmuch as I have, in the squabbling, lost my readers who simply have not the time to wait for me to finish.

But that is not all.

Bloggercons, blogfests, convergences and such will start occuring in such a way that an entire region will participate -- first here, then there, then Greensboro, then Asheville, then Athens and Atlanta, Savannah and Charleston. A sort of roving blogtour a la Grateful Dead concerts, with even the transportation from city to city participating in the roving circus of knowledge and jocularity.

I would like to invite Phillip Glass, Morton Subotnick, Steve Reich, Robert Fripp, Jon Anderson, and a few other good folks to join in the celebration, and hope that all would find it more than acceptable.

THESE THINGS AND MORE...
(later)

Wednesday, June 01, 2005

From Descartes to Cervantes

DESCARTES
DESCANTES
CESCANTES
CERCANTES
CERVANTES

SARTOR RESARTUS: By Thomas Carlyle

The Life and Opinions of Herr Teufelsdrockh
1831

Considering our present advanced state of culture, and how the Torch of
Science has now been brandished and borne about, with more or less effect,
for five thousand years and upwards; how, in these times especially, not
only the Torch still burns, and perhaps more fiercely than ever, but
innumerable Rushlights, and Sulphur-matches, kindled thereat, are also
glancing in every direction, so that not the smallest cranny or dog-hole in
Nature or Art can remain unilluminated,--it might strike the reflective
mind with some surprise that hitherto little or nothing of a fundamental
character, whether in the way of Philosophy or History, has been written on
the subject of Clothes.

Monday, May 30, 2005

Blog Core Values = Authenticity. Passion. Transparency. Credibility. Individualism. Creativity. Originality. Relevance. Integrity.

Learn more about then at BlogCoreValues.

Authenticity. Passion. Transparency. Credibility. Individualism. Creativity. Originality. Relevance. Integrity.

I think I got all those, although on this blog, my credibility might be lacking since I often crack jokes, and goof around more than on my more serious blogs. Fact is, most of the bloggers I know have all these virtues.

Not just blogging, but the Internet in general, has been, by far, the most important, life-changing and helpful tool to come along in my lifetime. The wonders never cease to amaze...

HoggFest BlogFest

Don't tell me blogging is bad for society. This weekend, Blogsboro bloggers gathered and created community and a good deal of cash for Jinni Hoggard, who is suffering from cancer, and the outrageous costs of health care.

If you or your company or organization would like to help, you may find more information here.

Here is a quick look at HoggFest through the eyes of Technorati:


And the tote board says.... 21 minutes ago
And the tote board says.... $9,171.00... ...was raised through all HoggFest related activities... and qualified Guilford County senior next year. This HoggFest funded scholarship will be given... agreed that the event will be repeated. In future years we hope to grow HoggFest into a larger Hogg's Blog 107 links from 62 sources

The Mailman Cometh 1 hour ago
The Mailman Cometh You ask, Gate Answers! Keep those questions coming and don't forget to write. Why weren't you at Hoggfest? My Dad wanted to see Revenge of the Sith, and I went with him to test my theory that Padme is who turned Anakin to the Dark Side of the Force. I stand gatecity 16 links from 11 sources

I Can't Believe I Ate The Whole Hogg 2 hours ago
Finally, I post the complete Hoggfest Round-up-- Blogsboro at its finest. BloggingPoet.com - BloggingPoet.com 12 links from 7 sources

Making Money On Your Blog 2 hours ago
to make money off of a blog is fundraising. Yesterdays Hoggfest was put together mostly Jay Ovittore's Blog 45 links from 30 sources

Hoggfest-Greensboro's Shining Community 2 hours ago
Hoggfest-Greensboro's Shining Community Yesterday was the long anticipated Hoggfest. For those that didn't know about it, Hoggfest was a fundraiser and charity event for Jinni Hoggard. Jinni has... with David(Oh, I'll just make it four kids). What I witnessed yesterday at Hoggfest, was a great Jay Ovittore's Blog 45 links from 30 sources

To Hoggfests to Come 2 hours ago
at Hoggfest yesterday. Ed Cone found them first. David Wharton expresses the same with his photos... nice people as I was at HoggFest." I had planned to go and help out for the afternoon. After being... single accomplishment of Hoggfest was one that won't be tangible for many years. It's the gift that we Chewie World Order 40 links from 28 sources

HoggFest the best 5 hours ago
HoggFest was a big success, and on many levels. It raised a bunch of jack for a family hit hard by medical expenses. It gave something back to a family that gives endlessly of themselves. It brought together friends, neighbors, and strangers for a good cause and a good time. It was an excuse EdCone.com 552 links from 397 sources

HoggFest Festival of Photos 10 hours ago
A Who's Who of Greensboro bloggers, musicians, artists, photographers, and grass-roots philanthropists turned out yesterday for HoggFest to raise money for my friend and neighbor Jinni Hoggard's breast cancer treatment. As I said to Jinni, it was a nasty reason to have a great party, and a really A Little Urbanity 42 links from 36 sources

Hoggfest 8 hours ago
Got back from the Hoggfest, a fundraiser for Jinni Hoggard, around midnight last night. It was quite a spectacle. Several local bloggers were there, including Ed Cone, David Hoggard, David Wharton, and Chewie. Not to mention, Billy the Blogging Poet, who gave several of his books to be raffled off Absolutely American 0 links

More HoggFest... check back for periodic... 9 hours ago
More HoggFest... check back for periodic updates The numbers: 10:30a - HoggFest organizer... she created especially for HoggFest will be hanging in the Hoggard mansion. It will always serve... the night before HoggFest. I finally got to meet her yesterday and told her how much I admire her stength Hogg's Blog 107 links from 62 sources

Come on down to HoggFest! 1 day ago
It's almost 6 pm and there is still time to go down for HoggFest. Man, are the ribs, music and the company a fine load of fun! It goes 'till midnight so come on down! Michael's Corner 9 links from 9 sources

HoggFest Is Rocking 1 day ago
HoggFest Is Rocking HoggFest is well underway, but you still have plenty of time to get there and enjoy the festivities. When I left a short time ago, there was still enough food to feed an army. Plus, the children are being entertained by a balloon artist, face painting, and an inflatable moon Patrick Eakes 55 links from 37 sources

Hoggfest!! 1 day ago
Got back from Hoggfest a couple of hours ago. Grahams and I went around 11-ish to help set up for the silent auction, which was still in progress when we left. There's been a nice steady stream of folks, and I met some of the locals I've know by blog, but not in person. David Hoggard's a really Artful Fantasies Journal 1 link

Hoggfest Today 1 day ago
Hoggfest Today Today is Hoggfest, an event to show support for Jinni Hoggard & Co. in her battle against breast cancer. It starts at 1 and runs until it stops I am told. The location is the Flat Iron in Greensboro. Gate can't be there because of some other commitments, but encourages you gatecity 16 links from 11 sources

HoggFest 1 day ago
HoggFest. Starts at noon, goes a long long time. Flatiron, downtown GSO. I'm on my way to help set up, as soon as I make some late-sleeping girls breakfast. 10:27:54 AM EdCone.com 552 links from 397 sources

HoggFest 1 day ago
HoggFest Come on out to HoggFest today. David has been cooking the pork since 6:30am, and Ed will be serving it up early this afternoon. A dozen bands are playing, and there are lots of activities for kids, too. The event lasts from 1pm until at least midnight at The Flatiron. Surely you can Patrick Eakes 55 links from 37 sources

HoggFest preliminaries... 1 day ago
HoggFest preliminaries... I drove the old oil-drum cooker down to the park across from the Flatiron.... If more show up, I'll put them on to feed the late night wave of HoggFest revelers. The big pig... additions to the HoggFest activities will basketball goals. Friend Tom Franklin is going to load up Hogg's Blog 107 links from 62 sources

All Quiet on the Eastern Front 1 day ago
All Quiet on the Eastern Front Don't expect much blogging from Greensboro tomorrow -- most of us are going to be down at Hoggfest, at the Flatiron from 1pm until. As much of the blogging corps will be there, it might seem logical that this would be one of the most blogged events in recent Chewie World Order 40 links from 28 sources

HOGGFEST TOMORROW 1 day ago
I'll be at the Hoggfest tomorrow. In case you don't already know about it, Hoggfest is a fund raiser to help David, Jini, and family pay the medical bills run-up during Jini's recent bout with Breast Cancer. I hope to see you there too. BloggingPoet.com - BloggingPoet.com 12 links from 7 sources

Mexico

(Oops! Wrong direction!)
They all look like Terri Hatcher anyway...at least on my LLDTV (Ludicrously Low Definition TV).

Go Canada!

Pharyngula's Blogroll

OR
The Blogroll of Pharyngula.

(thanks to Bora for the tip). An excellent collection indeed.

Sunday, May 29, 2005

Does Jude (Iddybud) deserve your link?

Iddybud spent hours and hours on the Tarheel Tavern, and everyone seems to agree she did a great job. How 'bout giving her a link on your blog for her efforts! She didn't put me up to this, and would kill me if she knew I was asking this favor. But I do think she earned it. Lord knows there is no money to come from her excellent efforts. The same should apply to anyone willing to tackle the Tarheel Tavern, and I suspect most have just forgotten, or are too busy celebrating at the Hogg Fest...which I hope is still on tomorrow, as I'd love to come. (I wanted to come today, and called around, but found no one home. And I'd rather bring at least one other person.)


So...give it up for our yankee colleague!
-Dave

MainstreamPolitics

It has everything!



A Sucker for Viagra: A World of Blind Horny Old Men

...and I coulda had a V-8!

Since The Right Wing (TRW) prevented the use of the word, "masturbation", it has now become impossible for the makers of Viagra and Dr. Porkenheimer's Boner Juice to claim that the rash of blindness was caused by that unmentionable word which is also cloakingly called manustupration or "popping the Pez".

Several pharmaceutical companies are threatening to sue those who silenced and marginalized Dr. Jocelyn Elders, because of the concomitant dessication of a scapegoat.

Cases of palm hair are now raising eyebrow, and lawyers are already smelling class action.

TAR HEEL TAVERN: This week with your host...

iddybud, and someone over at Daily Kos simply will not let it go.

Jude has knocked this one out of the park. I vote that we make her an honorary Tarheel!

Meanwhile, on the border of New York and North Carolina...

Blogebrity: Bloggers as Celebrities

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Check out the list...

A-List bloggers include: Eric Alterman, Atrios (Duncan Black) Ed Cone, Dave Winer, James Wolcott, Dan Gillmor, Henry Copeland, Arianna Huffington, Josh Marshall, Jay Rosen, Doc Searls, Kevin Sites, Stowe Boyd (Corante), Rafat Ali (Paid Content), Rick Bruner, Stewart Butterfield (Flickr), Ana Marie Cox (Wonkette), Cory Doctorow (Boing Boing), Seth Godin, Steve Hall (AdRants) Joi Ito, Joel Johnson (Gizmodo), Lawrence Lessig, Rob Malda (Slashdot), Markos Moulitsas (Daily Kos), Glenn Reynolds (instapundit), Peter Rojas (Engadget), Steve Rubel (Micropersuasion), Robert Scoble, David Sifry (Technorati), Biz Stone, Andrew Sullivan, Wil Wheaton, Evan Williams, Matthew Yglesias, and other fine bloggers.

Iddybud (Jude Camwell), Lenslinger, Billmon, Kevin Connors, Roxanne Cooper, Digby (Hullabaloo), Brad DeLong and Dave Beckwith (anonyMoses) made the C-List and Juan Cole, John Perry Barlow, Jerry Brown, Perry de Haviland, Esther Dyson, Joe Gandleman, Taegan Goddard, Tom Tomorrow, John Amato (CrooksAndLiars), Jerome Armstrong (MyDD), Stephen Baker (Blogspotting), Kevin Drum (Washington Monthly), Phillip Greenspun, Amanda Marcotte (Pandagon), Scaramouch (YesButNoButYes), Harry Shearer, David Sirota, and David Weinberger made the B-List. All are underrated.

Oliver Stoned

Legendary Filmmaker Arrested on Drug Suspicion

Saturday, May 28, 2005

Classical Music in Movies and Films - List

Bohemian Opera

"Ever wondered what that music was in a movie?
Opera and classical music is used a lot in this way. Currently I have 1640 movie titles, at least 2350 total entries and 173 composers.

I've added a complete index of ALL 'classical music in movies' on this site, whatever age they are. So search this new list because if the movie you're looking for is not on there it's not here at all :-)
Every movie title is linked and cross referenced to the appropriate place in the detailed lists."

Baton

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In working progress...

Patrick passed the musical baton to me this week, so here goes.

Total volume of music files on my computer: A few gigs..

The last CD I bought was: "The Lark Ascending" - Vaughn-Williams

Song Playing Right Now: Beck: "Lost Cause"

Five Songs I Listen To A Lot Lately(In no particular order) :

1) 1984 - Anais Mitchell
2) Prashanti - Phillip Glass & Ravi Shankar
3) Shining - Badly Drawn Boy
4) Flower - Eels
5) Pyramid Song - Radiohead

Ten Favorite Albums of All Time: (In no particular order)

1) Gorecki - 3rd Symphony (Sorrowful Songs)
2) Lisa Gerrard/Dead Can Dance - anything
3) Patti Smith - Dream of Life
4) Yes - Tales/Close to the Edge
5) Messaien- Quartet for the End of Time
6) Frank Zappa - Joe's Garage, Part 2
7) King Crimson - Lizard/Poseidon/Lark's/Starless and Bible Black
8) Dave Brubeck - Take Five
9) Les Miserables w/Salonga, Wilkerson, Quast
10) Celtic Woman

The baton has been around the horn a bit, but I am passing it to...um, let's see...hmm. OK, I shall say Nick, Jude, Darryl, Ogre and Mr. Teach at Pirate's Cove et Le Capitaliste Charlotte.

Now. Who's gonna let them know? Hmm...

1000 Places in North Carolina to See Before You Die

Jude was telling me about a book called 1000 Places to See Before You Die, and mentioned that there were two places in North Carolina, and yet there were 100 places in Oklahoma! Does this seem right? Well good, because I was kidding. About the Oklahoma part at least.

The two places were the Great Smokies National Park, and the Outer Banks.

I suspect they just didn't look hard enough.

What would you include in a book about a thousand places in NC?

I'm gonna ponder, then add a few. Blogsboro, however, jumps to mind.
Others that come to mind are Biltmore, Duke Chapel, the Castle at Chapel Hill, Reynolda, "White Oaks" the Duke Mansion in Charlotte, Charlotte neighborhoods of Myers Park, Eastover, Dilworth 1 and 2 , Morrocroft and Fourth Ward; Mount Mitchell, Tryon Palace, Moses Cone House, New River, Black Mountain College, Montreat, Carl Sandburg House, Thomas Wolfe House, Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville, Pinehurst, Blowing Rock, Nantahala "Waterfall Country" , Old Salem , Wright Brother's Monument and Kill Devil Hills, a tobacco farm, a hog farm, a furniture company, a textile mill, a pharmaceutical company, and Lowe's Motor Speedway -- not for the races, but for the August Jam of '74: The largest rock concert in North Carolina history, and featuring Emerson, Lake & Palmer, Allman Bros, PFM, OMD, BOA, and a few other acronyms. What else is there? What is near you?

Friday, May 27, 2005

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

Pax Americana & The Neo-Conservative Agenda

Ecozoic

EXCERPT:
The Neo-conservatives believe that a global Pax Americana can be established and that it is America's responsibility to rise to the occasion. A type of Manifest Destiny. Some would call this hegemony, or liberation, or empire building, or democratization. In this day of sound bite marketing these labels can all mean about the same thing. Analyzing this in terms of Republican or Democratic politics is also limited because this is a policy is spanning administrations. Is the US actually pursuing a vision of "enlightened" domination of global geo-politics? What are the pros and cons of this approach? Will it engender democracy or an unruly backlash? How far is the military willing to extend itself? Is this the rise of an empire? Who will pay and who will profit? How will Europe respond? What is the future of the United Nations? Will it make the world a safer place?
:END OF EXCERPT

Uh, no!

"I simply do not understand why all parties cannot simply cooperate." - Rodney Luther King

The Glorious Scamp
dedicated to the brave deserters

My faith in human dignity consists in the belief that man is the greatest scamp on earth. Human dignity must be associated with the idea of a scamp and not with that of an obedient, disciplined and regimented soldier. The scamp is probably the most glorious type of human being, as the soldier is the lowest type, according to this conception. For things are not so simple as they sometimes seem. In this present age of threats to democracy and individual liberty, probably only the scamp and the spirit of the scamp alone will save us from becoming lost as serially numbered units in the masses of disciplined, obedient, regimented and uniformed coolies. The scamp will be the last and most formidable enemy of dictatorships. He will be the champion of human dignity and individual freedom, and will be the last to be conquered. All modern civilization depends entirely upon him.
- Lin Yutang


Perhaps the time has come for us to discuss an exit strategy.


Our "boys and girls" are still our "boys and girls" regardless of whether they are in Iraq or Canada. And judging from what I have seen and heard from the excellent News Hour report, the ones that have walked away from the war are perhaps the sanest, best and brightest of the lot. And we are losing them, just as we are losing children in Iraq and Afghanistan.

We cannot expect to win a world worth having by seizing it like a dog. We need to be what we want to become, not hope that our violent acts will make room for a peaceful, harmonious life. Doesn't work that way. The deserters may simply be trying to save their own souls.

Are the soldiers gentlemen? We'd like to think so. So let us assume they are, and that they welcome any discussions that might improve their conditions, within and without.

We need to become better people. We have been doing ungentlemanly acts on a global scale, and are, as such, underserving of emulation. And yet retribution is nearly guaranteed, and yet, mercy still breathing, we may be able to become, as some have suggested, a humanitarian superpower, and not simply a military superpower. Any bully can beat up people. It takes greater care and skill to heal people.

Can we not become a nation of healers?

Can we not reverse the bad karma generated by mean-spirited policies?

When will we ask: "How can we help"?
and stop asking: "What's in it for me"?


If a man is crossing a river
And an empty boat collides with his own skiff
Even though he be a bad-tempered man
He will not become very angry.
But if he sees a man in the boat,
He will shout at him to steer clear.
If the shout is not heard, he will shout again,
And yet again, and begin cursing.
And all because there is somebody in the boat.
Yet if the boat were empty,
He would not be shouting, and not be angry.

If you can empty your own boat
Crossing the river of the world,
No one will oppose you,
No one will seek to harm you.

-Chuang Tzu

Read Charlotte Observer's Blogs

The Charlotte Observer now features blogs on the front page (online).

I knew they had it in 'em!

Maybe we'll have to change our name to Bloglotte, or Bloglot, or even Mecklenblog. Hmm... Now THAT has a ring!

Wonder if it's taken. BRB...


Oh well...even though there isn't a Mecklenblog, did I say Mecklenblog, on Google...when I try to nab it on blogger, I am told it is taken.

Where are you? I know you are out there!

And what about Blogolina? or The Blouth? Or The Blorth for that matter? How about the Blidwest? No...the only one that exists in Blest...although there is a very close "Bleeth".

Anyway...go Charlotte! Go Observer!

Beckham Poses Nude



David Beckham, which is to say, Mrs. David Beckham, gets nekkid for a mere 4 inches.
Will David spank her? And will she like it?

THESE THINGS AND MORE...

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

New media gains national attention in Greensboro

Yes Weekly on David Beckwith and one or two other things.

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF
What it is ain't exactly clear

The effervescent and animated Brian Clarey described the blog scene at Panera's, and did so quite well. It is too bad he didn't make it to Revolution Mill afterwards, because, in the words of Fecund Stench, it might have blown his head off. Tara Sue and Ross Myers, sitting at modest positions of a rather large, wood conference table, encased by the wondrously redecorated end of a warehouse complex which, they explained, was once owned and operated by Ed Cone's grandfather, told us more about the history, and potential future, of where we were sitting.

Flash back 10 or 11 years. I am sitting in a warehouse in Lowell, Massachusetts discussing how we were going to create the first "information superhighway-in-a-box", where internet, TV, satellite uplink/downlink, multimedia, and publishing come together under one roof and for the benefit of the community. It was called Lowell Telecommunication Corporation, although it was not-for-profit. Other than having a connection at home to the University of Lowell's internet, LTC was where I cut my teeth on the web and in television production.

Flash forward 10 or 11 years. There is a bright future for Revolution Mill, I believe, and in fact, I think it could become the center of the blogging universe, as well as the multimedia universe, the motion picture universe, the music production universe, and more. There is plenty of room to create a generation of creators right there in Blogsboro. Talk to the good folks in Lowell, who essentially did the same thing, only without blogs. George Preston was the Executive Director at the time, and I'm sure he would pour forth what he learned, good and bad, about the experience.

I am excited about the prospects and potential of Blogsboro, and know that the place is overflowing with talent and genius.

For God's sake don't turn "There's something happening here." into "There's battle lines being drawn."

Cooperation evolves. One needs only to understand the process of evolutionary cooperation, and then put the synergy to work for everyone.

Group hug to all the good folks in Greensboro and Chapel Hill. (Bora, that would be you.)

More on the Beautiful People

YES! Weekly

BikeCharlotte.com - Your Local Biking Resource

BikeCharlotte.com - Your Local Biking Resource

Our mission is simply to encourage greater use of bicycles in the Charlotte area. We will do this thru facilitating bike rides; championing bike advocacy and bike safety; and by supporting area bike shops, clubs, and other organizations that promote cycling.

Now that I have scraped the cobwebs from my bicycle, I hope to get back up to speed, and BikeCharlotte is only further motivation for my doing so.

Monday, May 23, 2005

Automatic Pencil

by Dziga Tzara
or
Synonymoses

Edited by Antonymoses


AUTOMATIC PENCIL

The end, once upon a time, was just the beginning.

Killer Mules of Tokyo, Chapter 7, "The Horripilation"

Then Sue passed the white chocolate cookies to Mr. Rossman who stubbed his cigarette into the pack which he held in his starboard hand, and proceeded to chart the history of Revolution. A fecund stench rose from the head of the cognoscentoire, as ideas bounced from wall to wall, like contagious laughter that eventually filled the entire state, or so it would seem. Of course the mules were long out of mind, and thus their approach came all the more sudden. A good thing Patrick's uncle was there to sort things through his amelioraton.

Small Fish Up Schitz Creek: Life in the Bozarts

At times one finds fellowship with similarly adjusted hominids.
It is not unpleasant.

I think I will go and eat a pheasant.

Blogging: It's really anyone's game now

Charlotte Observer - John McBride

Our dear friend, John McBride, is helping to bring Charlotte ino the light. John is a long-time asset at The Charlotte Observer, and blogmaster of Under the Water Tower, the official blog for the Elizabeth Community here in Charlotte.

Thanks for the the shoutout for Charlotte101, John! Now let's go get a beer! :)

Monday, May 16, 2005

Harvard's Peter Gomes a perfect fit for UNC Graduation Crowd

Hate that I missed it! He was one of my favorite professors, and certainly the most erudite and witty. I'm sure he gave an unforgettable performance, and that he also probably loved Chapel Hill.



More from Durham
Official website

Friday, May 13, 2005

"Britain's intelligence boss believed that Bush had decided to go to war in mid-2002"

"and that he believed U.S. policymakers were trying to use the limited intelligence they had to make the Iraqi leader appear to be a bigger threat than was supported by known facts."

Seven months before the invasion of Iraq, the head of British foreign intelligence reported to Prime Minister Tony Blair that President Bush wanted to topple Saddam Hussein by military action and warned that in Washington intelligence was "being fixed around the policy," according to notes of a July 23, 2002, meeting with Blair at No. 10 Downing Street.

And yet the American people were told that the war was because of terrorism, WMDs, the "nucular scenerio" if we do nothing, spreading freedom and democracy, and what is it now? Cheap sand?

"Some people" are asking: "Is this not irresponsible? Is this not lying while innocents are dying?"

And now we hear from CNN that "Eighty-nine Democratic members of the U.S. Congress last week sent President George W. Bush a letter asking for explanation of a secret British memo that said "intelligence and facts were being fixed" to support the Iraq war in mid-2002."

"The White House has not yet responded ..."

Responsible? Or Irresponsible?
Should Mister Bush respond to the inquiries? Or should he be irresponsible?

What was it they say about tangled webs and "when first we practice to deceive?"

My suggestion? Untie the knots, one at a time, and in the correct sequence.

A few simple questions.

1. Where have all the flowers gone?
2. Where have all the young girls gone?
3. Where have all the young men gone?
4. Where have all the soldiers gone?
5. Where have all the graveyards gone?
6. When will they ever learn?

The Heart of the Prajnaparamita

Translated by Thich Nhat Hanh
The Bodhisattva Avalokita, while moving in the deep course of the Perfect Wisdom, shed light on the five aggregates and found them equally empty. After this penetration, he overcame all pain.

"Listen, Sariputra, form is emptiness, emptiness is form, form does not differ from emptiness, emptiness does not differ from form. The same thing is true with feeling, perception, mental functioning, and consciousness.

"Here, Sariputra, all dharmas are marked with emptiness; they are neither produced nor destroyed, neither defiled nor immaculate, neither increasing nor decreasing. Therefore, in emptiness there is neither form, nor feeling, nor perception, nor mental functioning, nor consciousness; no eye, or ear, or nose, or tongue, or body, or mind; no form, no sound, no smell elements (from sight to mind-consciousness), no interdependent origins (from ignorance to death and decay), no extinction of death and decay, no suffering, no origination of suffering, no extinction, no path, no wisdom, no attainment.

"Because there is no attainment, the Bodhisattva, basing on the Perfection of Wisdom, finds no obstacles for his mind. Having no obstacles, he overcomes fear, liberating himself forever from illusion and assault and realizing perfect Nirvana. All Buddhas in the past, present, and future, thanks to this Perfect Wisdom, arrive to full, right, and universal Enlightenment.

"Therefore one should know that the Perfect Wisdom is a great mantra, is the highest mantra, is the unequaled mantra, the destroyer of all suffering, the incorruptible truth. A mantra of Prajnaparamita should therefore be proclaimed. It is this:'Gone, gone, gone to the other shore, gone together to the other shore. O Awakening! All hail!'"
Hail? What's wrong with sleet? Or a gentle snow?

Strange the things we remember. I remember the first time I walked into Widener Library (a library meant to widen your understanding) back in the doldrum year of 1981. The first thing I wanted to find was the Prajnaparamita Sutras. Paul Courtwright, at Greensboro at the time, put the seed in my mind. What wild journeys the mind took thereafter...

Ah libraries! Ah sutras!

The National Debate: Thoughts on A Respectful Disagreement

More on the WhineFest

Robert Cox should be commended, and heeded, for posting this:
For the record, Dave did exactly what I had hoped when I invited him to lead the session. I expected that Dave would provoke the most exciting, memorable session of the entire weekend and he delivered - in spades.
...
He was SUPPOSED to get folks riled up. That was the entire point of the session.

It may shock critics but I thought the session was brilliant - a home run. Those who are complaining should be THANKING Dave for bringing the topic to a boil and then stepping back and letting folks sort things out. That IS how this kind of event is supposed to work and no one knows that better than Dave because he is the person who developed the format. Unfortunately, many folks in the room chose to make Dave Winer the issue rather than discussing what had happened, why and how things might have gone differently. In other words to look at how disagreement takes place in the blogosphere, why it becomes heated so fast and what can be done to change that. I think folks are forgetting that Dave, very nicely, made this point in his opening remarks before he began stirring things up by picking fights.

Good job, Robert. You were not the problem. Alas, you are the solution.

"It's tough to hide a 10-foot weenie"

The Pryhills: Living in WHOLLY Matrimony: News Editors having a field day with missing weiner

Thursday, May 12, 2005

Spinoza's THE ETHICS

Spinoza

The Book of the Courtier

Castiglione's great work

Seniors let blog be heard

Charlotte Observer | 05/09/2005 | Seniors let blog be heard

"What is smart about AARP," said Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Research Center's Internet and American Life Project, "is they've taken the plunge into the blogosphere without really knowing what they will get out of it." That plunge could lead to new audiences -- and greater influence -- for an organization traditionally linked to older people.

A New Feature: Gate and the City

gatecity

Excellent new blog from Greensboro...

Advice to Grads

Tony Plutonium's Home Page

back slowly away...

Monday, May 09, 2005

The Complete List of the 1,000 Top U.S. Schools

Newsweek Society - MSNBC.com

While Tennessee didn't even have one school in the top 300, North Carolina has nine in the top 100. Sorry Tennessee, but our colleges and universities rate higher too. Maybe you ARE a bunch of rednecks! :)

NC High Schools:
9 | Raleigh Charter | Raleigh | N.C.
25 | Harding University* | Charlotte | N.C.
37 | Myers Park* | Charlotte | N.C.
38 | East Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill | N.C.
52 | Enloe* | Raleigh | N.C.
56 | North Mecklenburg* | Charlotte/Huntersville | N.C.
67 | Grimsley* | Greensboro | N.C.
74 | Chapel Hill | Chapel Hill | N.C.
88 | Butler | Charlotte/Matthews | N.C.

Charlotte Symphony plays music of Pink Floyd


DETAILS

NewMexiKen: Best line of the day, so far

Thanks!

Sunday, May 08, 2005

The Tar Heel Tavern - Derby Edition

a la Circadiana...



"Welcome to The Tar Heel Tavern, weekly blog carnival showcasing the best of North Carolina blogging.

This is the weekend of the Kentucky Derby, so, in that vein, let me introduce today's racing contestants."

God Hates Freds*

arse poetica

Saturday, May 07, 2005

Get an up-to-date roundup of BlogNashville at

BLOGNASHFEED

BlogNashville: Whiter and Maler Than Ever!

Ed Cone in Nashville

...while Dave Winer finds some color on the necks.

” I am going to throw another bomb. You are all Rednecks”

Rednecks? Or Whitenecks?
You be the judge.

"Monoculture breeds disease." -Richard Evans Schultes


Photo from BlogNashville by Mkelley

We need for less white males to blog. Any volunteers?


*The author does not share the view of the rednecks.