New Ear Candy

Hur stol da til? What beautiful, powerful and moving music! My God! Breathtaking! I am reminded of Mythodea by Vangelis. Both sheer ear candy. Headphone music of the first water.Way to go!!
Peace.David

Mr. and Mrs. Beckham enjoy a quiet evening together

Scooter Freed! Cheney to Serve Sentence Instead!

Our trustworthy president, the Reverend Mister Bush, glazed with his usual ability to make the wrong decision, decided to spend the last nickle of political capital on a free ride for the grown-up called Scooter -- a man, I might add, whose judgement is so flawed that he thought it perfectly reasonable to subordinate himself to Dick Cheney.

Should Javier have pardoned Jean Valjean? Mais bien sur! But Libby is no Valjean, although Bush may well be Javier, had he only an addiction to the law, cool hair and a voice to die for. Well, maybe he does have a voice to die for. Many are doing it, and he is still talking. Well, I think you call it talk. I call it the new dictation.

THE NEW DICTATION

The new dictators receive their dictation not from God, but from the top of the money pyramid, whose eye seduces with promise of riches and continued existence, and whose dictation can be worn on the back, beneath your suit. (Reference Bush's debates for pictures of said devices.)

What folks are saying:

"Only a president clinically incapable of understanding that mistakes have consequences could take the action he did today. President Bush has just sent exactly the wrong signal to the country and the world." - former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C.

"Accountability has been in short supply in the Bush administration, and this commutation fits that pattern." - Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-VT

"The president said he would hold accountable anyone involved in the Valerie Plame leak case. By his action today, the president shows his word is not to be believed." - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

"It is time for the American people to be heard - I call for all Americans to flood the White House with phone calls tomorrow expressing their outrage over this blatant disregard for the rule of law." - Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del.

Our trustworthy president, the Reverend Mister Bush, glazed with his usual ability to make the wrong decision, decided to spend the last nickle of political capital on a pardon for the grown-up called Scooter -- a man, I might add, whose judgement is so flawed that he thought it perfectly reasonable to subordinate himself to Dick Cheney. - anonyMoses, D-NC

Symphonic Music by David Beckwith

Not long ago it dawned on me to stitch together some of my more memorable symphonic works into what the young'uns might call a CD, were they given that opportunity. And so here it is... Symphonic Music by David K Beckwith. (There are an astonishing number of other David Beckwiths out there, hence the K. And no, I'm not David Kaye, although I appreciate his contributions to the world.)

I'm having a problem settling on names for some of the tunes, and would certain love to hear suggestions. Some songs, like "God Breathing" and "How God Evolves" are likely to stay put, since they so nearly hit the mark, but all the others are open for change. Moreover, the songs themselves are open for collaboration. If you want to lay tracks over it...feel free. Most of the music was channeled anyway. Once I get the ego out of the way, then the so-called spirit of music, the muses, or what-have-you, come to play, using my fingers to do their dance. It is a flowing snapshot, for the ear, of the moment. Eternity packaged in a droplet. Soundtrack of the River of Life. Music at its most bla bla bla...

Whatever.

Amazing "Desktop Creature" from Andrus (for Martin Gardner)

One of the coolest things I have seen...

Notes of the Creative Class

Building the Creative Class from the Grassroots

BlueOregon: Portland and the Creative Class

Fast Cities.

"The Rise of the Creative Class" by Richard Florida

[PDF]
Summary Report “Thinking Creatively For Our Economic Future”

Creative Fort Wayne: Learning from Elsewhere Archives

Flight of the Creative Class MetaFilter

Urban St. Louis - View topic - Creative Class and Immigrants

Time to get creative in helping arts

City is home to the 'creative class'

It's more than a theory: Give creative class real support

Spark kindles Triangle's creativity

Making room for art

intellectual climate and the "creative class"

Another reason why your city needs to be fabulous and groovy

Richard Florida’s Creative Class Group

Who are the creative class, and where are they going?

Bloggers Mourn the Passing of Ruth Graham

Bloggers around the world mourn the passing of Ruth Graham, the beloved wife of Rev. Billy Graham of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Our heart goes out to Billy and his family.

Anais Mitchell - "1984"

The Joys of YouTube

While looking up this gem:



I found this gem:

John Edwards on dealing with terrorism

Sundry thoughts on the debates

After watching the Democrats and Republicans debate, a few notions arise, or at least they did in me. It is doubtful that much difference has been made as yet, and that "things on the ground" will probably play a much larger role as the election time nears.

Surely the most troubling moment in both debates came when Duncan Hunter talked about preemptive nuclear war. This is clearly the opposite of how we need to be thinking about our future role in the world, since it is, essentially, George W. Bush on steroids -- digging the hole much faster and deeper than the speed of life can sustain. Backward, backward and did I say backward? And I'm talking caveman backward.

Speaking of which...how about all those admittedly unevolved hominids on the Republican ticket? Nature, you will recall, evolves us human beings to a certain point, after which we must consciously evolve ourselves...but some of these risible atavists even go so far as to deny the very process -- thinking, incorrectly, that it somehow disallows the existence of God. Democrats should not be burdened by such clabber and keep evolving their and our minds and beings.

Look. REpublicans are REactionary. Some are even REprobates. But they will now admit that the current administration was and is sorely lacking in the idea or vision department. And without ideas or vision...one is only reactionary.

But look at the Democrats. While the Republicans continue their fear mongering while banging the tired and overspent war drum, the Democrats are creating the future, which is, at first, but a vision. But a vision is, alas, what a nation most needs, for without one it will perish. Just ask the Bible. Solomon, I believe. It's been a while. I also like the one that says: "I shall not want." I like Davids.

It is refreshing to hear Republicans talking about alternative energy, and I believe one or two can see that creating "the new way" can mean thousands of new, currently nonexistent, jobs. It will also, in many instances, decrease our impact on global warming.

Chances are any number of the candidates, on either side, would be better than the current officeholders. The question is: Who has the clearest vision for leading us out of the Hell that we have foisted upon the world.

The Democrats certainly have the friendlier vision.

Meet the new Scrutiny Hooligans!

'Twould like to direct our reader to the new and improved Scrutiny Hooligans web-log (or whatever they call those thangs). It is located at: http://www.scrutinyhooligans.us/

...and, as always, is as entertaining as a site can get...thanks to the creativity and inspiration living in Asheville inspires. Long live Asheville and their sublime bloggers!

Iraq 3000 or Nonny Does YouTube

Time to...SupportTheTroopsAndEndTheWar

SupportTheTroopsAndEndTheWar.com
THE TIME IS NOW

Woods Wins Wachovia

I had a long talk with my fair city of Charlotte, and she agrees. Tiger Woods should move to Charlotte. At least buy a house here. We got golf. Plenty of golf. And good golf! In fact the whole state has golf, just not in the counties that parade their illustrious hog waste lagoons. Mecklenburg is not one of those.

As a Charlottean, I'd like to congratulate Mister Woods on his fine victory, which happened to occur one year after his beloved father had made his way to deeper greens...which, incidentally was why he could not attend last year's Wachovia tournament.

So Tiger, I implore you. Put an anchor down here in this fair city and state. I swear you will not regret it. And if your bud, Michael Jordan has not yet seized an anchor, why not invite him too. In fact, you can invite Vijay, Phil and the other fine players to do the same. Surely you have the funds. And there are scores of wondrous estates from which to choose. Many within walking distance of the Quail Hollow club.

I think you will find, if you haven't already, that Charlotte's elites are good people, in the main. Practically as good as us common folk. They are also charitable and progressive, with a real sense of stewardship. Much like yourself, I should think.

Again, congratulations...to you and all the players. And thanks for bringing a little magic to Charlotte.

-Dave


Tom Sorensen on Tiger Woods' victory.

Week of the Ho

First it was nappy-headed ho, then it was Don Ho, and finally, we hope, it was Cho. What is the ho key?

MrWondrous Presents...

Progressive Music


ELP performing Tarkus (Eruption) Tokyo 1972


yes - close to the edge pt. 2


ROBERT FRIPP - Frippertronics Demo (1979)


Dead Can Dance w/Lisa Gerrard- Sanvean


Dead Can Dance w/Lisa Gerrard - Cantara (Live)

Disc Golf and Bloggers

Disc Golf on Wikipedia
Disc Golf in NC
Disc Golf in Charlotte
Charlotte Area Courses
Sample "Virtual Tour" (Veterans Park)

18 Hole CDGC-Maintained Courses
Hornet's Nest Park
Kilborne Park
Reedy Creek Park
Renaissance Park Pro Players Course
Sugaw Creek Park
9 Hole CDGC-Maintained Courses
Veterans Park -
Other Area Courses
Bailey Road Park - Cornelius (map to park).
Boyd Hill
Cam Yards
Chuck Morehead Memorial Park
Davidson University (Map to tee 1)
Doral Apartments
Dorton Park
Dickerson Park -
Fewell Park
Frazier Park
Glenn C. Hilton
Mint Hill Park
Stumpy Creek
Winthrop U.

...Bloggers

Comfortable Number

(for Tarheel Tavern) and Hool...

I eat numbers for breakfast. Well, brunch. They suck. I wouldn't try it.
Instead run out and git yoreself a gol-dern numerologist. You know, a number specialist, as His Homeliness might say.
The reasons for your having done so will become apparent as the flow of time begins to alter the pace of your everyday life to the point where new information may be imprinted, and life can go on as usual.

To start with, I was born on the 13th, so I became acquainted with numbers having personalities and meanings early on. Triskaidekaphobia, or fear of the number 13, still infects the minds of hominids today. Subsequently, I have found pregnancy in 1 (ace), 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 22, 23, and, of course, 24. And 25, because of Christmas.

When I was but a boy, attending Camp Thunderbird, I found myself stationed at the #3 shelter, which I found to be most appropriate, since there wasn't a 13.
According to Sacred Symbols of the Ancients, my birth card is the Ace of Spades, meaning "secrets" and "ancient knowledge", hence 1 is a personal number. Princess Diana was an Ace of Spades. My planetary ruler card is 9 of Clubs, meaning "universal knowledge". Princes William and Harry are 9 of Clubs.

Looking at the birthdays of my ancestors, I noticed that there were more than a few 6 of clubs. Of 7, let me just say that I feel a friendship with the number. 8 and 9 were prevalent in the 1990s, one then the other. A story of endings.

The Mayans make note of 11 and 12, or 1111 and 1212. These are also the times I take my meds, depending on whether or not it is Daylight Savings Time. I often see these configs on digital clocks. When I see 12:34, I read it as "my ducks are in a row". Perfect sequence. 12:35 happens when things are out of sequence, or I am late for something. Yesterday, I looked at the clock and it was 12:35. This reminded me that I had forgotten to eat my brekkies.

I once read in a book on Numerology that 11 and 22 are special numbers. Then I ciphered that my first and last name were 11 and 22, which only threw fuel on my long-held belief that I fell to earth as an avatar who somehow forgot what he was supposed to report.

The twin towers formed an 11. 9 has long represented Death. My 9/10/01 flight out of Manhattan was cancelled due to lightning and bad weather.
7734 is Hell upended.

23 keeps popping into view, synchronicitously, and 24 is once again raising heartrates. At times I wax the borderline acalculiac, a numbskull atavistic throwback hangers-on I'd just as soon discard. Perhaps by uttering my few examples, the jesus of numbers will climb the cross once more, sacrifice, like soldiers, for my financial well-being. But alas that would be jaded, a candidate for bumfodder.
Forcemeat.

"Dance before the numbers with all your might!" saith ye Metatron.
"I shant affix meaning. This is the non-authorial style."
The Chums of Chance, and folks who can walk a mile.
The aroma of pleroma.
Art Zydeco.
Zhoooodah!

Is Memory Evil?

Granted, It has been a while since we have spoken, and it could be argued: Why start now?
Rest assured that I am not in full possession of the correct answer, although I did once win in a game of tic-tac-toe. But I hedge. Let me dissolve to the chase.

Memory. What the hell is it? How can you make it go away? And why would you want to?
We will be doing a 12-part series on the question: Is Memory Evil? And if so, should it become part of the axis of evil? How about the hatchets of evil? And how about that Anna Nicole Smith and bald Britney? Apotropaic enough for Johnny?

Personally, I am psyched about this week's Tarhell Tavern. Oops. Did I say Tarhell? Sashimi!

Screw is hatching a plot involving numbers, numerology, maff. And Science seems to be contra-indicating that much more than 23 vowels remain expendible on this lofty pursuit, so shine! Loose your tongue from its pivots. Train your eyes upon this week's Tarheel Tavern, 'cause look! You are already involved. Surrender.