hardest button to button

The finest souls are those that have the most variety and suppleness.

Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592)philosopher and writer

Comparatively few people know what a million dollars actually is. To the majority it is a gaseous concept, swelling or decreasing as the occasion suggests. In the minds of politicians, perhaps more than anywhere, the notion of a million dollars has this accordion-like ability to expand or contract; if they are disposing of it, the million is a pleasing sum, reflecting warmly upon themselves; if somebody else wants it, it becomes a figure of inordinate size, not to be compassed by the rational mind.

Robertson Davies (1913-1995) playwright, novelist, and educator

I have an affection for a great city. I feel safe in the neighborhood of man, and enjoy the sweet security of the streets.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) educator and poet

Politics hates a vacuum. If it isn't filled with hope, someone will fill it with fear.

Naomi Klein (b. 1970) journalist, writer, and activist

Stress is basically a disconnection from the earth, a forgetting of the breath. Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. Nothing is that important. Just lie down.

Natalie Goldberg (b. 1948) writer

America: It's like Britain, only with buttons.

Ringo Starr (b. 1940) musician

Middle age is when you're sitting at home on a Saturday night and the telephone rings and you hope it isn't for you.

Ogden Nash (1902-1971) poet and humorist

If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people.

Thich Nhat Hanh (b. 1926) monk, activist and writer

notes on photos:

1. buttons from paula's button box. I'm happy to finally have an excuse to share this photo! there is something about this photo that I find very comforting (yes, I do take photos of everything!) december 2006
2. buddy connolly performing with eileen ivers and immigrant soul, cleveland irish festival. 25 july 2009
3. street crossing button on euclid avenue, cleveland. july 2009
4. social issue buttons - want to make some of your own buttons? how about this site it has some good slogans to get you started. don't want to make your own, then go here instead - the syracuse cultural workers has long been my favorite purveyor of tools to promote social change! my office just is not complete unless it has one of these hanging in it.
5. emergency call box on the case campus. did you notice the box is missing a Y? I wonder if a missing y would constitute an emergency? maybe I should push the call button and ask.
6. I don't know what kind of buttons ringo was referring to, but it is a good quote to go with this snap from obama's inauguration.
7. speaking of obama's inauguration, I ran across this telephone sitting on the grounds of the mall in front of the capitol. very curious. did you know that on november 18, 1963 bell telephone introduced the push button telephone? so the 64,000 dollar question is were you born before or after button?! we've all heard about the baby boomer generation, exactly when it ends has always been a point of controversy. technological inventions often define when generations begin (and end) - at least in our cultural consciousness. I think there maybe something to ending the baby-boomer generation in 1963 and starting the push-button generation in 1963 - doesn't it sound a tad more spot-on than generation x? hmmm, I think I'm on to something.
8. and speaking of generations, I really wanted end the post with an old family photo showing shoes with buttons, but I ran out of time. so instead I will share this charming photo of my great aunt emma which features some very lovely vintage buttons. the photo taken by her brother, my grandpap. lofty pennsylvania, 1910s
   

white stripes with their song hardest button to button

say

say! what do I need to say other than I'm not purposely ignoring the bloggyhood, I'm so busy these days I just can't keep up! of course, this time of year being out of the blogging loop is a common phenomenon for lots of us. looking at what I have coming up for the next month, I can't see that it's going to get any better, in fact, if anything, my presence in the bloggyhood may get more sketchy and infrequent. but don't take my absence as a sign as anything other than being crazy busy!

it's not travel keeping making me scarce, but deadlines for this, that, and some other things.

the weekend was particularly packed. we may have finally completed the july birthday celebration marathon. but then again, maybe not, I have a couple friends where we have a tradition of checking out some interesting or new restaurant with the rationalization (excuse) of celebrating our shared summer birthdays. so truth be told, the marathon will be spilling into august or september depending on everyone's schedules.

ms t had her 4th birthday party on saturday morning. it was BIG FUN and shared fun. ms t shared her party experience with a girlfriend from her nursery school. the shared party turned out surprisingly well.

the other big fun going on this weekend was the annual cleveland irish festival. eileen ivers & immigrant soul performed (along with scads of other great musicians in groups and as solos) - I can never get enough of eileen and the boys. this year we were introduced to the kreellers, a group from detroit that I hope will join the ranks of festival regulars. I liken their songs and style as a kind of north american cross between the oysterband and pentangle (minus a fiddle, squeezebox and female vocalist) but with deep celtic roots.

a wee slide show of this year's irish festival can be found here. if you check out the slide show, you will notice besides music (and guinness and boxty) the other thing I love about the irish festival are the 'dogs of ireland' - I do believe that wheaten terrier puppies are the softest dogs in the universe - not to mention being cute, cute, cute! the woman who was sharing her wheatens with us said they even like cats, if introduced to cats as puppies! hmmmm, I wonder what f would say....

well, that's all I have time to say for now. can't promise if I will put up anything else this week other than planning a theme thursday post. I know I have a few snaps that fit this week's theme and it's always fun to play along!

simple lyrics packed with some mighty good advice.

diamonds on the soles of her shoes

Everyone is like a butterfly, they start out ugly and awkward and then morph into beautiful graceful butterflies that everyone loves.

Drew Barrymore (b. 1975) actor & film producer

All walking is discovery. On foot we take the time to see things whole.

Hal Borland (1900-1978) nature writer

Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates. There's plenty of movement, but you never know if it's going to be forward, backwards, or sideways.

H. Jackson Brown, Jr contemporary writer, author of Life's Little Instruction Book

If a man is called a streetsweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and Earth will pause to say, Here lived a great streetsweeper who did his job well.

Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968) minister, civil rights leader, Nobel Peace Prize recipient

All the world is full of suffering. It is also full of overcoming.

Helen Keller (1880-1968) author and educator

The truest expression of a people is in its dance and in its music. Bodies never lie.

Agnes de Mille (1905-1993) dancer and choreographer

Between saying and doing, many a pair of shoes is worn out.

Iris Murdoch (1919-1999) novelist and philosopher

The city is a fact in nature, like a cave, a run of mackerel or an ant-heap. But it is also a conscious work of art, and it holds within its communal framework many simpler and more personal forms of art. Mind takes form in the city; and in turn, urban forms condition mind.

Lewis Mumford (1895-1990) historian and writer

Close you eyes and tap your heels together three times. And think to yourself, there's no place like home.

quote from The Wizard of Oz

notes on photos:

1. there is something about this photo that tickles my fancy - it might be the red hats that all the kids are wearing or maybe it's the fact that all the kids are wearing sneakers! (I call this type of shoe sneakers, others call these shoes by other names - what do you call this type of shoe?)
2. a mural in ithaca on the side of a building with a shop that specializes in hiking shoes among other things.
3. would one consider roller skates shoes? these gals play for burning river roller girls, cleveland's very own roller derby. taken at last year's ingenuity festival unfortunately I missed this year - but I heard it was great. summertime and the living is busy!!
4. I wish I could remember this fellow's name, he's the world famous (well cleveland famous) shoe shine man working in the arcade on euclid avenue. I met him a while back while on a photo safari when blogging bud julien came to check out our fair city.
5. magical shoes - they provide wearers with the ability to levitate! hessler street fair, cleveland may 2008
6. ms t getting some assistance from her friend at this week's ballet lesson.
7. dancing shoes at the 2008 folklife festival. long time readers of the mouse, may remember this pic - shoes was one of the first themes for theme thursday - way back before TT became the phenomenon it is today!
8. what is it with shoes on overhead wires!? I have often wondered if there some special meaning? well, inquiring minds do like to know - in my quest to find out what this ubiquitous urban phenomena means I stumbled on this .... hmmmm okay, I'm still wondering!
   
9. dorothy's ruby slippers. these shoes were designed by gilbert adrian according the portal of all knowledge (wikipedia) at least seven pairs were made for the wizard of oz. the pair in this picture is on permanent exhibit at the national museum of american history in washington dc. anyone notice the other iconic object in this snap?

paul simon's diamonds on the soles of her shoes, may be my favorite song featuring shoes! what is your favorite shoe song?

if your feet aren't tapping when you listen to this tune, perhaps you need a different pair of shoes.

look how young paul and ladysmith black mambazo are in this vid!

talking health care

The I in illness is isolation, and the crucial letters in wellness are we.

author unknown

with 47 million folks uninsured and a president who is committed to doing something about fixing our broken health care system there is lots of talk these days about the health care reform. cleveland's own singer-songwriter deborah van kleef has a great take on the issue. I guarantee you won't only enjoy her tune but will learn a few things too!

now if we can just get everyone in congress to learn the words and sing along!

speaking of obama, health care reform, and cleveland - on thursday after a visit to the cleveland clinic the prez will be holding a town hall meeting at the shaker heights high school. I hope deborah can be there and gets a chance to sing her song,

everywhere I go

I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move.

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) novelist, poet and wanderer

we returned last night from a long weekend in pennsylvania to attend my extended family's annual summer gathering. what a great time - we missed the last couple years so this year was particularly sweet!

weather wise we could not have ordered better weather. saturday was spent with the family at my cousin and her husband's farm. this was the first year the picnic has been here and what an idyllic location - I hope this will be just the first of many years at this location.

sunday we celebrated my birthday by taking the long way home to cleveland - soaking in all the summer loveliness and exploring a part of central pennsylvania I never visited before. I'm intrigued by towns with peculiar names and we were able to go through quite a few uniquely named towns and villages, including paradise, desire, stump creek, and panic. let me say, however, despite the name, the denizens of panic seems quite laid back.

to see a few snaps of our wanders click here.

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.

Desmond Tutu (b. 1931) cleric and activist

today's theme song is by the oysterband, a group I have adored for a couple decades. over the years the group has featured a variety of talented musicians - but alan prosser and ian telfer have been constants. years back they used to tour the u.s. and I had the good fortune of seeing them a few times when they played at the iron horse music hall in northampton mass - one great place to hear music, gosh I miss that place!

my favorite concert was when the boys played with june tabor - now there is a match made in heaven. in 1990 they released an album together - freedom and rain - which remains in my top ten recordings of all time. in fact I had hoped to have posted the song pain or paradise from that album as today's theme song - but alas I couldn't find a vid of it on the internet. but that's cool as everywhere I go is everybit as compelling and infectious as pain or paradise!

just in case you'd like to sing along, here are the lyrics (courtesy of this site):

The black wind blows like you've never seen and your TV screen is filled with snow
And the naked truth has an unmarked grave between the waves on your radio
And war is peace and peace is war and less is more and yes is no
They want to tell you this, they want to tell you that just hold your hat when the black wind blows

EVERYWHERE I GO I HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON
AND THE MORE I HEAR THE LESS I KNOW
EVERYWHERE I GO I HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON
AND THE MORE I HEAR THE LESS I KNOW

And they're all tripped out on the ship of state they're running late for the breakfast show
And God likes guns, doves are hawks and Jesus walks in Idaho

willkommen

I adore the theater and I am a painter. I think the two are made for a marriage of love. I will give all my soul to prove this once more.

Marc Chagall (1887-1985)printmaker, painter and designer

We must live for the few who know and appreciate us, who judge and absolve us, and for whom we have the same affection and indulgence. The rest I look upon as a mere crowd, lively or sad, loyal or corrupt, from whom there is nothing to be expected but fleeting emotions, either pleasant or unpleasant, which leave no trace behind them.

Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923) actor

Childhood is the world of miracle and wonder; as if creation rose, bathed in the light, out of the darkness, utterly new and fresh and astonishing. The end of childhood is when things cease to astonish us.

Eugene Ionesco (1909-1994) playwright and dramatist

A magician makes the visible invisible. A mime makes the invisible visible.

Marcel Marceau (1923 -2007) mime artist, creator of Bip, the white-faced clown

Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.

George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)literary critic, playwright and essayist

Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more; it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) dramatist, playwright and poet

Everything that has been will be, everything that will be is, everything that will be has been.

Eugene Ionesco (1909-1994) playwright and dramatist

notes on photos:

1. marc chagall ceiling mural in the paris opera - painted in 1964. photo october 2005.
2. there are many statues and busts in honor of sarah bernhardt who was acclaimed as "the most famous actress in the history of the world" scattered around paris. this statue was in a small park near where my sister lived unfortunately I didn't write down either the street or the artist -I think this monument was near her home in the 17th arrondissement
   

   Known as 'The Divine Sarah' she was the most acclaimed actress of her time, and not only in Paris, where she was born and pursuit her career, but also on the stages of European and American theatres. In 1859, Sarah received theatrical training from the Conservatoire de Musique et Déclamation, three years later she was already performing as a student of the prestigious Parisian Comédie-Française. Throughout the 1870s, she was recognised as a dramatic actress, performing Racine, Moliere, Shakespeare and others. In 1894, the first lithographed poster advertising her play at the Theatre de la Renaissance was produced by Alphonse Mucha, which resulted in a six-year contract for the artist and a series of Art Nouveau masterpieces depicting the actress. Bernhardt was also a pioneer in silent films, making her debut as Hamlet in 1900. She continued to act even after the amputation of a leg in 1915 and even went on a tour in the United States that same year. Sara Bernhardt is buried in the Parisian Le Père Lachaise Cemetery.

3. p and l performing to a very select audience on the stage of the cain park ampitheater, 11 july 2009
4. to mimes the entire world is a stage. paris september 2004
5. eileen ivers and the immigrant soul performing on one of the many musical stages of the cleveland irish festival. they will be back for the 2009 cleveland irish festival and you can count on me being there, but the question is will you be there too?
6. gates outside of shakespeare's globe theater, london 2004
7. eugene ionesco's grave in in the cimetière de montparnasse.
   

in the book of mouse, one of the most iconic stage songs is this one by none other than the amazing joel grey (1972)

niama

I hate a song that makes you think that you are not any good. I hate a song that makes you think that you are just born to lose. Bound to lose. No good to nobody. No good for nothing. Because you are too old or too young or too fat or too slim or too ugly or too this or too that.

Woody Guthrie (b. 14 july 1912 -1967) composer and singer

today is the birthday of the musical and cultural icon woody guthrie. I have posted many songs of woody's on the mouse in the past so I thought perhaps I'd like to continue my current trend of introducing some perhaps lesser known musicians that rock the world!

today's song is from another musician whose birthday is today - angelique kidjo. if you don't know the music of angelique I hope I have helped remedy that! her voice is transcendent and the movement of her songs - whether it is a lullaby or an afropop dance tune well I find all of her songs simply quite irresistible!

the song I chose for today is entitled niama - I don't know what the words mean, but I know I like it. I first encountered this the tune on putumayo's album of lullabies called dreamland. by the way, accompanying angelique on this tune is carlos santana (another musician with a july birthday - july 20th to be exact!). longtime readers of the mouse may recall that I am preoccupied with birthdays a little more than usual during the month of july!




photo: ms t taking a stroller siesta - on july 26 ms t will be turning 4!! by the way, I'm not the only one preoccupied with birthdays this month!!

hey world

The best way to avoid a bad action is by doing a good one, for there is no difficulty in the world like that of trying to do nothing.

John Clare (b. 13 July, 1793 - 1864)

we had a great weekend - it was especially full and fun because of friends visiting from out of town. I can never get enough of this family .....and just why is it that they aren't living in cleveland anymore? oh yeah, the cold and a chronic case of parental wanderlust. well, that's cool as long as there is no permanent emigration plan to some far away land.

no time to write much, but I wanted to pop in and share this song. I love when I read comments thanking the mouse for introducing a musical group. if michael franti and spearhead aren't yet household names, I thought I'd do a good action and help make it so

I adore this song... I only came aware of michael franti and spearhead a year ago, when I posted a song of theirs that fit perfectly with a post. now they are absolute favorites, I'm quite interested in seeing them live. however, there's no sign that they are coming to cleveland, but they will be in nyc early september, hmmmm I wonder if I can pull a trip off? I better decide soon and act fast I'm sure the tickets are going like hot cakes!

next

I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.

E.B. White (b. 10 july 1899 - 1985) writer

along with today being the birthday of e.b. white it is also the birthday of peace activist cindy sheehan. cindy is currently visiting northeast ohio. I had the opportunity to meet cindy wednesday afternoon.

cindy is touring the country to promote her new book and to remind people that just because w is out of office that doesn't mean that we can sit back on our laurels. there are two wars still being waged and we can't just wait for peace to happen - there is still plenty of work needed to do to make peace happen NOW!

in addition to her older books, which include, peace mom and not one more mother's child, cindy just released a new internet-based book entitled myth america. in this book she provides a discussion of 10 myths that many americans seem to accept - hook, line, and sinker. cindy's talk to the group gathered in cleveland heights peace park on wednesday primarily discussed these ten myths.

cindy also discussed her congressional challenge against nancy pelosi. she stated that even though it was incredibly difficult, taxing, and expensive the race did provide her with the equivilent of ph.d in political science. cindy hosts a weekly internet radio program, cindy sheehan's soapbox. in addition to being available via the internet 24/7 there are a few radio stations that broadcast the show. one station that airs the show is in dallas, cindy quipped that she has a fantasy that a certain dallas resident makes sure to tune in every sunday.

another person born on july 10 is béla fleck - clearly here's is a guy that improves the world every time he picks up magical banjo of his!


photos: tipper the cat definitely enjoying the day; cindy sheehan in peace park, cleveland heights improving the world

ghost riders in the sky

The distance that the dead have gone
Does not at first appear—
Their coming back seems possible
For many an ardent year.

Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) poet

I have heard, but not believed, the spirits o’the dead
May walk again.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) playwright and poet

An enchanted life has many moments when the heart is overwhelmed with beauty and the imagination is electrified by some haunting quality in the world or by a spirit or voice speaking from deep within a thing, a place, or a person. Enchantment may be.

Henry Louis Mencken (1880-1956) journalist and critic

There are an infinite number of universes existing side by side and through which our consciousnesses constantly pass. In these universes, all possibilities exist. You are alive in some, long dead in others, and never existed in still others. Many of our "ghosts" could indeed be visions of people going about their business in a parallel universe or another time -- or both.

Paul F. Eno (b. 1953) paranormal investigator and author
quote from in Faces at the Window

Fear is the main source of superstition and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.

Bertrand Russell (1872-1970) British author, mathematician, & philosopher
Unpopular Essays (1950), "Outline of Intellectual Rubbish"

Behind every man now alive stand 30 ghosts, for that is the ratio by which the dead outnumber the living.

Arthur C. Clarke (1917-2008) author, inventor, and futurist

notes on photos:

1. I wonder if this is a ghost train? photo taken at some stop in new york state on a recent train trip from cleveland to new york city. march 2009
   
2. a street corner memorial to a teenage girl who was killed near this site, cleveland october 2008
3. my cousin suz offerings to her mother and my god mother who had recently passed away - the tableau includes, rosemary for remembrance, a beautiful pink urn holding my aunt's remains, and small symbols representing aunt mary's love of gardening, cooking and animals - the four angels represent her daughters. pennslyvania, may 2008
   
4. when I was thinking about photos which could embrace this ghostly theme, for some reason my mind immediately thought of this photo of a set of windows inside the cleveland's gray armory - each time I've been in the building I can feel the presence of long gone individuals. ironically (or would it be coincidentally) a friend recently asked what the upcoming theme for tt was and what was I planning to do for it - when I told her about the photos I had chosen from cleveland, including this one from the armory, she assured me that was perfect - a few years ago she took a haunted cleveland tour and the armory was one of the stops! and it turns out this is another haunted cleveland location. I don't have time to get the stories behinde these two locales - but maybe there's something on haunted cleveland website! should blogging bud willow (and the host for this ghostly theme) ever mosey up to cleveland for a visit I think I have the perfect activity!
   
5. a desolate and spooky looking scene somewhere in new york state. do you think new york has haunted tours? hmmmm
6. the east side flats of cleveland was once a vibrant part of town but a few years ago there were a couple incidents where some folks met untimely ends. this section of the city now seems like a ghost town. there was some talk of doing a major renovation of the area and they actually began work on a redevelopment project, but then the economic bottom dropped out so it seems the area will be remaining a ghost town - at least for a while longer.
   
7. one evening while walking in nyc we encountered this haunting memorial to honor cyclists and pedestrians who have been killed on the streets of new york, but whose deaths often go unnoticed and unreported. the first ghost bike memorials were created in 2003 in st. louis, since then the movement has grown and there are now these somber tributes to be found all over the world.
   

I didn't think I'd be able to pull this theme off, and well, I guess I don't know if I did - but I tried. I am a bit behind the eight-ball (the magic eight ball???) this week I have a couple new jobs gearing up (which is a good thing!) which has consumed a lot of time.

I look forward to checking out all the other tt posts - I just hope the ghosts I will meet will be friendly and good - I can be a bit of a scaredy mouse

planning today's title and theme song, I first thought of the song ghost train then I realized the song I was thinking of was mystery train once I realized that ghost riders in the sky jumped into my head - there are a lot of good versions out there, but few do it better than johnny cash


by the way there is a song called ghost train by the counting crows, which incidentally is quite good but it didn't have the quality I was looking for today.

magic bus

I don't know about you but I have a real problem with people who refuse to acknowledge the serious nature of global climate change and I really have a problem when I encounter folks who deny that it exists or that human activity is in any way responsible for global warming. recently someone, whose identity will remain anoymouse, forwarded an article by a conservative columnist whining about how a report which claims that the science behind global warming is 'inconclusive' is being suppressed by the very governmental agency the guy works for (although they did not ask him to write said report). the columnist concludes her article by suggesting that the author of the report is some sort of modern day copernicus and is being persecuted by "the new religion of human-induced climate change." according to this pundit, people who believe humans are responsible for climate change are waging an inquisition.

just what kind of parallel orwellian universe are we living in? in my way of thinking people who deny the existence and seriousness of global climate change are essentially 'flat-earthers' - here is this columnist, of an extremely widely circulated publication, likening the guy to copernicus(his report, incidentally, has been discredited by not only his own agency but other independent groups; oh, the so called scientist of the report is actually an economist).

the language of scientific 'inconclusiveness' takes us back to the bad old days when the very powerful tobacco lobby used that argument to fight governmental regulation of its industry - cigarette smoking bad for human health - what kind of poppycock claim is that! those of us of a certain age remember quite clearly how the the reagan administration advanced the theory of scientific 'inconclusiveness' and used the argument that we have to "study it some more" to forestall any and all types of environmental regulation and protective action. more bad old days.

I, for one, am interested in creating and living in good new days - days when we don't have special interests use the bullshit catchphrase 'inconclusive science' to keep us from doing what needs to be done to save our fragile and beautiful blue and green planet!



I don't know about you, but I'm going go out there and embrace this new religion of 'human induced climate change.' yes, I believe humans are responsible for the planet. I believe the tremendous rise in human population with our overwhelming dependence on the burning of fossil fuels to power our lives is responsible for global climate change. it is frustrating to try and convince people who are set in their perspective and believe global warming doesn't exist or who reluctantly admit that it exists, but we can't do anything about it because it's due to trees or cows farting or some such nonsensical position.

I feel strongly that governments around the world have to act and act fast to put a halt to the problem with global climate change. but we don't need to wait around until governments act; there are lots of things each of us can do every day to help the planet and stop global warming. there's are tons of resources out there - want to get started? well just go here, or here, or even here for ideas

one thing that is really simple that can help reduce one's carbon footprint is to use public transportation. cleveland's local rta system has a new catchy ad campaign tying together riding the bus or train to helping stop global warming.

years ago I heard the expression that magic is making things happen - it is a phrase that I immediately latched on to and adopted as one of my personal affirmations. when it comes to stopping global warming, each of us can be a magician and can make it happen!

today's theme song is the wonderfully infectious magic bus, written in 1968 by pete townshend,


in april 2006 I gave up my automobile; ever since, if I need to go someplace too far to walk to, I rely on the bus or train. the bus doesn't have to be magic but I find that riding the bus is often a very magical experience!

go ask alice

when I returned home from last weekend's jaunt to dc waiting for me was a wee alice from susan of artspark theatre. last month susan mentioned that she would send 10 alices to interested friends in the bloggyhood. shockingly, I actually got a comment posted in time. susan intends to send out another batch of alices in early august; by now they probably are already spoken for - but who knows how long susan will continue this wonderful project of populating cities and towns with the adventurous alice!

today alice accompanied us to the west side market - and boy did she have a good time! all the shopping and new friends left her dreadfully thirsty, after the market, alice, f and I went across the street to the great lakes brewery for an ale - alice and I shared a pint of glbc's new grassroots ale which is described as:

A fragrant saison blended with coriander, lemon balm, chamomile and lemon basil, some of which were sustainably grown on our "Pint Size Farm" at Hale Farm & Village.

I find it a refreshing seasonal beer - reminiscent of a couple different belgium beers I always enjoy. since it is the fourth of july holiday weekend, f went with the independence ale which is described as;

An American Red Ale with crisp hop flavor.

it can be difficult to choose what beer to try at glbc, they has so many good ones! I noticed quite a few folks went with flights of beer where they get a assortment of various brews.

if interested go here to see other snaps of alice on her first of hopefully many cleveland adventures.

wishing everyone an absolutely trippy weekend! to get you off on the right foot (or would that be the left foot?) here's a live 1967 performance of the jefferson airplane performing white rabbit

atomic dog

What moves those of genius, what inspires their work is not new ideas, but their obsession with the idea that what has already been said is still not enough.

Eugene Delacroix (1798-1863) romantic painter

To dance is to be out of yourself. Larger, more beautiful, more powerful.

Agnes De Mille (1905-1993) dancer and choreographer

He who refuses to learn deserves extinction.

Rabbi Hillel (119 BCE-10CE) sage and scholar

Amusement is the happiness of those who cannot think.

Alexander Pope (1688-1744) poet & dramatist

The most terrifying thing is to accept oneself completely

Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961) psychiatrist, founder of the analytic psychology

Every generation laughs at the old fashions, but follows religiously the new.

Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)essayist, poet and philosopher

I don't know which is more discouraging, literature or chickens.

E.B. White (1899-1985) writer

A dog has the soul of a philosopher.

Plato(428 BC-348 BC) philosopher and mathematician

If only one could tell true love from false love as one can tell mushrooms from toadstools.

Katherine Mansfield (1888-1923) modernist writer

inquiring minds need to know; well, there's an awful lot written about funky on dictionary.com, my fav:

funk·y (fŭng'kē)
adj. funk·i·er, funk·i·est

1. Having a moldy or musty smell: funky cheese; funky cellars.
2. Having a strong, offensive, unwashed odor.
3. Of or relating to music that has an earthy quality reminiscent of the blues.
4. Combining elements of jazz, blues, and soul and characterized by syncopated rhythm and a heavy, repetitive bass line.
5. Characterized by originality and modishness; unconventional: "a bizarre, funky [hotel ] dressed up as a ship, with mock portholes and mirrored ceilings over the beds" (Ann Louise Bardach).
6. Outlandishly vulgar or eccentric in a humorous or tongue-in-cheek manner; campy: "funky caricatures of sexpot glamour" (Pauline Kael).

notes on photos:

1. the throne of the third heaven of the nations millennium general assembly on display at the smithsonian american art museum. made in the 1950s and '60s by visionary artist james hampton, a night janitor for the federal government. mr. hampton devoted almost 15 years to creating this chancel out of gold and silver aluminum foil, cardboard, light bulbs, old furniture, insulation scraps, mirror fragments and other items he found at work, on the street or in secondhand shops. if you are visiting d.c. make sure you pop into this museum this piece will blow you away!
2. each june the cleveland museum of art sponsors a city wide celebration of creativity and fun called parade the circle. talk about funky - central!! !
   
3. what can be more fun(ky) than seeing a rhino walking down the street! part of a campaign to save the rhino. london, march 2003. by the way, with the exception of the platypus, the rhino is the funkiest animal in the book of mouse!
   
4. street performer in paris, 2004.
5. a very funky piece which was part of the big bang exhibit at the centre georges pompidou. unfortunately I did not write down either the artist or the name of the piece. anyone know? october 2005
6. funky hat, washington dc, june 2009.
7. how can I put up a post about funk and not mention chickens! outbuildin on the grounds of the dunham tavern.
8. "kernel" created by south windsor artist lucy sander sceery - kernel was sponsored by whole foods market and was part of a sculptural celebration of the 125th anniversary of the university of connecticut. connecticut, june, 2007
9. okay, I just thought these were some really funky mushrooms. which just goes to show even mother nature knows how to do funk!
   

today's song is dedicated to the loving memory of tanner and jake who were both total atomic dogs while they were on this mortal coil! tanner and jake were the canine companions of my friends ken & gig, and reya. the dogs crossed the rainbow bridge this past week. ken, gig, and reya my heart goes out to you and tanner and jake - I hope you guys meet each other on 'the other side' and share a bow-wow-wow-yippee-yo-yippee-yeah!