Popular art is the dream of society; it does not examine itself.
The answers you get from literature depend on the questions you pose.
Margaret Atwood (b. 18 november 1939)
today is the 70th birthday of margaret atwood, one of my absolute favorite writers. this weekend I finished atwood's newest novel the year of the flood. no one weaves a dystopia like atwood! the book overlaps with atwood's 2003 novel oryx and crake. I hear there may be another book in this series, gosh I hope it won't be a six year wait - I can't wait to find out what happens to the those who survived the waterless flood.
the are many wonderful versions of ready for the storm, this one is by the irish group déanta. the group released the song in 1994 on an album with the same name. the group played together until 1997. I've heard that they regrouped in 2008, however I can't find any information about upcoming tours. the last album they released was whisper of a secret which came out on the green linnet label in 1997.
photo: three-way plug by claes oldenburg installed in 1970 at the allen memorial art museum. oberlin - november 2009
Human diversity makes tolerance more than a virtue; it makes it a requirement for survival.
René Dubos (1901-1982) microbiologist, environmentalist, humanist
in 1995 unesco declared the 16th of november as the international day for tolerance - unfortunately tolerance seems to be a quality that at times is in increasingly short supply no matter where we look.
one of my all time favorite songs by the cranberries, geez, I miss them, although I have heard dolores is coming out with another solo album, if it's not out already. I've long felt that the cranberries' no need to argue and zombie are wonderful anthems against intolerance.
photo:the backyard squirrel on avenue c enjoying a bit of breakfast. it is a shame so many folks are intolerant of these delightful critters - there's plenty we can learn from squirrel medicine . 16 november 2009
wednesday I had the pleasure of accompanying my daughter to oberlin so she could run an errand for her work. it was an absolutely gorgeous fall day and was made even more delightful as it was filled with companionship, conversation and art. we met a friend for lunch so the day got even better with the addition of a good friend and some good food into the mix.
for me no visit to oberlin is complete without a stop at the ginko gallery, a gallery and working studio. the art they sell and display always inspires. the photo above captures a few of michele hannon's fantastical and whimsical creations which are currently on display at the gallery. the exhibit, entitled 'human critters and other creations,' runs until november 22nd. michele is an oberlin area artist whose sculptures incorporates seeds, pods, twigs, and other artifacts of the natural world.
with my mind centered on seeds and sowing this morning, I immediately thought of pete seeger and the garden song. sometimes this song is called inch by inch; it was written by activist and singer-songwriter david mallett. along with pete, the song has been covered by arlo guthrie, peter, paul and mary, and john denver. I first learned the song in the early 1980s, it is a popular sing along song and offers many positive and wise messages. the song is somewhat of a staple for the more musical actions and marches.
The difference between utility and utility plus beauty is the difference between telephone wires and the spider web.
Edwin Way Teale (1899–1980)naturalist, photographer, and writer
Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.
James Baldwin (1924-1987) writer & activist
Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.
Ambrose Bierce (1842- presumed dead in 1914) writer & editor
Like a bird on the wire, like a drunk in a midnight choir I have tried in my way to be free. Like a worm on a hook, like a knight from some old fashioned book I have saved all my ribbons for thee. If I, if I have been unkind, I hope that you can just let it go by.
Leonard Cohen (b. 1934) singer-songwriter, poet from Bird on a Wire
A Harvard study indicated that cell phone users are 4 to 5 times more likely to be involved in auto accidents than non-users. The risk for text messaging is probably higher because it requires more attention.
telephone wires along a country road in lehigh county pennsylvania, may 2008
my nana (age 89) talking on her phone to her daughter, my mother. in trying to come up with some snaps for this week's theme, I discovered that I have scores of pics taken of family and friends while they are on the phone. at first glance these photographs might seem quite boring; but if we look closely often the photo is fraught with the essence of a person, time, and/or place. harwood mines, pennsylvania - 1996 - this photo was taken a few months before my nana broke her hip. this break resulted in her having to move out of the house where she had lived for over seventy years and into a nursing home. she lived there from 1997 to 2003, and died at the age of 96 (transferred from film)
lil tv, one of my fairy godchildren- lil tv isn't so little these days! this photo was also taken in 1996 and transferred from film. this was the year when f was living in cleveland while e and I were wrapping things up in connecticut. I seem to have taken a lot of pics of people talking on the phone that year - I wonder why!
caller id - I love it! 'out of area' = don't have to answer!!
birds on wires, summer 2009
in july cleveland instituted an ordinance prohibiting texting while driving - a most excellent law in my humble opinion. as with alcohol cell phones and driving do not mix!!
by the way, this was one of the more challenging themes....I don't know if I pulled it off, but hey, I gave it the ol' college try!
blondie's 1980 chart topper call me, the song was also used in the film american gigolo.
this week features a couple significant anniversaries. november 9th marks the 20th anniversary of the fall of the berlin wall. from what I've been hearing today on the radio it sounds as if there is quite a celebration going on in berlin. the party started last thursday with a concert at the brandenburg gates by U2; apparently, the city is planning on partying for a week. the UK telegraph offers an interesting selection of reminiscences, articles, and photo galleries, perhaps my particular favorite is the photo set called 'berlin wall: then and now'.
then of course the other big anniversary happening this week is taking place tomorrow. depending on how one measures socio-politico seismic activity, the 40th anniversary of the debut of sesame street maybe just as earthshaking as the fall of the wall.
I am too old to have watched sesame street as a kid, which is too bad for according to daniel anderson, a professor emeritus at umass, amherst, if I had watched sesame street as a kid I probably would have done better in school.
even though I might not have watched or benefited from sesame street as a child, I certainly have watched my fair share of the show. a couple years ago I posted about the social significance of sesame street. on occasion I still hang with the pre-school set, so fortunately for me I still tune in every once and a while and I always enjoy seeing what the neighborhood is up to. although sesame street has changed a lot over the last forty years, what hasn't changed is it's mission to help kids with their abc's, numbers, and how to be a positive part of our diverse and ever-changing world.
anyone who is a regular listener to npr undoubtedly has noticed that the anniversary of sesame street has been mentioned quite a bit on various programs. however the best I heard was friday's edition of fresh air as it devoted the entire program to sesame street and aired four different segments that all touched on sesame street. fellow sesame street aficionados who might have missed it and are interested can check it out here.
I'm definitely tuning in tomorrow, first lady michelle obama is going to be a special guest on the first show of the 4oth season. coincidentally tuesday is the day ms t comes over and hangs out with me on avenue c which is good now I won't feel silly for turning on the show, after all I'll be watching with a member of the 'target audience.' who knows, maybe ms t will be willing to provide a review of tomorrow's show.
have you ever wondered if you were a sesame street character, what character would you be? don't despair of course there is one of those cyber quizzes out there where you can find out. here it is! if you take it make sure you let me know who you turned out to be
regular readers of the mouse know I am a sucker for these quizzes.
You are Big Bird. You are something of an eccentric, and not everyone always gives you credit for your inventiveness and intelligence. You may not always know everything, but people turn to you for your sound, unique logic. Plus, you have a big heart. Really big.
aw geez!
happy 40th birthday sesame street
photos: top-soon to be falling leaves on avenue c; insert-courtesy of here
despite countless attempts for almost one hundred years no chamber of congress has ever passed a comprehensive health reform bill. until now!! late last night the house of representatives passed a health insurance reform bill. well, the bill isn't perfect but it is a start.
the good news is the bill guarantees everyone affordable, quality health care, it reins in the abusive practices of the insurance company, and it provides public health insurance options. the bad news is the anti-choice forces were up to their usual shenanigans and at put in an anti-choice amendment (but hopefully this can be eliminated in the final bill).
yeah!!! to borrow one of friend reya's favorite expressions, onwards and upwards!!
The depth and strength of a human character are defined by its moral reserves. People reveal themselves completely only when they are thrown out of the customary conditions of their life, for only then do they have to fall back on their reserves.
The historic ascent of humanity, taken as a whole, may be summarized as a succession of victories of consciousness over blind forces - in nature, in society, in man himself.
You may not be interested in strategy, but strategy is interested in you.
Leon Trotsky (7 november 1879-1940) statesman, writer & editor
today is the birthday of the bolshevik revolutionary and marxist theorist leon trotsky. these days trotsky isn't particularly well known in the united states. and today, as in the good ol' 1950s, anything or any person that is associated with the "s" word, or heaven forbid the "c" word, is not only shunned but also maligned; so, trotsky hasn't been a household name for a quite a long time.
however, perhaps there will be a new wave of interest in this under-appreciated and misunderstood advocate of class struggle and the "permanent revolution" as a result of barbara kingsolver's new novel the lacuna. on thursday I happened to catch susan page's interview with kingsolver on the diane rehm show. the book sounds fascinating. the book is a historical novel about the life of a fictitious boy/man named harrison shepard. the story takes place in the united states and in mexico where shepard, the son of an american father and a mexican mother, lives. shepard's story intersects with many of the tumultuous events of the first half of the twentieth century and in the telling of shepard's life, kingsolver creates a world where he (and we) encounter historical figures such as trotsky, kahlo, fdr, and even j.edgar.
like many fans of kingsolver's novels I have been waiting a long time of a new book; after listening to page's interview and reading this review I expect the wait will be worth it. I'll let you know later, needless to say I already ordered the book!
even if one isn't a student of political theory, one might know a bit about trotsky from the 2002 movie frida. in the movie geoffrey rush plays leon trotsky. through the film we learn trotsky was greatly admired by diego rivera, who was helpful when trotsky's exile led him to mexico. once in mexico, trotsky and his wife lived in rivera and frida kahlo's blue house. eventually, diego and trotsky had a falling out which resulted in trotsky moving out. less than a year after moving out of the blue house an attempt on trotsky's life was made which eventually lead to his death at the age of 60.
the photo above is part of the amazing set of diego rivera murals at the detroit institute of arts, the series is entitled detroit industry. I put another photo of the work a while back, you can see it here.
those interested in learning more about trotsky, are advised to read trotsky's autobiography, my life which was published in 1930 (the entirety of the book can be found here). then there is bertrand patenaude's recently published trotsky: downfall of a revolutionary which covers trotsky's life after 1930.
a live version of the beatles performing revolution
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead (1901-1978)
