Now for some Saturday R & R with Black Ox Orkestar. Never know what you might discover when you ask a friend what music they enjoy. Thanks to Berit for sharing. Don’t know about the rest of you but I’m always game for exploring music mines. Sometimes nothing mixes at all. Other times there are ear gems galore. Music mines vary from person to person/mind to mind. Once you’ve left behind all the usual beaten tracks there’s no end to ear engagements. Perhaps Black Ox Orkestar can add some sensuality to your Saturday. Go to another place with a sound track.
Musical Artists: Thierry Amar, Scott Gilmore Levine, Gabe Levine, Jessica Moss.
~~~Black Ox Orkestar began in the summer of 2000, the project of four Montreal musicians exploring their common Jewish heritage for sounds that could speak to them today. Listening to pre-war recordings of Jewish and non-Jewish music from Eastern Europe and the Balkans, they wanted to capture the rawness and emotional intensity they heard there. They also threw their own musical histories into the mix, their years of playing out-jazz, punk rock, or weird folk, creating not so much a fusion of old and new as a way to tear the old sounds from the past and make them resonate in the present. The band tried to be true to the strangeness and beauty of these archaic songs, translating them into new forms, and writing new material that continued an imaginary tradition still humming in their ears. They played their final show in 2005 ~~~
Chasing Ice website http://www.chasingice.com/ Complete with link to James Balog’s photography and much more.
With all the ways there are to share information and communicate in this time of technological multitasking galore “mail” remains a constant source as both snail mail (those hard copies that are deposited in your own private hard copy mailboxes) and email (all the electronically created and delivered “soft” efforts to communicate via cyberspace complete with “in boxes” and mailing options. Anyone else recall the attempt by the American government to charge US all five cents per email we sent? Have I got that right? So far that effort to get a slice of the internet mail pie has failed. So far. I think. I may be wrong about this failure to milk us.). Why do we so enjoy getting all our forms of “mail”? One reason I enjoy my mail is because of the information it brings to my attention that I may well have otherwise missed or overlooked or simply never discovered. There is something to be said for “subscribing” to business websites for updates and notifications. Are you all bored and wondering what the heck any of this has to do with the Chasing Ice video? Okay. I subscribe to the Tivoli Cinemas in Westport (an area of Kansas City, Missouri) and as a result I receive a weekly email regarding which films are being shown and when at the hard copy theatre complete with big screens, comfy seats, and the rare option to buy or bring your own yum yums for consumption while viewing all sorts of films. If I did not have this subscription I probably would never have known that Chasing Ice is appearing exclusively at the Tivoli for the Kansas City area. Heck, I might not have even known it was appearing in any theatres if not for this email. Luckily the Tivoli is within reasonable driving distance for moi–who, as you’ve all guessed by now has the “yappy yaps” this morning.
Hey, they’re even offering The Nutcracker performed by the Royal London Ballet on December 23. Yes, a movie theatre will show a ballet film. If that’s not enough to raise your highbrows a notch or two then maybe The Royal Opera of London show of The Marriage of Figaro on December 30 will do the trick.
Oh and a film ticket stub will knock 50% off the price of one drink at the Broadway Cafe –which, in my opinion, offers The Best Cafe Mocha–bar none– anywhere. Definitely the best I’ve tasted in several states. (No, sorry, folks trying to staff the little upstart coffee shop in Pierre, SD, that’s not a legit cafe mocha you’re proffering. Not yet anyway. Keep trying though. Practice may pay off in time.) Broadway Cafe site http://www.broadwayroasting.com/
So, guess where I will venture, safe driving conditions being extant, during the week of December 21-27? Yep. I’ll be chasing Chasing Ice with a delicious cafe mocha accompanied by a honey soaked croissant. I’ll be enjoying what this world offers while it lasts.
Now, about all the ice chasing and film festival awards and climate change etc. . . .
Am I a shameless beggar or what? I can be. Though I suspect I need to work on my tech savvy, string pulling and emotional manipulation in order to increase effectiveness and reach. Apologies to anyone feeling put upon. But I swear that I will write a poem, topic of their choice, for anyone who swallows this hook. Really I will. Just be forewarned that you only pick the topic–not how I might treat it poetically. On the odd chance that someone out there in the cyberswamplands might take the bait I’m on another fishing trip. A quick gander at the photo subjects and no doubt everyone knows what’s on this shopping list. Yes, ART supplies. Remember those third graders without any winter coats? Well, their teacher would very much like to have them do a little art. Just the usual child’s play with pencils, crayons, markers, and maybe some watercolor paints. Nothing elaborate. They are third graders after all–not oil painting Picasso hopefuls. They probably haven’t heard of Picasso–much less dreamt of following his artistic path. At least not yet. No, don’t expect them to get any notions about Picasso or Monet from their school library or some computer the rest of us here take for granted. That is highly unlikely all real life things considered on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The bottom line here is that Cheryl’s third graders do not create any of the usual child art in school because they have no colored pencils, markers, crayons, construction paper (primary colors), glue sticks, pencils (no.2), tissue paper, or poster board. Clearly no one can supply 18 children with all these supplies. But if each person who visits this blogcasa were to send just one box of Crayola crayons or one package of construction paper or one pan of watercolors. Just a single item, one by one would do the trick. If you’re inclined to yank my poetic strings send Cheryl Locke’s third grade students an art supply– and then state your item choice and poem topic request in the comments. So, who wants a poem?
Looney Tunes cartoons are full of glib violence and gore galore. How many times have you seen Elmer Fudd wielding a shotgun? Enough said? Violence aside, the Looney Tunes cartoon catalog features a serious depth of creative production from animation art to acting all aimed at eliciting laughter. Humor comes in many forms. Mel Blanc’s voice brought many animated forms to life. Looney Tunes cartoons aren’t quite my cup of humor tea–but they do tickle the funny bones of many people. So, with much appreciation to Berit for sharing this documentary with me, I offer Mel Blanc: The Man of a Thousand Voices, uploaded to YouTube by Chris Glidden, for your mental health uplift. This video also offers a certain history of the art of animation, radio and the entertainment media industry via Blanc’s story.
Hey, whose up for some Two Headed Cow? That’s music not milk, folks. FYI, KKFI streams online at www.kkfi.org so you can listen to everything from Democracy Now! to JAZZ while surfing the cyberspace seas. If you’re a fan of jazz, blues, indie, folk, Latino, chamber –as in chamber music not chamber-pot, yes, that’s right, KKFI plays chamber music–rockabilly, Native Spirit, alternative news, Sprouts, L.A. Theatre Works, Bioneers, and just about anything else that it’s possible to shake a musical — or grass-roots–stick at, then there’s plenty to discover at 90.1 FM KKFI Community Radio Like You’ve Never Heard It Before. Yes, I’m willing to bet that this radio is not the usual airwaves ear fare. There’s no corporate influence yanking KKFI’s 100,000 watts and online streaming. This is radio that people support with their pennies, dimes and dollars. It’s not a fluke. It’s 20 something years young and still growing. If you’re already wired for sound then what’s stopping you from engaging? But to get the Live Two Headed Cow and The John McKenna party gig I think you need to haul azz to Kansas City today. Enjoy.
Bidding on the KKFI Holiday Online Internet Auction begins Friday, November 30th. Think of it! No crowds, no driving, no nasty weather, no checkout lines…PLUS you get great unique gifts at bargain prices (the bidding starts 1/3 of the retail value). This will be the BIGGEST and BEST KKFI Holiday Auction! This year, we have over 300 gifts to bid on, including…
Auto Service: Winterize your car
Auto servicing, including five oil changes, tire rotation and more
Introductory Airplane Flying Lessons
Full body massage
CD Extravaganza (over 100 CDs by local and national blues, rock, folk, jazz, reggae artists…many autographed)
Books (autographed by Amy Goodman, Chuck Haddix, more)
Restaurant Gift Certificates
Home cooked Mexican meal for six
Music lessons (blues harp lessons by Levee Town’s Jimmie Meade, more)
Home made baked goods for your holiday party
Eight hours handyman work
Live theater tickets (Metropolitan Ensemble Theatre, American Heartland Theatre, Unicorn Theatre, Coterie Theater,
You can also show your support by donating goods and/or services to the KKFI Holiday Auction. For example, maybe there are treasures in your basement or attic that you no longer need; or you can offer to bake a cake or pie; or offer your skills as a painter to paint a room or do a pedicure.
If you are interested in donating goods or services to the holiday online auction, contact Bill Clause, KKFI Special Events Coordinator, (816) 994-7869 or email BillC@kkfi.org.
KKFI Holiday Party Features Barbecue, Liquid Refreshments, and Live Music by The John McKenna Band and Two Headed Cow
It’s the last Thursday in November. Thanksgiving is over and before long, it’s Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice and, oh yeah, Chrsitmas. TIME TO PARTY! KKFI’s holiday party begins at 6pm at KKFI Studios. 39th & Main, KCMO, with barbecue and drinks, followed by LIVE music featuring Two Headed Cow and The John McKenna Band.
Holiday shopping Alert:
New CDs for Sale!
What do the bands Two Headed Cow and The John McKenna Band have in common? In addition to playing great music, both bands have new CDs for sale. Tickets: $5 Door (barbecue, drinks and CDs extra)
KKFI 90.1 FM Community Radio | 3901 Main St. | Suite 203 | Kansas City | MO | 64111
Looking for some very affordable quality entertainment? Well, The Barn Players just might have something that will satisfy your drama quest this December at the their festival. What would you do with ten minutes of stage time to play at will? Hmm? Any playwrights out there itching for a Shakey Will Spearing? Hmm?
Hey the heat is on and your local wildlife is feeling it big time. It’s easy to offer your neighborhood birds some relief that does not entail opening the doors and windows of your home to the great outdoors to invite our fine feathered friends inside for some air conditioning. Create a little bird beach with whatever you’ve got on hand that holds water, is no more than three inches high and which is fairly durable to avoid breakage. I simply put to use an old children’s plastic picnic table for a level steady base and set on it a durable 20 inch round plastic dish that is about 3 inches high. By placing this all under or near some trees or bushes allows the birds to scan for predators before indulging in drinking and bathing. The plastic dish is easy to clean out every day with a rinse and scrub before refilling with fresh clean water. My local wingers seem to enjoy loitering on the lower picnic bench seats and extra table space. Hence, my calling it a ”bird beach.” Yes, the squirrels like it too. But they’ve not chewed on it or hauled it off. Nor have I witnessed any squirrels mugging any birds. Everyone seems very polite and patient waiting their turns in the branches of the dead pine tree nearby. O yes, they do seem to keep their own sense of order out there where it’s hot even under the trees.
The orange plastic container featured in this video shows how simple it can be offer birds the water they need to survive. A bird bath does not need to be expensive or fancy. It just needs ”to be” in order to offer some life-sustaining water. Please share your bird bathing creations at will.
Thanks to VAbirdwatcher for posting this video complete with music on youtube.
Ahhh, is reading the guiltiest pleasure ever or what? Hmm? Sometimes it’s so enjoyable it’s positively sinful. Jon Steele’s The Watchers reads like a great cup of steaming hot Swiss chocolate on a snowy winter day. YUM! Multiple mysteries move this deftly scored text along to an ending as teasing with potential ‘more’ forthcoming in a future foray into fiction by Jon Steele. Hint! Hint! I am going to try very very hard to glow about The Watchers without tipping Steele’s writing hand–ie, tossing any spoilers. Perhaps it was just a matter of the right book at the right time while in a certain frame of mind desiring a certain sort of meal for the imagination–or perhaps Steele’s first work of fiction is just very damn satisfying. Oh yes, I am a well satisfied reader of The Watchers–all very engaging 574 pages of it from Blue Rider Press, June 2012.
I must confess, and as a visual artist I expect to be absolutely forgiven, for initially being drawn to The Watchers not via any reviews or foreknowledge of the book but by its cover. Yes, the cover art drew my attention like a rich red flower baits and reels in a hummingbird. Light breaking through dark clouds looming over a lighted cityscape complete with pointy towers (photograph “sky” @ Karine Aigner-nicely done, Ms. Aigner). Instead of filling the inner book jacket to overflowing with marketing text Gregg Kulick took the much more enticing text teasing path of less is more.
Click to visit Jon Steele.
O! Let’s go to Switzerland and visit Lausanne Cathedral where we will meet the absolutely adorable le guet Marc Rochat and his Belles. Scramble one Playboy beauty’s brains for sexy appeals and ta da!, Katherine Taylor is just a call away. Where, o where has Jay Harper’s long-term memory gone? Hmm? Perhaps Monsieur Booty knows? I’m not telling. Nope. Not even if interrogated by the Cashmere Copper or those devilishly handsome men who lurk in the shadows. Not a single “mew” will I mew that might spoil the adventure of going up and down and all around Lausanne Cathedral peeking into the crypt, the belfry and the lunchbox.
As a “please, please, surprise me with somethings I can’t predict” sort of reader–I am well pleased with The Watchers. If you enjoy “Could it be this? Or that? Or somethings I’ve not imagined yet, please!?” mysteries then Steele’s tome could answer your prayer for some scrumptious reading fare as delicious as any entrée from Cafe de Grutli. In other words, procure a copy of the damn book and just start reading. Careful when you commence reading the final acts. I stayed up all night, yes ALL night, to complete the adventure.
Excerpt, interview, videos, images, twitter, fb and more! All to get you into the beforetimes, nowtimes and tocometimes.Don’t waste any moretime–just cyber surf to Jon Steele’s cafe nowtime! Steele will even take you inside the cathedral to meet the bells. In my opinion, The Watchers is much more fun than Milton’s Paradise Lost–by far. These fallen angels are much more intriguing. I can’t recall the last time literay apple pie tasted sooo sweet! Johnny Milton’s apples tends to leave a sour taste on my tongue. Yes, I know, stop before I get in any deeper.
If you don’t care to take my words for all the reading yum yum, then just ask Mabel at Blue Rider Press. Yep, that’s Mabel wearing the glasses.
Click Mabel to visit Blue Rider Press.
Blog note: There’s supposed to be an image of very smart dog, Mabel, reading The Watchers above. If Mabel is not lounging in my blogcasa, a mystery in itself, just click the window to visit her at home.
Violating copyright births bad karma---imagine a mad hacker you'll never see coming--nor catch going. Respect = my work is my work and your work is your work.
Everything posted here is my work, copyrighted, unless otherwise noted. Comments aside. Om
Streaming Online
For Kili 90.1 fm, Pine Ridge, SD, click the image below for The Voice of the Lakota Nation.
Kili 90.1 fm The voice of the Lakota Nation
Native America Calling ~ Native Voice
Native America Calling on Native Voice
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Pantry Goods
Cemetery Hill, Wounded Knee, Mugged by a Squirrel for a plum, Ed's driving, Art for Art's Sake, painting nudes, Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, KKFI, Crazy Horse, Reading, Marry, Critical Path, Political Missionary, White Wolves, teaser (1), We Shall Remain Shallow, Winter Fox Frank, Wes Studi, The Only Good Indian, Spotted Elk, naked woman centered, devotees (Crazy Horse), Blue Heron, Critical Path, An Adaptable Woman, and other plums ripening and Tanka Bars.
It’s the last Thursday in November. Thanksgiving is over and before long, it’s Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice and, oh yeah, Chrsitmas. TIME TO PARTY!
om mani padme hum jewel in the lotus wahupa qi prana universal life energy
