The Tom Robbins book signing was filled with lots of energy. It was held at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva, NC, and also extended outside into a street party. A band was playing, vendors were set up, and a long line of mostly women was waiting to get their books signed. Everyone who already knew the drill had assigned numbers before leaving the house.

He was introduced to righteous squeals of delight which seemed a little odd for an author's reception, and more appropriate for a rock concert. He was wearing sunglasses, (which he only took off when he read from Villa Incognito,) jeans & a tee and sporting a neatly trimmed beard. A nice-looking publicist lady lingered nearby.

He also told about being from Blowing Rock, NC, and said he was dragged kicking and screaming across the VA/NC border when he was 12. He said he sits down to write every single day, and even though his muse doesn't always show up, she knows where to find him. That is one lucky muse.

It's just too much of a coincidence that a certain blogger "borrows" my links all the time and neglects to give credit for them. I can see an occasional slip, but consistently? He seldom gives anyone credit. You know who you are, so if you don't Cowboy the fuck up, I'm calling you out. Really pisses me off. [/rant]

Are people still clamoring for Gmail accounts? Why don't they just ask anyone using Blogger? Blogger offers all their clients free Gmail. They gave me one and are offering me one again. Here's a Gmail Swap List.

saturday morning me//
fresh ground hazelnut coffee #1/½ wheat bagel/
hearing: rufus wainwright/
yoga pants/long sleeveless top/
hair held up w/chopstick/smoking g-blondes/
making plans for the day-tom robbins/
so how about you?/

welcome back, kane

» You know how every city has that one Artsy Film Theater? The Fine Arts Theater in Asheville will be showing Fahrenheit 9/11 and neighboring Hendersonville's Skyland Arts Theater hasn't decided whether to show it or not and are bowing to public pressure. Even though they had 71% FOR the movie yesterday, I still don't think he'll show it. They're taking a poll on whether to show it or not. Click on the link, scroll all the way to the bottom, and put in your two cents worth. Thank you.

» Nader: Go to My Rallies, But Vote for Kerry - via: NPR via: Democratic Underground Sure is a strange fucker. And he also joins Michael Moore in urging Canadians not to vote Conservative; which makes more sense to me. Link via: bryn

» Most every day I've been adding new links to the Side Bar on the right and will try to keep it current.

Charlotte got Okafor.

Lesson For Today: Do NOT flip someone off in traffic when driving a Volkswagen. If you're going to be inmature like I was and flip someone off to begin with, I hope you have the foresight to size up the vehicles of the flipper vs flippee in case they decide to follow you.

Quote For Today: Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one getting burned. ~Buddha

Meet me in Cognito, baby.

» One of the coordinators from Code Pink called me today which was quite an unexpected honor. I'll be helping out locally. It's great to see them combing the country, tirelessly nourishing the grassroots efforts. One of the main focus for Code Pink this week is getting folks to Fahrenheit 9/11. Find out where Fahrenheit 9/11 is showing in your community. Just go to http://www.f911tix.com/.

» I'm nearly cross-eyed from trying to beat the Just My Type puzzle at this site. Many more time-wasters at the main site. via: mefi

» "Just to put your minds all at ease, I have four words for you that I know will relieve you greatly," John Kerry told the fund-raiser. "How does this sound — Vice President Hunter Thompson." Why not?

» The Heather Nevay Gallery with 18 eerie no smiling paintings. via the lovely Gilda @ Neurastenia

» The Dirty Martini has been around for sometime, but I see where the Dirty Sue martini is launching a huge ad campaign. It's the cleanest dirtiest martini around.

» A bold advertising campaign (Australia) that aims to wipe out marijuana's reputation as a "soft" drug will hit NSW cinemas this week. One includes the ad-line: "Pot. It mightn't kill you. But it could turn you into a dickhead." I kid you not. Link

» Celebrate the Summer Solstice today at 8:56 pm EST, June 20. Solstice revelers will gather at Stonehenge to watch the sunrise.

» Happy Father's Day to all you Daddios out there.

» 'Best of San Francisco' award-winner, Tish is celebrating a birthday today! Stop in and wish her well.

I see it everywhere I go: "Firecrackers Ahead!" "Fireworks For Sale!". Little roadside stands selling fireworks now dot the landscape.

I see the Crazy Bob's Fireworks tent and pull in. Husband and wife tag-team modeling the latest in Fourth Of July fashions give me a nod as I step out of the car. Upon closer inspection I believe Uncle Sam threw up on them both, leaving no appendage unadorned.

Ignoring the 'No Smoking' sign, Mrs. Crazy fans herself with a dirty flyswatter and two small children climb her frame for a sip of her Big Gulp.

"Can I hep ye?"

"Yes, ma'am", I say. "I'm looking for sparklers. Do you have those?"

"A-yep. Ri-cheer," pointing to a display of sparklers.

Shuffling towards the cash register she calls out, "Zat gonna be it?"

"No, I'll take some of those M-100's. Aren't those things illegal?"

She's swatting flies and kiddies; I select a few more items, pay Mrs. Crazy and go.

I'm so ready for the Fourth Of July weekend. 'Cause nothing says "Let Freedom Ring" like blowing shit up on the Fourth.

Poking around AOL Journals, I see the author James Patterson (Of the famed Alex Cross series) has a blog. I've run across several writers on the AOL Journals.

Upgraded my Mozilla .8 to .9. Thanks for reminding me meg. The tabbed browsing feature is my absolute favorite thing and the Noia theme is by far the best one.

The Zendik Farm people are moving from Western North Carolina to West Virginia with a farewell party August 21.

Periods, Bras, and T-cells is a father-daughter heart-to-heart in the age of AIDS.

(These links are all on the sidebar. Gonna try to keep any new quick links updated over there for now.)

saturday morning me//
hot coffee/cold water w/lemon/
visine/ginseng/wishing Karen well/
listening: badminty - by pj harvey/
cigarette ashes bouncing off the keys/
fetch the rake for my hair, please/
so how about you?/

Keith Richards: Before They Make Me Run is the new book by Kris Needs, who has interviewed Keith Richards regularly for 25 years. Although it has a June 1, 2004 release date, Amazon doesn't have it in stock yet.
I don't see any reviews on this book yet. I'm up for a good, revealing book on Keef. Will this be the one? Link


Currently: Raining
Tonight: Thunderstorms and flood watch
Tomorrow: Thunder and lightning
Forecast: Wash, rinse, repeat

"This just in....." Ronald Reagan is still dead.

In "Can't Find My Way Home: America in the Great Stoned Age, 1945-2000," by Martin Torgoff, he refers to his own drug use and abuse throughout the book. Besides using his own story, he fuels the book with a polyphonic spree of supporting characters, among them storied beats Neal Cassady and Jack Kerouac; psychedelic superheroes Timothy Leary and Terence McKenna; fallen jazz greats Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie; tragic rock stars Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison; cult figures Ram Dass and Wavy Gravy. The result is a sweeping epic that bounces between orgiastic nostalgia trip and cautionary tale -- and, at times, like the drugs themselves, can assault the senses.

Mixing oral history, autobiography and a large dose of firsthand sources from High Times to Foreign Policy, the book moves across time and culture, starring one drug after another, from marijuana to MDMA.
Salon Link; Amazon Link
War stories that are worth a look...

ATTENTION ALL AMERICAN MEN & WOMEN AGED 16-45:
Pursuant to Sub-Section 8, Paragraph C of Executive Branch Classified Directive #13334-P, dated 1 May 2004, the Armed Forces of the United States stand directed by President George W. Bush to accelerate preparations for compulsory induction of the adult non-homosexual population into active combat duty in the War Against Terror. Link [/satire]

This site is a parody. But the draft is no laughing matter. It's on the back burner pending a potential Bush victory in November. Reason #5982 he's got to go.

{Weekend Web Trail}
Unbrand America time again July 4th. Link

Grey Lodge Occult Review, Issue 11

"Dylan's Visions of Sin", new book by Christopher Ricks, the great British literary critic and newly elected Oxford Professor of Poetry, is reviewed in Sunday's NYT. Looks to be pretty academic, cerebral. Link

World Naked Bike Ride in Asheville was a big success with approximately 60 riders participating. A beautiful hot June day saw people lining the streets with cameras at the ready and the police gave the riders an univited escort in their cars and on their bikes. With the exception of two topless ladies, some clothes stayed on in the beginning, and halfway thru began peeling off. More riders joined the procession at different junctions and by the end of the ride, many were freely riding in the breeze with strategically placed foilage or body paint. Here are just a few Asheville pics; still for hoping more to show up.

Business as usual for Robert Smith and the Cure? Not at all. Link

DIG! is the feature-length documentary shot over seven years about musicians Anton Newcombe, leader of the Brian Jonestown Massacre, and Courtney Taylor, head of the Dandy Warhols. Getting great reviews and currently doing the Film Festival circuit; scheduled to go wide Oct 1.

Eddie Van Halen on upcoming tour, cancer & being a father. Link

And your fun links of the day: 9 Reasons Not To Drink and Twang The Monkey.

Too many freaks, not enough circuses.
...still editing...

saturday morning me//
cuppa java #2/advil #3/iced water/
1/2 wheat bagel/bunch red grapes/
ponytailed/barefoot/oversized tee/
sitting (un-pc) indian-style deck chair/
outside: foggy morn/watching chipmunks & squirrels/
supporting: naked bike ride today!/
Listening: Dylan - Only a Pawn in Their Game/
so how about you?/

{My Morning WebTrax}
Defective Yeti sez: "Help a brother out -- another Wellstone Memorial would be awesome." The Democratic National Committee, citing the "unfair advantage" accrued by the Bush campaign in the wake of Ronald Reagan's passing, today called on Bill Clinton to perish in late September or October of this year. "Oh c'mon, you finished your book. What do you have left to live for, Hillary?" DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe suggested to Bill Clinton that he die by "running into a burning building to save a child" or "getting the shiv while thwarting a mugging" for maximum effect. He implored Clinton, however, to assiduously avoid those fatalities that in any way involve oral sex.

COUP D'ETAT: The Real Reason Tenet and Pavitt Resigned from the CIA on June 3rd and 4th.
Both resignations, perhaps soon to be followed by resignations from Colin Powell and his deputy Richard Armitage, are about the imminent and extremely messy demise of George W. Bush and his Neocon administration in a coup d'etat being executed by the Central Intelligence Agency. The coup, in the planning for at least two years, has apparently become an urgent priority as a number of deepening crises threaten a global meltdown. I'm still looking over the link and the references, as I'm not familiar with the author's work or the website. But the story's intriguing, if true. More »
Friday Fun
Online Tarot Reading from the Déja Deck.Or how about an 8-Ball reading? Click on the graphic.
But, probably of the many True Oracles, none are more profound than the Mystical Smoking Head of 'Bob'. Click on 'Bob' for a reading.

Enjoy your Friday. I'm currently overmedicating the ass-end of a 3-day migraine. So please shut the door, walk softly and turn out the lights when you leave.

Clinton More Popular Than Reagan
Reagan: Media Myth and Reality from FAIR, Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting breaks it down for you. Point by point; myth vs reality. For instance,

"Ronald Reagan was the most popular president ever to leave office," explained ABC anchor Elizabeth Vargas (6/6/04). "His approval ratings were higher than any other at the end of his second term."

Though the claim was repeated by many news outlets, it is not true; Bill Clinton's approval ratings when he left office were actually higher than Reagan's, at 66 percent versus Reagan's 63 percent (Gallup, 1/10-14-01). Franklin Delano Roosevelt also topped Reagan with a 66 percent approval rating at the time of his death in office after three and a half terms.
It would be great if what we heard thru the media was always true. Often, it's not. FAIR is one group of few that strives to keep the media accountable.
Link

Ted Rall goes point by point on his blog regarding his opinions on Reagan recently. He offers, "...it never occured to me that so many of my fellow liberals would be so lame, so cowardly, as to ignore his true legacy." Thank you, Ted Rall. I'm glad you speak out. There are far too few that do. Link

Today's Quote
And then the day comes when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom. ~Anais Nin

Neptunalia, the T.O.U.C.H. Samadhi Summer Festival is on July 23-25, 2004, and is held at Deerfields, the amazing local 800+ private acres playground. It's an experience in itself. It's billed as an Outdoor Camping and Psychedelic Trance experience. Take a look at the pictures of the grounds. Link
And the Neptunalia flyers are made from a Naoto Hattori design. Remember that outstanding artwork we've enjoyed before?

And then the following weekend is TransformUs, the South East Regional Burn. So, Psytrance or a Burn? I've never been to a Burn before, and PsyTrance is all around here, but not in this type of arena. What to do? We'll probably go to TransformUs. I am too old for two back to back, kick-out-the-jams weekends. Knowhatimean?

Weirdpixie found another good music site with indie mp3's and other new releases called InSound. She and Charles both have a knack for finding good music online.

My server was down a good part of yesterday. I can't complain too much about them as they're usually pretty good and rarely cause me any grief. Better find something else to bitch about.

Diebold Executive Holds Political Fundraiser. And it ain't for John Kerry. Executives at Diebold say that company officials will not be allowed to take part in any politics, except voting, NewsChannel5 reported. This comes after the Diebold Inc. chairman held a Republican fundraiser at his home. The company's subsidiary makes voting machines. Diebold is so bold and brazen and not afraid to show their allegiance. Link via Maru who I've been able to read daily now that I see there's a newsfeed (RSS or XML) to the site.

Anybody been to Bonnaroo before? I didn't realize what a great lineup they had until I looked at the site. Wilco, Patti Smith, Ani DiFranco and Dylan all play right after each other on Friday. Hell, there's your price of admission right there and you still have 2 more days of music.

Hometown (Asheville, NC) guitar hero and family friend, Warren Haynes, has got to be the busiest guy in the music biz. Being in three bands at the same time must be surreal. The Dead, Allman Brothers, Gov't Mule, and also Phil Lesh and Friends. He's appearing at Bonnaroo next week along with many others. Everyguitarist: Warren Haynes's Jam-Packed Life is the current NYT interview.

Image Generator - Going to go check this out now. via Presurfer.

Police, protesters, and politicians prepare for the G8 Summit; where imperial dreams are born. 26,000 poised police in a city of 10,000 with $57 million dollars worth of security. The G8 Summit meets June 8-10 in Coastal Georgia. And No G8 - is the Anti-G8 Convergence 2004 and website serves as their protest clearinghouse. San Francisco protesters were out Saturday. And see Atlanta's Indymedia for more info.

If you're just quoting your parents, you really didn't know Ronald Reagan. If you've only read the headlines, or only watched the US media accounts, you really didn't know Ronald Reagan. As with everything, make sure your news is balanced. Collect it from the four corners. Sift through it well. Read between the lines and decide who has an agenda. Expect no glowing eulogy here. "Shoot to maim the unruly demonstrators and shoot to kill the looters" - That's what I remember when I hear the name Ronald Reagan. My husband and I recalled Reagan saying this in 1969 regarding People's Park in Berkeley. (when we were still in Venice) And Greg Palast calls it as he sees it as well.

All Due Respect was the name of The Soprano's end of season episode last night and really was anti-climactic. Adrianna's whacking the week before was more exciting than this last one.

Go dance, sing, visit friends, explore nature, and don't forget to find your way back.

Best way to evoke an argument between music fans? Top Ten Lists.

Aarrggghhh - these lists again. So subjective, so arbitrary. So apt to piss me off. #7 is Sticky Fingers; a fine choice. Both it and TSMR could've been higher to suit me. I love the Abraxas cover and the feeling it gives me just to see it. And the trippy King Crimson cover brings back so many fine memories of chocolate-y goodness at the beach after graduation. It surrounded a defining moment in my life which later proved I'd never, ever be the same. I suppose you can read between the lines there.

The Top Ten Album Covers:
1) Sgt. Pepper – The Beatles
2) Whipped Cream and Other Delights – Herb Alpert (wtf?)
3) The Court of the Crimson King – King Crimson
4) Their Satanic Majesties Request – Rolling Stones
5) Abraxas – Santana
6) Escape – Journey
7) Sticky Fingers – Rolling Stones
8) Fragile – Yes
9) London Calling – Clash
10) Led Zeppelin One "Hindenburg Cover" – Led Zeppelin

I could never narrow it down to just one favorite or best. I'd have to give my ten favorites in no particular order. Because album covers are much more than graphics and packaging to sell music. They not only set the tone for the music, they define generations and cultures and set the stage for the background music of your life.

Link

Dead Poet's Insobriety - Charles Bukowski died 10 years ago, at 73, but it's been hard to miss him, because he hasn't really gone away. A movie by John Dullaghan, Bukowski: Born Into This just opened Friday. Link

Daughter and Dharma - "But Daddy, she's my age!" Paul Krassner's daughter exclaims. Nice read from his weekly column, Link

My Life, by Bill Clinton - Supposed to have much policy included, and detailed US & Presidential history, but he's such an amazing storyteller I'm looking forward to the June 22nd release.


Haiku grand-prize winner:
A frog in water
doesn't feel it boil in time.
Dude, we are that frog.
Link

saturday morning me//
sipping hot coffee/
munching honeynut cheerios/
early fumblefuck foghead/
grey flannel pjs/bedhead/
sneaking up on the mirror/
Listening: Satisfied Mind - Jeff Buckley/
so how about you?/

The Corporation. Winner of the Audience Award @ Sundance and many more honors. Based on Joel Bakan’s book The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power, the film is a timely, critical inquiry that invites CEOs, whistle-blowers, brokers, gurus, spies, players, pawns and pundits on a graphic and engaging quest to reveal the 4corporation’s inner workings, curious history, controversial impacts and possible futures. Featuring illuminating interviews with Noam Chomsky, Michael Moore, Howard Zinn and many others.

Also The Corporation would like to invite you to join the Reclaim The Commons Mobilization. (Pertinent G8 Summit in Georgia info.)

What's Sir Michael Philip Jagger like off stage? John Hind asks those who know. Excellent article in the UK Telegraph today has interviews with Jagger insiders. Link

I'm still snooping around for info on the next album or future tour plans of the Stones. Per this article in April, Charlie Watts said they may be in the studio "in a month or two." I'm glad they do, but why else do they keep churning it out year after year? They couldn't need the money.
Link

We must act now to ensure that our voting systems produce accurate and verifiable results. Some states are planning to use machines that will not allow voters to verify their choices. This means that any flaws in the machine or software will never be caught -- and no recount will be possible.

Sign Petition

» After being famously dropped by Disney, Michael Moore's award-winning documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 has finally secured US distribution and will hit American cinemas on June 25. Moore's film, which recently won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes film festival, criticises President George Bush's response to the Sept 11 2001 terrorist attacks and connects the Bush family with Osama bin Laden's. Great news. He couldn't have written a better ending to this distribution story.
more »

» He has 12 confirmed kills. One for every month he's been here. But, he says, it's not unusual for his unit, Bravo 1-36 of the 1st Armored Division, which has been deployed in Iraq longer than any other division. Journalist Kevin Sites interviews soldier.
more »

School's in. Drive carefully. School's out. Drive carefully. When do we get to be reckless out there?