TED: The Trailer

TED (another word for Hope)

So, I guess in today's modern world made smaller and more connected by technology and the internet, I shouldn't be too surprised to learn that there's a place where you can go to trade ideas and share knowledge with the likes of Al Gore, the founder of Google, Peter Gabriel (who founded a global program called "Witness" that helps draw attention to and thus reduce social injustice), Larry Brilliant (who rid the world of Small Pox), Tony Robbins, Julia Sweeney, Mena Trott (28-year-old founder of leading blog software company, Six Apart), Jane Goodall, along with the greatest names in Architecture, Nuclear Physics, Conservation, Art, and Science, in short--perhaps the greatest gathering of brilliant minds in Technology-Entertainment-Design (T.E.D. for short) anywhere and (if you're like me) you'll be relieved to know it happens annually.

Every February in Monterey, California, 1,000 of of the greatest minds from across the globe in the above mentioned fields gather for a four-day conference. Tickets go for a mere $4,400 but, according to the Netflix movie we viewed tonight called "TED: The Future We Will Create", the conference attendees say the experience is well worth the price of admission. Some conference goers have been forking over that kind of registration fee each year for well over a decade.

Once you see the film? You have no trouble understanding why.

The movie, which incidentally, we viewed straight from the Netflix site without the inconvenience of waiting for it in the mail, gives us just a small sampling of the mind-blowing, revolutionary ideas and concepts presented at the 2006 conference. Presenters are given a mere eighteen minutes in which to get their idea, concept, or technology across. Couple that kind of time restriction with brilliant thinkers at this level, and you have one hell of a compelling and intense four-day show.

As you might imagine, not only are the attendees brilliant, they are also well connected, influential and in many cases wealthy. This conference is the place where great ideas can get off the ground. In a big way.

The highlights of the event are three $100,000 awards given to people who have done especially outstanding work in their field of expertise. In 2005, Bono won the award for his humanitarian work.

More important than the cash prize, however, is another perk that goes along with winning. And that is this: Winners are allowed to make a wish. And all the considerable resources and talents of those assembled are brought to bear on those special wishes. Just learning about this incredible concept and seeing these talented doers and thinkers in action and learning their wonderful wishes for the world made my heart ache with pride to be on the planet with people such as this. And, I probably don't have to tell you that in this day and age, that is a rare feeling indeed.

If you don't see any other movie I recommend, see this one. It is absolutely magical.

And TED isn't keeping love to itself. TED has a blog. And a website. And all these fantastic thought provoking presentations at the TED conference on the latest and the greatest? Can be viewed online. By anybody anywhere anytime.

Lastly, a special Bizzyville SUPER SNAP to filmmaker and actress Daphne Zuniga who produced and co-directed the film (her first such endeavor!) Way to go, Daphne. Seriously.

The Big Chill

I was fascinated to read this Newsweek Article, by Jerry Adler, from the July 23, 2007 edition, on the latest low-tech weapon doctors are using to snatch the recently dead back into the world of the living. Cooling the body, or sending it in to hypothermia, seems to increase one's chances substantially. Doctor's just aren't sure why:

This is a story about what happens when your heart stops: about new research into how brain cells die and how something as simple as lowering body temperature may keep them alive—research that could ultimately save as many as 100,000 lives a year. And it's about the mind as well, the visions people report from their deathbeds and the age-old questions about what, if anything, outlives the body. Read more. (SFW=Safe for Work)

In Bloom

Enjoy the latest in my "bloom" series. This blossom is especially significant since I grew in myself from seed, something I cannot say about the majority of the plants in my care. I took the photo just now on my balcony (I'm working on catching up w/ you-know-who). For some reason, this was an especially tricky flower to capture for my lense. It kept blowing out no matter if I used auto, manual, macro...ARGH! I don't know what ultimately worked. Maybe it was the especially colorful cursing.

Unfortunately, I lost the seed packet, and I've now forgotten just exactly what kind of flower this actually is. If you know, can you please tell me in the comments (Julie? Christa? Anyone?)? I love the color and shape of the bloom, it sort of puts me in a mind of a Morning Glory but it can't be that because the bloom does not open and close at all. It does, however, grow on a vine. It's a small flower, I'd say no more than an inch across. I adore the vivid blue color and the contrast of all three colors on one tiny blossom, as well as the five sided shape. Click on the image for a larger version.

1980-Debbie Harry and Kermit the Frog

This is a song that, really, needs no introduction for those that remember. It is one of my favorites.

Enough About Me

It occurs to me that it's been a long time since I've posted about my personal situation. And this is for a few reasons. For one, I can't really discuss alot of the stuff going on in my life in this venue.

Secondly, well, secondly is a little more complicated.

Blogging is always a little bit of a balancing act. Or it is for me, anyway. The question is often--how much does one share? I have a writer friend with whom I often talk these things over and we've coined the term "butt-showing". In this context, showing one's proverbial "butt" is to actually bare one's soul, to a certain extent, online (my friend is a blogger too). We talk often about how far should one lift one's "skirt"? Keep it at the knee? Mid-thigh? Upper thigh? Higher?

Thing is, no doubt about it, butt-showing sells. I've been a blog reader for over ten years and the stories that have kept me riveted to my screen are those that are deeply felt, truthful, and personal. For me, when I read about the premature end of Jessamyn's second pregnancy, or Heather's struggle with depression--both deeply personal situations--I always feel admiration for these writers that they have the courage to share their experiences, and even if I haven't been through the exact same experience that they're going through, when a good writer writes about a difficult time or situation, or an intensly joyful time, there's almost always at least a part of me that identifies with that.

I guess it's about truth. When someone writes the truth, is honest about their struggle or triumph or whatever and the way it makes them feel, it mostly always resonates with the reader. Ultimately, I suppose that's what art is all about. Sharing yourself and the truth about who you are and the experience of the observer (in this case reader) reacting to and, on some level, identifying with that. In the end, the human experience is really amazingly universal.

More often than not, when someone lifts their skirt all the way, even though it's really scary (not to mention breezy), it seems to me a large percentage of readers will take a look at their naked ass and say, "Yah. My butt sorta looks like that too."

Which doesn't exactly explain why I run around here in a proverbial prairie skirt more often than not. (Nor does it explain why my proverbial skirt doesn't seem to have proverbial underpants of any kind.)

I guess this is the longest introduction in history for me to simply say: I haven't decided yet what to do about my job (or lack thereof) situation. I don't talk about it much (read: never), but the fact is, quitting my job was one of the most difficult decisions I've had to come to in my adult life. People in my family, with my last name, simply do not quit jobs with pensions and health insurance on principle.

What people with my last name generally do is to calmly forge ahead at work, carefully building, though years of dedicated service, a solid wall of financial security around them. Until, after a large number of years of trading their life for security, they calmly retire and relax in their paid-for house, drive-their paid-for car, and conservatively manage and add to their investment portfolios.

Which isn't to say, that I might not eventually do the exact same thing. I may get another job tomorrow and move on down that path. Eventually, I'll have to start making money one way or the other, that's for sure.

The truth is, I have to see this whole situation as an opportunity. A brief oasis in the long stretch of my productive years when I settle down and take some time and really think about what it is that I want to do with my life. A fork in the road, if you will. I've considered all kinds of paths.

Through it all, there is one thought, one idea, one phrase, that that continues, time and time again, to echo through my mind (and has been going through my mind, really, since the first time I heard it). And that is the simple philosophy of the late great Joseph Campbell: Follow your bliss.

I find myself wondering if it could really be all that simple? And the answer comes back to me: On some level? I know it's that simple. I feel it's that simple.

The whole quote goes like this: "When you follow your bliss... doors will open where you would not have thought there would be doors, and where there wouldn't be a door for anyone else."

What is my bliss? I doubt that it will come as any surprise that you're looking at it. Even I've been a little taken aback at how productive I've become since I left my job behind. I mean, sure, I thought I'd blog more, but I didn't quite envision this kind of (near daily) output. This has, spontaneously, become my work. And nearly overnight.

The question is: Can I make it into a money making proposition?

Stay tuned.

What's Great About the 80's--John Lennon - Woman

I’ll introduce this next video in my by way of memorializing a conversation Satan and I had at a “Black-Eyed Pea” restaurant in which, by the way, we experienced seriously crappy service giving us plenty of time for yet another ridiculous exchange.

SATAN
So, what are you thinking about?

ME
You guess.

SATAN
Oh, this is a tough one let’s see…YOUR BLOG, by any chance?

ME
So what if I was?

SATAN
(sigh.)
Okay, I’ll bite, so, what about it?

ME
Well, I was thinking what I’d post next in my series on what’s great about the 1980’s.

SATAN
That ought to be a short series.

ME
Funny.

SATAN
So, tell me, what IS great about the eighties?

ME
John Lennon.

SATAN
John Lennon? You can’t post about John Lennon in a series about the eighties, he died in…

ME
1980. December.

SATAN
Yah, so…

ME
So…he released Double Fantasy in 1980 and those songs all hit the charts in the eighties.

SATAN
(stuttering…)

ME
Oh! In YOUR FACE, Beatles man!

SATAN
But, he WROTE all that stuff in the seventies.

ME
Okay, I know you’re not now trying to randomly channel facts about when Lennon may or may not have written something. What were you…living in The Dakota at the time?

SATAN
You can’t post about John Lennon in a series about the eighties.

ME
The man released an album, a double album, in November of 1980. I’m sorry. It’s a fact.

SATAN
YOU CAN’T claim John Lennon for the eighties.

ME
I can and I will.

(Consider it done.)

Drafting Al--The Latest

Despite a July 5th Associated Press story in which Al Gore is quoted as saying he doesn't expect to be a candidate for public office ever, a story in the Washington Times reports today that members of the Draft Gore movement presented Gore's Nashville office with a petition 100,000 signatures strong urging Gore to run for president.

The Draft Gore website also cites this June 27th Washington Times story:

A new poll in New Hampshire has Al Gore leading the entire Democratic field in the nation's first primary, with a six point lead over Hillary Clinton, 32 to 26. "Gore is the only Democrat, including Hillary, who can instantly melt the field," said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center."Read more

You can add your name to the growing list of Draft Gore supporters here.

Meanwhile, over Draft Al dot org, they are reporting on a July 9th story up at Politics New Jersey that New Jersey assemblyman, Reed Gusciora, is launching a movement in that state to muster the necessary New Jersey delegates to put Gore's name in at the Democratic National Convention next summer. Gusciora contends that it is "too late" for the Draft Gore movement. Read more.

The July 7th Live Earth concert is a reported success even by Fox News. According to the July 9th story, a whopping 19 million viewers tuned in with 9 million internet streams of the show recorded.

If you missed the concert, you can still view the performances here. I'm having trouble chasing down a total on the amount of funds raised by the event; I don't believe that number is yet available. Whatever they amount to, the proceeds will go to the Gore-founded Alliance for Climate Protection, a coalition of non-profits that aims to educate the public and petition lawmakers and corporations for eco-friendly changes.

[An interesting aside in light of my post yesterday looking back at 1985's Live Aid, according to a USA Today report, Bob Geldof has dismissed the Live Earth Concert as a "hollow spectacle". Hmm.]

What’s Great About the 80’s—Queen’s Performance at Live Aid

1985’s Live Aid Concert organized by Sir Bob Geldof to focus attention on and give support to starving people in Africa was the first of its kind. A massive undertaking that took place July 13, 1985, the event featured the biggest names in the business, was a gigantic success, (rightfully) elevated Geldof to the status of Saint, and ultimately raised $140 million for the cause. The effort spawned an unprecedented music video featuring virtually everybody singing, “We are the World”. The story of the tragic love triangle between the powerful Geldof, his wife Paula, and hunky lead singer of INXS, Michael Hutchence, was yet to be played out, and is my favorite twisted love story of the decade, but that’s a whole ‘nother post (and one that I’ll definitely be writing here).

Anyway, back to the matter at hand, by the time Queen hit the stage at Wembley Stadium that sweltering July day, they were, shall we say, far from the peak of their popularity. Their recently released album, “The Works”, was not their best effort. Likewise, the Wembley crowd was feeling a little droopy. It had been a great, but sort of ultimately long day of performances many of which suffered somewhat in the unforgiving LIVE spotlight. The Wembley crowd, 72,000 strong along with 1.9 billion viewers in 150 countries—the largest television audience EVER at that time—that included me and everybody else I knew, was just a tad restless.

A Queen fan from way back, I was looking forward to the band’s performance perhaps more than your average viewer, but still, was keenly aware that the guys were a little passed their prime.

Thing is, we all forgot something. And that is that Queen virtually invented Stadium Rock. This was THEIR genre and, smartly, the band had taken a full week to rehearse and hone their set. So, when they hit the stage? They almost instantly converted the huge crowd into one big sea of slobbering minions. It was the surprise hit and high point of the entire event.

Sadly, unbeknownst to us all, it was to be Freddie’s last major live performance. He died of AIDS related complications in 1992.

But what a way to go out on top. See for yourself.

You like me! You really like me!

Check it out, I've been tagged as a "Rockin' Girl Blogger" by Suz of Suz at Large! What a fabulous gift to be waiting for a droopy blogger girl covered in trail dust after a long, hard flight from Denver and then a long, hard drive from the NashVegas airport! Thanks, Suz and back atcha!

The award originates here at at Roberta Ferguson's blog and has spread like wildfire in the blogosphere.

Part B of being a Rockin' Girl Blogger is (!!) that I get to pass the award along to five other Blogger girls that I consider worthy of the Rockin' award!

So, here goes, in no particular order:

One Kentucky Writer. As I've been known to tell this blogger in frequent real life telephone conversations, "That's not a blog post, that's LIT-RAH-CHA!" Though a new blogger, Brenda has already distinguished herself as More Than a Blogger with her three deeply felt freshman posts. (And I'm not just saying that.). Rock on, One Kentucky Writer.

Namaste what?! ChristaD's eclectic blog never fails to pique my interest. Everything from religion to Top Chef and always with the great quotes. Currently featured: "They always say that time changes things, but you really just change them yourself." --Andy Warhol . Ain't it the truth. Rock on, Namaste what?!

the official blog of iList Paducah. Mary Thorsby says she's never blogged before, and I continue to find that hard to believe. This is a girl who knows how to milk a gag (duck soup, anyone?). This blog hit the ground running and has yet to come in for a pit stop. And, in her spare time, Mary co-manages iList Paducah, our go-to site for local events. Rock on, iList Blog!

Internet Grapes. I've been reading Jessamyn for as long as I've been reading blogs and, trust me, that's saying something. Jessamyn's writing is fearless, personal, and moving and I always admire her willingness to open up and really share her life with her readers. An added bonus: she is an amazing photographer; Jessamyn's shots of her daughter are really something special. Rock on, Internet Grapes!

Go Fug Yourself. Heather and Jessica, collectively known and The Fug Girls, have saved me (and gazillions of others) from many a dark, and dreary day with writing so fiendishly hilarious, so cattily cutting, so wittily wicked, that more than once I've found myself helplessly snorting Diet Coke out my nose. Thanks for the yuks, guys, I seriously needed them. Rock on, Go Fug Yourself!

Afternoon in Estes Park

We finally managed to escape to the mountains, or at least as far as Estes Park. As we did last time we were in Colorado, we intended to visit the Stanley Hotel or, as we like to call it, "The Overlook" since it is the hotel where the movie "The Shining" was at least partially filmed. The Stanley, however, has gotten rather proud of itself since our last visit and has begun to charge $5 just to drive on to the property. We found that rather annoying, so I contented myself with this shot (above) I took from the Lake Estes trail. Which, really, isn't half bad if you click on it to enlarge. It is a crazy picturesque spot.

It was an overcast day, so none of my photos turned out as well as I would have liked. Still, I'm posting some of my favorites. The shot of the two girls on the tandem bike I took from a picnic shelter we dashed under to wait out a short rain shower. We met the girls on the trail a few times and each time they were giggling madly but paused long enough to shout an enthusiastic "Hello!" to us.

Despite the rain and overcast conditions, I loved the weather. Cool enough for me to need my denim jacket, but still warm enough to be comfortable in shorts and hiking boots. Ah, summer in the mountains. There's nothing like it.

What's Great About the 80's--Stevie Ray Vaughan - Superstition

It's still to this day hard for me to think about Stevie Ray Vaughan who was so wildly talented as a guitar picker that pretty much everyone can agree about it. Killed in a helicopter crash August 27, 1990, the world lost, in my opinion, the most gifted guitar player it has ever known. Enjoy this lighthearted video version of Superstition with a special guest at the end.

Iraq for Sale Banned Excerpts

Why did Congress ban the showing of clips from this film in May, 2007? Watch the forbidden video.

What's Great About the '80's--A Scene From Hannah and Her Sisters

One of Woody’s best, this film from 1984 never fails to engage me. Enjoy this classic, climactic scene.

Save the Poudre

It's been another beautiful day in the Rocky Mountains. You'll be happy to know that I have regained the ability not only to enjoy, but also to spell RockY Mountains. I have it on good authority that my earlier spelling disability was due to issues with the altitude.

You cannot go two steps around these parts without seeing the "Save the Poudre" image, shown above. I absolutely adore the sentiment, the concept, the commitment, not to mention the photography, that went into this message. You can watch a video here of the making of the photograph that includes interviews with the participants who are clearly passionate about their river and their environment. The photo seeks to focus attention on issues surrounding the struggle to preserve the Poudre River, the full name of which is actually the Cache la Poudre, "Poudre" for short.

The S-Man and I speculated for a time on what the actual pronunciation of "Poudre" might be. We had both sort of settled on a guess of "Pow-Drey", but, in actuality, the natives really do say "Pooter" or "Pooder", which all pretty much comes out sounding like the same thing. Ahem. Beautiful river, though, and definitely one worth getting nekkid for. So, snaps to Friends of the Poudre for a great, arresting campaign to help preserve a beautiful, important, irreplaceable RockY Mountain natural resource.

One a more personal note, I notice that everyone in these parts seems to have two things: a dog and a bike. Both concepts I can seriously get behind. This entire town is traversed by a well maintained bike trail on which, you can pretty much access any part of the town. Also, sporty footwear is de rigueur, forcing both the S-Man and I to invest in some sporty footwear of our own at the mall today. Or I should say MORE sporty footwear of our own. We both have a shoe habit and are really bad influences on each other in this regard.

Today, we also visited the New Belgium Brewery where they make "Fat Tire Beer". Not only is the company forward thinking, environmentally conscious (the Poudre photo was one of brewery employees), employee friendly, and just plain fun, their beer is absolutely delicious and, I predict, will be the next big beer trend to head east like Coors was in the seventies. I snapped this photo of this groovy bike at the brewery today:

We continue to conspire to smuggle a six pack out of the state.

Took in an exhibit at Colorado State University today that was a botannical feast for the eyes. The Annual Flower Trial Garden was a gorgeous display on the CSU campus that we spent a lovely afternoon strolling through. My camera got a workout as I struggled to capture the riot of color and texture that made up the show.

I'll leave you with a few of my favorite images of the fantastic display garden:

Ohmygosh. How long has it been since I went THIS LONG without posting?

I'll tell you how long: A LONG TIME.

This is due to the fact that I am currently Somewhere in the Rockie Mountains. The S-Man booked us economy class accommodations and I am subsequently contending with a very slooooowww internet connection which I must access by trekking down the World's Longest Hallway while lugging all my equipment, down a steep flight of steps, and then into a dimly lit "community room". It's a little scary down here. But so worth it. I am completely twitchy when I do not have ready access to the internet.

We landed in the mile high city yesterday after visiting no less than THREE time zones. After grabbing our rental car we drove to this here hotel while watching the sun set behind the Rockies. Wow.

Then we were up early this morning exploring the town. We have not yet been to the mountains or this would likely be one of my no-words-only-photos posts. Today it was a fabulous breakfast followed by shopping, browsing, shopping, and exploring. We've been at it all day. The S-Man redeemed his dubious accommodation choice with a jewelry purchase--yay! So, I'm not complaining. No siree!

I'm hoping to post mountain photos tomorrow when I will also, hopefully, be more articulate.

Hairspray Trailer

Can't resist posting this trailer! Let's hope the movie lives up to the hype.

Gore Watch

I was saddened this morning to read this piece of news. Al Gore's son, Al Gore III, was arrested for drug posession in California. The younger Gore was speeding in his hybrid Toyota Prius (natch!) and the Orange County policeman who pulled him over smelled marijuana. A subsequent search revealed a small amount of marijuana and various prescription drugs for which Gore did not have a prescription.

The elder Al said his son is now undergoing treatment. He also reiterated that he has no intention of entering the presidential race saying, "I don't expect to be a candidate again ever."

Bummer.

Gore is currently knee-deep in helping to orchestrate the Live Earth concert which will take place July 7, '07 on seven separate continents in the hope of triggering a global movement to take steps to halt climate change. The show will be broadcast by NBC from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. CST from these cities: New York, London, Johannesburg, Rio de Janeiro, Shanghai, Tokyo, Sydney, and Hamburg and streamed live on the web by MSN at http://www.liveearth.msn.com/.

[Edited to add: Check out the Sci-Fi Channel today, they're running a "Dead Like Me" Marathon. If you've never seen the show, this is your chance to catch a little known good one.]

Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer

I've gotten a bit of flack for my comments about how crappy eighties music was! Actually, quite a few of my compadres took offense at that. Indeed, I have to admit, there was at least some great stuff. So I'm starting an informal whenever-I-feel-like-it series on the stuff of the 1980's that really is worth remembering. So enjoy this Peter Gabriel video that was revolutionary for its time and still holds up today. (This is my first posting from YouTube; let's hope it works!)

Happy 4th!

Just stopped in this morning to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday!

Also, received an e-mail from my friends at New York and Company. Alert readers will remember this store was the site of my infamous Coupons and Boobs entry where Crystal and I tore it up a month or so ago. Right now, they've got a 70% off sale going AND they've just received a shipment of new merchandise (which I'm sure won't be subject to the sale). I just couldn't resist sharing the shirt at left! How key-yoot is that? (I'm looking at you, Crystal!) Sheesh, they've got some great stuff. So, if you're at a loss as to what to do with yourself today, hop on to the store or do some online shopping.

Meanwhile, the S-Man and I are off to finish up our painting job at our downstairs unit--YUCK! But it will be nice to have it finished.

Coming up later this week, I'll be taking a fabulous trip that I'll be sharing with you here. Don't miss it!

TTFN...