The Adventures of Shiloh Bones

Awesome Honu Dance: Christening New Fins For First Time

2008-11-26T15:35:00.001-10:00

•••••••••• Wednesday, November 26, 2008 PM Pacific/Honolulu •••••••••••

I got a late start this morning but the feeling that today was the day to finally try out the new fins I bought two weeks ago! I had finished my cyber duties and communications by 11:30am and headed for my favorite snorkel spot; Ulua Beach in Wailea about 10 minutes from my Maui home.

I wanted to take photos with the underwater camera Don C. had so kindly gifted me with a while back... but in my excitement that I finally felt like being in the ocean, I forgot it. Too bad, because what happen next would qualify me for a trip to the KING to tell the story I am about to tell you.

I put my new fins on. They felt a bit odd but once in the water felt fine. I was searching for octopus and/or honu (turtle) and it was honu I found in spades! Have YOU ever done contact improv with a creature other than human?

It was a perfect day. I entered Ulua from the hotel side and swam up the shallows in the center of the reef towards deeper water. With only 3 feet clearance (depth) in the midday calm water, I felt safe enough. Lo and behold there I found a rather large, green sea turtle (honu), about the same size as the one that had given me my Neptunian nickname; “Turtle Swimmer.”

I mirrored its arm movements ala NLP trying to help signal my being harmless and in fact friendly as we rode the flows eye to eye from about 10 feet away from each other when all of a sudden there was a swell.

That for me at any rate signaled danger and more violent surf. I kicked the fins into high gear quickening my progress toward deeper water.

It was in the 5 gates area (that I describe in a video game I’m writing called “Reef or Madness” designed to teach some tricks of life to inquiring minds... to help them mature them faster and prepare them well for Life’s adventure ahead.

The story of what happened today will remain a cherished memory. Surely it will be part of my book and children’s story I’m writing to help fund a cure for creature cancer.

I am going to tell you how to seduce a creature without words. First you have to make sure your presence is non-threatening. I have learned that the average relaxed honu takes three breaths at the surface before descending back to the bottom. When “out of town” swimmers rush these creatures, it scares the hell out of them.They dart down toward the bottom without taking a breath. They don’t get to breathe properly beyond getting freaked out from being chased.

I knew I had to build up trust since Ulua is filled with tourists. I always approach the creature in compassion and love. Especially since I thought I could see its characteristic arm motion... trying to get the cancer from taking a foothold in the corners of the eyes.

We swam together for a short time. Suddenly the water got rougher. I made a b-line for the deep and lost sight of the mothership. It had at least a 3 foot in circumference top shell - just like the one that gave me the ride of my life.

When the water calmed down I went back to find it but it had vanished. I swam out to the deeper reef and suddenly there it was off to my right. Water filled my mask so I pulled my head from the water and when I looked under the surface again, the mothership was gone.

I heard a sound off to my left and quickly turned to see a second honu that had surfaced for air and dove. I went under and approached it very slowly all the while wondering how the big mothership had dissapeared again without a trace in open water?

The creature that appeared was very dome shaped and much smaller and younger. It started swimming out to sea. I joined it for a while -- from a respectful distance, but it dove to the bottom after its breaths with obvious disinterest in inter-species friendship.

I headed back to the reef and lo and behold at that moment out came the mothership. It headed East. I swam alongside it from the same “safe” distance; about 10 feet - mirroring its movements to relax it. It was down about 5 feet in 20 ft of water.

We swam quite a ways before it needed air. I was intentionally giving it a wide birth - backing off when it finally came up for air. I wanted my continued presence to become familiar and non threatening. Slowly I got closer until I was only 5 ft from it, swimming on the surface, slightly behind or diving under to be beside it and looking into the wounded right eye.

After that first breath, it stayed near the surface to see what I was going to do. After a pause before the 2nd and 3rd breath, it usually dives and continues on its way. But no! It hovered as I approached without flinching.

After the first breath I closed in to about 4 ft. I knew I was an accepted friend when it continued its breathing process. By breaths 2 and 3, I had come within 2 feet and was eye to eye with this large adult female. I noticed its right eye was 50% obscured by a cancerous growth - explaining its repeated attempt to dislodge it with its flipper.

It was obviously happy to see me. My “beams of love and compassion” had worked for it slowly came up under my outstretched arm and made contact with the top of its shell.

It waited for me to get close enough; hailing distance I’ll call it and then proceeded to interact without much provocation from me. I discovered there is a formula for winning the favor of these creatures.

They are vibratory animals. They must sense various vibrations and emanations of energy... beyond the capability of humans to discern. They can easily sense when you are aggressive in nature, or are safe and non threatening. The fact that it wanted to be touched is undeniable and thrilled me!

As it came in contact with my outstretched hand, it began to rotate, just the same way I was familiar with - from my ride on the back of the spinner turtle.

I caressed its back as if it were to soft skin of a woman. I ran both hands over the back of its shell as it slowly made a 360º revolution. I covered the whole of its back smoothing away any sand, silt and algae. Its head touched my chest as my hands reached back to get to the back edge of its shell. I was almost laying on top of it. It seemed to enjoy the contact and had no fear to have its head under my breastbone! Wow!~! It was so neat.

I bet I could have ridden this one. She seemed to want more interaction. She was so friendly and wanted to play. However after the one revolution, I felt that was enough for some reason. Maybe because I wanted to get back and write about my experience or maybe because we’d traveled so far down the beach from where my things were on shore.

It was such a cool thing to feel the trust of the turtle as it spun beneath me. I looked into its eye again after the head came back around. I wanted it it know I loved it. I petted both the back of its neck-head and carapace (the top shell). I swear it seemed to look up and smile knowing we both had crossed the imaginary lines of inter-species communication.

We both new it was time to part and go our separate ways. We had crossed a boundary of nature with our love. It was a great validation of my soulfulness and sensitivity to the honu clan.

What a great gift and celebration of life I had received; to be so honored to win the turtles trust and touch. This experience was about the best “breaking in” of my new fins I could possibly invent. The only thing better is to have had a friend bear witness.

Maybe Next time... and I’ll remember the camera Don gave me too!

Frightening fun with sensors, projectors, and Max/MSP | Crave - CNET

2008-11-20T22:02:00.002-10:00

Frightening fun with sensors, projectors, and Max/MSP | Crave - CNET

This will probably be my destiny.. using the MAX-MSP toolset for my own public performances and edutainments.

When I was in SF (1994-1999) to make my last (not yet!) attempt to ground Creativity Cafe after 15 years already trying, I was led to experience Joe Lambert's Edutainment Center featuring digital storytelling pioneer Dana Atchly. We later produced several Creativity Cafe Edutainment events that incorporated video conferencing and artists using technology for humanity at their venue.

Like Dana and his "fireside" chat (a video screen with burning fireplace logs, I hope to present in a similarly colloquial fashion, an interactive experience where depending on my mood and whim, I could tell stories from my life and sing my songs - while projecting multimedia. He used to do it via a remote controlled copy of Macromedia's Director (which became shockwave/flash). I would use my Mac and MAX/MSP, Livid Union VJ software and other tools of the digital storytelling trade.

His show started with the highway of his life with branches numbered by years. It had other side "branches" marked by suitcases. A click on each suitcase opened to an expanded interface that he could use to display his photos & movies depending on what sparked he storytelling spirit at the moment.

The audience feedback and interactions he invited would often affect his storytelling flow and direction. I loved the flexibility and functionality of what he was doing... since my spirit is very much like his. I have great command of art and technology, and like most artists, have my issues maintaining focus on marketing long enough to pierce the noise floor of the world of sales to the masses or licensing my work.

Of course one should not forget that my own creativity and ego investment for most of my life was firmly focused to establish Creativity Cafe; to answer the needs all creative people. What all share the same need, i.e. someone to market and agent our talents - and how to harness their VARIOUS other forms of self expression beyond their primary gift. After all, if you are talented in on medium, I dare say you are expressive in others as well. A fine artist is often also a musician and visa versa.

Anyway. I just wanted to remember this link and thought to share it with you. When my life next turns toward public display of my persona (I am recertifying for the community access TV studio where I hope to produce the Maui Artists Showcase again), I might be ready to harness the technology to help clarify and communicate my thoughts, visions, experiences, desires and needs to an audience interactively - not to mention mentoring others to use the same digital storytelling tools to liberate their spirit. That would bring me the most joy! Stay tuned!

Got my Mac Back for Optical Drive Replacement, now screen is blue streaked!

2008-11-18T23:29:00.001-10:00

•••••••••• Tuesday, November 18, 2008 11:29:50 PM Pacific/Honolulu •••••••••••

You have to love Apple! They have now completely replaced every part of my MacBook Pro. I keep the audio plug whose tip broke off as a reminder of the good grace of one of their customer service reps who made the call to refurbish after sending Mac back with the broken off plug still in it (at my request). I didn't want to pay the $1300 for repair due to extreme abuse on my part (not having purchased a proper case to protect this precious tool and liberator of creative force).

But Apple was cool. I got the Mach back and lo and behold, it would not turn on! Did they ever please this long time customer (the MBPro is my 5th Mac) by offering to repair just enough to make it work but not fix the physical damage. They surprised the hell out of me... here is the rest of the story.

But then the optical drive stopped working. I had 90 day warranty so Apple was under obligation to fix the failed optical drive as they are to fix my now blue striped screen!

I thought my eyes were deceiving me. All the words on the right side of the email message I was writing seemed to have a bluish tint rather than be black like the words were at their start?? How curious. Then I noticed all the words on the right side of the screen (during Skype video with George Hub.), that it wasn’t my eyes deceiving me after all! The screen was actually defective or had somehow failed. That is the only thing remaining untouched by Apple.

The screen, working fine when sent in for optical drive replacement has now developed a blue streak down the right side. It shows against black but not at all with white. I have to restart; testing to see if it will go away? If not, back to Apple!

Shooting Star Watch, Photography Party and Sleep Over.

2008-11-16T21:02:00.000-10:00

http://stardate.org/nightsky/meteors/

Maui Artist Kata Joos Paints a Portrait of Creativity Cafe founder Peter H. Rosen

2008-11-05T21:48:00.002-10:00

Creativity Cafe Edutainment presents a TIME LAPSE MOVIE of artist Peter H. Rosen. You will love how his visage comes alive before your very eyes!

Spirit Body Process Halloween 2008 Performance Photography

2008-10-28T19:09:00.002-10:00

Check out the latest Performance Photography, light paintings of the ghouls and goblins (including me in my super suit)

Creativity Cafe Wins Google Prize **

2008-10-22T16:03:00.002-10:00

** OK, wishful thinking. I worked really hard (yet another time) to make a contribution to unlocking creative force for good on Earth. Sometimes its worth it whether I win or not, the idea always gets clarified.

Speaking of which, my new 28-200mm Tamron Macro-Zoom lens was delivered yesterday. The same day my neighbor threatened me harm because I am trying to keep the cigarette smoking downstairs toxic air from reaching my lungs. I retired the Sigma 28-200 Hyper Macro Zoom as a work of art.

I've been here 7 years. They bought the place under me a year ago and have the rude audacity to suggest that I should move rather than find a workable solution to my chemical sensitivity. Apparently, beer drinking people with cigarette and alcohol addictions (who suggested my Pine Sol is damaging to their kids) are so stupid, not only do they threaten their own lives - but the poor children have to breathe the poisonous second hand smoke, like I do. Would someone like to offer me a better place to live?

Meanwhile, I keep trying to apply my talents and skills to be of service. The title above may be a bit misleading, but maybe not: Check out Creativity Cafe Founders Corner for details.

Re: Transforming Our World - Global Citizens Unite - Facilitated Collaboration Venues Needed

2008-10-11T12:57:00.001-10:00

On Oct 9, 2008, at 7:03 PM, Christopher Toussaint wrote:

Friends,
As many of you can now see, the Sh*t is now starting to hit the fan blades of our global economy. There is a lot of fear in the aethers and many of us who are spiritually and psychically sensitive can be emotionally affected by it. We need to come together, whether on the Internet, via phone or in small gatherings to pool our collective energy and resources like never before. There are some great videos and sites on the Internet that are pro active in explaining what is going on from a more centered and balanced perspective. One film that has been well received is called Zeitgeist and Zeitgeist Addendum. Check out www.thezeitgeistmovement.com. Also, Naomi Klein, author of The Shock Doctrine, is also sounding the alarm.

However, the more we try to think ourselves out of this mess, the likelihood is we will operate out of fear and make stupid mistakes. Having lived for 55 years on this earth I am no stranger to making stupid mistakes... What my girlfriend Athena and I are now starting to do is take the "heart knowledge" from Peak Oil, Sovereignty, Metaphysics, Ecological practice and Permaculture to radically reshape our lives and lifestyle in the direction of what we know is sustainable and spiritually true. We are in effect, dropping totally out of the system (in as much a way as we can) and putting our energy into creating the emergent new world we envision. This will include lots of you, if you choose to be a part, for we are entering a time when cooperation will be far more essential than competition. It is becoming very clear that we are in for years of social and political turmoil due to the fallout of a crumbling global system of greed that continues to think up new ways of enslaving the people of the world. In America we have a formidible challenge, because so many are still clueless. But the good thing is that once people get over their fear and anger, they will start waking up to the reality of how they were fooled and they will be open to learn what most of us already know. We don't have to buy guns and hunker down, which is the old paradigm of paranoia. Not that I am against gun ownership, only that we need to put our priorities first, which proceeds from Spirit to liberty and to life, and from life to securing our basics -- water, food, shelter, energy, transportation. The old days of relying on "the system" and not ourselves has begun. Yes, it will be inconvenient and a lot of our neighbors will be hurt. We must rise to the occasion and let them know that there are other ways of living on this earth. This is why we are here on Earth now -- to usher in the SHIFT. Lets stay in touch.

Blessings,

Chris Toussaint
Office of the Director of Transvision &
Free Spirit Productions

Hi Chris,

As long as you are pointing out Z'geist (which lives on my iPod along with Sicko, Money Masters, Economic Hit Man, The Trap, From Freedom to Facism, etc, you might check out my next to last blog post on TAOSB:

http://creativity.net/blogs/taosb/taosbblogger.html that has links to the aforementioned.

I hope you enjoy and devour Money Masters followed by a fantastic condensation of Z'gst -like investigation and then some... with hidden twists offered by John Perkins in his CONFESSIONS OF AN ECONOMIC HIT MAN.

Feel free to pass those links on!

Collaboration is key for sure. As you may know Creativity Cafe is being designed facilitate connection between puzzle pieces, i.e. people in progress purveying new reality thought and presently unfolding as the global status quo continues to crumble. I see CCs and affiliates as a "Social Mechanism" that can greatly help turn things around. I/we are developing tools to harness technology that facilitates connection, collaboration, creation of conscious content and commences with commerce convenient to creatives - i.e. they play in Creativity Cafes and together with audience members!!! get paid dividends, royalties and rewards via CREATIVITY.COM (once developed beyond the mere placeholder currently hibernating) and hard-software currently in development.

Do you know about Paul Holman's newest efforts?

What a Journey Its Been - Back on Maui - Surprises - Serendipity

2008-10-09T13:03:00.004-10:00

Where to start. First I must give thanks to my dad who passed a year ago who continues to feed my blood family. I give thanks for those that read this journal. An artist without an audience is anticlimactic, perhaps even the antithesis of creative expression - which while healing to express, does not further the intended communication. Which is only that if YOU leave some response to my copious creativity.

All the more thanks for those who do respond, and let me know that give a crap what I express, what I think about, blog about and (hopefully support in some fashion) the actions I take - as humble as they may be (have been) to make the world a better place. I feel your love. Thank you!

I must share that sometimes I feel so disconnected, lost in my own world given the one the media portrays is so horrific. With few friends calling to check in on me (as I mostly work home at the computer -- going thru a very unpublic phase. Sometimes I feel so uncared about (knowing full well that's not true), that I can't get beyond my depressed state - especially when I think of how I've spent my life, with focus on manifesting Creativity Cafe since 1980.

I think fondly of the V.A.R.I.O.U.S. teams, who on several occasions, were attracted to our mission (CCafe) and to my nonprofit that once was; V.A.R.I.O.U.S. to contribute their energies. I give thanks to the executives who believed in my mission and offered their support while in SF. One of them I noticed has been reading this blog! I'm warmed by seeing your name in myBlog roll! Its comforting to know you still have a space in your heart for the project (and me)? Last seen you were dedicated to the Dalai Lama. Such good work. Perhaps there is a deepening of our friendship, long abandoned on the horizon?

Even with the "failure" of my most magnanimous of visions and tireless dedication to birthing Creativity Cafe, the spending of countless hours to manifest something that has yet to see the light of day; beyond the temporary embrionic beginnings? I continue to think that Creativity Cafe will STILL have its day in the sun for everyone, some day. ( hey, I'm not dead yet!).

Certainly living on Maui is not going to further those visions, goals and dreams now hibernating deep within this servant of soul fire! But I also know God works in mysterious and delightful ways.... I will be producing television again at Akaku Maui Community Television and working with much more focus on the recording of my music, and the release finally of a professionally recorded (myself) CD of my soul to be called BORN OF FRIENDSHIP.

I know that given my copious gifts of creativity, art, science, and public service, that God is watching over me. I have yet to learn how to get out of my own way it seems, or the dreams might have been further along by now? I keep getting reminders from the universe, life's perks keep popping into my world reminding me to stay in the game. I am sure its thanks to the serendipity of my world and passionate following of my heart. You may not think the following story has any bearing on that, but to me, it is a sure sign that I am blessed:

I had to return my MacBook Pro three times to be repaired all because of a broken off earphone plug that got stuck in the earphone jack. Who would have imagined this would lead to a complete overhaul of my computer -- despite the obvious abuse from droppings that destroyed the screen, bent and buckled the casing, caused the optical and Hard drive to fail (twice), etc. Though it looked mangled, fortune stepped in and Apple not only repaired the small problem and made it work again, but supersized their customer service to me and refurbished the whole machine (as detaild in a previous post)!

The machine was back and forth twice to Apple just before my trip East. Then just before coming home to Maui four days ago, the Hard Drive died. I had been backing up somewhat so I was not really distressed about it. I figured if I send in on Thursday Oct. 2nd, for replacement - under warranty - of the HD (since they already fixed everything else despite the abuse), then I would have them send it back to my Maui address, but lo and behold, they never got that message!

Ten minutes before my sister (god bless her) showed up to take me to the airport (for the first time EVER in all my years of travel), the doorbell rang at Moms house (near Squirrel Heights, NJ) where I was all packed and ready to return home. I buzzed up my sister but it was not her, it was the delivery guy with my refurbished MacBook Pro - complete with the new HD. The machine that was turned around overnight by Apple and delivered in three days! Amazing timing. Just like last time I got it back. Its virtually a new machine now. I had to repack not expecting it until the next day over 6000 miles away! It was a real blessing for sure!!

Speaking of blessings, since I was born Jewish, I want to wish those of you who follow Judaism a Happy New Year. I am reminded since today is the holiest day, Yum Kippor, of the Jewish year that in 1989 I unknowingly booked the Wetlands Preserve on this sacred day in 1989 for the Arts for Social Change Awards. Attendance was off, but we still packed people in to the Wetlands Preserve in NYC to vote on the best images and multimedia created for the benefit of humanity by artists using state of the art computers in advertising agencies and production houses.

Speaking of houses, the world is changing faster than ever now. Lots of people are going to be facing the darkest of times thanks to capitalism built on greed, governments' projection of fear into the minds of the masses thanks to mass media "programming" that instantly telegraphs the dictates of the (corporate) dictators.

Do you ever get the feeling that we've been robbed of our ability to live in harmony with ourselves, nature and each other? Thanks to corporate will and economic slavery? Last time I heard, there were millions of people dying everyday of malnutrition and homelessness while corporate bosses take weekends at the spa with money from American taxpayers (i.e. the great bailout of 2008) that very well might lead to the great depression of 2009.

Obama will surely have his hands full unless the "Republicans" continue their track record of dirty tricks. Of course we know the problem is beyond the "Republicans and Democrats." That is why the Dow Jones Average is dropping like flys, polluted by a failed system driven by greed. It was predicted, but how is the world to recover, and how are the people to be directly represented in ways that negate corruption? IMHO that is what will happen when popular voting via personal computers and specialty venues dedicated to communication, education and edutainment-networking (ie Creativity Cafe) become a reality.

On a more positive note, I picked up my mail being held at the post office yesterday. I was happy to see Marilyn from my band and perhaps the only demonstrative friend I have left on Maui - on line. She came out just as I was opening this fantastic work of art, a book of photographs that was colorfully addressed to me by its creator, a comrad in creativity by the name of Julian Cash. I will have to write, thanking him for the great honoring of my work as the dedication letter he included pointed to as the reason for his gift. I will be sending him the demo CD of my songs, a work in progress that I will now embark to build upon to produce my first finished professional rendering of my songs and music from my soul. Some of which is already on the net as backgrounds to my videos.

Blessings and peace to you,
Shiloh

PS: Keep the faith that through our collective collaborations, hookups for mutual support and creative advancement, we can rebirth our world on a foundation of corporate transparency, peace filled global interaction and a prosperity enjoyed by every person on our planet. That is after all, what CREATIVITY.COM is being reserved for: to become - if I have anything to say about it, which I do - as a vehicle for economic and personal transformation. I have been lucky to be its stewarded after it was given me in 1995. Whew! More to come.

PPS: Now I must process my pictures, reconstruct my personal operating system on the NEW HD and rebuild my computer based "operations center" while my Maui Recording Studio, gets the focus of my energy. A Hui Ho! -PR-

Money Masters and The State of American Banking

2008-09-29T04:44:00.004-10:00

This will be a short post. The bankers have been planning this all along! If you watch John Perkin's video linked in the previous post and the infamous MONEY MASTERS, you will see how you and everyone except the "insiders" have seen this coming and in fact are BANKING on the failures to further protect their powerful positions, procedures and manipulations of the market.

Money Masters clarifies and describes how "The powers of financial capitalism had a far-reaching plan, nothing less than to create a world system of financial control in private hands able to dominate the political system of each country and the economy of the world as a whole...Their secret is that they have annexed from governments, monarchies, and republics the power to create the world's money..." THE MONEY MASTERS is a 3 1/2 hour non-fiction, historical documentary that traces the origins of the political power structure that rules our nation and the world today. The modern political power structure has its roots in the hidden manipulation and accumulation of gold and other forms of money. The development of fractional reserve banking practices in the 17th century brought to a cunning sophistication the secret techniques initially used by goldsmiths fraudulently to accumulate wealth. With the formation of the privately-owned Bank of England in 1694, the yoke of economic slavery to a privately-owned "central" bank was first forced upon the backs of an entire nation, not removed but only made heavier with the passing of the three centuries to our day. Nation after nation, including America, has fallen prey to this cabal of international central bankers.

Segments: The Problem; The Money Changers; Roman Empire; The Goldsmiths of Medieval England; Tally Sticks; The Bank of England; The Rise of the Rothschilds; The American Revolution; The Bank of North America; The Constitutional Convention; First Bank of the U.S.; Napoleon's Rise to Power; Death of the First Bank of the U.S. / War of 1812; Waterloo; Second Bank of the U.S.; Andrew Jackson; Fort Knox; World Central Bank; Loose Change 911 truth police state globalists NWO New World Order Federal Reserve Alex Jones Aaron Russo America From Freedom To Fascism zionist IMF BIS John Perkins 911 911 Globalism bilderberg Rothschild Rockefeller Schiff Warburg illuminati bohemian grove idi amin freemason Video news."

Did you know the "Federal Reserve Bank" is actually a private bank that makes money for a small cadre of owners of this BUSINESS. It has NOTHING to do with American Government.

This just in! Michael Moore's Bailout Plan!

The Inevitable Happened to my Hard Drive - Rosh Hashana - Economic Hit Man

2008-09-29T04:21:00.004-10:00

I had just been speaking on the phone with Theo, about his computer
and the negative interaction of his ext. HD and iSight firewire
camera on the same bus drawing power and causing erratic behavior.

We mentioned backing up and not wanting to do anything to cause HD
failure. Upon hanging up with him, my computer locked up. Its's
been happening a bit lately, probably because I am not leaving enough
overhead (at least 10GB on my 120 GB internal). I usually keep around
5GB free, but lately, dipped way way way down to under 1GB on top of
running memory hogs like Photoshop along with Digital Performer.

Maybe that had something to do with it. I was mostly backed up thanks
to keeping my journal publicly. I hadn't had the chance to transfer
pictures to an external HD, like I do whenever I dump from the
camera's memory card, so I might have lost yesterdays images? That
will teach me to never erase a memory chip without it being full.
That way there is a backup of the last few days there as well.

I made an appointment with the Genius Bar at the local Mac Store. So
I just said goodbye to mom whom I haven't seen much of as she is
already off (8am) cooking and helping Sis prepare for 17 people
coming over for the holiday dinner. My appointment is about 2 hours
before I am to show up later today.

The Macbook Pro was newly repaired and covered by Apple's 90 day
warranty. The totally fixed machine (reported elsewhere in this
blog) came as a great surprise and unexpected gift - since the
machine's obvious abuse (which is not covered by Applecare which I
recommend highly) prevented them from removing the earphone plug tip
that had broken off in the jack.

LAST NIGHT I was hypnotized by the amazing CONFESSIONS OF AN ECONOMIC HIT MAN, JOHN PERKINS who reveals closely held secrets about how we
are all manipulated by the Bankers and Corpratization of our world.

An Open Letter Calling for Creative Collaboration & Global Transformation

2008-09-27T07:35:00.007-10:00

We need help developing CREATIVITY.COM.
Please accept this invitation for anyone who has the time and inclination - i.e. vision for helping make this domain (speaking of collective ownership) viable, to get in touch with me. There are many questions as to how to structure such an entity as I have been envisioning to serve the masses, especially creative people. BTW, I also own CREATIVITY.NET) which has also been donated - to provide an online record of progress toward physical manifestation of Creativity Cafe's first venue and interdependence with CREATIVITY.COM, a place to provide service to creative people (we need brilliant brains to collaborate and unleash gobs of potential cash cows for community sharing). The way I see it, everyone who THINKS they are NOT creative are not seeing that nothing could be further than the truth. We are all creative and as Michael Moore's letter points out, collaboratively we can make a difference. This is what Creativity Cafe is all about.

I am the steward of these cyber spaces and invite your participation. I see the domains as having great potential to being profitable (I have a great plan if you have an ear??) and useful to everyone in general. My plan involves offering ways to economically profit and or advance lives by using the resources of the domain and people who are involved in mutually supportive endeavors. You might have some good idea's for using the domains too? I you are up for it, I would love to find some folks willing to discuss possible developmental approaches and forge a plan for sharing in designed and development of these powerful root domains?

Creativity.com would obviously be a PORTAL and a place of collective, creative collaborations, authentication, validation, representation and distribution of creative works (and workers) and their products, services, information and other resources - i.e. other creativity sites, alternative venues, etc. that denizens of Earth can harness in appropriate ways to advance their personal path.

FYI, I have been producing audience interactive experiences designed to
awaken creativity in the lay person as well as to give instant
feedback and networking opportunities to creative people. As well, productions produced by members of the nonprofit I'd founded, to advance the cause to manifest a new kind of world where edutainment and networking could help to transform our world via an artists center in every neighborhood. Creative people are different. They need a different kind of world than the crass commercialized one along with proper nurturing and support systems.

If you are drawn to this kind of project. Please
investigate and make contact, i.e. leave a comment or fill in the form at the bottom of our collaboration page.

I will be applying for the Google Prize with my Creativity Cafe
Concept; describing a venue to enable the "rest of us" to actualize
our dreams ( thanks to Net support) WITHOUT having to learn how to
use a computer. Support for this multimedia edutainment venue network would come from CREATIVITY.COM(in part) by delivering payouts
for over 25 profit streams to creative people and general publics participating in the project. This community resource is being designed to help transform our world.

When we coordinatedly tap into the
great wealth of creativity on the planet, in a unified way... in
a community venue designed to harness talent cooperatively
for the benefit of us all and of course, the Creative People.
There is no end to the difference we can make in the shortest amount
of time is programs I've produced and proposed are in operation.

Would you like to be involved, collaborate and cooperate?

PS: I am here at Mom's watching (and photographing) a new squirrel
repair the nest in the tree outside her kitchen window, vacated by
the last inhabitant (rather rudely). As you recall, the happy, furry
new mom met with an untimely demise thanks to the call of nature (and
belly of the beast) all captured on film.

Consider THIS POST, an open call of nature. Please collaborate and
cooperate in creation of Creativity Cafe and optimization of
CREATIVITY.COM for global good. Together we can rewire the world,
harness new media to breed new minds; untethered and unfettered by
the trials and tribulations of once appropriate forms of government
and race of humans driving themselves toward extinction.

On that front, you MUST watch the video I just discovered last night. I was spellbound watching John Perkins and his CONFESSIONS OF A ECONOMIC HIT MAN.

Mom's Birthday - Going Strong - Recording my song - NYC 3

2008-09-26T15:00:00.001-10:00

Happy Birthday Mim!

I treated Mom and Sister to lunch; a rare gesture since I am usually
so impoverished. Speaking of which (money). I was in the city
yesterday when the money manager called me. I had finally gotten to
the Eyebeam gallery and techno-school which is very much like
Creativity Cafe in some ways - functioning on a limited scale without
visionary intent.

Last night after my THIRD TRIP into Manhattan ( to go to Eyebeam
opening at 6pm after replacing the UV filter that saved my 28-200 mm
Sigma lens, at TriState camera, there again after getting there too
late last Friday when the Jewish owners left early for the Sabbath, I
went to jam with Linsy and try out my new Audio Interface. Worked
fantastically! Now I am up to snuff for studio quality recordings.
When I return to Maui, I will be focusing on my music for CD quality
release. Then next time with my new bass player friend, I will have
tracks for him to contribute to and of course, I will have my audio
act together to record his band.

The lens that broke was the UV protection lens. It did its job when
the camera went flying while fetching the wrong transport for mother.
I had told her I was getting a wheelchair and came back with a
motorized scooter. She blatantly and flatly was insulted by my
gesture (quite the opposite of what I'd expected). She associated the
scooter with "more disability" and her pride refused her the comfort
and ease of keeping pace with less work for me. I was on my way back
with the wheelchair when I had the thought of how much my back hurts.
I was not even wanting to shop at this point when the lens slipped
from my lap and smashed for the 5th or so time to the ground (super
glue fixed it again enough to record my life) . Only the last two
falls permanently affected it, but I do need a new lens to remain
professional. ] I digress.

Just after we got back from the restaurant on a rainy Friday and as
soon as I had my clothes off, Moms doorbell rang. I put on a shirt
and pants and greeted the delivery guy with Apple Books I'd created,
finally! I had ordered these first two experiments in making iPhoto
books (of the images I have been scanning from my negative and slide
archives for the last two months) anticipating mom's birthday.

The ordering system on the Apple site was ambiguous resulting in my
order being incorrectly processed without the shipping address
intended. Upon a call to Apple, things were corrected but the
expected delivery date of the 18th didn't quite make the grade. The
party on Sept 21 was not to be the time to share the product of my
labors and gift with Mother and friends. I was so looking forward to
showing off my images and her family. But on her actual birthday,
its even better. The books arrived and because of the faux pas in
ordering, a perfect gift from Apple as mom loves books. I will keep
one of them to judge my future book compositions and tonal
treatments, now that Apple did the right thing by reimbursing me for
my troubles and doing such a great job with clear, clean reproductions.

The problem was not only Apple's fulfillment mechanism. FedEX was
also to blame. Their rerouting was less than their usual amazing
delivery feat. My call to them on the 22 resulted in promised
delivery on 24 Sept., not the 18th as first believed. I waited and
waited on the 24th, still no books. So today's timing two days later
was perfect, and actually delivered on the perfect day. Mom couldn't
stop admiring my work of art. It made me so happy, way beyond my
other gifts of the lay's, pedometer, CD of my music, DVD of other
images, etc. etc.

Who am I to tell her what to eat (as disgusting as it is to me to
watch her wolf down dead animals with great gusto; dripping in cheese

NJ08trip2 - Mom's B9th Bday Party

2008-09-22T03:00:00.005-10:00

Lynn picked us up with Jon driving. That was a first... My nephew driving. Lynn was hawking him at every turn. But later, when I saw them jump up from the gathering and shoot out the door. I quickly on impulse collected my cameras (still and video) and followed them after excusing myself and saying quick goodbyes. Lynn challenged me, what about mom? How is she going to get home?, as if there were no other options. You picked us up I reminded her.

I was never so satisfied at hearing an Oh, yeah!? from her as I darted to meet up with Jon and David. They told me a secret and that made me feel good to. That they will confide in me (about something even their parents don't know) was a first and real bonding moment.The party was 13 folks strong at Dimora's Italian Restaurant, not far from here.

After the party, and crashing on the couch (my back feeling better after yesterdays rest from my trip to Manhattan, I tested out my new M-Audio Profire 610 interface. I got a call from Paul Holman in LA at the same time George on Maui hailed me via auido iChat. I had been trying for YEARS to get Paul on the same page so we could work together if that's possible? Neither of us is easy to work with (i.e. we both have visions and are resolute for the most part in how they are to be executed in manifestation). He has a venue space and wants my assistance, he's just not willing to brand it Creativity Cafe, nor has he offered any overture of partnership.

It was fun chatting with him and George; spreading our chat across the time zones. It finished my high day celebrating my mom. I called for a toast and spoke some wonderful words about dear Mim. Loudly and without warning I stood up and chortled, "I would like to propose a toast to the most marvelous miraculous Miriam for her love, thoughtfulness and zest for life that has brought us all together...."

I carried on for a bit and everyone cheered and applauded followed by Lynn upping the ante. How you can up it from giving mother this fantastic party (of eating) is impossible. As Lynn said, you have stuff, I thought I would give you an experience! I'm trying to get mom to consider a trip to Maui, but I don't think its going to happen. The deck has already been stacked for a Florida party for her 90th. I have begun collecting memories for the occasion in that I've been going through my considerable archives of slides and negatives for the last year (since I gifted myself with a Nikon film and slide scanner last Xmas).

NJTrip day 13: I lost my iPod while tresspassing to Shoot the Bison!

2008-09-20T17:43:00.004-10:00

Gabcast! Creativity Cafe; Edutainment, Networking Transformational Theater #5

Soon if you click on the title, you will be transported to a movie that shows the images of the story! Of course by Shoot the Bison, I am speaking of Photographing it!

All I can say is thank God! The iPod could have fallen out at any time anywhere. I had been recording another story in the car on the way with mom, to an art show in the park. Van Saun if you want to google it. Great park filled with all sorts of amusements, rides, zoo, train, lake, at sunset is when we finally got out of the house.

I had made pancakes to serve to mom a breakfast in bed. I had brought the mix from Maui last time here in April. She didn't like I used her coffee pot to make the batter, but hey, it was the perfect size and what's the big deal anyway. I cleaned to pot (glass from a small auto coffee maker) and made her coffee as well. Served her in bed. She deserves it to put up with my always doing things differently than the way she orders me to. It happens when driving (turn here! I turn there getting to the same spot mind you, but she blows a gut that I have to do it my way and I've always been that way... You'd think she'd trust that my way is as good if not better by now. But that's a whole other story.

I purchased a digitizing box for my audio studio set up so now I can record 4 tracks of live audio, rather than just two. So now I can record jim on one track, marilyn on another, vocals on a third and my guitar on a 4th, all live! I hope our performances live up to the quality we will have capability of now? Jim are you reading this (yeah, right). The M-Audio Profire610 came with Ableton Light which I have been interested in lately. I met a lawyer in Borders who has the same puter as me and is into DP and music!

I am trying to catch why it is mother and I argue all the time. All the time. There is always some little thing where I am annoyed at the request like this... I hurt myself badly this morning. In bending to reach for the eggs to make pancakes in the bottom of the fridge, something gave in my back and a creak throughout my body humbled me to the floor.

All day I have been fighting pain and pinging myself, i.e. getting in and out of driving mom's vehicle, the bend getting out and the act of landing my ass back on the seat sent a shot of pain up my back from the point of my L4-5 compromise to my neck. All day its been tweeked, I'am walking crooked and need to lay out for a bit. Such is my life.

But the good thing is I always bounce back... the heating pad and menthal pain pads that you can stick on are working their magic. Hmmmm problem with the Profire 610. The firewire that comes with it just fell out of the port on the side of the Mac, NOT GOOD! you don't want that happening in the middle of a session! I will have to use my own cord. (I just reversed ends. That seems to have solved the problem). I may have even brought one along. I am getting a couple of songs ready to record on Thursday with Linsy the Optomotrist Bassist.

George had eye surgery. He's a good buddy. We are always chatting and video conferencing about audio, video and computer stuff. Kindred spirits. Everything worked out fine! He may someday again be my technical director at Akaku. I plan to broadcast again starting in November. I hope my spirits are up to it. There is a blog post about it here.

An Expensive Day - Facing Facts - Back into the City

2008-09-19T01:05:00.003-10:00

I was recovering all day Thursday after my 6.5 mile romp in the city. I haven't been able to find a good place to put the pedometer on Mother. I bought it for her birthday since she at 89, is still going shopping and lugging groceries up a couple flights of stairs to her apartment. I am as usual camped out on the floor on pillows and the blow up air mattress I brought from Maui.

We didn't get out of the house until 4pm. I wanted to go to the Mall where there are lots of shops, but all the styles were not mine. I had her wait by the mall entrance until I could fetch a wheelchair for her. It was on the other side of the mall so I got another long walk in. They had a motorized scooter. As my back was hurting, I opted for that rather than a wheel chair. I enjoyed riding it back to where she held her post. She would not use it.

She absolutely refused. I think it was her ego that stopped her, not wanting to be seen or feel like an invalid. I had to ride that sucker back and get a wheelchair. I was heading back to Mom with it when my camera slipped off my lap and crashed, this time breaking the lens that
I had several times repaired with superglue. Not this time. the lens is DOA.

Her party is two days away, so I have to take another trip into Manhattan to buy a lens. Also the white suite I purchased is a bit small, so I have to find a large size. I thought I could fit if I lost a pound or two in my gut, but the pants which I didn't try on, were much too tight revealing my privates rather clearly. The life of a man in the world without a partner to love, can be rather challenging. Its always easier for two people to navigate life's twists and turns as a couple. I think I am over the hill in that department although there is always hope as long as I don't seriously entertain thoughts like I will never again find anyone to love this eclectic fool.

I must admit my fear of losing Mom. The only person that has my history and best interests in mind and who has the insight of bringing me up, and helping me integrate with this life and my very straight and narrow sister and the american lifestyle family she is bringing up. I fear I will be so alone when she passes, with no connection to anyone. After all, when is the last time you commented on this blog, my art(s) or my attempts to bring Creativity Cafe into the world?

Speaking of that project. I was near Eyebeam Gallery, today I will try to go there after getting the lens. I will also spare my body and not do so much walking. Rather I will take trains and cabs. It will be expensive, but my body just can't take traipsing through the city like the old days.

I had a chat with Lynn about our family inheritance which along with everyone elses' money has taken quite a beating. I pointed her to the Arron Russo videos and she didn't want to hear it. She forbade me to bring anything like that to the attention of my nephews. She would rather have her head in the sand than see and acknowledge the manipulations that have put us in this position (economically speaking). The greed factor has burst the bubble, fortunes are falling and the American dream, well it needs some shoring up.

After the fall of my camera, I didn't want to spend another minute in the mall. I certainly didn't want to spend any more time going through shops with boring knock off clothes that really don't express my persona.

I am having a tough time knowing mom with her aches and pains, her awesome spirit to carry on, her will power, etc. can do nothing to stop the ravages of time and eventually take her away from me. Her limp is worse. She can hardly walk and yells at me when I try to discover what exactly is ailing her. She refuses to see a doctor for her leg condition, and makes me wrong by getting angery and yelling that I should leave her alone, when I mention having it looked at. I can do nothing for her on that front and its making me nuts to see her in agony and trying to act as if there is nothing wrong.

I guess to them I was the same way. Spending every drop of energy and fiber of my being to bring into existance a new kind of community center and school to help people navigate the speeded up world we live in and change their thinking in ways that would benefit them, and symbotically speaking, their communities wherever a Creativity Cafe exists. I am still resolute in trying to attracted those who would assist with this life's mission. But things are looking bleek in that department.

I am not a happy and content person. I have such frustrations and longings. Not only for a body and heart out of pain, but for a world that doesn't settle its disagreements with war. There is a longing in me that defies description. A soul ache that I can't even describe. I am haunted by (gladly) not being able to be part of the statue quo and yet where else do I go?

I have been all but abandoned by most of my former friends who never call, never write and are more than likely as tired of hearing my spew about CCafe as I am with mothers lifestyle of putting off today what can be done tomorrow (and then never doing it) and dealing with her hording issues.

Soon I will be back on Maui which has become very inert in the fun, friendship and progress on my dreams department. Sure I have a couple of friends with whom I make music under the guise of being in my band, but I know better than to think our group will amount to anything other than perhaps some good recordings. Not that I woudn't be delighted with that! and have my spirits lifted with the completion of my first CD. Speaking of which, next week I have a recording session with Linsy to work on two of my tunes. I am needed to buy a good audio interface for my Mac. I am deeply enegaged in research.

God knows, the sounds of my soul have been in the birth canal for long enough. I just can't keep focused long enough on the music, before my flair for photography steals my energy and focus, and then V.A.R.I.O.U.S. comes around and its back to trying to find a way to further Creativity Cafe. Oy Vey. I need help. Where is that business visionary I feel I need to collaborate with, someone who can see why I have spent the better part of my life trying to bring something new and beneficial to the peoples of the world - into being and who can appreciate my efforts and my vision .

Wednesday, Sept 17th, NJTrip2 day 10 - First Trip to Manahattan

2008-09-18T18:41:00.001-10:00

I was in the city for the first time on Wednesday taking the bus in at around 10am arriving an hour later. I took the subway downtown look across at a beautiful, tall model wearing purple high heals. She reminded me how much I love the look and feel of the NY Woman. We got out at 14th St. I was curious to see where she was going and followed her for a block or two until running into another beautiful woman. This one seemed lost as she consulted her map. I offered assistance. We walked a few blocks together. She's a young model just learning the ropes. She had to go where the purple shoe'd beauty was going -- just a few blocks away.

I headed to my old place on Charles St. and took photos, then went shopping in the Bali and Tibetan shops for a nice jacket. Found nothing. I put my camera on my wheeliebopper where it dropped off and popped my super glue repair. I had to find super glue gel and fixed the lens. Then I lost my favorite smoking pipe. The one given me two years ago by Maury with the magnetic top. I replaced it when I got to 42nd times square area.

I headed to Music Alley on 48th St. and 7th Avenue to shop for a new keyboard to replace my beginners casio with something with more sounds. I want to get a professional audio interface for my Mac to record my band in formation and finally focus my energy on creating my first CD of my tunes.

I walked 6.5 miles according to the pedometer I bought mom for her birthday. She keeps saying I must have walked a mile. Only problem is we can't find a place on her body to put it where it will count accurately. Her limp and cane masquarade her gate. I was too wiped out after walking 6.5 miles to walk another 3 to meet up with Mike Sussell. We arranged for a potential Friday meeting.

I stopped into the Interop and Web 2.0 Expo's. I love the trade show atmosphere. I was surprised by all the beer bars sponsored by each company. There were cheese plates and crackers and I got my share of trade show booty and blinkies. I walked past where they wash and bed down the horses from Central Park Carriage duty and was glad to be on the bus home to a mother made dinner. There was a line three blocks waiting for the bus. I was hurting and couldn't stand another minute. I circumnavigated the line and found a back door to get up a few levels to the beginning just before the bus came.

I tried to explain to the first guy in line my challenge, but he didn't care. Oh well. I guess the ravages of old age and infirmary matter little after one has been working all day and is anxious to get home. I got in the first seat with my wheeliebopper crammed in front of me. A cute Korean woman sat next to me. I spoke with her. She loved my Valentine's Heartwave Video and the Kaleidoscopic Exploration hypnotic mandala videos that I shared with my iPOD. I gave her some 3D glasses to wear as well. A gift.

I didn't see anything I liked in the way of clothes. But, I did chat with several beautiful women in the course of the day. It felt great to be back in NYC. I just love it there... but not enough to move permenantly. I couldn't find the Eye Beam gallery as I chose not to take my laptop the address.

Visit to the Big Apple - Shopping and Web 2.0 and Interop Expo Attendance

2008-09-18T13:38:00.002-10:00

It was my first journey into Manhattan this trip. I headed right for the Village where I was shopping for a nice new sporty outfit. Something different than the traditional American suit and tie fare. Not my style at all. In fact these days, I am having trouble deciding who to be no less what style to "be in."

The trip was fun.

Trip2NJ9.13.08-Brooks Party - Saturday

2008-09-16T19:32:00.002-10:00

I had a great time over the weekend at Brooks party. Well worth the
money I paid to rent a car and drive out on Long Island. Each street
name caused childhood memories to surface, and when I walked the
streets of Roslyn where I grew up (on the way to Brooks house in Glen
Cove) well, It was great to be so immersed in my past. In fact, when
I walked to the little creeks in the Roslyn duck pond property, I
forgot about the bog and gut stuck in the muck. My nice white pants
(I was going to the party in) became muddy mirrors of my experience.
I had to stand in the stream and wash the mud out. I must say, since
I was wearing my open-toe sandals from Maui, I enjoyed the mud coming
up over my feet as they sank two or three inches into the bog with
each step -- threatening to pull the flip flop off my foot entirely.

I put my pants in his washer and romped the party in my bathing suit
(I'd been wearing underneath). I was wearing my turtle shirt and had
several people come up to me when I offered my Turtle Tale in honor
of Brooks party and his guests, several of whom came up to me
afterwards to share how touched there were by my story. Those words,
from an admiring audience are golden to a spoken word artist!

Amazingly, I ran into the guy who followed me into the pants of one
flute player named Vivienne who brightened my life briefly at the
turn of the Millennium. She was actually my last girlfriend and
appears in my Christmas Maui Artists Showcase Video, produced on Dec.
15, 1999 (my dad's birthday) in the studio at Akaku Maui Community
Television. We were additionally honored with the addition of Grammy
Award winning artist George Kahumoku Jr. who gave everyone on my
staff free CDs of his music!

The party also revealed this old LA friend who refused to pay me for
photographing her because she didn't like any of the great photos I
produced in an 1.5 hr photo session for which I wanted $40. I hugged
her anyway even though I thought I'd never see her again and was glad
of it. But there she was at this party and in fact lived in the
neighborhood, moving from her place across from Manhattan where I'd
taken some great skyline images at dusk a few years back.

Being with Mom is great, and of course not without some challenging
moments when I kind of dominated her. She wanted me to keep the
piled up stash of stuff that lives in the back seat of her car, but I
couldn't see over it. She was pissed at me when I drove to her
storage and made her release some of it to a new home away from the
vehicle so we could safely see thru the rear view mirror.
desired

Trip2NJ9.08 Back to my Roots - Roslyn, Brooks Party -revised

2008-09-14T20:06:00.001-10:00

I took this Stereo photo of Roslyn Harbour's old Grist Mill. Its being
restored on the inside. I can remember being inside as a kid when the
mill was still operating! Its right across from the Roslyn Movie House where I saw my first movie at 25 cents with the neighborhood kids from Milburn lane.

I rented a car today to get to Brooks Party in Glen Cove. I just had to
visit Roslyn where I grew up. I stopped to take photo's and visit
the house that I grew up in and walked the town. That was a bit of a mistake...

I pulled over just before sunset at the duck pond where I first learned to sleigh ride. Where Mom used to take me to bath in the streams, where the duck we kept was released and where I used to love to hang out and visit, even when going to College at CW Post. I registered as an Art Major, switched to Music and then changed to Chemistry where I remained until struck with WCWP fever.

Once I tasted the radio station, I had found home! All other school activities paled in comparison to my joy in the studio. Many classes were cut in order to host my own show, "The Folk Project" along with Linda Hughs and engineer the news. I held a 3rd class FCC license.

I loved to record my HS friends and their Sub Celler Dweller jug band - exercising my record engineering skills that were first wet upon receipt of my first tape recorder -- a Wollensak T1515=4 stereo Reel to Reel.

My uncle Ralph exposed me to it (I thought I was listening to radio until he opened the cabinet and pressed stop. That stop was the beginning of my career path when later in life I would be come a recording engineer. My mother had bought the recorder to ease the pain of our family breaking up and soften the blow of her war and impending divorce from my father. It was the perfect gift and distraction -- not that I don't still carry scars of those moments to this day!!!

Speaking of healing, the party at Brooks was just what the doctor ordered!

More later when I plan to fill in the blanks

Peace

Beauty and the Beast

2008-09-10T21:14:00.003-10:00

The day before my departure I was running errands when I saw this awesome Rainbow that I knew was in the right position to photograph against the spewing smokestacks. The only problem was I didn't have my good camera with me, so this Cell Phone Photo had to do. I also created a panoramic version that is composed of two left and right images sewn together. But I like this one with the juxtaposition of the gas guzzlers and the beautiful god smile in the sky. What's hiding behind the tree is the last remaining sugar cane refineary on Maui. It is a major cause of pollution not only from the smoke stacks, the poisonous fertilizer that runs off into the ocean affecting the creatures ecosystem, the harvesting creates noxious "smoke" the dry soil kicked up by the tilling of the land and carried by the wind, right into Kihei where I live. Check out this video I shot of the pollution from the burning of the sugar cane and these stills that amplify the point.

Trip report Day 1 of travel to NJ: Safe & Sound After 15 hours in the air

2008-09-09T21:15:00.001-10:00

---------------- Tuesday, September 9, 2008 9:15 PM ---------------

I arrived safe and sound after a very, very, very long time on the plane.... I got dropped off by Jgold at Kahului Airport at 1pm for a 3:30pm flight that was delayed. I killed time until a 5:30pm departure. I found comfort by hanging out in the new restaurant named after a rock star. There was no free Internet anywhere I could find, but the air conditioning was working great and the other plus, was the couch of leather; bunk seating for one of the tables -- that became my command post (pix) and sleeping station. I had been up and down all night and needed the rest.

As usual my trick to carry an extra "suitcase" worked well and has been improved over the years. It worked so well, I was able to carry an apple with me that the Ag Scanner might have rejected? The plan left Maui as planned this time and headed for Honolulu. I took photos of course and will inject them here and there.

There was no time to hang in my favorite japanese garden and play guitar. I needed to get my technology recharged, the cellphone and computer, and video camera battery. My 5 hour battery died about 3 months ago after my last trip East. I have yet to replace it. I use SterlingTek batteries. They do the job but the life of 5 years was a little disappointing.

I was having dreams of the mile high club thanks to a lovely blond and bookish babe, her body snugly shown off in a tight black, form revealing pantsuit. I was joined in my middle section by a couple in the packed plane. Of course I took the pillows next to my seat to help my back issue and said nothing when she complained to her companion about missing a pillow that "somebody" must have taken. I was glad when a stew came over and whispered something to them. They got up and left me with a sleeping bunk and boy, did I make use of it.

The plane didn't land in Newark, under seige with a thunder and lightening storm. We circled for half and hour before being diverted to Dulles International Airport in Washington DC to pick up fuel. We relaunched to finally land 5 hours late. Unfortunately, for the first time ever my sister was going to come pick me up! A first!

Every time I come East, I want the pleasure of getting picked up by family to feel loved enough for either Lynn or Steve or Jon (as he now drives) to come and get me. Usually the response to my request (they would never offer) was "there's no time, its too late," etc.. So, I would rent a limo and deliver myself to my mom's doorstep. This was going to be a first where I would actually get to spend time alone with Lynn (which hasn't happened in 10 years) as she offered to pick me up - finally. But alas, that time will have to continue to wait.

She suggested I grab a cab. But after looking them over and seeing none had GPS devices, the cars were old and the next guy in line had Jihad writing on the back of his vehicle, I decided to call my limo connection and get picked up in style. It was a good decision, especially since the driver had an inverter so I could plug my laptop into the car battery and make a journal entry on the way to Moms. I stopped for some chinese take out and arrived just in time for dinner about 6pm - twenty four hours in the plane (if you don't consider the time zone changes) and wakefulness for over 30 as I got up finally at 6am on Monday Morning to begin packing for my 3:30 flight.

I did my usual ritual in the bathroom in order to better enjoy the flight and liked to put down the "baby table" so I could stand up and use my laptop in comfort of a well lit space. Hey, it was the middle of the night for most people who were rather comedic in various sleeping postures. There were ample bathrooms for the few who needed them so I felt no guilt in monopolizing one.

It was a delight as always to see my loving mother and give her a big hug. I was amazed at her place. How neat and organized it is! Lynn was in and basically continued what has been the family ritual, to help mom let go of her stash of hoarded stuff that rules her life as much as shopping and dieting. But you can't fault a person for doing what they need to stay sane in a world that (I know for her) for some, have been trying beyond the norm (seeing your house burn down and saving your kids) and watching your husband die of cancer.

The first thing I did after yet another short sleep was to fix her Internet connectivity which was delivering download speeds of 18 KBS! Speaking of sleep, its time for my first night of rest in NJ on my voyage that is completely without agenda other than visiting my dear mom, family and new music friends (not to mention an old NYC friend, Theo and my past partner and fellow Charles St. resident Andrea D. They are the only two with whom I am still in contact. Damon and the lawyer lady (who's husband is Damon's cousin) I’d met at a post 9-11 *** gathering in Union Square NY right after that pivotal day have written me out of their life scripts. That reminds me of the next song I will write and have already started called, "out of sight, out of mind." I tend to not throw people away and in fact remain in contact with many from my past.

*** I was supposed to travel from Ft. Lauderdale Fla. to Newark, NJ on Sept 11, 2001 - having traveled from Maui to visit my dad in his recovery hospital room after a heart attack. Little did we know then, he would have almost exactly 7 more years in physicality. You can find my complete story of my 911 experience elsewhere in TAOSB Note. Before the plane were again allowed to fly, I was finally able to get the last seat on a train heading North on Sept 18th -- arriving in Newark 42 hours (instead of 26) later due to unforeseen incidents that prolonged my travel and challenged the train. Kind just like this trip and the unexpected detour! The story is pretty interesting (IMHO) like many who have gone on record to describe their 911 experience.

Nothing is quite like Mother's Love

2008-09-02T19:07:00.001-10:00

I don't know what I'd do if it didn't have my mom to speak with every day? But I know someday, I will find out. May that day not arrive for many moons. I hear my uncle, my favorite uncle is not doing so good. I am saying my prayers for him!

American Politics and the Media: Showmanship

2008-08-29T12:01:00.001-10:00

speaking of performances: Here I am onstage at the Wetlands Preserve
on New Years Eve 1989, a few months after my production of the
Artists For Social Change Awards.

I have personal experience with American Politics and a love of
media. I was part of the special events unit that televised the 1968
presidential election. I was a production assistant at the time in my
early 20's. I found myself in the master control room and studios of
the ABC Television Network in NYC which for me, was college. My
American Broadcasting Company experience had me working with Peter
Jennings, Jules Bergman, Howard K. Smith and other network celebrities.

I was just out of college where I majored (unofficially) in
Communication Arts. After a year of school (and cutting classes to
hang out at WCWP where I was first an engineer, and later host of
"Folk Project," which often had me setting up microphones and music
mixing my friends music live in the studio. That set the stage for my
life. Shortly thereafter, I was snapped up by ABC when looking for my
first full time job.

What I immediately noticed, after watching Obama's compelling closing
comment at the Democratic National Convention, was that the Media and
the Message were perfectly orchestrated. The VP announcement
delivered by the Republicans, was a carbon copy of the democrats
production with flags waving, cheers and yelling mixed in with rock
music theme song to create the look (of television) that American's
have come to model their lives after and be steered by.

The Republican party offered a parody of the Democratic production.
Jon McCain a mockery of what I think of as a leader announced his
running mate. How could anyone vote for a person reading from a
script - not even delivering someone else's words with inner
convection one would expect from a leader!

American politics has become a shame or at least it is when I think
of Republicans. The party producing the puppet reading the script
saw the power of Obama's wife. In a last minute move, they have
selected a woman of strength to buoy up the presidential contender -
who possibly will become the first ever female vice-president.

I see the Rep.VP push as someone who was selected to ensure political
pliability. Someone who will give way and bend (despite her
rhetoric) under control of the "big boy" powers and global elite
that are pulling the strings. "She has been far from the well oiled
Washington political machine." This suggests Republican's (IMHO)
are setting her up to have the image of a self-starter, someone not
to be pushed over, but in fact is subterfuge. I had to laugh as
McCain had to look down at his script before announcing the name of
Sarah Palin. That to me was scary (to think anyone could vote for
such a surrogate leader).

Palin from Alaska is about as far removed from the players of
Washington as possible - except if Linda Lingle, Gov. of Hawaii would
have been suggested. Linda doesn't have the needed housewife image
though. I thought it in appropriate and strange to see a presidential
hopeful kissing his potential VP. Can you imagine Bush kissing Chaney
on the cheek?

I must say, the Republican potential VP is a woman with a certain
pizzaz and sexiness, unlike Hillary. Her house-husband Todd, a
production operator of an Alaska Oil drilling rig has not a drop of
political will or experience unlike the Clinton pairing. Both
candidates seem to be puppets for the Republican elite. How American
to have a son in the army no less. Rah Rah for the military. Please!

This family of five represents the American family. There is nobody
who can NOT identify with her. A good counter measure and lever to
wedge voters and splinter Obama's race. A lot of voters won't like
him because he's black and not privileged. At least Senator Palin
speaks well. Presenting power, presence and conviction unlike her
rather lame (as a performer which counts a lot in todays world)
running partner.

You could feel the electricity and aliveness in the Democratic
production values featuring the most creative and insightful
speakers, but not with the Republican briefing so far. There is a
whole different tone and style to the rather stoic Republican
presentation. A lot to be desired.

I couldn't help but notice the Republicans mic'd the men's choir to
amplify their chant of USA USA USA trying to punch up the rather lame
"atmosphere." It was so artificial. The whole crowd was not in the
ecstatic unison like the Dems. behind Obama. I was actually annoyed
by McCain's fidgeting, did you notice? He didn't know what to do with
his hands and his unresponsive stiffness whilst standing close to
Palin looking over her shoulder at her script as she delivered it
was as artificial as his performance. I see the party players have
humorously exchanged roles. McCain is somewhat flat and picks a
vivacious woman of conviction and charisma. Clearly in the other
camp, Obama is the one who shines whilst running mate Biden is rather
low key.

BTW, I am not at all political as its always the lessor of the
evils. I can't wait for Creativity Cafe venues to act as community
town halls, to get the vote from the people themselves. After all,
the security of our Internet identities beat out the voting machines,
proven to not be tamper proof.

Boy Was I surprised when I got my Totally Repaired Mac Back!

2008-08-24T12:13:00.001-10:00

Despite the fact it was rudely smashed up! Good thing I had the screen fixed outside the Apple system last September after the stupid incident - described in the post below.