Arlo Guthrie Sings Out April 12, 2009
Posted by Beth in Just for Fun, Music, Politics.Tags: Music, Politics
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Speaking Up through Books April 8, 2009
Posted by Beth in Miscellaneous Musings.Tags: Politics
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I have decided to participate in book campaign this month. The basic idea is to innundate politicians with copies of Atlas Shrugged, accompanied by a letter which explains why the book’s ideas are important and particularly relevant to today. Choosing the month of April to concentrate the mailings should increase its notability. Details of the campaign can be found by clicking on the banner below.
A secondary effect is to keep sales of Atlas Shrugged in the top ten on best-sellers lists.
Copies can be purchased from Amazon.com for around $10 plus shipping, but I was able to find them a bit cheaper through bookfinder.com: new copies for $8.45 and used for around $6. (These prices include shipping!) The cost adds up, so for right now I am just sending them to President Obama, the 2 California Senators, my representative in the House, and Mr. Geithner. (Lisa K.–I also nabbed a copy for James)
The essential story is…but I don’t want to give it away. Just let me say, there is a lot about the effects of government trying to run the economy. Yes, the story is fiction, but the theme is not. That man’s life depends on the freedom to use his mind in his own self-interest is the truth which underlies all potential effective solutions–moral and practical–to the problems we face today.
If you haven’t read the book, I would suggest giving it a go–and then let me know what you think!
3 good things (around the house version) April 5, 2009
Posted by Beth in 3 Good Things.Tags: 3 Good Things
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1. $3 of Spring (via Safeway!)
2. Small pleasures are important
(I love the bright colors, the utility and the convenience.)
3. Memories of a younger son.
(I don’t know which I like best: the red eye sockets, the tarantula lid handle, the rainbow teeth….or the cookies you can put inside.)
April’s fool April 2, 2009
Posted by Beth in Personal.Tags: Personal
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Thank goodness for my daughter and her endless energy. I had thought about what to do for April Fool’s day–then when I was not instantaneously struck with an idea on what to do (I had already rejected my son’s friend’s suggestion of mustard-and-mayonnaise sandwiches to replace my son’s daily packed lunch of PB&J as just too cruel since he is currently skipping breakfast)–I rapidly moved on to the other tasks of the day.
Much later, pulling into the driveway in the dark after visiting a neighbor at the hospital who just put his wife into comfort-only care –not a great opportunity for joviality–something odd caught my eye. A clump of willowy stalks were sticking up at odd angles from a patch in my front lawn. As I approached my front steps, I was greeted by the miracle of tropical flowers blooming along our front walk! “That’s strange,” I thought, “What in the world possessed Eva to do that?” At the front door was a sign “April Fools” and I had my answer. So much better than last several years with the saran-wrap on the toilet seat, and the rubber-band on the kitchen sink sprayer.
Here’s what they looked like this morning:
But the best came later when I pulled back the covers to crawl into bed:
And a few close ups of this inspired creativity:
(I particularly love the detail of the hairy chest.)
I sure hope I can live up to this challenge and not be such an old fuddy-duddy next year. Better start plotting planning now.
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1000 Hands April 1, 2009
Posted by Beth in Art, Just for Fun.Tags: Art
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Sent by a friend who knew I would love this beautiful exhibition of human excellence.
(N.B. Read the paragraph below FIRST before you watch the video.)
There is an awesome dance, called the Thousand-Hand Guanyin, which is making the rounds across the net.
Considering the tight coordination required, their accomplishment is nothing short of amazing,even if they were not all deaf.
Yes, you read correctly. All 21 of the dancers are complete deaf-mutes. Relying only on signals from trainers at the four
corners of the stage, these extraordinary dancers deliver a visual spectacle that is at once intricate and stirring.
Its first major international debut was in Athens at the closing ceremonies for the 2004 Paralympics. But it had long been in
the repertoire of the Chinese Disabled People’s Performing Art Troupe and had traveled to more than 40 countries.
Its lead dancer is 29 year old Tai Lihua, who has a BA from the Hubei Fine Arts Institute. The video was recorded in Beijing during the Spring Festival last year.
AisA Academy 