Stomp: At the Palace Theatre
STOMP is a hell of a kick. It's the Oltatunji of the Ashcans. The Kodo Drumming of the Alleyways. It is offbeat, imaginative, relentlessly unique in its working-class creativity, and, at its best, downright inspirational.
Gotta admit---it starts slow. You have to adjust to a set cobbled together from trashcans and hubcaps, discard signs and scrap metal. There's no orchestra and no lyrics. Marcel Marceau would get mugged in this neighborhood.
Festivities open with a guy pushing a broom. Soon there's a chorus line of broomsters, somehow making it all musical. And from there it goes...
Other "instruments" range from paperbags and daily newspapers to bottleopeners and kitchen utensils, from actual basketballs to apparently random trash.
Slowly, the cast establishes their characters. The sad sack. The macho muscle man. The Earth Mother. The firefly.
Gotta admit---it starts slow. You have to adjust to a set cobbled together from trashcans and hubcaps, discard signs and scrap metal. There's no orchestra and no lyrics. Marcel Marceau would get mugged in this neighborhood.
Festivities open with a guy pushing a broom. Soon there's a chorus line of broomsters, somehow making it all musical. And from there it goes...
Other "instruments" range from paperbags and daily newspapers to bottleopeners and kitchen utensils, from actual basketballs to apparently random trash.
Slowly, the cast establishes their characters. The sad sack. The macho muscle man. The Earth Mother. The firefly.
Reloading to fight the Bush Matrix: 'The Matrix Reloaded'
Now showing at the Arena Grand and Elsewhere
The mystery is solved:
HEMPSTERS: Plant the Seed
Dallas, TX - We are pleased to announce the completion and premiere of the documentary project, "HEMPSTERS: Plant the Seed," a passionate, outspoken and sometimes fiery treatise on industrial hemp and, specifically, on seven activists who, although separated by economics, geography and lifestyle, are allied in the fight to legalize the growing and utilization of Industrial Hemp. A project that has been in the works for seven years.
This film recently screened rough cuts of the project at The Santa Monica Film Festival and The Deep Ellum Film Festival in Dallas and is premiering in The Maui Film Festival June 11th-15th, 2003.
Woody Harrelson, Willie Nelson, Stephen Jenkins (Lead Singer of Third Eye Blind), Merle Haggard, Gatewood Galbraith, and Ralph Nader, Craig Lee, Donna Cockrell, Andrew and Jake Graves, Alex White Plume, Julia "Butterfly" Hill, Milos Yellow Hair, Tom Cook and Joe American Horse are the notables speaking out in "HEMPSTERS: Plant the Seed," each with a vested interest in championing this cause.
This film recently screened rough cuts of the project at The Santa Monica Film Festival and The Deep Ellum Film Festival in Dallas and is premiering in The Maui Film Festival June 11th-15th, 2003.
Woody Harrelson, Willie Nelson, Stephen Jenkins (Lead Singer of Third Eye Blind), Merle Haggard, Gatewood Galbraith, and Ralph Nader, Craig Lee, Donna Cockrell, Andrew and Jake Graves, Alex White Plume, Julia "Butterfly" Hill, Milos Yellow Hair, Tom Cook and Joe American Horse are the notables speaking out in "HEMPSTERS: Plant the Seed," each with a vested interest in championing this cause.
DENOVO: seven-inchtastic
I’ve been friends with the guys in Denovo for I don’t know how long – hell, I was in bands with some of them. I listened to Jason, Marc, Chris and Sean write these songs. But I’ve moved, and Sunday is no longer dominated by Denovo practice day. While my life is a little quieter, it lacks the right soundtrack.
But my problem has been solved. Heartfelt, raw – somewhere between indie rock and hardcore – Denovo’s new seven-inch masters melodic, post-hardcore. While I’ve drifted away from a lot of indie records in the past couple of years, Denovo pulls me back with their authenticity and ingenuity.
On the instrument side, Denovo skillfully juxtaposes driving bass lines and creative drum work with guitars that alternate between fret-board acrobatics and driving synchronicity. The vocals are clean, heartfelt and complete Denovo’s sound. Sean met the other guys during the years Special Aviation Project, Denovo’s predecessor, was searching for a singer. When you listen to the seven-inch, you know why their search stopped with him.
Urgent KFC Campaign Update
Greetings, Activists!
Please read this ENTIRE e-mail message, as it contains important, detailed information regarding our KFC Campaign, which is NOT being called off. In fact, it’s going full speed ahead. Please continue to organize as many demonstrations as you possibly can, write letters, and so on. The pressure must continue!
As you may have heard, KFC’s president, Cheryl Bachelder, recently flew to PETA’s hometown of Norfolk, Va., for a meeting with PETA president Ingrid Newkirk and Bruce Friedrich to discuss our demands of KFC. As a result of the meeting, KFC has pledged to make several important improvements in the way chickens are treated. Here’s what KFC has pledged to do:
· put cameras in all U.S. slaughterhouses to help discourage the sadistic abuse of chickens and to help catch and punish any employees abusing birds
· implement humane mechanized chicken-gathering at one-fourth of all U.S. slaughterhouses by the end of next year
· increase the amount of living space for each bird by about 30 percent
Please read this ENTIRE e-mail message, as it contains important, detailed information regarding our KFC Campaign, which is NOT being called off. In fact, it’s going full speed ahead. Please continue to organize as many demonstrations as you possibly can, write letters, and so on. The pressure must continue!
As you may have heard, KFC’s president, Cheryl Bachelder, recently flew to PETA’s hometown of Norfolk, Va., for a meeting with PETA president Ingrid Newkirk and Bruce Friedrich to discuss our demands of KFC. As a result of the meeting, KFC has pledged to make several important improvements in the way chickens are treated. Here’s what KFC has pledged to do:
· put cameras in all U.S. slaughterhouses to help discourage the sadistic abuse of chickens and to help catch and punish any employees abusing birds
· implement humane mechanized chicken-gathering at one-fourth of all U.S. slaughterhouses by the end of next year
· increase the amount of living space for each bird by about 30 percent
KFC Attempts to Deceive Consumers
Corporation continues to support the worst abuses
On May 1, KFC issued a news release claiming to be adopting “industry-leading poultry guidelines.”
PETA is disgusted that KFC would attempt to deceive compassionate consumers: KFC’s release is worded so as to reassure chicken consumers who are anxious to hear that chickens are not cruelly treated by KFC and its suppliers and slaughterers. But, in fact, KFC continues to ignore its own animal welfare advisory board’s recommendations as well as those of the humane community, still has not adopted the eight key minimum reforms, and instead continues to hide behind the chicken industry’s skirts, hoping that this will all go away and pretending that it needs government permission to switch to gas killing, an accepted method that requires nothing more than the decency to implement it.
On May 1, KFC issued a news release claiming to be adopting “industry-leading poultry guidelines.”
PETA is disgusted that KFC would attempt to deceive compassionate consumers: KFC’s release is worded so as to reassure chicken consumers who are anxious to hear that chickens are not cruelly treated by KFC and its suppliers and slaughterers. But, in fact, KFC continues to ignore its own animal welfare advisory board’s recommendations as well as those of the humane community, still has not adopted the eight key minimum reforms, and instead continues to hide behind the chicken industry’s skirts, hoping that this will all go away and pretending that it needs government permission to switch to gas killing, an accepted method that requires nothing more than the decency to implement it.
Dysart Woods Historic Event
The Historical Trekkers group will tour Dysart Woods this Saturday, May 3 with muskets and 18th century attire. They say that Dysart Woods is one of the extremely rare places where they can see a historic tract of the old growth forest that once covered 95 percent of Ohio.
They will arrive at the ancient forest between 10-10:30 a.m. this Saturday. Media are welcome to record the event. “With the current permit to mine directly under the ancient forest, this may be the last opportunity of its kind to tour a significant historic forest in Ohio, unless the permit can be stopped in the Ohio Division of Mineral Resources or in court,” said Dysart Defenders Coordinator Chad Kister.
“With only .004 percent of old growth left, this is an extremely important historic resource,” said Kister. “For the Ohio Valley Coal Company to request to mine under every acre of Dysart Woods is wrong and it needs to be challenged and stopped.”
The following is a statement from Thom "Swanny" Swan, Coordinator of Historical Trekkers:
They will arrive at the ancient forest between 10-10:30 a.m. this Saturday. Media are welcome to record the event. “With the current permit to mine directly under the ancient forest, this may be the last opportunity of its kind to tour a significant historic forest in Ohio, unless the permit can be stopped in the Ohio Division of Mineral Resources or in court,” said Dysart Defenders Coordinator Chad Kister.
“With only .004 percent of old growth left, this is an extremely important historic resource,” said Kister. “For the Ohio Valley Coal Company to request to mine under every acre of Dysart Woods is wrong and it needs to be challenged and stopped.”
The following is a statement from Thom "Swanny" Swan, Coordinator of Historical Trekkers:
ComFest Funds a 'Grand' Tree Planting
Last Autumn, The Community Festival provided $1,000 to fund
the planting of dozens of trees in Iuka Park, between Summit St. & North
4th. Several species, including paw paw, ironwood, beech, tupelo, &
swamp white oak were planted. The work has been done in conjunction with
the Iuka Ravine Association, and currently includes added mulching and
chicken wire surrounds. ComFest regulars Maynard G Krebs (dubbed
"The Ranger of Iuka Ravine" by an area neighbor) and Bill Winkle are
seeing to the latest efforts. If you'd like to help them care for young
trees, contact: billwinkle1@hotmail.com and use
"Iuka Park Trees" in the subject line.
BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM: A Feel-Good Soccer Ball
Rare is the modern movie that can teach and touch you at the same time. BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM at the Drexel East takes soccer, family. Coming-of-age and an undertone of ethnic tension and turns them all into a lovely visual curry well worth a trip to the theater.
Especially if the theater is the Drexel East. In my first review of this series I lauded the downtown Arena Grand. But my heart will always be with Bexley's Drexel, the classic old-timey throw-back to the days when theaters had heart. Unfortunately, a few years ago our little east-side community tore down its other cinematic treasure, the old double-screen Bexley, to make way for---you guessed it---a McDonald's. But there is justice in the world: we locals forced that Mickey D's shut by passing an ordinance against drive-throughs.
Meanwhile, almost miraculously, Jeff & Kathy Frank's beautiful Drexel has survived in tact. It is seasoned, classy, comfortable and unique, everything a theater should be that cares about what's on the screen. I consider it an honor and a privilege to live a few blocks away.
Especially if the theater is the Drexel East. In my first review of this series I lauded the downtown Arena Grand. But my heart will always be with Bexley's Drexel, the classic old-timey throw-back to the days when theaters had heart. Unfortunately, a few years ago our little east-side community tore down its other cinematic treasure, the old double-screen Bexley, to make way for---you guessed it---a McDonald's. But there is justice in the world: we locals forced that Mickey D's shut by passing an ordinance against drive-throughs.
Meanwhile, almost miraculously, Jeff & Kathy Frank's beautiful Drexel has survived in tact. It is seasoned, classy, comfortable and unique, everything a theater should be that cares about what's on the screen. I consider it an honor and a privilege to live a few blocks away.
Federal Energy Regulators Conversation With Wall St May Violate Fed Law
Two weeks ago, after the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a staff report to Congress that said California’s electricity and natural gas markets were the victim of widespread manipulation by more than a dozen energy companies, the chairman of FERC and one of the agency’s commissioners took the unusual step of holding a private conference call with Wall Street analysts to calm jittery investors who feared the report would send energy company stocks plummeting.
One of the items that came up for discussion during the conference call was whether FERC would decide if California’s $20 billion in long-term electricity contracts should be abrogated because, according to California state officials, the deals were signed during the height of the energy crisis when manipulation in the state was rampant.
FERC Commissioner Nora Brownell indicated during the public meeting hours earlier that she would likely not support California’s argument that the contracts be voided because it would scare away investors or discourage companies from signing similar deals in the future.
One of the items that came up for discussion during the conference call was whether FERC would decide if California’s $20 billion in long-term electricity contracts should be abrogated because, according to California state officials, the deals were signed during the height of the energy crisis when manipulation in the state was rampant.
FERC Commissioner Nora Brownell indicated during the public meeting hours earlier that she would likely not support California’s argument that the contracts be voided because it would scare away investors or discourage companies from signing similar deals in the future.