@ the 9:30 Club, April 7, 2009...

Oh, yes, yes, yes! I hope to go to this show. I am a big fan of Digable Planets.

Look What I Found! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

Hie thee quickly to The Beer Mapping Project. It's stinking amazing.

"Court Rules Cleanup Tab For Mines and Other Hazardous Sites Should Not Fall to Public"

Here is an article that is just fantastic news:

"WASHINGTON - February 26 - A federal court has ruled [2] that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency must close a loophole that -- for more than 25 years -- has made it easy for mining companies, coal ash dumps, and a host of other polluting industries to skip out on costly cleanups by declaring bankruptcy. The case concerned EPA's failure to issue "financial assurances" standards that ensure that polluting industries will always remain financially able to clean up dangerous spills and other contaminated sites.

Attorneys Lisa Evans and Jan Hasselman with the public interest law firm Earthjustice represented the Sierra Club and environmental groups in New Mexico, Nevada, and Idaho in the case, decided late yesterday by U.S. District Judge William Alsup, based in San Francisco.

Environmental advocates hailed the decision as a victory that paves the way for new federal rules that would require hardrock and phosphate mine operators, metal finishers, wood treatment facilities, and other industries to post bonds covering the cost of potential future cleanups.

"By not promulgating financial assurance requirements, EPA has allowed companies that otherwise might not have been able to operate and produce hazardous waste to potentially shift the responsibility for cleaning up hazardous waste to taxpayers," Judge Alsup wrote in the decision. The undisputed evidence before the Court demonstrated that such financial assurance requirements result in better environmental protection and faster and more thorough cleanups.

When the Superfund law was passed in 1980, lawmakers gave EPA three years to start putting financial assurance regulations in place. More than 25 years later, these regulations remain unwritten. Under the terms of the decision, EPA has until May 4 to identify the industries that will be first subject to these financial assurance requirements.

"This victory paves the way for the new administration to correct a longstanding environmental problem while saving taxpayers billions of dollars at the same time," said Earthjustice attorney Jan Hasselman, who argued the case before Judge Alsup. "New standards will push companies that deal with toxic substances towards more responsible practices."' read the rest of this good news here...thank you Earthjustice and Common Dreams!

Febura's Closing

kreeee-ar skyward hawk
yellow crocus blooming now
iris shoots appear

Another Installment of "Beer & A Book"...

Yes, your favorite series is back with two more heavily-enjoyed selections. Visit the 'Family of Secrets' website for ongoing information about this book and the research involved (and evolving). Visit Victory Brewing for information about this delightful Imperial stout, "Storm King".

Rhiannon Haiku

she is atoms pulling
themselves together into
my beer loving dog

Oh, Joy; cuppie cakes!

On February 8, Melian & i went to the theatre to see "Coraline"...we got there a wee bit early so we browsed "Borders" before the film. We had been having cupcakes on the brain for a while , so i looked at the cookbooks and found THIS fantastic, delightful cuppie cake cookbook. Yay! So far we have made:
Banana Cupcakes
Mint Chocolate Cupcakes
Basil Pesto Cupcakes

We also found 'Screaming Monkey' there...with eyes that burn!!!

"Hop Devil" I.P.A.

This brew from Victory Brewing Company (located in Downingtown, PA) is just fabulous. The hops flavor is multi-layered and perfect. It tastes green. It smells wonderful. Highly recommended.

"A Commodity Called Misery"

"HOPKINS VILLAGE, BELIZE -- Sitting down here in Central America happily abusing my health, occasionally, between the hangovers and the bouts with sand fleas and mosquitoes comes an insight or two, or at least what passes for insight in my lowbrow take on life. One of these is just how damned lucky the Third World is that it cannot afford a sophisticated mental health system. By that I mean the kind in the "developed countries," where murder and suicide rates are quintuple what they are here in this village. Not that we are without own village resources. My Garifuna buddy Eljay, was in what we would call a depressed state a few months ago, and went to a local "spirit doctor."....."read article in its entirety...Joe Bageant @ his blog 'Deer Hunting With Jesus'...

Joe's article seems to me to be in the spirit of evolving happy. Check it out.

dream segment...

i am going to see Prince in concert...Alice (from work) is coming with me...i have gotten a large amount of hardback books from somewhere, and i plan a huge bookcrossing book release! i put together all the books i have under "available" plus these new ones, it takes a lot of planning to get them all transported to the venue...a couple of other people are helping us...while we are in the parking lot picnic area i realize that there is no way that i am going to be able to take any of the set-up stuff into the venue, so i ask if i may keep all of it out here during the show...the 'official' person says "yes", so i do the book release right there, i make a big announcement about the release with as much fanfare as i can muster! then, i realize that i have not registered any of the new books with bookcrossing! they all are without BCID numbers! oh no...with a sinking feeling i tell Alice...we resign ourselves to that error and go to the show...

later, i am at home, talking with Melian & Chuck in the living room...outside we hear a huge grizzly bear who is growling, roaring actually, right at the other side of the wall, Chuck says, "watch him put an arm through the wall", and i say, "don't say that because he will"...so of course no sooner are my words out that here comes the bear's huge paw through the wall, wood splintering...Melian & i run out to the car, she has grabbed an umbrella...when we get in, i realize i don't have my keys, but there they are in the driver's seat! I tell Melian to press the clutch pedal...in our haste & fear i have gotten in the passenger's side and she the driver's...we are going to start the car and swing by to get Chuck as he runs out of the door...the car is my 1966 Bug...

What is Bookcrossing, you may ask? Well if you had not noticed the widget to the left, here is a link for you!!!

Look Who's Gone Organic!

Oh, yes, it's Oxford Raspberry Wheat. Fantastic! I am thrilled that Oxford has taken the organic ingredient path. I've been consuming their Raspberry Wheat for six years , and find myself even more enthusiastic now...visit the website...enjoy the beer...save the world!!!

this one is for you, derek_

Confused? Try this link (see #5).

Oh, I Don't Know, I Think I May Prefer a Nice Velvet

Here is a remake of a graffitti from the early 1990's which used to reside near the post office. Eventually the original was painted over.

I Love Rachel Maddow...

She drinks Guinness.

"The World's Top 10 Pesticide Firms - Who Owns Nature?"

NOTE: Further extracts from ETC Group's recently released report, "Who Owns Nature?" These are from the section about the pesticde industry. For the full report:
http://www.etcgroup.org/en/materials/publications.html?pu...

According to the report, the world's six largest agrochemical manufacturers, who control nearly 75% of the global pesticide market, are also seed industry giants.

It's worth breaking this down by company.

Bayer: the world's biggest agrochemical company is also the world's seventh biggest seed company.

Syngenta: the world's second largest agrochemical company is also the world's third largest seed company.

Monsanto: the world's biggest seed company is the world's fifth largest agrochemical company.

And DuPont: the world's second biggest seed company is also the world's sixth largest agrochemical company.

All these companies are gene giants.

Weed killers (herbicides) account for about one-third of the global pesticide market, and around 80% of GM seeds involve herbicide-resistance.

The worldwide market for agrochemicals grew last year by nearly 10%. this article from Organic Consumers Association...be sure and click on the link to the ETC Group report in full...

Just finished reading this wonderful book...

Thank you for loaning this one to me. Wink, wink; you know who you are.
And, "What?", you may ask, is the next logical step in reading material? Well, it is:




The 'Fermenting Revolution' website is here. This book is so "me" that it is hilarious. When I had my first microbrew (Anchor Steam Beer) back in the day, I was in love, and never looked back. One of my standard sayings is, "Quality not quantity". I've done a bit of homebrewing also, and find it a very enjoyable experience. I used recipes from 'The New Complete Joy of Home Brewing' by Charlie Papazian. Two favorites were "Dark Sleep Stout" (roundly viewed as "Orgasm in a Bottle"), and "SandiBottom Red Bitter". Visit Seven Bridges Cooperative for some supplies & ideas.

Sunrise Window Ice...

morning of
texture and
bringing of light
finding chill
of color and shadow

Snow Turns To Ice...

Another mug meets its sad end...

Who would have thought that placing a half mug of espresso down on the counter would have caused a spontaneous explosion? Much less with a 3-second delay? I thought the espresso carafe had exploded, certainly not this heavy glass mug! Oh no! MY 'PEACE COFFEE' MUG!! I have such bad luck with these clear glass mugs. My "Snowpea" mug, my Grateful Dead dancing bears spiral, and now...

Finally!! Some Snow!!

dream memory...

melian & i have gained passage on a spacecraft...after i talked with the captain, he went off to his quarters at the back of the ship...he wasn't social at all, and a little gruff, he had on a large hat...so, we are sitting, and i am looking out the windows at the stars and planets as we go through space...after a while, we arrive at our destination planet, and begin our entry...a towtruck ship grabs us and pulls us to a campground, and into a "parking" spot...i go to get the captain, as there are some people who are trying to board, and they seem angry...he emerges, looking rather sleepy, but ready...as we calm these people down, he & i work well as a team, and i have gained his trust/respect; he says as much...as we try to move into another spot, two of the next-door campers accost me, i must hit one of them, but i am able to de-fuse the situation, and we leave for our new camping spot...

O.K. Two days after i have this dream, Gwynne calls me in the a.m. to tell me of a dream that she has just had about me: she has come from the space-time continuum to tell me that i need to be with Chuck...she has come to my house, and brought him with her...

a study of dead squirrels...

why is it that people driving will
try like hell to not run over an animal
in the road
that is already dead
but
will not even slow down
to avoid hitting one
that is
alive?

tonight
as i was driving home
i was
thinking about squirrels
and drove right past
the library...

"where are you allen ginsberg?"

how am i supposed to react when i
realize
that a person i was kind to has
stolen
my autographed copy of 'Howl'
and it is
long gone to the other coast
by now?

Pete Seeger - "This Land is Your Land"...

Farmer's Markets on the increase...

Here is a chart with encouraging numbers for a change! (I've been reading 'Bad Money' by Kevin Phillips which is jam-packed with charts of a discouraging nature...) So, to find a farmers market in your area, visit the Organic Consumers Association/Greenpeople directory or, the Piedmont Environmental Council "Buy Fresh, Buy Local" website. Highly recommended!

Inspiration like crazed cloud-cover melancholy...

I've finally begun reading Bukowski...
'Betting On The Muse: Poems & Stories '...released posthumously in 1996 of previously unpublished work...

Books & Coffee...

'Pirate's Dilemma' makes its way to "Deja Brew" and into the hands of these lovely people, Roberto & Val. I've got to say that my Raspberry Mocha (big mug on the table in the left of the photo) was not only delicious, but had me fully caffeinated for hours. We had a grand time talking and sipping our java. I doubt that there were any subjects we left uncovered. They brought me three books to read while they have 'Pirate's Dilemma', as Roberto said he reads slowly. Looking forward to those. All in all, one of those times that makes you glad you're alive. Oh!, I also did a book release while we were there.


and YES, that's my co-worker/pal Rick in the upper right hand area of the photo!

mortality meditation...

creative ideas!
photographs to take
books to read
poems to write
dog adventures to go on
cat naps to share
food to cook
beer to drink
places to travel to,
i'm not afraid of dying,
i just don't want to miss out on anything
i don't want to stop having
creative ideas

so...later on at work, one of my customers asks me if i know the secret to a long life...i say,"laugh a lot?", and he says, "no. the secret is: don't die."

Artist Huong's Peace Mural...

The Peace Mural has come to Washington, D.C. through January 20th...here is a photo slideshow from the exhibition..also check out the Foundation website for more information about the creation of this piece and the artist, Huong...tonight's event is 'The Warmonger's Wake' at 7:30 p.m. (reservations required)...

Three recent dream segments...

i am at work at the grocery store, and Rick has come back already from after his surgery...i am talking to him, asking how he is and why is he back, it's way too soon! also, he is lifting things onto a U-boat, and i know he shouldn't be lifting, so i try to assist...he says he just couldn't sit around the house doing nothing...

Joonie has an injury that is not healing, she's licking & chewing trying to take care of herself and there are actual pieces of her fur and flesh around the house, it's awful... i make an emergency appointment with the vet, they send a woman out to pick Joonie up...later i am on the phone with the vet who says that it's serious, but she will be alright after further healing from the surgery he has done...

i am at work back at "Crown Books", working the register and meeting the other employees...there are bulk magazines stacked up all over the floor behind the register just like there used to be, and random crap piled everywhere, i start to attempt a clean-up, a young lady who comes into work later finishes it, to my surprise...trying to ring up some books for a guy, i ask out loud, "what's my number?", and i key in '25' and think, "that's my old one"...can't find the prices on these two remainders which are in pretty poor shape...during another sale, a woman walks away before i've handed her her receipt because it has taken so long for the machine to print it out, i call out to her asking if she wants the receipt...the register equipment is the same old stuff we used to have back in 1980, the same register keys and all...

First "New Beer" of 2009...

This brew has more bubbles than i thought it would. It's not quite stout-y enough for me, but it has a good first taste that is unusual and smokey. The mid-taste is weird. Then it's gone and you decide to have another sip. Happy New Year, i'm going to go back to reading 'Angler' now. (Subtitled: 'The Cheney Vice Presidency', written by Barton Gellman) What a good book. Wow.

Rainy Day Fainting Couch

Happy New Year chronicle...

Last book read in 2008 & champers I bought at 50% off...The book was interesting and exciting, even though the writing style was a bit light, there are also a bunch of links/references to other related things worth checking out...the champers was mellow but not so flavorful that I would ever buy it again...but not to sound too negative! A fine, festive night it was...beautiful sky with the crescent moon and Venus shining bright...

YEAR OF VIRGINIA WINE - 2008

• Syrah - 2006, Whitehall Vineyards, Whitehall
• Wineworks Red -Virginia Wineworks, Keene
• Cabernet Sauvignon -2005, Barboursville Vineyards, Barboursville
• Viognier - (?), The Winery at La Grange, Haymarket
• Melange -2005, The Winery at La Grange, Haymarket
• Wineworks White -(?), Virginia Wineworks, Keene
• Pinot Grigio - 2006, Barboursville Vineyards, Barboursville
• Viognier - 2007, Barrel Oak Winery, Delaplane
• Totally White Wine - Lake Anna Winery, Spotsylvania
• Petit Manseng - 2006, White Hall Vinyards, White Hall
• Petite Verdot - 2005, Barrel Oak Winery, Delaplane
• Chardonnay - (?), Jefferson Vineyards, Charlottesville, VA
• Rose of Merlot - 2007, The Winery at La Grange, Haymarket
• Cuvee Blanc - 2007, The Winery at La Grange, Haymarket
• Viognier - 2007, Barrel Oak Winery, Deleplane
• Petit Manseng - 2007, Lovingston Winery, Lovingston
• Rotunda Red - 2005, Lovingston Winery, Lovingston
• Cabernet Sauvignon - 2005, Barrel Oak Winery, Delaplane
• Cabernet Franc - 2005, Barrel Oak Winery, Delaplane

YEAR OF BEER - 2008

• Olde Richmond Brown Ale - Olde Richmond Beer Company, Hampton VA... very tasty
  

• Festie - Starr Hill Brewery, Charlottesville VA... i just love this one
  

• Jomo Lager - Starr Hill Brewery...drinkable on an average
  

• Chocolate Porter - Legend Brewing Company, Richmond VA...very rich & yummy
  

• Octoberfest - Harpoon Brewery, Boston MA...drinkable on average
  

• Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock - The Boston Beer Company, Boston MA...amazing, delightful sipping beer, tasty and rich
  

• Backdraft Brown - Hook & Ladder, Baltimore MD...real good brown, flavorful
  

• Golden Ale - Hook & Ladder...drinkable

• The Raven - B.W. Beer Works, Baltimore MD...adore this one, very tasty
  

• Pomegranate Wheat - Saranac Brewery, Utica NY...nice and different
  

• Longboard Island Lager - Kona Brewing Company, HI...drinkable

• Wailua Wheat - Kona Brewing Co...i adore this fruity & refreshing beer
  

• Fire Rock Pale Ale - Kona Brewing Co...lighter, but tasty
  

• Pipeline Porter - Kona Brewing Co...i really like this porter, yummy
  

• #9 - Magic Hat Brewing Co., Burlington VT...a different take on an apricot brew, which i love
  

• Odd Notion - Magic Hat...this was fun, and tasty
  

• Roxy Rolles - Magic Hat...dark and yummy
  

• Circus Boy - Magic Hat...good Hefeweizen
  

• Chipolte Ale - Rouge Ales, Newport OR...OMG this is so good
  

• Mocha Porter - Rouge Ales...i adore this flavor
  

• Santa's Private Reserve Ale - Rouge Ales...tasty

• Trader Joe's Frugal Beer...
  

Winter cacti...

Shnazzy holiday songs!

a hilarious site for all of your christmas song caroling needs...

Longest Night...

Winter Solstice full of light and love and a very happy black lab, jalapeno peppers and cats... pumpkin chocolate brownies and sweet potato-ginger soup...fire in the woodstove and a glass of Caramel Porter...candy cane cupcakes and Frankenstein Latkes...

ramble o'woe...

awaken anxiety ridden from my personal failings which largely involve money & laziness...i spent $15 on cupcakes & coffee at 'Cupcake Heaven' yesterday (but wait! cupcakes are a thing of beauty, are they not?), and $48 on dinner at the 'Outback' (Melian & i were hungry and needed a boost after a disappointing show) ...i only got two things done (finished reading 'The Pornography of Power' and got the jalapeno christmas lights down from the attic) from my list of stuff to do on my day off...i'm going to have a cuppa joe and try to soothe my sorrow in front of the fire...then i have to get ready for work...so now i have partaken of some hydrotherapy, and gotten my mind rebooted by a short walk around outside in the yard...i can do this...

robert smith knows what i'm talking about...

7:00 a.m. on Thursday...

poem 12/15/08...or: "Just Forget About the Coffee Pot"

i can't wash dishes after
i've dropped acid the dishes
never
get clean enough
scrub in between the tines of the forks and
try to let the rainbow sheen
out

dreamie - dream...

i am driving out of the town i have been visiting...going through the downtown area...i pass under a pedestrian bridge, watching the people walk across...as i am on the other side, i am really noticing the people there, most of them are tourists...(soon i am walking, not driving anymore)...i notice that almost all of the many people there are older...they are shopping...there are many, many stores & stalls & kiosks filled with touristy stuff and junk, like at an oceanfront boardwalk...i am wondering what part of town the "cool" people frequent, (where are the "hipsters", in other words!) would that be the mall??? i laugh to myself...i notice that there are a lot of very happy and snappy old people walking around, looking at all the stuff...one woman in particular stands out in my mind as she walks up to, and then passes by me: she is a short white woman wearing a lacy top, blue glass bead & silver jewelry and a snazzy light thread crochet cloche with glitter; she is dancing and smiling as she walks, she makes me smile and feel good...

yesterday's dream segment...

i go into a hair salon to get my hair cut, and i decide to get my hair dyed also...i tell the stylist that i want my hair to be red auburn...she chooses a box of color and dyes my hair...my hair has gotten longer, and it is quite full and curly...we talk about that and decide to not cut it...i sit in one of the styling chairs afterward and talk to another woman there...

Childhood Dream Memory: Early 1960's...

i am in my room, i look out the window and see a white horse, i go outside and more white horses are coming up the driveway and milling about in the yard, i am patting them and it is wonderful...they are beautiful, and i am happy...

dream segment...

i am in an older townhouse community; the streets are nice, many trees and sidewalks in good repair...i have a electric grill-type thing that i am going to make sandwiches with, but i am concerned about sparking, as the appliance is somewhat old...but i walk around the block to the place where i am going to plug it in...i do so, and walk back to the other place as the grill warms up...i am thinking about the panini as i walk...i get a metal tray to use and then it begins to rain lightly at first, then more heavily...i am smiling as i walk back, walking in this rain...

Ben Floeter...

Check out Ben's reggae artist paintings. Beautiful stuff. This one is of Bongo Sylly, on a suitcase with various media. Floeter has a show which opened 11/22/08 at "Art Whino" in D.C.

see this Washington Post article...

salivation...

If you have not already done so, my fine brew-loving public, hie thee quickly to your nearest purveyor of said fine brews and purchase THIS! Samuel Adams "Chocolate Bock". It's a rich sipping beer not to be missed.

Also in beer news: Red Hook is making their "Double Black" again! This is cause for celebration, without a doubt. Imperial stout with coffee and dark malt. Yeah, baby...

a study in dichotomy...

Gwynne's recycle bin doth contain some interesting finds.

"Films Viewed" update...

The Road to Perdition (Sam Mendez), 2002
The Cinderella Man (Ron Howard), 2005
SherryBaby (Laurie Collier), 2006
Sweeney Todd (Tim Burton), 2007
Romance & Cigarettes (John Turturro), 2007
The Ladykillers (Ethan Coen), 2004
Juno (Jason Reitman), 2007
The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada
Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Elections
Charlie Wilson's War (Mike Nichols), 2007
The Missing (Ron Howard), 2003
The Talented Mr. Ripley (Anthony Minghella), 1999
Chasing Amy (Kevin Smith), 1997
The Weight of Water (Kathryn Bigelow), 2001
Fur (Stephen Shainberg), 2006
The Dark Knight, 2008 (in the theatre)
In the Valley of Elah (Paul Haggis), 2006
The Good German (Stephen Soderbergh), 2006
21 (Robert Luketic), 2008
Don't Need You: The Herstory of Riot Grrl , 2006
Brick (Rian Johnson), 2005
Amores Perros (Alejandro Inarritu), 2000
Hot Fuzz (Edgar Wright), 2007
The Last Confederate: The Story of Robert Adams, 2005
Amazing Grace (Michael Apted), 2006
Trade (Marco Kreuzpaintner), 2007
Who Killed the Electric Car? (Chris Paine), 2006
The Man From Plains: Jimmy Carter (Jonathan Demme), 2007
Bush's War ( Frontline documentary), 2008
Factory Girl (George Hickenlooper), 2006
The Weather Underground (Bill Siegel & Sam Green), 2002
Constantine's Sword (Oren Jacoby), 2007

What I've Been Reading: Literary Ingesta...

• Diane Arbus a biography by Patricia Bosworth, 1984

• Lonely Werewolf Girl by Martin Millar, 2007

• Come Hell Or HIgh Water: Hurricane Katrina and the Color of Disaster by Michael Eric Dyson, 2006

• The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder by Vincent Bugliosi, 2008

• Fooled Again by Mark Crispin Miller, 2005

• The Green Collar Economy by Van Jones, 2008

• American Made by Nick Taylor, 2008 "The Enduring Legacy of the WPA"

• Bushworld by Maureen Dowd, 2004

• American Theocracy by Kevin Phillips, 2006