Dennis Kucinish asks us to write to our Congressman

In response to one of Dennis Kucinich's video messages, i decided to write to my Congressman, which happens to be Jon C. Porter. Here is what i wrote. Tell me what you think... I know it has some typos and other errors. I hope it sounds okay enough to have sent. At least the message is there...

Hello Sir,

I know you care about the public at large, otherwise you would not be in Office. Anyway, the respectable Dennis Kucinich has made me and others aware that about $138 billion more dollars is earmarked to go to Iraq, even after the current administration is no longer in office. This to me, as to others as well I'm sure, such as Dennis Kucinich, does not make sense. Not when people are out of work, out of their homes, out of health care, etc. It is simply not good policy or good sense to pilfer all our funds out of our country to a far away place which really probably doesn't even need us there. And if the argument is that we are there (in Iraq) because of the so-called 'War on Terror' well, recent events such as in Pakistan, have shown that that is not even where the action is! Well, you may not directly have to be involved with this being a representative in Nevada, and not Washington D.C. directly, but things that happen at the top do filter down to the bottom. Well, Dennis Kucinich said it would be a good idea to write our Congressman so that's just what I'm doing. If there is anything you can do to influence Washington on what they do with our funds, our tax dollars, then please do it. Iraq will still be there even with we are not...! But will our great country still be great after all these 'foreign missions' for pursuing terrorists (which of course is important, but it should be done in the right place and in the right way), or pursuing oil, by the way - where is it?? Do we have it??? So, anyway, as I said, if you can do anything to influence the Executive realm, then please do so! Thank you...!

Sincerely,

Elizabeth A.

If you would like to write to your Congressman, go here:

https://forms.house.gov/wyr/welcome.shtml
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Your constituent

One other thing: I thought it would be interesting to state the definition of a constituent to remind us of our duty and responsibility in this country of ours as a 'citizen.' Here is is:

Inhabitants of constituencies

A constituent is one who can or does appoint or elect (and often by implication can also remove or recall) another as one's agent or representative. A constituency is all the constituents of a particular agent or representative.

Depending on the context, another closely-related meaning of constituent is that of a citizen residing in the area governed, represented, or otherwise served by a politician; sometimes this is restricted to citizens who elected the politician. All the constituents who are registered to vote are referred to as the electorate.

Constituent service is representatives helping their constituents handle problems that can be best handled by a representative getting involved. Members of the U.S. Congress (both Representatives and Senators) working in Washington, D.C. have a governmentally staffed district office to aid in constituent service. Many state legislatures have followed suit. In the UK, service of this type is named constituency casework - Members of the UK House of Commons will appoint staff using their Parliamentary staffing allowance to appoint caseworkers to assist constituents with problems.

Elected officials tend to believe that responsiveness to their constituents is their highest professional responsibility.[citation needed]

In a looser sense, corporations and other such organizations can be referred to as constituents, if they have a significant presence in an area.

Russell Brand - the 'movement'

Saw Russell Brand over the weekend at the Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles... what a magnificent creature! Seeing him on television or hearing him on radio is wonderful enough, but seeing him in the flesh is even more so!! He is a fascinating, hilariously entertaining creature. He has this unique contradictory nature in which he appears very silly yet he projects serious undertones and intentions. And even though he has a somewhat chequered past, ie. drug addiction, sex addiction, he is in my mind, a man of morals! He is extremely respectful towards women, lavishing sweet hugs and kisses on his female fans after his shows. And even though his somewhat sordid past due to "youthful folly, jubilance and hijinx! as he so delightfully recited on the David Letterman show visit in May of this year... apparently prevented him from coming through to America a couple weeks earlier than that show. He entertainingly tells about it on the show which I will include here for your enjoyment... he is extremely intelligent and witty, a modern day Oscar Wilde of sorts, spouting words like a fountain and jumping around the stage like a schoolboy... or a young lion... you must see him! Here is the excerpt from the David Letterman show from May 15.



Not only witty and funny, but very intelligent and humanitarian as well as you can see here as Russell goes to Oxford University to spread the message of universal truth when it comes to racism. A racist group called the BNP was due to visit Oxford just the day before and Russell was there to help promote truth and beauty in only the way he could do it!

Politics as Usual?

So I heard a snippet of a rather well known reporter, (Brian Williamson) ask current Presidential hopeful Barack Obama about rumours on the internet that he grew up Muslim, and even lay his hand on the Koran and tried to hide that fact. Okay first of all folks, as Jon Stewart pointed out, on whose show I saw this snippet, so wittingly quipped, since when do internet rumors count as professional journalism? Oh, I know, I love the internet as much as anyone else, probably more so, but aren't professional broadcast journalists supposed to gather their own information and not rely on rumors circulating on the internet? Also, second - what if it is true? What if Barack Obama has some Muslim roots? I actually thought he may have all along with a name like that. Not meaning that in a derogatory way at all, just that it simply sounds like it may. So since when did being a certain religion or culture become a crime in this great country of ours? Isn't that what America is NOT all about? I mean isn't that what we're fighting for over in Iraq? There are some that say all their problems stem basically from being a 'religious' state. Something that our founding fathers and the Constitution warn very strongly against. If our country or even one state or one county becomes a religious entity, then it's through! I believe the American people have enough common sense to know that if something like that even hints at happening, it's time to bring out the true spirit of America. I believe enough in America for that to happen if something goes too far. But back to Barack. One more thing - it sounds like the old Communist witch hunts back in the 40's and 50's here in America... are you or are you not a Communist? One other thing - if indeed Mr. Obama has a Muslim background, and if he were to become President, would that not instill a little bit of confidence in our Middle Eastern Muslim allies, I am not talking about the extreme revolutionaries who care not a whit about anyone's life, including their own, I am talking about the obvious allies we have in the Middle East who have become increasingly mistrusting of the United States intentions at times. I am sure that has been happening somewhat. Why not, when it seems that our country is willing to attack a country for almost any reason, whether the facts are right or not and even if the country has not directly attacked our country in the first place. Isn't that against the Constitution somewhere anyway? Sorry, the truth hurts I know. But, the bottom line is just how far political jabbing will go to try to bring the opponent down. But come on guys, at least use the facts. I was disappointed in this one journalist at that point, even if he was told to say that. He should know better. If the news or journalists don't know better, though, it's up to the rest of us to know better. Thanks Jon Stewart for being one of those people.

Literature in Las Vegas?

So... does it exist? Literature in Las Vegas? Lost Vegas? Sure....! You say, just saunter down the strip on a sunny day and watch the literature fly all over the sidewalk! No! Not that kind. What about seedy, smoky (well maybe not so anymore with the new no-smoking laws in place) seedy, smoky, dark ex-coffee joints where squeaky, reticent college students sweat out limp poetry readings... But where is the enthusiasm? Squashed by the sun? Or perhaps blown away with all the 'literature' blowing in the wind? How about the many books you find in the libraries here in town? "There are libraries in Las Vegas?!" You query... Yes! There are libraries.. only they are fast falling behind the new kid in town... people don't go to libraries to read books anymore. They go to use the computers and check out movies.... it's true.

So, the quest continues... I ask again... is there literature in Las Vegas? Are there bonafide writers.thinkers.poets who really care what is said and read? I believe there are folks. And soon, you might be able to see this for yourselves, for colleagues and I are on a mission to seek out these 'writers' and 'poets' and 'literary' types in Las Vegas and update what is taken for 'literature' here in the desert of the lost.. Perhaps we will find our literature and those who hunger and thirst for it will be sated... we will see...

"Man of the Year" - a Dark Disappointment

This is in reference to an article I wrote on xanga.com last October 2006, but I thought it was timely to present it again in this forum, so here it is. So I went in seeing this movie with high expectations.. after all Robin Williams was supposed to play a comedic Presidential candidate, something we could all use at this dark time of politics. But instead of coming away with a lighter and more inspired hope of the current political situation, I left with a depressing sense of foreboding. Here is more detail, resposted from my article on xanga.com.

"Man of the Year"

Modern day Film Noir masquerading as a political thriller?

Or what? Make up your mind!

First of all, I must say, the choice of actors in this film was quite excellent, Robin Williams as the comedy central, Bill Maher type character turned would be president, Laura Linney as the quasi-paranoid, must-tell-the truth at any cost! heroine, Christopher Walken as Robin William's manager/confidante/friend among others and even Jeff Goldblum (aka 'The Fly' fame) as the subtle yet shady legal counsel for the technical software company which manufactures the innovative, yet defective voting software for the country. The filmmakers were smart to get such good character actors in this film. But that 'smartness' stops there in my opinion.

At first it seemed quite upbeat and funny, and I thought - oh! I thought - finally an upbeat light movie brightening the current dark undercurrent in American (and world) politics. Could it be? I thought: "I like this movie!" Or so I thought at first. But the light-heartedness soon gave way to a dark, paranoid vein that doesn't stop tortuously flowing until the very end and stays with you long after you've left the movie theater. I don't want to feel depressed after I've left a movie theater, especially after paying a price that is still not more than base minimum wage in this country. How's that for politics?

Anyway, this political thriller I suppose it was - intertwined with elements of classical film noir - the characters outlined in dark shadows coupled by themes of paranoia and corruption in the city - really didn't get to the point, what were they trying to say exactly? I mean, is it always that important or essential to tell the truth about something like that? When nothing is broke, why fix it? Are they saying that T.V. comedians shouldn't run for President because it will just be an impossible dream that someone with obsessions with telling the truth will have to mess up? Maybe that's what they wanted to say, it's obviously political propaganda clevery disguised in a dramatic story line.

I think because Presidential elections are coming up in the next few years and there has been so much hype concerning various issues which I do not need to delve into here, some of the political parties are desperate, and they know that they have to resort to all sorts of behavior to keep the party line going. They realize they need to start early. Thus "Man of the Year" was conceived. My theory anyway. Any thoughts on the issue? What did anyone else think of the movie if you saw it?

Updated August 9, 2007:

Since this movie came out last October 2006 already, and it's not August 2007, can anyone even tell me if they remember this movie? I didn't think so.. sorry, Robin Williams.. some things just aren't meant to be.. hopefully we'll have a better outlook when it comes time for the real election...

Original posting here:

http://www.xanga.com/item.aspx?tab=weblogs&user=miss_xyz&uid=541240027

Teri Nunn of Berlin belts it out...

... at the Berlin/New Romantics concert Saturday, August 26th at the South Coast casino in Las Vegas. They were great! Not like a 'retro band' that has come back from the vaults of the 80's, but as good as a brand new band with experience to back them up. I've already seen Berlin twice before this and I will see them again and again...

Teri Nunn sings a sit-down ballad...

Teri Nunn sings a ballad with her two great band members..

Teri Nunn of Berlin gets up close and personal with her fans. Concert at the South Coast in Las Vegas August 26th.

A picture of an old building in downtown Nashville, visited there a couple of weeks ago.  

Billy_Idol_Do You Want Me to Cry?

Video I recently recorded at the August 11th Las Vegas show. Short video but sounds good and has clear visuals for the most part. This clip shows that he's a soulful singer and a solid performer. A must-see in concert!

WILD IS THE WIND - DAVID BOWIE (1999)

WILD IS THE WIND - DAVID BOWIE (1999)

A romantic rendition of a cover song by one of my top favorite artists of all time... D avid Bowie..

Billy Idol - Eyes Without a Face

Billy Idol recently performed at Mandalay Beach, August 11th. Here is a classic video of one of his songs, one of my personal favorites.

Utah Shakespearean Festival 2006

The 'star' of H.M.S. Pinafore, Fred C. Adams, former executive director of the festival himself..

H.M.S Pinafore

Gilbert & Sullivan do it again!

Delightful from beginning to end! I rarely laugh at anything these days, the cynicism of our time has so crept into my soul. But along comes H.M.S. Pinafore to blast that cynicism away with its innocence and purity. This Gilbert and Sullivan Operetta written in the 1870's, but set in 1840, takes you back to a time when life was simple. When life was about love and innocence and what size bell you'll ring next. Who says that silly humor can't be funny? It's the funniest of all in my mind. I think we need that more than ever in our day. It's strange how something from 130 years ago can stike such a chord in audiences today. I was not the on ly one laughing. Thanks to Director Brad... who added his own touch - a tribute to Ethel Merman, the 'water ballet' in the middle and the end of the operetta, had me crying I was laughing so hard. Former Executive Director of the Shakespearean Festival, Fred C. Adams was a natural as the self-important Admiral, "Lord of the Water!" The Captain, who 'never gets sick at sea' - "Never? Well, hardly ever.." was fantastic as the noble Captain of the Pinafore. His lovely daughter played by Jane... educated at Cornell, was magnificent as the love-lorn daughter of the Captain of the Pinafore, who alas - loved below her class. But who is to say what the heart dictates? And - her voice - as harmonic as the sea itself.

These are the kinds of things Gilbert and Sullivan brought up during Victorian England - a time of class and convention - but brought it up in such a way that it would offend no one. Fancy that, bringing up the truths of culture in the face of a Queen and still not offending anyone! Free speech at its finest! Those are the kinds of values we so desperately need in our day. If we see something wrong in our society, we should not be afraid to say something about it, yet if we can express it in a creative and inspirational way to make people laugh, all the better! Gilbert and Sullivan succeeded at this so well that their work has expanded well beyond their own century.

Who says that music and movement can't be perfectly timed and matched to create a balance and harmony that orders and calms one's mind and sets your mind and humour free? Silly you say? I think not! Neo-clasical art at its best!

Highly recommended piece of work! You must see this one! Up against Hamlet at the Festival, also a noteworthy and powerful performance, stay more than one day. As they say at the festival, "come again and come often."

Oh, I will... I will...

A photo of a costume from a previous Shakespearean play. Much care and precision goes into constructing a costume at the festival.

Deep quotes by Nietzsche

“I still live, I still think: I still have to live, for I still have to think.”

“Battle not with monsters lest you become one.”

“Distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful”

~Friedrich Nietzsche

http://thinkexist.com

Cinevegas 2006!

I didn't think Cinevegas could outdo itself from last year. But it did! Now in it's sixth year, the Cinevegas Film Festival is like the seed that is growing into a fine flower.

Bobcat Goldthwaite was one of the guests at the Most Dangerous Filmakers Lecture. He was so funny, I couldn't stop laughing.
Photo Copyright © Silver Fire Productions, 2006

The Cinevegas party was specatular - put on by Vegas.com, it was set in the massive outside pool area outside a currently undisclosed location - from holograms above the pool to scantily (but tastefully) clad dancers on top of the bridge to celebrities and VIPS.. Not to mention the stars, producers, directors, publicists and press of Cinevegas. Below is a picture of
Deborah Kara Unger from "The Game" and currently "Lies and Alibis" coming out in September.

Photo Copyright © Silver Fire Productions, 2006

Half-life awards were given to the likes of Sylvester Stallone while celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Rocky.
Christina Ricci was a gracious guest during her conversation before the showing of her film The Opposite of Sex. She was funny, personable, witty and had good stories to tell. One - she was working with Johhny Depp and needed to work out her character for a film, she said she felt like punching the wall, but of course one can't do that. But Depp told her, "You do whatever you have to do, punch a wall, whatever..." The interviewer from Premier Magazine asked her how she picks her films. She said, the director picks them for you, they see what's in you and match you up to them. She also said that they exploit what talents you have within you and that one should do exploit their own talents for good. Wise words from a young and talented actress.

New and upcoming films shown at the festival include the modern day comedy Park, starring Billy Baldwin, Cheri Oteri of SNL fame, and Ricki Lake to the very intriguing Shorts, including Induction and Bugcrush to the thought-provoking French film 13 Tzameti, the festival proved it's worth once again. Wild Tigers I Have Known, a coming-of-age film with beautifully rendered images and sounds, originally shown at Sundance, by director Cam Archer proves that the daring spirit of the 'independent' film still reigns. Revisit the 70's space era with Interkosmos, a tongue-in-cheek homage to the dry communist films that used to be made to tout their philosophy. Quite funny. I recommend it. A film by surrealist director Jan Svankmajer entitled Lunacy inspired by the works of Edgar Allen Poe and the Marquis de Sade leaves you wondering what true lunacy really is. Lies and Alibis, the closing night film, and U.S. premiere, was a perfect ending to an exciting week. Intriguing from the start, it catches your attention and never lets go. Coming out in September, it's one to keep in mind. With a stellar cast including Steve Coogan, Rebecca Rominj, James Marsden, Selma Blair, James Brolin, Sam Elliot, Henry Rollins, Jaime King, John Leguizamo, and Deborah Kara Unger, this is a hit. Watch for it!

The world premiere of G.I. Jesus culminated as the Jury Award winner for Cinevegas 2006. A film about a Mexican national who went to Iraq in exchange for U.S. Citizenship returns to California only to suffer more trauma related to battle experience as well as his family life.

There were many more films here - too many to mention. Cinevegas is certainly the injection of culture we need here in the arid desert of Las Vegas..

Enjoying myself in the pool at the VIP section of the closing night party. What a night! One I'll never forget..

Wila

Since my ancestry is Slavic, I have an interest in Slavic mythology. See this link I found on wikipedia.org (a great online encyclopedia), regarding the wila, "female fairy-like spirits who live in the wilderness and sometimes clouds" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wila). They are basically like Slavic fairies, which I think of myself as in a way.

'Looking Glass Man'

'Looking Glass Man'

Ah, this looking-glass man!
Liar, fool, dreamer, play-actor,
Soldier, dusty drinker of dust-
Ah! he will go with me
Down the dark stairway
When nobody else is looking,
When everybody else is gone.

~Unknown writer

Coachella Music and Arts Festival 2006

Coachella Music and Arts Festival, (April 29th- 30th). First of all, I will tell you that it was a great experience, despite the enormous crowds (30 thou alone crowding in to see Madonna at the Sahara dance tent - a space by no means big enough for that many people, so imagine!). My friend and I careened just to catch a glimpse of her on the big screen and at her on the stage in the distance. We had to step over people and push our way through.. politely of course.

Well, anyway, for those who don't know, the Coachella Music and Arts Festival is a colossal, super-duper festival in the middle of the California desert in a place called Indio, CA (near the well-known Palm Springs). It is usually a festival meant to showcase new and upcoming mostly independent artists, but it has grown to include more mainstream artists as well, such as Madonna and Depeche Mode (the headliners for Saturday and Sunday nights respectively).

Matisyahu - the first and probably only Hasidic (Orthodox Jew) Reggae Rapper was one of the acts on Sunday. Massive Attack, the relatively well-known yet still somewhat underground techno-downbeat oriented British (I believe) band with a laid-back yet subtly intense vibe played on Saturday night. I must say, what I saw and heard of them was very interesting. I wish I heard them more. I was buying their CD (and many others) at the time actually, and sort of missed their live performance. A no-no by the way. Also - Massive Attack have collaborated with Madonna as well as a host of other artists who wanted a lad-back techno remix of one of their songs. Since it is late, I will stop here.

Above picture, Lightning Machine at Coachella 2004
Copyright © 2005, Silver Fire Productions

The Oscars! (78th Annual Academy Awards)

Be sure to watch the Oscars, the biggest show for Hollywood, showing Sunday, March 5th.

Movies up for Best Picture include:

Brokeback Mountain
Capote
Crash
Good Night, and Good Luck
Munich

See http://www.oscar.com/ for more information on all nominations.

Must hear music!

February 2006

I heard him on one of the late shows at night, but didn't know who he was, until I saw his name and likeness recently on iTunes... Matisyahu.. possibly the first Hasidic reggae-rapper. He is an Orthodox Jew who raps in reggae style with some Hasidic chants. Very creative and new. His music has a decidely spiritual undertone with catchy beats and the usual circular rhythms of reggae. It is relaxing, energetic and spiritual all at once. Very uplifting. You should hear it!

December 2005 - Present

Walk the Line, soundtrack to the film, 2005

Soundtrack to the creatively inspiring and brilliant film about Johnny Cash's life, Walk the Line. All songs brilliantly and authentically sung by the stars of the film, Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon. They do a brilliant job of portraying the musical duo and later, couple in life, Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash. If you are a fan of Johnny Cash's music, as well as June Carter's music and others of that era, or simply a fan of the film, you must get this soundtrack! Joaquin Phoenix up for Best Actor nomination. Movie up for other Oscar nominations as well. Watch the show on Sunday, March 5th!

Hustle 'n' Flow, soundtrack to the film, 2005

Originally premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, 2005, and at the Cinevegas Film Festival, 2005, this film about a down and out man finds a way to fulfill his dream and inspire others around him. Star of the film, Terrence Howard, now up for Oscar Nomination.

October, 2005

Just wanted to mention some recently discovered music: The White Stripes, real down-to-earth Detroit or any kind of rock. Recommend the album De Stijl. Also, their new album, Get Behind Me Satan, is a continuation of their hard rock, gritty, down-to-earth sound. Check it out!