The ancient ways of blogging

SO, is blogging a thing of the past? I’m not sure as facebook has absorbed the better half of my time. I realized I hadn’t written anything here in quite sometime and perhaps many of my readers have lost interest… I do not know. What I do see is a social revolution taking place via facebook. It’s a huge factor in how Obama got elected and it’s certainly a barometer for people to see what issues affect the world and the numbers that care about the various issues. I have found it utterly fascinating that a group I started on facebook for Watts Towers has members from Italy and everywhere else now. There are peace groups and whale watchers, global warming groups and bring peace to the middle east groups. The most fascinating and amazing thing to me was watching the President speak and watch this live feed through CNN in conjunction with facebook. One side of the screen was the live video and the other part of the screen was the world chatting, live, leaving their comments as he spoke. This is the revolution. The revolution will not be televised but it my be on computer monitors.
Aside from all this amazing technology, I have a new studio in Santa Barbara that is warm and almost ready to work in, thanks to my industrious husband who is incredibly handy with electric saws and sewing machines, nail guns and more!!! and willing to share the talents and energies to assist me!!! Lucky me!

Planted a new crop of vegetables in my garden this week, watermelons, squash, tomatoes, peppers and basil. Pulled a million weeds and put a lot of snails in the green waste container so they can eat and thrive as they travel to wherever it is green waste goes. The succulents are thriving and our orange tree is covered in perfumed blossoms that intoxicate as they deliver the scent to your nose.
Off to the desert to give a mosaic workshop, then San Diego for a mosaic conference and then back to the desert for three art openings. I have a mosaic piece in the jack rabbit homestead festival which should be an amazing show thanks to Chris Carraher and Kim Stringfellow. Go Jack go!!!

See you there!!! and remember to “Be the change that you want to see” – Gandhi
One more note on facebook. The group IUOMA (International Union of Mail Artists) just gave me the position of Center of the Universe. I did request it, as Middle of Nowhere was already taken but it PLEASES me to have this title… I can already feel the whirlwind…PEACE

Birds, buddhas, wars and artists, health insurance and same sex marriage…

Today, the raven leaping into flight from the telephone pole in front of our house in Santa Barbara. Relevance?! Yesterday I had health insurance for one afternoon, or the promise of it coming February first. Today my husband’s employer says NO. Yesterday I received an email from another country that made me sad… because people don’t GET IT !?! I am so bloody tired of justification for mass genocide on this planet. It’s NOT about your little country or your little religion or your big country or your big religion it’s about the world coming together in peace, to share it’s LIMITED resources, feed everyone and live happily ever after like all the REST of the animals do on the planet. Oh yes some of the animals may kill each other to eat, but NO lion or dolphin in a fish feeding frenzy or tiger or dog or rabbit or rattlesnake EVER organized genocide like the human animal. We need to stop justifying murder of ourselves. We are such idiots. We speak of god. We don’t know g_d. If we knew g_d, we’d shut our cake holes and put our weapons down and stop killing each other. The insane planet… if you believe there is g_d ?!?! Did he speak to you? Did he come to you in a dream? Did he whisper in your ear to pick up weapons? tell you to kill people that are just as afraid as you are??? just as insecure??? hungry? Now California is jam-packed with EVERY different person you can imagine. and we’re not without our problems, but we’re not all killing each other because of our god-damned religions! If we can get along, so can YOU. Your leaders are screwed up in the head… just like ours… just like theirs. I appoint Canada to make peace in the world, the only civilized country that knows how to NOT do stupid things! 

So that leads me to a video I spied on Youtube that blew me away… an event curated by non other than dAviDbOwie, here’s Laurie Anderson singing Only An Expert.

Only An Expert

Now only an expert can deal with the problem
Because half the problem is seeing the problem
And only an expert can deal with the problem
Only an expert can deal with the problem

So if there’s no expert dealing with the problem
It’s really actually twice the problem
Cause only an expert can deal with the problem
Only an expert can deal with the problem

Now in America we like solutions
We like solutions to problems
And there’s so many companies that offer solutions
Companies with names like Pet Solution
The Hair Solution. The Debt Solution. The World Solution. The Sushi Solution.
Companies with experts ready to solve the problems.
Cause only an expert can see there’s a problem
And only an expert can deal with the problem
Only and expert can deal with the problem

Now let’s say you’re invited to be on Oprah
And you don’t have a problem
But you want to go on the show, so you need a problem
So you invent a problem
But if you’re not an expert in problems
You’re probably not going to invent a very plausible problem
And so you’re probably going to get nailed
You’re going to get exposed
You’re going to have to bow down and apologize
And beg for the public’s forgiveness.
Cause only an expert can see there’s a problem
And only an expert can deal with the problem
Only an expert can deal with the problem

Now on these shows, the shows that try to solve your problems
The big question is always “How can I get control?
How can I take control?”
But don’t forget this is a question for the regular viewer
The person who’s barely getting by.
The person who’s watching shows about people with problems
The person who’s part of the 60% of the U.S. population
1.3 weeks away, 1.3 pay checks away from homelessness.
In other words, a person with problems.
So when experts say, “Let’s get to the root of the problem
Let’s take control of the problem
So if you take control of the problem you can solve the problem.”
Now often this doesn’t work at all because the situation is completely out of control.
Cause only an expert can deal with the problem
Only an expert can deal with the problem
Only an expert can deal with the problem

So who are these experts?
Experts are usually self-appointed people or elected officials
Or people skilled in sales techniques, trained or self-taught
To focus on things that might be identified as problems.
Now sometimes these things are not actually problems.
But the expert is someone who studies the problem
And tries to solve the problem.
The expert is someone who carries malpractice insurance.
Because often the solution becomes the problem.
Cause only an expert can deal with the problem
Only an expert can deal with the problem
Only an expert can deal with the problem

Now sometimes experts look for weapons.
And sometimes they look everywhere for weapons.
And sometimes when they don’t find any weapons
Sometimes other experts say, “If you haven’t found any weapons
It doesn’t mean there are no weapons.”
And other experts looking for weapons find things like cleaning fluids.
And refrigerator rods. And small magnets. And they say,
“These things may look like common objects to you
But in our opinion, they could be weapons.
Or they could be used to make weapons.
Or they could be used to ship weapons.
Or to store weapons.”
Cause only an expert can see they might be weapons
And only an expert can see they might be problems.
Cause only an expert can deal with the problem
Only an expert can deal with the problem
Only an expert can deal with the problem

And sometimes, if it’s really really really hot.
And it’s July in January.
And there’s no more snow and huge waves are wiping out cities.
And hurricanes are everywhere.
And everyone knows it’s a problem.
But if some of the experts say it’s no problem
And other experts claim it’s no problem
Or explain why it’s no problem
Then it’s simply not a problem.
But when an expert says it’s a problem
And makes a movie and wins an Oscar about the problem
Then all the other experts have to agree that it is most likely a problem.
Cause only an expert can deal with the problem
Only an expert can deal with the problem
Only an expert can deal with the problem

And even though a county can invade another country.
And flatten it. And ruin it. And create havoc and civil war in that other country
If the experts say that it’s not a problem
And everyone agrees that they’re experts good at seeing problems
Then invading that country is simply not a problem.
And if a country tortures people
And holds citizens without cause or trial and sets up military tribunals
This is also not a problem.
Unless there’s an expert who says it’s the beginning of a problem.
Cause only an expert can deal with the problem
Only an expert can deal with the problem
Only an expert can deal with the problem

Only an expert can see there’s a problem
And see the problem is half the problem
And only an expert can deal with the problem
Only an expert can deal with the problem

MILK

I am emotionally blown away by the film. Milk. I lived in San Francisco for 25 years. I lived on Castro Street a block away from Harvey’s camera store. He was an incredible sweet man to know in the neighborhood, always a smile. Shopped for film at his store, back in the day when there was NO digital. One thing that impressed me in the movie was a small, small part, showing Cleve making phone calls to rally people together… WOW, he was using a telephone. He couldn’t rally the troups with a click on facebook, he had to pick up the phone and DIAL !!! This film was like a piece of my life I am blessed to say. Blessed that I am still here to see the possible progress. I’ll not forget the day the riots broke out and the police cars burned at city hall. As I sit here at my computer today, MARRIED to my man, I am sad for the ignorance and hate that still exists and also joyous for all we’ve been through and for the small step forward we have made. Remember to use your anger and sorrow wisely and never give up the struggle to be free… for everyone. PEACE … and for another poignant view, Jackadandy’s got a story too.

In case you hadn’t read this on facebook, this is my button that I wore in San Francisco, 30 years ag0, proudly electing the first OUT human being to office.

In the news… July issue of Instinct Magazine

Front Page Santa Barbara News Press

This morning our neighbor called over to us, to tell us she put our picture from the paper in our mailbox. Click the newspaper for a larger image.
For more wedding pictures click this.

June 17 Wedding Day in Santa Barbara, California

Doug and I got to the courthouse steps at 10 til 7. There was no one there. After another half an hour went by people started showing up. We were first through the door. Below you’ll find the first two pictures of my beautiful partner and then the other couples waiting in line to be wed. At the bottom of this post are a couple of pictures of some local ministers who were handing out flowers to all of us.

6 Days til we’re married…

the fabulous Tina Turner doing Let’s Stay Together

The Phone Rang…it was Zazzle

Well surprise surprise… my phone rang and it was Karen from zazzle. She noticed quite a bit of traffic around my stamp. She wanted to talk with me directly and set the record straight with zazzle. She explained why the first stamp design couldn’t be on a stamp or a coffee mug: The words California Supreme Court, can’t be on a postage stamp. So there you have it folks. She also said they loved my artwork and were pleased that the gay marriage initiative passed. Yeah !!! Also today Equality California put my stamp on their site. Tell your friends

7 Days til we get married.

Doug Smith, do you take Perry Hoffman…

Here’s the music video for the 7th day before the fair, sweet, glorious, historic and loving day…No one can take our love away. Certificate or not. We have love. I give you Barry White and Pavarotti singing together, You’re the First, the Last, My Everything… And yes, I do know what I’m putting on the blog on THE DAY

bug in my ear

A new collage reminiscent of the 80’s color xerox phase I was once deeply entrenched in. You might call this a Quflux. Also posted in a new site/group I was invited to join, via the European mailArt commmunity, called fluxLISTeurope. The original russian stamp can be seen at magentALTERego… possibly where the raven sleeps at night… or roosts and fidgets with widgets and photo slideshows. Also reactivated flickr recently so expect to see more there too. Peace.