Blog Title: Aradia B - the poet and her pentacle

Al Gore: begin an emergency rescue of human civilization

The New York Times. Op-Ed.

Al Gore:  The Climate for Change

r0k

I had a nice weekend for a change.
I tried to be productive and work on Dead Violets-related deadlines,
in preparation for our show this Sunday in Silver Spring at Pyramid Atlantic.

We went out to Piratz Tavern Saturday night for the hell of it, since I've never been before, and we met up with some other friendly folks.



I got to play Rockband with some fun people afterward, and was convinced to take up the microphone and give it a whirl. They had the full band - the drumset, the guitar, the bass, and they let the singer choose the song.

I barely knew most of the songs they had listed, so I chose "Black Hole Sun" by Soundgarden.
Heh, was kinda fun. I got a 97% 'Top Performer' score, with a 38-note streak or something. Hooray for me.

Sonic Circuits presents.... Sunday, November 23rd

Video Love (Paris)
french electro pop+live video sampling
myspace.com/wearevideolove

Dead Violets (DC)
vocal sound art+video
deadviolets.org

DVD+CD+CDR+CASSETTE RELEASE PARTY
Sunday Nov 23, 2008
doors: 6:30pm
music: 7:00pm SHARP
$5!

PYRAMID ATLANTIC
8230 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring MD 20910
301.608.9101
located three blocks south of the silver spring metro station (red line)
INFO: www.dc-soniccircuits.org
DIRECTIONS: www.pyramidatlanticartcenter.org

Celebrate the release of the lofi+scifi feature film 1,2,3 Whiteout (The End of the Light Age) DVD+CD on zeromoon. James June Schneider's (aka Matterlink) recent film is a 'tone poem for darkness' and mixes amazing original vignettes with diverse archive found footage, an exceptional sci-fi sensibility and incredible soundscapes to form a blissfully imaginative and retro-futuristic creation. Set in 'an old-fashioned kind of future', Veronique and an inventor (the legendary Lou Castel) are trying to bring back a 'positive' darkness to offset the glaring, bright, technological man-made light and 'make the night night again'. The film and audio were constructed to operate as independent forces which work in counterpoint. The soundtrack is composed of found, sampled, and synthesized sound as well music/songs composed for the film. The latter were created by Elmapi and AE and the soundscapes were recorded and composed by Richard Harrison and Michael Schumacher amongst others. The dvd includes 2 short experimental films created using x-rays that feature music performed by Violet.

Video Love
Hailing from Paris, Elmapi has joined up with DC filmmaker and video artist Matterlink to create a raw and hypnotizing mix- "alternating between Elmapi's wildly original driving 'pop-concrete' compositions and the sampled sounds & voices of Matterlink's live-cinema." The sound lays somewhere between Stereolab, Judy Nylon, and Laurie Anderson. Her last album "Arcane Electronique" was mixed by Andy Moor of legendary The Ex.

Dead Violets
They say opposites attract. In the case of Dead Violets the opposite is even truer. After years of virtual fraternization Thomas Ekelund (Sweden) and Jeff Surak (USA) realized that it was only logical to join forces and meld their common interests in drones, surface noise, and 60s girl group pop, therefore Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words plus Violet gave birth to Dead Violets.

After producing several online and cassette tape appearances with their trademark intense low frequency dirges and bleak harmonic flourishes, Dead Violets is reemerging once again with the recent addition of poetess/priestess Bethany Moore on vocals and incantations. As a trio the group goes even further into uncharted audio realms within their collective souls producing a hybrid of drone pop exorcisms and sound art rituals. Tonight's performance will include live video accompaniment.

pot news

The Agitator: Successful Pot Smokers: Let’s Make a List

Reality Sandwich: Side Effects of Medical Marijuana

2 B Thankful

Things I am thankful for today:

Gas is less than $2.25 a gallon lately.

I haven't chewed off my fingernails in at least 3 days.

look ma, no hands!

And on this boring Monday morning, I bring you a photo that my coworker snapped of me last week:


Stupid Human Tricks

how could i forget? (ironic humor)

Nov. 6. 2008
Slate Magazine
High Expectations: Research into medicinal marijuana grows up.

[Excerpt]
This summer, British and Italian researchers found that in a laboratory plate, molecules in marijuana can slay the superbug methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, which recently infected seven babies and four employees in a Yonkers, N.Y., maternity ward, heightening fears of outbreaks in schools and locker rooms, as well as in its more familiar breeding grounds, hospitals and nursing homes. In theory, compounds derived from the cannabis plant could someday serve in topical creams for patients with MRSA or other antibiotic-resistant infections.
[/Excerpt]

AND IT INFECTED THE BETHANY!!!!

-------

Nov. 5. 2008
NORML
Truth Prevails!: several states pass pro-cannabis laws

[Excerpt]

Once again, voters have rejected the Bush doctrine on drugs. They’ve rejected the lies put forward by drug warriors and law enforcement, and demonstrated — overwhelmingly — that truth, compassion, and first-hand experience are more persuasive than the deception and scare tactics of those who would take away our freedoms and confine us in cages.

In short, it is the cannabis community, not the Drug Czar, that is shaping America’s marijuana policy, and tonight we go to bed knowing that millions of Americans will wake up tomorrow with a better, brighter, and more tolerant future than they had today.
[/Excerpt]

Sunday Nov 23rd

Get your dose of DRONE on Sunday, November 23rd, at Pyramid Atlantic in Silver Spring, MD.

CD/DVD Release Party

More details to come...

creepy music

If you'd like to hear a sample of my new band's first single release, 'Banish',
please log on to Zeromoon Records, check out the artwork, turn up the volume,
and listen to a few seconds of insanity, Dead Violets style.

The Streets of Washington DC on Election Night

making history

Where were you the night Barack Obama was elected President of the United States of America?

Washingtonian Magazine is asking readers to submit their experiences and photos.
Although not as exciting as dancing in the streets of DC, I shared my humble experience.

O-O-Obama!

Many of my friends were dancing through the streets of Washington DC late into the wee hours of the morning last night. The crowds gathered on the White House lawn to celebrate the victory, shouting "OBAMA'S HOUSE! OBAMA'S HOUSE!". This is an exciting time to be living in the Nation's Capitol. I watched safely in my pajamas through the television screen in my living room.

I cried tears of hope, joy, and relief.
I cried like a war prisoner on the day he is set free.
I cried like an abused woman, rescued from her hell.
I cried, I cried, I cried.
The words "thank God", escaped my lips.

For once, our city feels a little lighter, a little fresher, and the grey clouds of doom that have been hovering over us and raining on our souls for the last 8 years are finally dissipating.

Now that the pivotal point of inspiring hope is upon us, carry this energy forward, apply it to all the hard work that lies ahead of us, 

Laptop Help Please? Uber Nerd?

I've had some problems with my laptop lately, and I ran a virus software program this last weekend.
It identified a trojan virus and I had an engineer help me on Monday as well to remove infected files.
Now it seems to be better but some HTTP ports are blocked for whatever reason, according to the diagnostics run.
Even when i turn off the firewall, however, I still cannot type in a URL to access a web page.
The only way I can check my gmail from my laptop right now is if I right-click on the google talk tray icon and open my inbox that way.
it strangely works for some reason when I do that. this doesn't make sense to me.

Can someone advise?

sleep sweetly

Rest well tonight, friends. Have the sweetest of dreams.
Tomorrow we will awaken to the start of the New Age.

chill

Forbes.com: Whoever Wins, Chill A Bit

Nailin' Neptune

I post too much on LJ sometimes.

Nevertheless, here's what I'm up to today and this week, and in the foreseeable future:

1) getting up every morning and going to my day-job in gaithersburg, wasting 10-11 hours of each day, including commute, wishing for something better.

2) applying for a second job to earn additional income on a part-time basis. i'd like to see an extra $500 or more coming in each month. i'm looking for PR/marketing type positions, work-from-home administrative, media/creative short-term gigs like voice-overs, and also planning to write to companies I admire and want to work for to offer part-time consulting services even if a specific position has not been posted. I must write a few cover letters/letters of intro in my free time.

3) continuing to set up my home recording studio, doing some test recording sessions to learn to play with the knobs and buttons better, and waiting for some new tracks from the guys in Dead Violets so I can begin recording the vocals to go with them.

4) continue obsessing over getting a second job and earning additional income for the near-backlog of bills piling up. Setting up tarot card reading appointments as available. Advertising to a new demographic about said services.

5) hyperventilate until the final results of the election are confirmed on Wednesday morning. Cry tears of joy or tears of devastation, depending upon the results.

6) pay bills and cry about the resulting empty bank accounts.

7) get some god-damned exercise. I am getting soft.

8) go through my house and find items that I can sell at a yard sale or donate to the Salvation Army. I have lots of clothes already set aside that I plan to sell, including never-worn, tags-attached fancy skirts and such. Let me know if anyone is interested is taking a look.

9) publish pre-existing podcast files into new venues and brain-storm next series of podcast interviews.

10) hang on to Neptune by the horns and soar my way through the galaxy.

The independence of Women

The Ambition Condition: Women, Writing, and the Problem of Success

"Any writer might feel trepidation about introducing her or himself as a "poet," or avoid admitting to wanting to win a literary prize. But we must change the game so that when women writers publicly pish-tosh their ambitions as being pipe dreams, they no longer have reason to believe that they are."

Nov.

Detailed monthly horoscopes from Astrologyzone.com.
Check yours!

Neptune Speaks

The weekend currently passing has been refreshing and validating.

I was picked up around lunchtime Saturday to head to the property where we would meet others from our Circle to prepare for Samhain. It was a peaceful and positive weekend with my sisters and brothers, and we were all kind and supportive of one another as we set up our tents, decided on our space for the ceremony, where the circle would be cast, and not to mention the ordeal of getting a sedan and a flatbed truck unstuck from deep mud. We gathered around the bonfire and let it become a torch of community in a universe of timelessness that would allow us to connect with deeper layers of the spirit world. What a great night, dancing around the fire to the sound of drums, singing goddess chants and nonsensical wordless melodies, and looking up at the thousands of stars that watched over us.

I returned home this afternoon with time to shower off the outdoors and decide on my evening plans. I'd received a text message on Saturday from my comedian friend Marc Maron letting me know he was in DC for a few days for work. He's currently on a cross-country election roadtrip! I met him downtown this evening in Adams Morgan for a couple of hours to catch up over drinks. He asked me about my new band, Dead Violets, and how all that came about, and he told me more about his new radio show on Air America called Maron vs Seder which he seems to be enjoying very much. He asked me about my "enlightened media empire" plans we talked about when we last spent time together, and I said yes, I am still pursuing, still obsessing about, although working on the smaller building blocks to get there still. We talked a bit about living in Los Angeles versus East coast cities, namely DC and New York, and I asked him a bit about his experiences living in the LA area, as my recent visit there to see Brooke has very much convinced me that I need a less-than-one-year exit plan to relocate out West. It was nice to be encouraged regarding my aspirations and talents and to be given real advice about making those dreams manifest.

There's lots to do in the weeks and months ahead. Although life is still complicated and there are far too many decisions to make and things to consider, I found a bit of reenergizing peace that will push me through the remainder of the Fall. During ritual, there was someone needed to call in the element of Fire. I volunteered, because although I am an Earth sign by zodiac, there is a fire inside of me that I am not ashamed of, and I will soon master the flame to heaten, purify, shape and meld the raw and unfinished works in my life into pieces of authentic and profound art and beauty. 

I'm also appreciative of that extra hour we're gaining today. I'm using my time well. 

Neptune forward in November

The planet Neptune, long considered the planet of make believe, rules our dreams, fantasies and illusions. Retrograde since May 26, Neptune finally turns direct on November 1. When Neptune turns retrograde, logic falls to the wayside in favor of esoteric interests and intuition. People begin to pay more attention to their dreams and explore more creative outlets.

Now that Neptune turns direct, dreams that have been bubbling below the surface may begin to rise to consciousness. You may also feel an increase of compassion, rebirth of idealism and an increased spiritual awareness. Make a plan to re-connect with your goals and ideals, and cultivating a big-picture approach!

Did you know that it takes 165 years for Neptune to circle the Sun one time, long enough for this planet to spend 14 years in each sign of the zodiac? Stationary for two weeks or so at a time, Neptune goes into retrograde five months out of every year.


-- www.astrology.com

Impersonating Palin

Oh, Christ, this is hilarious...

oh, Samhain!

Slate: Witches' Brouhaha
Fending off religious tourists and struggling to organize a coven on Halloween.

[excerpt]
I'm a bit of a spiritual slut. I have never turned down an invitation to a Seder. Bach thundering through a church transports me. But when I see visions of bacchanals dancing in my nonpagan friends' heads, I get a little testy. Certain experiences are too comforting, too sacred to be spectacles. For me, Samhein is one of them.
[/excerpt]


Its an interesting read, especially for an audience that is not Pagan. Written from an elder's perspective, its a bittersweet truth about community dynamics. I have mixed reactions to this read, but wanted to share nevertheless.

While reading this article, I found a related link on Slate that caught my interest, published last month:
Burn Her! Why it's dangerous to be a witch in a recession.

the eve of halloween

A couple of interesting headlines I couldn't resist sharing:

Reason Magazine: Palin's Pot Problem

[excerpt]
The upshot is that smoking marijuana in the privacy of one's home is just as legal in Alaska today as it was when Palin did it. Evidently she regrets this situation.

As mayor of Wasilla in 2000, Palin championed a city council resolution opposing a ballot initiative that would have legalized marijuana for adults. Last March her administration asked the Alaska Supreme Court to reverse its 1975 decision shielding private marijuana use, arguing that the drug is more dangerous than it used to be.

In other words, Palin got to smoke pot without worrying about legal consequences and now wants to deny that assurance to fellow Alaskans doing exactly the same thing. "Palin doesn't support legalizing marijuana," the Anchorage Daily News reported in 2006, because she worries about "the message it would send to her four kids."
[/excerpt]

Taking to the streets and subways

I got a phone call on Tuesday night from an activist friend about an initiative to take to the streets happening on the following day.

"You've heard the news that the DC Metro Transit Police will begin conducting random searches of customer's bags to ride metro?"

"Yes, and its awful! What are you planning to do?"

Steve from FlexYourRights.org let me know that he had organized protestors to gather at various metro stops and hand out flyers containing information encouraging citizens to refuse having their personal property searched.

"Well, I have to go to my jobby-job, so I can't be physically present," I replied. "But I'm happy to promote your cause online."

Coverage of the event by local news media resulted in some necessary stories published, including video footage aired on ABC 7 News.

Two of my good friends are in the clip: Steve was interviewed directly, and Tom is seen protesting in action.

Also, Charlene from another group I work with nobly held this sign by the Dupont Metro Station:


NBC Washington News: Critics Protest Metro's Plan to Search Bags

WJLA ABC 7 News: Protesters Oppose Metro Bag Searches (with video clip)

FLYER: How to Flex Your Rights on the Metro

a witch's new year

Last night, I was happy to call a West Coast friend to give a tarot card reading over the telephone I owed her. It is always amazing to interpret symbolism for someone and to hear or see that it is resonating and inspiring for them.

Tonight after work, I'll have a stream of appointments coming by my house starting at 7:30pm for more tarot card readings. I hope to manifest more inspiration, relief, comfort and wisdom for these clients as well, and of course make a few dollars so I won't starve or run out of gas before payday on Friday. I'm still open for coordinating additional appointments.

Tomorrow night I'll be catching up with my Dead Violets band-mate, Violet, and preparing for our Fall/Winter recording/release, and touring plans. It is exciting to release our first single on CDR.

Thursday night, I'm probably going out on a date. :) Yay for me.

Friday night, I have no idea! There's this amazing gothic bellydance troupe, Mortifera, performing at the Piratz Tavern in Silver Spring. I've wanted to check the place out for awhile since its right in my neighborhood practically, so that might be the perfect opportunity to do so. I encourage everyone who doesn't have plans for Friday's Halloween festivities to stop by Piratz Tavern and see this awesome troupe. I was able to book them earlier this year in the Spring for the Ecumenicon Interfaith Fellowship Infinity Awards ceremony and banquet.

Also, several friends and acquaintances are having some lovely parties, and I'd love to attend all of them, but I doubt that will be possible. I'll probably be having a low-key evening for the most part. A couple of people have requested I come by to give tarot card readings at their parties, and I may do so, but that means I have to pull something together out of my closet to create some kind of costume. I think if I purchase a cliche pointy witch hat, I'll be good to go, as I already have broomsticks and such. ;)

Then Saturday morning, I'm headed off with a sister from circle to travel to our destination for our overnight ritual experience.

November comes so fast. Leaves are turning colors.
Cold wind blows through our bones.
May the fires of the hearth keep us warm.