VCCool NEWS & Earth Month News
The Art Predator’s Pawprints will be all over some of these up coming events! Find out more about climate change, global warming, and what YOU can do to contribute to the solution instead of the problem. Attend Earth Month events in your commuity–show solidarity, grow, participate!
This newsletter can also be read on line.
VCCool Newsletter April 15, 2008
Dear Climate Activists,
It’s an Earth Day event smorgasbord, so get your calendars out, air up your bike tires, find the bus schedule, and call your car-pool buddies! It’s time to meet, greet, and cool the heat.
VCCool will have a booth at two of the events – so see you there.
Also in this issue – important policy information.
-From the folks of VCCool
www.vccool.org
Mid Town – Earth Day Expo and Green Home and Garden Tour
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
336 Sanjon Road,
Expo free – tour $10
Come out and see what your neighbors are doing to go green at home. The Midtown Ventura Community Council is sponsoring an Earth Day Expo and Green Home and Garden Tour. Visit the displays and pick up the map for the tour.
Updated Slide Show – An Inconvenient Truth
Saturday, April 19th
5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
EP Foster Library, Topping Room
651 E. Main St.,
Gretchen Lewotsky “Climate Jedi” will be presenting this Climate Project presentation. Gretchen is one of 1,000 people who trained with Al Gore. The slide show has been updated with new information and facts about our local communities.
This event is sponsored by Jorgensen for Congress. Marta Jorgensen is a candidate for the United States House of Representatives, 24th District, and will also be at the event.
Earth Day in Santa Barbara – CEC Style
Sunday, April 20
10 am – 5:30 pm
Santa Barbara County Courthouse
1100 Anacapa Street, Santa Barbara
Sponsored by
the Community Environmental Council
Highlights include:
Green Car Show and Advanced Transportation Marketplace, Energy Village, Environmental Entrepreneurs and Innovators, Live Music and Entertainment on the Solar-powered Stage, Free Bicycle Check-ups, Children’s Area, Ride Free on MTD.
Ventura College Earth Action Day
Wednesday, April 23
10:00 to 2:30 p.m.
Ventura College
Free
car parking is $1 on campus, bicycles free
VC’s second annual Earth Day is about ACTION–taking action, advocating action–with an emphasis on actions related to global warming.
The event features two stages of entertainment, a film series, booths, a program by EATM, music, singer/songwriters, poets, writers, clothing swap, alternative transportation info, and speakers.
Carl Morehouse:
Creating Sustainable Communities
(a Ventura College Earth Week event )
Thursday, April 24th
12:30 to 1:20 p.m.
SCI 352 (the Science Building), Ventura College Campus
Off Telegraph
Carl Morehouse, Ventura City Council Member, previously Ventura’s Mayor, will speak on creating sustainable communities. This is an excellent opportunity to hear about city planning issues that affect Ventura citizens, and our ability to curb climate change.
Faith, Food, and Farming:
Presentation and Communal Supper
Saturday, April 26
1:30 – 5:30 p.m.
North Oxnard Methodist Church
1801 Joliet Place, Oxnard, 93030
$7 (no one turned away)
Presented by Progressive Christians Uniting
Environmental Justice:
Our Faith, Our Bodies, Our Neighbors, our Planet
How does what we eat really matter — and what does it really cost, now and in
the future? Join us for an afternoon of learning and action on the issues of how
our culture of food production and food choices impacts our bodies, our planet,
and our life together. Breakout sessions on organic farming, nutrition, farm
policy, and more. We’ll worship together and share a simple meal at 5 PM. Flyer
Californians for Solar and Clean Energy has just collected enough signatures to put the Solar and Clean Energy Act (SACE) on the California 2008 November ballot!
This act requires 50% of all electricity sold by California utilities after 2025 to be generated by clean, renewable sources including: solar, geothermal, wind, biomass, small hydro, and tidal. According to the group, “California’s major investor-owned utilities, as well as coal and nuclear interests have indicated they will vigorously oppose this ballot proposition.” press release,
SACE FAQ
Two More Green Events
Saturday, April 19th, 10 a.m. to Noon
Low Flow Irrigation practical workshop with John Lamar – 401 South Ventura Street, Ojai
Saturday, April 26, 3-7 pm
EcoLogic Life – green interior building store opens in Ojai – Refreshments and Harp Music Flyer
If you received this message from a friend, and you’d like to be on Ventura’s Global Warming email list, send a note to the action@vccool.org with instructions to add you to the global warming e-mail list.
TAXES: a poem from the 3:15 experiment
This poem is from the 3:15 experiment and was published in between sleeps: poems from the 3:15 Experiment 1993-2005.
Poets from all over the world wake up at 3:15 am every night in August and write!
For those of you readers who live in the US, you will know why I chose to post this…as taxes must be “posted” by Tuesday night April 15 by midnight. Wish us luck! We’re almost done with 2006, and found out we don’t have to get in 2007 by April 15 to get our rebate as long as we’re getting back money (which we should) thanks to our friend Charles and our friend Annie.
This is the version of the poem published in ARTLIFE Limited Editions April 2003; the version published in between sleeps: the 3:15 experiment 1993-2005 is exactly how I wrote it at 3:15 while this one is slightly different (I deleted a few lines and exchanged the placement of the first 2 stanzas).
Good luck, everyone getting your taxes in and getting your refunds and your rebates back! Maybe next year, we’ll see some real CHANGE, some real tax reform where corporations might actually carry their share (or more!) of the tax burden; these says, corps cover under 15% while in 1940 they paid 50%! While businesses complain that US corporate tax rates are the second highest in the developed world, when loopholes etc are factored in, it is the third lowest in the world when measured as a percentage of gross domestic product. The House of Reps passed a bill to end $18 billion in tax breaks to oil companies (like they need them when they are making obscene profits thanks to Bush’s policies!). These are mainstream facts, gathered from today’s Parade Magazine (that hot bed of Marxist journalism).
TAXES
taxes are like the carrot on the plate
i never wanted to eat they get
older & older & less appetizing
just eat your carrots someone might say
it’s not that simple
i have to get them done to get the loan
to keep my house from tumbling off what
little foundation it has & landing
in the bottom of the barranca to
wash to sea it’s gonna be an el nino
winter they say & i believe them i
can feel it, taste it is time again for
rain whether i am ready or not
the sea is hungry
taxes are a cacophony of chaos
bits & pieces of paper swim
with alacrity flutter up to the ceiling
dive down & kick up the silt
i am plankton & i can’t breathe
in the churning turmoil of these taxes
i dare the cats to take a dip they do
jumping on them rolling through them
simple things annoy me i hate to see
things digitized tile, sheets, every day
objects i am irritated immensely
by the swirly taxes the multiple piles
the endless pieces of receipt they
refuse to behave to get in line be
orderly i am embarrassed by their
ganglike swarming their lack of precision
they threaten to rise up take my throat
take my house no one understands the
power they have these are people who
balance checkbooks who possibly know
how much money they have it’s not that
i even owe in fact i was to live
the month of august on my return
return
return
return to a place where the taxes live
in peace domesticated instead
i live in the land of the wild taxes
i’m trying to shoot my way out with words
these numbers just aren’t mine
visit readwritepoem for some even more political poems
catch the poetry train
Education no longer the road to societal equity; bumps on the road dump students in streets
Schools begging, and we’re all the poorer for it
My column Wednesday about the growing cost of public education seems to have touched a nerve in a state where we’ve moved way, way beyond candy sales and pancake fundraisers.
If you missed it, I wrote about a meeting at the L.A. Unified elementary school my daughter will attend in the fall. More than 200 people attended, and leaders of the parents group asked us to reach for our checkbooks and help fill an anticipated $180,000 budget gap so the school doesn’t lose the literacy coach, math coach and computer guy.
Welcome to the club,” wrote Mitch Lane, who said he has been asked since 1997 to donate to his daughters’ public schools in La Cañada Flintridge. Without parental support, he said, “our schools would be seeking disaster relief. . . . Best wishes on shedding light on one of our state government’s most embarrassing blunders — not making education funding a priority.”
And what about schools where parents can’t come up with the dough, as they can at my school and Lane’s?”Our fundraising was not as fruitful,” said Cynthia Santos-Decure, whose son is a student in Long Beach. “We will lose our computer instructor, librarian and only have a nurse one or two days a week. Those are just the preliminary cuts. . . . I ask myself, what’s next?”
It’s anybody’s guess. What happened to the days when public education was not just valued, but was seen as a great equalizer in American society, offering a pathway to upward mobility for even the least fortunate students?
There’s more to his column, which you can read below. But as someone with a child entering kindergarten, and as someone who has worked with community college students who want to be educators or just get a decent job, I had to write him back in response to the above:
Hi Steve,
It’s not anybody’s guess as far as I’m concerned; in fact you identify it in that same paragraph when you point out that public education no longer serves as a “great equalizer in American society, offering a pathway to upward mobility for even the least fortunate students.”
Those with money and power no longer wish for an equalized society. They want to maintain their wealth and advantages for their offspring and friends, and they see nothing wrong with that perspective.
sincerely, The Art Predator
(and community college teacher)
The rest of his column follows–but I’m curious–what do you think? Do you agree that free educational opportunities should be offered to all? This is especially important to consider as it is tax time. Few people realize how little many big corporations pay in taxes; even Parade Magazine today had an article stating that 61% of US corporations paid no taxes between 1996 and 2000.
I don’t buy the argument that if you’re “smart” enough, you will get the educational advantages you need to have choices about life, careers and education. You have to have cultural capital as well. And who gets to decide who is smart?
The Big Monkey’s Top 10 Springsteen shows
The Big Monkey has been to 100 Bruce Springsteen shows, more or less, since 1981. We’ve been to a few shows together since 2002, and every time, he says, Wow, that was so great, that made the Top Ten! So after he said that about the Tom Morello guest appearance on the Magic Tour in Anaheim, I put it to him: what are your Top 10 shows???? At least today’s list
#10 Magic Tour, 2008, Anaheim. “The Ghost of Tom Joad’ with Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine was that good.
#9 Devils and Dust Tour, 2005, Pantages Theater, LA. Went with the Art Predator, he played lots of different instruments, mandolin, pump organ, piano, and it was a powerful record.
#8 Seeger Sessions Show, 2006, Greek Theater, LA. Fun music, great band, everyone was having so much fun playing those songs, and went with the Art Predator.
#7 Ghost of Tom Joad Tour, Wiltern, 1996. Won front row tickets from a LA radio station; had to name the song from 2 notes. The song was “E Street Shuffle”. His first acoustic tour, just him and the guitar.
#6 Night 2 Tunnel Tour 1988 Mountain View. Sat halfway up right in the middle. Really good show. Had to be there. The energy, the sound, the performance, all came together.
#5 Sat Night, Tunnel Tour, LA Sports Arena, 1988. Roy Orbison’s birthday 10th row seats. Before Bruce sang “Born to Run” he told everyone how Roy Orbison influenced him and everyone sang happy birthday to Roy Orbison. “We waited after the show and no one was recognizing him and we went over there and talked with him. He was the happiest guy. This was before his new records came out before the Traveling Wilburies, before he became popular again. I took his picture and he signed my ticket stub on his birthday.”
#3 & # 4 The Chrystic Shows for the Chrystic Institute, 1990, Shrine Auditorium, LA. Bruce played a lot of songs which ended up on his next records, Lucky Town and Human Touch, so no one had heard them before. He blew off his best friend’s bachelor party to make the show. no regrets. The memories of that show lasted much longer than the marriage (it made it 2 months).
#2 The Bridge Show 1986, Shoreline Amphitheater Mountain View CA. Bruce acoustic, all by himself, likely the first time he’d ever done that, and the first year of the Bridge shows, and the first year for the Amphitheater.
#1 The River Tour, 1981, LA Sports Arena. It was his first show, what caught the fish, what turned him on.
And what are your Top Ten shows of all time? By Bruce Springsteen or anyone? I too will think about this one! Or Festivals??
Bruce Springsteen San Jose Magic: review and set notes
Bruce Springsteen in Anaheim: Magic Tour set list & notes from a 30 year & 90 shows fan
The Big Monkey’s friend Ron Wells went to both Anaheim shows as well as San Jose (see subsequent post) and this is what he wrote for friends and fellow fans:
If you need a good companion for this part of the ride…”—-Bruce Springsteen (The Land of Hope of Dreams)
The Ghost of Tom Joad was that incredible, the Big Monkey says. This version of the song with Bruce and Tom Morello singing and playing together, and their raw power, put this show (Magic Tour, April 7, 2008, Anaheim’s Honda Center) in his Top Ten Bruce Springsteen shows (he’s seen about 100).
See Bruce almost never has guests. Over the years he’s had a few guests like Eddie Vedder a couple of times, Neil Young, Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan. But it’s few and far between.
So it was quite a shock to have Bruce call out for Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine. Rage has been performing “The Ghost of Tom Joad” since right after it came out (see 1997 video below).
Tom and Bruce traded verses and did the third one together, then they went into that incredible guitar duet, he says. Tom went off and Bruce was standing there watching him, playing along, and then when the song was over, the tech guys who work for Bruce, they were just applauding like crazy.
You can get the feeling a little bit from the video, he says, of the rage, and of the feeling of being there. But it’s not the same.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJT1EdKRF2g (this is a pretty good amazing of it, just uploaded to youtube–Morello’s guitar gave me the chills so I hope you’ll check it out if you haven’t already! sorry but it doesn’t want to load from my Mac onto wordpress’s new do)
Tom was a really nice guy afterwards when he came out and shook our hands, he continues. He walked up the long ramp outside and started talking to us, about 10 of us. He thanked us for saying how fantastic he was, and signed a couple autographs.
But the Big Monkey is not an autograph guy, so he didn’t get Tom’s, just shook hands and talked a bit…he just wants Bruce to sign the mat of his picture, and he’ll die a happy man.
When Bruce came out, at first we didn’t even think it was him, he says. My friend Ron and I were talking and waiting and this big SUV came up and it was Bruce sitting in the front seat. There were none of those people with booklets of shit to sign like we saw last time at the Pantages Devils and Dust shows in LA , those people who hang out after with pictures waiting for celebs to sign them. No these were real fans, a couple of European guys. a gal who was in the front row in the pit, a young girl, a few more.
So he signed a few autographs, shook and few hands, said “I gotta go” and his driver drove him off.
I was talking to my friends, he says, hanging out like they have for years, waiting for the boss. I blew it, he says, I really blew it. I kicked myself in the ass all day today. I should have been paying more attention and been a little more aggressive.
He thinks it’s his last chance, but he’ll get another one. I mean, how many of his fans have met him, seen him after a show, had a picture taken with him?
Next time I’ll hang out with him. We’ll get that autograph, you’ll see, and we’ll post it on the blog.
Coming soon: The Big Monkey’s Top Ten Bruce Springsteen shows. What are your Top Ten shows??
Springsteen & Morello: Joad Video from Anaheim
more about the show later…but here’s the video of one of the highlights!
ok so it doesn’t have the amazing guitar work there toward the end–but you get a nice taste, don’t you? the videographer said on you tube that the camera nozis caught him filming; lucky for all of us he got this much and we’ll see what else surfaces on the net, eh?
btw, were you there? what’d you think? post your comments below! let the Big Monkey hear from you!
Waiting at the back door, yes he is, the Big Monkey is standing outside the door with about 10 old friends, fellow fans and die-hards waiting for Bruce to come out. The Big Monkey hopes the Boss will sign the picture of them from the Tunnel Tour show back in 1987 (see below).
He just called on his cell, his voice hoarse and excited. Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine came out a few minutes ago and shook everyone’s hands. Earlier he played “The Ghost of Tom Joad”; later, a bunch of musicians from the Seeger Sessions came on and played at the end of the show.
“When we were standing in line, we heard it, during sound check,” he said, the thrill still in his voice. “They were playing “The Ghost of Tom Joad. When I came back about a half hour later, they were still playing it. The guard said they’d been playing it over and over the whole time. I could here someone singing but it wasn’t Bruce. About half way through the show, they called him, Tom Morello, up. It was phenomenal–the guitar work–the place was going nuts.”
Time for the Art Predator to hit the sack (someone had to go to work today and be with the kid!) Will have to post more details later…
Do you think Bruce ever came out? Did he shake the Monkey’s hand? Did he sign his photograph? What other rarities did he play? Tune in tomorrow and find out!
to tease you a bit more…here’s a Bruce version and RATM version…you will notice a difference… will watch out for the one from the show to post
to find Bruce’s clip, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DEtA5fhk4k (just in case Bruce’s version isn’t loading for you–it wasn’t working today when I checked but it worked last night right after the show and it works if you go to you tube–good luck–it’s a beautiful vision of a beautiful song)
Preschool Share Day Blues
Preschool Share Day Blues
My preschool son asks
is it my share day?
I am that kind of mommy
who doesn’t know
and must admit this to h
im
and the school: I ask and am told
it is posted right there where we sign in.
Well where my husband signs him in
and my sister signs him out on Tuesday
and I sign him out on Thursday and Friday.
We miss it, we miss it, we miss share day.
We miss it again.
I am picking him up and
my son asks, when is it my share day?
I look on the board: Today.
Your share day was today.
He is dashed
then recovers with
that’s ok, I can do it
another day
can’t I?
Can he?
I look at Teacher Amy hopefully.
No, she says, his group may not
have another share day.
Preschool will be out soon, she says.
He stands up to my waist,
red hair boy short,
curls long gone.
He will go to kindergarten next fall.
He will have missed out
on preschool share day.
Oh no I think, I failed again.
She gives us permission
to bring something tomorrow
which is now today
and he doesn’t know what to bring.
It is time to leave for school,
time for my husband to be at work:
What to bring what to bring?
I want to bring my green car, he says.
The fast green car from
last Saturday’s birthday party
which he rolls swiftly down
the corner of the raised carpet.
I groan.
Don’t you want to share
something more special?
This green car is special he says.
His dad and I decide on pictures
we just got back from our trip to Yosemite.
He likes that idea. We rummage
for a small photo album to place them in
work together to order them.
.He rushes around for things
to share: he collects
the green car from Leon’s birthday party
a ducks tattoo and sticker from the hockey game he went to with his dad and cousins
a pinball maze toy from Monday’s trip to Trader Joes
a Diego and Dora
cd of games we’ve never played
a Sponge Bob Squarepants book “Ice Cream Dreams.”
I have six things, he says,
one two three four five six things to share.
We have the photos from our trip see
in this little book I explain
you get to bring one thing;
this is what we’re bringing.
Just one thing he wails,
I only get to bring one thing??
Look, I say, it’s full of pictures!
Let’s count one two three four…
see here’s the pictures of us skiing
and rock climbing
our friends
our campfire
see lots and lots of pictures.
You can tell everyone about our trip.
When I pick him up,
I ask how share day went.
It wasn’t his group, he says,
so he didn’t share, but
Teacher Amy asked him
at the last minute
and he shared the book
of pictures.
Next time, maybe I should just
let him share his green car and
know that what really matters
is not the thing he shares
but our life experiences
–teaching him how to ski
to climb to explore to love–
that shapes how he moves
and grooves in the world.
For more about our trip to Yosemite, go to staynplay.
Visit other participants in the Poetry Train
Visit other participants in the readwritepoem
I hope to upload some other pics from share day soon…(have you read yet that I hate the new WordPress Dashboard??)
art predator 