In The Clouds

Clouds over Arizona

On March 7 I finally finished recording, scanning, organizing our 650+ CDs that had been stored in the closet, on shelves, racks, in boxes, on desks, in CD book holders, the car door, plastic bags, and CD spindles. Our music tastes are wide-ranging and seem to have little in common with most anyone we know. Some of what we are enjoying these days can be watched and listened to on YouTube such as Benjamin Biolay from France singing Une Chaise A Tokyo, Cheb Mami with Idir from Algeria performing Azwaw, from Thailand Duay Nam Ta by Num Sornram Theppitak, also from Thailand are the China Dolls with Muay Nee Kah. Out of Germany is Tic Tac Toe with Ist Der Ruf Erst Ruiniert a kind of Rammstein meets the Spice Girls, auch von Deutschland is Fettes Brot with Schwule Madchen – German hip-hop. From India, Karsh Kale has a beautiful song with Beautiful, an elegant song from Japan from Mandrave & Miyagi titled Asian Lights. Finally from Spain is Hijo De La Luna, a cover by Loona.

This is just a small sample while in our collection we listen to everything from ambient to salsa from Zaire. I still have an ear for noise from Whitehouse, the gothic whine of Current 93, pop songs from Ian Brown and Royksopp, drum n bass from Pendulum and Black Sun Empire, classical music from China, black metal from Burzum, bhangra from Tigerstyle, and the ambient dub of Banco de Gaia

The Farm

Carrots from Tonopah Rob's Vegetable Farm in Tonopah, Arizona

Taking time away from iTunes for a volunteer day out on the farm. On February 19 I started recording our somewhat vast collection of CDs and scanning their covers, but after nine straight days of that, I needed a break, and out to Tonopah Caroline and I went. After returning from our snowshoeing trip to Yellowstone I have been immersed in the world of my and Caroline’s computers, migrating both of us to Windows 7. Between upgrading from the various Windows betas that are being released and recording, scanning, and organizing our music, I have not taken much time out on the farm this season. Sure is nice getting caught up with my stuff, though.

Put Your Hands in The Air

Phoenix Police arresting a suspect with guns drawn

Listen, up in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane, nope, that’s a helicopter – and it sounds really close! Time to investigate, look out the front door, and what do I spy? Six policemen with weapons drawn and aimed at a man who apparently hadn’t been as cooperative as the officers would have appreciated. With the potential for fifty-four bullets to bring the suspect fully to his senses, he unflinchingly followed orders to the letter and immediately turned into what appeared to be a model arrestee.

Dion & Tassia

Dion Terry and his girlfriend Tassia visiting Phoenix, Arizona

After many a year not being able to visit with one another as every time Dion would visit Phoenix, Caroline and I were on a road trip, we had the chance this evening to sit down for dinner and catch up. All those years Dion would visit on long holiday weekends, the very same long weekends that offer us great opportunities for travel. And, unfortunately, our destination so far has never been San Diego where Dion lives, as nature is our draw. Dion and his girlfriend Tassia were on a short road trip of their own this time, only stopping in Phoenix to say a quick hello to friends and family before continuing on to Gallup, New Mexico, Window Rock, Arizona, and other points on the Navajo Reservation from which Dion hails. Though we only had a short three hours to talk it was nonetheless nothing short of wonderful to see this old friend. While not traveling Dion practices the starving artist routine, check out his blog MuttonDagger.

Racism on Drudge Report

Anti Muslim racist headline at Drudge Report February 16, 2009

There are times at the Drudge Report where my skin crawls and I bristle at the manipulation of the news this service provides. Today, the top left column of the Drudge Report features the above headline, “NY Muslim Charged with Beheading His Wife!”. The original headline from The Buffalo News phrased it as, “Prominent Orchard Park man charged with beheading his wife”. No exclamation point but way more importantly, no mention of the man’s religious affiliation. When the Drudge Report reports about the “average” American, such as the girl last week charged with setting seven arson fires in the Philadelphia area she was just a “Woman” charged, not a Christian Woman charged with arson. My other pet peeve regarding the Drudge Report is my perception that the reporting is misogynist, has anyone else noticed how there appears to be a propensity to feature some of the worst photography when it comes to Democratic women and liberal female celebrities?

35,405

Eleanor Burke, my ninety-seven year old great aunt on her birthday in Phoenix, Arizona

Thirty-five thousand four hundred and five – days that is, that Eleanor Burke has been alive. Today celebrates the 97th year of my great aunt Eleanor’s life on earth. My aunt has been the inspiration for my interest in gardening and a great help for me in my pursuit of photography. I must also credit her for my sense of compassion to help others due to her selfless dedication to my great grandmother Josephine during her long life and being in my sister and my lives for much of our first years. Auntie as she is known to family was in her late sixties when she first married. In the years prior she cared for her mother who also lived into her nineties. Her husband Kenneth Burke passed away some years ago, since then Auntie has lived with my mother who is caring for her as my great aunt has become quite frail. Knowing a relative whose life has been so long, someone who seems to have always been happy, who is maybe the sweetest person one may know throughout one’s own hopefully long life is a treasure. I wish to always know her.