Joni Mitchell — Hejira

Any Colour You Like by Pink Floyd, song 7 on Dark Side of the Moon

If you haven't listened much to Pink Floyd, you might want to give them a try, I recommend it!

We Are the World!

This is from about 11 months ago. It is what it is. I love this song by Michael Jackson, We Are the World.

End all oppression...toward a better world: toward a beautiful world.

Lots o' Thoughts

Lots of thoughts as I return to Olympia after the weekend at Helsing Junction Farm. The sixth annual Helsing Junction Sleepover was this weekend. It's a festival to celebrate K Records, the farm, and many of the great talents in the local music scene.

I enjoyed the music and the people and the food and the farm. The sweet smell of hay and earth. A lot of the food we ate came straight from the farm. The weather co-operated for the most part, though there were some sprinkles as I was leaving this afternoon.

I left early because I wanted to attend a meeting at Temple Beth Hatfiloh that was sponsored by a group of people who are organizing against the Olympia Food Co-op Board of Directors' decision to boycott products from Israel. It was an interesting meeting. Not easy. I am glad I went. I have a lot of thoughts about the meeting.

There were a few ground rules, like confidentiality, and being respectful. I thought that part was okay. I am okay with not identifying people by name, given the emotional nature of the issue, I think it is important for people to feel safe to openly express themselves without fear of being called out, or intimidated in other ways. I also think this type of confidentiality makes it easier for people to talk and share openly, and to change their minds when presented with new information and/or alternative viewpoints. I hope that the part about being respectful can more and more go without saying.

The group, which was pretty large, I would say there were 60 or so people there, did some brainstorming about what people wanted to work on. These topics were ranging from taking action to directly oppose the Board decision, to working to develop Jewish identity that is separate from the actions of the government of Israel. There were a lot of other different ideas in between.

The group I chose was community dialogue, which was merged into another group that decided to work on figuring out how people can best be allies to both Jews and Arabs. It was an interesting discussion, and I think I learned quite a bit. One important aspect of this that I am beginning to grasp in deeper understanding is how deeply some people feel about Israel. And while I disagree that the boycott is against "Israel," I do think that people feel threatened in a way that challenges their very identity, and their sense of safety, and their desire for survival. So that makes sense. A lot of conflict in the world is probably about survival.

Anyway, it's late, and I am tired after a good long day. I hope to flesh out my thoughts about this more in the near future.

Take care,
from Berd

War is Over Now!

War is Over, If You Want It... This song has been in my head the past few days. It's a good song, and I also included some words by Yoko Ono. Peace! Berd

Nick Cave Song and Photo

Instructions: start the music playing, then click on the link, view larger, below the photo. The photo should open in a new tab or window. Enjoy.


Nick Cave, The Last Waltz (from The Assassination of Jesse James)


view larger

Space Exploration and Social Distress

Whitey on the Moon by Gil Scot-Heron


Dear President Obama, and Administration,

It is just plain wrong! to spend so much on space exploration in the face of so many problems—so many suffering people—here on planet Earth.

Additionally, all space exploration which is geared toward national dominance is fundamentally anathema to the goal of peace.

Attitudes and behaviors that are rooted in dominance ought to be discarded and go along with full apologies to the afflicted (which includes everyone.)

Thank you for seriously considering my comments, and for taking them to heart.

Yours Truly, Berd

Big Yellow Taxi

more Joni Mitchell:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgMEPk6fvpg

Audio Visual Experience

Okay, first I want you to start this youtube, it's Joni Mitchell's song from 1979, Hejira.



Then I want you to click on one of the following links. They are to photos, which should open in new tabs or windows.

The following photo is of two gulls flying in the sky with some clouds: sky dance

Another photo is this one of from the beach. From this past December: ocean shores

Even better would be to save the photo to the computer you're using, and open it in full screen.

Personal Jesus by Depeche Mode

I heard this song last night:

Happy Easter, Peace to the World!

Another Brick in the Wall

Jimi Hendrix

I have been hearing a lot of Jimi Hendrix recently.

RainboWarriors - CocoRosie

I like this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaarYY62_BQ

Back in Oly

I am back in Olympia after a being away at a 10-day meditation retreat! The retreat was awesome, maybe more details about that later.



Some Sweet Music by Joni Mitchell Below the Fold:

What If You Knew by David Rovics

I really like this song, and it reminds me of a letter to the editor I recently submitted to The Olympian newspaper. Hopefully that letter will get published. In the letter I wrote about the problem when media doesn't tell the truth, and propagates hateful, fear-based and divisive rhetoric. It's a problem when media whitewashes the very serious problems in the world - keeping the reality of the violence of the USA away from the eyes of those who could and would demand change if they only knew...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYW6S3hHvrI

Sights and Scenes

A journey full of sights and scenes. I tried to post this on youtube, but it wouldn't let me because the song/video is over 10 minutes. It's 12:40.

Here are some photos from Wednesday and Thursday of last week set to music by the New York Philharmonic, conducted by Leonard Bernstein, performing Symphony Number Four by Johannes Brahms.

Let It Be, The Beatles

We Care A Lot, Faith No More

Heart of Gold