Gatewood Journal News & Updates

Greener Printing

Fraser MacKenzie, Online Editor — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:10:00 +0000

No, we're not talking about getting that alcoholic shade of pink out of your uncle's rosy cheeks. We're talking about a bit of software that takes out the crap you don't want to print (ads, single lines of URL, etc.) and leaves only what you really need on your hard copy.

You can read all about GreenPrint World at the GreenPrint website. The download for the free edition of GreenPrint World is here.

Save some trees, save some ink, and save yourself some money. Rack up a few karma points for yourself too.

Christine Kane's Reasons to Write

Fraser MacKenzie, Online Editor — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:24:00 +0000

Asheville musician/blogger Christine Kane has an excellent post on writing. Go over and check out her 11 Irresistible Reasons to Write Every Day. You owe it to yourself.

ArtMagick's Intoxicating New Look

P.L. Miller, Contributing Editor — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:25:00 +0000

The ArtMagick site, an online gallery with an extensive collection of Pre-Raphaelite and Symbolist works, has recently undergone some major renovations and added some interesting new features. While they've always had free e-card service and in-depth information about paintings and artists, they now offer a different free desktop download each month. The download features a classic painting with a calendar inset, so your desktop can get a fresh new look each month. While you're there, don't forget to check out the new poetry section.

Lies, Lies, and More Lies: Must Be Election Time

Fraser MacKenzie, Online Editor — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 18:01:00 +0000

With the 2008 campaigns in full swing, we encourage you to visit FactCheck.org. It's a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to checking the accuracy of statements presented in political ads, speeches, debates and so on. Contrary to popular opinion, ignorance is not bliss (although it may simplify your voting options), so do yourself a favor and see how the candidates stack up in terms of truth-telling.

Emotional Throughput

Rob Colfax, Senior Editor — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 21:40:00 +0000

San Francisco psychotherapist Marty Cooper writes an excellent and insightful blog combining some of the best ideas of Western psychotherapy and Eastern philosophy. His most recent entry explores the idea of growth through "emotional throughput"--rather than building up walls to protect ourselves from feelings that threaten to overwhelm us, he suggests, why not imagine opening and closing shutters instead? It's your choice what to let in, and also your choice whether to keep it inside or let it pass through. Check out his entry at The Wild Moods: Open on both sides: Emotional "Throughput".

Mixed Messages

P.L. Miller, Contributing Editor — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 15:08:00 +0000

"Hell Awaits Lost Sinners," according to the signs posted on the fence, but be sure to have a "Merry Christmas" anyway. This fine example of local holiday spirit was shot alongside Tennessee Highway 36. Thanks for the use of your photo, Sha. (Click on the image to enlarge it for more detail.)

Mama Earlene's Annual Christmas Letter from Shady Creek, Tennessee (2007)

Patrick Redding, Contributing Editor — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 02:03:00 +0000

Merry Christmas, y'all! Well, it's been another humdinger of a year here, so let me just bring y'all up to speed on the happenings in our neck of the woods. I had thought the biggest news of the year would be my daughter Tina's wedding, but she and her new husband sort of took all the fun out of it when they just up and eloped (more on that later). As it turned out, we had bigger fish to fry when my brother Harvey tragically lost his life in a self-inflicted lawnmower accident.

Yes, it is true that Harvey got run over by his own lawnmower. Those who knew Harvey well surely won't be surprised that he could manage to do such a thing, but for those who only saw him acting like the big fool that he was at family reunions and so on, I will try to explain what happened....

(Read the rest...)

Solstice Swag

Fraser MacKenzie, Online Editor — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 14:54:00 +0000

Tired of seeing the same old Christmas stuff everywhere you turn? Sick of carols blasting in your ears from every corner of the mall? Check out Cafe Press's selection of Solstice items.

New Orleans Musicians Redefine 8/29

P.L. Miller, Contributing Editor — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 16:58:00 +0000

New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund Redefine 8/29 is now available for download at nomrf.org.

The benefit CD features songs donated for this download by supporters of our musicians. 100% of proceeds will benefit the New Orleans Musicians Relief Foundation, the grass-roots organization still getting grants directly to displaced musicians.

Featured musicians on the CD include Dr. John (of course), Edwin McCain & Maia Sharp, Backyard Tire Fire, the Kaiser Chiefs, and Rev. Goat Carson, among others. Tracks are also available for individual download at the NOMRF site.

New from Jonita Jett

Fraser MacKenzie, Online Editor — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 20:27:00 +0000

Of Grey Shades

by Jonita Jett

Dark tunnel
cold blast of
air.
Lights blink and then
go out altogether.
Groping in total darkness,
hands reach out towards
anything.
Blue tinted lights hang
from ceiling, then
grey smoky light, sounds
of underground rumbling,
then out comes monster
with red foaming
mouth.

Thunderbolts of the Gods on Google Video

Rob Colfax, Senior Editor — Tue, 22 May 2007 07:32:00 +0000

The folks at the Thunderbolts Project have posted Thunderbolts of the Gods at Google Video, so the entire 64-minute DVD is now available for you to view online. It'll be there through the month of May, so go and have a look. It's a fascinating perspective on our universe.

Review: Ian Hunter's Shrunken Heads

Fraser MacKenzie, Online Editor — Wed, 16 May 2007 23:47:00 +0000

Ian Hunter's newest CD is out, and it's definitely a welcome respite from the usual soundalike "alternative music" we're subjected to from the major record companies. This isn't music you're likely to stumble across using those "sounds like" searches on music download sites, nor is it something you'll probably hear blasting from your local classic rock station (unless said station in your area has a more varied playlist than the one here which seems sadly locked into some godawful repeat-loop of Boston's greatest hits). But don't let that discourage the more timid of you from checking it out; Shrunken Heads is one of Hunter's most accessible pieces of work to date and gets better with each listening.

One might expect a 70s legend like Hunter to have settled comfortably into a routine of rehashing old licks and lyrical motifs that worked before, but nothing could be further from the truth. Since going solo after Mott the Hoople, Hunter has not only kept current both musically and ideologically, but has continued to stretch his wings and experiment with new styles and sounds. There are subtle musical allusions to the old days--the glam-chunky opening riff of "How's Your House," for instance--but the effect is one of cheeky nostalgia, and it blends easily with the subtle techno-groove of "When the World Was Round."

As we've come to expect from Hunter, the lyrics cover a spectrum of topics from love and loss to scathing Dylanesque commentary on the current state of affairs with the scales tipped significantly toward the latter on this outing (and with good reason if you've been paying any sort of attention to the unfolding of world events since Hunter's last album). I should note that we're fortunate to have a lyric sheet included in the CD; deciphering the words on some of the older Hunter material was a challenge I always relished, and it kept the music fresh to have some new nugget of poetry emerge on each listen, but with lines as loaded with gleeful sarcasm as the ones on "Fuss About Nothin'," it's great to have the words right there in front of you to make sure he really said what you thought you heard.

Personal favorites from the disc: "Brainwashed" for its playful breaks and eclectic instrumentation, the title track for Hunter's wonderful raspy vocal, "I Am What I Hated When I Was Young" for its hilarious hoedown feel and lyrics about aging ungracefully, and "Stretch" because it's a good, solid, bottom-heavy rocker. I could've done without "Soul of America"--a little too much heartland-style Americana for my taste--but it will undoubtedly appeal to other listeners.

You can hear tracks and order the new CD at the Yep Roc Records site, and find tour dates and more info at the www.ianhunter.com.

DreamHost Goes Green

Fraser MacKenzie, Online Editor — Wed, 09 May 2007 18:11:00 +0000

Kudos to our hosting service for going green by purchasing Renewable Energy Credits and Carbon Credits to offset the environmental impact of their energy usage. (That's what the little button's all about; you may have seen it on our front page or on other sites.) You can read all about it at this page on the DreamHost site.

Opening a Dialogue with the Universe

Rob Colfax, Senior Editor — Sun, 06 May 2007 17:21:00 +0000

"The moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way."

--Scottish mountain-climber W.H. Murray in his book Evidence of Things Not Seen: a Mountaineer's Tale

Joe Dispenza made a similar comment in the film What the Bleep Do We Know?!, indicating that when you set your intentions and commit to creating your own reality (even for just one day, or for a few minutes of the day), interesting things begin to happen: small coincidences abound, information you can use is drawn to you, and people who can help are seemingly placed in your path.

Too often we're afraid to announce our intentions to the universe (or even ourselves). We don't want to commit ourselves to the possibility that what we want could actually happen--maybe we've heard too often the cautionary warning, "Be careful what you wish for." We're creatures of uncertainty and vacillation. We want to reserve the right to back out or change our minds.

But committing yourself to something you want or need to happen doesn't mean you aren't allowed to renegotiate later. The universe is flexible. Go ahead and tell it what you want (religions have been doing this for years--they call it prayer, magicians call it casting a spell, but it's the same principle--shh). You can fine-tune your ideas and hammer out the details as you go along.

Think of it as beginning a conversation with the universe. Clarify your intentions, and then watch and listen to see what happens as you go about your day; it could be in the form of a chance encounter, an enlightening dream, a interesting message in your voicemail--but something will happen. The universe is not a silent partner; it will communicate freely with you once you open a dialogue. What will you choose to discuss with it?

How to Build a Flying Saucer

Patrick Redding, Contributing Editor — Fri, 04 May 2007 16:35:00 +0000

Do I need to add that cautionary disclaimer about how you shouldn't try this at home?

How to Build a Flying Saucer (And Other Proposals in Speculative Engineering)

It's now free online, so go ahead and have a look.

And There Was Much Rejoicing

Fraser MacKenzie, Online Editor — Thu, 03 May 2007 23:39:00 +0000

We've made a couple of changes to the hub pages on the site which should allow them to load faster for you. Less waiting-around time means more time you can spend looking at what you came here to see, right? Enjoy!

Also, if you're looking for the old "Consciousness Expansion" section, it's been renamed to the "Think Tank." (We had to do something. Someone's consciousness expanded so much, it got too big for their brain.)

Now You Can Get Excited

Fraser MacKenzie, Online Editor — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 17:19:00 +0000

We've had a couple of requests for this, so now there's an "Add to My Excite Mix" button over in the the "Subscribe" box. If your favorite RSS-reader or subscription service isn't listed, drop us a line and we'll see what we can do. If you want to subscribe but don't know anything about that sort of thing, I recommend the FeedBlitz option at the top of the box; it's free, it's easy, and it comes straight to your e-mail without getting you on a lot of annoying mailing lists you don't want.

P.S. BlogTop Sites is in the process of merging with BlogFlux, so if you're seeing a blank button where that should be in the subscription area, that's probably why. They hope to have things completed this weekend.

Thanks, Mr. Vonnegut, You're Free to Go

Fraser MacKenzie, Online Editor — Sun, 22 Apr 2007 22:56:00 +0000

"The world does not need another novel now, for God's sake, and I feel that I've done everything I can do. Please, can't I go home now?"

--author Kurt Vonnegut in an interview with J. Rentilly that appeared in Pages magazine just six months ago

Vonnegut also commented to the BBC News two months ago that he felt "embarrassed" to have lived to the age of 83, saying, "It's in terrible taste." He also joked, "I'm suing a cigarette company because on the package they promised to kill me, and yet here I am."

For more on Kurt Vonnegut, check out the very apt illustration at www.vonnegut.com/ and the excellent collection of all things Vonnegut at www.vonnegutweb.com/.

New Video from Barry McCabe & New Website for Christine Kane

Fraser MacKenzie, Online Editor — Wed, 18 Apr 2007 21:36:00 +0000

They've just posted a new video of Barry McCabe doing an absolutely kick-ass version of "You Don't Love Me" from the Virginia gig in County Cavan, Ireland. That's Pat McManus on fiddle.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=f8f2yOhyNKQ

Also, Asheville, NC, musician/philosopher Christine Kane has just launched her brand-new website with a great new photo. Go browse around, and be sure to check out her blog. She's an intriguing writer.
http://www.christinekane.com/

New Music from Ian Hunter: Shrunken Heads

P.L. Miller, Contributing Editor — Sun, 15 Apr 2007 15:25:00 +0000

Ian Hunter has a new CD due out May 15th on Yep Roc Records. Titled Shrunken Heads, this is his first studio recording in several years, and his first release on this label.

According to the press release we received, the 10-song disc “covers a wide-range of honest emotions and wry observations that we’ve come to expect from Mr. Hunter: touching on such topics as late-night soul-searching to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and today’s political climate.” It was recorded in 2006 in Pawling, NY, and Palo Alto Daily News writer Paul Freeman says the new material "bristles with edgy, powerful, pertinent rock."

Photo by David Plakke
"The record was done quickly and very much as a band effort. It's more relaxed than usual for some reason and all in all a most enjoyable experience,” stated Hunter. “We're gearing up to release my first record in six years and we're excited to get out on the road and see you in your town.”

During his solo career, Ian Hunter wrote and performed such classics as “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” “Gun Control,” and “Cleveland Rocks” (which you may recognize as the theme from the Drew Carey Show). He’s an outstanding live performer as well, certainly not to be missed if you have the opportunity to see him onstage.

Yep Roc Records (located near Greensboro, North Carolina) is also the home of such class acts as Paul Weller, Robyn Hitchcock, The Apples in Stereo, Sloan, Robbie Fulks, Southern Culture on the Skids, The Reverend Horton Heat, and Nick Lowe. The company strives to reach as large an audience as possible but considers the unique vision of each of their artists to be top priority. They have a very user-friendly website where you can listen to samples for free, and unlike many other record companies, they do not place formatting restrictions on how you listen to the music you purchase or download from them.

Ian Hunter's website: http://www.ianhunter.com/
Yep Roc Records' website: http://www.yeproc.com/

Spring Green

Fraser MacKenzie, Online Editor — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 17:10:00 +0000

We're in the process of brightening up the site a bit with the colors of spring. Yes, I used the word "process," which means ongoing tinkering for awhile. But it shouldn't interfere with your browsing, so enjoy your visit.

Go Vote

P.L. Miller, Contributing Editor — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 02:44:00 +0000

Phil D'Angelo has a piece in the final stages of voting at Art FaceOff! You can cast your vote here: http://artfaceoff.com/faceoff_vote.php.

Fold

Fraser MacKenzie, Online Editor — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 17:13:00 +0000

by Thomas Kent

Your touch like butterfly wings
whispers carrying across the chasm...

Read the rest...

OK, So I Have Nothing Figured Out.

Fraser MacKenzie, Online Editor — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 17:05:00 +0000

Recently recovered from our files, a piece from Jeremy Farris:

OK, so I have nothing figured out. So I thought I did. At twenty-five, what could I have figured out? Every philosophy I could come up with has already been pondered and explored to the point of being classified as a "school of thought." Every time I make a personal mental breakthrough, every lightbulb lit in my mind has already been burning somewhere for a really long time. I used to feel disappointed when what occurred to me as an "enlightened moment" became a drop in the ocean of the pre-explored.

Now, however, I realize something I had not before. It is a minority of people who pursue thought beyond the realm of what is already there. Most are satisfied, pacified zombies living by what comes on TV every night. Existing to make payments, accrue wealth, and die leaving nothing of substance behind.

I see the endless parade of nonessential people dying, nondescript existences. Blinking out randomly. Leaving only the residue of laziness and complacency at accomplishing nothing of significance.

It is the pursuit of knowledge, the process of mental growth, that separates me from them. I seek the end of my own understanding. I question what I do not grasp. The desire to break through my own outer limit is the key to the next level. When I stop searching for a better, deeper hold on all I interact with, I become what I loathe.

OK, so I have nothing figured out. Anything I can come up with has been thought, tested, practiced, proven and disapproved. I still seek to question authority, question myself, question others. I must, or I admit defeat. As long as there is something I don't know, I am obliged to keep searching. Pressing ever on to the place where faithfulness in pursuit is rewarded with truth. TRUTH IS THE GOAL, REALITY IS THE PROCESS, ENLIGHTENMENT IS THE PRIZE.

So Long, Molly

Fraser MacKenzie, Online Editor — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 04:44:00 +0000

"We are the people who run this country. We are the deciders. And every single day, every single one of us needs to step outside and take some action to help stop this war. Raise hell. Think of something to make the ridiculous look ridiculous. Make our troops know we're for them and trying to get them out of there.... We need people in the streets, banging pots and pans and demanding, 'Stop it, now!'"

--from Molly Ivins' Jan. 11, 2007 column "Stand Up Against the Surge"

Columnist Molly Ivins passed away Wednesday, 31 Jan. 2007, after a long battle with breast cancer. She skewered several White House administrations and countless Texas politicians with her barbed wit. You can read editor Anthony Zurcher's tribute here:
http://www.creators.com/opinion/molly-ivins/molly-ivins-tribute.html