Gatewood Journal News & Updates

Still Here, Are We?

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser MacKenzie, Online Editor) — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 21:40:00 +0000

Many of us have wrestled with the dilemma of feeling one's purpose in life has been fulfilled (or mucked up beyond repair), yet here we are, still lingering in the physical world and wondering, "What now?" If you've wondered too, check out Erin Yes's latest posting, a brief article about artist/philosopher Paul Johnston: "The Old Man Speaks."

Living Alive by Erin Yes

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser MacKenzie, Online Editor) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:00:00 +0000

Our collection of articles on Consciousness Expansion has been updated with a new piece by poet/writer Erin Yes.

"Living Alive" touches on the development of intuition from childhood, and its function as a catalyst in manifesting unconscious urges through outward actions. It also discusses the importance of becoming aware of various levels of one's own stream of consciousness.

This article is "an overview of the life story and ideas of a man I knew in the 1980s," writes Erin. "He was one of the last survivors of the Bohemian generation who lived in Greenwich Village. His ideas came later in life, after a death and revival experience. He believed, as many Bohemians did, that man is essentially primitive."

Erin is writing a novel about his life and ideas and their friendship. You can check out more of her work on her blog at http://erinyespoetwriter.blogspot.com.

Buttons Are Back

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser MacKenzie, Online Editor) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:33:00 +0000

We've been revamping the hub pages on the site in order to make them more accessible across different browsers. Hopefully there will be improved compatibility with the Firefox and IE8 browsers now. As we've been working on this, we also brought back the cool wooden navigation buttons down the left side of each hub page. More updates are forthcoming so check in here or subscribe through your favorite RSS reader to keep up with the latest additions and tweaks.

Christine Kane's "Been-There-Done-That" Guide to Criticism

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Colfax, Senior Editor) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 18:59:00 +0000

[Editor's note: This article turned up in one of our journalers' e-mail box today and was passed along to me. I decided to share it with you because my daughter, who is in her freshman year at college and will be thoroughly peeved at me for mentioning this, recently received some rather harsh criticism regarding a paper she wrote. Because we encourage independent thinking and creativity here at Gatewood, most of the folks who work here have at least one or two stories they could tell in which they were hurt by someone's critique of their work. Most of them choose not to dwell on the slings and arrows of the past, but as long as one continues to be independent and creative, one runs the risk of being criticized. This is for all of you... for the next time it happens. And to my daughter: honey, read this, OK? :) --RC]

"Don't be distracted by criticism. Remember - the only taste of success some people get is to take a bite out of you." - Zig Ziglar

Here's one thing I'm pretty sure of:

I'm pretty sure you don't want a "Guide to Criticism."

In fact, you'd probably prefer a guide called: "How to Avoid Criticism and Ensure that Everybody Loves You Unequivocally til the Day You Die."

Unfortunately, that guide would also be called: "How to Have a Totally Boring Life."

Face it. When you play a bigger game, or step into your power - you'll most likely make some people uncomfortable. Unfortunately, in the face of discomfort, most people don't look within to find the source of it. They choose, instead, to lash out, criticize, or get cynical. All of us - myself included - have played this game!

That's because very few of us are taught Personal Responsibility. We are taught, instead, to blame other people for our results, our thoughts, and our emotions. We are taught to react.

The true moment of liberation in anyone's life is when she takes Personal Responsibility for it. When she starts to ask, "What is it in me that created this, or attracted it? How can I learn from it or turn it around?"

Let's assume, however, that 90% of the world doesn't practice this level of empowerment. That means that, most likely, someone will criticize you at some point in your life. And I'm not talking about constructive advice. I mean the harsh stuff. The stuff that hurts - because that's exactly what it's designed to do!

So, how do you handle it?

Well, I wish I could be with you the moment it happens. Cuz I've "Been-There-Done-That" and gotten the t-shirt! Instead, I'll send you a virtual hug and give you 7 practices that have worked for me.

1 - Make a decision.

Marla came to my women's retreat because she was "sick of playing small." I asked her what Playing Big looks like. A determined look crossed her face, and she said, "...to finally stop caring about what other people think of me."

If this is you, then it's time to make a decision. Decide right now that you will no longer live your life contorting your soul in an attempt to prevent criticism or judgment. Start with that one decision.

2 - SWSWSWSW.

Remember this: Some will. Some won't. So what? Someone's waiting.

An example:

After one of my big teleseminars, I received an email from someone who didn't like it. She sent a list of things that was wrong with it. (And me!)

I also received an email from a woman who was literally on her way to end her own life - and upon listening to that same teleseminar in her car, turned around and chose to start over again because of what I said.

This is classic SWSWSWSW. Apply it to your own gifts!

3 - Give yourself space to grieve.

Criticism is designed to hurt. And it often does. If you need some time to cry, then give yourself that gift. Call a friend who will listen.

Do yourself a favor, however, and set a limit. Give yourself til "Tuesday at 5pm." Or set the timer for 55 minutes. Then, choose to move on. Otherwise, it's easy to let it eat away at you indefinitely.

4 - Coach yourself.

A great technique that heals the effects of criticism is Brooke Castillo's Self-Coaching. In her book Self-Coaching 101, she provides fantastic techniques to heal any negative thought pattern. I've had great success using her work. You have to actually DO the work though. Get out your journal and write it all down!

5 - It's not about you.

Criticism is never about you. It's always about the person doing the criticizing. That might not help when you're hurting. But it's nice to be reminded!

6 - Protect yourself.

A university professor told me that there are student websites devoted solely to trashing teachers. Some of his colleagues check these sites everyday.

Don't do this! Don't seek out criticism. There are way too many places for victims and snarky people to congregate on the web.

Also, you can hire someone to filter your website email. My team filters all my email now, so that I can stay focused on my writing, my clients and on the good stuff that comes in!

7 - Decide again.

In the face of criticism, the only option is to decide again. Decide to keep shining and living life fully engaged.

Studies have shown that the most common regret among older Americans is of not having taken more risks. Don't let this be you!

In the awesome words of Marianne Williamson:

"Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you."

----------------

Performer, songwriter, and creativity consultant Christine Kane publishes her 'LiveCreative' weekly ezine with more than 4,000 subscribers. If you want to be the artist of your life and create authentic and lasting success, you can sign up for a FRE*E subscription to LiveCreative at www.christinekane.com.

P.L. Miller's Photojournal

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser MacKenzie, Online Editor) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 21:38:00 +0000

P.L. Miller has a new photojournal at Wordpress. Check it out at http://plmiller.wordpress.com/, and see some of the photos that haven't been posted here yet.

New Poetry from Jonita Jett

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser MacKenzie, Online Editor) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:51:00 +0000

Just posted new poetry from Knoxville poet Jonita Jett: "Down in a Hole"

9 Irresistible Reasons to Go Complaint-Free Starting Now

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser MacKenzie, Online Editor) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:14:00 +0000

by Christine Kane

In my upcoming Uplevel Your Life Mastery Program, there's a contract.

It's a commitment that each participant will go complaint-free, criticism-free, whine-free, and gossip-free for the full seven weeks of the course. That's 49 days, baby!

What does that have to do with Upleveling your Life?

Everything!

First off, let's get one thing out of the way: It's not about "being nice." This is much deeper.

It's about understanding the power of your Attention.

If you have a big juicy Intention or Dream - then your attention is the daily practice of manifesting that goal or dream. It is the essence of Creativity.

So, if I'm working with you, I want you to experience the power of shifting your attention from the so-called problem, so it can attract the many solutions!

Here are 9 Irresistible Reasons to Go Complaint-Free Today:

1 - When you're complaint-free, you find solutions rather than staying mucked in the problem.

If you don't offer yourself the option of complaining, then you train your brain to actually find solutions and get ideas. As Maya Angelou says, "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain."

2 - When you're complaint-free, you shrink your ego.

Complaining is like weight-training for your ego.

It makes your ego stronger because it makes someone or something else wrong. And it makes you right. Your ego becomes inflated and puffed up. When you cease the complaining/criticizing/gossiping habit, you tell your ego that your spirit is in charge, not your ego!

3 - When you're complaint free for 21-Days, you've started a new habit and created a new you.

Experts tell us it takes 21-days to form a new habit. And while it does take some trial and error to get through those 21-days, most of my clients notice that after only 7-days, they tolerate negativity less. After 2-weeks, they report that when they slip up, they can instantly self-correct!

4 - When you're complaint-free, it's a conversation starter.

Imaginary scenario:

Hal rushes into your office to gossip.

You get to simply smile and say, "Gosh Hal, you know, I'd love to join in, but I'm in the middle of Upleveling my Life. I signed a contract to go Complaint/Gossip-Free. Wanna look at it?"

Hal says, "Huh? What's that?"

Poof! The energy of the conversation shifts! It goes in a different direction and you get to experience that wildly exciting lightness where gossip would have once existed!

5 - When you're complaint-free, it's a conversation deepener.

Hal will listen for a while and then say, "Wow, that's a really great idea. I always notice how easy it is to complain, and I want to be more self-responsible..."

You'll share a deeper connection when you each admit that you want to live happier and more focused lives.

6 - When you're complaint-free, you attract new energy.

My clients have reported this one change so frequently, that I barely blink an eye anymore.

When you go complaint free, you simply start attracting more positive people to you. The negative people will walk away and think you're a complete idiot. But then, you'll start noticing positive curious people entering your life because you're so much fun to be around.

7 - When you're complaint-free, you banish lazy thinking.

Think about it.

You can't get much lazier than complaining and gossiping. It's the same well-worn neural pathway you've trudged down day after day, along with 95% of the population. When you're complaint-free, you go a different route. With alertness and alacrity, you find new ways of seeing things. (Plus, you get to use words like alacrity!)

8 - When you're complaint-free, you create happiness.

It's challenging at first, yes.

But after a few weeks, the common response I get from my clients is this: "You know what? I'm SO much happier!"

That's because complaining is just a habit, and it does nothing but drag us down. When your attention is forced to find new places to land, your subconscious becomes a "happiness-seeking missile." And because you're so powerful, you find it!

9 - When you're complaint free with a group, you get to soar on the updraft of the great group energy.

When groups work together, magic happens. It's why I created a Platinum Coaching and Mastermind group this year. It's why I invite my blog readers to join in on prayer lists each time I lead my women's retreats. When you link up with a group of like-minded people, effortlessness is created.

So - create a cool updraft with the many thousands of people who subscribe to this eZine. Go complaint-free!

==================

Performer, songwriter, and creativity consultant Christine Kane publishes her 'LiveCreative' weekly ezine with more than 4,000 subscribers. If you want to be the artist of your life and create authentic and lasting success, you can sign up for a FRE*E subscription to LiveCreative at www.christinekane.com.

WANT TO SEE HUNDREDS MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE?
See Christine's blog - Be Creative. Be Conscious. Be Courageous - at ChristineKane.com/blog.

New Gatewood Gallery Feature: Photography by Sha-Beth

noreply@blogger.com (P.L. Miller, Contributing Editor) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 18:23:00 +0000

Gatewood is pleased to announce a new addition to our online gallery. Southwest Virginia-based photographer Shana-Beth Doane has been shooting a variety of subjects recently, including snow-draped trees, urban sunsets, the highly photogenic family cats, and wild waterfalls. You can check out some of her work at www.gatewoodjournal.org/galleryshabeth01.html. Enjoy!

The Old Tavern

noreply@blogger.com (Rob Colfax, Senior Editor) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 21:30:00 +0000

D. Thomas Matz

“I’m stuck in a rut,” I would say to anyone who would listen without returning some self-indulgent philosophical babble I had no need to hear. I can do this myself, I often thought. I can change my own life, after all, I haven’t had a drink in over a year. This was accomplished without anyone’s help. I quit drinking and that’s that.

My family tries their hardest to explain why I should be attending support groups or church. They say I need friends to help me through all of this. They say that failure hangs over me like a dark cloud. Without support, they insist, failure is inevitable. What kind of support is this? I wonder.

My old friends are no longer friends because of the simple fact that they don’t understand my need to be sober. Their idea of a good time is exactly what mine had been: getting drunk, causing trouble, and getting laid. I’m better than that. I have a future, and with some time to get my life straight, I will prove this to everyone.

Sure, maybe I need new friends, but these friends won’t be found at any AA meeting or church group. In my own time I will find my own friends. I simply need time to adjust. Time to reevaluate my life and surroundings. I mean, who wants to admit failure and weakness? Who wants to admit they need help? Well… maybe lots of people, but I’m not one of them. I’m strong and independent. Time and patience is all I need. Why can’t anyone understand this?

One day, I believe it was a Saturday – or was it Sunday? – it doesn’t matter. Whatever day it was, I was watching TV. It was early in the morning, so early the sun hadn’t yet risen. The TV was showing only infomercials and this one advertisement came on for some ridiculous exercise product that looked like a baton. It occurred to me, as I watched, how simple people are and how well this man on the TV explained that this product was absolutely necessary for a proper workout. The product, to me, seemed absolutely worthless. But the man who created it would get rich off of it anyway. His wealth would be made off the ignorance and low self-worth of well-meaning people. It didn’t occur to me at the time how much effort and time was invested in getting such a product on the market; I saw only how easy it was to make money. It seemed as though anyone could just change their life and be a success. So I did just that; I picked myself up and began to change my life.

It took only an hour to pack the car and eat a quick and simple breakfast. Then I was on the road. I drove down the two-lane highway headed west. I was searching for something new. New friends, new surroundings, a new beginning. Somewhere out there in the distance was the solitude I was needing to make my future into what I knew it could be.

Read the rest of this short story by D. Thomas Matz...

The Top 10 Holiday "Shoulds" (and Permission to Just Breathe and Let them Go)

noreply@blogger.com (Fraser MacKenzie, Online Editor) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 22:34:00 +0000

Editor's note: We hope you enjoy this wonderful article from Asheville musician/philosopher Christine Kane. I should've posted it earlier in the season, but that's OK. ;) It's never too late to get off the merry-go-round for a bit and BREATHE.

Do you know the "shoulds?" Those voices that occasionally creep around your head telling you that things aren't as good as they could be and that everything would be better if you behaved well?

Yea?

Well, you're not alone. We all go there from time to time. Some of us spend our every waking moment "shoulding" on ourselves!

In the coaching/mentoring work I do, I know one thing to be true about this time of year:

The Holiday Shoulds are a special breed of Should. The Holiday Shoulds are loud and insidious. If you're not conscious, they can make you believe that they're a rational way to think.

After all, during the holidays, people become almost hypnotized into believing that every moment should be a certain way, that every yard should look a certain way, that every family should behave a certain way - and that it's okay to beat themselves up for their own preferences or for not keeping up with the imaginary standard.

Here's a list of the Top Ten Holiday Shoulds, along with a thought or two about simply letting them go, and delighting in this moment. In the words of Byron Katie: "When I argue with What Is, I lose. But only 100% of the time."

1 - I should have a new outfit to wear to the Christmas party!

Last year's outfit is fine. Your shiny happy self tells a brighter story than something you bought at a store.

2 - I should have done hand-made Christmas cards! (Or, I should've done Christmas Cards at all!)

Relax. If you had time to delight in making cards, that would be great. But it's okay that you didn't. And as for not sending cards, you can send them out next year. (Or, be like my brother's family and send out Valentine Cards instead!)

3 - My kids/parents should behave differently!

Everyone is doing the best they can. What would happen if you simply accepted each person's path and choices - and let them be exactly where they are?

4 - I should've bought more expensive presents!

When gifting becomes about competition or keeping up, then it just drains you. Take a moment to remember who you are and how you want to love the people in your life. Nothing beats authenticity.

5 - I should go out and buy more [insert useless consumer good or processed food here.]

When you nervously become a consumer for no reason, challenge yourself to sit down, listen, and experience the emptiness. You might find that it's actually quite peaceful in there!

6 - I should've lost weight this year!

Become a champion of yourself. Make a list of five great things you accomplished this year, and let go of those things you didn't. You can revisit them in January.

7 - The Holidays should look more like the pretty scenes in a snow globe or on Christmas specials!

The cool thing about snow globes and such is the happy feeling they create inside of you. Instead of thinking everything should make you feel that way, try to capture the feeling you get from those things - and then carry that feeling to each moment in your life. I call this Positive Daydreaming.

8 - I should've made [Insert time-consuming baked good featured in Martha Stewart Magazine]!

See #5. And remember that Martha Stewart has a very large staff. And that there's rarely a shortage of sugary baked items during the holidays.

9 - My house should have better decorations!

See #8. And go take a nap.

10 - I should make better scrapbook pages after the holidays!

Doing good scrapbooks does not make you a good mother, sister, daughter or friend. Doing good scrapbooks makes you someone who has time to scrapbook. If you use photo-boxes or boring albums, you're still a wonderful human, and we'll all still love you.

**BONUS SHOULD**

11 - It should be The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Christmas is lovely with all of its twinkle lights and confectionary goodies, AND there are many wonderful times each year. (I happen to love each and every time I hike in the woods, no matter what time of year it is!)

Wonderful is about your delight and how you feel on the inside. When you let go of what is not authentic delight for you, then you might be surprised at how simple the holidays become. You might find that wonderful is right here in this very moment.

**********

Performer, songwriter, and creativity consultant Christine Kane publishes her 'LiveCreative' weekly ezine with more than 4,000 subscribers. If you want to be the artist of your life and create authentic and lasting success, you can sign up for a FRE*E subscription to LiveCreative at www.christinekane.com

WANT TO SEE HUNDREDS MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE?
See Christine's blog - Be Creative. Be Conscious. Be Courageous - at ChristineKane.com/blog

Greener Printing

noreply@blogger.com (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

noreply@blogger.com (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

noreply@blogger.com (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

noreply@blogger.com (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

noreply@blogger.com (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

noreply@blogger.com (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)

noreply@blogger.com (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

noreply@blogger.com (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

noreply@blogger.com (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

noreply@blogger.com (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

noreply@blogger.com (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

noreply@blogger.com (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

noreply@blogger.com (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

noreply@blogger.com (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

noreply@blogger.com (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.