Lonesome Liz's Wild West Show

Live Through the Flu - Old Remedies That Work + Lonesome Liz's Chicken Soup

2014-03-16T10:45:00.003-07:00

A gruesome flu has hit Nashville - worst I've ever had. It starts in the ear and ends in the stomach. When it hit me, I was certain someone had made a Lonesome Liz Voodoo Doll, especially considering each body part it hit was accompanied by stabbing pain strong enough to merit at least Tylenol 3. Without insurance, or even with it, (since it's a virus and antibiotics really don't address the issues), what to do? Here are some home remedies I tried that truly did work. Hope they help some of y'all who have the misfortune to catch this, (or anything else like it), too.

Chicken Soup

It's not an old wives tale, chicken soup really does help. Not only because it's hot and easy on the stomach but it contains powerful, illness fighting stuff. Here's my recipe, learned from an old, Jewish grandmother, (the ones who know best of all how to make it). Easy and contains minimal ingredients but tastes like it came straight from a 5 star restaurant.

1 whole chicken
1 whole onion
Heart of celery (the yellowish, smaller stalks inside the crunchy green ones)
1 bay leaf
Thyme
White pepper (it really makes a huge difference in taste to use white rather than black)
Salt

All you do is put all of the above in a large stew pot, cover it with water, turn burner on to high and boil for about an hour or until the onion is very soft. (Use the thyme, salt and pepper to taste - starting with about a 1/2 tablespoon of each, then, in the last hour of cooking taste it to make sure it's how you like and add more if desired.)

When the onion is soft, remove it and the celery, set aside (you can chop them up and add back to the soup when it's done but if you leave them in there too long they'll break down to nothing and wind up adding a bitter taste to the soup). Add more water to again cover the chicken, bring back to a boil.

Cook until the meat is falling off of the bones, (this may require poking the chicken around a bit to see if it falls apart easily on it's own), and the broth reduced to about 1/2 up the pot. Turn to low heat. when cooler, taste to see if more salt or pepper is needed. remove bones and skin.

You can add rice towards the end of cooking (bring back to a boil,adding some water first b/c rice will absorb a lot of the broth), chopped carrots, diced potatoes (again, add these in the last hour of cooking and add water first/bring back to a boil to cook the vegetables) -- add them AFTER you've removed the bones and skin. You can also make biscuit dough (below), break it in pieces and drop in boiling soup at the end for dumplings, (this is best with vegetables omitted). Dumplings are done when they float to the top and are slippery.

For cream of chicken soup, whisk in 1/2 cup heavy cream and 2 1/2 tsp dry red wine after cooking.

For Earaches

My ear hurt so much it literally woke me up at 2 am and had me in tears from the pain. Yes, tylenol helps but this pain was so relentless it would require 2 every 6 hours round the clock to manage. Problem is, you can't take that much tylenol. what you can do, however, is alternate taking tylenol and asprin. That way you still get (in this case semi-adequate) pain management without risking making yourself ill from too much of one or the other, (which will happen).

Since just that didn't begin to truly eliminate the seriously crippling ear pain here are two home cures that really did help massively.

1. Heat -- Heat REALLY took the remaining pain away. Sucks because you have to lie or sit with something hot on your ear but sucks a lot less than lying there unable to sleep from the pain. If you don't have a heating pad or hot/cold pack, you can make one by filling a sock with rice and then microwaving it in short bursts till it's hot enough. It smells kinda ewwwww but if you're in this much pain that doesn't really matter much. I just kept putting on perfume so I didn't have to smell the rice, lol.

2. Onion -- Boil or bake a quarter of an onion until soft. Then you can either squeeze some of the juice into your ear or take a small piece of it and insert it in your ear. Sounds weird, I know, but it really does take away the ear pain. Between this and the rice bag I was joking that I was like a stew myself. But they worked.

3. Steam -- a humidifier helps relieve pressure by moistening the air, a hot shower definitely does the same. It won't work by itself but, along with the two above will work as part of a triple threat to the issue at hand.

For Sore Throat

Unfortunately, the cures for sore throats don't eradicate the pain the way the ones for earache did but they did help considerably.

1. Gargling with hot salt water --- My grandmother used to swear by this and constantly tell me to do it to which I constantly replied ewwwwwww and refused. But it works, My throat hurt so much I could hardly swallow and it didn't completely eliminate the pain but it made it go down enough for me to sleep and swallow. I cover the bottom of a cup with salt (the more you use at one time the fewer times you'll have to gargle), let tap water get as hot as it can, then fill the cup about 1/2 way, Gargle till gone. Repeat about 3 times. It's gross but it works. Repeat when it gets so bad again you can't swallow.

2. Alcohol --- As above, salt really helps, (it kills germs for one - hence the old 'salt in a wound' adage), so does alcohol, (in small amounts, getting drunk lowers your immune system). Lemon is also known to be helpful with throat issues. So, even though I abhor tequila - I hate to admit that the quickest way to hit a throat with a 3 way attack is a shot of it. With salt first, followed by lemon. Repeat no more than 3 times. The alcohol will, of course, also help you sleep and make you a little less acutely aware of the pain.

You can also launch a 3 way attack with a hot toddy - Put 2 tablespoons of honey in the bottom of a glass along with a few slices of lemon, add a shot of bourbon and pour about a cup of boiling water over all. The honey coats your throat, again, lemon helps it as well, the bourbon helps kill germs and the heat + the sugar in the honey intensify it's effects to promote sleep.

3. Hot sauce --- This may have helped more than anything else - if your throat hurts too much to eat even a chip or two with raging hot salsa (and I mean raging hot - this is like add the hottest hot sauce you can find hot) or guacamole then add some to the chicken soup. Maybe put some on the lemon your chasing the tequila shot with. However it is you can take it, it'll help.

For Stomach

Unfortunately, there's not much you can do with a stomach flu except let it get itself out of your system.

1. Heat will help some with the pain, (which in the case of this flu was absolutely stabbing and had me crying out),. A hot bath or shower, (stay in as long as possible) will also help while you're in it.

2. The pain can also be cut down a little with tylenol, (if you can keep it down and in this case it diminished it enough for me to sleep but didn't eradicate it). Asprin can aggravate stomach lining so stay away from that/you unfortunately can't do the alternation for this that you can do for ear and throat pain.

3. Chamomile tea doesn't cure it but it does help a little - I found peppermint more helpful than anything else so add a little oil of peppermint to plain chamomile tea. You can drink it as often/as much as you like and, combined with the above two, with this variety of stomach bug anyway, it will lessen the ordeal.

Main thing is to just keep as little on your stomach as possible while this phase moves on. Very cold soda, clear popsicles, jello - the usual things your mom probably gave you when you were sick, all provide slight comfort on their own and help with the throat part too.

I wish I'd had this list when I first woke up crying from my ear hurting! Hope it helps some of you too. Hang in there. It only seems to last a few days at worst.

More Sickroom Recipes

Creamed Chip Beef

1 jar dried beef
1/4 cup butter (real butter, not margerine)
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
2 cups milk

Melt butter in saucepan. Mix flour with salt and pepper then blend gradually, stirring continuously over medium heat until thick and caramel colored. (Careful so that it doesn't burn). Stir in milk very gradually, letting thicken a little as you stir, (and downside is you do need to stir continuously) until it thickens. Reduce heat to low. Shred beef and stir in. Serve over toast or biscuits. (White bread will be much easier on your stomach than wheat.)

Lonesome Liz's Biscuits

2 c self rising flour
1 stick margerine or 8 tbsp shortening (shortening is better) cut into pieces
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tbsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c milk

Sift flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Cut in margerine or shortening with a knife (doing it this way truly does produce the best result) until it looks like cornmeal. Make a well in the middle of the flour mixture and pour in milk then stir. Turn onto floured board and kenad very lightly until it's not sticky. Roll and cut with glass or cookie cutter.

Place biscuits close together on greased pan, sprinkled with flour. Towards end of baking brush with a mixture of milk and melted butter to brown. Bake at 450 about 10 min.

Syd Barrett, Bob Masse and Psychedelic Art and Music

2013-11-16T11:57:00.000-08:00

Syd Barrett

http://www.morrisonhotelgallery.com

Iconic psychedelic artist Bob Masse has illustrated Pink Floyd with his colorful imagination since 1966 when he designed this amazing poster for one of their London shows:

When first formed, the true mind behind the music and the concept, at the time a revolutionary one, of adding multi-media, (including the light shows now common place in many artists’ performances), was a man named Syd Barrett. Pink Floyd recently commissioned Bob to design the poster at the heading of this feature to commemorate the anniversary of his death, (July 7, 2006) and to honor his role in their creation, which, as the original songwriter and front man, was substantial. From his naming the band after his favorite two Blues singers to his being the crazy diamond you hear them tell to ’shine on’, he remained a core element, even in his absence.

Syd, regrettably, was so psychedelic that he seems to have gotten lost in the very trip that made the music what it was and left the band fairly early on. Interviews with him soon after the break-up do not really reflect the lost in Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds space I’d long heard rumors of. They do reflect a somewhat unfocused mind but one still bursting with ideas. Initially a visual artist himself, (when the band formed he was, in fact, in art school), he discusses returning to that medium and seems, from his descriptions of it and from some of his work I’ve seen, to have been expanding on what was happening in the art world at the time, as he unquestionably did with his music.

Art by Syd (Roger) Barrett,

Source: http://www.sydbarrett.net

A full feature about Syd and his tremendous influence on Pink Floyd follows as soon as I’m able. Till then, to get an idea of what they were like with Barrett around, and the initial reactions to the music of both press and public, check out these features, which were also posted on the above site, which is the best source I’ve found for info about him.

http://www.morrisonhotelgallery.com

Hits? The Floyd couldn't care less Melody Maker, December 9, 1967, Alan Walsh

Giving pop journalists a hard time is the blood sports of groups. It's one of the occupational hazards of the job, as anyone who's ever been on the receiving end of the Beatles rapier remarks will tell you. Last week, it was the Pink Floyd's turn, which was surprising, for their latest record "Apples And Oranges" isn't exactly setting the charts alight. Still, I managed to penetrate their initial unreceptive attitude and asked how they felt about the record bombing after "Arnold Layne" and "See Emily Play" had been so well received. "Couldn't care less," was Syd Barrett's answer. For the Floyd don't really regard themselves as primarily a record group. Barrett is an advocate of musical anarchy. He believes that all the group can do is make a record which pleases them. If it's not commercial - too bad. "All we can do is make records which we like. If the kids don't, then they won't buy it." Ideally, believes Barrett, groups should record their own music, press their own records, distribute them and sell them. He feels that the application of commercial considerations is harmful to the music. He'd like to cut out the record company and wholesalers and retailers. "All middle men are bad," he said. Co-manager Peter Jenner said that, anyway, the groups have far more idea of what the kids want than the record companies. Barrett said that the reason the kids dig the Beatles and Mick Jagger is not so much because of their music, but because they always do what they want to do and to hell with everyone else. "That's why the kids dig them - because they do what they want. The kids know this." I met Barrett and guitarist Roger Waters with managers Jenner and Andrew king at the Central Office of Information in Lambeth. They had been viewing a colour film insert of the group for a magazine programme on Britain networked across America and Canada. The number they filmed was "Jug Band Blues," written by Barrett which manager Jenner said he had wanted to release as their single instead of "Apples And Oranges." He said he was pressing for it to be their next single in the New Year.		It is almost a poetic recitation by Barrett, with avantgarde sound effects by the group. The centre passage is almost free form pop, with six members of the Salvation Army on the recording session told to "play what you like." After the filming, we retired to a nearby coffee bar where Jenner said: "The group has been through a very confusing stage over the past few months and I think this has been reflected in their work. "You can't take four people of this mental level - they used to be architects, an artist and even an educational cyberneticist- give them big success and not expect them to get confused. "But they are coming through a sort of de-confusing period now. They are not just a record group. They really pull people in to see them and their album has been terrifically received in this country and America. I think they've got a tremendous things ahead of them. They are really only just starting." The Floyds entry into the pop arena was as a psychedelic group. They came in on the surge of lights and psychedelia which is dwindling rapidly today. Were they still using lights or had they made any decision to abandon them? "Not at all," said Roger Waters, "With us, lights were not, and are not a gimmick. We believe that a good light show enhances the music. Groups who adopted lights as a gimmick are now being forced to drop them, but there's no reason why we should. "In this country, groups were forced to provide their own light shows, whereas in the States, it was the clubs who provided the lights." "Really," said Barrett, "we have only just started to scrape the surface of effects and ideas of lights and music combined; we think that the music and the lights are part of the same scene, one enhances and adds to the other. "But we feel that in the future, groups are going to have to offer much more than just a pop show. They'll have to offer a well-presented theatre show."

Freaking out with the Pink FloydTerrapin #12, Oct 1974

Being asked to interview the Pink Floyd - Is an ordeal I would have wished only to my worst enemies. I was shaking like a leaf an hour before our first midday appointment. The thought of having to talk to a psychedelic group brought me out in sugar-cube shaped goose pimples. What language do these musical Martians speak? Would they hallucinatory gaze turn me into an orange? What would be the horrible consequences of freaking out with a bunch of transvestites in Cambridge Circus? Pre-conceptions flooded my already busting mind. This was going to be sixteen hours of terrifying, heart-halting experiences. Nervously I tiptoed to the door of lead guitarist Syd Barrett's house just off busy Cambridge Circus in the middle of London's vice-ridden West End. The font door was painted an ominous purple. Why wasn't I being paid danger money? Was this one trip on which all expenses weren't going to be paid? Oh, to be golf correspondent on International Times and forget these blasted astronomic, hippie rebels. Syd Barrett tumbled out of his bed and donned his socks. I peeked around the small attic room looking fr women's clothing that the Pink Floyd say Arnold Layne tries on in front of the mirror. Instead his girlfriend materialised at the door and brought in a cup of coffee. Well so far there was little evidence of the terrible Arnold Layne being in the vicinity -- the Pink Floyd were covering up well. I'll shoot Barrett a [question?] "Syd, why did you write such a dirty, filthy smutty immoral and degrading son as "Arnold Layne"? Syd blinked blankly: "Well I just wrote it. I thought "Arnld Layne" was a nice name, and it fitted very well into the music I had already composed". "But isn't it true," said I, "that Radio London, quite rightly, banned the record because they thought it was "smutty"?" Instead of reeling into the wardrobe and revealing a cupboard full of feminine clobber, Syd began to explain : "I was at Cambridge at the time. I started to write the song. I pinched the line about "moonshine washing line" from Rog, our bass guitarist - because he has an enormous washing line in the back of his house. Then I thought, "Arnold must have a hobby", and it went on from there. "Arnold Layne" just happens to dig dressing up in women's clothing. A lot of people do - so let's face up to reality. About the only other lyric anybody could object to, is the bit about, "It takes two to know" and there's nothing "smutty" about that!" "But then if more people like them dislike us, more people like the underground lot are going to dig us, so we hope they'll cancel each other out." Organist Rick Wright walked in said : "I think the record was banned not because of the lyrics, because there's nothing there you can really object to - but because thery're against us as a group and against what we stand for." It's only a business-like commercial insult anyway," thought Syd, "It doesn't affect us personaly." Roger the bass, and Nick Mason the drummer joined the happy throng. "Maybe they were the evil people," I thought. "Let's face it," said Roger seriously, "the pirate stations play records that are much more "smutty" than "Arnold Layne" will ever be. In fact, it's only Radio London that have banned the record. The BBC and everybody else plays it. I think it's just different policies -- not anything against us."		That sounds like sense. Syd got up and moved stealthily to the tape recorder. Ah-hah, they're going to try subliminal brainwashing. They're going to lock me in a revolving echo chamber full of laughing gas and pipe Stockhausen through the portholes while Suzy Creamcheese writhes on the transparent roof in a "Matey" bubble bath, being watched intensely by the inmates of the Asylum of Clarentoe under the direction of the Marquis de Sade. Syd put on one of the new Pink Floyd album tracks instead. And, Gadzooks, it's foot tapping stuff. Quite interesting pop music actually. "Avant garde" I think it's called. Warming to the Floyd's tape of numbers like "interstellar" and"Flamin'", I began to think that maybe I was wrong -- maybe beneath the hustle and bustle of the in-crowders and the newspapers reports, here was a group not quite as weird as everyone makes out. "Let's go for a drink," they said. A drink? surely hippies don't drink? But sure enough there we were in the pub dowing good old fashioned brown beer. And another, and another. And then it was off to EMI studios for the group's recording session. Quite a normal affair. No kaleidoscopic lighting, no happening or freaking -- just a lot of hard work. Where does the group think they fit in the pop music structure? "We would like to think we're part of the creative half in that we write our own material and don't just record other people's numbers or copy American demo discs", said Nick Mason. Our albums shows parts of the Pink Floyd that havent been heard yet." "There's part we haven't even heard yet" chipped in Roger. It's bringing into flower many of the fruits that remained dormant for so long" added Nick. "It all comes straight out of our heads" says Syd, "and it's not to far out to understand. If we play well on stage I think most people undestand that what we play isn't just a noise. Most audiences respond to a good set." And despite those terrifying premonitions and the misinterpretd facts, and the blown-up rumours, interviewing this so-called "psychedelic" group was an enjoyble experience. They were very normal people. In a cacophony of sound played to a background of multi-coloured projected lights, the Pink Floyd proved they are Britain's top psychedelic group before the hip audience at UFO Club, tottenham Court Road, on Friday night. In two powerful sets they drew nearly every conceivable note from their instruments but ignored their two hit singles. They include "Pow-R Toc-H" and a number which received its first hearing called "Reaction in G" which they say was a reaction against their scottish tour when they had to do "See Emily Play". Bass player Roger Waters gave the group a powerful depth and the lightspoured onto them on an impressive scene. Many of the audience found Pink Floyd's music too much to sit down and in more subdued parts of the act the sound of jingling bells from their dancing masters joined in. It is clear that the Floyd prefer plaing to UFO-type audiences rather thatprovincial ones and at their best in an athmosphere more acceptable to them. Supporting the Pink Floyd were the Fairport Convention making their first appearance.

Mike Seeger, Levon Helm: My Long, Strange Americana Trip

2013-09-05T09:10:00.000-07:00

photo by Keith Garvin

Part I... From Seeger's 'True Vine' to Levon's 'Dirt Farmer...

The above photo, which has always been my, (and seems most others) favorite, was taken in a town I called 'Flatpick Kentucky'. It was shot, (and I was somehow not), by the son of Bert Garvin. Bert Garvin was Bill Monroe's first banjo player. They'd met up in Flatpick and well, they did what most everyone there did, they picked. They did it not only because their talent compelled them but to escape the mines, the railroad, the oil company, the nuclear plant. Music helped some escape daily, a few for good. (You can read about my first encounter with them here at GratefulWeb. I met them covering the Appalachian String Festival for the magazine.)

Bert could have been one of those people who got out for good. Mr. Monroe begged him, he said, to go to Nashville. "If you aren't the best banjo picker there when we arrive", he told him, "I'll see to it that you are in short order." A child with cerebral palsy at home, Garvin couldn't do it. He stayed in Flatpick, worked for the railroad, and eventually became near deaf. "I've I'da known Bill Monroe was going to be Bill Monroe", Garvin said, "I'dve gone to Nashville."

How did I wind up in Flatpick with Bert's rifle and my own banjo, (to my delight he'd agreed to teach me)? Well, it began, as did, indeed a great deal of the popularization of folk that led to the Americana genre, with Mike Seeger. For those of you who don't know, he's the brother of Pete and, like him played a heavy hand the first Roots revival. In fact, he's the guy who filmed Jesco's dad, D. Ray White, (check out my videos with Jesco at my YouTube channel). His film, of course, started that 'Legend of D. Ray White' that Hank III made famous. As if that didn't all substantially help shape the genre, (in many, many of it's now multi-faceted manifestations) , Dylan credits Seeger with inspiring him to write his own songs.

Writing for Northern Virginia Magazine at the time, I suggested a series looking at how technology and resultant DIY movement were shifting the industry. I'd find 5 Virginia artists, from Grammy winners to emerging, who illustrated this. I suppose, in a way, I was forming the idea for this piece and this time - or maybe I just listened very closely to what they said and proceeded to do the same. Either way, I somehow went from ... well, let me just finish telling you the story.

Researching Virginia artists, I discovered Mr. Seeger. To my surprise, the Google search turned up his phone number. Can't possibly be the same Mike Seeger, I thought to myself. I then thought to myself what the heck and picked up the phone and called to find out. Sure enough it was.

So began what neither of us knew would be his last interview. (You can read it here and here). Northern Virginia Magazine then bailed on publishing it, though he'd just won his Grammy for True Vine that year. By coincidence, GratefulWeb needed writers to cover an Old Time festival nearby. I wrote them and said I wasn't sure I could make it to the festival but I sure would love if they'd publish these interviews with Mr. Seeger. Of course, they did, as you'll discover above.

Having a good story idea wasn't the only reason I wanted to talk with Mr. Seeger. Dylan has always been what inspired me to write. Reading the Chronicles, I discovered it was Seeger who'd done the same for Dylan. Well heck, I thought, if you want to write songs like Bob Dylan start where he did. As I talked with Mr. Seeger, I began taking traditional songs and writing my own based on them. I then not only interviewed him but had the opportunity to discuss my music with him. While he and Joan Baez were at the Newport Folk Festival, I even got a note from her about one of them, to my continuing surprise.

Not long after our interviews, I found myself in South Jersey and discovered. I looked around to see if there might be something I could write about. To my delight, Soozie Tyrell, Springsteen's Seeger Sessions fiddler and E Street Band member, was playing at the Stone Pony. (The legendary venue that launched Springsteen, Bon Jovi and others). So, of course, I went. From there, I returned to Appalachia to learn banjo from Bert, (and to have that amazing photo taken).

Many interesting things happened in Jersey. Learning that Old Time music had been preserved in the Pine Barrens, as it had in Appalachia, I made a trip to Albert Hall, where the traditions are maintained. When looking through their archive, I found the original outline of Mike Seeger's program for schools that launched the 'Foxfire' series, which is still in print. An arts teacher at the time, I used it to implement something similar in inner city schools. Yet another, unexpected way Mr. Seeger changed not only my life, but in this instance the lives of hundreds of children too.

But it was at the Stone Pony that my life began to not only change but revolutionize. I was invited to spend the weekend with them, (in the oceanfront hotel Johnny Cash once owned a floor of) and what a weekend it was. There was not only Soozie Tyrell but more bands than I can now recall to count (it was Labor Day weekend), a coastal hurricane that prevented what would have been a certain visit from Springsteen and, to top it all off, there was the moment I met a member of the Levon Helm Band.

It was Saturday night. Soozie was going to play soon and no was was yet 100% positive Springsteen wouldn't be there, (he often is). Everyone running the Pony, and I who had been keeping pace up to then, was exhausted. The promotions directer and I were in the office and the national tour manager rushed in, (for the 100th time that night at a break neck pace), saying:

"So and so broke a string and his other guitar is in the car and he wants to know if he can go and get it but it's going to slow down the set and then so and so doesn't go on until time x and then so and so till time y and etc etc..." I turned, looked at him and said, "If he can't play with 5 strings what's he doing on stage at the Stone Pony? He does realize that Soozie is going to go up there and play with 1 string - you know.... Seeger Sessions, Appalachian instruments..." "She's right!" The house promoter said. "Tell him no."

I heard laughter behind me, turned and in the hall bands were using to go from trailer to stage were 3 who I assumed were roadies. "See!" I said, "The Men in Black concur!" They continued to laugh and I approached them and continued my tangent. "WHO are you?!" They asked. "I'm a writer for GratefulWeb that just interviewed Mike Seeger." I replied. I then recounted some of my adventures in Americana up to that point. When they took the stage with Soozie I realized Brian (who had just started playing with Helm), Paul Ossala of the Saturday Night Live Band, and more - the world's top musicians who play with pretty much everyone you can think of.

I then travelled to Appalachia and there met Jeff Walburn, who was soon traveling to Nashvile for the Americana Roots Association conference week. He was going not only with the Garvins but Michael O'Neill, (who is, of course, part of the upcoming showcase I'm in this year). Learning that O'Neill had played and co-written with Bob Weir he was a perfect interview for the GratefulWeb series by this time in progress. You can read our first talk here.

When I got home, after many more adventures, I talked with Brian and our conversations about music, including my own, have continued, (as have my talks with Mike and the Garvins), over the years. The 'Dirt Farmer' Grammy, (the first award given in the Americana genre), was soon to be won, though they didn't know it yet. Our interview, which recounts some tales from his fascinating life and some additional details of my adventures in Asbury Park, is here.

I caught up with The Levon Helm Band again, I believe when the Grammy had just been won. At that time, the documentary, "Ain't In it For My Health" was being filmed and I was entertained by tales of what that was like, what the tour had been like... got to fully see from the inside out the vast tapestry of talent that made up the new 'Band'. They were going from there to Nashville for the AMA conference week and suggested I go also so that I could continue to write about it plus more. I declined but found myself caught up immediately in a wave of coincidence, (which had and has been a steady theme throughout my adventures)...

...this story continues on to Woodstock, to the Deaths of Mr. Seeger and Mr. Helm on down to the upcoming AMA conference week. You can read about it... in the next installment of our Americana Music series. Coming very, very soon.

Upcoming Americana Showcase in Nashville, It's Almost AMA Week Everyone!!!

2013-09-04T15:54:00.001-07:00

I am very excited to be part of Mary Leland Wehner's Coco Paco's showcase at the Rutledge here in Nashville Sept. 17th. (Just in time to kick off the Americana Music Conference!) The gathering of some of Americana's most gifted singer/songwriters in part echoes the genre-shaping 'Americana Tonight' performances produced by Mary Leland and her late husband, Mark Wehner. His passing was a tragic loss not only to his loved ones but to the genre and I know my fellow performers join me in striving to honor his amazing spirit during this special night.

Mary Leland and Mark Wehner, photo by Peter Cooper, The Tennessean

The Artists...

Michael O'Neill

Southern Crossroads artist and former band mate of Bob Weir Michael O'Neill is not only a talented artist but also also an Americana producer and radio host. After cutting his musical teeth opening on U2's first tour, he signed with legendary manager Don Arden, (father of Joan Osbourne). Michael's weekly 'Who's Bad Now Radio Hour' broadcasts live from Seattle, Washington.

Brigitte DeMeyer

This Nashville singer-songwriter has collaborated with giants of the Americana world like drummer/producer Bradley Blade, (who she met when he was performing with Emmylou Harris' band, Spyboy). She co-produced her fifth album, 'Rose of Jerhico' which features Grammy-Award winning Newgrass pioneer Sam Bush. Her performances and albums have included Buddy Miller, Steve Earle, Ivan Neville, the Indigo Girls' Emily Sailers and many other noted artists. More about Brigitte here.

Will Kimbrough

Another great Nashville singer-songwriter, Will Kimbrough, will be performing with Brigitte. With songs recorded by Jimmy Buffett, Little Feat, Jack Ingram, Todd Snider and others, Kimbrough has additionally collaborated in the studio and on-stage with Rosanne Cash, Guy Clark, Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris, Mark Knopfler, Buddy Miller, John Prine, Billy Joe Shaver, Mavis Staples and others.

Lonesome Liz:

photo by Lonesome Liz

I'm a multi-disciplinary artist who's productions and performances have included the work and music of Drive-by Truckers artist Wes Freed and others. Also a writer and blog host for 'Outlaw Magazine' and 'GratefulWeb.net', I was the last person to interview Americana giant Mike Seeger before his death, (you can read it here.) I also wrote a Levon Helm retrospective soon after his passing which received praise from Bob Dylan himself, (featured here). This special performance will spotlight songs written during talks with, (and sometimes with feedback from), both Mr. Seeeger and members of Mr. Helm's remarkable band in honor of their enormous impact on not only my own music but their tremendous, genre-defining contributions to Americana from the 60s to the present day. You'll find my music here.

Lonesome Liz's Band of Lost Souls ...

Kara Clark

photo by Anthony Scarlati

The grand-daughter of a guitarist for Hank Sr., Kara has been praised by not only Edwin McCain, (who called her style and talent, "...just what Country Music needs.") but also Shooter Jennings, Metallica/Alice in Chains producer Toby Wright and others. This Rusty Knuckles artist is most often seen playing guitar and singing her soulful originals with The Kara Clark Band, this showcase provides the unique opportunity to see her play both dobro and piano.

Cameron Bentley

photo by Lonesome Liz

Multi-disciplinary artist Cameron Bentley performs routinely with both Liz and fellow showcase artist Jon Taul. Both his music and visual art have been inspired by both his grand-mother, Marilyn Mellencamp and his cousin, John Cougar Mellencamp. Also a talented singer/songwriter, you'll find his songs here: http://www.reverbnation.com/cameronbentley and his visual art here: http://www.benayr.com/cameron/arttrain.html.

Mike Cullison

photo by Gregg Roth

Nashville singer/songwrite Mike Cullison has honed his songwriting skills with honed his songwriting skills with Johnny Neel, (the Allman Brothers) and Mike Stergis, (Crosby, Stills & Nash), and other leaders of the craft. A story teller first and foremost, he describes his new cd, The Barstool Monologues as a 'Honky Tonk Canturbury Tales'.

Calico

Band members Snap Dragon Calico, Juniper Calico and Perry Rose Calico are bringing their brand of California Country to Nashville. Neil Portnow, President and CEO of the Grammy's, calls them "Just dropping." Join us to see why! More about their music at their website.

and Americana's rising star ...

Jon Taul

When Jon Taul isn't performing, you're likely to find him watching his corn grown, building a swing out of barn wood ... or you might not find him at all 'cause he's gone fishin'. Read more about the man and his music in The Hardin County News Enterprise.

The Manning Issue - In the Eyes of a Wise Child

2013-08-28T22:05:00.000-07:00

When my son was asked to reasearch/write a current events paper, he chose Manning and then posted this as his Facebook Status. I then shared it with my friends and was so amazed by both the volume of response (108 comments) and his management of them that I wanted to share it with GratefulWeb readers. Here is the thread, (names omitted):

"With 0 input/opinion from me whatsoever other than he should read about it, this is what my 11 year old just wrote for his Facebook status:

"Ok so look at this headline I found. "Bradley Manning is sentenced to 35 years," now why in hell is he sentenced to 35 year. The Constitution says "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America," Now let's see here. He is trying to form a more perfect union yet he gets 35 years in prison. I think he is a hero. If you say otherwise then you are not involved in anything halfway controversial. So who does agree w/ me?"

Elizabeth Bissette Remember please this is a child's post. I realize and respect that we are not all of the same opinion - please respect that a child wrote this and keep your comments appropriate.

August 26 at 4:45pm · Like · 2
Storm Ricon Free Chelsea Manning!

August 26 at 4:46pm via mobile · Unlike · 5
John Lowe Smart young man !

August 26 at 4:47pm · Unlike · 2
Mike Glass Hells yea.... Ya done good.

August 26 at 4:47pm · Unlike · 1
Brian Womack Heroes do not aid the enemy in the process.

August 26 at 4:47pm · Like · 1
Elizabeth Bissette He was not convicted of aiding the enemy.

August 26 at 4:48pm · Like · 1
Mike Glass The enemy is our government. World terrorists if ya asked me...

August 26 at 4:48pm · Like · 2
Elizabeth Bissette I understand teh issue is complicated and will discuss it with him objectively from both sides then allow him to form his own opinion with all of the facts which yes, he does not yet have.

August 26 at 4:49pm · Like
Elizabeth Bissette Most adults don't know that much of the Constitution. My hero is Charles Falkner

August 26 at 4:49pm · Like · 5
Charles Falkner Thank you

August 26 at 4:50pm · Edited · Like · 2
Elizabeth Bissette It's true. You are.

August 26 at 4:50pm · Like · 1
Elizabeth Bissette Though you really shouldn't say hell in print or out loud Charles Falkner

August 26 at 4:52pm · Like · 5
Brian Womack You are right it is very complicated. I am not on Governemnts side, in their eyes I am one of those radicals and equal to a terrorist because I believe in the constitution. He may not of been convicted of aiding the enemy but he certainly did, and that is why I do not think him or Snowden is a hero.

August 26 at 4:53pm · Edited · Like · 2
Mike Glass Are you a Teapublican Brian?

August 26 at 4:53pm · Like · 2
Elizabeth Bissette I do not see how he was aiding the enemy and lets please not have an attack on the tea party in this thread. Or an attack on anyone.

August 26 at 4:54pm · Like · 1
Brian Womack Independent. If you have to put me in a box I am comfortable with Libertarian.

August 26 at 4:54pm · Like
Charles Falkner Oh god Elizabeth Bissette What have we started

August 26 at 4:55pm · Unlike · 4
Molly Kerby Hey y'all...the boy is 11 and he is thinking critically about a situation. That's the point...

August 26 at 4:57pm · Unlike · 4
Brian Womack I say they aided because of putting the information out there for anyone to see, including our enemies. China is not a friend and neither is Russia, and you better believe that they downloaded everything that Snowden had when he went to those two countries.

August 26 at 4:57pm · Like
Charles Falkner You bring up good points

August 26 at 4:58pm · Unlike · 1
Brian Womack I applaud the boy, Please do not get me wrong and I am not against exposing the wrong doing of our government but there is better ways then what both of these men did.

August 26 at 4:58pm · Unlike · 2
Charles Falkner I completely agree

August 26 at 4:59pm · Unlike · 1
Brian Womack For an eleven year old, he has more brains and moxie then the sum of our political leaders it seems.

August 26 at 4:59pm · Unlike · 3
Charles Falkner Yeah don't forget about SOPA 3.0

August 26 at 5:02pm · Edited · Unlike · 6
Elizabeth Bissette The boy has joined the conversation it's Charles Falkner y'all

August 26 at 5:04pm · Like · 2
Charles Falkner Yup

August 26 at 5:04pm · Unlike · 3
Sylvia Payne Being able to think critically, and not just waiting for your turn to talk, but truly listening...these are two skills that Charlie appears to be honing. Very cool.

August 26 at 5:17pm via mobile · Unlike · 6
Elizabeth Bissette I spy the dna of the 'Spider' http://norvellpagepage.blogspot.com

The Norvell Page Page
norvellpagepage.blogspot.com

August 26 at 5:33pm · Like · 2 · Remove Preview
Sylvia Payne Charlie, you may enjoy reading this book: http://www.amazon.com/Sophies-World-History-Philosophy-Classics/dp/0374530718/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377557303&sr=8-1&keywords=sophie%27s+world

Sophie's World: A Novel About the History of Philosophy (FSG Classics)
www.amazon.com

A page-turning novel that is also an exploration of the great philosophical conc...See More

August 26 at 5:48pm · Like · Remove Preview
Sylvia Payne And just one more suggestion. Zygmunt Bauman is pretty awesome: http://www.amazon.com/Consuming-Life-Zygmunt-Bauman/dp/0745640028/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=24G9ODHB3F2RW&coliid=I3HUH9UANXASTW

Consuming Life
www.amazon.com

With the advent of liquid modernity, the society of producers is transformed int...See More

August 26 at 5:56pm · Like · Remove Preview
Charles Falkner The main reason I made this post was I was looking for a news article for my current event paper. I saw the headline on CNN and I thought I should recognize it.

August 26 at 6:11pm · Unlike · 6
Sylvia Payne It's cool that you go back to original source material like the Constitution, Charlie.

August 26 at 6:17pm · Unlike · 4
Brian Womack I think you should copy and paste this whole thread for class; drop it on ur teachers desk and then say "Booyah!"

August 26 at 6:20pm · Edited · Unlike · 3
Charles Falkner Well that's what I planned to do Brian just add more reasoning

August 26 at 6:31pm · Unlike · 6
Charles Falkner Ah the magic of copy paste. It saves sooo much time.

August 26 at 6:35pm · Unlike · 3
Brian Womack Blur out the names so I do not have Men in Black knocking on my door please.

August 26 at 6:36pm · Edited · Unlike · 4
Charles Falkner Haha

August 26 at 6:37pm · Unlike · 2
Elizabeth Bissette On his own status page Charlie astutely added: "Oh and I forgot to mention he got a longer sentence then the ones who did the crime."

August 26 at 9:11pm · Like
Elizabeth Bissette You're something else Charlie.

August 26 at 9:12pm · Like
Elizabeth Bissette Charlie is not only gifted in the ways we are seeing here but also drew his profile picture (computer graphics not pencil) and is planning on building his own computer for gaming. He has his own (gaming) YouTube channel here: https://youtube.com/user/xXRebornKillerXx

August 26 at 9:25pm · Like
Elizabeth Bissette Here is the drawing: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=274419782690736&set=a.116556421810407.19338.100003681507931&type=1&theater

Profile Pictures

By: Charles Falkner

August 26 at 9:27pm · Like · Remove Preview
Elizabeth Bissette Charles Falkner Please put our paper in a note and share it with us. I would love to post it on my blog at GratefulWeb also. You'll then be published at 11

August 26 at 9:45pm · Like
Jana Chamberlain Charlie is super smart!

August 26 at 9:54pm via mobile · Unlike · 3
Elizabeth Bissette So are your remarkable children Jana.

August 26 at 10:34pm · Lik

Anon:
"Bradley Manning now eligible for release in less than 9 years, 4.4 in one calculation."" http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/08/21/us-usa-wikileaks-manning-reaction-idUSBRE97K0RB20130821

WikiLeaks says Manning jail term is 'strategic victory'
www.reuters.com

LONDON (Reuters) - WikiLeaks on Wednesday said a 35-year jail term handed down t...See More

August 26 at 11:04pm · Edited · Unlike · 2 · Remove Preview
Jack DeVille snowden and manning are both heroes who should be given medals.

Yesterday at 1:38am · Like · 3

Anon:
http://blogs.westword.com/showandtell/05%20cool%20story%20bro.jpg

http://blogs.westword.com/showandtell/05%20cool%20story%20bro.jpg
blogs.westword.com

Yesterday at 1:44am · Like · Remove Preview

Anon:
Talk of the founders to make pro-Snowden and pro-Chelsea Manning comments is odd: Washington had men shot for less.

Yesterday at 1:49am · Like
Elizabeth Bissette Washington was fighting for freedom from Tyranny. He would have made Snowdon a general.

Yesterday at 2:16am · Like · 1

Anon:
Ah so thats why the whiskey rebellion was brutally crushed!

Yesterday at 2:18am · Like
Elizabeth Bissette The first draft of the Declaration of Independence was written in the home of Charles and I's several greats grandfather. Our family arrived in Virginia in 1652 and our first land grand was Williamsburg because we gave land and silver to make it Williamsburg. We have, historically, fourght tyranny since Bacon's Rebellion never mind Washington (though I don't mean never mind Washington). I do not, for one moment, think that if Bacon, or Washington or Jefferson or our sev greats grandfather who was his best friend were here that they would advocate the Patriot Act. Or what the NSA is doing or a great number of things. These things are far more infringing on civil liberties than the England we fought to free ourselves from was doing. It is all vastly more complicated than that, yes; but I would personally love to see what Jefferson would say about the Patriot Act. I really, really would.

Yesterday at 2:24am · Like · 2
Elizabeth Bissette My Great-Great-Great Grandfather: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Page_%28Virginia_politician%29

John Page (Virginia politician) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org

John Page (April 28, 1743 – October 11, 1808) was a figure in early United State...See More

Yesterday at 2:27am · Like · Remove Preview
Jack DeVille Even though Washington and Jefferson weren't as principled as I used to think they were, they had great words of wisdom, intent, and accomplished great things. If they were around today they would no doubt be shooting, and if they could somehow time travel to the modern era and catch a glimpse of the modern world and how its run by its central banks, wars, and tyrannical bureacrats, I believe they would have become 100% more principled than they were.

Yesterday at 2:29am · Unlike · 2

Anon:
Liz, If some continental army private or spy published secret info in 'ye olde almanac of whatevs' they would have been shot irregardless of their motives. The modern USA is far more liberal than the state the founders created with its female suffrage, racial equality. Compared to modern Europe and Canada the USA is far more liberal on civil liberties as well. John Adams criminalized dissent with the alien and sedition acts which were far more extreme than any modern American law. Arguing that the founders would have thought this or that is a silly variant of the argument from authority fallacy. They held widely diverse views, hated each other and got a lot of things wrong recall Jefferson's naive views on the French revolution and the future shock would too overwhelming for them anyway.

Yesterday at 2:40am · Edited · Like · 1
Elizabeth Bissette "When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the Government fears the people, there is liberty." - Jefferson Charles Falkner The majority are afraid now of the government insofar at least as the NSA, FDA and police behavior/Supreme Court changes have gone. If it's not the majority, they haven't read the Patriot Act. The Government fears whistleblowers. If you want to know what Jefferson would say he said it. That does not mean he would condone Manning or Snowdon, I don't know if he would or wouldn't, but that's what he said and that's what's up.

Yesterday at 2:41am · Like · 2
Jack DeVille There's nothing wrong with being upset that people are being thrown into jail for 35 years for speaking out against government wrong-doings, even though a presence of government is a wrong-doing in and of itself. I think that's the central point Elizabeth was trying to put across. Despite discussion on what we personally think of the founders would be doing [which I highly doubt were stated as fact and more like an opinion on what could be], I think it's fair we can all agree that it is wrong to imprison a man for telling someone 'hey uhh this soldier here has shot 11 civilians in this illegal war for fun out of a helicopter'.

Yesterday at 2:43am · Unlike · 3
Elizabeth Bissette And Washington said, "The Constitution is the guide which I will never abandon." He would not be down with a great, great many things. Charles Falkner

Yesterday at 2:46am · Edited · Like · 2

Anon:
The USA is more liberal now than its ever been, so if this is 'tyranny' what does that make the past?

Yesterday at 2:50am · Like
Elizabeth Bissette Manning is being made an example of to deter others, not punished entirely according to his actions. If he, Snowden, not the Government are doing wrong, why be so afraid of whistle blowing? Even the court agreed nothing he leaked aided the enemy. It aided the people by making us aware. Are we then the enemy?

Yesterday at 2:50am · Like · 2
Elizabeth Bissette More liberal but much less liberty. I'll take he latter.

Yesterday at 2:54am · Like · 1
Anon: Manning was not found guilty of the charge of aiding the enemy, his own advocates in wikifreaks say he'll be out in less than 9 years. Citing Manning and Snowden makes little sense, no country on earth recognizes leaking classified information as a form of 'whistle blowing' or anything other than criminal. Where are these utopias where soldiers and intel agency contractors can leak secrets freely? None exist.

Yesterday at 2:55am · Like
Jack DeVille The past problems you stated that make the modern world more liberal were caused by the same institutions that lessened them more and more as time went by. So what point are you trying to make? No one is advocating for a time machine, we're advocating for government transparency. Just because something is 'illegal' and written on a piece of paper as a crime, doesn't mean that it's actually wrong to take such action. All we're saying, James, is that it's wrong to shoot innocent civilians for fun out of a helicopter, and we're proud of Manning for telling people the truth instead of allowing it to be hidden from everyone. If you think it's okay to do so, then continue voting for freaks like Bush and Obama.

Yesterday at 2:59am · Like
Elizabeth Bissette Yes but they are trying to crack down on whistleblowers and catching the Snowdon/Manning issues up in the argument. You are correct, no place allows free leaking of secrets but at the same time why are these things secrets? What is leaked does not aid the enemy. What has been leaked has raised the awareness of the people re what our gov't is doing to us -not enemies. Makes, as I said, it seem like the gov't feels we are the enemy.

Yesterday at 3:03am · Like · 1
Elizabeth Bissette I, for one, strongly advocate for a time machine, lol. I would love to hang out with Granddaddy and Uncle Jefferson.

Yesterday at 3:04am · Like

Anon:
Jack, I focused on the past because Elizabeth's posts focused on the past otherwise I wouldn't have mentioned it. I never said that Manning or Snowden were ethically wrong or right; that is irrelevant from a legal POV. The point is that no country recognizes leaking classifed information as a form of protest or whistle blowing. I never said that it was right to shoot civilians, strawman much?

Yesterday at 3:06am · Like

Anon:
Liz, as I pointed before Manning was found not guilty of aiding the enemy which was not based in some new post-911 law its based in the early 20th century espionage act.

Yesterday at 3:09am · Like
Jack DeVille well we're not talking about law. we're talking about principles. wrong and right, not obedient or disobedient.

Yesterday at 3:11am · Like
Jack DeVille and obedience is for slaves

Yesterday at 3:11am · Unlike ·

Anon:
The point is that citing Snowden and Manning as proof of 'tyranny' is absurd since there is no country in existence that allows for people to leak highly classified information. A Canadian or French Snowden or Manning wouldn't have fared differently. https://twitter.com/WhiteyDudebro/status/370189706106896384

Twitter / WhiteyDudebro: If we're not free to steal ...
twitter.com

Instantly connect to what's most important to you. Follow your friends, experts, favorite celebrities, and breaking news.

Yesterday at 3:15am · Like · Remove Preview
Elizabeth Bissette They exposed tyranny.

Yesterday at 3:17am · Like · 1
Jack DeVille So? Despite what the rest of the world thinks, the actions taken against those two men are still tyrannical. You're logic is that there is no tyranny because all other state governments would do the same. That implies that an action on behalf of a government, for it to be wrong to be taken against a body of people, all other governments must agree that it is wrong, and THEN it's tyrannical? What kind of logic is that?

Yesterday at 3:19am · Like
Elizabeth Bissette It's too late/I'm too tired to address all these points right now but I may do so in an article since Charlie has become so interested. I've avoided writing about politics but if he wants to know then I feel like I should.

Yesterday at 3:19am · Like ·
Anon: Manning proved that civilians die in wars if thats tyranny what does that make FDR? The Snowden leaks have shown that the NSA is more restrained the USA in any decade of the 20th century: its more restrained than the European Union's data retention directive. Any European state has more surveillance powers than the USA.

Yesterday at 3:20am · Like
Elizabeth Bissette I'm just really proud that I have an 11 year old capable of sparking this much discussion. Charles Falkner it's 3am and grown-ups haven't stopped discussing your post 28 likes, 10 hours of solid discussion and 74 comments. Put that in your paper. Seriously.

Yesterday at 3:22am · Like · 4
Jack DeVille So the discussion is now tyranny, and you're saying that something's not tyranny if something in the past was worse or if someone else has it worse. I'm sorry, that's just not acceptable. Wrong is wrong, no matter where or when.

Yesterday at 3:24am · Like

Anon:
Jack, if laws against releasing classified information there isn't a single state that isn't a tyranny. Making it illegal to leak classified information is a necessity not a violation of human rights.

Yesterday at 3:25am · Like
Elizabeth Bissette All I have the brain strength at this hour to say is that one must in this case consider what classified info was leaked. Information that aids our enemies has not been leaked. Information of things that really make no common, human sense to classify or do has been leaked. Who is wrong? The leaker or those classifying information that is harmful to US citizens?

Yesterday at 3:28am · Like

Anon:
Again I only brought up the past because Liz mentioned it. You're distorting my argument, having certain information classified is not 'wrong' or do you think there is a universal right to know nuclear launch codes and the identities of HUMINT assets?

Yesterday at 3:28am · Like
Elizabeth Bissette Some information should be classified - I'm sure much information should be classified. Our government spying on us to the extent that they are without cause does not fit the common perception of 'classified' nor should it be acceptable that it is.

Yesterday at 3:31am · Like · 2
Jack DeVille you're just bringing irrelevant information time and time again.I don't think anyone here cares about law as much as just discussing how wrong the whole situation is. it's like we're talking about the wrong-doings of the government and two people who pointed it out and all you care about are written laws that have no compliance with common sense or morality. I refuse to keep talking about this because obviously you're okay with killing if the government does it. even though you say you aren't okay with it you keep defending it as if it's totally alright.

Yesterday at 3:32am · Like
Anon: We don't know the full extent of Snowden's leaks, the only assurance we have that Chinese and Russian intelligence didn't get anything harmful from him is that he said they didn't, seems legit! Manning didn't harm Americans but then he revealed classified information about American wars overseas.

Yesterday at 3:34am · Like ·
Anon: Saying that I'm "okay with killing" is libelous and false and suggests deficient reading comprehension as I barely mentioned war, my comments were centered around domestic issues.

Yesterday at 3:36am · Like
Elizabeth Bissette American journalists being placed in the same category as terrorists and being gunned down by laughing soldiers is not something that merits classification on the level of nuclear launch codes. If Manning had say, let enemy troops know where a secret base was - ok, yes, that's high treason. I think part of the issue here (and again it's mighty late for this) is why is NSA reading all international mail, or soldiers killing journalists, why are those things classified anyway? Unless, again, we are all going to just agree now that journalists and anyone emailing someone outside of the US is the enemy. Enemy of what for god's sake? Enemy of the government's ability to continue doing these things? And those 2 examples are the tip of a very large iceburg. We SHOULD and I would LOVE to be able to trust the government to only classify information that protects the American people; but they are classifying, apparently, information that endangers us or, at the very least (and why is this a least), our civil liberties per our Constitution.

Yesterday at 3:36am · Like
Elizabeth Bissette Ok but we don't know it - so it's kinda still classified, lol.

Yesterday at 3:37am · Like
Elizabeth Bissette I mean seriously, you really think he's like the Big Bad Wolf spy out to take out America and all our (where did they go) liberties? I just have a hard time swallowing that one. Wouldn't he then have rather sold it to China or Russia or whoever and not made a public spectacle of liberty?

Yesterday at 3:39am · Like

Anon:
No I'm skeptical of him thats all and I think its too soon to that his actions haven't hurt us.

Yesterday at 3:40am · Like
Elizabeth Bissette Well, that's healthy skepticism but what we do know is that our government's actions have hurt us. That is one of many disturbing facts in place here.

Yesterday at 3:41am · Like

Anon:
War for most of the 20th century has been strictly censored by the American military they made sure the public during WWII never learned of rogue soldiers killing Italian or German civilians for un. I didn't say it was the same as launch code I brought that up to illustrate the absurdity of placing classifying info in the category of 'wrong.' I didn't say that Manning was a traitor merely that there is no country that would consider his actions to be something other than illegal.

Yesterday at 3:43am · Like
Elizabeth Bissette What we don't know is what on earth the gov't's actual motive with classifying all this shocking that it's classified or happening stuff is and that is far more fearsome than the actions, known or unknown or both, of one or two men. Especially combined with the Supreme Court decisions, police behavior, cyanide chicken from the FDA and other things we do know about. For what fng reason on earth any of it? Because I see none.

Yesterday at 3:43am · Like · 1
Jack DeVille I honestly could care less about the motives or legalities. Fact remains is something wrong happened, someone pointed it out, and got arrested for it. This is a very messed up situation, and I don't see how anyone could be okay with it.

Yesterday at 3:45am · Like
Elizabeth Bissette If you're not aiding the government and you're a solidier then that's that. But the moral issue behind treason that justifies (presumably) punishment is are you, wiht your treason, aiding the enemy or are you exposing a corrupt government and thereby aiding the people. A life should not be caught in the crossfire of semantics like that.

Yesterday at 3:45am · Like · 1
Elizabeth Bissette Charles Falkner Now it's 92 comments and I have to go to bed!

Yesterday at 3:46am · Like
Elizabeth Bissette I'm sorry I didn't get Thomas Paine's wish, speaking of founding fathers, "If there must be trouble, let it be in my day so that my child may have peace."

Yesterday at 3:49am · Like · 1
Norm Leadbetter "War" in the U.S. has to be declared by Congress. That there is a wartime enemy that people can aid is yet another case of the US Government taking away the power that was supposed to belong to the people. I do not think that this country is more liberal or conservative than it was in 1800, it is a very mixed bag. We were a nation of smugglers, slaveholders, moonshiners, radicals and yes many loyalists. The "Founding Fathers" were quite radical in their day, and broke as a joke after the revolution. They managed to save themselves, along with the rest from British policies and the Articles of Confederation. Great post from an eleven year old kid!

Yesterday at 6:43am · Unlike · 1
Norm Leadbetter The secrets that Snowden and Manning passed to wikileaks concealed war crimes, political embarrassments and yes real crimes committed by the state, in my opinion.

Yesterday at 6:47am · Unlike · 1
Doug Fraley we didn't ask for war we just got it bless ur child

Yesterday at 7:10am · Unlike · 1
Elizabeth Bissette I think Charlie's post has gotten more comments than any of mine ever. I can't wait to read his paper.

Yesterday at 9:35am · Like
Kuzzen Wyldweed Charlie has always been & continues to be a very awesome young man.

Yesterday at 10:47am · Like
Jake Stilwell · 7 mutual friends

Manning turned over 750,000 documents, he didn't even know what was in them all, he is a traitor and should be treated as such.

Yesterday at 11:19am via mobile · Like
Elizabeth Bissette I think it's great that so many different opinions are represented here. I'm going to let Charlie research more about where they're coming from and form his own response before saying anything else. Thank you all! I wish I'd been able to write a paper in middle school by posting the topic on my parent's facebook page, lol. No fair!

Yesterday at 12:57pm · Like · 1

I Am Bradley Manning. Are You?

2013-08-02T22:53:00.000-07:00

More about I Am Bradley Manning

Add your photo at the link above.

Why Facebook Doesn't Just Suck... It's Kinda Creepy Too

2013-07-23T15:06:00.002-07:00

When I first discovered Facebook, I thought it was pretty cool. I also thought it was free (and always would be, I mean hey, they say that, right?), that the info on the page was my own, (being, you know, mine and all... photos, writing etc) and that it would be a fresh, new alternative to MySpace.

Sure, I missed having an mp3 player at the top of my page since I'm a musician, and I also missed having a blog right there... and my MySpace page looked way cooler with the whole background option and all but still, it seemed basically the same function-wise and hey, more of my family and friends from high school & stuff were on there. So, with a little wistful regret, I settled for a ReverbNation page to keep the mp3 player and blog function and a Facebook page for the social media function. I thought, (and still do) it was kinda ridiculous to not be able to just have both but, oh well.

I've gone from liking it to having a like-hate relationship with it to just plain hating it. Where's the new start-up that replaces it like MySpace did to Friendster and Facebook did to MySpace? Please come rescue us! And don't say Google Plus. You know you never check it and neither does anyone else.

Honestly, I think it's a great example of the Book of Revelation's warning that something will come and seem good but actually isn't.

Why? It's not what I signed up for! Yes, you agree to abide by Facebook's rules and regulations when you sign up but what they don't tell you is THEY CONSTANTLY CHANGE THE RULES and they don't tell you. You're notified of these changes by losing functionality or, worst case scenerio, having your page just poof! Deleted. Again, without warning. So, no time to save your photos or notes or a list of your friends - just gone and no access for you to any of that any more. You know who DOES still have access? Facebook does.

So, since they don't tell you themselves, I'm listing the rules (or some of them anyway, as they're known to date - they may well change again tomorrow, or in a few hours...) so you don't have to learn the hard way, as I did.

1. Are you a popular artist or venue and you've already reached your 5,000 friends limit? Meet new people at shows or otherwise make new friends in the real world and want to include them? Don't want to delete existing friends, family and fans? Making a new page would be a time consuming but viable solution but no. You're not allowed to have more than one Facebook page. If you do, you run the risk of waking up to no more FB pages at all and starting from scratch.

2. Want former school mates to be able to find you by your nickname or are you an artist with a stage name and you want fans to be able to find you? Too bad. You must use your literal, actual name or, again, FB can delete you without warning. Actual stalkers who create fake profiles to stalk and be a danger to society have almost 0 chance of being caught with an 'illegal' FB page. Artists with odd stage names? They'll probably not let you start it with that name in the first place/it'll be too unusual to be an 'actual name'.

3. Facebook DOES offer an alternative to this, the 'artist' or 'business' page. Here, you can have 'fans' instead of friends and there's no limit to the number. Awesome! You as an artist or business may say. This way I can add as many people as I like (NOPE, they have to add you - no friend request function on an artist/business page)... ok well, that way I can invite my fans to my show! NOPE new rule says you can only invite 100 people to events. But you just invited a bunch more than that? Well, probably because they can't entirely control your ability to click people who already signed up for your updates, they have a back-up loophole - you can't have more than 300 invites pending - or, guess what, you lose the ability to use event invites.

So, if you love say, Neil Gaiman and love getting his event invites but don't always feel like clicking 'yes', 'no' or 'maybe'.... leave it un-clicked and you're potentially impeding your favorite author's ability to let his fans know about his next book signing.

4. But, they don't block it forever do they? Well, they say you can invite again once more people respond to the event. That's right. To the event that has already taken place. But don't they have a way to repeat the event? YES they do! But you can't do that under the above circumstances, you lose that functionality too. Weird right? And they already have a way for people to block invites from a user (with no penalty to the user) if they don't want to send them - so they're not doing this to prevent unwanted invites - there's already a way to prevent them. What's the point? I find myself asking that about most of Facebook's rules.

5. Now, back to the friend issue - which is, of course, the whole point of Facebook and which, as I've said above, Facebook nonetheless limits. New to an area and want to add people who seem like they'd be cool/like they would actually be your friend in real life/who are friends of friends/same interests etc? Are you a writer who wants to add friends of your magazine? Anything similar? New page and you want, you know, to have people on it? Don't add more than 30 a day or, guess what, Facebook takes away your ability to send invites.

How do they know? Well, they have this weird little thing that asks people if they know you outside of Facebook. Weird right? I mean, if people don't know you and don't want to add you the can just not add you. Why does Facebook need to be involved in the process in any direct way?

What happens then is, or in my experience, this - I'm a musician with a high-ranking ReverbNation page (it's #10 in Nashville for Americana so a lot of people see it). I write this blog, (which dizzy's me with it's monthly traffic) and also for Outlaw Magazine and Fine Art Magazine. My Great-Uncle was a well known Pulp Fiction writer, (he basically made up Spider Man) and I host a page about him too. All link to my Facebook page. Why? So that people who are into what I do can find me, of course. And they do find me - about 10 people a day in fact. I haven't sent a friend request in over 6 mos. And when I do meet someone I want to add, at a show or wherever, I can't because FB has blocked my ability to send Friend Requests, (that's right, even without my making any).

How? Well, Facebook asks me when I accept the requests I get whether I know the person outside of Facebook. I assume the other person is asked that too (I've forgotten since it's been so long since I could make a friend request). Not going through the thought process of yes, if they know my writing, or music, or my Great-Uncle's writing they then know me outside of this little site they click no. Facebook has some kind of limit on that, as with invites, that then penalizes me. Yep. I'm penalized because too many people find me outside of Facebook then don't understand what the weird question means or why it's there. So, when you see that, as a wise friend suggested to me, don't click it.

And when you get an invite - respond, even if it's to decline.

Other Facebook rules you might not be aware of - including you have to use a 3rd party App to do a promotion - this is giving me a headache, I can't write about it anymore without becoming too overwhelmed with anger. And I wouldn't be angry if I'd known all of this when I signed up for it. Or if Facebook sent emails out telling us about the new changes so penalties could be avoided. But no. I guess that would be too, well functional for users.

5 Things You Probably Didn't Know Are Illegal on Facebook

3 Things You May Not Know About Facebook

What No One's Talking About in the Abortion Debate - The Economic Reality and It's Impact on Society

2013-07-23T13:29:00.000-07:00

I rarely discuss my personal experiences or political issues here but the recent reactions to a 14 year old girl's protest sign (read her statement here) in support of a woman's right to choose to terminate pregnancy struck me to the point that I feel I need to say something.

Too many people seem utterly unaware of what pregnancy and the subsequent care of an infant entail for, considering the economic crisis our society has been facing for quite a while, I'm sure a growing number of women. That is not even the main point of the abortion issue, but it is a point that I don't even hear being raised in the discussion and so it's the one I'm going to address. Maybe my story will open some eyes. I hope so. I was not poor, I was fairly middle class. I was not uneducated, I completed college and had a career commensurate with my background. I still don't quite see how we survived.

Here's what happened.

When I discovered I was pregnant with my super amazing son, (and this was 11 years ago when the economy was actually good), I knew it would be life-changing and was excited about how marvelous those changes would be. And, of course it was! However, in retrospect, I don't see how either of us survived.

I would have never thought that would be the case, nor would anyone who knew me. I had a fantastic paralegal job with a firm that was discussing sending me to law school. I was surrounded by close friends who were also having their first children. The father and I were not together but he lived a block away and also had a very stable job/owned his home. I had great insurance. Everything seemed like it would be just fine.

But it wasn't. I became very seriously ill with toxemia, which effected my ability to work. This resulted in the firm (Civil Rights firm mind you) pushing me out of my job when I was 7 mos. pregnant (maybe 8, it was so traumatic I've blocked it out). Good luck fighting it, most of their time was spent on cases just like that so they were realllllyyyy good at pushing me out. Validly afraid I was dying and jobless at 7 or 8 mos pregnant I, of course, didn't know what on earth to do. And trust me, no one hires a pregnant woman; especially one THAT pregnant.

I wanted to be with my family, (in part because I wasn't sure I'd be around much longer), so moved from Louisville to Virginia, where they were. I, thankfully, kept my insurance. How I managed to find and pay for an apartment I don't know but somehow I did. I did have some help from my son's father, who, thank God is a really great person/father, and from family members but believe me, things were nearly impossible. If my Aunt, for example, hadn't covered the enormous cost of all the things needed for a new baby, (crib, stroller etc -- altogether it's thousands, even if you're frugal - not to mention an entire new wardrobe every 3 mos), I have no idea what we would have done.

Both of my parents have cerebal palsy so were not physically able to help or to provide child care. The father was in another state and there were no other relatives to help with it either really. This raised an impossible question - how on earth was I going to work? I was beyond qualified to earn 50,000.00 + a year but, see above for why that with paid maternity leave wasn't the case.

Now, that I had the ability to earn that much or to have paid maternity leave, (which should be a basic thing because it's absolutely a basic necessity), was not a situation most women find themselves in. It was, sadly and frankly discgracefully, an exception to the norm. So, what I found myself facing before and after the birth of my son is, unless I'm very much mistaken, a common experience.

Child care for infants is extremely, or shall I say prohibitively (to the point that I wonder if it's not as costly as it is to prevent women from being able to utilize it) expensive. I wound up paying $150 a week. Because I had been out of the work force for several months and because my experience was in another state, and also because finding someone to watch my infant while I interviewed was nearly impossible, it took a long time to find a job in spite of my qualifications, (I started in the field in the President's law firm, had fantastic references and, with a professional writing background and a typing speed of 100wpm was more qualified than many, if not most applicants).

My first position was part time, (30 hours - enough that the firm enjoyed a nearly full time employee without having to pay full time benefits). I think I was paid $11 an hour, maybe $13. Whichever the case, my check was about $200 a week. I applied for child care subsidy, which I felt was ridiculous considering what my salary history had been but there was no other choice. I made $1 an hour too much to qualify. So, I worked for $50 a week after paying for child care.

This continued until my son was about a year and a half, when I finally found a job similar to the one I'd been pushed out of in the first place. I was not able to pursue music, theater or comedy, all of which had supplemented my income at other times in my life when my job situation was less than ideal because I didn't have family help with child care and with $50 a week after paying for day care certainly couldn't pay a sitter. The same situation prevented my getting a 2nd job bartending or waitressing, which in normal circumstances I surely would have done if my day job income had only been $50 a week.

So, this is what can go down when you DO plan a pregnancy based on your (perceived) ability to support your child. Our society pays attention to the needs of mothers in a really glossed over, superficial kind of way - and basic needs here folks - I'm not talking handouts I'm talking the ability to earn enough to live on. Hell, I'm talking about the ability to even go to work. I believe the WIC program was cut in the last go round of food stamp eliminations.

Making abortion illegal will place God knows how many more women and children in the above situation and far worse. I was lucky. I had the support (albiet from a state away) of a great Dad, am overly educated and was on a solid career path. Men, whether they have children or not, always have the option of education and establishing a career path. Women do not if we are not able to plan our pregnancies. That's not only profoundly screwed up, not only does a great disservice to women and children, but to society as a whole.

Like I said, there are a lot of other very important points in the argument for reproductive rights. This one, however, is as fact based as it gets. Maybe that's why it's so over looked. I hope I helped change that just a little.

Icons and Idols, Images and Quotes

2013-06-30T17:57:00.001-07:00

Cameron Bentley studied Fine Art with a Music minor at Cabrillo College, Santa Cruz. Paintings from his Iconic Celebrity series are featured in the book, 'Marilyin in Art' and have been displayed in galleries on the West Coast as well as here in Nashville. Doors member Robbie Krieger played with a Jim Morrison painting created for him on stage.

A member of the multi-talented Mellencamp family, his work is strongly influenced by his cousin, John Cougar Mellencamp and John's mother Marilyn, who's paints and brushes he uses to create many of his paintings. His 'Icons' reflect both his heritage and the enormous influence of music in his life. His Mandlecrux series, also in progress, reflects the center of life and creation; the heart of the mandella.

The White Stripes

"I really don't like to take the easy way out, if I can help it, in anything I do."

"I'm interested in ideas that will shake us all up."

- Jack White

Jim Morrison

"The most important kind of freedom is to be what you really are."

“I can make the earth stop in its tracks."

Warhol vs. Basquiat

“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.”

“Sometimes the little times you don't think are anything while they're happening turn out to be what marks a whole period of your life.”

- Andy Warhol

"Most young kings get their heads cut off."

- Jean Michael Basquiat

Marlene Dietrich

"If there is a supreme being, he's crazy."

"Darling, the legs aren't so beautiful, I just know what to do with them."

"I am not a myth."

Elvis Presley

"When things go wrong, don't go wrong with them."

"If you let your head get too big, it'll break your neck."

"Sad thing is, you can love someone and still be wrong for them."

John Cougar Mellencamp

"I do things my way and I pay a high price."

"You've gotta stand for something or you're gonna fall for anything."

More art by Cameron Bentley: HERE

Photography of Julia Margaret Cameron

2013-03-28T07:56:00.000-07:00

Today is the anniversary of Virginia Woolfe's death and, as I was reading about her, I discovered her amazing Aunt, Julia Margaret Cameron. Some of her photography:

Frances Hodgeson Burnett

Alfred Lord Tennyson

Top Twitter Bio's for March

2013-03-13T10:14:00.003-07:00

In no particular order - they're all awesome.

Your Host Tweeting

http://www.twitter.com/lonesomeliz

Carlos Ramos ‏ @TheCarlosRamos

I paint, draw, write, tell jokes and want you to stalk me..

PeterBeater ‏ @petebeat

I was thinking about maybe changing my bio.

James Gunn ‏ Verified account @JamesGunn

I like people to know when I'm drinking coffee, so I joined Twitter.

Noah Bradley ‏ @noahbradley

Artist. Not the unemployed kind.

J.W. Faria ‏ @JW_Faria

I'm fly.

Star St.Germain ‏ @thisisstar

A tornado disguised as a girl.

#5 yosi sergant ‏ @a35mmlife

I am the change I have been waiting for.

T.J. Huffman ‏ @TPlayboy Protected account

Bio

Katy Gwizdala ‏ @katygwizdala

Disappointing both of us.

Mike ‏ @JustLikeMikee

Free Thinker. All answers questioned here.

Lola Calabro ‏ @lolacalabro

Thank God I'm a hot chick with superpowers.

Sean Bonner ‏ @seanbonner

Misanthropologist.

Morgan Spurlock ‏ Verified account @MorganSpurlock

I like fancy book learnin'.

Travis ‏ @trav_o

My life is based on a true story.

Thomas. ‏ @thomasleveritt

Shakes head.

Sasha Frere-Jones ‏ Verified account @sfj

Please wait for the next representative.

Charlotte Shane ‏ @CharlotteNB

Known Prostitute, Lesser-Known Writer.

AmandaWhip ‏ @AmandaWhip

Fuck You.

Rocco Castoro ‏ @rocco_castoro

Everything below is made up.

Neil Strauss ‏ @neilstrauss

Born, currently living, will die.

Matthew Borgatti ‏ @GiantEye

I make things and I make things awesome.

Paul LaTour ‏ @platour68

I write, but mostly I lay around and imagine I am a writer. I watch a lot of TV. Oh, and I cover the Chicago Wolves of the AHL for the Chicago Tribune.

Paul Booth ‏ @PaulBoothTattoo

But you have my stapler.

Daniel Dalton ‏ @wordsbydan

Not drunk enough to write well. This is the best I can do sober.

The Nashvillian ‏ @TheNashvillian

What I say goes, Nashville.

Bob Wayne ‏ Verified account @outlawcarnies

Spread my ashes on the highway, after I'm dead and gone...

Wickedwordslinger ‏ @StephenBCramer

I took my crazy neighbor's name since he doesn't do internet and won't know. I am here for the laughs and my wife @aprilsmist is my partner in crime and life.

Stewie Pickle Egg ‏ @StewiesBrain

I am GidgetWidget's Cat. Sam Jackson melted me in a movie. See??? -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlsFeT4FyVw

Dion R Boles ‏ @Hot_Rod79

May not be Prince, but I'm pauper with potential.

katiewest ‏ @katiewest

I take pictures, sometimes. And am super interesting, always.

Michelle ‏ @RageMichelle

I am the white, overweight, short, female Samuel L. Jackson of Twitter. Also, I don't act and I'm not famous or rich.

Ryan Bateman ‏ @rpbateman

I'm just a guy who'd rather talk to the internet instead of real people.

Tony Quintiliani ‏ @RevTonyQ

Sometimes when I drink I get mean. When I get mean I insult people. When I insult people I do it online. When I do it online I want followers. And Twitter

Alex Pardee ‏ @alexpardee

I attempt more things than physically possible. Like invisibility. And I try to draw a lot. Sometimes its better than others.

Your Blog Host is Having an Outlaw Art Contest!

2013-03-12T13:25:00.001-07:00

Enter the LL Art Contest now through April Fools Day. EVERYONE who enters will get a signed copy of their own drawing + the winning one.

The prizes are:

FIRST PLACE: I'll write a song for you on a theme of your choosing + come to the Lonesome Liz show of your choice and drink a shot of whiskey with me on me, (if I'm not playing in your area I'll send you a shot of whiskey + make a video of your favorite song, (original or cover).

SECOND PLACE: Come to the Lonesome Liz show of your choice and drink a shot of whiskey with me on me :) If I'm not in your area, I'll send you a shot of whiskey and make a video of your favorite song, (original or cover).

THIRD PLACE: Three shots of whiskey in bottles painted by me. (See examples of my bottle art here: http://lonesomelizpage.blogspot.com).

Join my Facebook page if you're not already there for photos to base your work on. http://www.facebook.com/lonesomeliz Entries can be alterations of photographs, drawings, collages... anything you like!

Submit entries via Facebook or email to: elizabeth.bissette@gmail.com Winners will be announced on April Fool's Day.

The fan art that inspired the idea:

By Charles ODonnavan

By Tony Martinez

By Orville Dunworth

More LL in art:

By Lana Gentry

As 'Faust' by Katelan Foisy

As a cartoon by James Hislope

Marilyn Mellencamp's Fine Art Legacy

2013-01-30T19:04:00.001-08:00

I was told this afternoon that it is the one year anniversary of Marilyn Mellencamp's death and am sad that I did not have the opportunity to know her, as I have had the remarkable opportunity to come to know some of her beautiful and talented family. A feature, which includes a look at the visual art of her son, John Cougar Mellencamp as well as of Cameron Bentley, (who has inherited both her talent and her paint), is coming soon to 'Fine Art Magazine' but I wanted to both share some of her work with you and begin to introduce you to her family in hopes of making a dim day brighter. From what I have come to know, she seems to have gone through life making days like that.

Marilyn Mellencamp

by Cameron Bentley

Some of her art:

Man in a Red Shirt

by John Cougar Mellencamp

The Next Generation of Mellencamp Artists With Marilyn's Paint:

Stay tuned for more in Fine Art Magazine.

For more info re art by Cameron Bentley, contact Eric Mellencamp on Facebook.

An Inauguration Day Defense of President Jefferson, In His Own Words

2013-01-21T10:30:00.000-08:00

As a Virginian descended from the mind behind the Constitution and a former employee of Obama's Chicago law firm, where I daily participated in the defense of it, I was sad to see Jefferson dismissed at today's inauguration. I hope that, upon reading some of what he said and thought, you'll be sad about that too:

I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.

I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country.

When we get piled upon one another in large cities, as in Europe, we shall become as corrupt as Europe.

I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies

Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear.

Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.

A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference.

Educate and inform the whole mass of the people... They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.

Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.

All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression.

Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter.

It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no God.

I never will, by any word or act, bow to the shrine of intolerance.

I am mortified to be told that, in the United States of America, the sale of a book can become a subject of inquiry, and of criminal inquiry too.

Where the press is free and every man able to read, all is safe.

Fine Art: Ella Darr and Jonathan Wagner

2013-01-04T15:05:00.004-08:00

J.P. Wagner Fine Art

Gallery 532
532 West 25th Street
New York, NY 10011
www.jonathanpaulwagner.com

Gallery Hours: 12pm – 9pm daily

Ella Darr & Jonathan Wagner
Sunday, Jan 20 – Monday, Jan 21
An opening reception will be held on Thursday, May 22 at 7pm.

Gallery 532 is pleased to present an exhibition of lithographs and paintings by New York artists Jonathan Wagner and Israeli born Photographer/model Ella Darr. The collection taps into the psyche, exposing the depth of human emotion that lurks beneath the surface. Working with contrast, each artist uniquely exploits boundaries few dare to cross. Wagner and Darr bring into focus the dark horrors of loss, the ecstasy of passion and the continuum of expression that exists between. Each collection portrays, through enigmatic faces, a fall from grace and the pure, unbridled joy of renewal.

Jonathan Wagner throws his creative weight into the art of detail. Through the minutia of physical expression, he demonstrates his insights into the vulnerabilities of his subjects. Delving into genres ranging from pop art to expressionism, Wagner is at home in the intensely personal, often only visible in an ephemeral glance. Wagner currently resides in Hackensack, New Jersey and is the Founder of IST Art Group. He recently presented "Psychology, It's More Than You Think," a touring solo exhibition sponsored by the American Psychological Organization and appeared in the Internationalist’s “Seven Deadly Sins” in January. Wagner earned his BFA at Virginal Commonwealth University, School of the Arts.

Israeli born photographer, Ella Darr, channels her vibrant, yet deeply tragic past to create works that challenge conventional notions of her collective experience.

This retrospective of her last decade of work chronicles her personal and artistic journey,. Darr, injects herself into her paintings, conjuring not only her subjects, but herself, an artist, a model, and a member of fashion’s elite. Darr lives and works in New York City.

O Death - Twistacana on Tour

2012-12-01T08:58:00.001-08:00

O Death by Katelan Foisy

Their influences range from Ralph Stanley to the Misfits and the result is an unpredictable Punk raw meets Southern Gothic dark sound. Members Bob Pycior, Gabe Darling, Greg Jamie, David Rogers-Berry, Jesse Newman, Tristan Palozola and Dan Sager attracted attracted the attention of New York's Ernest Jenning Record Co. in 2007 and their album, Head Home was released that summer, both in the US and abroad. In 2008, Gigantic Music released a new 7" of their pared down to near Dada tunes and they have also been part of Vincent Moon's The Take-Away Shows as well as a Ukulele project with the Belgian newspaper, Le Soir.

Though familiar with O Death for some time via Katelan Foisy, who has created some amazing art pieces for them, including the one above, (and who also painted me as 'Faust' for the Mojo Sideshow), it wasn't until a few years later, when working on the new Sideshow's General John Bell Hood tune, that I really felt connected to the music. Aaron Vegas was with me as I wrote it and, when I finished he said, "Oh man, you've got to hear O Death, it kind of reminds me of that." I said that was an odd coincidence since we had the pleasure of the same portrait artist and began to pay more attention to the unique sound.

Katelan's painting of me from the Mojo Sideshow

"Listening to them makes me feel like I just wandered into an old saloon inhabited by lost souls and they're all sitting around drinking their sorrows away." Said Aaron, (Yellowberri PM). "The dirge-like qualities, combined with unorthodox percussion becomes very haunting as you listen to it."

Katelan, who was first commissioned to do a portrait for the 2008 press packet for their album, Broken Hymns, Limbs and Skins, says of their music in her Coilhouse interview:

"It pulls the listener into a world between waking and dreaming. I remember thinking there was something incredibly special about them; it wasn't just that they had taken parts of old time Appalachia and made it contemporary, it was that they could make you feel you were part of the story...

"Hearing an O'Death song is like falling into a small book of short stories told in a cave by a fire, on a ship during a storm, in a pub on the streets of England or while hidden away in a swampland cabin. Their music transcends time."

The bands drummer, David Rogers-Barry, was diagnosed with cancer while their most recent album, Outside was being recorded. Instead of halting the project, the band instead finished it in fragments and the resultant music has, does each album actually, it's own, very distinct tone somewhat apart from the others. Theirs is not a static but rather an evolving, morphing sound.

There are 2 more weeks left of their current tour: http://www.facebook.com/events/470286043013174/ Go see them if you have the chance. If you do, I think you'll find it's not just a concert but an immersive, hypnotic experience.

AND you can buy one of these super cool new shirts of death, (marvelously displayed here by Katelan) if you're at one of the shows, (available online at the end of the month via: http://www.bluecollardistro.com/odeath/categories.php?cPath=787).

Visit the O'Death website: http://www.odeath.net/

A Few of the Musicians I am Thankful For

2012-11-22T21:21:00.000-08:00

Chris Calloway Brooks and his new Cab Calloway Orchestra

Mike Seeger

Wes Freed

Brian Mitchell, (Mojo Mancini (here), Levon Helm Band,

Just About Everyone Else You've Ever Heard of

Levon Helm, his amazing band and their friend, the Ghost of Jesse James

Mitchell Plumlee, (here with yours truly)

Aaron Jonah Lewis

Bert Garvin

Jack Montgomery, (his adaptation of 'Cold Rain and Snow' with yours truly)

Pat Haney

Shooter Jennings

Kara Clark

Polly Punkneck

Greta Brinkman, (L7 (here), Blondie, Moby

Thomas Barnett (and his Greta Brinkman tune)

Johnny Thompson

Eerie Von

Michael O'Neill

Brigitte London

Confessions: My Parents Both Have Cerebral Palsy and They Are What I Am Most Thankful For

2012-11-22T02:07:00.000-08:00

Empty Chair, Set for One

by Page Canfield Beattie

The Remearkable Page Canfield Beattie

Cerebral Palsy is not something my parents were born with. It was not genetic. It occurred as the result of brain damage after or during their birth. To my understanding, in the case of my father, he was a breach birth born at home in the country, my grandmother said with a doctor she believed was drunk. The cord was wrapped around his neck, the oxygen cut from his brain for long enough to damage his ability to walk for the rest of his life, (though he could, he was not confined to a wheelchair) and impaired one of his arms to the point of non-mobility. His brain, however, was not affected at all.

He was a brilliant, remarkable man who received a degree in advertising at a time when people with physical disabilities usually did not complete 'normal' school let alone attend college. He became one of Richmond's top employment recruiters, which included work with placement in Virginia's Department of Rehabilitation. When I was a child, attending one of the top private schools in the city, a constant hi-light of school days was watching my father on television because he was extremely active in lobbying for rights of the disabled in Virginia at a time when laws were nothing at all like they are now.

He did not see himself as incapable because of his handicaps. He instead became a driving force in his community and really did quite a bit to shape the perceptions we now have of the disabled as opposed to the way they were when he, and even I was a child. And as a child, I sadly have pretty constant memories of both he and my mother being publicly made fun of by both children and adults. They fought it instead of letting it get to them.

My mother developed cerebral palsy as an infant. She had pneumonia soon after birth and her fever escalated to such a dangerous level that it caused brain damage. Penicillin was not in common use at the time but, ironically, became so just a few months after her health crisis. Her hands were permanently and pretty severely damaged. She went on to obtain not just a BFA from the top art school in the country but also was only 1 class short of an MFA, (statistics, which she could not complete due to the brain damage). She, along with my father, fiercely lobbied for the rights of the disabled.

They raised two, if I do say so myself beautiful and brilliant children at a time not far from one when the disabled were sterilized. They taught us, above all, that nothing is impossible. They taught us that the establishment and common opinion are not always right and are, in fact, egregiously wrong. Not necessarily because of ideologies, though that does occur, but because they are often seriously destroying not only lives but, worse still, potential. They beat every odd imaginable. They did that with very little support from the world at large. They reached out and grabbed the support by the throat and claimed it with their own example.

I was asked once in an interview why I was so enamored of Outlaw Country rather than the Broadway I was raised to perform or at the very least Jazz or something more reflective of my background, (only visible by those who know my background). My very correct answer was that my parents embodied all of the best qualities of the genre.

This, the last part of their lives, is not good. It is, in fact, the most hellish, nightmarish set of situations I've ever witnessed. They are unable to physically control anything going on around them. Their situations are of relative alarm as far as that goes, but anyone completely and in every way dependent; in my fathers case and nearly my mothers ones of immobility, thereby ones of lack of ways to develop normal social groups, to even make phone calls or go online, to drive... all of the things we do routinely to participate in the world around us, are gone. My father's death and the year leading up to it was truly horrifying. Mother is alive and brilliant but her situation is also, in many ways truly horrifying. I choose the word because what it most effects is their minds. Not because they are crazy, quite the opposite, they are the sanest people I have ever known, but because they are completely, totally isolated and dependent on a very few caregivers and a handful of immediate family.

No man is an island. Mom, truly one of the greatest artistic and intellectual minds of her time and my own, all you see, respond to and enjoy following and interacting with me socially comes from her to the 70th percentile, is suffering largely because she cannot communicate effectively enough to develop a peer group. The same happened to my father and I watched it, moment by moment, in two rooms with him for a year. I tried all that I could but no one can singlehandedly cure, or cure at all, that vast of a problem. He died at 63 and, under the right circumstances, that would have been avoidable.

She is a genius. That has to suck beyond our own imaginations.

Add her on Facebook and share your world with her, (Page Canfield), especially if you are an artist or intellectual. And if you know anyone else lonely, make an effort to help change that. It's a greater source of poverty than most of us, luckily, can ever imagine.

Enui, by Page Canfield Beattie

Confessions: Dropping Out of High School Was the Right Decision

2012-11-15T16:22:00.001-08:00

Your Host, aged 15

I had the opportunity recently to talk with some extremely intelligent seventeen and eighteen year olds. They were not at all average. One discussed Existentialism and other philosophies at length and another had taken it upon himself to learn Latin, for example. They had not, however, been placed in programs for advanced students or even encouraged to go to college. In fact, they had come to really hate school. "But college is fun." I said. "And there, you could study what you were actually interested in." They looked at me as though I were speaking Greek. (If it had been Latin at least one of them would have understood!)

Why, I asked them, as intellectual as they clearly were, had they no interest in college? They hated school period because their high school experience had been horrible. Horrible, in their case, seemed definable largely by being in no way focused on their actually learning much of anything. I asked them why on earth they hadn't just taken the GED and SAT's then gone on to college in that case; pointing out that such things were possible if students were doing things like teaching themselves Latin at fifteen or younger. They said that no, it wasn't possible. If you opt to get a GED you must take classes at an alternative high school, putting you, therefore, still in high school. I'm not sure if that's the case in every state but it appears to be the case in Kentucky.

Now, don't get me wrong, I do realize that there are now more alternative high schools for advanced students than back in the olden days when I was in school. However, smart kids are still, (clearly), left out and behind. How does that happen? It shouldn't happen if schools are doing their jobs but don't be so naive as to think they always do. There should be options for those who fall through the cracks! It's not their fault, they're kids; and if a kid is discussing philosophy as well as a 3rd year philosophy major yet is not one, someone has failed them. If he or she is not encouraged to maximize their potential, society is failing itself too. The difference in level of ability to contribute effectively to society that exists between a PhD and an alternative high school graduate is, well, obvious.

So, how does this happen? I can't speak for others but I can share my own experience which, as the highest level of study I've attained is Coptic at Union Theological Seminary, may shock you. What shocks me is that it seems others with the intellect and, albeit perhaps latent, motivation to also do so may not have the chance; at least in Kentucky.

Travel with me back in time and meet high school Liz. I alternated between private and public schools from Kindergarten forward. I opted to leave one of the best schools in Virginia in 5th grade, (something I've always felt may have been the wrong call, I had a full scholarship, granted based not only on my parents financial status but on my scoring very high on admissions tests) but was frustrated to discover that, in 6th grade, (public) I was being taught the same things I'd had the year before in private school and at a slower pace to boot. However, being only in 6th grade, I assumed this was just a weird fluke of some sort. By 9th grade I realized it wasn't and returned to private school; a different one and again with a scholarship because I'd scored in the top 2% on the Secondary School Admissions Test.

That school was wonderful. Actual learning was heavily emphasized and I received 98's and 99's on all of my finals. Unfortunately, over the next summer my parents divorced and for a variety of reasons centered on that occurrence I was unable to return. This was in Richmond, Virginia which, in spite of the fact that alternative high schools were not as common as they now are, did have a truly wonderful one called Open High. I begged to be allowed to go there; friends who did were taking classes like Utopias of Our Time in 9th grade. My father, however, refused to allow me to because he didn't like the neighborhood.

Before I continue I feel I should add that I'm not opposed to high school all around the board. If I'd gone to Open or had stayed at either of the previously mentioned private schools, I am certain that I would not have been academically frustrated. I know, in fact, from my own experience and the experiences of friends that I would have been challenged and not only continued but continued to do well. Would that have made a difference in the long run? Considering the percentage of students from those schools who go on to Ivy League colleges, possibly in that respect. Would it have been socially more fun? Well, yes, probably. Outside of that, academically and career-wise no; I think I saved myself a lot of wasted time and misery.

I didn't leave school right away, though it seems I did threaten to if not allowed to go to Open. I went on to what was, at the time, the top high school in Virginia for 10th grade. Ultimately, I told them I'd hate to see the worst and I still think it was an astute observation. My PSAT scores were in the top 2%, my Secondary School Admission Scores were in the top 2% and, as I said, I'd received 98's and 99's on my 9th grade finals. I'd also had French since Kindergarten, taken a year of Latin and was already reading at college level. I was not, however, placed in advanced classes; probably because, hoping until the last minute to be able to return to private school, I registered fairly late.

I was bored out of my skull. It was a repeat of my experience in 6th grade; I was being taught the same material I'd had the year before at a slower pace. This time, I'd mastered the material already. Since I was 15, I didn't handle that as well as I could. I skipped a lot of classes and missed a lot of days. I also got nearly straight A's because, in spite of not attending class I would show up to take tests, quizzes and finals as well as to turn in papers and, as I said, I'd mastered the material the year before. Outside of missing the classes I caused no trouble, was in no trouble with the law, did not drink or do drugs, was not promiscuous... I just didn't go because it really was that boring.

I read F. Scott Fitzgerald and other classics when I was in class and when in in-school suspension, which was often because I kept getting caught for skipping class. By the time I left, I had read enough to not have to purchase a single textbook till my 2nd year of college, so I suppose I did learn something but beyond my own reading I can't say what. I'm not saying skipping school was the right decision but I do see my point to this day and I don't really see that it hurt me.

Why did I skip classes instead of attending happy not to have to work very hard? Frustration because I wanted to learn, not just sit there, (hence my toting the classics around when I did go), a probably healthy level of teenage defiance, (as I said, it didn't manifest in drinking or drugs or other self destructive behavior) and also because I felt fairly constantly under attack. If you so much as asked to borrow a pencil in some classes you got detention. I tried, in classes where I was particularly advanced, to add what I had learned already. However, discussion in class was not encouraged, to the greater part. I will never forget one English teacher, (a biology major who hadn't read 1/8 of what I had by 9th grade), who sent me to the principal's office for pointing out that if the whole class had failed their test on 'Julius Ceasar', (with the exception of myself and another student who also eventually dropped out and is now an extremely successful adult), it was probably because of her inability to effectively teach Shakespeare.

The private school had encouraged discussion. When you got in trouble, it was because you were seriously causing trouble and even in that case they worked on a demerit system; 10 and you had detention. You certainly wouldn't have gotten one for asking to borrow a pencil. We had also had free periods instead of study hall, where you could go to the library or the garden, wherever on school grounds you liked. It was assumed, (correctly), that you knew you had to study and that you would, that you knew you had to pay attention in class and that you would. If you didn't, you didn't continue at the school. Learning was emphasized. Rules were important, yes, but they did not trump the importance of learning.

By the end of 10th grade, with my final grades all A's and B's and the previously mentioned test scores, I was called into the principals office and told that I was going to have to repeat 10th grade. I was aghast. Did they notice my grades? I asked. They said it didn't matter, I had missed too many days. I pointed out that I had missed them because I was bored out of my mind and was clearly not mistaken, my grades were very good. I asked if they had looked at my test scores and demanded to know why I hadn't been placed in advanced classes, based on them to start with. (They had no answer for this and stuttered considerably when they pulled my file and saw the scores.) I told them that it seemed to me skipping a grade might be a better solution. They said no, 10th grade again it was.

Now, tell me, what is possibly achieved except holding back someones life needlessly by making a student repeat material 3 times they mastered the first time? That was when I told them if they were the best high school in Virginia, I'd hate to see the worst. I stuck it out for about 6 weeks then took the SAT, scored in the top 2% in English though slightly lower in Math, left school and immediately took the GED. I didn't have to take GED classes because, at that time, they allowed you to take a placement test to see if doing so was necessary. Based on my SAT scores and admissions essays, I was accepted to both of the colleges I applied to. I also received academic scholarships prior to starting my freshman year and went on to receive departmental scholarships. I barely have student loans as a result.

In my first semester, I signed up for 300 level classes and got A's in them. I was also invited to join the honors program in my freshman year, an invitation that had never previously been extended to a freshman. The school had a rule that you had to be a sophomore to participate. I went on to study, as I said, languages independently at Union Theological.

If I had stayed in High School, college would have been delayed by several years instead of accelerated. I probably also would have, by the time it was over, developed a hatred of school as have the teenagers I spoke with not long ago, though I don't think my family would have ever accepted that not attending college was an option. But not everyone is as fortunate in family as I was.

I don't think my situation was a normal one. I realize that, for many if not most, dropping out of high school ends in more dead ends rather than in continuing education. Again, I think this probably has more to do with whether or not their family emphasizes education to start with than the potential of the child. I do, however, know a few other people who did what I did and whose lives benefited rather than suffered as a result.

I don't have a solution to the problem. I wish I did. I don't think making students go to alternative high school for a GED is necessarily the answer. I've worked in the public schools as a special programs teacher and do think actual learning continues to be far too heavily ignored and that students continue to almost be penalized for being intelligent in some instances. The answer probably lies in following a model similar to the private high school I attended; creating an environment where learning is more important than rules. As an adult, I find the fact that it isn't already that way and has become less so over the years as disturbing as I did in high school. We ought to ask ourselves as parents what exactly, as this is the case, it is we really want our children to learn in the first place. To respond to a bell? To be quiet and not ask questions? To recite what is memorized rather than to absorb, compare and contrast?

Something like that seems to be the tip of the iceberg...

Top 40 Twitter Bios, From the Famous to Should or Shall Be

2012-10-18T17:29:00.001-07:00

1. @SalmanRushdie In the immortal words of Popeye the Sailor Man: I yam what I yam and that's all that I yam.

2. @TheOutlawArtist I was sent here from Krpton as a baby to save...wait, my bad, that's Superman.

3. @JulietteLewis Believing is seeing. Seeing is believing. Don't stop.....!!!

4. @AmandaWhip Fuck you.

5. @henryrollins Official Twitter for Henry Rollins. Yes, this is real.

6 @WaylonWannabe I don't think I did it that way.

7 @Ponderosa_music Some Guy Said We Sound Like A Car Wash.

8. @xintra Cultural X-ray. Bat-shark. Lame-retardant. Your ad here, $1M.

9 @tenementmuseum I'm a 5 story brick walk up, built in 1863. A museum takes care of me now (I'm lucky!)

10. Old_and_dirty Whiskey soaked bluegrass, with a side of bacon.

11. @spankydonahue Fucking awesome

12. @johncusack Apocalyptic shit disturber and elephant trainer.

13. @DAVID_LYNCH Filmmaker. Born Missoula, MT. Eagle Scout.

14. @bad_luck_86 Never rob a nun!

15. @peterstraubnyc My profession obliges me to enjoy solitary confinement.

16. @JustinWeinmann Artist -- Living in my world so you don't have to.

17. @JUG_TOWN You Don't Have To Be Drunk To Listen...But It Helps!

18. @ReverendSnake I work on street corners.

19. @Angeliska Writer - Soothsayer - Silversmith - Witch

20. @ChloeHenderson9 Loves colouring in and doesn't want to grow up.

21. @jamiekilstein Tells jokes, drops levels, reads books, doesn't eat animals. Cohost of Citizen Radio. Wearecitizenradio.com

22. @brainpicker Interestingness hunter-gatherer obsessed with combinatorial creativity. Editor of @brainpickings & @explorer. Bylines for @wireduk & @theatlantic. MIT Fellow.

23. @AskMuthaHubbard Bordello Artist Management, Ray Wylie's Pimp, Education......the next best thing to a record deal.

24. @3liza Mercenary artist, grammar vandal, angry enthusiast.

25. @JESSECHARLESII I quit carrying a pocket knife when I came to realize I could kill a man with my bare hands.

26. @ImSugarCoated I am devoted to discovering the origins of mankind. Artist,Illustrator, Designer, friend,Student, Ninja, Photo creep, hungry for adventure.

27. @coreysmithmusic Trying to figure it out.

28. @JenniWestwood Singer, Songwriter. Faster than a loose woman in a honky tonk! More powerful than a push up bra! Able to leap oily puddles in a pair of stilettos! ITS ME!

29. OhThatNumi Personal Twitter of the Numi Empire. OhThatNumi. Add your own punctuation and intonation to taste

30. YiannisBab Journalist, arrogant bastard, self-proclaimed DIY hero. Views my own.

31. @everydevil_ Everydevil is a Flash Cartoon all about the Devil, his salesman Barney, and political irony.

32. @WhiteyMorgan Ain't no pop in this country Son. Flint Michigan is where my bills go and the road is my home

33. @PineBoxBoys Horrorbilly/Alt Country-4 guys make a lot of clatter (hollerin about killing folks) that sounds vaguely 'grassy, but is mostly just noisy.

34. @leroypowell Beard wearer. Ax murderer. Kitty cat lover.

35. @BolandDrummer I hate pop country, the US government and Nancy Grace. I love death metal, jazz, books and my lovely family.

36. @Wildaboutmusic I put the war in Award Show. Buy this book! http://amzn.to/OdG8CA

37. @ansonmount Semi-conscious. Halfway there. Partly cloudy. Mostly delusional. Total redneck.

38. @mitdasein What if Zardoz was one of us?

39. @EvilMrSod Canarian in Germany. Dark as a dungeon. Sick as a dog. This machine kills assholes. I am a demon and I love rock'n'roll.

40. @RedneckUHate Working on major in Social Work. Praying that Taylor Swift and Killswitch Engage tour together and waiting for Led Zeppelin reunion. Trailer Park Boy for life.

Five Runners Up:

1. fontgurrl Reformed overachiever, competitive sleeper, practitioner of tomfoolery, bad ass/girly girl.

2. @Vintage_Thinker Established 1989. Crazy cat lady. Procrastinator extraordinaire. Book lover. Steampunk enthusiast and everything else you wouldn't expect. A work in progress.

3. @DavidElliott25 Welshman (1979). A bit like Superman, Spiderman & Batman. Rebellious 'Son of a...' very lovely Mum & Dad. I enjoy sports & music. I love my Fender Stratocaster

4. @jzellis Lead developer, NSFWCORP. Writer, coder, musician, futurist, cat fancier. Jerk. Sorry ladies, married. Thug liberal. Rants and swears. You've been warned.

5 @pretzelmen DEEPER, DARKER, WEIRDER

My Favorite 2012 Fall Hair Trends

2012-10-05T12:42:00.003-07:00

photos from http://www.harpersbazaar.com and http://www.elle.com

Ponytails

Braids

Deep side part

Lots of Decoration

Twists

Fall Makeup Trends 2012

2012-10-05T12:32:00.002-07:00

Black cherry lipstick and other deep, dark shades of red..

http://www.wildviolet.net

Nails follow suit, with dark shades and their polar opposite pales dominating ... french manicures continue to twist, combining beige with red tips, black with gold tips, clear with silver or black tips... otherwise, go bold or metallic.

http://www.weddingbycolor.com

Gold...

http://blogs.smarter.com/fashion-beauty

Smoky Eyes

http://www.harpersbazaar.com

Multi Toned Eyes

http://www.harpersbazaar.com

Rosy Cheeks

and underdone skin...

http://www.makeupforlife.net

Wide Cat Eyes

http://www.racetoidentity.com

Rimondi, Balmain, Etro Fall 2012 RTW

2012-10-05T12:02:00.002-07:00

Aquilano Rimondi

Balmain

Etro

Marchessa Fall 2012 RTW

2012-10-05T11:36:00.004-07:00

photos from http://www.vogue.com

Isabel Marant's Wild West, Fall 2012 RTW

2012-10-05T11:15:00.000-07:00

photos from http://www.vogue.com