Samurai Jack kicks ***!
posted by J.M. Branum at 12:47 PM | link

From the Austin Chronicle: An Open Letter to Vanessa Leggett - Read this. Props go to Michael Ventura for writing such a stirring letter in defense of Ms. Leggett and the First Amendment.

Here are a couple of quotes from the letter that are especially profound:

The appeals court might take a refresher course, though, to learn that the word "journalism" is founded on "journal," rooted in the French jour meaning "day" and journal meaning "daily." The original English usage of journalist meant: one who keeps a journal, a record of the day. The words "profession" and "professional" are based on "profess." Fundamental to the idea of being a professional is an act of speech and conviction. My dictionary defines profess as "to declare or admit openly." Its first definition of professional is "an open declaration or avowal of a belief or opinion."

When I read this, I am struck by how the whole blogging phenomenum is true journalism. It is truly "keeping a record of the day."

Houston's prosecutors are trying to make an exception and an example, of you; if they can do it to you, they and their kind will try to do it to others. Meanwhile, some Senate Republicans are trying to nullify the First Amendment itself.


A recent poll reported that a majority of Americans think the First Amendment goes too far. They think their own constitution is too radical. They're uneasy with the fact that it was written by revolutionaries -- so radical, so revolutionary, and of such integrity, that those Founders imposed limits upon the very power they'd won. They meant for their descendants to cope with their revolutionary ideals, like it or not. Many don't. Yet there are still some willing to go to the wall for the 45 precious words of that amendment.

Get up off your feet folks! It's time to act. If you're not Blogging, do it! Exercise your rights while you still can. Use all possible forms of media to let your voice be known, whether it is online, print, or even RADIO!
posted by J.M. Branum at 12:42 PM | link

Also via Blogdex I found an incredible interview with the greatest writer of the 20th Century, Ray Bradbury

Here are some of the juiciest quotes from the interview:

Q: What do you think of President Bush?


A: He's wonderful. We needed him. Clinton is a shithead and we're glad to be rid of him. And I'm not talking about his sexual exploits. I think we have a chance to do something about education, very important. We should have done it years ago. It doesn't matter who does it -- Democrats or Republicans -- but it's long overdue. Our education system is a monstrosity. We need to go back and rebuild kindergarten and first grade and teach reading and writing to everybody, all colors, and then the whole structure of our education will change because people will know how to read and write.


Q: There's so much competition for a young person's attention nowadays. For the record, why is reading still important?


A: Are you kidding? You can't have a civilization without that, can you? If you can't read and write you can't think. Your thoughts are dispersed if you don't know how to read and write. You've got to be able to look at your thoughts on paper and discover what a fool you were.


Q:I was surprised you said in your Playboy interview that corporations were the only way to revitalize impoverished communities.


A: Well that's true. They've got the money; nobody else has it. People like myself know the secret of cities and how to build them. I give these ideas to corporations and they build them and they revitalize sections of cities -- like Century City [in Los Angeles]. But I've had to tell them numerous times over the past few years to build it in human terms. Hollywood Boulevard needs to be torn down and rebuilt completely in terms of human beings. Right now, it's completely dead.


Q: What do you mean "in human terms"?


A: Places to eat. The secret of cities is eating. In Paris there are 20,000 restaurants. You go down Main Street, people are sitting out and people-watching -- that's what I'm talking about.

I'll check out more links on Ray Bradbury and post them here later, but for now here's a listing of Bradbury sites at Dmoz.org.

posted by J.M. Branum at 3:03 PM | link

Via Blogdex today, I found Silent-type.blogspot.com, a blog of politics, social commentary, and other random stuff from Australia. I've really enjoyed what I read so far.
posted by J.M. Branum at 2:29 PM | link

Today's NY Times has a stirring story on the first free elections in East Timor. I can't help but be moved as I see a nation find it's own identity and place in the world. I only wish people here had the kind of pride in the right of voting that the East Timorese have.
posted by J.M. Branum at 1:19 PM | link

OK, here's the reason why gas prices are so jacked up in Oklahoma right now and are so cheap in Texas.
posted by J.M. Branum at 6:05 PM | link

Celebrity has a good sound. I've heard that they think they're too cool to give my favorite zine a link, but that's ok. I'll forgive them since their music is so good. ;-)
posted by J.M. Branum at 5:44 PM | link

Well I found out there's hope for all of us single bloggers out there. According to Caterina.net blogging is one of the best ways to find a significant other known to man. (Not that I'm holding my breath or anything. Singleness is good too, and should be relished with passion while it lasts.)
posted by J.M. Branum at 5:41 PM | link

Listening to Vigilantes of Love today.
posted by J.M. Branum at 5:35 PM | link

Ok, here's on more painting I have to share. It is by far, IMHO the best portrait of Jesus that I have seen. I saw it in person at The Met this summer and was stirred by it. I only wish the online reproduction at the Met's website was in color.

Christ Crowned with Thorns by Antonello da Messina (Antonello di Giovanni d'Antonio) (Italian, Sicilian, born about 1430, died 1479)
posted by J.M. Branum at 5:23 PM | link

While I'm on a binge of link slutting (a keen phrase I learned from damnthepacific.com art websites, here's a few more for your viewing pleasure...

The Complete Works of Tim Burger - My favorites of this are:

• Socket
  
• a face
  
• His entire Monochromatic Metallic series
  
• Dragon wrap around tribal tat
  
• Feather Tribal Band tat
  
• Full back b/w shaded tribal piece
  
• and most of all, his magnificent painting that is now displayed at the Reagan Foundation in California - T-shirts of the design can be found by clicking here.
  

Also, a few of my favorite paintings from other folks...

Vincent van Gogh's The Starry Night (from moma.org

View of Toledo by El Greco (from met.org

Death of Socrates by Jacques-Louis David (from met.org

The Adoration of the Shepherds by Andrea Mantegna (from met.org

The Grand Canal, Venice, ca. 1835 by Joseph Mallord William Turner (from met.org

Cypresses, 1889 by Vincent van Gogh (from met.org


Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence, ca. 1175–1180; Romanesque (from met.org

Two Angels by a North Italian Painter, first quarter 14th century (from met.org

The Crucified Christ, fragment of a crucifix by Pietro da Rimini, ca. 1324–33 (from met.org

The Crucifixion with the Virgin and Saint John, ca. 1625 by Hendrick ter Brugghen (Dutch, 1588–1629) (from met.org


The Penitent Magdalen by Georges de La Tour (French, 1593–1652) (from met.org

Christ Carrying the Cross, ca. 1580s by El Greco (Domenikos Theotokopoulos) (from met.org

The Denial of Saint Peter by Caravaggio (Michelangelo Merisi) 1571–1610 (from met.org

posted by J.M. Branum at 4:31 PM | link

In checking my email, I came across this painting by a man from my old church (Hope Chapel The painting is called Transfiguration and it is by Jim Janknegt. To view the painting, go to http://128.83.95.13/parables/trans.jpg

posted by J.M. Branum at 4:19 PM | link

The Daily Oklahoman (aka "The Daily Disappointment") has a very cool feature on their website. on the Oklahoma State Capitol Dome project.

Here are a couple of pictures that I found interesting from it...

posted by J.M. Branum at 10:22 PM | link

It's raining this morning in San Marcos and it's beautiful. I'm in my little room starting to get things fixed up and just listening to the rain pouring down. What a beautiful morning.
posted by J.M. Branum at 11:14 AM | link

Time keeps moving on. My old college's (ok, two colleges ago ;-) campus newspaper, The Southwestern is online. I had tried to create an online edition many long years ago, but was only to put up a couple of issues (html only, no pictures) before the task wore me down. This new online edition looks much better than my work of long ago, especially with the strong, bold graphical layout.
posted by J.M. Branum at 10:34 AM | link

www.gaspricewatch.com
posted by J.M. Branum at 2:59 PM | link

Two more blogs of note that talk about politics (both taken from blogger.com):

Priva - privacy and free speech, online and off

www.hangingon.org - commentary on the day's news and events
posted by J.M. Branum at 2:42 PM | link

Well I'm in San Marcos. Drove all night and slept for a couple of hours, but at least I'm now moved in and have my student id. (despite the many complications of the SWT administrative bureocracy)

Blogging shows it's power once again at damnthepacific.com. This site tells the sad story of two kids who've fallen in love but our seperated by distance (she's in North Carolina, he's in Melbourne, Australia). However, they are channeling the collective romantic longing of us all, in a collection drive via paypal to pay for the guy to fly to see the girl. (BTW, the site is beautiful. The best designed blog I've seen thus far.)
posted by J.M. Branum at 2:37 PM | link

NY Times: Urban Tactics: Translating for Parents Means Growing Up Fast
posted by J.M. Branum at 9:19 PM | link

Relapsedcatholic.blogspot.com describes itself as being "where the religious rubber meets the pop culture road: a daily weblog of faith & media news and commentary."

Running late driving to San Marcos. As soon as I finish burning a CD I'll head out, drive until I get sleepy and then wake up and get there by morning.

posted by J.M. Branum at 8:18 PM | link