via kantrip!

a couple of weekends ago we finally got to meet .
I've only known him online for five years, so it was about damned
time!!!

He snapped a picture of us, though, and it's been a while. I'm kinda
blonde these days but hair is at a ridiculously awkward length, just
shy of shoulder length (that's why you haven't seen many pictures
lately, anyhow)… but this is just too cute:

Fwd: Christian Alliance Needs Your Help

I could be cynical about this, but I wasn't when Howard Dean did the
same thing, and I think these folks have a genuine shot at connecting
to a lot of people in the middle who are starting to feel betrayed by
Bush. We need to reach out to them. All of them.

Dear Helen:

Thank you for your passion about the Christian Alliance for Progress.
Your pioneering spirit is helping to galvanize this Movement to
Reclaim Christianity. In order to keep the momentum going, we need
your help. I'm writing to ask you to contribute to the Christian
Alliance for Progress. I'll explain below why your personal support
is urgent and vital. Please read on…

Update

It has been only one month since our Movement's formal launch. But in
just this short time, another 6,000 Americans have joined in this
cause we share! Within a few days we will number more than 10,000!

Additionally, hundreds of “local leaders” from across the country (47
states already!) have contacted the Christian Alliance home office and
have volunteered to step up as full-fledged organizers for the
Movement in their own communities.

We've gotten strong national and international media coverage. And
despite their much larger size, the Christian Right is attacking us in
the media – not just Rev. Jerry Falwell of the Moral Majority, but
also many others including the large right-wing think tank, the
Heritage Foundation, which wrote an editorial opposing us in the Wall
Street Journal Online.

We Have Promise – But We Have Urgent Needs

The Religious Right has denounced the Christian Alliance for Progress.
We are challenging their continued abuse of Christianity when we
oppose things like Justice Sunday, during which they hide their
extremist political agenda behind the language of Christianity.
Unlike any other organization, the Christian Alliance for Progress has
a strategic opportunity to change our country's politics by standing
up for real Christian values.

Months of planning and hard work have paid off. But now we also have
a serious need for more resources. The Religious Right is on the
move, and they are well-organized and well-funded. To respond
effectively, we must have financial resources to:

1. Expand the Movement into communities nationwide
2. Ensure our message stays loud and clear in the media
3. Assemble an effective staff to handle our new-found attention

The Right-Wing Wonders, “Where Will This Movement's Money Come From?”

The answer? YOU. YOU are this Movement. When the Christian Alliance
was first forming, I and a small number of other local donors provided
startup funding. Now that this Movement is growing so strongly, it
needs a broader foundation. St. Paul tells us that we are all members
of the body of Christ – his arms, legs, eyes, feet. So it is with the
Christian Alliance. Together with other members of this Movement,
YOUR VOICE is Reclaiming Christianity. YOU are speaking up for values
like justice, compassion, and equality. YOU are standing against
right-wing theocracy.

Our Stewardship Request

Please consider one of the following suggested gifts:

1. Monthly donation of $25 per month for 12 months
2. One-time donation of $250
3. Smaller or larger donations are welcome based on your own personal
circumstances. (Remember the way that Mark's Gospel tells us how much
Jesus valued a small contribution from a poor widow.)

Donate Here

The Miracle of Abundance and Our Stewardship Commitment

Think back to the Gospel stories about Jesus and the miracle of the
loaves and fishes. Jesus observed that the thousands of people
gathered to hear him were hungry and needed to be fed. But Jesus had
only a small amount of food to offer, over which he prayed.
Eventually everyone was able to eat; there was more than enough food
for all. If you have the resources, we ask that this be a loaves and
fishes moment. As we pass this 'email offering plate', we promise
faithful stewardship in how we apply your generous contributions.
Please give all you can. Now is the time, and today is the day.

With Gratitude,

Patrick Mrotek
Founder

Plink

TESTING TESTING

(An email post, that is…)

Geek mode = on

While we were watching the space shuttle take off, one of my coworkers
said something about why we were still dependent on rockets to get out
of the atmosphere. I launched into a technical explanation of rocketry
and other theoretical modes of space launch and devolved into talking
about building ships in space. Everyone else went silent, and M.
turned around and said, “Okay, sci-fi girl…”

Body parts

http://www.illyusa.com/AB1666000/showprod.cfm?ObjectGroup_ID=233

I think this may be the weirdest collection of coffee cups I've ever seen.

Future of Music Policy Summit

I have a lot of musician and DJ friends on here. I want to pass this along to you guys and anyone else interested:

**********************************************
Fifth Annual Future of Music Policy Summit
September 11 – 13, 2005
George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium * Washington, DC
Co-presented by FMC, the Entertainment & Sports Law Committee of the
Maryland State Bar Association and the Maryland Institute for Continuing
Professional Education of Lawyers, Inc. (MIPCEL)
**********************************************

http://www.futureofmusic.org/events/summit05/invite.cfm

July 26, 2005
Do you remember the year 2000?  Remember the endless fretting over internet
piracy? Or the hopeful visions of a digital music future where even the
smallest indie rocker would find themselves beside the mighty?

So, what happened?

Both, neither, and everything.  We've seen webcasting and satellite radio
rise to challenge traditional radio.  We've seen Apple, RealNetworks,
eMusic and others make digital music distribution a household commodity.
We've seen the emergence of business models that promise new revenue
streams for musicians, but that clash with 20th century licensing
structures. And we have new set of catchphrases to absorb: digital
distribution, ringtones, mashups, audioblogs, podcasting.
We know that it can seem impossible to keep up with the rapid
transformations in the current musical landscape. But with the help of
eleven panels, nearly one hundred visionary panelists, and an engaged
audience of our peers, we're going to try to make the impossible happen.

Be one of over 500 musicians, lawyers, academics, policymakers and music
industry executives who will gather to hash out some of the most
contentious issues surrounding digital technology, artists' rights and the
current state of the music industry.
Go here to register online:
https://www.futureofmusic.org/events/summit05/registration.cfm

Sponsored by: ASCAP * BMI * CD Baby * SESAC * IODA * Epiphone Guitars *
Just Plain Folks * Starpolish

Widely praised by advocates and industry alike, our Policy Summits have
gained a reputation as “a kind of Geneva where all sides in any number of
contentious music industry fights can get together and play nice for a few
days. Even more importantly, it offers pinstriped Washingtonians a rare
opportunity to hear musicians articulate their concerns in person instead
of relying on competing lobbying groups that claim to espouse their
interests.” (Washington Post, May 6, 2004)

Expanded Programming for 2005
——————-
Each year, FMC organizes panel discussions that go beyond the typical
conference fare, digging into the complex problems and challenges that crop
up as emerging technologies meet traditional music industry structures,
federal legislation and copyright law. This year's topics include:
*        Whether digital distribution is a good deal for artists
*        How managers and labels are guiding artists through tremendous
change
*        Whether indecency regulations are censoring performers and
stifling non-commercial speech
*        Sampling and shared art
*        The changing face of terrestrial distribution
*        Podcasting and music blogs: the effect of citizen critics and
creators on music industry
*        Intellectual property in a post-Grokster world
*        How musicians can engage in the policy debate

In addition to panels, FMC is adding twelve breakout sessions to this
year's event.  During lunch hours, you'll be able to choose among breakout
sessions like: how to work with the PROs, how to sell and promote your
music online, or how to participate in the grassroots media ownership
campaigns.

Through FMC's partnership with the Entertainment & Sports Law Committee of
the Maryland State Bar Association and the Maryland Institute for
Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers, Inc. (MIPCEL), practicing
attorneys can also have their Summit attendance count towards CLE credit
(pending Bar approval). Attorneys can attend breakouts that cover the
proposed changes to Section 115 of the Copyright Act, or get a rundown of
what's happening with Canadian copyright issues.

Schedule:  http://www.futureofmusic.org/events/summit05/schedule.cfm

Stellar Panelists Already Confirmed
——————-
We've already confirmed over fifty top-notch panelists and speakers
including:
Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein
Marybeth Peters Register, US Copyright Office
Hank Shocklee Producer, Public Enemy
Shawn Fanning Co-founder, Snocap (creator of original Napster)
Bertis Downs General Counsel and Manager, REM
Heather Hitchens President, Meet the Composer
Mike Mills Bass player, REM
Slim Moon Owner, Kill Rock Stars
Derek Sivers President and Programmer, CD Baby
Sarah Lutman MN Public Radio /American Mavericks
Jim Urie President, Universal Music & Video Distribution
Don Van Cleave President, Coalition of Independent Music Stores
Melissa Ferrick independent musician
Fred von Lohmann Senior Intellectual Property Attorney, EFF
Mike Marrone Programmer, The Loft, XM Radio
and so many more!  Check out the entire list here
http://www.futureofmusic.org/events/summit05/panelists.cfm
Online Registration is Open

——————-
Regular registration: $149 for three-day pass/$99 for one-day pass
Student rate: $99 for three-day pass/$66 for one-day pass
CLE (Continuing Legal Education) rate: $599
Secure registration:
https://www.futureofmusic.org/events/summit05/registration.cfm
Scholarships Available for Working Musicians
——————

Thanks to some generous contributions from foundations, technology
companies, sponsors, musician advocacy groups and law firms, we are able to
offer scholarships for working musicians.  This way, many of the audience
participants will be those who the biggest stake in the policy debate –
musicians themselves.  First come, first served, so fill out an application
online now!

http://www.futureofmusic.org/events/summit05/scholarships.cfm

It is our belief that by continuing to organize events like the Summit, we
will help the media, citizens, creators and policymakers have a more
sophisticated understanding of the opportunities and effects of these new
technologies on the guarding the value of music for musicians, and guarding
access to music for citizens.  Join us for this important discussion.