I have tried three times this week to blog about hurricane Katrina and the horrifying, gut wrenching idiocy of the Bush administration's (lack of) response, but each time I try, I have to walk away from the computer to keep from screaming and breaking things. total travesty.
So, because I'm sure that 99.9% of my readers feel outraged as I do, and because we have all been inundated with images and information that could make even a seasoned theme park enthusiast retch, I will turn attention here to other areas.
I first wish to highlight the incredible response that the city of Stoughton has received in the wake of the recent tornadoes. The volunteer effort has seen the town nearly cleared of debris, and repairs/new construction are already underway. I have one student who lost part of his house, and he is doing well, considering the circumstances. I'm pleased to say that the school year has leaped off to a roaring start, and my class rocks!
As a side note, I was pleased to hear that at least one of the families affected by the tornado will be using this as an opportunity to rebuild using renewable and recycled, eco-friendly siding, insulation, and gas-filled windows. They are fully committed to making the most out of their misfortune. As much as my eco activist nature has been relegated to a lower priority during this disaster, I was overjoyed to hear about this family's plans.
The other thing I want to highlight today, again on the positive side, is my good friend Eric. He is an amazingly prolific writer, electronic musician, activist and teacher. He has produced two works in the last few weeks that are quite worthy of promotion and enthusiastic recommendation.
First, Eric recently returned from a summer trip to Timor Lorosa'e, or East Timor, and wrote his reflections and experiences up in a wonderful little volume called, appropriately, Two Weeks in Timor. It is a quick read, filled with Eric's signature mix of solid useful information, and easy, comical prose. He effectively brought the people he and his traveling companions met on their journey into my field of vision, giving life to an area that I've only known through pictures, news releases and statistics. The essay includes a bonus baduk adventure in which Eric gets his ass kicked by a young girl. Classic. I believe Eric will be making Two Weeks in Timor available here soon. Read it! Ask him for a copy! Aid East Timor!
For more information on East Timor, check out the local site here in Madison, or the national site.
the Indefatigable Neural System (Eric) has also recently released a new album of electronic grooves. The album is called The Citizen's Guide to Sonic Defense, and is spectacular! From the first track, which may well be inspired by the dept. of homeland security's readiness website, the listener is seized up in a whirlwind of aural magic. The album is largely wordless, but the samples that do appear are well placed and never seem gratuitous. I am a big fan of track 10, Audio Fallout, as well as track 6, Testing for Bass. One of the cooler tracks, Funky Alarm, is available here as an Mp3 for preview. I am particularly taken in by the bass lines that drive each song, blending easily with the crisp, original beats that make me want to hit East Washington Ave. on a Friday night with 15" woofers in the trunk of my Prius, armed with a double espresso and the Citizen's Guide to Sonic Defense.
Aw, shucks. Thanks, yo. Much love.
Posted by: eric:p | September 07, 2005 at 08:19 PM