Title

this video is a little hard to describe, or maybe it's incredibly easy. It's The World.In Words. and it is really amazing


The Child
Alex Gopher
Director: H5
France

I wonder what that song is? Does anyone know?

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Love Really Is Strange

Atom Films has a collection of short films that they categorized as “Twisted Love Stories”
Their description is unique and sums up what this is all about quite well so there will be no attempt to improve on it, plus copy/paste is a lot easier than creativity

I may not know what love is, but I'm pretty sure you don't express it by giving someone a teddy bear. When a guy gives his girlfriend a teddy bear for Valentine's Day, that's a warning sign on par with finding frozen body parts in his fridge, or a Jack Johnson mix on his iPod.

Romantic partners prone to cutesy gifts are masking a deep hurt -- a pain so dark and insidious that it's only a matter of time before it drags you down with it. So get out while you can! And may God help you if you're ever given a stuffed animal wearing sunglasses.

While we're on the topic of twisted love, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite twisted love stories here on AtomFilms. Enjoy...

Little Farm directed by Calvin Reeder

AtomFilms.com: Funny Videos | Funny Cartoons | Comedy Central

Measuring Up directed by Jesse Scaturo
It's perfectly natural to be curious about how you measure up against every man your wife has ever been with, right?

AtomFilms.com: Funny Videos | Funny Cartoons | Comedy Central

Our Very First Sex Tape directed by Amy Talkington
Intent on spicing up their relationship, a couple decides to film their very own sex tape in a seedy hotel. As the camera rolls, the erotic sparks flame a seemingly vicious battle between the two lovers. Of course, like any battle, it ain't over until it's over. Catch Alex Michel, the original star of ABC's hit reality series, The Bachelor, in his film debut

AtomFilms.com: Funny Videos | Funny Cartoons | Comedy Central

I Heart Billy directed by Michael Mohan
A teenage girl confesses on-camera about her true love, Billy. Her relationship isn't quite like the other kids' in school, to put it mildly. You'll almost believe their love is pure...

AtomFilms.com: Funny Videos | Funny Cartoons | Comedy Central

Scrapple directed by Jay & Mark Duplass
How many points is the word f-i-g-h-t? If you love someone — we mean really love someone — do not play word games with them. It'll just turn into a big (and mean) mind game. And then you'll fight. At least, that's what happens with this couple

AtomFilms.com: Funny Videos | Funny Cartoons | Comedy Central

The One O’Clock directed by Kelsey Kleiman
Bob and Susan have marital problems. He's an unemployed loser; and she, well… she desperately needs some bedroom lovin'. Will their one o'clock therapy session be the cure for what ails them?

AtomFilms.com: Funny Videos | Funny Cartoons | Comedy Central

(a personal note- teddy bears if given with care and creativity are always a great gift)

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Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out

'Turn on' meant go within to activate your neural and genetic equipment. Become sensitive to the many and various levels of consciousness and the specific triggers that engage them. Drugs were one way to accomplish this end. 'Tune in' meant interact harmoniously with the world around you - externalize, materialize, express your new internal perspectives. Drop out suggested an elective, selective, graceful process of detachment from involuntary or unconscious commitments. 'Drop Out' meant self-reliance, a discovery of one's singularity, a commitment to mobility, choice, and change. -Timothy Leary

(inspired by Boing Boing) :
In 1997, the BBC aired an episode of their science show Horizon about psychedelic drugs and medicine
The programme looks at the history of psychedelic drug research when it was still easily possible, focusing on Osmond and Hoffer's early work on using LSD in treating addiction and facilitating psychotherapy.

Horizon: "Psychedelic Science"




Background-
In the late 1960s, human experiments with psychedelic drugs were brought to a halt. Government reacted to the anarchy of the hippy ... all » counter-culture. The drug-crazed Charles Manson slayings came to symbolise public fear of the street use of LSD. Funding ceased, and the few researchers who battled on were ostracised. But lost in the blanket ban were remarkable research projects in the field of psychiatry that held out new hope for the treatment of schizophrenia and alcoholism. Bill Eagles' extraordinary film tells the story of a handful of dedicated scientists who have struggled to make psychedelic research respectable again. In the USA, psychiatrists Rick Strassman and Charles Grob, and neuroscientist Deborah Mash each quietly began investigations with unknown psychedelic compounds, to avoid the alarm bells of LSD. Strassman pursued the Federal Drug Administration for permission to do safety trials of DMT. Mash works on treating cocaine addicts, achieving success with Ibogaine, a psychedelic derived from a West African plant. Their success hinges on the patient having a 'peak' experience, entering the realm of the mystical or religious. The early researchers had spotted this. Now it was dramatically reinforced by unique new evidence from Brazil. Unable to work in the USA, Grob visited Brazil to track down the ritual use of Ayahuasca, a leaf rich in the powerful DMT. For centuries it has been used amongst the shamans of the Amazon. But today, in urban Brazil, tens of thousands of men, women and children are taking the drug as part of an ecstatic Christian cult experience. The Brazilian Government asked Grob to look at long-term damaging effects of the drug. Instead, he found no evidence of toxicity or brain damage, and also that long-term users functioned better in their community. In 1992 Brazil legalised ritual use of Ayahuasca. The FDA took careful note. Then in the early 1990s, leading lights of the US computer industry began admitting that many breakthroughs in Silicon Valley in the 70s and 80s had been inspired by regular psychedelic drug use. Nobel Prize winner Kary Mullis, and founding father of Microsoft, Bob Wallace, reveal on camera the psychedelic influence on their creativity. This anecdotal evidence raised support for the psychedelic researchers. Now Strassman has received approval from the FDA for research into LSD itself.

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When The Revolution Comes

Apparently it will be televised... or at least filmed for later broadcast

(I was going to post this last night but the whole SB aftermath seemed more pressing)

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised


The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (a.k.a. Chavez: Inside the Coup) is a 2002 documentary about the April 2002 Venezuelan coup attempt which briefly deposed Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. A television crew from Ireland's Radio Telifís Éireann happened to be recording a documentary about Chávez during the events of April 11, 2002. Shifting focus, they followed the events as they occurred. During their filming, the crew recorded images of the events that they say contradict explanations given by Chávez's opposition, the private media, the US State Department, and then White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer. The documentary says that the coup was the result of a conspiracy between various old guard and anti-Chávez factions within Venezuela and the United States.
Filmmakers Kim Bartley and Donacha O'Briain were inside the presidential palace on 11 April 2002 when Chávez was deposed and two days later when he returned to power, recording "what was probably history's shortest-lived coup d'état.



Chavez The Film

Viva Hugo.
(what can I say? I'm a sucker for a Trot)

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Hotel Chevalier

Because I was inadvertently reminded of it, I’ve never seen it and if I don’t post it now I’ll forget to ever do it, just like I forgot it ever existed for the last few months.
Written and Directed by Wes Anderson, starring Jason Schwartzman and Natalie Portman here is Hotel Chevalier

That was a pleasant enough interlude
but excepting for some decent dialogue on the bed most of the time I was focused on the lyrics to that song “Where Do You Go To (My Lovely) by Peter Sarstedt, which I had never heard before

You talk like Marlene Dietrich
And you dance like Zizi Jeanmaire
Your clothes are all made by Balmain
And there's diamonds and pearls in your hair

You live in a fancy appartement
Of the Boulevard of St. Michel
Where you keep your Rolling Stones records
And a friend of Sacha Distel

But where do you go to my lovely
When you're alone in your bed
Tell me the thoughts that surround you
I want to look inside your head

I've seen all your qualifications
You got from the Sorbonne
And the painting you stole from Picasso
Your loveliness goes on and on, yes it does

When you go on your summer vacation
You go to Juan-les-Pines
With your carefully designed topless swimsuit
You get an even suntan, on your back and on your legs

When the snow falls you're found in St. Moritz
With the others of the jet-set
And you sip your Napoleon Brandy
But you never get your lips wet

But where do you go to my lovely
When you're alone in your bed
Tell me the thoughts that surround you
I want to look inside your head, yes I do

Your name is heard in high places
You know the Aga Khan
He sent you a racehorse for chistmas
And you keep it just for fun, for a laugh haha

They say that when you get married
It'll be to a millionaire
But they don't realize where you came from
And I wonder if they really care, they give a damn

But where do you go to my lovely
When you're alone in your bed
Tell me the thoughts that surround you
I want to look inside your head

I remember the back streets of Naples
Two children begging in rags
Both touched with a burning ambition
To shake off their lowly brown tags, yes they try

So look into my face Marie-Claire
And remember just who you are
Then go and forget me forever
'Cause I know you still bear
the scar, deep inside, yes you do

I know where you go to my lovely
When you're alone in your bed
I know the thoughts that surround you
'Cause I can look inside your head

Peter Sarstedt- Where Do You Go To (My Lovely) [download] buy it on iTunes

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The Bridge and Me

In my research, aka trying to figure out what the Bridge actually was and if I was using it correctly, I stumbled across the wikipedia article for a film based on Scientology called, interestingly enough The Bridge. Apparently it was highly controversial and was posted as a free download but then mysteriously it was removed and the director disavowed it and removed all references to it,in what I can only think was suppression by Scientology and thus a great conspiracy and so worthy to be shared and brought into light. I'm not vouching for the quality of the film but if Scientologists hate it then it must be worth sharing.
Anyway here is the wiki article

The Bridge "was the "first feature film" about the Church Of Scientology. While it is set against the background of the Church of Scientology and the Sea Org, the characters and situations depicted are fictional.

"Diane Wheat", portrayed by Carole Smith, is a Scientologist who becomes disillusioned with Scientology over the course of the film. A parallel plot follows the father of another Scientologist who attempts to get his daughter to leave Scientology (the father is played by Tom Padgett). The story touches on such Scientology-related issues as the suppressive person doctrine, the state of Clear, security checks, disconnection, Scieno Sitter, and the Church's secret upper level teachings, including the story of Xenu, as well as including a reference to the South Park episode: Trapped in the Closet.

The film ends with a written dedication: For all who speak out - for those who have been silenced.
Former Scientologists were involved in the production of the film.The movie utilized some clips from the Scientology-produced video, How to Use Dianetics: A Visual Guidebook to the Human Mind,as well as archival footage of David Miscavige.

The film was shot over a five-day period at a hotel in Memphis, in order to avoid what the production team thought could be potential interference from Scientologists.
The film was shown on October 16, 2006 as a feature presentation.
The film was initially released as a free download over the Internet in September 2006. The film credits stated: The Bridge' is licensed as royalty-free digital media, and may be distributed online for personal viewing without permission. All offline distribution rights are reserved by Brett Hanover.

Within a few weeks of its release, Hanover removed The Bridge from its public distribution sites. He stated on his website, that "due to copyright issues, I ask that this film be withdrawn from circulation... Do not contact me concerning this film, I am no longer supporting it". The removal was reported by Jeannette Walls, in an MSNBC gossip column. (3rd item)

Hanover's web site no longer contains any reference to the film"

Well here it is, “The Bridge”


And here is Scientology and Me

"a controversial television documentary conducted by reporter John Sweeney, which aired on the BBC programme, Panorama on 14 May 2007. The programme gained particular controversy before and during filming due to unresolved differences on content and approach between Sweeney's production team and Scientology members, who did not want detractors or enemies of the church, who were included in the aired version to be interviewed in the documentary"

you may remember it from that clip where the reporter goes absolutely crazy and gets really angry but it's much more than that- watch the full Panorama episode here

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Scotch Mist; So Much Better than Sierra

I still can't resist an easy "gimme" joke. Anyway this is "Scotch Mist-A Film with Radiohead in it" made for New Year's Eve It features every song on their new album and it is a lot of fun watching them play in studio and “seeing how the magic happens” like hwat their choice in clothing, Thom in a navy blue hoodie Phil in a rather nice shirt playing together in what seems like motel room.
Plus at certain points, like during Weird Fishes/Arpeggi my head starts bobbing like Thom

and no I didn’t watch this on New Year’s (I’m not that much of a nerd, but I also forgot about it)
Ok now commencing last minute political propaganda

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And All Through the House

When I was too young most likely I guess someone let me watch Tales from the Crypt and I remember being haunted by this one episode. I'm not going to give away any plot points but it really terrified me and I was so scared of Santa or this happening and still creeps me out. But it is a nice little thriller and such a nightmarish scenario.
I had been looking for it for quite sometime but since I didn't know the name it took me awhile to dig up any information, but thanks to the wonders of google and youtube I finally found it; And All Through the House from 1989 (oh I really hope no one let me watch this when I was 6!)
Part 1

Part 2


Or here’s the possibly better definitely more stylish 1972 version with Joan Collins.

::shudder::
I'd like to think I'd handle that situation differently though...

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The Star Wars Holiday Special!

Over the years I had heard so much about the Star Wars Holiday Special and about how it was just so awful that it was locked away someplace and so in my mind a shallow mythology began to form.
So I must admit that I was shocked to find it so easily online (I hadn't really ever cared enough to search before) but it is just as bad as anything you may have heard. But awfulness does of course make it funny in a bad way. It is still so much better than Episode I.Plus I do really like the idea of a Love Day. Anyway here is a mid day movie break brought to you by the horribleness of the 70s; The Star Wars Holiday Special


Happy Love Day everyone~

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South Central Days

This morning I read in the L.A. Times an article about a program in a youth offender facility that allows those kids to write and direct a short film as a means of perhaps therapy but also to show them that they can do something more, something constructive instead of continuing down the spiral of a criminal life. But the focus was more on one kid Marquis C who wrote directed and starred in a movie that focuses on death, only to a few months later be shot and almost killed in real life.
I'm explaining it all wrong and it's really cool so here are some excerpts from the article

"... on the grounds of Camp David Gonzalez detention center, Alex Muñoz teaches a handful of youthful offenders the art of making films.
Every year for the last five years, the class of teenagers has produced a number of dramatic scripts and, eventually, short films about the precarious twists and turns of a harsh life on the streets.
But this year, one student's story was different: Marquise Calhoun's screenplay focused on death -- his own.
And that story line troubled Muñoz, who felt uneasy about encouraging Calhoun to make a film that foretells his own demise.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Muñoz asked. A different ending, he said, might be better.
But Calhoun wasn't about to alter his story of a young man from South Los Angeles who must make a choice: Do I smoke weed, shoot dice and hang out with homies searching for easy prey? Or take my girlfriend's advice and find a job and escape to a better place?
"That's my reality," Calhoun told his instructor. "A lot of my friends are already dead, and I just may be next."
He was a student at 68th Street Elementary School when his best friend was shot in the head and killed. He was enrolled at Bethune Middle School when he began ditching class, joined a local gang and started selling drugs and getting arrested.
... he drew a montage, which he titled "South Central Days." The rough illustration depicted a man with an Afro, an AK-47, a pair of dice and an LAPD helicopter on his right; his girlfriend and a Greyhound bus on his left.
"Calhoun took control of the film," Muñoz said. "We want authentic images. One of the things [the kids] say is they don't want any fake Hollywood stuff."
In "South Central Days," Brianna meets Calhoun on a schoolyard where he is shooting dice and drinking with friends. She persuades him to go home with her and then demands that he change his ways. Calhoun seems to agree with her but goes out one last time with friends to burglarize a house that is supposed to be empty. It isn't, and in the film, Calhoun is shot and killed by the angry homeowner, who wakes up and discovers the young men in the midst of the crime.

In March, after Calhoun was released from the camp, he finished acting and filming the last scenes of his short film at his house on 75th Street. But then he faded into old routines and started to associate with old friends. Like several others in the film class, he lost contact with Muñoz. He was looking for a job but not having much luck.
One hot day in July, on his way to get a haircut, Calhoun was approached by a gang rival and challenged over his neighborhood territory. They started to fight and the other man pulled a gun and shot Calhoun twice, striking his wrist and hip.
"I was gasping on the ground," Calhoun recalled. "I could see people walking past me. I'm shot and people are walking past me? Why couldn't they call the police?
"But they just kept walking."
From the ground, Calhoun watched the gunman run past and wondered if the next sensation he felt would be a shot finishing him off.
But the gunman kept on running, and at that moment, Marquise Calhoun decided this life had to change.

It reminds me of Menace II Society kinda and to be honest I was expecting a lot less. And though the little interview portion at the end was a little dispiriting (it helps to know he’s trying to turn his life around) this film did introduce me to some new slang that I’m going to try to incorporate in my daily life (but will inevitably fail in doing) “bust a ghost” that I guess means to be a no show.
It's called South Central Days and even though it's NSFW it is perfect for a Mid Day Movie break

Online Videos by Veoh.com

And for more information on Films by Youth Inside you can check out their website here.

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The Tenth Dimension...And Beyond

A few months back I got a link from my friend to Imagining the Tenth Dimension, something which I had never thought about in such terms but this animation totally blew my mind wide open. So here is "a new way of thinking about time, space, and string theory"
but while doing some basic research about the Tenth Dimension I stumbled upon this website where in the 5th comment, the commenter mentioned that there were now 11th Dimensions and if you wanted to know more about string theory to check out a PBS documentary called The Elegant Universe, which I had heard of but never bothered to watch.
So here is The Elegant Universe Part III: Welcome to the 11th Dimension (you can watch part I and part II here)

Or maybe it's Garrett Lisi who has it all figured out with his Unified Theory of Everything and no the answer is not 42 not it's more like 248.
Now if only we knew the question...

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Candy & Daddy

A Mid Day Movie starring an inspiration of mine and one of my heroes, the beautiful miss Candy Darling, in what has been described as " a riotous satire of Park Avenue life."

It is Candy & Daddy, a 1972 film by Anton Perich "Taylor Mead plays a pervert and increasingly drunk father of gorgeous blonde minx Candy Darling, who, with her boyfriend (Craig Vandenburg), has just thrown a wild party and totally destroyed their Central Park West apartment that is filled with large Marilyn and flower paintings by Warhol. Within this tranquil domestic setting, Daddy attempts to seduce his daughter and her boyfriend"

sounds like a blast



Happy Thursday.

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The Most Terrifying Video You'll Ever See

that consists of just a white board and a few close ups.

Here is a game theory analysis method to thinking of the correct approach to addressing Global Warming. I sent it to my game theory obsessed (econ capitalist pig) friend to give me his thoughts but...he's a drunk.
Anyway his argument is very convincing and really just common sense that we should be taking action now. I couldn't find any major flaws in his thinking. It's well worth your time



The Course is Clear. Take Action.

p.s. I really want to know what that is on his shirt- not gonna lie, but it was kinda of fascinating.

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Penelope: Princess of Pets

is like my absolute favorite new thing.
I was reading on Radar a feature about New Radicals, new artists that are bucking tradition/making trends/doing really cool things(including Kathy Griffin and Candis Cayne) and one of the people featured was Kristen Schaal from Flight of the Conchords and Story Pirates.
In her profile it mentioned something like you'll see her next "on the viral video Penelope: Princess of Pets, which will be forwarded to you at some point in the coming months." So of course in my continuing attempt to be 6 inches back of cutting edge I had to check it out.

And they're really really funny. Quirky, strange and different but cute and endearing and leaves you wanting more, kinda like Kristen.

Anyway here's the description and...it doesn't really do justice.

We think Penelope might be a little crazy. It's not so much the whole "I'm going to Washington, D.C. to kill a senator and save the world" part. It's the "I've been able to talk to animals ever since I started getting my period" thing.

Did I mention Senator Stone is one of the execs on 30 Rock? (think "The Head & The Hair" episode)
Enjoy! (try not to, I dare you)

Part One: Openings


Part Two: Poison


Part Three: Cardboard


I can't wait for the next epic chapter...[dum dum dum]

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Mid-Day Movie Break

Maybe I shouldn't have abandoned Man vs. Wild months ago, because now things seem to be getting quite interesting as the Discovery Channel tries to attract new viewers.

In this "episode" Bear Gryllis (who's really more of an otter) is dropped in West Hollywood and makes make his way to "hetero safety." It may or may not be safe for work (depends really on where you work) so be advised oh and another warning, there is one rather big EWWWW moment.

Man vs. Wild- West Hollywood




oh WeHo I miss you so much, ok not really.

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Story Pirates, Arrrggh!

After that last post I feel I need something pure and innocent and good to counteract the evil of the Republican Party and so I remembered a video from earlier this morning. After the Bud Light "Dude" commercial played a set of realted videos showed up and one seemed so random I clicked on it.
It's called "This Movie is About Cats Flying" and it is a little frightening

While I was watching I read the description and it piqued my interest more. You see "This story is about cats flying."
Based on this sentence by 8 year-old Jah-Kym McMillan, and adapted into a film short by The Story Pirates - a non-profit company that promotes a love of creative writing.
The Striking Viking Story Pirates (www.storypirates.com) adapt and perform stories written by kids as a way of celebrating the words and ideas of young people."

It seemed like such a great and fun idea, and I'm sure it must give the authors and their families such a thrill that I started watching most of the videos that they've posted out of happiness and so I thought you should enjoy them as well.
Here is "Abby is Sile" written by 6 year old Sofia Morales-Bello Barcelo

(And you may have noticied as I did that Abby looks familiar. So I checked out the Pirates' bios and found out it's Kristen Schaal the one fan of Flight of The Conchords.)
The Day I Got My Head Stuck in A Barstool written by 4th grader Russel Kay (from the stage show)

"Teddy Bear Cottage" by Eli Land, age 4.

Fourth Grader Michael Breen's "Giant Bugs 2"

And finally, from Madeline Desrochets "I Love You The Best" (because that's what I do!)


(I think at this age I wrote stories about murderous robots and monkeys moving to the city- this kids are far more well adjusted than I)
This totally had to have been my most kid friendly post ever,btw; I'll try to slut it up later...

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Bayou Classic: Battle of the Bands

Writing about wanting Duke to get Rod Broadway as their next coach reminded me. This weekend was the annual Thanksgiving match up between Grambling and Southern University. I've been watching it for years not so much for the games, which usually aren't the highest of calibers, but of course because of the halftime Battle of the Bands. I didn't watch it this year because I think I was watching the Duke-Carolina tragedy and the Arkansas-LSU game but no matter, I've always been a Grambling Girl, I have no idea why, so I would believe they "won" the halftime. I was thinking about it and it must be so difficult to form the halftime score, as the Southern band usually does. In fact just organizing any marching band seems insanely hard.

But with all that being said here is the 2007 Bayou Classic Battle of the Bands-Southern University's "Human Jukebox Marching Band from Jaguar Land " and the Grambling State "University World Famed Tiger Marching Band"


(video from "we saw that")
I just really wish once it would in a showdown like in my favorite part of one of my favorite movies, Drumline


and in case you were wondering, Southern won the actual game.
(grambling-fire rod broadway! duke- hire rod broadway!)

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A Thanksgiving Post

creative I know.
Have you ever wondered what our countries think of our Thanksgiving holiday? y'know those countries that actually don't have food? I'm not usually one for such conspicuous displays of wealth or gluttony (except for Competitive Eating which I gotta admit I find really mesmerizing) and I am certainly not one for "family gatherings" (this'll be my first one at home since 2001, oh and my first one as a girl...this is going to go sooo smoothly) but it is a good idea to just say thank you for and to everyone and everything that makes you happy (I thank "Whatever" for my friends mostly, and at this point Duke Basketball,everyone who won't vote for Barack, oh and my boobs)

And since there recently has been discussion on the meaning and intent behind"The First Thanksgiving" here's a story of it that I liked and works for me

The Pilgrims who sailed to this country aboard the Mayflower were originally members of the English Separatist Church (a Puritan sect). They had earlier fled their home in England and sailed to Holland (The Netherlands) to escape religious persecution. There, they enjoyed more religious tolerance, but they eventually became disenchanted with the Dutch way of life, thinking it ungodly. Seeking a better life, the Separatists negotiated with a London stock company to finance a pilgrimage to America. Most of those making the trip aboard the Mayflower were non-Separatists, but were hired to protect the company's interests. Only about one-third of the original colonists were Separatists.

The Pilgrims set ground at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620. Their first winter was devastating. At the beginning of the following fall, they had lost 46 of the original 102 who sailed on the Mayflower. But the harvest of 1621 was a bountiful one. And the remaining colonists decided to celebrate with a feast -- including 91 Indians who had helped the Pilgrims survive their first year. It is believed that the Pilgrims would not have made it through the year without the help of the natives. The feast was more of a traditional English harvest festival than a true "thanksgiving" observance. It lasted three days.

Governor William Bradford sent "four men fowling" after wild ducks and geese. It is not certain that wild turkey was part of their feast. However, it is certain that they had venison. The term "turkey" was used by the Pilgrims to mean any sort of wild fowl.

Another modern staple at almost every Thanksgiving table is pumpkin pie. But it is unlikely that the first feast included that treat. The supply of flour had been long diminished, so there was no bread or pastries of any kind. However, they did eat boiled pumpkin, and they produced a type of fried bread from their corn crop. There was also no milk, cider, potatoes, or butter. There was no domestic cattle for dairy products, and the newly-discovered potato was still considered by many Europeans to be poisonous. But the feast did include fish, berries, watercress, lobster, dried fruit, clams, venison, and plums.

This "thanksgiving" feast was not repeated the following year. Many years passed before the event was repeated. It wasn't until June of 1676 that another Day of thanksgiving was proclaimed. On June 20 of that year the governing council of Charlestown, Massachusetts, held a meeting to determine how best to express thanks for the good fortune that had seen their community securely established. By unanimous vote they instructed Edward Rawson, the clerk, to proclaim June 29 as a day of thanksgiving. It is notable that this thanksgiving celebration probably did not include the Indians, as the celebration was meant partly to be in recognition of the colonists' recent victory over the "heathen natives,"

A hundred years later, in October of 1777 all 13 colonies joined in a thanksgiving celebration. It also commemorated the patriotic victory over the British at Saratoga. But it was a one-time affair.

George Washington proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789, although some were opposed to it. There was discord among the colonies, many feeling the hardships of a few pilgrims did not warrant a national holiday. And later, President Thomas Jefferson opposed the idea of having a day of thanksgiving.

It was Sarah Josepha Hale, a magazine editor, whose efforts eventually led to what we recognize as Thanksgiving. Hale wrote many editorials championing her cause in her Boston Ladies' Magazine, and later, in Godey's Lady's Book. Finally, after a 40-year campaign of writing editorials and letters to governors and presidents, Hale's obsession became a reality when, in 1863, President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a national day of Thanksgiving.

And I really like to think this Supernews on the Immigration Debate kinda sums up that vibe and era of the First Thanksgiving


Anyway here's yet another version of the First Thanksgiving, this one from a B.C. comic 1973 tv movie (I haven't read this comic in years but this was random enough to amuse me)
part 1

here's the original 1676 Thanksgivng Proclamation (because I'm a history nerd at times and all of the following proclamations and the preceding story were all found here.)

"The Holy God having by a long and Continual Series of his Afflictive dispensations in and by the present Warr with the Heathen Natives of this land, written and brought to pass bitter things against his own Covenant people in this wilderness, yet so that we evidently discern that in the midst of his judgements he hath remembered mercy, having remembered his Footstool in the day of his sore displeasure against us for our sins, with many singular Intimations of his Fatherly Compassion, and regard; reserving many of our Towns from Desolation Threatened, and attempted by the Enemy, and giving us especially of late with many of our Confederates many signal Advantages against them, without such Disadvantage to ourselves as formerly we have been sensible of, if it be the Lord's mercy that we are not consumed, It certainly bespeaks our positive Thankfulness, when our Enemies are in any measure disappointed or destroyed; and fearing the Lord should take notice under so many Intimations of his returning mercy, we should be found an Insensible people, as not standing before Him with Thanksgiving, as well as lading him with our Complaints in the time of pressing Afflictions:

The Council has thought meet to appoint and set apart the 29th day of this instant June, as a day of Solemn Thanksgiving and praise to God for such his Goodness and Favour, many Particulars of which mercy might be Instanced, but we doubt not those who are sensible of God's Afflictions, have been as diligent to espy him returning to us; and that the Lord may behold us as a People offering Praise and thereby glorifying Him; the Council doth commend it to the Respective Ministers, Elders and people of this Jurisdiction; Solemnly and seriously to keep the same Beseeching that being persuaded by the mercies of God we may all, even this whole people offer up our bodies and souls as a living and acceptable Service unto God by Jesus Christ."

B.C's First Thanksgiving Part 2



George Washington’s 1789 Thanksgiving Proclamation
Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to "recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enable to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand, at the city of New York, the 3d day of October, A.D. 1789.

B.C The First Thanksgiving Part 3 (of 3)


(Abraham Lincoln's Thanksgiving Proclamation)
By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed
everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the Eighty-eighth.
By the President: Abraham Lincoln

Abe Lincoln was really good at words. And those words are like written for our times. So to each of you, if you're into this type of thing, enjoy family, enjoy food (and enjoy me for a few more posts today.) But remember those who can't.

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Mid-Day Movie Break

so i've been a little panic attacky/ hyperventilating this morning for god knows what reason and i can't really think much less write a coherent sentence and so I need a little bit of time to hopefully chill and something to calm me down and so I though I'd post this, which should give me both. It's Pink Floyd meets Judy Garland in the infamous Dark Side of The Rainbow, Dark Side of Oz or (my favorite) The Wizard of Floyd.
This album really does calm me down a lot and this is entertainingly tripp so it'll be your Midday movie.
(And if you've never heard of this synched up phenomenon here's a brief overview)

Turn me on Dead Man (has a list of the synchronized events that will probably turn you on, unless you're dead)


i just need some time to breathe...

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Midnight Movie Transmission

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it"- Flannery O'Connor.

This is one of those things that fell into my lap almost by providence, or in this case because of a facebook wall post in response to a misinterpreted status, but within 5 minutes I was hooked and by the end I couldn't stop thinking about it, and still can't. I actually debated putting this as my last post on Wednesday so it would have a predominant spot for the Holiday weekend but I knew I would not be able to think about anything else or get it off my mind before then. I've already spent so many hours today following up on some of the salient points in the film and recommended it to a lot of my friends (and I'm sure I'll be thinking a lot about it as I fail to sleep tonight.)

It's Zeitgeist: The Movie and it is one of the most important things I've ever seen. It touches on everything from the founding myths of Christianity to the myths of the 9-11 attacks in order to tell people to not trust everything you're told and to think for yourself!

I'm not generally a conspiracy theory type, though I was thinking about it and realized I believe in Kennedy and King assassination conspiracy theories, and I certainly didn't want to believe all those I deemed wackos who thought that 9-11 was a government job; i may be naive, but I didn't want to believe that our government would just kill 3,000 of it's own people. And yes I agree there are too many times where they use an unattributed voice overs but I was so hooked and already believed in what they were putting forth in Part One that I gave them the benefit of the doubt- well that and I do believe that this Administration would do anything and the immorality of power)

It's staggering and terrifying and devastating. Seriously watch it- there are very few things that I can honestly say blew my mind or changed my way of thinking and seeing the world but this is definitely one of them.
Zeitgeist: The Movie


"They must find it difficult...Those who have taken the authority as the truth, rather than the truth as the authority"-Gerald Massey

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