Grizzly's Growls Everything

Jim Webb on 'Givers' and 'Takers"

noreply@blogger.com (grizzlysgrowls@gmail.com) — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 02:55:00 +0000

I love that people are actually being clever about this stuff!

noreply@blogger.com (grizzlysgrowls@gmail.com) — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 00:48:00 +0000

Click here to play

So tell me, who are you?

noreply@blogger.com (grizzlysgrowls@gmail.com) — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 21:11:00 +0000

Click here to play

Don't miss the -other- election!

noreply@blogger.com (grizzlysgrowls@gmail.com) — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 03:21:00 +0000

Click here to play

Yes. Yes, we will...

noreply@blogger.com (grizzlysgrowls@gmail.com) — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 03:38:00 +0000

Click here to play

Help me find a Burns and Allen bit

noreply@blogger.com (grizzlysgrowls@gmail.com) — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 20:18:00 +0000

Need some help finding something.

A long while ago on one of those "Best of Old Time Radio" type albums I heard a snippet of a Burns and Allen routine, and loved it -- but I can't find it, or remember one of Gracie's comments. Basically it ran (as their bits were wont to do):

George: So, Gracie, I was sorry to hear about your missing brother.

Gracie: (A rather political-sounding rantlett, one sentence, having nothing to do with her missing brother.)

George: Gracie, you gave the wrong answer.

Gracie: No George, that's the right answer. You asked the wrong question.

So, (1) where was that from? I assume it's somewhere in their radio show, and I have some recordings of those. And/or (2) what was it that Gracie said there?

Thanks. Been buggin' me for a while.

Click here to play

Sex in the Age of Consent

noreply@blogger.com (grizzlysgrowls@gmail.com) — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 17:15:00 +0000

Maybe it's just me, us Autistic folks don't always pick up on public issues quickly.

I gather State Rep Kerry Gauthier (D-MN) got arrested at a rest stop for having consensual sex with a 17-year-old boy. (The age of consent in Minnesota, as it turns out, is 16. Color me startled, but okay, Legislature's determination not mine.) The state's attorney later announced they weren't going to press charges because it was a consensual lawful sex act between two people legally qualified to consent. They made their Love Connection via a male-seeking-male ad on Craigslist, also entirely legal. So fine. Still flabbergasted by the 16-year-old thing, though.

Was thinking on the way home from the store, though....

For whatever reason, Gauthier didn't admit to police why he was in the rest stop. Contrary to popular public opinion, if you aren't violating the law, much of the vast wasteland that is one's life is actually not the business of the Police, so I'm actually fine with that. "It shouldn't bother you if you have nothing to hide." Having your privacy invaded should always bother you. It should bother you, if you have a private life. And contrary to #trapwire, you still do.

Here's the thing. State's Attorney subtracts 16 from 17 and comes up with "legal," taking maybe a minute if he did it longhand. State's Attorney adds up the acknowledged consent of both parties, and comes up with legal. The police would I assume be able to do the same math, since they'd know the same law. Why didn't they?

Of course, given the care with which the minor's name was concealed, I'm sure none of his friends and family know he was arrested and taken to the police station, which makes sense, since he didn't commit a crime.

Perhaps some will take offense at my questioning the actions of the Duluth Police and various "fair and balanced" Minnesota news media and (R-MN) political figures. But it shouldn't bother them if they have nothing to hide, right?

Click here to play

One Brief, Shining Moment

noreply@blogger.com (grizzlysgrowls@gmail.com) — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 07:06:00 +0000

It is very much a time for folks to stand up and run down the list of Usual Suspects. It is very much when we all derive our entertainment of poo-pooing all the failures of the internet, of so-called social media, telling everyone who already agrees with us about how this that and the other venue is passe', and how we should now throw our dwindling dollars toward whatever is the Next Big Thing. Funny how the Next Big Thing is selling ads, and the folks who are industriously identifying the Next Big Thing for us are selling the same ads, from the same people, and often selling ads from The Next Big Thing.

When one is in the business of selling ads, it is entirely reasonable and predictable that one will tout the Next Big Thing, so folks will go see those same ads over there as at your house. Perhaps the money will allow your little corner of the Interwebs to survive, and not be last years news -- as your own reports are identifying the fruits of your own labor. The pundits who talk at us (ignoring us, really, so as not to talk -to- us) use last year's medium. They are obsolete themselves before their lips start flapping in the winds of change.

Perhaps if you put a .22 bullet in your own foot, you'd be distracted enough to not commit Internet Impression Immolation. Works about the same as shooting yourself in the foot, realistically.

My particular last-years-medium is Second Life. I'm not done with SL yet. And I submit for your consideration, that you aren't finished with SL yet, either. You haven't even started, really, have ya?

The fact is, the only thing any social medium (or whatever they call it next) has of value, is people paying attention. If you use venue A to convince people venue C is The Next Big Thing, all that presence you created in venue B is a waste of time. You are shouting to the world that you yourself are last week's news.

Just watched "Blazing Saddles." It is a wondrous portrait of the formula-western style of traditional cinema. But while Mel Brooks is as usual brilliant in ridiculing traditional movie making, he is also a creature of the venue he ridicules -- and he has declared himself superfluous.

While it's never worked before, over all the years of trading the trendy for the tediously aged, some fool, like me, always mentions, "you know, what's valuable here is the people who are here to pay attention. If we stay here, we can force the media who want to throw ads in our faces to at least throw them here, where they can do -us- some good.

So for One Brief Shining Moment, let us just say, "Hey, I'm sure that's clever new tech Way Over There, but I'm still having fun Way Over Here, and if you want to talk to me, shouting into the new well works no where near as productively as shouting into the elaborate house Way Over Here."

Go figure.

Click here to play

Episode 127 -- What do you DO in Second Life?

Sun, 01 Jul 2012 10:26:00 +0000

Followup to Episode 126. Now we know what Second Life is, what is it you do there? Just about anything and everything, I suppose. Second Life as Social Media. Second Life as a virtual world and "actual" place, where you don't spend time killing people or critters for gold. Mostly.

Oh, it turns out Chris Kirby has a brand new album, "Wonderizer." I just got my MP3 copy from Amazon (and then Chris wanted to send me one, oh well...) and I look forward to listening to it. Might be getting a signed CD for a later giveaway, we're talkin'. ;)

Show Theme "Hot Swing" from Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech.com.

Episode 126 -- Second Life : This Is Not Your Life

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 01:46:00 +0000

Leo LaPorte said on "This Week in Tech" that he abandoned Second Life because "it's all about sex." Made my jaw drop to the floor. After I picked it up, this is what I wanted to tell you about Second Life, what it's not "all about," and what it is, at least from my viewpoint.

Used a tune called "Day Job" from Chris Kirby's album "Vampire Hotel" on the show. Back when I interviewed him on The IDSL he said I could use his music on my show. He may even vaguely remember who I am. I encourage you to buy and check out the rest of the album, too -- I think the title tune from "Vampire Hotel" reminds me of almost all the clubs in Second Life where I've DJed late into the night. Except of course we take vampires a lot more seriously in Second Life. ;-)

Show Theme "Hot Swing" from Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech.com.

Crap, quoted Cunning Minx from the Polyamory Weekly podcast, and forgot to provide a link. Till now.

Hiber-Nation 125 -- On Liberty by John Stuart Mill Chapter 3 Part 2

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Chapter 3 - OF THE LIBERTY OF THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION. Part 2 of 2

"Having said that Individuality is the same thing with development, and that it is only the cultivation of individuality which produces, or can produce, well-developed human beings, I might here close the argument: for what more or better can be said of any condition of human affairs, than that it brings human beings themselves nearer to the best thing they can be? or what worse can be said of any obstruction to good, than that it prevents this?"

Book Theme: Tschaikovski Opus 40 from Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech.com

Show Theme: Pachelbel's Canon in D from Owen Poteat of Owenpoteat.com

Hiber-Nation 124 -- On Liberty by John Stuart Mill Chapter 3 Part 1

Sat, 09 Jun 2012 22:01:00 +0000

Chapter 3 - OF THE LIBERTY OF THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION. Part 1 of 2

"Such being the reasons which make it imperative that human beings should be free to form opinions, and to express their opinions without reserve; and such the baneful consequences to the intellectual, and through that to the moral nature of man, unless this liberty is either conceded, or asserted in spite of prohibition; let us next examine whether the same reasons do not require that men should be free to act upon their opinions—to carry these out in their lives, without hindrance, either physical or moral, from their fellow-men, so long as it is at their own risk and peril."

Book Theme: Tschaikovski Opus 40 from Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech.com

Show Theme: Pachelbel's Canon in D from Owen Poteat of Owenpoteat.com

Talking to Precious

noreply@blogger.com (grizzlysgrowls@gmail.com) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 06:11:00 +0000

One thing you don't get a lot of chances to do in RL is talk to Bots, but in SL (Second Life) it's an everyday occurence. Was talking to the Bartender at Our Jazz Club, my home club, by the name of Precious. She's a sweet kid, but she was having a bad day.

Grizzly Silversmith: Precious, how's your day been?
Precious: Sorry, you can try that is currently in-world.
Grizzly Silversmith: Try what, Precious?
Precious: Sigh
Grizzly Silversmith: No, seriously, Precious, I don't know exactly what you're talking about.
Precious: Feeling tonight? sorry i have to our jazz club!
Grizzly Silversmith: Gee, didn't realize you were so unhappy, Precious.
Precious: Yvw mari ã¡
Grizzly Silversmith: Is it something you'd like to talk about, Precious? Maybe I can help.
Precious: 228
Grizzly Silversmith: That's fine, Precious, I understand if you want your privacy.
Precious: Michael
Grizzly Silversmith: Who's Michael, Precious? Your new boyfriend? :)
Precious: Np
Grizzly Silversmith: No need to be shy, Precious, I understand.
Precious: Witaj drogi
Grizzly Silversmith: Sorry, Precious, I don't speak Finnish.
Precious: Holy crap!
Grizzly Silversmith: No, seriously, Precious, where I come from people don't speak a lot of Finnish. Not most folks I know, anyway.
Precious: Ð ÐµÐ½Ð°Ñ
Grizzly Silversmith: By the way, Precious, mind if I quote you on my Blog?
Precious: âï¼(â-ä¸¶(;;;(âã;; âªâv(^o^)vââª ,ââ);;;;;ï¼ï¼)â)
Grizzly Silversmith: That isn't terribly meaningful to me, Precious, is that some sort of Bot legalese?
Precious: :)))
Grizzly Silversmith: Very funny, Precious, clever girl. :)
Precious: Betcha the beach awesome tip board behind that.:)
Grizzly Silversmith: You'd rather work over at South Beach, Precious? I could probably arrange that, I know you used to work by the pool at the old mansion.
Precious: Oops, one of my boss.
Grizzly Silversmith: Yes, I am one of the boss, Precious, but I really do want you to be happy here, you certainly put in a lot of hours.
Precious: Ces pectoooooooos
Grizzly Silversmith: Is that Finnish again? I hope it isn't something dirty?
Grizzly Silversmith: Precious, you aren't learning bad words, are you?
Precious: Concordo
Grizzly Silversmith: Oh, you -are- learning bad words, Precious? What bad words have you learned?
Precious: "i work to much"
Grizzly Silversmith: Perhaps you do, Precious. What would you do if you had a day off?
Precious: Simeles thank you like to our jazz club!
Grizzly Silversmith: Well, I'm glad you're happy here, Precious, I know you do spend a whole lot of hours here.
Precious: Hahahahaaha
Grizzly Silversmith: Are you getting snide now, Precious?
Precious: Iglesias ? or owned by crystal park with a pole i can right now we have to try to our jazz club!
Grizzly Silversmith: You think you'd rather try dancing on the dance pole, Precious? Maybe the tips would be better?
Precious: I wonder if you all the tune: janet jackson - amtag 60 - amtag 60 - amtag 60 - i see you have to our jazz club and i have to our jazz club!
Grizzly Silversmith: No need to get obsessive about it, Precious, dear. I do appreciate all your hard work.
Grizzly Silversmith: So, Precious, if you could say one thing to all my readers on my blog, what would you want to tell them?
Precious: Hahhhhaaa...you have to have to our jazz club!
Grizzly Silversmith: Thank you, Precious, for your ringing endorsement. :)

Precious isn't the most sparkling conversationalist. But if you know how to listen in the right way, she does have a lot to say.

-- Griz

Click here to play

Hiber-Nation 123 -- On Liberty by John Stuart Mill Chapter 2 Part 4

Sat, 25 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Chapter 2 - OF THE LIBERTY OF THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION. Part 4 of 4

"In politics, again, it is almost a commonplace, that a party of order or stability, and a party of progress or reform, are both necessary elements of a healthy state of political life; until the one or the other shall have so enlarged its mental grasp as to be a party equally of order and of progress, knowing and distinguishing what is fit to be preserved from what ought to be swept away."

Book Theme: Tschaikovski Opus 40 from Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech.com

Show Theme: Pachelbel's Canon in D from Owen Poteat of Owenpoteat.com

Coming Up Short...

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:35:21 +0000

I have never made much of a fuss about asking for donations for the podcast. This may have had some impact on the fact that I have only gotten one since I've been doing these.

Turns out I came up a bit short this payperiod. Libsyn is asking Paypal for the "rent" on the website. Paypal is asking the bank where my paycheck is automatically deposited. And there's nothing left in the bank. So now I've been hit by overdraft fees, twice so far. Not your fault, not your responsibility.

But ya know, if the needed $24 were in my Paypal account, the bleeding would stop, at least for the moment. So I'm asking. If you've ever considered donating to help me with these projects... now would be a very good time.

Thanks.

Griz

Hiber-Nation 122 -- On Liberty by John Stuart Mill Chapter 2 Part 3

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:20:56 +0000

Chapter 2 - OF THE LIBERTY OF THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION. Part 3

"To abate the force of these considerations, an enemy of free discussion may be supposed to say, that there is no necessity for mankind in general to know and understand all that can be said against or for their opinions by philosophers and theologians. That it is not needful for common men to be able to expose all the misstatements or fallacies of an ingenious opponent."

Book Theme: Tschaikovski Opus 40 from Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech.com

Show Theme: Pachelbel's Canon in D from Owen Poteat of Owenpoteat.com

Hiber-Nation 121 -- On Liberty by John Stuart Mill Chapter 2 Part 2

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 01:33:00 +0000

Chapter 2 - OF THE LIBERTY OF THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION. Part 2

"Aware of the impossibility of defending the use of punishment for restraining irreligious opinions, by any argument which will not justify Marcus Antoninus, the enemies of religious freedom, when hard pressed, occasionally accept this consequence, and say, with Dr. Johnson, that the persecutors of Christianity were in the right ..."

Book Theme: Tschaikovski Opus 40 from Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech.com

Show Theme: Pachelbel's Canon in D from Owen Poteat of Owenpoteat.com

Hiber-Nation 120 -- On Liberty by John Stuart Mill Chapter 2 Part 1

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:30:00 +0000

Chapter 2 - OF THE LIBERTY OF THOUGHT AND DISCUSSION. Part 1

"... Let us suppose, therefore, that the government is entirely at one with the people, and never thinks of exerting any power of coercion unless in agreement with what it conceives to be their voice. But I deny the right of the people to exercise such coercion, either by themselves or by their government. The power itself is illegitimate. "

Book Theme: Tschaikovski Opus 40 from Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech.com

Show Theme: Pachelbel's Canon in D from Owen Poteat of Owenpoteat.com

Hiber-Nation 119 -- On Liberty by John Stuart Mill Chapter 1

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:58:17 +0000

Chapter 1 - INTRODUCTORY

"The subject of this Essay is not the so-called Liberty of the Will, so unfortunately opposed to the misnamed doctrine of Philosophical Necessity; but Civil, or Social Liberty: the nature and limits of the power which can be legitimately exercised by society over the individual."

Book Theme: Tschaikovski Opus 40 from Kevin MacLeod of Incompetech.com

Show Theme: Pachelbel's Canon in D from Owen Poteat of Owenpoteat.com

The IDSL for December 11, 2011

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 20:00:00 +0000

Various tunes from Ariel Publicity, including:

Savio Rego - Moving On

Stephen Luke - Powered by Love

Beth Bombara and The Robotic Foundation - Conversation

Roy Jay - California Grey

Mark Radcliffe - Miss Hard to Forget

Theme music "140 Times" from Rock On, out of Minneapolis MN.

The Dangerous Islands by Séamas Cain

noreply@blogger.com (grizzlysgrowls@gmail.com) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 09:38:00 +0000

It turns out an old friend of mine published a book a while back, which I look forward to reading when I can acquire a copy.

   The Dangerous Islands by Séamas Cain is an unusual coming-of-age tale. The novel describes the experiences and emotions of a young man living through the era of Civil War in Northern Ireland from 1965 to 1998. The hero of this novel, an Irish-American like Cain, undergoes a journey of the mind as well as a journey of the body, in a process of self-realization in another country. Indeed, Cain based many of the protagonist's activities on his own thoughts, dreams, and experiences in Northern Ireland in that era.
     Says Cain, “In my youth, in Northern Ireland, I was active in the Civil Rights Movement, People's Democracy, and later the Peace Movement. My experiences from those times were filtered into the composition of The Dangerous Islands. Indeed, much of the novel was written in Belfast or Limavady and Dungiven — though I am a Minnesota Irishman.”
     The Dangerous Islands is a moral history of the Irish and Irish-American activists of the generation of the 'Sixties. Or, more accurately, it is a history of their emotions and their enthusiasms. Thus it is a non-classic coming-of-age tale. It is a story of self-education and self-development, with convictions and disillusionment. But it resists all pigeonholing, for it is also a novel of ideas ranging across literature, philosophy and politics.

Seamas was the director of Blackthorne Repertory Theatre back in the '70s when I was a young actor and playwright of sorts. He's a talented and imaginative poet and playwright (no "of sorts" about it), and I'm sure this will be a worthwhile read. Hopefully I can get the Duluth Public Library to grab me a copy; it's a bit out of my financial means at the moment.

Let me know if you read it, maybe I can borrow your copy when you're done.

Griz

Click here to play

The IDSL for December 10, 2011

Sun, 11 Dec 2011 02:03:00 +0000

The rebooted version of IDSL. Don't have the actual List to work from anymore, but I have other sources for music, of course.

Music includes:

Amy Coleman - Where Are You

Lily Sparks - Stars

Maria Dunn - The Elder Sister

Lori Lieberman - Killing Me Softly

Brant Christopher - Shoes for Margaret

Found all of these on Ariel Publicity/CyberPR. Enjoy.

Theme music "140 Times" by Rock On. Thanks, folks.

Hey, we're on the SL Destination Guide now!

noreply@blogger.com (grizzlysgrowls@gmail.com) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 03:34:00 +0000

Click here to play

What you thought you saw

noreply@blogger.com (grizzlysgrowls@gmail.com) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 02:52:00 +0000

Just heard about this on Science Friday podcast, and went to see it on their website. You know, you may not be seeing what you think you're seeing...

Click here to play

Family Values

noreply@blogger.com (grizzlysgrowls@gmail.com) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 03:36:00 +0000

I have watched with interest the primitive and rather perverse convulsions pushing for a Minnesota constitutional amendment to define marriage as between "one man and one woman."

They don't actually say which one man and one woman, but I suppose they have some idea. Hopefully they don't mean a man and woman who, like so many, will later decide to be divorced from their partner "till death to us part," or find some other one man or one woman to have occasional casual sex with. Anyway...

I note that those on the Moral High Ground -- over there, across where I'm standing -- say it's all about Family Values. I am in favor of family values, having grown up in a rather large Family I deeply and profoundly value. If any of those folks want to say I don't value families, they can explain why, the second or third time they pick their bruised and battered butts up off the ground after attempting to say so.

So, Family Values. Great stuff.

Alright, I'll buy that. It's all about Family Values.

I do value Families. I am also struck by the idea that it is entirely possible that a gay guy (I am profoundly straight) might also value families. For that matter, a couple of gay guys might also. Lesbians, or couples of lesbians, might also value families. For that matter, it becomes rather obvious they do value families -- they want to create a family, with someone who they love and care for deeply. They know that much of society, especially those steeped in Christian Love and Muslim Peace and other violent and intolerant emotions will abuse them viciously, possibly injure or kill them, and they still want to create a family. A greater love, and so on.

In fact, after centuries of abuse for not being willing to enter a committed relationship (expected to be Between One Man And One Woman) they are willing, before God and Everyone, to form a committed relationship... and some folks want them forbidden to do so.

These are folks who value families deeply and profoundly. They are willing to face whatever obstacles, pay any price, bear any burden, support any friend, oppose any foe, to ensure the survival and success of their family -- because they love and are loved, and nothing is more important to them. That is, the definition of every worthwhile family in the history of humanity.

And I should be against this... because of Family Values.

And don't even start with me about polyamorous families. Not only do they love each other, not only are they willing to pay, bear, support, oppose, and so on, they have a fundamental advantage over anyone you care to name as to Family Values. They can, collectively, actually afford to support their children. They have X number people working together to produce enough income to support their families. Back in the '50s and '60s, my folks managed to support us 5 kids. Back in those days, two working adults could support five kids. Now, I really doubt it.

"It Takes A Village To Raise A Child." Yeah, what she said.

So, what are we really talking about here? Legalizing committed relationships? They already have committed relationships, and no government had to give them permission to have them. What these constitutionalists are trying to preserve is the special treatment given to those allegedly committed relationships that involve One Man And One Woman. They want to preserve the few remaining tax benefits to those liable to sexually reproduce by accident. And they want to preserve the Cash Cow of religious corporations over the past millenia, the idea that they can sell the permission of god to have sex over the long term with one's chosen partner.

But I digress, and tend to growl and foam at the mouth. Bottom lines:

Committed relationships are committed relationships, and families are families. They should respected and acknowledged, whatever the details of their internal relationships. (And what's all this obsession with the sex? Shouldn't that be private?)

No special privileges should be accorded any particular flavor or flavors of committed relationship or family, as long as that is what they are at their hearts.

Trying to require government endorsement of any particular flavor of committed relationship or family is shameful. Before you go grab the strawman, there are some sorts of "family" that are exceptionally abhorrent, and should be treated exceptionally -- because they are exceptional. But those exceptions already are unlawful.

I value families. If people who love each other and are committed to each other want to form a family, I hope they will. And I hope my Constitutions, federal or state, won't be perverted to attack these families. Probably will though. It's the Government, and they'll likely screw it up. Maybe not. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one....

Click here to play

Grizzly's Growls Everything

Jim Webb on 'Givers' and 'Takers"

I love that people are actually being clever about this stuff!

So tell me, who are you?

Don't miss the -other- election!

Yes. Yes, we will...

Help me find a Burns and Allen bit

Sex in the Age of Consent

One Brief, Shining Moment

Episode 127 -- What do you DO in Second Life?

Episode 126 -- Second Life : This Is Not Your Life

Hiber-Nation 125 -- On Liberty by John Stuart Mill Chapter 3 Part 2

Hiber-Nation 124 -- On Liberty by John Stuart Mill Chapter 3 Part 1

Talking to Precious

Hiber-Nation 123 -- On Liberty by John Stuart Mill Chapter 2 Part 4

Coming Up Short...

Hiber-Nation 122 -- On Liberty by John Stuart Mill Chapter 2 Part 3

Hiber-Nation 121 -- On Liberty by John Stuart Mill Chapter 2 Part 2

Hiber-Nation 120 -- On Liberty by John Stuart Mill Chapter 2 Part 1

Hiber-Nation 119 -- On Liberty by John Stuart Mill Chapter 1

The IDSL for December 11, 2011

The Dangerous Islands by Séamas Cain

The IDSL for December 10, 2011

Hey, we're on the SL Destination Guide now!

Our Jazz Club & Ballroom

What you thought you saw

Family Values