Thursday, December 31, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Tammy Foster Brewer
tammy foster brewer
what is your name?
Tammy Foster Brewer (formerly Trendle)
how would you describe what you do?
Mostly, I drive. And when I drive, I listen to music. And when I’m stopped in traffic, I look up through the top of my windshield at the sky. Sometimes, when I do this, I feel like I’m going to be swallowed by tall buildings. When I can find a pen, or sit at a keyboard, I write this all down. And then, poem.
what are you currently working on?
Preparing for a trial at work (I’m a litigation paralegal). Fighting traffic. Lingering a little longer with my husband. Taking a deep breath when my 6-year-old son tells me I’m being angrily. Writing poems in-between.
Also, I have a chapbook out with Verve Bath Press titled, “No Glass Allowed,” and poems in the current issues of Rattle and Stirring.
what has had the greatest influence on your work?
Marriage. Divorce. Re-marriage. Having children. My husband (the poet, Robert Lee Brewer). Music. And always love: the seeking, the loss, the find.
what is the greatest misconception about you or your work?
That poetry is too scholarly or high-brow or that non-poets cannot appreciate or relate to it. Whenever I give a poem to one of my non-poet friends, it’s like giving my son a plate full of vegetables and watching his reaction when he realizes he likes it. Often, people tell me they like my work because it is real and raw. My goal is to make it accessible.
what do you see as the main strengths and weaknesses of the medium you work
in?
Over here is a flower. Over there is something broken on the sidewalk. Inside there is a desk, four walls, a computer. A person without windows.
Poetry is the light between all of these things, and also the dark. Its weakness: the fact that it appears only a few shelves in the bookstore.
how has technology impacted upon the work you do?
Greatly. Online poetry journals give access to more readers. Online forums give writers a chance to workshop and share their work and be a part of an artistic community. Where I’m sitting right now, a thrown shoe would not hit a another poet. But I can virtually poke hundreds of them online.
what’s the greatest piece of advice you would like to pass on?
Never forget you are a poet.
where can we find you online?
You can find my chapbook, sample poems, and a review by Aleathia Drehmer here:
http://www.wordsdance.com/noglassallowed.html
I’m also on facebook as Tammy Foster Brewer. And you can also email me at tammyfbrewer@gmail.com
what are you reading at the moment?
Whatever my 6-year-old son is reading — currently it’s a beginning chapter book called “Sir Fartsalot Hunts The Booger.” Also, lots of Shel Silverstein poems. (I love children’s books!)
I’m also reading “Plus Shipping,” an older book of poems by Bob Hicock (found in a used bookstore over the weekend). And a book of essays by Dana Gioia called “Can Poetry Matter?”
what are you listening to at the moment?
My favorite song right now is “Love Letter to Japan” by The Bird & The Bee
anything else we should know?
See that guy over there, the one who sings along with you in the car, and dances in the dining room after dinner. Who falls asleep with his back to you but wakes up with arms around. Who sometimes has food in his beard and holes in his t-shirt. Don’t ever forget to share the pieces with him, especially the smallest parts.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
National Snack
national snack
what is your name?
Joe Carlo
how would you describe what you do?
I make music, preferably on the drums.
what are you currently working on?
I run National Snack with Gemma Storr. We are a mungrul music band from North London.
what has had the greatest influence on your work?
Lavikinga, my Mum and Dad, Fred Marshall, John Bonham, laziness and Aretha Franklin.
what is the greatest misconception about you or your work?
Man, I don’t know! That it’s any good?
what do you see as the main strengths and weaknesses of the medium you work in?
Hmm by ‘medium’ do you mean popular music in general? If so then the strength is the 3:30min throwaway nature of pop music that provides a breeding ground for so many pinnacles of human achievement and opportunities for human emotional connection on either a mass scale or personal. A song can make me shake and spit with rage and fury or it can make me fall in love or save my life. And everyone else’s too. All that food for the soul stuff is true. (Cheesy wotsit? Moi?)
The weakness – paying the rent is really difficult most of the time.
how has technology impacted upon the work you do?
Speaking about how it has impacted on me personally then I would imagine it’s the same as a lot of musicians these days – affordable, half decent recording equipment, powerful computers and the internet means it’s possible to write, record, promote, receive payment and distribute a song to people anywhere in the world without ever even leaving whichever room your gear is in. That’s some amazing tools right there. The downside of all that though is that more time updating your Myspace or website is less time writing or playing. And of course your still competing with massive record companies who the same and better tools AND millions of dollars and years of experience.
The pros definitely outweigh the cons though!
what’s the greatest piece of advice you would like to pass on?
Do what you do.
Oh and when you learn an instrument don’t do ONLY what your teacher says.
where can we find you online?
www.nationalsnack.co.uk
www.myspace.com/nationalsnack
www.twitter.com/nationalsnack
www.reverbnation.com/nationalsnack
www.last.fm/user/nationalsnack
what are you reading at the moment?
A History of Modern Britain by Andrew Marr and Travels With Charlie by Steinbeck
what are you listening to at the moment?
Lots and lots of metal. I fucking love it like no other kind of music. I guess you’ll have to edit that as you see fit.
anything else we should know?
Mungrul – (mung-grll) n.
1. A form of music from the south of Engand resulting from various interbreedings, a music of mixed or undetermined breed.
2. A cross between different styles, groups, or varieties, especially a mixture that is or appears to be incongruous.
Source – the insides of our heads.
And you all need to listen to The Red Fishes, The Jolenes, The Obscuritones, Hot Head Show, and The Dromomaniac. After listening to us of course…
Harkin Calls Out Republican Senators on Filibusters, Will Offer Bill to Reform Process
There are a couple of interesting tidbits in a recent interview of Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) conducted by Ezra Klein of the Washington Post.
First, he calls out a few Republican Senators by name for essentially going too far in their attempt to defeat and / or block legislation. (question in bold)
Health-care reform has, in part, focused a lot of attention on the seemingly dysfunctional process that produced the bill. Your colleague Sen. Jeff Merkley has begun talking about it. Paul Krugman and Andy Stern have focused on it. Bloggers have turned their attention to it. But you’ve been making some of these arguments since the 90s. Is the situation worse now than it was then?
It’s becoming impossible. The situation in the Senate is an offshoot of the old Newt Gingrich philosophy. Back in the 1980s when I was in the House with Gingrich and the Republicans won the presidency and the Senate, Gingrich was asked if the Republicans would ever take the House, too. He said yes, but we’ll have to tear it down first. So that’s what they did. Took them 10 years, or even more. But it was a constant attack. And now it looks like they’re trying to do that in the Senate.
In the past, we’ve always had one or two or three senators who would try to block something. The most famous was Jesse Helms. He could tie people up in a conniption. But the thing is, when he went too far, his leader, Bob Dole, wouldn’t put up with it. Neither would Trent Lott. And later on, even Bill Frist. You allow him to do so much, and after awhile, you say, that’s enough.
Now we have more of the Jesse Helms. The Vitters and DeMint and Coburn, and maybe throw in Inhofe and a couple other newcomers, and they now run the minority. You don’t have a minority leader putting them in check, saying we have to work together. Dole would never put up with what’s going on over there. Neither would Trent Lott. We’ve had 101 objections from Republicans to proceeding.
On that point, Senator Harkin tells Ezra that he’ll introduce a bill he’s offered before that would reform the filibuster process.
Tell me a bit about your reform bill. When you first introduced this, Joe Lieberman was your co-sponsor, right?
Well, I introduced that first in 1995, when we were in the minority. I’m going to reintroduce that again in January. And people are going to say I only worry about this because I’m in the majority. But I come with clean hands! I started when I was in the minority!
The idea is to give some time for extended debate but eventually allow a majority to work its will. I do believe there’s some reason to have extended debate. If a group of senators filibusters a bill, you want to take their worries seriously. Make sure you’re not missing something. My proposal will do that. It says that on the first vote, you need 60. Then you have to wait two days, and on the third day, you need 57 votes. And then you need to wait two days, and on the third day, it’s 54 votes. And then you’d wait another two days, and on the third day, it would be 51 votes.
(credit image – associated press)
Saturday, December 26, 2009
RedOne is a real person, not a robot, promise.
Since his success with Lady Gaga (“Poker Face”, “Love Game”, “Just Dance”, “Bad Romance”) I’ve been curious as to who producer RedOne actually is and what his deal is. I did a Producer Profile on him (Link) and since then there has been even more collaborations with him and he seems to really be raking in the dough at the moment. Problem is the guy doesn’t do Twitter, Myspace (updates) or Facebook or any interviews for that matter, so it seems he just wishes to shy away from the spotlight, although his music steps up to the plate for sure. What we have here is the only interview featuring him on Youtube (say it with me now… WTF), done with little known singers Kat De Luna (“Run This Show”, “Wind Up”) and Darin (“Breathing Your Love”). The guy sure as hell doesn’t say much, but hey, can we really judge based on 3 minutes? I know there’s such a thing as privacy, but I just want some confirmation that he isn’t a robot or program designed by someone like Timbaland or Danja. A part of me still believes Lady Gaga is an alien, with Red joining her as her robot best friend. Prove me wrong.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
[TRANS] 091213 Taiwan iRadio FM96 Transcript
HG: iRadio 96 FM Chinese/Cantonese Music. Hello everyone, we are Super Junior [All: M!] Today we are really happy that three of us can be your DJ today. Hello everyon, I am Hangeng.
DH: Hello everyone, I am Donghae
RW: Hello everyone! I am Ryeowook.
HG: we are really happy to come to Taiwan and have the chance to become your DJ.* So our next song is from our Super Junior M’s first mini album. And this time, I think that our album gives us a new feeling, especially our song “Super Girl”, it’s very handsome and has a very mature feeling to it. So I hope everyone will like our Super Junior M’s ”Super Girl”
[Super Girl - Super Junior M]
HG: Alright everyone, you just heard our song from Super Junior M’s new album, “Super girl”. So our company has many many different artists [Ryeowook and Donghae agrees], F(X) and others. And especially our younger brothers SHINee, they’re very cute and very handsome. Don’t know what Donghae feels about them**
DH: SHINee… they’re cool! I think they’re very kind.
HG: Very kind. Right.
DH: *says something in Korean about SHINee and Ring Ding Dong* Everyone, please listen to SHINee’s Ring Ding Dong!
[Ring Ding Dong - SHINee]
HG: Okay, we just introduced our younger brothers, SHINee. And next we have our little sisters. In the group, they actually have two more Chinese members. One of them is from QingDao and the other is Chinese. Our Ryeowook on the side, how do you feel about F(X)?
RW: *sings Chu~<3* Oh, very cute!
HG: Very cute!
RW: And, they have a lot of strength!
HG: Have a lot of strength!
*Can’t make out what they are saying*
HG: And next we have F(X)’s Chu~<3
RW: *sings Chu~<3*
[Chu~<3 - f(x)]
HG: iRadio FM 96! Hello everyone, we are Super Junior [All: M!] And today we are your DJ, hello I am Hangeng.
DH: My sweet darlings, I am Donghae.
RW: I am Ryeowook!
HG: Hello everyone! Well this time since we arrived in Taiwan, we have been really excited because this is Super Junior M’s first time coming to Taiwan and meeting with everyone. Let’s have Donghae and Ryeowook talk about their trip to Taiwan now.
DH: Taiwan… is very beautiful. And the fans… the fans [T/N: he repeats it because he is trying to get the pronounciation right]
HG: the fans
DH: The fans are very kind and very pretty. Very good!
HG: How about Ryeowook?
RW: I really like it.
HG: Really like it.
RW: The people in Taiwan, are very kind and very clean [xD]
HG: Actually, Taiwan has given us a lot of feelings and warmness. So our next song we will put on a song also by our younger sisters, Girl’s Generation. Gee!
[Gee - SNSD]
HG: Alright, next, when we came to Taiwan, we’ve had a lot of *could’nt understand this part* There were a lot of things to eat that we couldn’t eat, but really wanted to. Now Donghae, out of all of the Taiwanese food, what do you want to eat the most?
DH: Taiwan’s Shabu Shabu [T/N: mini personal hot pots]
HG: Ahhh Shabu Shabu.. hot pot!
DH: and….
HG: Stinky tofu!
DH: Stinky tofu! But I haven’t.. I don’t know about Taiwan’s food.
HG: Oh so you haven’t been able to try Taiwan’s food?
DH: Yup.
HG: I wish our managers would take all 7 of us out to eat. I really want to eat Taiwan’s Zhu Xue Gao (Pig’s blood rice cake). It’s really delicious. Well our next song be from our, yes again, our little sister, Zhang Li Yin “Qing Tian Yu Tian”
DH: Yeah~
[Moving On - Zhang Li Yin]
HG: Okay, that was our younger sister, Zhang Yi Lin’s “Qing Tian Yu Tian.” Don’t know if everyone enjoyed it or not.
RW: Ah! Very good!
HG: So after we arrived at Taiwan, there were a lot of places that we were NOT able to go to. And I have a lot of places that I wanted to visit, like th beach, Ji Long, and others (deng deng…)
RW or DH: Deng deng deng deng~
HG: How about you Ryeowook, where do you want to go the most?
RW: Yao Ling Yao.
HG: Yao Ling Yao
RW: Ahh! I want to go to Gu Gong
HG: Oh, Gu Gong Museum? Ah this is a place worth going to, because I wen there before, its very nice. So our next will be David Tao’s “Easy Love”
[ Easy Love "Ai Hen Jian Dan"- David Tao]
HG: iRadio 96 FM Chinese/Cantonese Music. Hello everyone, we are Super Junior [All: M!] Hello everyone, I am today’s DJ Hangeng!
DH: Hello everyone, I am DJ Donghae.
RW: Hello everyone! I’m Ryeowook!
HG: So when we came to Taiwan, we also know about many different Taiwanese artists for example, Guang Liang (Micheal Liang)
DH/RW: GUANG LIANG!
HG: And Cao Ge (Gary Cao)
DH/RW: CAO GE!
HG: Etc. etc.. many artists and singers and actors that we like. Now, who does Ryeowook want to collab with?
RW: “Wo men de ai” by F.I.R.
DH?: F.I.R. ooh~
RW: The girl in F.I.R., she’s really pretty
HG: Then can you sing a few verses from “Wo men de ai”?
RW: *sings F.I.R.’s song*
HG: Wow.. amazing~ now that we’ve heard Ryeowook sing, here’s “Fairytale” by Micheal Linag.
[Fairytale - Micheal Liang]
HG: So after listening to Micheal Laing’s Fairytale, we don’t know if everyone else has heard Super Junior M’s version of it. And also, one of my other favorite songs is from Super Junior M’s first album, “Atleast I Still Have You”
DH?RW: Right!
HG: This song was the first time all seven of us sang Ling Yi Lian’s song. We hope everyone liked it and hopefully when we preform it again on stage, everyone will sing it with us. So here it is, Super Junior M’s Atleast [All: I still Have You!]
[Atleast I still Have You - Super junior M]
HG: So everyone just heard our “Atleast I still Have You”
RW: Very good very good!
HG: And this time, our Donghae and Ariel Lin filmed an MV together. How does Donghae feel about it?
DH: I like Ariel Jie Jie*** the most.
RW: Mei Mei!****
DH: When we were filming the MV, she helped me a lot, so I was really convinient.
HG: Oh very relaxed?
DH: yes, so in the future, if I get the chance, I want to film again with Ariel Jie Jie
HG: MeiMei!
DH: to film a TV drama with her. If i have the chance again.
HG: If I had the chance, I want to film a TV drama with her. Alright so now we’ll let everyone hear Ariel Lin’s “Firefly”
[Firefly - Ariel Lin]
HG: iRadio 96 FM Chinese/Cantonese Music. Hello everyone, we are Super Junior [All: M!] Hello everyone, I am today’s DJ Hangeng!
DH: Hello everyone, I am DJ Donghae.
HG: So very soon we will be leaving Taiwan, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. on the 9th.
DH: Right.
HG: Even though its really a shame, I really hope we can quickly come back to Taiwan and meet with everyone again. But its ok! Because next year’s
DH: February 20th is Super Junior’s Second Concert
RW/HG: oooh~
DH: Super Show
HG: Super Show 2!
DH: hope everyone will definitely, DEFINITELY come to our concert!
HG: Definitely! So don’t be sad because next year on February 20th, we will be at the Xiao Ju Dan and meet with everyone again! Super Show 2! Now our next song is Super Junior’s “It’s You”!
[It's You - Super Junior]
HG: That song that everyone heard just now is Super Junior’s “It’s You”. Don’t know if everyone liked it or not. This time coming to Taiwan, we were really happy but the time was too short. And this show is almost over… It’s a shame but it really left a great impression on me. Especially the fans; welcome and warmth
DH: Right!
HG: And their support, it really gave us a lot of encouragement. Ryeowook, what was your most memorable moment this time?
RW: Today! I was a DJ! Hopefully next time I come to Taiwan, I can be DJ again.
HG: If next time we come with all seven of us, I can leave early! So our last song will be Wang Lee Hom’s “Kiss GoodBye!”
RW: *Sings Kiss GoodBye*
[Kiss Goodbye - Wang Lee Hom]
Made a guess on what he said, I couldn’t understand it*
Kinda like a question directed at Donghae**
JieJie = Older Sister***
MeiMei = Little Sister****
credits:
Source: [X]
Translated by: one_love@sj-world.net
Interview #3
Sara ~ Lightning:
What did you find most profitable about Christmas Bible Reading?
It’s an amazing Over view of the Bible. I noticed and learned things that I’d never have learned if I hadn’t had a complete over view from beginning to end in such a short time.
What is your favorite part of this Bible reading?
Reading Chronologically!
What would you suggest to people looking at doing this?
Make sure to spend time with your family and not to over do your self with lack of sleep!
Do you know any trips/strategies to help our Christmas Break Reading?
Get up earlier in the morning and read for awhile. Pace your self and don’t get to far behind, Or you end up feeling over whelmed over the last few days! Remember it’s not a competition! Oh, and if it’s your first time, read in a version you are used to, If you’re used to the version you feel less overwhelmed.
~This is Sara’s second year reading the Bible over Christmas Break. This year she is reading it chronologically using a NIV Bible, but also looking up passages in KJV and The Living translation. She is doing it in 3 weeks, but taking off several days for family.~