The Following DJs Play Independent Music
Billy Ivers, Damen Hall, Loyola University, 6525 N. Sheridan
Road, Chicago, IL.60626
Bluegrass
Arnold Ney, PO Box 400, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia
Country
Dave Smith, 44 Paynesdown Road, Thatcham, Newbury, Berkshire
RG19 3SG, U. K.
Country
Graham J. Archer, P O Box 233U, Casuarina NT , Darwin 0815,
Australia
Country
Paul Benton, KDIA 1640 AM, The Light for San Francisco,
Email: paul.benton@kdia.com
Gospel
Bob Spence, P.O.box 833, Sutherland 2232, Australia.
Country
Bob Spence, Australia Email: radiobobspence@hotmail.com
Country
Marcel S.J. Hansen, Holland, Email: m.hansen@definancielewereld.nl
Country
Joris Smits, Holland Email: jorissmits@wxs.nl
Country
Paul van Gelder, Vissersdijk 11, 1601 LM Enkhuizen, Holland
Email: gelden@wxs.nl
Country
Roma Lilley, 16 A Glenview Terrace, Hamilton, New Zealand
Country
Eddie O'Strange, 21 Redvers Drive, Belmont, Lower Hutt 6009,
New Zealand
Email: blue.smoke@actrix.gen.nz
Country
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Talent Search Planned For Labor Day Weekend
The American Karaoke Society is having their second annual Talent
Search, in Nashville. Last year, more than 40 record companies were there scouting
for new talent. Several singers and bands were signed to new recording contracts.
The
multistage event has been expanded to four days, this year. The dates are
Friday, August 29 through Labor Day. For complete details, visit
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Music People See The World From A Different Point Of View
Music people tend to be more open minded and imaginative that
the general population.
They tend to be more receptive to other cultures. They are able to appreciate
beauty, frequently overlooked, by others. We received this email, from a member
of a Scottish country music band. It is so insightful, we decided to share it
with our readers. Names have been changed to protect his and other people's
privacy.
Sorry I haven't written, for a while. I have been out of the country these past 3 weeks. My band mates and friends finally, yanked me out of the studio, for a break. It's been three years, since my last vacation. We have our second album to make. It will be another marathon, I'm sure.
So, I had the most wonderful vacation in Portugal. I am refreshed, brown and rested. It was a chance to reevaluate things and take a look at the bigger picture, get out of any ruts and peek past the illusion. The weather was perfect. I had three weeks of blue skies, hot sand and dappled shade. It was quite magical and a real adventure. It was good to get out and about again. Great to open the mind to new things, new adventures, meet new people, and become more cosmopolitan.
Portugal is amazing. It is a country where industrialization hasn't taken over. The farms are still, for the most part, small holdings. They have more 'whole-farms' as one friend describes them. They grow the food they need for their family and sell the excess, at the local market. Each house has the ubiquitous orange and lemon tree, olives, and wonderful vineyards. All is on a small scale. There's not a big tractor in sight.
I can't spell the name of the village I went to, but it meant Soul's Whisper or Soul's Voice. It's north of Lisbon and was a wonderfully ancient place. It has undulating hills covered in vines. Gardens were filled with waxy potatoes, onions, beans, plump peas, broadleaf parsley, fennel, and mint. Eucalyptus trees stand tall and straight in groves. There are rounded pine trees full of pine nuts, carob, and cork trees. There is a myriad of wild herbs and strawberries. It creates a feeling of abundance. No one goes hungry there.
Many of the houses have lovely terra-cotta tile roofs. Most have their own domed bread ovens sitting outdoors. The bread is delicious and good enough to eat on its own. It's wonderful, hot out of the oven. Or; eaten the next day, when you can rip it open with great gusto and dip it in olive oil rich with garlic, sprinkle it with rough sea salt and sigh contentedly. Buying bread fresh everyday is such a simple pleasure.
Here they have the ultimate barbecues. They use open brick ovens built into the wall of the garden or into the side of an out building. The fire is started with bay leaf cuttings and then laid with little logs and branches collected from the fields and the hedge rows. No pruning is wasted. Nothing is discarded here. Nature is still respected and valued.
After a meal, rich in a sense of sharing and ritual, we would leave the table and stroll down the clay and stone track to the local cafe. There we drank thick expressio and large glasses of Constantino Brandy, rich and tasting of caramel. No puny little measures here. They just poured straight from the bottle, with a mind to hospitality.
The local wine is rich ruby red and fruity, or green and chilled when eaten with seafood. There's no chemicals or additives to give you a hangover, and each family has a shed or a room stocked for the year.
When my friend and I walked around, during the day. We marveled at the palms and the hedges of rosemary and honeysuckle. We picked a flower here and there and sucked the nectar from it. We admired the lovely individually designed houses with tiled verandahs and shuttered windows. Dogs would bark their welcome, as we passed. They serve as natural alarm to those in the fields, that a stranger is passing.
A weather worn farmer came out to greet us, smiling. He had met my friend many years previously. They had harvested and trod the grapes together. He asked us into his little winery. It was cool and dark. He offered us a glass of his aromatic red wine, from one of his vast wooden barrels. The alcohol trickled down the sides of the glass, deliciously.
My friend, has been going to Portugal, for over 40 years. He speaks Portuguese fluently. In the 60's, he often drove down from Manchester in England in his little open top MG sports car. He remembers driving along the coast to Aporto and to Lisbon where he met Nancy's mum. He tells great stories, about great adventures. They couldn't happen any more because of the freeways and the many changes that the modern world brings. A motor car was still a novelty then. An Englishman versed in Portuguese and open to their way of life was even more of a novelty. Somethings haven't changed.
The markets are chock full of visual delights. There are fish of every description. Swordfish are actually sword shaped like a sword. They look as if they are made of organic metal. These are not the swordfish we think of. Breads are stacked high and in every shape and size. Everything can be found there, if you know where to look and who to ask.
Some things were disturbing, especially for me. To a vegetarian and animal lover, their treatment of animals is harsh and cruel. It's cruel in England and America, but here they do not hide it away in factory farms. Beautiful rabbits are stacked in cages, as if they have no feelings. The chickens are stuffed into impossibly small spaces. But, nothing is perfect in any of our countries. Little reminders such as this serve to bring my romantic notions back to reality. In any country, there is much that could be better.
They still have the disgraceful bull fights here too. Unlike Spain, they don't kill the poor beasts. They merely torture them and let them heal up. Then bring them out, to do it all over again! It is tradition like fox hunting. in Britain. As in Britain, most of the young people want it stopped. I think.
Lisbon was an amazing city. It was a real pleasure to share in my friend's memories of the past. Nancy's parents were the perfect guides. It was a real treat to be able to put pictures to stories I heard, whilst growing up. We shared coffee in open air cafes on the trendy and historic city streets.
What an adventure it all was, for me. Even driving while there is something different and a challenge. It was like the culture and cuisine, something I enjoyed immensely.
For a while, we stayed on the Algarve. It is the area where many Europeans and British people can holiday cheaply. It is full of resorts and lined with fabulous beaches. Unfortunately; there is a crazy situation. For the most part, Irish people go to Irish pubs, the Dutch go to Dutch bars and the English go to their pubs and eat fish and chips. The Germans and the French stick to their own, also.
So much for a European identity. Everyone was eating American style burgers, when they could. They were drinking coke and looking for shopping malls. There was little interaction between the different nationalities. Very few tried to learn the Portuguese language, discover the culture, or sampled the local drinks. Most drank Carlsburg and Heineken.
Most Portuguese speak English and all their movies are in English with Portuguese subtitles. Thanks to Satellite and cable, people watched their TV shows and soccer in their own languages. Most seemed to come to Portugal to sunbathe, drink too much and behave badly. It's a sweeping statement, but often sadly true. The Lager lout culture is everywhere. There is a hedonism where it is OK to be totally disrespectful and intolerant of anything that is different. Instead of learning new ways and becoming 'Cosmopolitan' in the true sense. I was ashamed of being British, on more than one occasion. Dumbing down has got it's ugly roots in Portugal, as well. Still, it is few years away from the level Britain and America have reduced ourselves to, in some ways.
Personally, when I go abroad I like to immerse myself in the culture of the place. I like to go to where the local people hang out. I have been lucky though. I have lived in different countries. I have traveled and lots of people have taught me to open myself to different ideas and ways of life. Many of my countrymen and women have not been so fortunate, I think. But then, they seemed to be having a good time.
I went to Portuguese cinemas, clubs and bars. I have many Portuguese friends. Strangely most are either chefs or musicians. How lucky is that? So, I shared great music and was treated to some fantastic food and nights out. It was a wonderful holiday. It is a charming, mostly very hospitable place. It is one where I often feel more at home than the country I was born in. It was very nice to get home. Though, it was hard to say good-bye to my new friends. I will go back, for sure.
It is good to be back on the Isle of Bute. It is bursting with green foliage and scented hedgerows full of rhododendron flowers and clematis. I went from one beautiful place to another. I am very fortunate. I am rich in friends. They arranged this break to get me out of the studio and from behind my computer screen. To me, friendship is the ultimate treasure, and I am a very rich man indeed. Thank you.
other sites of interest:digitaldevil.net and commonpoet.com !
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It was the first day of school and a new student named Martinez, the son of a Mexican restaurateur, entered the fourth grade.
The teacher said, "Let's begin by reviewing some American
history. Who
said "Give me Liberty, or give me Death?"
She saw a sea of blank faces, except for Martinez, who had his
hand up.
"Patrick Henry, 1775."
"Very good! Who said 'Government of the people, by the
people, for the
people, shall not perish from the earth?"
Again, no response except from Martinez: "Abraham Lincoln,
1863.", said
Martinez.
The teacher snapped at the class, "Class, you should be ashamed. Martinez, who is new to our country, knows more about its history than you do."
He heard a loud whisper: "Screw the Mexicans."
"Who said that?" she demanded.
Martinez put his hand up. "Jim Bowie, 1836."
At that point, a student in the back said, "I'm gonna puke."
The teacher glares and asks, "All right! Now, who said that?"
Again, Martinez says, "George Bush, Sr. to the Japanese Prime Minister, 1991."
Now furious, another student yells, "Oh yeah? Suck this!"
Martinez jumps out of his chair waving his hand and shouts to
the teacher, "Bill
Clinton, to Monica Lewinsky, 1997."
The teacher fainted. And as the class gathered around the teacher
on the floor,
someone said, "Oh shit, we're in BIG trouble!"
Martinez said, "Saddam Hussein 2003."
GLEEVEC MAY FIGHT ALZHEIMER'S
(Source: HealthDay Reporter) Gleevec is a cancer-fighting drug which has been
used to treat myeloid leukemia since the spring of 2001. The drug has proven
to be so effective against the blood cancer that it has been called a “cure”
for the disease.
Whether Gleevec will help people with Alzheimer’s disease is not yet determined. But, among other things, the drug competes for proteins in cells that bind with ATP, which contributes to the formation of beta-amyloid plaques in the brains of people with AD. Preventing the production or buildup of beta-amyloid is one of the primary aims of Alzheimer's research.
With respect to Alzheimer’s disease, the drug has been tested in laboratory animals, but not yet in humans. William Netzer, an Alzheimer's expert at the Rockefeller University in New York City, and his colleagues are studying Gleevec’s and it’s potential use in the treatment of AD in people.
Netzer explained that the next step is to uncover precisely what protein or proteins Gleevec tweaks that ultimately let it block beta-amyloid buildup.
WHAT IS DEMENTIA?
(Source: Erie Times News) An Erie Times reader asks, “Please give me a thumbnail review of dementia.”
The paper responded:
“Of all the serious diseases that can affect humans, none is so devastating
as dementia, the progressive and inexorable decline in memory and intellectual
function. Judging from the comments made by many of my patients, dementia is
the most feared disorder — more frightening even than heart attack or cancer
— because victims gradually lose the very qualities that make them human.
As memory, judgment and emotional control wane, dementia patients become burdens
on their families, loved ones and caregivers. Eventually, institutional living
is required, which can completely absorb a nest egg, life savings and insurance
coverage, while such patients continue to live for decades as mere shadows of
their former selves, not knowing or caring. Nothing.”
“Experts now recognize three general classes of dementia:
those associated with other neurological diseases, those seen in conjunction
with general medical afflictions; and those defined as primary disorders.”
ASTHMA IN SCHOOL SURVEY RELEASED
The National Association of School Nurses has released the Asthma
in
Schools survey. This survey found that asthma is more disruptive of
school routines than any other chronic condition, has a significant
impact on absenteeism, and that many school staff may lack awareness of
the causes of an asthma attack. The survey also found that 85% of
school nurses believe that there are students with undiagnosed asthma in
their schools. The National Association of School Nurses and the
American Lung Association are working together to improve communications
between parents, school nurses and health care professionals in an
effort that may help reduce the number of asthma episodes or attacks
children experience each year.
A nurse from the National Association of School Nurses summarized
the
findings: "We recognize the damage that can be done to the education
process when 14 million school days are lost annually due to asthma.
This survey suggests that when it comes to asthma management as it
impacts a child's educational experience, there is definite room for
improvement."
CHILDREN'S DEFENSE FUND'S GRAND RALLY
We invite you to attend the Wednesdays in Washington GrandRally
to
Leave No Child Behind, a historic gathering of grandparents and other
relative caregivers from across the country that will bring attention to
the needs of children and kinship care families. The event is sponsored
by the Children's Defense Fund, the AARP, Child Welfare League of
America, Generations United and the National Committee of Grandparents
for Children's Rights.
The GrandRally will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2003 at
1 p.m.
(please note that the time has been changed from 9:30 a.m.) on the West
Grassy Front of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. It will
feature inspirational kinship caregiver speakers; Marian Wright Edelman
(founder and president of CDF) members of Congress; and many others.
Information tables will be set up on the West Grassy Front at 11:30 a.m.
(and will remain there throughout the event) to provide materials and
help coordinate visits with members of Congress. The West Grassy Front
is within walking distance of Union Station. If you will be riding
Metro, take the red line to the Union Station stop. Volunteers will be
on hand to provide walking directions to the Capitol. Parking is also
available at the Union Station Garage.
Climate change and its side effects may be
killing about 160,000 people a year, with
children in developing countries particularly
vulnerable, according to a new report by the
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
and the World Health Organization. By 2020, the
annual number of deaths attributed to climate
change could almost double. The majority of the
deaths are expected to occur in Africa, Southeast
Asia, and Latin America, where people are more
vulnerable to malnutrition, malaria, and diarrhea
as hotter temperatures settle in and floods and
droughts become more common. Milder winters
could mean fewer cold-related deaths in Europe
and North America, said Andrew Haines of the
LSHTM, but those benefits would be significantly
outweighed by higher rates of disease.
straight to the source: AlertNet, Reuters, Alister Doyle, 30
Sep 2003
NETTLING QUESTION
Nettle Fabric Could Be Eco-Friendly Replacement for Cotton
Fabric made from stinging nettles could be the
next big thing in eco-friendly fashion. The
process of growing nettles is much gentler on the
Earth than growing cotton, which generally
entails high use of water and pesticides.
(Almost a quarter of the world's pesticides are
sprayed on cotton plants.) In contrast, nettles
don't need much water or protection from pests,
and they provide habitat for many insect species
and small birds. While hemp and flax are also
eco-friendly replacements for cotton, they
produce rough fabric, whereas nettles, strangely
enough, can be made into soft and silky fabrics.
One Italian fashion house has perfected a nettle
fabric, designed a line of nettle-fabric clothes,
and lined up willing retailers around the world.
It's biggest problem: finding enough farmers to
grow the nettles it needs.
straight to the source: London Independent, Kate Ravilious,
01 Oct 2003
3.
MINDING NEMO
Tropical Fish Trade Threatens Coral Reef Ecosystems
More than 20 million tropical fish and up to 10
million other marine critters are caught each
year for the aquarium trade, according to a new
report from the U.N. Environment Programme. One
of the most destructive harvesting methods
involves stunning tropical fish with a
near-lethal dose of sodium cyanide, which can
harm not only fish but coral reef ecosystems as
well. Still, the report found that if harvesting
were conducted sustainably, the aquarium trade
could help coastal communities in Southeast Asia
fight poverty and provide locals with incentives
to protect fish stocks and marine ecosystems.
The nonprofit Marine Aquarium Council offers a
certification program for ensuring that fish have
been caught sustainably; the UNEP report
recommends wider application of such programs.
straight to the source: BBC News, Alex Kirby, 30 Sep 2003
straight to the source: Planet Ark, Reuters, 01 Oct 2003
NUCLEAR WASTE BY ANY OTHER NAME S
Energy Department Wants to Redefine Nuclear Waste
The U.S. Department of Energy is asking Congress
for the power to redefine some nuclear waste to
allow it to be left where it is or disposed of at
low-level radioactive waste sites instead of
buried deep underground. The waste in question
consists of tens of millions of gallons of salts
and sludges left over from weapons production in
Idaho, South Carolina, and Washington, as well as
waste from a reprocessing plant near Buffalo,
N.Y. The DOE has chosen Yucca Mountain, Nev., as
the site for its underground repository for
high-level nuke waste, but the site isn't
scheduled to open for years, and if and when it
does, it won't be big enough to hold all of the
nation's high-level waste, so the DOE is looking
for disposal alternatives. "This is DOE's
attempt to pawn off highly contaminated stuff on
the state," Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said
yesterday. "We are fighting it."
straight to the source: New York Times, Matthew Wald, 01 Oct
2003
DROWNED AND OUT
Three Gorges Dam Causing Unexpected Pollution Problems
Unexpected environmental problems are already
cropping up at China's Three Gorges Dam, the
world's largest hydropower and construction
project. After the dam went into operation in
June, the reservoir behind it reached 443 feet
and was supposed to stay at that level until
2006, but the Chinese government recently
announced that the reservoir is now expected to
rise another 13 feet by the end of October. This
increased water level could cause serious
pollution problems, say dam observers, because it
will inundate polluted sites that weren't yet
scheduled to be cleaned up. Enviros say the
reservoir is set to become the world's largest
cesspool. Though the government gave no reasons
for the unexpected rise in waters, one possible
explanation is that silt is building up behind
the dam more quickly than anticipated.
straight to the source: Toronto Globe and Mail, Geoffrey York, 01 Oct 2003
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