A local group has created a web site, called mamasforpeace.org, to publicize the historical origins of Mother's Day in the U.S. as a day to promote peace and social justice.
Julia Ward Howe, author of "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," wrote "Mother's Day Proclamation" in 1870:
... "To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace."
Of course, America being what it is, as Christmas became a month of shopping, Mother's Day became a day of flowers and eggs benedict. Mamasforpeace.org is trying to change it back.
Visit the site and log in with your thoughts about honoring our mothers by achieving peace.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Ithaca Music For Our Favorite Bar in Brooklyn
The Red Hook section of Brooklyn is remote, between projects and docks, served by buses but no near subway. It is not fancy and not even strictly reputable, but then neither was Brooklyn, back when.
It has a bar that recalls good old Brooklyn to us, native there.
The place is called Rocky Sullivan's.
It's not an old bar. It's only been in its Brooklyn location a few years, having moved from exorbitant Manhattan.
It has nice furnishings, a marble-topped bar, big windows, a good kitchen, a wood-burning pizza stove, a music room which holds over 200, and a rooftop patio with a view of the piers.
Our friend Larry, from Bensonhurst, has a piece of the place. Larry has been to Ithaca a few times, including GrassRoots Festival, and is interested in putting excellent, crowd-pleasing Ithaca music into the joint.
Also interested in this is owner Chris Byrne, a musician himself, from the band Black 47.
We went to Rocky's last autumn to check out the prospects. We sure think it will work.
Now with winter past, we will get moving. Plans for the first gig are Richie Stearns and Pat Burke, of the Evil City String Band, playing with Stephanie Jenkins and Rosie Newton, of the Pearly Snaps, who now live in NYC.
The date is not set but it will be sometime soon - May or June. Keep an eye out here, and in the meantime, check out Rocky Sullivan's website and Facebook page.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
It has a bar that recalls good old Brooklyn to us, native there.
The place is called Rocky Sullivan's.
It's not an old bar. It's only been in its Brooklyn location a few years, having moved from exorbitant Manhattan.
It has nice furnishings, a marble-topped bar, big windows, a good kitchen, a wood-burning pizza stove, a music room which holds over 200, and a rooftop patio with a view of the piers.
Our friend Larry, from Bensonhurst, has a piece of the place. Larry has been to Ithaca a few times, including GrassRoots Festival, and is interested in putting excellent, crowd-pleasing Ithaca music into the joint.
Also interested in this is owner Chris Byrne, a musician himself, from the band Black 47.
We went to Rocky's last autumn to check out the prospects. We sure think it will work.
Now with winter past, we will get moving. Plans for the first gig are Richie Stearns and Pat Burke, of the Evil City String Band, playing with Stephanie Jenkins and Rosie Newton, of the Pearly Snaps, who now live in NYC.
The date is not set but it will be sometime soon - May or June. Keep an eye out here, and in the meantime, check out Rocky Sullivan's website and Facebook page.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Our Favorite Easter Joke
With all this thinking about Easter songs, we remembered our favorite Easter joke.
It is the only Easter joke we know, actually, so perhaps it should just be called a favorite joke.
We posted it here on 9 April 2009. You can find it by searching here for "Big Fat Tony."
It's funny even in print, we think, but you should hear us tell it live, with pinpoint dialects, pregnant pauses and everything. Wow, then it is hilahrious, as Tracy Morgan says. No kidding.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
It is the only Easter joke we know, actually, so perhaps it should just be called a favorite joke.
We posted it here on 9 April 2009. You can find it by searching here for "Big Fat Tony."
It's funny even in print, we think, but you should hear us tell it live, with pinpoint dialects, pregnant pauses and everything. Wow, then it is hilahrious, as Tracy Morgan says. No kidding.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
Those Songs About Jesus For Easter
Continuing from previous post: here are our top picks for songs to celebrate Easter.
"Jesus Wants Me For A Moonbeam" (The Vaselines)
"I'll Have A New Body" (Hank Williams)
"Were You There" (Johnny Cash)
"Jesus Christ, What A Man" (Oak Ridge Boys)
"He Bumps When He Rides" (Jamz Gang)
"The Christian Life" (The Byrds)
"Help Me Jesus" (The Staple Singers)
"Jesus Is Waiting" (Al Green)
"Anti-Christ TV Blues" (Arcade Fire)
"When He Offers His Hand" (Townes Van Zandt)
"Mercy Seat" (Nick Cave)
"Citrus" (The Hold Steady)
"Roll Away The Stone" (Leon Russell)
"Plastic Jesus" (Flaming Lips)
"We Bid You Goodnight" (Grateful Dead)
... enjoy the day
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
"Jesus Wants Me For A Moonbeam" (The Vaselines)
"I'll Have A New Body" (Hank Williams)
"Were You There" (Johnny Cash)
"Jesus Christ, What A Man" (Oak Ridge Boys)
"He Bumps When He Rides" (Jamz Gang)
"The Christian Life" (The Byrds)
"Help Me Jesus" (The Staple Singers)
"Jesus Is Waiting" (Al Green)
"Anti-Christ TV Blues" (Arcade Fire)
"When He Offers His Hand" (Townes Van Zandt)
"Mercy Seat" (Nick Cave)
"Citrus" (The Hold Steady)
"Roll Away The Stone" (Leon Russell)
"Plastic Jesus" (Flaming Lips)
"We Bid You Goodnight" (Grateful Dead)
... enjoy the day
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
Easter Playlist For Jesus
Owning a music store (Angry Mom Records/Small World Music, LPs and CDs), we wonder how come there are so many compilations of Christmas songs, for J. Christ, but no Easter ones?
Mr. Christ, himself (Himself?) probably counted Easter as the greater day. It marked much more achievement than simply being born.
Our friend Bill Chaisson is a host of the Nonesuch show on WVBR radio, on Sundays. It is a show that goes for hours and generally has themes. Bill put out a message asking for suggestions for his Easter show, this Sunday.
Bill alluded to a geographic theme, about the Middle East, Christ's home in his brief earthly tenure.
We suggested to Bill a playlist about the guy himself, as rendered by many fine musicians. Our guess is that Bill will consider it a little too wacky. But we don't think so. We think our suggestions comprise a fine compilation, to rival any Xmas one. We'd love to see that happen. So we will pass it along to you, directly.
Mr. Christ, himself (Himself?) probably counted Easter as the greater day. It marked much more achievement than simply being born.
Our friend Bill Chaisson is a host of the Nonesuch show on WVBR radio, on Sundays. It is a show that goes for hours and generally has themes. Bill put out a message asking for suggestions for his Easter show, this Sunday.
Bill alluded to a geographic theme, about the Middle East, Christ's home in his brief earthly tenure.
We suggested to Bill a playlist about the guy himself, as rendered by many fine musicians. Our guess is that Bill will consider it a little too wacky. But we don't think so. We think our suggestions comprise a fine compilation, to rival any Xmas one. We'd love to see that happen. So we will pass it along to you, directly.
Friday, April 22, 2011
GrassRoots Festival Looms
Okay, it's zero degrees outside. Want it to feel like summer real fast?
Then get this: Early Bird tickets for the GrassRoots Festival, in July, go off sale May 1.
Early Bird tickets are $85, for the 4-day festival. On May 2 they go to Advance Sale price of $95.
Tickets are available online at http://www.grassrootsfest.org/, and at locations in town, including our favorite, Autumn Leaves Books, on the Commons. We like the place especially because our music emporium, Angry Mom Records/Small World Music CDs, resides there, in the basement.
We carry tons of good music, including loads of local, and the genres of music (and the actual bands) you will see at Grassroots.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
Then get this: Early Bird tickets for the GrassRoots Festival, in July, go off sale May 1.
Early Bird tickets are $85, for the 4-day festival. On May 2 they go to Advance Sale price of $95.
Tickets are available online at http://www.grassrootsfest.org/, and at locations in town, including our favorite, Autumn Leaves Books, on the Commons. We like the place especially because our music emporium, Angry Mom Records/Small World Music CDs, resides there, in the basement.
We carry tons of good music, including loads of local, and the genres of music (and the actual bands) you will see at Grassroots.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
We Know, We Know, We Should Post More
We acknowledeged this critique last posting. And tried to explain. Besides this blog, we're also writing one to turn into a book (see "Brooklyn 3 New York" here on Blogger.com).
But we haven't done anything in either, the past week. We went to Florida (I mean, literally).
Lucky us, for that. But also lucky us to have you reading. Between our two sites, we have lots of readers, and we are grateful.
Now we're back home and will get busier. We hope you'll stick with us.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
and Brookyln 3 New York
But we haven't done anything in either, the past week. We went to Florida (I mean, literally).
Lucky us, for that. But also lucky us to have you reading. Between our two sites, we have lots of readers, and we are grateful.
Now we're back home and will get busier. We hope you'll stick with us.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
and Brookyln 3 New York
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Guy Says We Should Post More
B., a rock and roll guy who pops in to our record store occasionally, told us today that he has started reading Ithaca Blog, and that we need to "post more," or maybe he said "update more."
Or maybe some combination or variation of those words. Whatever sounds most blunt, that is probably what B. said, or meant, because he is that direct kind of guy. We don't mind.
So, B., this one's for you. Partly.
It's also partly for yous, who read us here, to let you know, and/or remind you (long-time readers), we have slacked off a bit here because we are also trying to write a book.
We are posting the early manifestations of that here on blogger.com, too; look at it by searching for Brooklyn 3 New York.
That work is an attempt to render a few blocks in Brooklyn NY as it used to be.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
Or maybe some combination or variation of those words. Whatever sounds most blunt, that is probably what B. said, or meant, because he is that direct kind of guy. We don't mind.
So, B., this one's for you. Partly.
It's also partly for yous, who read us here, to let you know, and/or remind you (long-time readers), we have slacked off a bit here because we are also trying to write a book.
We are posting the early manifestations of that here on blogger.com, too; look at it by searching for Brooklyn 3 New York.
That work is an attempt to render a few blocks in Brooklyn NY as it used to be.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
Land Trust Benefit at Maxie's, NEXT Tuesday
After work tonight at Small World Music/Angry Mom Records, we went directly to Maxie's to enjoy and support a fundraiser for the Finger Lakes Land Trust by the Evil City String Band.
Imagine our chagrin to find that the event was mis-reported by the Ithaca Times. It is next Tuesday.
Actually, our chagrin was unsevere. We figure it is more time to alert more people. How's that for positive thinking. See you there on 4/12, we hope.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
Imagine our chagrin to find that the event was mis-reported by the Ithaca Times. It is next Tuesday.
Actually, our chagrin was unsevere. We figure it is more time to alert more people. How's that for positive thinking. See you there on 4/12, we hope.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
Monday, March 28, 2011
Race For Mayor Begins
The race for mayor of Ithaca began today with the announcement of her candidacy by Pam Mackesey.
Ms. Mackesey is a county legislator who previously served on the city council.
Local electoral news has been dominated by lately by incumbents declining to run again, including the current mayor, and 4 council members, or maybe 5.
In the wake of the mayor's announcement, we thought about what kind of person would want to be mayor. There are two, maybe: professional politicians (or semi-pro, at least); and renegades.
For any other kind of normal person, the job would be a drag. You would never be able to shop peacefully at Wegman's again.
For a professional politician, the job of mayor probably looks pretty good. You don't have any peers. You have a certain authority and autonomy. You will get a certain amount of blame for things, but also praise, when things go well; you can work at spreading the blame around, while keeping the praise as yours-all-yours. So if you like that kind of thing, and are convinced you can do more good things than bad, you might want the job.
The renegade is the other type who might want it. If you believe in change, revolution, foment, or just progress of a marked nature, being mayor would get you heard.
Our sense is that soon, right soon, there will be 4 or 5 more candidates, and you'll be able neatly to divide them in these two categories. It will be an interesting race.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Ms. Mackesey is a county legislator who previously served on the city council.
Local electoral news has been dominated by lately by incumbents declining to run again, including the current mayor, and 4 council members, or maybe 5.
In the wake of the mayor's announcement, we thought about what kind of person would want to be mayor. There are two, maybe: professional politicians (or semi-pro, at least); and renegades.
For any other kind of normal person, the job would be a drag. You would never be able to shop peacefully at Wegman's again.
For a professional politician, the job of mayor probably looks pretty good. You don't have any peers. You have a certain authority and autonomy. You will get a certain amount of blame for things, but also praise, when things go well; you can work at spreading the blame around, while keeping the praise as yours-all-yours. So if you like that kind of thing, and are convinced you can do more good things than bad, you might want the job.
The renegade is the other type who might want it. If you believe in change, revolution, foment, or just progress of a marked nature, being mayor would get you heard.
Our sense is that soon, right soon, there will be 4 or 5 more candidates, and you'll be able neatly to divide them in these two categories. It will be an interesting race.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca Blog
Sunday, March 20, 2011
A Real Favorite Word
We saw an on-line feature today about the 10 Favorite Words of people in the U.S.
We looked to see how they determined this, but found it was a silly promo listing a bunch of whimsical words, and if there is anything we do not like in general it is whimsy. We don't even like the word whimsy.
But it reminded us of a real person with a real favorite word, for a real reason, our friend Anne.
Anne asked us out of the blue one morning whether we had a favorite word. It was one of those questions you ask when you would like to be asked it yourself. But we bit and didn't mind; we like Anne and she doesn't normally talk that much, and we like to encourage expression.
So we said,
- No, Anne, do you?
- I do.
-What is it?
- It's the word "muffin."
We pondered this and thought of a couple of possible reasons why, neither of which we hoped was the reason; so we asked. Why muffin?
"Because," Anne said. "Because there is the word 'muffin,' I don't have to say, 'I eat cake for breakfast every morning.' "
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
We looked to see how they determined this, but found it was a silly promo listing a bunch of whimsical words, and if there is anything we do not like in general it is whimsy. We don't even like the word whimsy.
But it reminded us of a real person with a real favorite word, for a real reason, our friend Anne.
Anne asked us out of the blue one morning whether we had a favorite word. It was one of those questions you ask when you would like to be asked it yourself. But we bit and didn't mind; we like Anne and she doesn't normally talk that much, and we like to encourage expression.
So we said,
- No, Anne, do you?
- I do.
-What is it?
- It's the word "muffin."
We pondered this and thought of a couple of possible reasons why, neither of which we hoped was the reason; so we asked. Why muffin?
"Because," Anne said. "Because there is the word 'muffin,' I don't have to say, 'I eat cake for breakfast every morning.' "
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Record Store Day at Small World Music
We interrupt normal broadcast here at Ithaca Blog to smallcast to the many people who are sent to this site each day lately by searching for "Record Store Day Ithaca" and, apparently, getting some outdated information along the way, from the "Record Store Day" site, which we should correct.
The "Record Store Day" site gives splendid information about Small World Music that is still true, except for our location.
(We say "our" because we, that is, I, do both Small World Music and Ithaca Blog.)
SWM is no longer at 614 West State St. in Ithaca, but at 115 East State St., on the Ithaca Commons, in the basement of Autumn Leaves Books, sharing space with a wonderful enterprise called Angry Mom Records.
You can check Yelp.com for disinterested reviews of just how wonderful it all is. Meanwhile, know that the newly-combined, power-packed force of Angry Mom/Small World makes Record Store Day in Ithaca a crazy day of greatness for all music lovers.
We invest plenty of money and time in this event, which is a co-op enterprise of independent stores all over the country. We will have all the cool products that great artists and labels are offering specially for the day. We will have live bands in the store. We will have give-aways and contests.
For all who didn't know about it yet, check it. Record Store Day is a big celebration and getting bigger every year. There's a reason we are here, and thriving, and Borders is gone. You know?
Record Store Day is Saturday 16 April. Angry Mom Records/Small World Music usually opens at noon, 7 days a week, but on Record Store day we open at 10 a.m.
Steve Burke
for Small World Music/Ithaca Blog
The "Record Store Day" site gives splendid information about Small World Music that is still true, except for our location.
(We say "our" because we, that is, I, do both Small World Music and Ithaca Blog.)
SWM is no longer at 614 West State St. in Ithaca, but at 115 East State St., on the Ithaca Commons, in the basement of Autumn Leaves Books, sharing space with a wonderful enterprise called Angry Mom Records.
You can check Yelp.com for disinterested reviews of just how wonderful it all is. Meanwhile, know that the newly-combined, power-packed force of Angry Mom/Small World makes Record Store Day in Ithaca a crazy day of greatness for all music lovers.
We invest plenty of money and time in this event, which is a co-op enterprise of independent stores all over the country. We will have all the cool products that great artists and labels are offering specially for the day. We will have live bands in the store. We will have give-aways and contests.
For all who didn't know about it yet, check it. Record Store Day is a big celebration and getting bigger every year. There's a reason we are here, and thriving, and Borders is gone. You know?
Record Store Day is Saturday 16 April. Angry Mom Records/Small World Music usually opens at noon, 7 days a week, but on Record Store day we open at 10 a.m.
Steve Burke
for Small World Music/Ithaca Blog
Monday, March 14, 2011
Ithacan Travels to War to Hear Children Talk of Peace
Have you ever noticed that whenever you see Arabic people in the media, they are screaming, holding weapons, or near something on fire?
You never see community groups in a meeting room, or hear voices of individuals, from countries being occupied or strafed with bombs.
That would remind you they are just like you.
Our friend Clare Grady, a peace activist, is going to Afghanistan as part of an international group to listen to peoples' voices, beseeching peace - specifically, young people.
The delegation was invited to Kabul by a group called Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers.
The young people of the group have never known life without war.
They are sponsoring a project called Live Without Wars. There will be talking and listening, a multi-ethnic walk, and planting of trees in Kabul.
The event takes place the weekend of March 19 - 21.
Clare leaves tomorrow. We made a donation to support the trip and hope you might, too.
Donations can be sent to Ithaca Catholic Worker, P.O. Box 293, Ithaca NY 14851.
More information is available at http://www.livewithoutwars.org/.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
You never see community groups in a meeting room, or hear voices of individuals, from countries being occupied or strafed with bombs.
That would remind you they are just like you.
Our friend Clare Grady, a peace activist, is going to Afghanistan as part of an international group to listen to peoples' voices, beseeching peace - specifically, young people.
The delegation was invited to Kabul by a group called Afghan Youth Peace Volunteers.
The young people of the group have never known life without war.
They are sponsoring a project called Live Without Wars. There will be talking and listening, a multi-ethnic walk, and planting of trees in Kabul.
The event takes place the weekend of March 19 - 21.
Clare leaves tomorrow. We made a donation to support the trip and hope you might, too.
Donations can be sent to Ithaca Catholic Worker, P.O. Box 293, Ithaca NY 14851.
More information is available at http://www.livewithoutwars.org/.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Grady Girls Play Music Against Militarism, Sun. 13 March
The Grady Girls play a benefit concert on Sunday night against drone warfare by the U.S. government in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Drones are mechanized aircraft that drop bombs without personnel on board. In other words, they are completely automated killing machines.
The people on the receiving end of these bombs can't possibly conceive of them as anything but the ultimate weapons of terrorism.
The U.S. government uses them, ostensibly, to kill political foes in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They kill a lot of innocent civilians, too, but no one in the upper reaches of the U.S. government seems to care about that, as long as nobody notices or says anything.
Well, the Grady Girls do, and they want us to, too.
The Girls are playing their fine Irish music in support of a walk by local peace groups next month to Syracuse, where the drones are maintained.
The event is at Delilah's on Cayuga, 112 S. Cayuga St., Sunday 13 March, at 6 p.m. It runs until 11:00. It's loose, so come by any time. If you don't know, the Gradys and their compatriots are a wonderfully convivial conglomeration; you will have a wonderful time.
There is no set fee, but it is a benefit for a big effort, so please contribute nicely.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
Drones are mechanized aircraft that drop bombs without personnel on board. In other words, they are completely automated killing machines.
The people on the receiving end of these bombs can't possibly conceive of them as anything but the ultimate weapons of terrorism.
The U.S. government uses them, ostensibly, to kill political foes in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They kill a lot of innocent civilians, too, but no one in the upper reaches of the U.S. government seems to care about that, as long as nobody notices or says anything.
Well, the Grady Girls do, and they want us to, too.
The Girls are playing their fine Irish music in support of a walk by local peace groups next month to Syracuse, where the drones are maintained.
The event is at Delilah's on Cayuga, 112 S. Cayuga St., Sunday 13 March, at 6 p.m. It runs until 11:00. It's loose, so come by any time. If you don't know, the Gradys and their compatriots are a wonderfully convivial conglomeration; you will have a wonderful time.
There is no set fee, but it is a benefit for a big effort, so please contribute nicely.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
Monday, March 07, 2011
2 Free CD's For You Today At Angry Mom Records/Small World Music
Tuesday is the day that I (or, I and I: maker of Ithaca Blog, and partner in Angry Mom Records/Small World Music, on the Commons) work in public all day at my music store in the basement of Autumn Leaves Books, at 115 The Commons.
And every Tuesday in a while, while I am there, we do this: offer you, Ithaca Blog reader, not one, not three, but two free CD's, from our multiple shelves of many hundreds of CD's bargain-priced at $3 and less.
Of course, some of them are crazy and unheard-of; but some are quite reet. Anyway, you can't go wrong at the price of free, not to mention the number of two.
No purchase necessary. We want to entice you to the store, and thank you for reading the blog.
To avail yourself, simply mention this offer to me, or to charming Mr. Lee, who also staffs the store tomorrow. We will be happy to serve you, and meet you.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
and Angry Mom Records/Small World Music
And every Tuesday in a while, while I am there, we do this: offer you, Ithaca Blog reader, not one, not three, but two free CD's, from our multiple shelves of many hundreds of CD's bargain-priced at $3 and less.
Of course, some of them are crazy and unheard-of; but some are quite reet. Anyway, you can't go wrong at the price of free, not to mention the number of two.
No purchase necessary. We want to entice you to the store, and thank you for reading the blog.
To avail yourself, simply mention this offer to me, or to charming Mr. Lee, who also staffs the store tomorrow. We will be happy to serve you, and meet you.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
and Angry Mom Records/Small World Music
Sunday, March 06, 2011
Prominent Readings at Buffalo Street Books
Buffalo Street Books is pretty busy for a place scheduled to shut.
Ithaca's oldest independent book store announced in February that failing business would force it to close.
Immediately, Ithaca rallied around an effort to save the store. Over $200,000 has been pledged for that goal. Details are available at http://www.buffalostreetbooks.com./
Meanwhile, the store has notable readings scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.
Monday's is by Leslie Daniels, from her book "Cleaning Nabokov's House." The reading will take place at 6:30 p.m., not at the store, but at the Kitchen Theater, now located on W. State Street.
Tuesday's is by Tea Obreht, from her book "The Tiger's Wife." It is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the bookstore, but we wonder if it might have to be moved somewhere bigger. Ms. Obreht was featured this morning on "Weekend Edition" on National Public Radio.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
Ithaca's oldest independent book store announced in February that failing business would force it to close.
Immediately, Ithaca rallied around an effort to save the store. Over $200,000 has been pledged for that goal. Details are available at http://www.buffalostreetbooks.com./
Meanwhile, the store has notable readings scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.
Monday's is by Leslie Daniels, from her book "Cleaning Nabokov's House." The reading will take place at 6:30 p.m., not at the store, but at the Kitchen Theater, now located on W. State Street.
Tuesday's is by Tea Obreht, from her book "The Tiger's Wife." It is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the bookstore, but we wonder if it might have to be moved somewhere bigger. Ms. Obreht was featured this morning on "Weekend Edition" on National Public Radio.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
Dimanche, Lundi, & Mardi Gras at Maxie's
Maxie's has evolved over the years but is essentially a New Orleans-inspired restaurant, and so they don't let Mardi Gras go too easily.
The restaurant has free music events scheduled for each of the next three nights.
Sunday, it's Jorge Cuevas and the Caribe All-Stars. Monday, Johnny Dowd and friends. Tuesday, the Chicken Fried String Band.
There are dining and drink specials, and special decor, and beads, of course.
Go and help the good times roll.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca BY Blog
The restaurant has free music events scheduled for each of the next three nights.
Sunday, it's Jorge Cuevas and the Caribe All-Stars. Monday, Johnny Dowd and friends. Tuesday, the Chicken Fried String Band.
There are dining and drink specials, and special decor, and beads, of course.
Go and help the good times roll.
Steve Burke
for Ithaca BY Blog
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Hydrofrackers Dump Toxic Water in Cayuga Lake, Says NY Times
The NY Times reports today that companies drilling for gas in Pennsylvania are knowingly and systematically dumping toxic wastewater into sources of drinking water, including Cayuga Lake.
Documentation shows that the wastewater, from the drilling process called hydrofracking, contains levels of radiation and carcinogens which cannot be successfully treated.
The levels are hundreds of times above standards considered safe.
The wastewater - essentially untreated - is dumped into public water, unfettered by regulation.
With lobbying money, gas companies have evaded regulation by the Environmental Protection Agency. Special clauses in federal regulations exempt the gas companies from disclosing the chemicals they use in hydrofracking.
The Times reports that a company in the southern tier of New York, near the Pennsylvania border, is dumping hydrofracking wastewater into the southern portion of Cayuga Lake, a source of drinking water in Ithaca.
The toxic waste is also being dumped into rivers serving Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and hundreds of other communities. The population affected totals over a million.
At least three of the highest-ranking state officials in Pennsylvania with responsibility for overseeing gas company activities there have left the government for jobs with the gas companies.
The population affected has been served this week, by corporate journalists, with news about Charlie Sheen.
Here in Ithaca, there has been no notice of these issues by local media; but citizen groups have been laudibly active in spreading information. Two of the foremost are Toxics Targeting, and Shaleshock. They are readily available on the Internet and in person, and can certainly use your help.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
Documentation shows that the wastewater, from the drilling process called hydrofracking, contains levels of radiation and carcinogens which cannot be successfully treated.
The levels are hundreds of times above standards considered safe.
The wastewater - essentially untreated - is dumped into public water, unfettered by regulation.
With lobbying money, gas companies have evaded regulation by the Environmental Protection Agency. Special clauses in federal regulations exempt the gas companies from disclosing the chemicals they use in hydrofracking.
The Times reports that a company in the southern tier of New York, near the Pennsylvania border, is dumping hydrofracking wastewater into the southern portion of Cayuga Lake, a source of drinking water in Ithaca.
The toxic waste is also being dumped into rivers serving Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and hundreds of other communities. The population affected totals over a million.
At least three of the highest-ranking state officials in Pennsylvania with responsibility for overseeing gas company activities there have left the government for jobs with the gas companies.
The population affected has been served this week, by corporate journalists, with news about Charlie Sheen.
Here in Ithaca, there has been no notice of these issues by local media; but citizen groups have been laudibly active in spreading information. Two of the foremost are Toxics Targeting, and Shaleshock. They are readily available on the Internet and in person, and can certainly use your help.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
Friday, February 25, 2011
Trivia Quiz: Win $10 From Small World Music/Angry Mom Records
What is the only pop song ever to include the word "inquisitive" in its lyrics?
Be the first, second, or third to give us the answer (mulitple winners!) and win a $10 gift certificate to Small World Music/Angry Mom Records, in the basement of Autumn Leaves Books on the Commons.
The question arose at the music party, with talented, hip DJ's, that Angry Mom ran at Silky Jones on the Commons last Sunday.
There were multiple DJ's stacking wax, and the question came up, what songs are guaranteed party-starters?
We were not spinning, but had an opinion. We named the song in question. We said, not only is it stirring, to your very soul, but it uses the word "inquisitive." And it is the second word in the song. Beat that.
We mean, James Brown, for example, has many party-starting songs, but probably none including a four-syllable adjective, at least not one not starting with the letter "m." (And that particular word, now that we think of it, is probably not technically an adjective, but a present participle.)
We'll give you two hints. One is probably obvious: it is a soul song. Hint #2: it charted in 1967.
And, extra bonus, if you can tell us a different song employing the word "inquisitive," we will give you an $11 gift certificate.
Send your reply (we are ready for the deluge) to us here via Ithaca Blog; or e-mail us personally at stephenpburke@.gmail.com.
Stephen P. Burke
for Small World Music & Ithaca NY Blog
Be the first, second, or third to give us the answer (mulitple winners!) and win a $10 gift certificate to Small World Music/Angry Mom Records, in the basement of Autumn Leaves Books on the Commons.
The question arose at the music party, with talented, hip DJ's, that Angry Mom ran at Silky Jones on the Commons last Sunday.
There were multiple DJ's stacking wax, and the question came up, what songs are guaranteed party-starters?
We were not spinning, but had an opinion. We named the song in question. We said, not only is it stirring, to your very soul, but it uses the word "inquisitive." And it is the second word in the song. Beat that.
We mean, James Brown, for example, has many party-starting songs, but probably none including a four-syllable adjective, at least not one not starting with the letter "m." (And that particular word, now that we think of it, is probably not technically an adjective, but a present participle.)
We'll give you two hints. One is probably obvious: it is a soul song. Hint #2: it charted in 1967.
And, extra bonus, if you can tell us a different song employing the word "inquisitive," we will give you an $11 gift certificate.
Send your reply (we are ready for the deluge) to us here via Ithaca Blog; or e-mail us personally at stephenpburke@.gmail.com.
Stephen P. Burke
for Small World Music & Ithaca NY Blog
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Anti-Frackers, Meet Gov. Cuomo in Binghamton, 2/24
Late notice, but we just saw a call for a rally from people fighting unnatural drilling for natural gas in New York, when Governor Cuomo comes to Binghamton on Thursday 24 Feb.
The news came to us from http://www.toxicstargeting.com/. Cuomo comes to Binghamton tomorrow, we know not why, exactly. But anti-fracking activists want to make a scene while he is here, in the New York epicenter of the likely calamity of fracking, and ask him to do specific things, and perhaps take a general stand.
We posted here on Ithaca Blog on 22 August 2010 about a visit by then-candidate Cuomo to Binghamton where he would answer no questions about fracking. No more for that.
Andrew was daunted then by a big turnout of mouthy Ithacans and a repeat of that, let's say a furtherance, would be fine.
Toxics Targeting reports that Mr. Cuomo will be at the Riverwalk Hotel, 225 Water Street in Binghamton; they are calling for citizens to gather before 10:30 a.m.
If you can't go, as we can't, maybe send a tidy check, as we will, to the Shaleshock organization, a grassroots group that is quite potent in the movement, and of course could use your help. Their address is 115 The Commons. You can visit them there, too, and get personally involved. Remember: this land is your land. And the water is all of ours, and not for the Halliburton corporation, and other scheming frackers, to defile.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
The news came to us from http://www.toxicstargeting.com/. Cuomo comes to Binghamton tomorrow, we know not why, exactly. But anti-fracking activists want to make a scene while he is here, in the New York epicenter of the likely calamity of fracking, and ask him to do specific things, and perhaps take a general stand.
We posted here on Ithaca Blog on 22 August 2010 about a visit by then-candidate Cuomo to Binghamton where he would answer no questions about fracking. No more for that.
Andrew was daunted then by a big turnout of mouthy Ithacans and a repeat of that, let's say a furtherance, would be fine.
Toxics Targeting reports that Mr. Cuomo will be at the Riverwalk Hotel, 225 Water Street in Binghamton; they are calling for citizens to gather before 10:30 a.m.
If you can't go, as we can't, maybe send a tidy check, as we will, to the Shaleshock organization, a grassroots group that is quite potent in the movement, and of course could use your help. Their address is 115 The Commons. You can visit them there, too, and get personally involved. Remember: this land is your land. And the water is all of ours, and not for the Halliburton corporation, and other scheming frackers, to defile.
Stephen Burke
for Ithaca NY Blog
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