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Through heedfulness, Indra won to lordship over the gods. Heedfulness is praised, heedlessness censured— always. Dhammapada, 30, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu Technorati Tags: buddhism , daily meditation powered by performancing firefox

Undomondo tribute to Ahmet Ertegun

Another extremely hot TV appearance by James Brown. Wait till Nate Jones (I think) gets his solo...this is what it's all about. Tight and hot; fuckin' bad ass! JB - Cold Sweat (Mike Douglas Show)

Watch this video and you will understand why words cannot express the tremendous loss I feel. It's not just James as a singer and performer but James as a bandleader and talent scout...just listen to the band. James Brown - Prisoner of Love/Please Please Please

We must work to change what we don't like.

Over the past couple of days I've heard news reports about Wolfgang's Vault , this online store filled with Bill Graham Presents... memorabilia. The guy who runs it is in trouble b/c he apparently is using images in unauthorized ways...making coffee mugs with poster images and whatnot. My good friend Kevin dropped me an email about it and he decided to check the place out. See, not only does they website have all this stuff but they stream concerts from the vaults and that is what has made my day. I am listening to Albert King , 27Jun1971 from the Fillmore East . Oh my fucking GOD! His power, his style, his voices...throat and guitar. Sign up and check out some incredible live music ( Stevie Wonder , Jimi Hendrix , Madonna , Zappa , Tracy Chapman , U2 , etc) Technorati Tags: classic rock , live music , fillmore , bill graham , albert King powered by performancing firefox

Many people are afraid to empty their minds lest they may plunge into the Void. They do not know that their own Mind is the Void. The ignorant eschew phenomena but not thought; the wise eschew thought but not phenomena. Huang Po, " Zen Teaching of Huang Po " Technorati Tags: buddhism , daily meditation powered by performancing firefox

Restraint with the eye is good, good is restraint with the ear. Restraint with the nose is good, good is restraint with the tongue. Restraint with the body is good, good is restraint with speech. Restraint with the heart is good, good is restraint everywhere. A monk everywhere restrained is released from all suffering & stress. Dhammapada, 25, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu Technorati Tags: buddhism , daily meditation powered by performancing firefox

If beer is heaven, coffee is faith . Dethroner has talked about coffee all week. Technorati Tags: coffee , quote of the day powered by performancing firefox

Ahmet Ertegun , co-founder of Atlantic Records has died . This man was responsible for a huge quantity of my favorite music and some of my favorite records. Without Ahmet there would be no Atlantic Records, without Atlantic Records...I don't even want to think about the musicians who wouldnt've made the records I adore. I will, however, give you 2 names - Ray Charles and Tom Dowd - and you can figure out the rest. There will never be another like you Ahmet . Technorati Tags: death , ahmet ertegun , atlantic records powered by performancing firefox

Viva Italia! Fabio Cannavaro , who skippered Italy to victory at the World Cup, was named World Soccer 's World Player of the Year. My boy Ronaldinho wasn't in the top 3. Barca had a great year but he sucked on the world stage... Besides, Cannavaro was born on Sept 13, my birthday is Sept 14. Technorati Tags: soccer , footballer of the year , italy , cannavaro powered by performancing firefox

I spend most of my day verifying the performers of songs. Usually it's artist for artist match but sometimes I have to use song titles to find more info or verify the correct performer. Today I see a band called Puddy and in my database the song title "I Gave You My Love, You Gave Me". The complete title is "I Gave You My Love, You Gave Me The Clap". I would say that qualifies as song title of the day. Technorati Tags: music , song title , puddy , landmark powered by performancing firefox

It is in everybody's interest to seek those [actions] that lead to happiness and avoid those which lead to suffering. And because our interests are inextricably linked, we are compelled to accept ethics as the indispensable interface between my desire to be happy and yours. His Holiness the Dalai Lama Main Entry: eth·ic Pronunciation: 'e-thik Function: noun Etymology: Middle English ethik, from Middle French ethique, from Latin ethice, from Greek EthikE, from Ethikos 1 plural but singular or plural in construction : the discipline dealing with what is good and bad and with moral duty and obligation 2 a : a set of moral principles : a theory or system of moral values -- often used in plural but sing. or plural in constr. b plural but singular or plural in construction : the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group c : a guiding philosophy d : a consciousness of moral importance 3 plural : a set of moral issues or aspects (as rightness) Technorati Tags: buddh

I was listening to a little Rosetta Tharpe and stumbled across this excellent video. I first heard of her from my Dad. One of his dying wishes was for some Lucky Millinder , who i was clueless, absolutely clueless about. I finally found a couple of disks which credited Rosetta Tharpe as a singer. I thought that was very odd b/c what I did know of her was as a gospel singer and Lucky Millinder is about as far from gospel as you can get. Years later I picked up " The Gospel of the Blues " and the tribute " Shout Sister Shout " and you will see by this video that this woman knows what she is doing...and that's before you get to the guitar solo!

Klinsmann exits race for U.S. soccer coach Technorati Tags: US Soccer , soccer , Jürgen Klinsmann powered by performancing firefox

Real peace will arise spontaneously When your mind becomes free Of attachments, When you know that the objects of the world Can never give you what you really want. Theragatha Technorati Tags: buddhism , daily meditation powered by performancing firefox

Wooohooo! We have a coach, we have a good coach. Jürgen Klinsmann already has a strong history with US Soccer and I think it's a positive move to hire him. Who knows if he can revive the team and the organization but I will support his efforts and the team. German legend to lead U.S. Soccer Technorati Tags: soccer , us soccer , Jürgen Klinsmann powered by performancing firefox

I am reading A Change Is Gonna Come:Music, Race the Soul of America by Craig Werner . It's a great survey of how music fit in the social movements of America with an emphasis on the Black experience. It's really entertaining an enlightening. Today I was reading about the blues and there are several great quotes in a matter of 3 pages: Singing the blues is like being black twice. BB King By a conservative count, 180 percent of blues deal with sex or money. The extra 80 percent accounts for the times sex and money are the same damn thing. Eddie Kirkland Talking about Southern Soul Steve Cropper says: It's a Southern sound, a below-the- Bible-Belt sound. It was righteous nasty. Technorati Tags: black entertainment , music , pop culture , society , social history , soul music , civil rights powered by performancing firefox

Today is World AIDS Day . Follow the link below or above and do something worthwhile. (RED) Technorati Tags: AIDS , Product RED , World AIDS Day , social responsibilty powered by performancing firefox

I feel I need to let you know that this quote is from Andrew Sullivan . I figure you might get confused because I have so many chats with former presidential candidates. I had a chat recently with a senior Republican and former presidential candidate. We were discussing how deeply divided the Republicans are. I asked him: what could unite them again at this point? He answered in one word: Hillary. She's the last hope for the far right. Please, Senator Clinton . Don't do it. Yesterday I heard on someone on NPR talking about Senator Doctor Bill Frist 's decision to be a doctor again and they mentioned how wide open the Republican field has become now that several of the presumed frontrunners (Frist, Santorum , the guy in VA) are out of the race. My thought was then, what do the Democrats have to do to fuck this up. We'll never again have an Independent, let alone Green Party , as a serious candidate so I have to align myself with Democrats, which is depressing in and o

Rest in peace Bebe Moore Campbell. This has been a bad Fall for Black entertainers . We have lost several and from almost every creative arena. Yet again, I have been caught with an author I know more by reputation that work. I have not read any Bebe Moore Campbell but I recognize her as a thoughtful, well-respected writer. Read something for Bebe Moore Campbell.

Robert Lockwood aka Robert Junior Lockwood has died . I was fortunate enough to see Robert perform several times through the years at King Biscuit Blues Fest and it was always a pleasure. It was romantic to stand in the shadow of the step-son of Robert Johnson and it was fun to listen to him play. He had an uptown style nothing like what you probably think of when you think of his step-father, Robert Johnson . Robert Johnson taught Lockwood some guitar stuff but Robert Lockwood was a child of the jazz era and his music was more like T-Bone Walker than Robert Johnson. His generation is all but gone; Honeyboy Edwards being one of a very few still around. Hell, even the next generation which includes BB King and Buddy Guy is about gone. The Blues is on the verge of becoming a historic artform. I know some will argue with me about that but so few of the artists out there who are creating interesting Blues. I kinda gave up on the music a while ago so maybe it's just me but I can&#

Looks like South Africa might have a green cup ( the world cup )! An initiative aimed to implementing a " Zero Waste " concept for the 2010 World Cup was launched today in South Africa with the support of the government as well as local and international businesses. I wanna go, I wanna go, I wanna go.

The one whose mind knows the clarity of perfect wisdom is never afraid or even anxious. Why? Because when being at one with the living power of wisdom, the mother of all the buddhas, that person has the strength to remain in a state of undivided contemplation even while ceaselessly and skillfully engaging in compassionate action. The wise one is enabled to act because of concentration on a single prayer: "May all beings never leave the path of enlightenment, which is their own true nature and is empty of separate self-existence." Prajnaparamita

Homer said it best: Bart, a woman is like beer. They look good, they smell good, and you'd step over your own mother just to get one! I knew drinking all that beer was doing good. Buy the book ( Fermenting Revolution: How to Drink Beer and Save the World ) Buy some local beer .

I have yet to read her ( Zadie Smith ) books but I have heard several interviews with her and she sounds brilliant. A pull quote stolen from Boing Boing : But the problem with readers, the idea we’re given of reading is that the model of a reader is the person watching a film, or watching television. So the greatest principle is, "I should sit here and I should be entertained." And the more classical model, which has been completely taken away, is the idea of a reader as an amateur musician. An amateur musician who sits at the piano, has a piece of music, which is the work, made by somebody they don’t know, who they probably couldn’t comprehend entirely, and they have to use their skills to play this piece of music. The greater the skill, the greater the gift that you give the artist and that the artist gives you. That’s the incredibly unfashionable idea of reading. And yet when you practice reading, and you work at a text, it can only give you what you put into it. It’s an o

I put my simple little tribute to Robert Altman earlier and now I see this: Moistworks First, I didn't know there were so many versions of "suicide is painless"; second, and more importantly, I never would have thought to make that my tribute like this...no words from the author, just a photo of, music inspired by and a quote from Robert Altman. That, my friends, is a multi-media tribute.

A man with amazing talent. LOS ANGELES ( Reuters ) - Director Robert Altman , who introduced an innovative ensemble style of filmmaking in such works as "MASH," "Gosford Park" and "Nashville," has died at age 81, his production company said on Tuesday. A spokesman told Reuters that Altman died on Monday night but gave no cause of death. Altman revealed at the Academy Awards in March that he had a heart transplant when he was in his 70s but kept it a secret in order to keep working. He received a lifetime achievement award at the same ceremony. Altman, born in Kansas City, Missouri, was 30 when he made his first feature film. On the strength of that he moved to Hollywood where his big break came with "MASH," the 1970 black comedy about a medical unit during the Korean War. Its irreverent ad lib dialogue caught viewers by surprise and ushered in a new era of film making.

Nashville is usually thought of as a music city, and we are definitely that, but what most people don't know is that we are a movie city and tonight was payoff to the supporters of this industry and art form. Nashville Film Festival has arranged a special engagement of the new film: Come Early Morning Exclusive and FREE To Our NFC Members The film's star, Ashley Judd , director, Joey Lauren Adams (to be confirmed) and music producer, Alan Brewer will be in attendance for a special Q & A panel to follow. Brian Mansfield (Nashville correspondent for USA Today ) will moderate the panel. Come Early Morning Monday, November 20, 7pm Regal Green Hills Cinema Q & A Panel to Follow Screening NFC Members may bring one guest to this event. Members must show their NFC Card for admittance. Seating is limited. Come Early Morning, Dir. Joey Lauren Adams, 97 min, USA, Rated R (language and some sexual situations) Cast : Ashley Judd, Jeffrey Donovan, Tim Blake Nelson, Laura Pepron, Di

The Buddha was joined by his own son, Rahula, a young boy. He advised him: "Cultivate Rahula, a meditation on loving-kindness, for by cultivating loving-kindness, ill will is banished forever. Cultivate, too, a meditation on compassion, for by cultivating compassion, you will find harm and cruelty disappear." Majjhima Nikaya

I have never been a huge fan of female singers - there are exceptions, always - and therefore never paid much attention to Ruth . As any growing individual and music fan I now appreciate and respect her. As we move into the 21st century we will continue to lose these pioneering musicians and that is an unfortunate fact of life. We do have a well documented body of work and for that we can be glad. So, go out and buy some Ruth Brown .

Nov 20 ( Reuters ) - Sporting goods company Nike Inc . ( NKE ) on Monday said it stopped orders with its Pakistan-based supplier of hand-stitched soccer balls over labor concerns. The company said the decision follows the supplier's failure to correct significant labor compliance violations. Nike said soccer teams and leagues sponsored by Nike will not be affected by the decision. The company, however, continues to source apparel in Pakistan. (Reporting by Shikhar Balwani in Bangalore )

I'm starting with the end of this article because I think it's the most interesting theory. It's going to be fun watching what happens with the 2008 presidential election. I don't think it's Al's time. I just don't know if people are ready for President Gore. I think he should continue to do what he's doing for another 4 years, if not 8. Barring most situations I will vote for him based on his environmental policies alone but I just don't think most Americans give a shit about global warming...it's too theoretical, especially in the christian fundamentalist realm, which seems to be a predominant ideology right now. Oscars are in Jan or Feb so we'll see. An Inconvenient Truth will probably be nominated for an Oscar . It's the third highest grossing documentary in history and the most successful documentary of 2006. It will probably win. If you see a chubby, happy Al Gore standing next to the producer and director, celebrating the win at

Hell yeah!

I laughed at this one scene of South Park more than any other scene since the original unaired pilot.

Of slight account, monks, is the loss of such things as reputation. Miserable indeed among losses is the loss of wisdom. Of slight account, monks, is the increase of such things as reputation. Chief of all the increases is that of wisdom. Anguttara Nikaya

Visit www.ethicalsuperstore.com - the new marketplace for ethical and fairtrade products. For a Christmas which invokes the true spirit of the season, make this festive season a Fair trade one. Never before have so many Fairtrade certified seasonal gifts been as readily available as they are this year. The growing range of Fairtrade cotton has meant many new gift ideas for this year and a Fairtrade football should help kick start the New Year in a positive way. Fairtrade food , drinks , flowers and chocolate can all help to make this a time to remember – in our homes and in homes on the other side of the world. Choose from hundreds of exciting products with the FAIRTRADE Mark now available in the new look Ethicalsuperstore.com and you can spend your Christmas cash safe in the knowledge that your purchases are guaranteed to make a real difference to the lives of marginalised farmers and their families in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

( CNN ) -- Gerald Levert , the R&B singer whose hits included "I Swear" and "I'd Give Anything," as well as chart-toppers with the groups LeVert and LSG, has died , according to his label, Atlantic Records . He was 40. So young.

I put my two cents in yesterday but I like the way James Poling says it over at metadish . I have to agree with how he remembers those Sundays at 6pm. The difference being ed Bradley was even cooler because he was a Black guy, like my dad and ultimately, like me.

Sad news . I had no idea he had leukemia. Ed Bradley was a hero and an icon.

Spain: Miguel Angel Sanchez's 57th-minute goal gave third-division Rayo Vallecano a 1-0 win over Espanyol and eliminated the defending champion from the Copa del Rey . Scotland: St Johnstone recorded one of their finest results to stun Rangers at Ibrox and reach the CIS Cup semi-finals. Hibernian progressed to the CIS Cup semi-finals thanks to a deserved win over Edinburgh rivals Hearts .

Ahmet is one of the most important people in my musical pantheon and I hope he recovers fully. Ahmet Ertegun , the founder of Atlantic Records , was in a coma after falling backstage at former President Bill Clinton 's birthday party in New York . Ertegun slipped and hit his head as the Rolling Stones were going onstage to perform Sunday, Oct. 29, The Daily Mail reported. "Mick was terribly upset," an aide to the band said, referring to lead singer Mick Jagger. "Ahmet was unconscious in the intensive care unit and the doctors at first didn't give him much of a chance. But they are now listing him as stable." Ertegun, son of a Turkish diplomat, founded Atlantic in 1947 with his brother, using money borrowed from their dentist. The label's roster has included luminaries of jazz, R&B and rock ranging from Ray Charles and Duke Ellington to Led Zeppelin and the Stones. Original story

Having slain anger, one sleeps soundly; Having slain anger, one does not sorrow; The killing of anger, With its poisoned root and honeyed tip: This is the killing the noble ones praise, For having slain that, one does not sorrow. Buddha, " The Connected Discourses of the Buddha "

If you students of the Way wish to become Buddhas, you need study no doctrines whatever, but learn only how to avoid seeking for and attaching yourselves to anything. Huang Po, "Zen Teaching of Huang Po"

Thanks Time for this quote: If I know anything, I know scary, and giving this president and this out-of-control Congress two more years to screw up our future is downright terrifying. Stephen King In an emailed election pitch for MoveOn.org

William Styron died ( NYT , you might have to subscribe) the other day. When I was a freshman at Sewanee I had a lot of trouble with writing (I blame this on my high school but that's another story). I had the same professor for both English 101 & 102 .She seemed convinced that I could write I just hadn't been given the skills. After the first couple or three writing assignments she had me in her office weekly were we would go over what I had done correctly and what I had done incorrectly. She was an extremely patient woman and I was a willing student, I mean, I never really thought about. The teacher says "come see me", you go, right? At Sewanee, English 101 was poetry + The Sound & The Fury by Faulkner ; English 102 was Shakespeare plays. My professor, whose name I can't remember, suggested we continue working together in ENG 102, our weekly meetings continued and improvements became apparent and consistent. By the end of the semester I was making B&

Irrigators regulate the waters; arrow-makers straighten arrow shafts; carpenters shape wood; and the good control themselves. Dhammapada 145

Actually he quotes Ghandi . I won't put it here b/c of the beautiful simplicity of Andrew's formatting.

I'm listening to " Speaking of Faith "(if you're interested in how people spiritually deal with various social & personal issues you need to check out this show), the episode with Mariane Pearl and I have to tell you that the movie, A Mighty Heart , might be the perfect role for Angelina Jolie . Doing a little google search on the movie I found this picture (left) of her in the role I am convinced that this will be "the one" for Angelina. As I am listening to Mariane Pearl (below) I hear attitude, intelligence and this sexy French accent. On top of it all she is quite attractive. Who knows what the movie will actually bring but on face value Angelina is perfect.

To my mind, democracy is more compassionate, more harmonious, more friendly than any other system. It respects others' rights and considers others equally as human brothers and sisters. Although you might disagree with them, you have to respect their wishes. His Holiness the Dalai Lama

I haven't watched BET in so long and I completely missed the news that Reggie Hudlin was taking over. This is such a smart move, Reggie has sense, he's creative and his heart seems to be in the right place - that makes him an anomaly in the entertainment CEO landscape, doesn't it? Reading this article he seems to be staying the course, his course. "The black audience wants to be respected," he told The Associated Press . "They want quality programs that respect their intelligence. It better be hip, it better be innovative and be as fresh as possible." I wish him well and hope BET finally broadcasts something worth while.

They, the enlightened, intent on jhana*, delighting in stilling & renunciation, self-awakened & mindful: even the devas view them with envy. Dhammapada, 14, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu *Jhana is a meditative state of profound stillness and concentration in which the mind becomes fully immersed and absorbed in the chosen object of attention. It is the cornerstone in the development of Right Concentration.

What does it mean that Tower is out of business? The closing of the flagship location of Tower Records on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood is another shining example of the illness that has infected the music business. Feeding on executive arrogance and technological fear – the pompous geniuses who run today’s media conglomerates and so called major record labels are much to blame for the loss of such an icon. It was on their watch that the music business has gone from a 30 billion dollar business per year (domestically) to one that sells about one third of that now. For the music business, the fall of the Roman Empire has taken a little more than a decade. Read this

The brahman Dona saw the Buddha sitting under a tree and was impressed by his peaceful air of alertness and his good looks. He asked the Buddha: "Are you a god?" "No, brahman, I am not a god." "Then an angel?" "No, indeed, brahman." "A spirit, then?" "No, I am not a spirit." "Then what are you?" "I am awake." Anguttara Nikaya

To study the Buddha is to study oneself. To study oneself is to forget oneself. To forget oneself is to be enlightened by the myriad dharmas. The be enlightened by the myriad dharmas is to bring about the dropping away of body and mind of both oneself and others. The traces of enlightenment come to an end, and this traceless enlightenment is continued endlessly. Dôgen, " Flowers Fall "

Even Bobby Brown had it going on...

They're easy to do-- things of no good & no use to yourself. What's truly useful & good is truly harder than hard to do. Dhammapada, 7, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

Working at Davis-Kidd allowed me to see how prevalent and disgusting the self-help industry. There is a cure-what-ails-you, fix-what-your-parents-broke book for everything you can imagine. Some of the problems with this industry, as I see them, are that they all blame somebody else for everything, there are very few that tell the reader to take responsibility or maybe even "just deal with it" and they try to give you immediate fixes for things that should take a long time. You shouldn't be able to get out of debt tomorrow or overcome procrastination in 8 days or whatever they proclaim. None ever talk about patience or diligence. Some of them are huge sellers; you name a diet book, the Purpose Driven Life , and Rich Dad, Poor Dad . Some of them will surely help people but I think a vast majority of the people will get nothing more than excuses and bad habits. Here is a link to a Motley Fool article about the fallacy of Rich Dad, Poor Dad.

The Five Precepts For the purpose of training I vow to refrain from taking life. For the purpose of training I vow to refrain from taking what is not given. For the purpose of training I vow to refrain from sexual misconduct. For the purpose of training I vow to refrain from false speech. For the purpose of training I vow to refrain from intoxicants which lead to carelessness. translated by Gil Fronsdal

I didn't learn anything in Econ 101 . I spent more time making fun of the teacher's accent than anything. She, my teacher , is friends with the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Winner ! the Story

There is no fire like greed and no crime like hatred. There is no sorrow like being bound to this world; there is no happiness like freedom. Dhammapada

Here Sullivan references Bill Clinton to explain how GW and his crew have totalled our already wrecked political system (my words, not his). Sullivan says: in this election, the Democrats are the only way to stop the abuse of power now dominant in the GOP leadership

Different movies, different vibes, different stories. I've not read any Truman Capote , I was never interested. Earlier this year there was the Phillip Seymour Hoffman movie, Capote , I thought it was great. But now there is Infamous , an indi film about Truman writing In Cold Blood . Capote didn't make me want to read the book, Infamous did. Infamous is a very subtle story and I think has a much stronger emotional impact. It slowly sucks you in. I was amazed by Truman's boldness, egotistical attitude and manipulative abilities but there was such a sadness. I think some people would say that the Harper Lee (a very southern sounding, understated Sandra Bullock ) was too direct of a narrator (the action was interspersed with interviews with Truman's friends and acquaintances). She was there often and her "observations" of Truman came across, at times as directives to the audience. Overall, I liked this movie a lot and, like I said, I'm gonna read some

My Aunt has called me conservative for the last 5 or so years even though I worked for an environmental canvass organization, I smoked pot for a few years (did I admit that?), I have voted democrat since I was 16(although I voted for Nader in 2000 & 2004), I have had gay friends for over half my life (probably doesn't mean much to some but for somebody who grew up in the tradition I grew up in, I don't think that's too bad), and I married a woman who had no intention of changing her maiden name. Today on All Things Considered there was an interview with Andrew Sullivan , a gay, catholic, British conservative who disagrees with what seems like everything the neo -cons and other conservatives believe and say. I skimmed his blog and he makes a lot of sense. I liked what I heard and I guess if this is what my aunt means by conservative then I can handle it (I should probably read more of what he says before I completely align myself with him).

My street tends to be pretty apolitical, or at least, there is little overt political discussion. I rarely see yard signs, or even bumper stickers, but earlier this week I was going to the YMCA and a house on my street has a Chris Lugo for Senate sign. Yes, a Green Party supporter on my street. That's exciting to me! Election Stuff: Metro Election Commission East Nashville Green Party Harold Ford, Jr. Tennessee Democrats Tennessee Republicans Remember, people died so that ALL of us can vote.

The non-doing of any evil, the performance of what's skillful, the cleansing of one's own mind: this is the teaching of the Awakened. Dhammapada, 13, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

For those who aren't on the Davis Kidd email list. A Letter to Nashville's Book Lovers We'll soon be celebrating our one-year anniversary here in the new space at the Green Hills Mall, and we've heard lots of comments along the way -- some applause and also some constructive advice. We thought we'd take a minute to address the comments and questions that we've heard the most: Why did you move to the Mall? Davis-Kidd has continued to evolve through many changes over the past 25 years, and we really felt we needed a larger space to provide a more comfortable, more unique shopping environment worthy of our customers. With the exciting changes that have been occurring at Green Hills Mall, we felt it provided us the best option to relocate into a fresh, revitalized new space. Being able to maintain our own store front with parking in front of our store we felt would keep our profile at the level shoppers in Green Hills had come to expect. And with the excellent vari

Grimey's . It's the kind of place to drive people like Tara crazy but I and my record store junkie friends love rummaging through the bins of CDs, LPs and whatever else. If you have to walk over some CD boxes so be it, if you have to move a stack of CDs to get to another stack so be it, you just soak it all in. Not to mention events like: Robert Randolph Listening Party – Tuesday, October 10 @ Noon Join us at noon on a Tuesday for a lunchtime listening party for the new CD from Robert Randolph & The Family Band – Colorblind. It delves even deeper into a Sly Stone / Stevie Wonder funk bag and features guests Dave Matthews and Eric Clapton , but Randolph’s sacred steel stylings are the real show. We’ve got a boatload of hot wings from Mojo Grill on tap, plus some drinks and additional snacks. Skip out for lunch and we’ll feed you while we rock out to Colorblind. The new CD will be on sale and we’ll have some prizes and give-aways as well to sweeten the pot. HOWARD TATE

Right meditation is not escapism; it is not meant to provide hiding-places for temporary oblivion. Realistic meditation has the purpose of training the mind to face, to understand and to conquer this very world in which we live. Nyanaponika Thera, " Power of Minfulness "(.pdf)

I've mentioned how much I procrastinate. Below is some useful info that I will possibly use. Procrastination is a widely complex problem that can be solved in many different ways and caused by many more. Despite this complexity, I have found that the simple solution of understanding, breaking down and starting is the most effective strategy. Here is a summary of that method: * Understand where the procrastination is coming from: o All procrastination is rooted in linking more pain to taking action than inaction o Three Major Culprits: + Fear + Stress + Fatigue (Lack of Energy) * Break down your walls and create stairs to make a large activity manageable o Break down by: + Steps in Order + Components + Progressions of Intensity * With the activity broken down, you might need an extra push, so: o Use Rewards o Use Leverage

Not thinking about anything is zen. Once you know this, walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, everything you do is zen. To know that the mind is empty is to see the Buddha...Using the mind to look for reality is delusion. Not using the mind to look for reality is awareness. Freeing oneself from words is liberation. Bodhidharma

So, on my 2 nd Monday at the new job I said hi to Isaac Hayes & David Porter . Landmark is an official division of BMI so we were invited to go to the "mandatory fun day". You know those days when corporate America decides to show the employees how important they are. Ours was a ride on the General Jackson riverboat, watching the wonderful Middle Tennessee landscape (I saw a heron & a hawk - or something that flies high and dives into the water for fish). We met at BMI and I was a bit early so I was sort hanging by myself when in walks Black Moses! I knew he and David Porter were coming but I didn't know the arrangement. Sure enough, I made eye contact with Isaac and as he continues past me we exchanged hellos. Holy shit! Isaac Hayes said hi to me this morning! Later Isaac came to stage and although he's doing well it's obvious his stroke knocked some of the wind out of his sail. He was funny and David Porter came to his side through his storytellin

Do the following and you will be liked: 1. Be positive. 2. Control your insecurities. 3. Provide value. 4. Eliminate all judgments. 5. Become a person of conviction. Look to the Prometheus Institute for details. Sounds a bit like the Four Agreements , don't you think? 1. be impeccable with your word 2. don't take anything personally 3. don't make assumptions 4. always do your best Which do you find most difficult?

My mother would've been 82 yrs old today. She died two weeks before her 60th birthday. Which means for the last four years I have lived longer without my mother than I did with. I miss her.

I haven't said anything about my new job but I will say that in week 2 I will get to see, maybe meet Isaac Hayes & David Porter.

I've had a lot of trouble posting from any of my blogging software and I don't know what's up. It can be hard to get to the web so I'll see what I can do. Bear with me.

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Anger & frustration aside, the Gulf Coast needs EVERYBODY's help! General Info: Google - Hurricane Katrina Continuing Support: American Red Cross HSUS (Humane Society of the United States) 2nd Harvest Mercy Corp Working Assets Share Your Crib FEMA Sparkplug Rebuild Green Visit New Orleans Jobs Habitat for Humanity Donate Air Miles School Supplies reneworleans Music Rising Also check with your local places of worship...

My last 5 posts haven't made it to the net. Something weird is going on. I get confirmation from performancing that they posted but then they don't show up.

Listen to the sound of water. Listen to the water running through chasms and rocks. It is the minor streams that make a loud noise; the great waters flow silently. The hollow resounds and the full is still. Foolishness is like a half-filled pot; the wise man is a lake full of water. Sutta Nipata Technorati Tags: buddhism , daily meditation

Yesterday was cool musician day in Davis-Kidd !   Well first the Governor came in and told me he was feeling much better. He's lost a lot of weight and he looked tired but he was dressed down and about to eat lunch by himself.   Then the musicians... Kenny Vaughan . I first saw him many moons ago when he was touring with Lucinda Williams and he's a hot player. He actually comes in often, usually looks at some music books, then some CDs. Then came Justin (Townes) Earle . I thought I knew who Justin Earle was but I was wrong. The guy who came in was not the guy I thought was Justin. I think I had him confused with John Cash - I didn't have who they are confused, I just thought Justin looked more like John. He got some cool books and went on his way. Very rock-n-roll, tall, thin, inked. He was very nice and polite.    One of the things I will miss about this place.

After months and months of rejections--I've had at least 5 job interviews in as many months and all ended in rejection--the tide has turned. It started a few weeks ago when I interviewed for a job at the Science/Engineering Library . The interview went great, I was quite hopeful. I didn't hear anything for awhile and then BAM! Another rejection but, BUT, the director said it was the hardest hiring decision she'd ever made and the job went to a Vandy insider. After that I applied to staffmark temp services for a music industry job "Digital music identifier". I had no idea and I'd never worked with a temp agency before. The job asked for someone comfortable with digital music, streaming audio and the ability to identify songs quickly. I went to staffmark, took some office skill tests and they called me later that afternoon to set up an interview. A few days later I interviewed at a Nashville high-rise but it was fun. I walked in and the boss was honestly compli

Sevilla crushes Levante 4-0 The emphatic victory came four days after UEFA Cup champion Sevilla trounced FC Barcelona 3-0 in Monte Carlo to win the European Super Cup. Technorati Tags: la liga , sevilla , soccer

In the eating hall, a stuffed parrot hung from the ceiling, and from its golden beak dangled a card that read, "We are in training to be nobody special." I had often repeated this to myself, working against my need for achievement and recognition, and the discontent that could engender. "I am in training to be nobody special." Saying the words in my mind, I felt how they redirected me from a certain seductive struggle and excitement and disease, into a more stable focus: forget what others think of you, forget the future goal of achievement; arrive instead in this body/mind, attending to this present moment. This is is the whole of practice. Sandy Boucher, " Hidden Spring " Technorati Tags: buddhism , daily meditation

Back to the music industry I go...details after I sign the papers.

It's good to see Noble Ones. Happy their company--always. Though not seeing fools constantly, constantly one would be happy. Dhammapada 206, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu Technorati Tags: buddhism , daily meditation

1) Go home from work on time. 2) Don’t be a yes person. 3) Go to bed and get up at the same time everyday. 4) Slow down. 5) Don’t buy into the culture around you if you don’t want to. 6) Create your own sub-culture involving your friends and family. 7) Recognize you have the right to be healthier than those around you. 8) Do something meaningful with your spare time. 9) Let go of the need to buy the next big thing. 10) Develop compassion, patience and tolerance for your fellow people. the Full Article Technorati Tags: balance , lifestyle

Sevilla smacks Barça in Super Cup. Sevilla , who demolished Middlesbrough 4-0 in the UEFA Cup final last May to win their first trophy in 58 years, were more aggressive than their prestigious opponents and bravely seized their chances. UEFA News Technorati Tags: soccer , sevilla , barcelona , UEFA , spain , andalucia , catalonia

In the gloom and darkness of the night, when there is a sudden flash of light, a person will recognize objects; in the same way, the one with a flash of insight sees according to reality--"This is how sorrow works; this is how it arises; this is how it can come to an end; this is the path leading to that end." Anguttara Nikaya Technorati Tags: buddhism , daily meditation

The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X I have read this book a couple of times and it amazes me how much new I see when I read it. Each era of world situation and whatnot brings Malcolm’s words into a new space. The one thing that never changes is how strong of an individual Malcolm was that he could see the mistakes he made and then redirect. That takes a lot of personal strength and it is something we don’t let our leaders do these days. Once they make a decision it stays with them for life and that’s sad. It short changes the individual as well as the society. What a different world we would live in if Malcolm hadn’t been killed. See more about The Autobiography of Malcolm X

If you can cultivate wholesome mental states prior to sleep and allow them to continue right into sleep without getting distracted, then sleep itself becomes wholesome. His Holiness the Dalai Lama, " Sleeping, Dreaming and Dying " Technorati Tags: buddhism , daily meditation

are people so fucking rude and impatient?   Maybe my tolerance for this type behavior is lower than it used to be. Today I am saying outloud:   People suck! (and a lot of them are stupid too)

The best news I have heard in months...   BJRC East now has about a dozen different Las Paletas flavors!   I went this morning for my Tues coffee sale (each pound bag is $2 cheaper!) and my jaw dropped when I saw the list of Las Paletas.   The last time I went, about 2 months ago, they only had about 3 or 4 flavors.   Yippie!

While practicing generosity, we should always remember how very fortunate we are to have this opportunity. Gomo Tulku, " Becoming a Child of the Buddhas " Technorati Tags: buddhism , daily meditation

Warren speaks about the new Mule album and other stuff. Warren explains why some of us hate the current Mule output: MG - Looking back, are you surprised at the path Gov’t Mule has taken since Allen Woody passed away? WH- It was never our intention to remain a power trio, not that we had thought of adding a fourth or fifth member early on. When we formed Gov’t Mule, we explored this improv-trio format based on the fact that nobody was doing it. It was a dying art and a void that needed to be filled. And we had fun filling that void. We never had it in our minds that it’s what we wanted to do for the rest of our lives. It started as a project and we knew it would change and evolve through the years. Woody and I talked constantly about how the first record should be very raw, live and improv-based and that the second record should be a little more produced, but still improv-based. But, we always felt the third record should be much more of a studio album. Woody was always pushing us to

Just had a phone call. Customer asked "I need a dictionary for my 6th grader" "Ok, which one?" "It's made by Merriam-Webster" "Well, they have several versions of dictionaries, do you know which one?" "No, he's in the 6th grade. I'll call the school bookstore, see which version and call you back." Now, if the school has a bookstore, why would you need to call a commercial bookstore?

The realization that another person wishes to harm and hurt you cannot undermine genuine compassion—a compassion based on the clear recognition of that person as someone who has the natural and instinctual desire to seek happiness and overcome suffering, just like oneself. His Holiness the Dalai Lama Technorati Tags: buddhism , daily meditation