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The Christian leader of megaplex Regal Cinemas is trying to shape what audiences see -- and don't see -- at the movies. What should we do? Regal has a monopoly on movies in my area. There are a few Carmike theaters left but they SUCK - all rundown and don't show any of the good movies! I don't want to support a guy like this but what can I do? I have to see movies...in the theater. I will say that we get a little of everything, our selection has been bold and complete. Technorati : consevative , corporate responsibility , movies , politics , religious right Del.icio.us : consevative , corporate responsibility , movies , politics , religious right

Band of Gypsys :: New Year's Eve 1970 Hendrix's Band of Gypsys came on the changer, and as always, I found myself grinning. Technorati : Band of Gypsys , Jimi Hendrix , genius , guitar , music , rock Del.icio.us : Band of Gypsys , Jimi Hendrix , genius , guitar , music , rock 43 Things : Band of Gypsys , Jimi Hendrix , genius , guitar , music , rock

I always try to support local and independent merchants and I try to avoid big evil companies but what about putting some portion of my money to good causes no matter what I buy... There are a few places on the web like this and ecomiles is the newest one I've found. Next time I am shopping I will try to go through their mall. Also try care2.com Technorati : shopping , social responsibility Del.icio.us : shopping , social responsibility 43 Things : shopping , social responsibility

I guess the bitching is over. Freddy Adu will probably see some game time . Nowak never reveals his lineups before the game, so Adu could very well be the water boy when United opens their MLS season Sunday at home against the New York Red Bulls, but the youngster looked impressive playing on the left side in preseason. Technorati : DC United , Feddy Adu , MLS , soccer Del.icio.us : DC United , Feddy Adu , MLS , soccer 43 Things : DC United , Feddy Adu , MLS , soccer

Please forgive the links to Amazon.com . I usually try to find indi retailers but this new blogging thing ( Zoundry ) makes it so easy for me to link to them. Just remember...support your local, indi retailers FIRST and FOREMOST. Technorati : blogger , blogging , consumerism , freeware , geek , independent retail , shopping , software , tech , zoundry Del.icio.us : blogger , blogging , consumerism , freeware , geek , independent retail , shopping , software , tech , zoundry

I've mentioned this to coworkers and other random people but as I finished How Soccer Explains the World and as I am buzzing through A Dirty Job I am reminded, awed, and maybe a little inspired by how much I have read since I started working at Davis-Kidd . I've always loved books and reading but since I got my first PC (back in 96ish) I haven't read nearly as much as I should have. I don't have a regular habit like Tara and so many others and I get preoccupied pretty quickly. Reading is fun. Technorati : books , consuming , education , leisure , literature Del.icio.us : books , consuming , education , leisure , literature 43 Things : books , consuming , education , leisure , literature

Why do I stay up so late? It's 2:30am and I'm goofing around on the computer. 1st it was a job search , then it was news reading, and now its software testing. Good night. Technorati : general , personal , sleep Del.icio.us : general , personal , sleep

I think I've mentioned that I wasa rather underwhelmed by Brokeback Mountain . In my mind it won the Oscars it deserved. I thought is was beautifully shot, I thought the screenplay was good, and the direction too, but it left me flat. It's got nothing to do with sensitivity toward gay issues, it's got to do with the wow factor. The movie of the year should make you think and rethink what you saw and maybe rethink what the subject was. Brokeback didn't do this for me, Crash did. But I think the my views would change if Brokeback Mountain 2 came out like this...

New anti-racism code announced by FIFA Under the new rules, an "official or spectator behaving in a discriminatory or contemptuous manner (that) can be attributed to a certain team" could cost the side three points for a first offense, six for a second and relegation for further violations. If its match where points are not awarded, the offending team could be disqualified.

How Soccer Explains The World: An Unlikely Theory Of Globalization by Franklin Foer This is one of the quickest reads, a testament to Foer’s writing and the editing. I love soccer but I had never read anything about it. I own Nick Hornby’s Fever Pitch but haven’t read it yet, so this was interesting for me to start. I would first say this is about cultural globilization more than economic. It’s not a treatise on who soccer makes the global economy. It surveys how soccer is the catalyst, sanctuary and jump-off for many groups around the world. Foer does explore the economics of some of the team ownership but he also explores how soccer is used to promote ethnic pride and denegrate ethnic groups, how it is used to help politicians remain in power, get elected and how it is used to start political change. He talks about neighbor hoods who don’t have emotional outlets for their pride/predjudice will support teams in nearby locals who share their love/hatre...

Country Music Star Buck Owens Dies

On in England will you see a sports headline like this: Reading wins promotion after 135 years

I thought this was a great little book. Walter is creative, honest, thoughtful, and inspiring. Walter Mosley's Search for Context

Top 10 Things You Can Do to Reduce Global Warming

Live performance & interview from this morning! Six-String Creation: The Derek Trucks Band

"Who cares about the Germans," said Keller. "I care more about what this does for us. Maybe we needed our ass kicked." USA coach Arena, Keller sound off

Internet becomes primary news source for young Americans with broadband

I saw this a couple of weeks ago and at the least it is Spike's best and at the most...movie of the year! I thought it was incredible. Spike has really learned how to tackle other people's material. IN The Inside Man , director Spike Lee has put a spin on the classic (read: done-to-death) bank robbery-and-hostage situation and has turned it into an intricately plotted and witty thriller.

I think it was Sunday, maybe Monday, the store had several celebrities in at once. Michael McDonald and family were there the same time Alison Brown & Garry West were there. Garry looked especially tired. Early that day or maybe the next, Kim Richey (who is always nice but never remembers me - I'm met her through acquaintances several times over the past decade) came in.

I don't know a whole lot about Kevin Phillips but listening to him on Fresh Air last night gave me the impression that he might be the smartest observer of politics I've ever heard. He recently published, American Theocracy , where he links our dependence on forieign oil, our evolution into a debt society (both personal and governmental) and the evolution of the Republican Party into a pseudo-religious party. Not only does he make an astonishing set on links but he also posits that the modern Rebulican Party - through both Bush presidencies - has transformed America into a theocracy. What brings this home for me is that there was a woman in the store yesterday who bought 6+ copies of two different pro-Bush books ( Rebel in Chief & Enduring Revolution )and during her loud & long cellphone conversation. She framed everything as God's will - if it is God's will she will get these books in the hands of everyone, it is God's will that the person on the other ...

{...}Habitual multitasking may condition their brain to an overexcited state, making it difficult to focus even when they want to.' Time magazine: multitasking is bad for you

I've checked out a few of the samples and this is some funky stuff. I'm buying a couple. Rebirth Through Music

Tara is out of town visiting her sister, Susie. This is the first time we have been apart since we got married. I miss her but its pretty normal. What I have noticed is how Tara's rules are in effect. Basically, I have changed some habits such as, I've continued to make the bed everyday, wash the dishes everyday, I wipe down the counter after I make my coffee. These are all things that Tara insists be done. They are now a matter of habit for me. I mean, I haven't made my bed daily since I was a kid and I wasn't very consistent back then. Pretty interesting how that happens.

I know nothing about King Floyd but the music is pretty hot! KING FLOYD PASSES

The funky, funky Meters from 1974. This is what it's all about. Thanks to Some Velvet Blog & Youtube.com Be patient. Once it's all loaded it should play fine.

Today a parent bought the cliffnotes for their 7th grade boy. The book... 1984 by Orwell!

Recently, I have had more writing ideas than usual but less motivation to do them. What's wrong with me? Congrats to the US Men's Soccer Team for breaking the Top 5 World Rankings ! Congrats to me for getting 2 good seats at the Colisseum to see them play Morocco on May 23, a week before they all go to Germany .

Video description: This seems to be the only known video of him! Personal message: Holy shit! This video is awesome! Live Hounddog Taylor. The date is unknown but I'm thinking late 70s. YouTube - Broadcast yourself. Watch and share your videos worldwide! Copyright © 2006 YouTube, LLC

Soul singer Isaac Hayes quits " South Park "

Hard to hold down, nimble, alighting wherever it likes: the mind. Its taming is good. The mind well-tamed brings ease. Dhammapada, 3, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

The Bite: Lining street corners in 33 countries, the ubiquitous Starbucks coffeehouse has become one, if not the , postmodern symbol of economic development. This company affects the lives of 25 million+ farmers in 70 countries. Harnessing its powerful position in the global marketplace, Starbucks uses its power to not only amass wealth for its shareholders but also fuel long-term social and environmental sustainability. (And this, dear Biters, is why Starbucks has become a poster child of sorts for Corporate Social Responsibility, or CSR ). (Note: this is the 2nd in a series of a new type of tip called the Ideal Bite “Green Chip Company Showcase.” Each month, Ideal Bite will interview and tell you about 2 companies that are making strides to help green the world. Some companies will be smaller, green-focused businesses, while others will be more traditional, blue chip companies that may surprise you with their sustainability initiatives) Company Background Ben Packard, hea...

Gov. Arnold might have some problems in some areas but on the Green front he seems to be light years ahead of the curve. The following posted by Jamais Cascio at Worldchanging.com ): California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is a bit of an enigma. He has promoted state policies that have alienated both progressives and moderates (as demonstrated by the resounding election defeat for his various initiatives), but has done more to push a green agenda than pretty much any previous governor. The latest step in his plan, the Green Building Initiative , mandates that all public buildings be 20% more efficient by 2015, and suggests regulatory incentives to get private buildings to meet that same goal. All new State buildings and major renovations of 10,000 sq. ft. and over... will be designed, constructed and certified at LEED-NC Silver or higher [...] Building projects less than 10,000 sq. ft. shall use the same design standard, but certification is not required. ...All State-owned buildings...

Hey there sweet family, Some very unpeachy news to share this evening: Derek Trucks Band Equipment Stolen.... Emergency - Please Help The Derek Trucks Band's equipment trailer was stolen last night in Atlanta. I need to purchase the following equipment ASAP. Anyone who is willing to sell any of this gear, please call me at 303-778-1156. 1) Two blackface Super Reverbs, 1965 preferred, 1964 through 1967 acceptable. Must have original transformers; everything else will be tweaked by me to Derek's spec. Speakers not important - keep 'em if you like. As long as the cabinet and baffle board aren't busted, I don't give a **** what it looks like. 2) One 1974 or earlier Ampeg SVT head. Must have original trannies. Looks not important Not looking for the oldest production with the 6146B output tubes, please. Posters in the Atlanta area, please be on the lookout for the stolen gear. A list of serial numbers will be posted as soon as I receive it. Lord Valve 303-778-1156 Here...

Edge designs is an all women run company that designs interior office space. They had a recent opportunity to do an office project in NYC. The client allowed the women of this company a free hand in all design aspects. The client was a company that was also run by all women execs. The result...well... We all know that men never talk, never look at each other, and never laugh much in the restroom. The men's room is a serious and quiet place. Now, with the addition of one mural on the wall... let's just say the men's restroom is a place of laughter and smiles... Look below ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

From Galactic's Newletter: We are pleased to announce that Galactic will perform with New Orleans rapper extraordinaire Juvenile on Jimmy Kimmel Live . The performance will be broadcast on March 14th .

Better than if there were thousands of meaningless words is one meaningful word that on hearing brings peace. Dhammapada, 8, translated by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

The results of karma cannot be known by thought, and so should not be speculated about. Thus, thinking, one would come to distraction and distress. Therefore, Ananda, do not be the judge of people; do not make assumptions about others. A person is destroyed by holding judgments about others. Anguttura Nikaya

MetroStars sold and renamed Red Bull New York

Gordon Parks, the photographer, filmmaker, writer and composer who used his prodigious, largely self-taught talents to chronicle the African-American experience and to retell his own personal history, died yesterday at his home in Manhattan. He was 93.

Ali Farka Toure dies at 66 I never got into him like a couple of friends of mine but I do respect his work and being.

Meditate on that which is beyond words and symbols. Forsake the demands of the self. By such forsaking you will live serenely. Sutta Nipata

Nice article about Derek & Susan. I think Derek has the one of the best albums of the year and Susan had one of the best of last year! Ramblin' Man and Woman, Married With Kids

All those who suffer in the world do so because of their desire for their own happiness. All those happy in the world are so because of their desire for the happiness of others. Bodhicaryavatara

Set your VCRs & TiVos! add an appearance this coming Friday on Conan O'Brien -- his band's national television debut ::reprinted w/o permission from the Wall Street Journal :: Allman and Clapton Are Playing With Trucks By ASHLEY KAHN March 1, 2006; Page D10 Three things worth knowing about Derek Trucks : He is young, he is a veteran, and he is the most awe-inspiring electric slide guitar player performing today. That may seem both a bold and contradictory claim; let's take it one step at a time. A youthful 26, Mr. Trucks played his first paying gig at age nine in his hometown of Jacksonville, Fla., and at 14 began building the band he currently leads. Since then, he has toured under his own name, jammed with guitar heroes like Buddy Guy and Joe Walsh , and, since 1999, been an integral part of the Allman Brothers Band (which includes his uncle Butch Trucks on drums) filling the role originated by slide guitarist Duane Allman, who died in 1971. In recent weeks, rock r...

"How, dear sir, did you cross the flood?" "By not halting friend, and by not straining I crossed the flood." "But how is it, dear sir, that by not halting and by not straining you crossed the flood?" "When I came to a standstill, friend, then I sank; but when I struggled, then I got swept away. It is in this way, friend, that by not halting and by not straining I crossed the flood." Buddha, " The Connected Discourses of the Buddha "