Monday, December 28, 2009

The Long Middle

Great commentary on the significance of 2009 in our nation's debate about gay marriage. Two of the highlights:
  • "Although public-opinion fundamentals didn't change in 2009; the politics of gay marriage did. Here are the ways the year marked a shift to what a storyteller might call the 'long middle.' "
  • "After Prop. 8, however, many heterosexuals embraced gay marriage, taking ownership of an issue that they have come to view as the next great civil rights battle. For same-sex marriage advocates, the emergence of a dedicated core of straight supporters is a sea change."

Read there whole article, here:

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-rauch27-2009dec27,0,4488760.story

Thursday, December 24, 2009

My Gift to You: Twelve Minutes of Christmas


I wanted to give each of you something for Christmas. I considered this:
http://www.cafepress.com/+peace_love_equality_ash_grey_tshirt,24967454

And this:
http://www.cafepress.com/+then_you_win_sticker_rectangular,83782476

But decided instead on something homemade, something practical but thoughful, something you could use now and later. And here it is, my gift to you, The 12 Minutes of Christmas.
  1. minute of laughter
  2. minutes of smiling
  3. minutes of meditation
  4. minutes of music
  5. minutes of silence
  6. minutes of showering
  7. minutes of writing
  8. minutes of walking
  9. minutes of napping
  10. minutes of reading
  11. minutes of massage
  12. minutes of conversation
May you use them this holiday and throughout your life.
Merry Christmas!
Ned

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Attempted Mashup

There is a certain train wreck quality to this, but...


Now that you've heard the concept, how about someone with some real mashup software and musical ability stepping up to bat? Boskers, does this give you enough to go on for a jazz improvisation?

(Note: The total audio is only 2:10 but for some reason when I uploaded to blogger, there's all this additional silence on the end. Oh well, it was my forth attempt, the other three failed, so I'm just going to leave it as is.)



Medley challenge anyone?

I've got an idea for a Christmas medley. Not necessarily Judy Garland meets Jimmy Durante, but something like this:
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light

Make someone happy
Make just one someone happy

From now on our troubles with
Be out of sight

Make just one heart the heart that you sing to
One smile that cheers you

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
make the Yule-tide gay

Love is the answer
Someone to love is the answer

From now on all our troubles will
Be miles away

Once again as in olden times
Happy golden times of your
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Gather near to us once more

Through the years we all
Will be together
If the fates allow
High a shining star
Upon the highest bough
And have yourself a
Merry little Christmas now

Make someone happy
Make just one someone happy
And you will be happy, too.
I can kind of imagine it, but can it really be done and work? Well if anyone wants to give it a try I'd love to hear what you come up with. Moreover, perhaps the secret to having a happy holiday is to keep it simple or "little" and take delight in those small, one-one-one opportunities when you make someone happy, just "one someone" even if only for a few moments.

p.s. Is this even a medley with just combining two songs, or is that something else?

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Not Saying Much

It's not that I don't want to talk. It's not that I can't or won't. I guess if I asked myself some questions that might break the ice a bit. How am I doing? OK, some days better than OK. I'm not getting as much exercise as I used to, but I'm shoveling a lot more snow. Maybe it's a wash.

Am I counting my blessings? Sure. A job in this economy. A fine family. The comforts of religion and somewhat clear thinking. The comforts of hazy thinking, too. Friends near and far, known and unknown, past present and future, gay and straight and some in between like me. A dog and a cat, a desk and a rug, a warm home and warm memories. People I care about and people who care about me. Things not to take for granted. Health, pharmaceuticals, books, music and laughter. Smiles, my own and those of others. Ten fingers, ten toes and connections from all of them to my brain. Mind, heart, soul. The ability to talk and listen, see and sense, write and read, maybe even some math if there's a calculator nearby (oh Sarah, if I'd only had real math teachers like you in my youth) , light, shadow, color. Notes, letters, pencils and pens. I can count blessings and it's easy to lose track of the count.

Well I said I wouldn't say much, and I haven't, but I've said more than I thought I would. The fingers can still hit the keys, that's not too bad for a cold Sunday night in December.