Coulter Blinks!

Sad news my conservative friends but your offensive forked tongue friend on the far far right is heading south with the other spring breakers this March 16 and will not be stopping by in chilly Grand Rapids.

Ann Coulter, after looking at her schedule, blinked and realized that the Grand Rapids event booked since December 2005 is the same night she is to speak at sunny Florida State University.

But I think we all know the truth. Ann, who hates so much, got wind of the GOP's menu and truth be told despises Bisque as much as liberals!

It is this writer's belief the Kent County GOP also may have blinked.

Over the past few weeks the Grand Rapids Press' readers have discovered their inner Google as they unearthed statements by Ann who encourages patriotic acts of compassionate conservative assassinations and witty language as she omits the word "Arabs" and replaces it with the nation building term "ragheads."

The West has not pissed off the Middle East this much since The Satanic Verses were published.

I seriously doubt our friends in the GOP will be able to get anyone as "entertainingly" offensive as Ann. So in the spirit of bipartisanship I want to help.

Now the logical choice for the GOP would be to bring in a cartoonist with a background of making fun of other races like Ann, but it might be tough since Arab bashing cartoonists are a hot item this spring. (Political Cartoonist is the new black)

But if they want to ensure a fun night and maybe begin to build a bridge rather than blow one up, they should book the Arab Shrine Clowns.

And given the current state of the region who is more fitting than a sad looking downsized clown to entertain the GOP. Pictured here is Willie - the director of the troupe.

So lighten up GOP members, when things are looking down, send in the clowns!




Link: Ann Cancels

Link: Tommy's Original Protest on Ann Coulter

Link: Arab Shrine Clowns



A specal thanks to all who emailed they wanted to be a part of the protest.

Time Travel of the Poet

Sometimes an email can arrive that has the power to take one’s breath away.

I am not talking about an angry ex's email announcing the web site publication of a very compromising photo of you in an very uncompromising position.

No, I am addressing the transformative power of language when after reading the message, one is made silent in the screen's glow.

Somedays my self-esteem get hit a low point and last week was a banner week. But this poem provided just the shot I needed.

So today I want to share a simple little piece that has traveled from the hand of the poet through time and landed in this modern world…via an email.

TO A PUPIL

IS reform needed? is it through you?
The greater the reform needed, the greater the
Personality you need to accomplish it.

You! do you not see how it would serve to have eyes,
blood, complexion, clean and sweet?
Do you not see how it would serve to have such a
body and soul that when you enter the crowd an
atmosphere of desire and command enters with
you, and every one is impress'd with your
Personality?

O the magnet! the flesh over and over!
Go, dear friend, if need be give up all else, and
commence to-day to inure yourself to pluck,
reality, self-esteem, definiteness, elevatedness,
Rest not till you rivet and publish yourself of your
own Personality.

-Walt Whitman

A Place Where Nobody Dared To Go....

They called it

And now, open your eyes and see
What we have made is real

The Xanadu Preservation Society
(What's your guilty pleasure?)

Unique Art Piece by Tommy part of Musical Charity Event for Kids - Today

I know this posting is arriving very late (and it is really my own fault) but better late than never.

The art work above, Tall Tales, is part of a group of other like sculptures to be auctioned off this afternoon at Arts Jam 2006.

All of the artists were given the same form and asked to create works of art out of them. The individual wood blocks rotate on a copper core pole and are presented on a study stand.

My piece is inspired by the cute toys I had as a kid where I would rotate a form to create a twisted narrative.

I start at the top with modern images of four men and wrote tall tales that twist into silly story lines. I used a combination of words and images to create a marriage of both art forms.

This is something I have not employed in my work since the very early 1990's. (My first art show at Son's and Daughter's coffee house featured a few images with text.)

This was a very problematic piece but in the end I am very happy how it turned out. Lord knows how much I struggled and almost quit in the process.

But when the benefactor is kids, I press on. You should see how much I buy from the kids in my neighborhood who shop their wares on my porch. (Heads up: my huge stash of Girl Scout Cookies arrive any day.)

So support a good cause if you are looking to get out of the house today.

From Arts Jam Press Release:
"Don’t miss the fifth annual Arts Jam concert and silent art auction on Sunday, February 26 at St. Cecilia Music Society from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Arts Jam 2006 will be hosted by Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell and includes a two-hour concert featuring some of West Michigan’s most talented performers. Acts include, music from Potato Moon, Edye Evans Hyde, Troll for Trout, Freddy DeGennaro, Bill Vits and dance by Laura Armenta. Following the concert, attendees will have a chance to mingle and enjoy a wonderful selection of hearty appetizers and time to peruse some fantastic art. Available this year for silent auction, are wooden sculptures - each one of these four feet tall works of art is unique. The wooden sculptures are being designed using all different types of media by community artists as well as GRPS art teachers and high school art students. Tickets are $20 for adults, $5 for students and $40 for a family (two adults and up to two children, $5 per extra child), and may be purchased at the door. Since its inception in 2002, Arts Jam has become one of Grand Rapids’ premier concert events. In its first four years approximately $45,000 has been raised and given out to Grand Rapids Public Schools art and music teachers in small grants for badly needed classroom supplies. This event helps support art and music for all GRPS students grades K-12. Arts Jam is presented by the GRPS Arts Advocates, a nonprofit organization of parents, teachers and community representatives who work to strengthen the arts in the Grand Rapids Public Schools. Arts Advocates is affiliated with the Student Advancement Foundation, an independent nonprofit organization working to support the schools."

More about Student Advancement Foundation
Link: Arts Jam 2006
See Michael Pfleghaar's piece for the auction here.