Sunday, February 27, 2011

Am I Not Human: Grassroots Activism and V. May



The above screenshot comes from and interview done with grassroots activist V. May. It's done in a whimsical format, but touches on the very important work, being done in 'innercities'. It seemed appropriate in the increased confusions the world is beset with to focus upon a freedom fighter who is walking the walk to make an impact plenty just talk about.

The full interview can be read in this month's Purple #10 release, but a few key words have been extended here as food for thought as we watch and learn how to take back our communities:


'I was conceived during the tumult of the 1960’s; during the summer of 1968 to be exact. I’ve always felt that I am here to complete some unfinished business.
For some reason, Robert F. Kennedy’s paraphrase of George Bernard Shaw’s famous quote resonates in my soul and reverberates through every fiber of my being, “There are those who look at things the way they are and ask, “Why?” I dream of things that never were and ask, “Why not?”
I have always been hands-on with my activism. I don’t understand complacency. If things can be made better, I don’t understand inertia. '

'My present involvement in the quest for the balancing/greening of my city came about during a trip to the public library. On my way out, I happened to peruse the free community newspapers, weeklies, and event flyers lying on the public information shelf. One of the community newspapers had a story regarding the city of Los Angeles trying to secure a zone variance that would allow a trucking school to operate at the Lopez Canyon Restoration Project site. The Lopez Canyon Restoration Project site is a former landfill that is now zoned open space and is being transitioned back to a recreation area that is to be replete with hiking and equestrian trails, a park, and scenic vistas. Los Angeles is a concrete jungle. It needs more open and green space.
With a little research, networking, and synchronicity, I was able to hook up with others that held my same concerns. The effort to quickly transition the Lopez Canyon Restoration Project site to an industrial and commercial use free open space has blossomed. By reaching out, the effort has garnered many supporters.'

'As the early feminists of the early 1970’s declared, “The personal is the political.” Whether we like it or not, politics affects our personal lives. We have to be ever vigilant if we want to maintain personal freedom.
The section of the San Fernando Valley where I grew up and now reside is the step child of the Valley. This area is oversaturated with Section 8/low income housing, industrial zoned areas, and facilities that other areas do not want. The former landfill was the anchor for this designation. Once it was established, the area was targeted as the spot to put the “undesirables”.
There are some who want things to stay [as] they are. However, there are more that want to see things change for the better.

Now that the landfill is transitioning, some of us are hoping to bring about sustainable and attractive redevelopment without displacement. By decreasing the number of liquor stores, bringing in needed financial, retail, and commercial ventures, increasing community policing, providing positive alternatives for youth, and improving the overall appearance of the community; we hope to create community that attracts civic minded residents while retaining established ones. This community has been hit by the foreclosure crisis and new homes are being built. Consequently, there are homes available for purchase. We hope to create a community that home purchases will love to live in and contribute to.'


On behalf of our sisters and brothers scapegoated into lives conditioned to be caricature, through environments beset with the installation of liquor stores at every turn, poison peddling of other varieties, GMO-laden 'options' in cornerstores devoid of nutrition, and a dire lack of mind-nourishing outlets for healthy personal development, we ask:

The Bloom Issue is served.


Many glitches and delayers later Purple #10 (technically the 12th issuing with the two .5 issues) has manifested. This issue was frustratingly difficult to birth, but the February discoveries clue into perhaps kismet's hand being at work? Some of the extra light wasn't found until this month, and couldn't have been a part of the issuing if released earlier. There's also Murphy's Law. It had its fun, we assure you...

Issue 10 is a big un. Our biggest ever actually. Enjoy the digital issuing via: issuu.com/purplemag The print isn't yet available.

The Bloom issue; final in the Dream definition series extends an excerpt of the Black Faery anthology Lunewing [first in the project], Connects to Green Ukuu across diaspora, Lit recommendations for Vital diaspora, DIY fresh, a Caterpillar and Redfish excerpt, and the Cut-the-strings image editorial, to name a twinkling of the light in these green-violet pages.

Futures issues will be on a tba schedule for a time. We may return to the traditional release schedule when needed tools are more reliably available.

The next focus: is the release of the second Black Faery Antho, completing the print version of the project with both 1 and 2.


Shineth on.
-PZ

Saturday, February 12, 2011

URB ALTian splendor: Audiovisuals from Dearling Physique and a new tour for Lady Adu

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4089/5006248132_9e6ce3519f.jpg

Seeing Dearling Physique live at UA fest 2010 last year was a transcendental experience. The bold, engaging intensity of frontman Domino, strikes as an exercise in being, like one exerting and flirting with the powers of 'I AM'. As an outfit, the group is a perfect fit. Guitarist Matt Vannelli, drummer Dave Sellner, and keyboardist Sean O’Hea, come together in a complex electrical symmetry, that features as both each and all. What could be called experimentation seems instead to be the play of genius, or the telepathic journey of a fourman astralcraft bound for fire and light and watchful waters, distilled into an etheric frequency, so we may watch vicariously, and grow space wings enabling us to join.

The video for 'Discipline your hands', is a cortex-meets-sacral stimulant, the documenting of time travel through seduction, the exploration of I and we and it. Your chakras will respond:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4088/5197647149_562204e588.jpg






Told you.
You can order your disc here.






Word in the underground has the etheric pirouhettes of bloom-channel Leila Adu embarking on a tour of the states, UK and Europe for a period of two months in earth time, with a satchel of sonic splendor from her new CD (<---the order portal) released on Rai Trade/Tracce. Leila's camp advises:
The “Ode to the Unknown Factory Worker" Tour which began in Los Angeles, CA, on January 28, crosses Europe in February-March (shows still being added) and climaxes with a special homecoming CD release show in London. The tour features her dark yet humorous songs speaking the language of pre-war blues, sci-fi environmentalism, immigration electronica and Bring Crosby. Leila is accompanied on drums by noted Italian electronic producer Daniele De Santis, with some dates featuring supporting artists such as Otto Fischer, Mills Projects and Dave I.D.'


Dates are as follows (more may be added):

friday january 28 @ 9:00 PM
Leila Adu with Orlando Greenhill
The Mezz Bar
501 South Spring Street
LOS ANGELES CA 90014

mercoledì 16 febbraio @ 22.00
Leila Adu (solo)
Circolo Caracol
via Battichiodi
PISA

giovedì 17 febbraio @ 21:30
Leila Adu with Daniele De Santis
Fanfulla 101
via Fanfulla da Lodi, 101
ROME

venderdì 18 February@22:00
Leila Adu + Accademia del Danno
Circolo Arci Lebowski
Corso Vittorio veneto 817
RAGUSA
Italy 97100

freitag 25 februar @ 21:00
Leila Adu + Mills Projects
Ausland
Lychener Str. 60, D-10437
BERLIN

thursday 3 march @ 8:00 PM
Leila Adu + Otto Fischer solo
The Vortex
11 Gillett Street, Dalston
LONDON

The “Ode to the Unknown Factory Tour" is sponsored by URB ALT Media and Little Red Hen Publishing.

Contact: K'China Li for 4961 Polemics
email: urbalternative@gmail.com
twitter: urbalt
facebook: www.facebook.com/LeilaAduMusic
website: www.leilaadu.com/media-relations

Action item: Defluoridation is on the table.



There was a glimmer of excitement with the media's mention of the EPA looking into the toxicity of fluoridation in water, in January, which has either been catalytic, or acted as a harbinger of things to come, as now seen in the collection of comments for presentation to the Department of Health and Human services on 2/14.
Alot of times intel comes in late, which requires us to be ready to take action, and add our voices to petitions as the action items come. Windows of opportunity in any arena have time limits. The more prepared we are, the more we progress. The time for moaning and groaning has passed. It's definitely time to engage, and learn through action how things work. None of us know everything about every nook and cranny in the machine, but as you give your attention to a frequency/area-of-experience/matter-at-hand, you'll attract more intel/energy from that frequency. That's a universal law holding true in all arenas.
No need to be intimidated. Powermongers have used intimidation, and making things seem 'over our heads' to sneak poisonous agendas in that have literally killed people en masse, through food, direct assault, so-called medicines, suggested social disorders that are acted out in the populace by those who accept programming as reality, and so forth.

Your signature on this petition in other words will act to decrease the poisons industry has placed in the very water we we need to live. You can sign it here.

Extended detail is available via FlourideAlert.org