The time is rapidly drawing to a close for you to be submit your letter to help prevent another removal in Cloud’s herd in 2012. I know you all care deeply for Cloud and his family, just as I do, and it is of vital importance that we all stand together to help the Pryor herd. It is therefore of the upmost importance that you submit a letter in your own writing to the BLM Billings Field Office postmarked by August 30th.
We’ve written our letter, which you can read here. I encourage you to take a look at it, and use it to help you with your own letter if you haven’t written yours already. You can also read over some talking points to help you get started. A reminder that BLM is not accepting emailed comments (we crashed their server last time!), so you can mail them yourself to the address below or you can email them to us info@thecloudfoundation.org and we will mail them for you. You can also Fax your comments to (406) 896-5281. Although we are all frustrated that this unique little herd is continually being threatened, please remember to be polite.
I hope you will all take a moment to help Cloud and the Pryor herd. Thanks so much!
Happy Trails!
Ginger
You can mail your letters to:
Jim Sparks, Field Manager
BLM Billings Field Office
5001 Southgate Drive
Billings, MT 59101
Story from ZYDO.Com
By Kyle Chayka
Published: August 23, 2011
Meet Lei Yixin, the Chinese Artist Behind D.C.’s New Martin Luther King Monument
Even before its grand public opening on the National Mall, the new Martin Luther King Jr. monument in Washington, D.C., has attracted controversy not only for its imagery, but also for its creator: a Chinese master sculptor named Lei Yixin, who worked with a team of craftsman in Hunan province to carve the 30-foot-tall work. Some critics have said that, given his nationality, Lei is an unorthodox choice for a monument memorializing an African-American hero.
Inspired by a line from King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, the “Stone of Hope” sculpture depicts the civil rights leader emerging from a block of white granite. Standing stiffly to attention with arms crossed and a serious expression on his face, King is depicted as stern and authoritative. The statue oddly seems to evoke Social Realist monuments — an impression heightened by its monolithic composition, with King standing as part of the rock face. Photographs show the memorial already easing into its place on the Mall alongside such company as the Washington Monument (both of which sites were closed due to today’s brief earthquake).
Attending an art university directly after the ravages of the Cultural Revolution, Lei Yixin graduated in 1982 and went on to work as a draftsman, and was later encouraged by a government official to move into designing public sculpture. Lei has created over 150 monuments, including statues of Mao Zedong. But it was the artist’s 2006 “Contemplation” sculpture that caught the eye of Ed Jackson, the executive architect of the Martin Luther King Foundation, who named Lei the head sculptor for the “Stone of Hope” monument in 2007.
Jackson’s choice was immediately controversial. African-American sculptor Ed Dwight was quoted by the Washington Post at the time as arguing that because Lei is not black, “he doesn’t know how black people walk, how they stand, how their shoulders slope.” In May 2008, the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts called the artist’s design “too confrontational,” and recommended that the monument be rethought.more from XYDO.Com
This is a virtual tour of the monument, from BuildTheDream’s YouTube Channel We were a bit surprised that the music behind this video is mainstream white-bread. Say what, NO GANGSTA RAP. No one wants to defile MLKs Virtual Memorial?
The MLK statue reminded me of one of my favorite sculptures, from Loveland, Colorado’s Bobby Carlyle. Click on the photo for more information.
You’ve heard of “Bad Boys”, right? You’ve probably even met some. Ah, you’ve dated one? Then you’ve got some scars in your heart to remember him by, don’t you. You say you were his girlfriend? No, sweetie, bad boys don’t have girlfriends; they have women, lots of women. Because women, all women, can spot a bad boy a mile away, and whatever hormone fragrance she puts out when she sees one is picked up by him immediately, and bam – she’s a target.
There he is – the bad boy – standing on the other side of the room. He may be wearing a black leather jacket or not. Even if he’s not, and say you’re a beautiful, smart and enchanting female who can have her pick of any guy in the room, you want him. And only him. And suddenly you’re not thinking about relationships or marriage or kids or contentment or happiness. In fact, you’re not thinking at all; you’re operating from something other than your human mind or human heart. You are operating from what psychologists call the Reptilian Brain, that lower part of our brain where our basic instincts dwell.
It is your basic instinct that is telling you that you want him and that you have to have him, and damned be the consequences. So why does your Reptilian Brian tell you to go get him? Because he has what you, a woman, wants and needs – intense masculine energy and great masculine genes. In order to keep the species going, it takes good masculine and good feminine genes. You’re saying, “Oh, OMG, this whole attraction thing is evolutionary?” Yep. In the animal world, the males have to compete with each other for the females. And bad boys, while they’re completely inept at being emotionally mature and responsible, definitely step up to this plate. Bad boy’s good masculine genes trigger your good feminine genes, and we all know where this going…
But, you say, what about those psychologists who tell us that being abused when we were children is the reason that bad boys are bad and that some girls are attracted to them? In terms of bad boys who are actually abusive and women who are drawn to being abused, yes, there is more than something to that. However, I’m talking about the essence of “Bad Boy” here; not psychopathic nor criminal behavior. I am talking about the energy and the essence of bad boys, including the energy and essence of all the bad boys out there who are not criminals nor have ever physically or verbally abused a woman.
This energy and essence is in his genes and he’s hooked into it. He’s got it. You may not consciously know what it is, but you know that he has it. It comes across in the way he dresses, the way he moves, the way he talks, the way he looks at you. He’s confident, he’s independent, and he lives by his own rules. Most of all, he manifests that intense masculine energy, and it doesn’t show up simply in how he presents himself to the world; it is seeping out of his pores. And, in order to keep the species going, your Reptilian Brain tells you that you absolutely must mate with this alpha gorilla.
So, you do. And then what happens? Do your human mind and heart finally kick in, telling you that you’re so totally in love with him and that you can’t live without him that you need to embark on the project of changing him into a loving and caring husband and father? Some projects in life can be completed. This one can’t be. You can’t change him. You can’t turn him from an alpha stud preying on women into the Prince Charming you’ve always dreamed about. Prince Charming he most definitely is not.
Sounds trite, but it’s true – only he can change himself. But won’t your love change him into a caring, emotionally open guy who will pledge his undying love to you and take great care of your mutual children? Nope. Because your love ain’t getting through to him, sweetie. He’s walled in, and his emotions are not coming out to play.
Can he change? Sure. But he’s the one who has to feel the need to change, and do all the work to change, and it’s probably going to come, with time and age, from the pain he feels from being emotionally isolated.
So, what do you do? Well, you can stay and get your heart broken, or – here comes the hard part – you leave. He’s going to dump you anyway, and doesn’t it give you some power over him to end it by your own initiative? Go home and cry, rant and rave to your girlfriends, get some therapy, start a charity, write a book, write ten songs about Bad Boys, watch all the James Dean and Marlon Brando movies you want. Just get him out of your system, chalk it all up to evolutionary influences, be happy that you’ve got feminine genes that can get triggered, and then remember your dream that you’ve had since you were a little girl about finding your perfect guy. He’s out there and he’s waiting for you. – Susannah
Original post from AP – Thursday, July 21, 2011 | 11:05 a.m.
The Associated Press
YouTube Video is from brad88ford.
Las Vegas headliner Marie Osmond and dozens of showgirls are protesting resort fees charged at many Las Vegas hotels.
Osmond and the roughly 50 performers from the Jubilee! show at Bally’s Las Vegas hotel-casino marched on the Las Vegas Strip Thursday morning to promote Caesars Entertainment’s no fee policy.
Caesars Entertainment claims its no-fees policy saves travelers $3 million per month.
Las Vegas resort fees are usually not included in an advertised room rate. They cover hotel amenities ranging from fitness center access and internet service to valet parking.
The event Thursday morning was dubbed a gesture of solidarity with the American consumer.
Magicians Penn & Teller and other entertainers also joined the protest.
If you want metal flatware, you may have to bring your own. I didn’t see any, nor did I see any glassware. The good news is that there’s a roll of paper-towels – à la Hooter’s – and you will need it. You’ll leave the table several times to wash your hands and face at the convenient wash-station on the south wall (rear-right in the photo).
Perhaps one of the most appealing things about this neat, little restaurant (besides the food) are the bright, intelligent, smiling faces of the largely Asian clientele, happily working on their meals – wearing the Crawling Crab’s plastic bibs.
The owner, Anh Nguyen and staff are also Asian.
Parking in front, booths and tables, several large screen TVs and friendly staff help make this restaurant a success.
“The writing is on the wall” simply means that customers are encouraged to mark the walls and the butcher-paper on the tables with a black marker. One can see this garish, gastronomic, graffiti in the photo.
Well, this is what we should do: We all should step outside our front doors at the second hour past the time that darkness has settled – on the night of the full Moon – at the top of the hour, and celebrate the full Moon together. Sort of a global, Full Moon Kirtan. Don’t worry you won’t get lost, just let the wind guide you. HAVE YOU HUGGED YOUR MOON TODAY?
The Moon will be 100% Full: Saturday * August 13, 2011 * 10:57 A.M. Las Vegas time.
From Western Washington University
“American Indians gave names to each of the full moons to keep track of the passing year. The names are associated with the entire month until the next full moon occurs. Since a lunar month averages 29 days, the dates of the moons change from year to year. Here are titles most closely associated with calendar months.”
Two Native tribes are mentioned here – click the WWU link to access more information.
BACK EAST
Algonquin
Northeast to Great Lakes
According to Western Washington University the Algonquin term for August’s moon is: “micheenee kesos” or “when indian corn is edible.”
OUT WEST
Navajo
Southwest, New Mexico
I couldn’t find a Navajo word for this moon. According to Western Washington University the Comanche (Southern Plains) name for August’s Moon is: “tahma mua” or “summer moon.”
From The Old Farmer’s Almanac
“Historically, the Native Americans who lived in the area that is now the northern and eastern United States kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to the recurring full Moons.”
“Each full Moon name was applied to the entire month in which it occurred. These names, and some variations, were used by the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior.”
According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, August’s Moon is called: The Full Sturgeon Moon. “Some Native American tribes knew that the sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during this full Moon. Others called it the “Green Corn Moon ” or the “Grain Moon.”
Writing about Native Americans prompted me to include the following links to a truly great Link, LINK WRAY, that is – The FATHER OF EDGY, ELECTRIC, EAR-SCRATCHING ROCK & ROLL. Fred Lincoln “Link” Wray Jr (May 2, 1929 – November 5, 2005)
Minimalist electric-guitar strummer, Link Wray was an All-American, Native-American, innovative, Rock & Roll founder of rough-tough, scratchy, glaring, guitar-technique – featuring THE POWER CHORD – and it was as powerful as the sound of a chain-saw cutting through a Hollywood night. His breakthrough, ground-breaking monster hit from 1958 (with His Ray Men) RUMBLE is perhaps the genesis of Rock & Roll power-guitar on steroids. Link Wray defines R&R cool…
“Part Shawnee Indian, Wray frequently spoke of his ancestry in performances and interviews. Three of the songs he performed bear the names of American Indian tribes: “Shawnee”, “Apache”, and “Comanche.” “Apache” was an instrumental composed by Jerry Lordan, which became a hit in the UK for The Shadows in 1960. Wray recorded a cover of the song 30 years later, which by then was also associated with everyone from The Ventures to the Incredible Bongo Band” more from WIKI
LVBC note: The WIKI page downplays the fact that a guy by the name of Jørgen Ingmann [a musician from Copenhagen, Denmark] recorded Apache in 1961, which climbed to #2 on the US charts, the only charts that really matter, according to some. Apache was among the first records to use sophisticated electronic recording techniques, if not the first. An afterthought reminds me that Santo and Johnny’sSLEEPWALK preceded APACHE by a few years (1959.) Sleepwalk is probably my favorite all-time guitar instrumental.
Also from WIKI
“Wray served a hitch in the US Army and was a veteran of the Korean War, where he contracted tuberculosis that ultimately cost him a lung. His doctors told him that he would never sing again, so Link concentrated on his heavy guitar work. Despite this, on his rare vocal numbers he displays a strong voice and a range equivalent to that of Clarence “Frogman” Henry’s.”
Here’s the complete song from the 45 (45 RPM record) with minimal video:
This is a clip of an older Wray in concert:
Link Wray was never given proper accolades for this simple, yet staggeringly powerful tune. – BC
Every guitarist could play it because of it’s simplicity, however Link Wray was the innovator.
The song was part of the soundtrack of the film, PULP FICTION.
The electronics-heavy APACHE was also part of this genres foundation. Both songs used cutting-edge electronics such as “tremelo” and echo.
Update August 13, 2011 at 8:00 PM
May as well keep going: Listen to the use of electronics in this early innovation from 1962. Booker T’s guitarist switches on the reverb and everything else in this great foundational mega-hit. When I was up In Northern California, Booker T had a working studio in Sausalito. GREEN ONIONS
This article is from The Navy Seals Foundation’s Official Website.
The Navy SEAL Foundation is proud to serve the Naval Special Warfare community including the U.S. Navy SEALs, SWCC, NSW Support Personnel, and their families.
The loss of the U.S. Navy SEALs in Afghanistan is the kind of news the Navy SEAL Foundation fears—but prepares for in our mission to provide immediate and ongoing support and assistance to the Naval Special Warfare community and their families. When a member of the community falls, the Foundation helps the families with memorial services and defrays the financial costs of travel for immediate family members who live far away. These warriors were at the tip of the spear in the global war on terror, exhibiting extraordinary skill, courage, and commitment. It’s paramount for the Foundation to support their families here at home. When a warrior falls, the Foundation is prepared to take the burden of cost away from the families and help them with planning. The families will have enough to concern themselves with during this time. Our deepest sympathy is extended to the families of those who lost loved ones in this devastating tragedy. Please know we hold you close in our thoughts—and are here to help you in the challenging times ahead.
-Vice Adm. Albert “Bert” Calland, III, USN, Chairman, Navy SEAL Foundation
Text to Donate!
Here’s a way to quickly donate to the Navy SEAL foundation using your cell phone! Text “SEAL” to 90999 to give $10 to help support the Navy SEAL foundation! It’s quick, easy and your donation goes a long way to help us with our mission!
Caesars Entertainment aims to start work this month on the $500 million entertainment, retail and dining complex known as Project Linq.
This artist’s rendering shows one of 32 cabins on the proposed observation wheel of Project Linq. Each cabin would hold 30 people. COURTESY OF PROJECT LINQ
Posted: Aug. 5, 2011 | 2:01 a.m.
BY HOWARD STUTZ
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
The question over competing giant Ferris wheel-type projects on the Strip comes down to who has all their bearings.
At least, that’s what developer Howard Bulloch says.
Bulloch, who is behind the Skyvue development on the south end of the Strip across from Mandalay Bay, said he has acquired the two giant 23,000-pound bearings needed to operate a 500-foot tall London Eye-style wheel that is the centerpiece of the project. He unveiled one of the bearings back in May, when he announced plans for the $300 million retail and entertainment space.
He brought up the issue of bearings on Thursday, the day after Clark County approved the land use and design for Project Linq, a $500 million complex being developed by Caesars Entertainment between the Flamingo and Imperial Palace, that includes a 550-foot Ferris wheel as its centerpiece.
Bulloch didn’t know whether Caesars had acquired their bearings.
“The two large bearings take 18 months to manufacture,” Bulloch said.
Caesars spokesman Gary Thompson said Thursday that the company is planning to reveal more details about Project Linq during a briefing on Aug. 17, including the technological aspects of constructing the observation wheel, which would be larger than the Singapore Flyer and the London Eye. The wheel’s 32 cabins will each carry up to 30 people.
Company officials told Clark County they hoped to start work on Project Linq later this month. The work will employ 3,000 construction workers; when it’s complete, it will create 1,500 jobs read more from The RJ