I just found this on the excellent KickStarter website, which helps people get the funding for their creative projects.

Visit the Kickstarter website and help fund this worthy project. And while you’re at it, why not come up with a project of your own and use the Kickstarter website to help raise funds to make it real!

The “People of Burning Man Coffee Table Book” project in particular resonated with me. Here’s an excerpt from the Kickstarter website that describes a little bit about the project:

Whether or not you’ve ever been to that thing in the desert, this book is designed to be your counter culture spirit guide.

We spent about a decade documenting the people and culture of Burning Man. We got a grant from the Internet Archive to print the photos, and we hand bound them into books. Those 100 copies are long gone. Chances are that you will never acquire one. There were never enough to go around. So, here is your chance. Actually, here is our chance, as a community, because if we don’t publish it now, we probably never will.

Julian Cash
People of Burning Man Coffee Table Book

This project will only be funded if at least $25,000 is pledged by Friday Mar 18, 7:30pm PDT. They’re almost there! Your contribution will help. Not only will you feel great that you helped something so cool to become real in our world, but you’ll also receive a reward of some sort, such as a free book, a signed copy of the book, and more, depending on the amount of your contribution. Check the Kickstarter.com page for this project for all the details.

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Religious Zealots Jamming to Metal Music

Who Says Religion and Rock and Roll Don’t Mix?

Heavy metal music and religious zealotry do not mix. Until now!

Watch as exalted bible thumpers thump their heads to heavy metal music. Sure to make you smile and thank the lord! What’s that you say? It’s not possible. Watch this and reconsider….

Same Goes for Drum and Bass

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Filmmaker Kevin Booth’s New Documentary:
How Weed Won the West

I always support Kevin Booth’s efforts to raise awareness and exposing the ridiculous and dangerous draconian drug laws in the USA. I first learned about Kevin Booth many years ago, by being a huge fan of the late great comedian/satirist Bill Hicks. Kevin and Bill had been childhood friends. I feel that part of Bill’s long-silenced voice is still heard through he works of his friends such as Kevin Booth.

Free Preview Screening
Venice Beach, Feb. 13

On Saturday February 13th at 8:00PM, the new feature length documentary from Sacred Cow Productions, ???How Weed Won the West??? will be screened at the Organica dispensary in Venice Beach (13456 Washington Blvd.), the site of the LAPD raid from last year as shown in the film.

“How Weed Won the West??? is the story of the people who probably would not die if you took their weed away. People who feel it is their right to smoke a dried flower instead of ingesting dangerous pharmaceuticals for medicine, or alcohol and cigarettes to simply catch a buzz.

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This is a day deserving of special mention. My long-time guitar hero Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin’s inimitable guitar wizard, celebrates his birthday on January 9th.

Jimmy Page magickally helped me to stay connected to the guitar. This is true even through the years that my own guitars sat alone, seemingly forgotten, rarely played… though in recent years they have been getting quite a bit of play. I’ve been intently learning some new tunes (check out Vanderbilly.com), the latest of which are “The Rain Song” and “Bron-yr-Aur“. Both of which are beautiful guitar ditties any guitarist would joy to diddle with!

It was also Jimmy Page that clued me into the Law of Thelema when I was a teenager. And, though he’s long since dead, I still say: Long Live the Great Beast Aleister Crowley! For these things and more, I am grateful that Sir James Patrick Page was born on January 9th, 1944.

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I received a message from the Drug Policy Alliance with a request that I compose and send a note to President-elect Barak Obama to help guide him in who he will choose to be his drug czar.

Based on suggestions provided by the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), I wrote the following letter to Obama. Feel free to copy it, change it, enhance or use it in some way to create a custom letter of your own to the new President of the United States. Once you compose your message you can send it to Barak Obama via his new website: www.change.gov. The process is quick and simple. And well worth the small effort.

Don’t be fooled. You make a difference. You make an impact. The more proactive you are, the larger your impact. It only takes a moment to compose and send a letter like the one I wrote below:

Drug Reform Message to Barak Obama

Dear President-elect Obama,

Please choose a drug czar who will champion drug policy reform in the USA. This is a very important step in delivering the change you and I and a majority of our great nation and the world so obviously desire… and need!

It’s easy to understand why you are considering to nominate Republican Congressman James Ramstad to be your “drug czar”. Rep. Ramstad is in recovery from alcohol abuse and has a track record in support of increasing access to drug treatment. However, Ramstad is still mostly married to the failed punitive drug war policies of the last 30 thirty years. This is a no-brainer: These policies don’t work. Never have. Never will.

These failed policies need to change. More importantly, we need to do something different. Just as you had so boldly stated: “Doing the same things over and over again and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity”, WE MUST do things differently in drug reform in order for profound change to occur. I figure that you already know this somewhere deep inside your obviously good heart. Please step into it, and we will support you.

Ramstad has voted against medical marijuana five times. He has voted against making sterile syringes more available to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS three times. Even though his colleagues are increasingly supporting sentencing reform, including eliminating the crack/powder sentencing disparity, he hasn’t stood up on the issue. Perhaps Ramstad is not the right choice.

Our nation’s next drug czar should be chosen based on the following criteria:

1. Are they committed to enacting and supporting evidence-based policies? ONDCP should make decisions based on science, not politics or ideology.
2. Are they committed to reducing the harms associated with both drugs and punitive drug laws? We need a new bottom line for U.S. drug policy.
3. Do they think drug use should be treated as a health issue not a criminal justice issue? To paraphrase former Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke, we need a surgeon general not a military general or police officer.
4. Do they welcome and encourage debate and research? We need a drug czar who is open-minded and willing to consider every alternative.
5. Are they committed to reducing the number of nonviolent offenders behind bars? Our country’s next drug czar should be fully committed to major sentencing reform.

President-elect Obama, who you choose as your drug czar will affect everyone. Please nominate a drug czar who supports marijuana law reform, syringe availability and treatment instead of incarceration.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Best regards and best of luck,

Your Name

Where to Send Your Drug Reform Letter

Once your message is ready don’t forget to send it to www.change.gov.

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I’ve some sad news to share. Our multifaceted community recently lost one of our own. A very good one, at that. Many of you knew the lovely Kimmy Von Hagen. While in Nice, France, working the Cannes Film Festival, Kimmy met with misfortune and passed from this plane of existence. Her soul-mate, a dear friend and a mover and shaker in our stellar community DJ Tommy Hyjynx could use your love and support. If you’re the praying type, send one up for Kimmy. If not, spare a kind thought. Better yet, come to the memorial celebration.

Hyjynx has organized a memorial celebration for Kimmy to take place on Sunday June 22. Please come by to lend your love and support. Your kind selflessness will be greatly appreciated. Details below.

Memorial Celebration in Honor of
Kimmy von Hagen

Hello everyone,

The details/info for Kimmy’s celebration are:

Sunday June 22nd
4:30 pm [till very late]

4213 Van Nuys Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
[Adam Rosen's backyard, 2 blocks south of Ventura Blvd. and last house on right before the T intersection]

There is a family potluck style reception for after the ceremony, so if you’d like to bring some beverages or anything else it would be greatly appreciated.

Can you please help me get the word out to anyone/everyone you know that may not be on Twan’s List but knew Kimmy and might want to attend?

I hope to see you all on Sunday, thank you for being such a wonderful family to Kimmy & myself.

We will celebrate her amazing spirit in glorious fashion. She touched us all and will never be forgotten.

Blessings,

Tommy Hyjynx
818 749 3296

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A Thank You from Forever for LiB

It’s been two weeks since LIB and we can still hardly believe what we got to see and experience and learn under those oak trees. We keep hearing the echoes of beats. We keep seeing flashes of so many radiant smiling faces. We keep feeling the ground shake with the magnificent force of daring minds and dancing feet. We are forever grateful.

It is YOU who helped to make LIB08 a truly life-changing experience, and for this we offer our gratitude not just with words, but with images! Check out the faces on the LIB08 Thank You page, and add your own. ~ Pass it on…

The Lightning in a Bottle
Producers and Crew

Much Lightning in a Bottle Photos and Video to See

Visit the LiB website for a non-stop treat of visual snacks… It’ll make you cry for joy… and eager for next year!

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You are cordially invited to
CLARE Foundation???s 2nd Annual

Sunday, June 1, 2008, 2pm to 5pm
VIP Reception, 1pm

We look forward to seeing you this Sunday, June 1st, from 2-5 pm at Bergamot Station for fabulous food and stunning art. Please see the invitation below for links to our website where you can preview the contributed artwork at this year???s auction.

CLARE Foundation