The Social Service League of Lawrence
http://media.lawrence.com/img/blogs/entry_img/2009/Mar/06/ssl_exterior_.jpg
Local charities are seeing an uptick in business in these precarious times. Jean Ann Pike--manager and mother to the SSL--reports "a lot of new faces."
I'm working on a story about the SSL for lawrence.com. On Friday, March 13 at 12:15 pm, we'll be taking a group photo of the SSL family for the cover of the print edition. If you're a supporter of the SSL, come on down and get in the picture.
Here's the SSL's role in our community....for more see myspace.com/socialserviceleague:
The Social Service League of Lawrence emerged out of the ashes of Quantrill’s Raid. Following the devastation, the Lawrence community formed a “League” to provide various supplies to families in need. Today the League continues this work, assisting Lawrence children, adults and families.
The League is an independent charity that relies solely on donations and on income generated through its thrift store. The League thrift store, 905 Rhode Island St, is run from the same location where the store began its operations over 145 years ago.
The store is open to all shoppers, and offers clothes, household items, toys and other needed goods. Also, any person who expresses a need may come into the thrift store and fill up a bag of donated goods free of charge, no questions asked.
Store proceeds and donations fund a wide array of charitable activities. The League helps provide shoes, eye exams, and glasses to children within the Lawrence community. During the past ten years the League has provided children with 100 to 200 pairs of new shoes per year. The League also works in coordination with other local organizations to help individuals find jobs, get back on their feet, and support themselves and their families.
Topic: Lawrence Arts Center. Your comments requested.
Hello all.I'll be doing an interview next Tuesday with David Leamon, the new director of the Lawrence Arts Center. He's been in charge for 40 days.Does the Arts Center represent the community? Is it an asset to the community? What needs fixing? What’s good?I'd appreciate your input on the Arts Center: opinions, observations, experiences and questions for Mr. Leamon.
and 3 others
The Pigs Are On The Porch Again
When [Bourgeois Pig][1] founders Russell Livingston and Charlie Whitman handed off their hallowed and notorious downtown bar/cafe to the Black Lodge Boys--the business consortium of music producer Ed Rose and former Get Up Kids members and brothers Rob and Ryan Pope--the die-hard regulars nodded approval. The deal was made on January 1, 2007. Russell, Charlie and Ryan smiled wide for pictures on the front porch, to the applause of a small crowd of Piggies (as the die-hards are known). Rose and the Popes share interest in [Black Lodge Recording][2], a respected studio in Eudora, and the Pope Brothers independently own and operate [Blue Collar Distro][3], an East Lawrence merchandise design and distribution plant. [Rob Pope became Spoon's bassist][4] over a year ago and divides his time between Lawrence, Spoon's home base in Austin and his girlfriend's home in Seattle.Rose and the Popes came with proven business acumen and were themselves long-time Piggies... What better hands to steward the venerable Pig through the next generation?In July, the trouble began. In the space of ten days, the police ticketed two patrons on the patio for drinking on the sidewalk. The Pig patio is enclosed on the west side of the building by an iron railing, one of the prime people-watching locations downtown and a popular place for Lawrencians of all stripes to enjoy afternoon cocktails with friends. Under Lawrence's Outdoor Dining ordinance, all alcohol has to remain within the area between the building and the railing. Occasionally, on busy nights, a few patrons might stray from beyond the confines of the railing with drinks in hand and be directed by passing police officers to move back into the "safe zone," but never before were patrons ticketed. Rose and the Popes became alarmed. They did some research and found they indeed were not in compliance with the Outdoor Dining ordinance, which allows consumption of alcohol in outdoor dining areas based on a ratio of food to alcohol sales-food must account for at least 70% of total sales. Coffee counts as food.In the Pig's case, alcohol constitutes the majority of their sales, as it has every year since opening in 1994. Yet until ownership changed hands, the outside dining permit had been renewed annually and there had never been a problem with alcohol on the patio. To avoid further ticketing, Rose and the Popes placed a moratorium on alcohol on the front patio and began calling city officials, seeking a solution. After a frustrating period which Ryan Pope calls "the runaround," Rose and the Popes hired attorney Paul Davis. Meanwhile, sales at the Pig had begun a downwards slide (eventually posting a 30% loss).Under Davis' guidance, Rose and the Popes began a lengthy series of meetings with City Commissioners, seeking a variance to the Outdoor Dining ordinance. Their efforts [paid off][5]. After a review of the case, the City Commission determined that the Pig's outdoor dining permit had been erroneously issued and subsequently renewed, and resolved that the Pig-referred to by the Commission as a "model business"--should not be held accountable for the City's mistake. On November 6, the Commission passed [Ordinance 8195][6], a variance allowing alcohol consumption on the front patio of the Bourgeois Pig, effective this Saturday, November 17. The City's ruling on the Pig's behalf didn't go unnoticed by other downtown bar owners. Ryan Pope said he was encouraged by the support of several downtown tavern-keepers, who hope this decision will open up possibilities for other downtown bars. The Jackpot, Red Lyon, Eighth Street Tap Room and the Sandbar have all expressed interest in outdoor drinking areas. The City Commission is reviewing [the topic][7] and plans to address it again early next year. Rose and the Popes kick off their reprieve with a bang-a [release party for Johnny America Issue 5][8] (a high-caliber literary humor 'zine and website) tomorrow night, and the opening of "[Wayne's World][9]": A photo documentary of Wayne Propst by Nick Vaccaro on Sunday evening. On another note: Local artist expats Kendra and Aaron Marable are [blogging][10] from Costa Rica. [1]: http://www.lawrence.com/places/the_bo... [2]: http://www.lawrence.com/news/2003/may... [3]: http://www.lawrence.com/news/2004/apr... [4]: http://www.lawrence.com/news/2007/jul... [5]: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/nov... [6]: http://www.lawrenceks.org/web_based_agendas/11-06-07/11-06-07h/as_bp_sdl_ord_8195.html [7]: http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/nov... [8]: http://www.lawrence.com/events/2007/n... [9]: http://www.lawrence.com/events/2007/nov/18/23826/ [10]: http://www.marableparables.blogspot.com
Good Government
Friday morning, I waited for the light at the crosswalk in front of City Hall. I half-noticed a woman across the street at 6th and Mass locking her bike to the rack. There were several pop cans scattered on the ground around the bike rack. The light changed, and as I crossed the street I watched the woman stomp on the cans to flatten them, and then pick them up and put them in the basket she was carrying. As I neared her, she looked up and said "Good morning!" It was our state senator Marci Francisco.
Rose’s Rules Of Order
[This week's interview][1] is with record producer Ed Rose, one of Lawrence's notable contributions to the world of indie rock. Rose, in partnership with Rob and Ryan Pope, owns and operates [Black Lodge Recording][2] in Eudora and [The Bourgeois Pig][3] in downtown Lawrence. Before our meeting, I asked Rose to bring along five or six of his favorite productions for the show's soundtrack. He brought twenty-six songs-a Who's Who of local rock.Ten song clips, approximately 30 seconds each, ended up on the program. Guitars from Ultimate Fakebook's "Soaked In Cinnamon" were used for the introduction, and also as transitions throughout. It wasn't possible to effectively identify each of the songs during the production of the podcast-so here we are. Track Listing Soaked in Cinnamon [intro, transitions] - [Ultimate Fakebook][4] (This Will Be Laughing Week; Sony 2000)1. Fool Around remix - [American Analog Set][5] (Promise of Love; Tiger Style 2003) 2. Let's Go Crazy [Limbeck][6] (Limbeck; Doghouse 4/2007) 3. She Kept Time To The Teardrops - [Matt Suggs][7] (Golden Days Before They End; Merge 2000) 4. Hunters and Gatherers - [Thee Higher Burning Fire][8] (In Plain Song; Second Nature 2000) 5. Mighty River - http://www.lawrence.com/blogs/lk/2004/apr/22/lawrence/Nic Cosmos (Leer; 1992) 6. Resistance - [Stick][9] (Heavy Bag; Arista 1993) 7. Unsteady - [Kill Creek][10] (Proving Winter Cruel; Mammoth 1996) 8. Woodson - [The Get Up Kids][11] (Woodson EP; 1997) 9. Why Are You So Mean To Me? - [Vitreous Humor][12] (Posthumous; Crank! 1998) 10. November - [Arthur Dodge and The Horsefeathers][13] (Cadillacs, Ponytails and Dirty Dreams; Barber's Itch 1998) [1]: http://www.lawrence.com/podcasts/stre... [2]: http://www.lawrence.com/news/2003/may... [3]: http://www.lawrence.com/places/the_bo... [4]: http://www.lawrence.com/bands/ultimate_fakebook/ [5]: http://www.amanset.com/ [6]: http://www.limbeck.net/ [7]: http://www.lawrence.com/bands/matt_suggs/ [8]: http://www.secondnaturerecordings.com/reborn/info.php?bandname=The%20Higher%20Burning%20Fire [9]: http://www.lawrence.com/bands/stick/ [10]: http://www.lawrence.com/bands/kill_creek/ [11]: http://www.lawrence.com/bands/the_get_up_kids/ [12]: http://www.crankthis.com/vitreoushumor.html [13]: http://www.lawrence.com/bands/arthur_dodge_and_the_horsefeathers/
The Little Red Schoolhouse
This is [Matt Pryor's][1] second year of organizing the benefit concert for the Lawrence Community Nursery School (LCNS a/k/a Little Red Schoolhouse). The LCNS is a co-operative school, meaning that both educators and parents share the work of prepping children for formal schooling and assimilation into society. Everyone pitches in: parents serve on fund-raising committees, participate in maintenance of the building and help teachers in their classrooms. Pryor's obligations range from organizing the annual concert at The Granada to attending quarterly meetings to vacuuming classrooms, breaking up squabbles and pushing kids on swings.Founded in 1948 by the Lawrence League for the Practice of Democracy, the LCNS spent it's early years housed in various church basements. By 1956, members had raised the money to buy their own building at 645 Alabama, their home for the past 50 years. The Little Red Schoolhouse is supported entirely by member dues and several annual fundraisers.As our public education system continues to suffer from state and federal mismanagement; as both teachers and students are given short shrift in favor of political agenda; as our public schools continue to graduate young people that can't find China on a map or name the sitting Secretary of State, parent involvement no longer seems to be an option but a necessity.The LCNS benefit takes place at The Granada 1020 Mass, on Saturday, November 18 for two shows. The 3 pm show is family friendly, with performances by [The Terrible Twos][2] and Ma. At 9pm, [Drakkar Sauna][3], [Truckstop Honeymoon][4] and the [New Amsterdams][2] perform. Tickets are $8.00.Get up and give it up for the kids. Can't find a better cause than their future.[Lawrence Community Nursery School][5]Hear Matt Pryor talk about LCNS; his days with the Get Up Kids; his current projects the Terrible Twos and New Amsterdams; and life, love and the pursuit of happiness: ["Papa Loves Family" podcast.][6] [1]: http://www.lawrence.com/musicians/matthew_pryor/ [2]: [3]: http://www.lawrence.com/bands/drakkar_sauna/ [4]: http://www.lawrence.com/bands/truckstop_honeymoon/ [5]: http://www.lcnsweb.com/ [6]: http://www.lawrence.com/news/2006/nov...
Heavy Metal
Refers to: The Esoteric, "Subverter" (2006); podcast ["Like a House On Fire"][1].Jimi Hendrix distorted black American blues. Heavy metal is the fusion of distorted and AMPLIFIED, guitar-heavy blues with psychedelic rock which originated in the late 1960s in Birmingham, England. [Black Sabbath][2], [Deep Purple][3] and [Led Zeppelin][4] are the holy trinity of metal, though Steppenwolf's "Born To Be Wild" is the first time the term "heavy metal" is mentioned in song. Of that trinity, the furious droning of Black Sabbath's early music remains linked most closely to the sound of metal today, in all its multiplying permutations. Philosophically, heavy metal was something of a nihilist movement; the result of the cultural and political disillusionment of the late 60s leading to a "life ain't always pretty" attitude which resulted in a "let's make our own worlds" manifesto. Life, death and all crimes and fantasies in-between continue to be central themes of metal music.King Crimson's Robert Fripp has repeatedly praised the metal culture for staying outside of rock's corrupt corporate system. Crimson itself was a forerunner of metal-listen to "21st Century Schizoid Man" from Crimson's 1969 debut "In The Court Of The Crimson King for the blueprint of the form to come. The Beatles' "Helter Skelter" from the White Album" (1968) is often cited as one of the earlier examples of heavy metal.Twelve Ancestors of Metal Bach heavy baroque Wagner sturm und drang The Who power chords The Kinks distorted guitar The Yardbirds more or less became Led Zeppelin MC5 fury The Stooges fuzzbox mayhem Cream heavy guitar & drum sound The Doors dark and mystical Blue Cheer psychedelic blues Vanilla Fudge ditto Iron Butterfly troglodytic beats + psychedelic blues. First album called "Heavy" (1968)Seven Archetypes of The Golden Age (1969-1973) Led Zeppelin I (1969) Black Sabbath Paranoid (1970) Uriah Heep Look At Yourself (1971) Led Zeppelin IV (1971) Jethro Tull Aqualung (1971) Deep Purple Machine Head (1972) Blue Oyster Cult Tyranny and Mutation (1973)Twelve Descendants of Metal Rainbow AC/DC Spinal Tap Judas Priest Iron Maiden Metallica Slayer Killing Joke Danzig Jane's Addiction Rage Against The Machine Wolfmother [1]: http://www.lawrence.com/podcasts/stre... [2]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sa... [3]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deep_Purple [4]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Led_Zepp...
Prog Rock
Prog was a British movement. It germinated, heavily fertilized, in 1967-The Beatles-and it continues to spread. By its peak as a bona-fide movement-1970-1974--Prog had spawned bands across the channel--Kraftwerk, Can, Focus and PFM--and across the ocean--Rush, Blue Oyster Cult, Utopia and Kansas. Early Prog made claim to the place between classical and experimental situations, much like the Bauhaus, the Surrealists and Funkadelic. Proggers are still serious about making art.Prog as a genretype: the combination of advanced musical and technical knowledge, dramatic, cryptic and otherworldly themes; elaborate staging; and bands frequently swapping virtuosi wearing satin pants.5 Modern Progs Tortoise [Tool][1] Sigur Ros Mogwai Godspeed You Black Emperor!13 Original Progs Soft Machine-Soft Machine 1968 The Pretty Things-S.F. Sorrow 1968 King Crimson-In the Court of the Crimson King 1969 Van Der Graaf Generator-H To He Who Am The Only One 1970 Curved Air--Air Conditioning 1970 Mahavishnu Orchestra-The Inner Mounting Flame 1971 Emerson, Lake and Palmer-Tarkus 1971 Jethro Tull-Thick As A Brick 1972 Yes-Fragile 1972 Mike Oldfield Tubular Bells 1973 Pink Floyd-Dark Side Of The Moon 1973 Fripp & Eno-No Pussyfooting 1973 Genesis-The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway 19745 Relatives of Prog Captain Beefheart Queen Kate Bush Wishbone Ash SupertrampLinks [INTERVIEW WITH TOOL'S DANNY CAREY; Street Level podcast][1] [progressiverock.com][2] [progarchives.com][3] [soft machine][4] [king crimson][5] [jethro tull][6] [pink floyd][7] [genesis][8] [1]: http://www.lawrence.com/podcasts/stre... [2]: http://www.progressiverock.com/ [3]: http://www.progarchives.com/ [4]: http://www.strongcomet.com/wyatt/softs/ [5]: http://www.dgmlive.com/kc/index.htm?artist=2&bio=true [6]: http://www.j-tull.com/discography/thickasabrick/index.html [7]: http://pinkfloyd-co.com/disco/moon/moon_album.html [8]: http://www.genesis-music.com/lamb1.htm
Reynaud at Wakarusa 2006
![][1]Reportage du Wankarousse 2006 par guest writer Reynaud Messier_Hallo. You know who I am.You may ask yourself: what is smelling? The Kaw? some goats? this Buffalo Bob? No! (Surprise!). You are smelling the smells of HIPPIES, who are arriving once more for this [WANKAROUSSE][2]. This DREADLOCK (pah!) is smelling. This loamy FOLLICLE and most sebaceous PORE is also smelling. This hippie is like cats, very fearing the waters, washing only the hand. And now in Kansas it is HOT! which multiply too much the fragrance. And for all this smelling the hippie are using very much the PATCHOULI and are living only with the other hippie, in the VAN, which also is smelling. Yes, this hippies are smelling. I have said it. You are smelling HIPPIES.Everywhere is the BEAD and tribal TATTOO and the digital DRUM; everywhere they are talking this ECOLOGIE. And then they are throwing upon the earth some papers from this GRANOLA CANDY and many the can from ORGANICS BEER. They are SHOPLIFTING the TOFU. Then they are making PISPIS and POOPOO everywhere for the field, the street, like the dog and cow, but worse (this PSYLLIUMS HUSKS this SOY PRODUCTS). Everywhere this stinking TIEDIE. One time, I confess it, I have ingest the ACID and I am baking for many day. Everything is the tiedie. When I am seeing so much again this tiedie at the Wankarousse, I catch nervous for the FLASHBACK! And in the PITS of arms of womens are also many the hairs, smelling, and for this I am sick of home. And your information please: why now are this hippie so many the fat one? The actual hippie must emaciate, no? I think so.When I am arriving, so many the COP! They are seeking the DRUG and they are making the WARNING: Beware of Two Thing: the WILD BIRD and this CANNIBALS HIPPIE! YES! Cannibals Hippies! The ox is a moron, no?First, this birds who are living in the wood, this [TURKEY][3], they catch angry for the human peoples and so now are making many the attack, and the chasing, and molesting too much the automobile. Pah! I have no fear of birds. Second, when this cops are speaking to me of this Cannibals Hippie, I am fascinate and, yes, nervous. I am coming mainly to this Wankarousse for making some HOTT new friend.This CANNIBALS HIPPIES begins with the HIPPIE GIRL and the TWIRLING. When this hippie girl entice you for twirling (how they are dancing), with the organic beers, you catch the DIZZY. And when you are dizzying, this hippie girl, a fat one, is saying to come for the VAN for the E (not television) and the FREE LOVE, perhaps the ORGY. I cannot say too much for occurrence inside this vans, but this COP say it is starting for the nuzzlement, then nibbling, then nips, and then BITE... and MASTICATION! And yes, the BLOOD. If it is orgy, of course there are many bites. This Cannibals Hippies, they say, are not eating all of the body like the madman--they are making only snack, like one grape. No-one is dying, but using many the Bandaid. And this different hippies is not so happy for Maharishi and the Fish, but instead are liking Crowley and this Tool. This is the GOTH, no? NO! They have promise to be hippie! They too are smelling with the black dreadlock in the black tie-die. The cop are saying this new style of Hippies are coming from WICHITA. This year, many have arrive to the Wankarousse.How can one hippie be cannibals? To neglect the sprout and the _choufleur? To drink the blood? This is not the Way of the Hippie. One TRUE GOOD HIPPIE must be smelling, baking, with perhaps the dreadlock, and the tiedie, with the bead and the patchouli in the van. Not fat, eating only the vegetable, and liking very much the free love. They also are not putting garbage upon the earth. Next year, I am hoping, this WANKAROUSSE may exchange this Wichita Cannibal Hippie with more of True Good Hippie (there are many in Canada). And I am hoping too next time this FLAMING LIPS will be that MOVIE and not some musicians.I report,R.Psst: If you please can tell me WHAT IT IS TO BE HIPPIE? I will mean it. [1]: http://media.lawrence.com/img/blogs/i... [2]: http://www.lawrence.com/news/2006/jun... [3]: http://www.lawrence.com/blogs/street_level/2006/may/31/xbird/
and 1 others
Quotations IV
One of the definitions of sanity is the ability to tell real from unreal. Soon we'll need a new definition. ~Alvin TofflerThe world is so dreadfully managed, one hardly knows to whom to complain. ~Ronald FirbankThe world has achieved brilliance without conscience. ~Omar BradleyNothing can be more readily disproved than the old saw, "You can't keep a good man down." Most human societies have been beautifully organized to keep good men down. ~John W. GardnerDo not waste your time on Social Questions. What is the matter with the poor is Poverty; what is the matter with the rich is Uselessness. ~George Bernard ShawIt's a sad and stupid thing to have to proclaim yourself a revolutionary just to be a decent man. ~David HarrisIt is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society. ~KrishnamurtiThe object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. ~Marcus AureliusAre right and wrong convertible terms, dependant upon popular opinion? ~William Lloyd Garrison[H]istory assures us that civilizations decay quite leisurely. ~Will and Ariel Durant I think God's going to come down and pull civilization over for speeding. ~Steven WrightUsually, terrible things that are done with the excuse that progress requires them are not really progress at all, but just terrible things. ~Russell BakerFame is proof that the people are gullible. ~Ralph Waldo EmersonSuburbia is where the developer bulldozes out the trees, then names the streets after them. ~Bill VaughnWhen people go to work, they shouldn't have to leave their hearts at home. ~Betty BenderThe things that are wrong with the country today are the sum total of all the things that are wrong with us as individuals. ~Charles W. TobeyA people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both. ~Dwight D. EisenhowerWhen Gandhi was asked what he thought of Western civilization, he said, "It would be nice." ~Author UnknownIf you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on the human face - forever. ~George OrwellIf our American way of life fails the child, it fails us all. ~Pearl S. Buck--from [The Quote Garden][1] [1]: http://www.quotegarden.com/
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