"On Being" by Max Cooper & Felix Gerbelot

Micro to macro...but in between--
reaching out for that hand to hold--
reaching out for the star--

"On Being" by Max Cooper & Felix Gerbelot.

Max Cooper says:
"I asked the public "what do you want to express that you feel you can't in everyday life?".
I hadn't expected too much to come back, but when I had a look after some months I was floored by what people had been submitting.
This database of thoughts and feelings became the source of the "On Being" album, installations and website (onbeing.maxcooper.net). Most of the tracks on the album concern themselves with a single quote, but for one piece, I wanted to tackle the feeling of the whole collection. There's so many beautiful, scary, funny, sad, horrific, mundane and absurd expressions of our shared humanity in there, there's a very particular emotional impact of reading through the collection. It's very hard to put into words because of that range of emotions it contains, but somehow music is able to capture all of that in a way that language cannot. That's what the piece of music is about. It started from the sound of Felix Gerbelot's viola, and eventually became the title track of the album."

Video by:
Masanobu Hiraoka

https://onbeing.maxcooper.net/
https://www.instagram.com/masanobuhiraoka

2026 CALENDAR : NEW MOVEMENTS AND ACTIONS FOR EVERYDAY LIVING

Buy a print of this delight at Nathaniel Russell's site here--quick, there is a limited run of 100:
https://nathanielrussell.bigcartel.com/product/copy-of-sun-show-your-self

Happy Thanksgiving 2025!

Once again, we find ourselves approaching a holiday season with darkness and destruction in the fabric of our nation. Such challenges make us look to what we have in our own lives, close to us, and cherish those people, things, and places even more. On this holiday of gratitude, let's give thanks for the things that make us good, strong, honorable, and loving human beings. Let's give thanks to the people who bring light and calm and love to our lives and to the world. Let's give thanks for the generous actions and goodwill in our lives--whether done by others or ourselves--that strengthen the fabric of humanism and the choices to unite, protect, and find value in this existence, and which can combat the turbulence, pain, uncertainty, and darkness. Hold dear these things and live up to these ideals for which we are grateful. Let's find value in ourselves and others, and express this gratitude in our intentions, deeds, and words. Let's be grateful for the value of the human experience, love, and life itself.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Thanks, Jesus 2025

As we eat our Thanksgiving meal, let us thank not an imaginary figure in the sky but those who are TRULY responsible--migratory agricultural workers--for helping to bring our food to our tables, through their numbingly long days of low-wage, backbreaking work.

Image by snoid

"The Paradigm" by Lil' Yachty

I can assure you that Lil' Yachty is normally nowhere to be found in my music collection, but wow, this song created during his psychedelic-rock period is amazing. "The Paradigm" was heard over the closing credits of the film "Leave The World Behind."

Meet me at the bridge past nine
Turn off our phones if you need some downtime
Kick off your shoes and unwind
Relax your brain as you enter the paradigm

You are not dealin' with the typical
One of a kind
Super individual
I see the light

Forget about bills, ridin' them hills, dippin' in cheap thrills
Love in the mill, posin' for stills, poppin' them pills (ooh)
Doublin' down, devil's in town, it's tricklin' down
Ah

I am also loving this track "the BLACK seminole." from his release "Let's Start Here."

Sex symbol, the Black Seminole
A sex symbol, the Black Seminole
African Rambo with more ammo
Can't be escaped, I'm on every channel

What's wrong? What's wrong, Mr. Man?
Your eyes are low
And you're walking with both hands on your head
His response, he's on a clean, clean high
Both feet up on the ground
But his head's way, way, way up in the sky

The Black Seminole, a head general
This deep connection, a large interval
A black man with mouths to feed
Embracing equality throughout greed

No time to joke around, the kid is now a man
And the sadness is filled with remarkable sounds
This part, I've seen in my dreams
Love is not a lie, it just feels like a Tarantino movie scene

Exactly

Now

https://www.lilyachtyofficial.com/

BEAUTY: Collage--Forestter Cobalt

Clever collage artist Forestter Cobalt uses vintage comic books for his materials, cutting them up and rearranging certain elements into abstract compositions. What I love is that he retains the iconic comic book panel format...

Top to bottom: After Hours; Black Friday/Free Pony; Catalog of Mishaps; The Colony; Folk Horror; Impractical jokes; Insensible; July; Pleasure; The Punchline; The Void; Whatsoever

https://www.instagram.com/foresttercobalt/

"Heaven Up There" by Palace

"Heaven Up There" by Palace. One more chance to hug, to say I love you, to say goodbye...just one more.

 

Well the night is gone

And the shadows clear

When I hear my song

Will the grave be near?

See what you want

But I'm the rising tide

I'm no force of god

I'm a thousand lives

I take what I want

'Cause I'm the frightening sky

I'm a selfish man

Designed to die

But is it heaven up there?

Is it heaven up there?

Is it heaven up there?

'Cause it's hell down here

Believe in existence spent

To separate us from them

To know that your blood runs thin

Is to live with the truth within

So scrape up the bruise I wear

And eradicate all my fears

Prepare me to walk these stairs

I don't know where my future is

I don't know where my future is

Is it heaven up there?

Is it heaven up there?

Is it heaven up there?

Is it heaven up there?

Say I've been blind

For the use of my time

Wanna be a better man

On the ground that I stand

There's something out there

Just know that I've cared

Do this side by side

Motion with the tide

Ooh ooh ooh Ooh ooh ooh

Is it heaven up there?

Is it heaven up there?

Is it heaven up there?

'Cause it's hell down here

Yes, it's hell down here

Is this heaven up there?

I know there's heaven up there

I know there's heaven up there

'Cause there's heaven up there

https://www.wearepalace.com/

Happy birthday mom. Is it heaven up there?

I Miss My Mom

Take one if you miss your mom too.

I Miss My Dad

Take one if you miss your dad too.

"Dopamine" by Robyn

Robyn is back and I love her song "Dopamine," the first single from her as-yet-unnamed new album coming soon. It feels like another one of her "sad bangers" where the music bubbles along like a dance song but the melody and lyrics carry a lovely and tender weight and emotion...

https://www.robyn.com/

Veteran's Day 2025

"Regardless of feelings on conflicts past or present or military action in general, it is best to understand that the men and women who are or have been in the Armed Forces do not choose their wars, but they do their work no matter what the cost."

"I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity."
--Dwight D. Eisenhower, Address before the Canadian Club, Ottawa, Canada, 1/10/46

Today, I want to honor my father who served in the Navy as well as two other relatives, veterans of two world wars, who fought Fascism...one died in World War I and the other fought valiantly in World War II. I am sure my relatives are rolling in their graves, after fighting and dying to make sure that Fascism did not spread around the world and to the United States. That was a time when Republicans thought Fascism was a bad thing.  I know both of my relatives (one of them an Italian immigrant), if they were alive now, would be appalled and outraged that Fascism is being institutionalized by the Republican party, and welcomed and encouraged by its supporters. My relatives died so the very thing that is happening now, wouldn't. And it makes me infinitely sad and frustrated that these men seemingly died for nothing...and that segments of the population of this country support the kind of nationalism, totalitarianism, disdain for facts and humanity, and suppression that are the hallmarks of Fascism. Their lives, struggles, sacrifices, and deaths deserve better and we, the ones they were fighting to protect, deserve better too.

"Au 8ème Jour"

This beautiful, profound short film from France, "Au 8ème Jour" ("On the eighth day" in English) is moving and offers no answers, because, well, we are not sure there are any.

And here is an interesting look at the CGI used to make this multi-award winning short film.

https://www.piktura.fr/projets/au-8eme-jour-79.htm

BEAUTY: Painting for Autumn--Lee Munn

Autumn is here in the northern hemisphere and the painterly work of Ontario-based artist and painting teacher Lee Munn captures scenes of brilliant gold and red trees, often in dappled sunlight...

https://www.leemunn.com/

"Sympathy Magic" by Florence + the Machine LIVE

Here is a wonderful, energetic live version of Florence (previously here) performing "Sympathy Magic" from her brand new album "Everybody Scream."

https://florenceandthemachine.net/

PROP 50 WINS!

https://stopelectionrigging.com/
https://cadem.org/prop50/
https://couragecalifornia.org/yes-on-californias-prop-50/

VOTE YES ON PROP 50!

"WHAT IS PROPOSITION 50?

Since day one, Californians have been on the frontlines of protecting our communities under attack by the Trump administration and his MAGA Republicans. With Proposition 50, California voters have the opportunity to fight back against the Republican cuts to healthcare, the rising cost of living under tariffs, and the cruel abductions and forced removals of immigrants.

Proposition 50 is a direct response to a Republican power grab orchestrated by President Trump and state leaders in Texas, who redrew Congressional district lines to gain five more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Proposition 50 proposes new lines for many of California’s 52 congressional districts, which would negate the five Republican seats drawn by Texas. Under the proposed lines, Democrats could gain up to 5 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. With a majority in the House, Democrats can fight back against Trump and Republicans’ MAGA agenda."

November 4: ELECTION DAY
VOTE!

Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by November 11, 2025. Vote-by-mail ballots can be returned by mail, at a drop-off location, or your county elections office.

https://stopelectionrigging.com/
https://cadem.org/prop50/
https://couragecalifornia.org/yes-on-californias-prop-50/

Robert Reich Urges A YES Vote For Prop 50!

https://stopelectionrigging.com/

https://cadem.org/prop50/

https://couragecalifornia.org/yes-on-californias-prop-50/

VOTE TOMORROW! YES ON PROP 50!

If you live in California and haven't voted yet, I urge you to vote YES on Prop 50 tomorrow!

"WHAT IS PROPOSITION 50?

Since day one, Californians have been on the frontlines of protecting our communities under attack by the Trump administration and his MAGA Republicans. With Proposition 50, California voters have the opportunity to fight back against the Republican cuts to healthcare, the rising cost of living under tariffs, and the cruel abductions and forced removals of immigrants.

Proposition 50 is a direct response to a Republican power grab orchestrated by President Trump and state leaders in Texas, who redrew Congressional district lines to gain five more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Proposition 50 proposes new lines for many of California’s 52 congressional districts, which would negate the five Republican seats drawn by Texas. Under the proposed lines, Democrats could gain up to 5 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. With a majority in the House, Democrats can fight back against Trump and Republicans’ MAGA agenda."

November 4: ELECTION DAY
VOTE!

Vote-by-mail ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received by November 11, 2025. Vote-by-mail ballots can be returned by mail, at a drop-off location, or your county elections office.

https://stopelectionrigging.com/
https://cadem.org/prop50/
https://couragecalifornia.org/yes-on-californias-prop-50/

Feliz Día de los Muertos 2025!

Today is Día de los Muertos, a joyous, upbeat holiday originating in Mexico but now widely celebrated here in the United States. It is a day to celebrate and remember ancestors and departed loved ones. Altars are created in homes that feature pictures of dead loved ones along with favorite objects and food they liked when they were alive (called ofrenda or offerings), decorated sugar skulls, imagery of skeletons and calacas (a figure of a skull or a skeleton), colorful paper cut-outs, candles, and copious amounts of marigolds.

Families go to cemeteries to tend to family plots, gravesides and tombs. There is a carnival-like atmosphere in Mexico as huge crowds descend upon cemeteries to hold all night vigils and cook food not only for themselves but also for the spirits of the departed who can visit this earthly realm one night a year. Old women sit in chairs by the graves while children run and play tag, musicians play and sing, and people sit and talk with family members.

In the United States, the largest Día de los Muertos celebration is held in San Francisco. A street parade with drumming and dancing attracts thousands of people who dress up in traditional skull face paint and costumes. Nearby Garfield Park is home to many altars honoring the lives of friends and family members. Some altars invite people to participate by adding photos of lost loved ones. The video below, by KQED Arts is a wonderful introduction to the festival and its deeper meaning.

For more information or if you would like to attend the festival, visit:
https://dayofthedeadsf.org

Bonne Fête de La Toussaint 2025!

Aujourd'hui est le jour de La Toussaint en France.

La Toussaint by Emile Friant (1863-1932)

Today is La Toussaint in France, a national holiday. Toussaint (pronounced "TOO-sawnt") is a combination of the word tous ("all" in French) and saint, meaning "All Saint's Day." The festival is closely related, in intent and spirit, to the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration in Latin cultures (previously here). It is a day to remember, celebrate, and honor departed loved ones and ancestors.

In France, the general population are not very religious, so this once-Catholic celebration has become a secular national holiday. People visit cemeteries to have picnics and to tend to the graves of family members and decorate them with chrysanthemums, a flower symbolizing death (a symbol shared with Day of the Dead); generally, the French do not use this flower for any other purpose.