A very snowy morning. I had to drive my way out of trouble when my car wouldn't stop at the bottom of a hill -- luckily I was able to enter traffic without discomfort to anyone. Before the storm began last night, a yearling deer was grazing through the front yard.

Yet another update at: Theater X-net

Featuring: Ida Rubinstein Belle Epoch Russian/Parisian beauty.
Read more about Ida in Sisters of Salome by Toni Bentley

Visit: Michael's Montana Web Archive
Theater, Art, Flash Gordon, Funky Music and MORE!

Charity Alert: Keep that resolution in February too! Click on The Hunger Site every day.

In The Community: My one video of Jim Soular reading one poem from The Thousand Yard Stare. is uploaded on Ariana Huffington's blogsite now. I am going to try and place the Gold Star Mother poem there instead. They didn't tell me (I didn't ask, either) that there was less than 15 MB available, so I couldn't load the two I had planned. Gold Star Mother is the shorter, and more timely, of the two. (It's online NOW!)Front Line Poetry
Check out the rest of the Contagious Festival at Huffington Post.

Media Watch: I was reading Asteroids by Curtis Peebles (2000, Smithsonian Institution Press) when I saw some things I hadn't expected to see in this kind of layperson's science book. The Department of Defense monitored collisions with large-scale meteors, comets, and asteroids and Planet Earth from the 1960's onward. The data was declassified in the early 1990's. Satellites capable of tracking flashes of light, and ground based low-frequency acoustic equipment which "heard" glancing impacts with our atmosphere, established a scary fact -- at least once a year an asteroid or spent comet explodes over the earth with a measured yield of 15 kilotons, and a dozen more explosions have yields measured in single kilotons annually. Luckily, these objects all bounced away, or disintegrated, like the interplanetary wanderer which caused the Tunguska Event on June 30, 1908. I witnessed one of these atmospheric collisions myself in the summer of 1965 at about 10:30 at night (MDT) -- it was as bright as daylight for a second all over Western North America, but nobody heard any sound.
We may have a couple of ideas, but humankind doesn't have a proven technology for diverting a space rock large enough kill us all if it actually struck the surface of our planet.

Now for something REALLY frivolous --
Three shows concerning ballroom dancing on TV last night! ABC's Dateline covered the fad as a good-natured news story. PBS started their series about a ballroom dance competition in Ohio ala the great Juliet Prowse shows over a decade ago. Marilu Henner acted as host, with a knowledgeable dancer as commentator informing overwhelmed viewers like me about whom and what I was watching. While the men largely stick to black suits, the women wear costumes which are cut up and decorated in all sorts of ways -- super-reflective sparkles festoon every gown and mirror the bright lights like tiny stars. Their makeup can be EX-treme -- I swore I saw fake eyelashes as long as an inch and a half. One thing that "stood out" was everyone's noses -- they all looked long and prominent because of slicked-back hairstyles for both sexes, up-looking postures, spray-painted makeup, and flashing teeth. 12 couples left to go, so they say, most with East European names.
Ms. Henner needed one of these makeup artists herself -- a combination of her hairstyle and lights distorted her features, making her look cross-eyed at times. She could have used a more flattering dress too. This series may already in the can, but I hope the producers made some adjustments after the first show.


(Right) A montage from America's Ballroom Challenge on PBS
(Left) Sheryl and Drew -- our favorites on Dancing with the Stars
All photos property of their copyright owners

Dancing with the Stars -- Stacy Kiebler and her partner kicked everybody's ass right at the start. They got three 10s from the judges. We still voted for Drew and Sheryl, who danced last, and got three 9s. Jerry Rice did as well as George Hamilton, but the judges gave "Hammy" three 8s. (His partner is a TERRIFIC soloist.) "Lips," the Soap Opera Lady got a 25, and it looks bad for personable, but slow-moving Tia Carrera.

A snowy morning, but it started to clear up as the sun rose. Two large Whitetail Deer were wandering around the worst intersection of my neighborhood -- steep hills, slippery roads, high shoulders. I slowed down to a CRAWL.

Yet another update at: Theater X-net

Featuring: Ida Rubinstein Belle Epoch Russian/Parisian beauty.
Read more about Ida in Sisters of Salome by Toni Bentley

Visit: Michael's Montana Web Archive
Theater, Art, Flash Gordon, Funky Music and MORE!

Charity Alert: Keep that resolution! Click on The Hunger Site every day.

In The Community: My videos of Jim Soular reading two of his poems from The Thousand Yard Stare. will be uploaded on Ariana Huffington's blogsite within 24 hours: Huffington Post

Time Passages: Coretta Scott King (1928 - 2006)
"Courage is not buried in the grave of the valiant."
Effective January 27, 2006, Western Union will discontinue all Telegram and Commercial Messaging services... Read the article by Robert Roy Britt -- After 145 years...

Media Watch: BOLLYWOOD MOVIES! The first was Shaadi No. 1, a stupid comedy that Sanjay Dutt couldn't even save. We put it aside and saw Dil Maange More, starring Shahid Kapoor, Ayesha Takia, Tulip Joshi, and Soha Ali Khan. A young guy falls in love three times -- monogamously in each instance. It's not credible in the least, but it was a fun flick despite it's problems. Young Shahid Kapoor is a good dancer, and shows some acting talent here and there, but his body language, facial mannerisms, and timing resemble Shah Rukh Khan's body language, facial mannerisms, and timing far too often -- whether that was his or the director's fault, I can't guess.

Why bother? -- The U.S. Constitution states that the President must inform Congress about the state of the nation once a year. Bush breaks constitutional laws all the time without apologies. Why couldn't he do us a favor and skip that speech this year when he had almost nothing truthful to say?


Capitol security goon Mike Weight arrests Gold Star Mother Cindy Sheehan prior to the State of the Union speech. January 31, 2006.
Her shirt reads: 2245 Dead. How many more?
Read What Really Happened by Mrs. Sheehan at:
Michael Moore's Blog
Daily Kos
Read a lotta Liberal reactions at The Huffington Post

Happy Chinese (Lunar) New Year -- I still have some fireworks left over from the Fourth of July -- it's POW time! Alternating snow and sunshine, except at night, when moonlight shines in between the white skiffs. Our three-deer family visits us almost every evening as they go on gleaning through the neighborhood.

Updating again at: Theater X-net

Featuring: Ida Rubinstein Belle Epoch Russian/Parisian beauty.
Read more about Ida in Sisters of Salome by Toni Bentley

Visit: Michael's Montana Web Archive
Theater, Art, Flash Gordon, Funky Music and MORE!

Charity Alert: Keep that resolution! Click on The Hunger Site every day.

In The Community: I have taped FVCC professor Jim Soular reading a couple of poems from his book The Thousand Yard Stare. I will put the edited videos on the Internet next week, courtesy of Ariana Huffington and her open invitation for political humor and commentary. There is nothing funny about our country at war, but Jim's poetry is some of the best commentary about it I know.
Huffington Post

Media Watch: A lot of things have caught my eye, but I won't be able to write about them all.
Dancing with the Stars -- My prediction: Cheryl & Drew and "Tina Sparkle" will be the finalists. They are far and away the couples who dance the best. "Master P" Miller didn't even seem to try this week and was bumped out of the competition. He was pretty funny, though. They showed video of a side-trip he and Ashley made to her hometown of Salt Lake City. Miller said "Hey Brutha!" to a Mormon missionary, with just the RIGHT inflection in his voice, and a good-natured grin on his face -- he was well aware of how Mormon men customarily call each other "brother." He also spoke of the commonalties between Del Grosso's upbringing and his. There aren't that many, but I will follow Masters P's lead, and say that most people in the world are primarily concerned with doing the best they can for their families.
(Anyone who reads this blog knows that I was born and raised in Salt Lake, and have serious issues with the Corporate Mormon Church which runs the place. Today is not the day to revisit them.)
Tia Carrere has an engaging personality and tries hard. George Hamilton is an irrepressible clown, and his bad knee isn't showing. Jerry Rice's head finally seems to have caught up with the rest of his body. Lisa the Soap Opera Lady died her hair black and lathered on a darker skin color for her Paso Doble. The makeover helped hide those artificially distorted lips of hers. I know I'm having a hard time with that, but sometimes those "enhancements" just go wrong.
At the risk of seeming stuck in the Superficiality Zone, here's another couple of paragraphs about Dancing with the Stars. Their live music is much better now than it was earlier. On Friday, they presented a Salsa number with professional dancers, accompanied by an unnamed gentleman who sang with a high effortless voice that was sonic heaven in itself.
Perhaps there's something about a popular phenomenon like this show that reveals certain uncomfortable aspects of our culture. I rarely see semi-nude male ballroom dancers for instance, but after a few costume changes, there are no secrets left about the bodies of their female partners! No one likes watching unclothed women more than I do, or seeing the human body in motion, but when males begin to take risks with nudity, the social hammer comes down quickly, and that's not equitable or fair.
(In a closely-related field, ice skating artist Christopher Dean was on the losing side of more than a few assaults when he pushed on sensual boundaries as choreographer for the Duchesne couple a decade or so back.)
Well, there was one long wasted moment when guest stars The Pussycat Dolls did their dreary, derivative popular hit Don't Cha (Wish Your Girlfriend Was Hot Like Me?) with pre-recorded music. The lead singer had a live microphone, but I felt sorry for the other five women in the group who had no real roles except as booty-shakers. The old bump-and-grind is tedious if the performer doesn't control her dignity. Everybody knows that -- from Middle Eastern belly dancers to Burlesque queens. The Dolls' second number was a lot better -- the "Forgotten Five" had many more things to do, the song Sway was very good, and the lead singer performed superbly. Jerry Rice's partner came out doing a rapid-fire ballroom dance with a professional, and took the piece to a climax -- now THAT'S entertainment!


The Pussycat Dolls began as a group of dancers putting on a burlesque-of a-burlesque show. They became a silly cabaret act featuring Carmen Electra (Left), and morphed into a successful Pop sextette with Nicole Scherzinger, Carmit Bachar, Ashley Roberts, Jessica Sutta, Melody Thornton, and Kimberly Wyatt. (Right) Nobody knows the need for humor and truthful audience reflection in the game they are playing more than founder Robin Antin. (PC Dolls, get it?) Sway may be indicative of better things to come, I hope.

Next week they'll have Barry Manilow, who has publicly stated that he doesn't understand the appeal of his singing voice. He's a professional musician, and gives his audiences what they pay for, but I sure admire his guts in saying what I personally think about his act -- I like every element save one.
Book TV was OK yesterday, but it was DIRE today. Back to back right-wing propagandists ruined my Sunday television. Lies and self-serving "spin" are neither discourse nor information.
Yesterday one Book TV author made a very good observation (paraphrased): The policy of mainstream media is not to challenge people in authority themselves. They'll find another authority figure to say something different, but they don't address the facts anymore.
Turner Classic Movies showed three cartoons made by MGM in the late 30's based on the comic strip Captain and the Kids. Hans, Fritz, Mama, Grandpa, and Der Captain were adequately rendered, the great Friz Freling directed the films, but they still weren't very good, and are mostly forgotten today. These primal knockabout characters are so phenomenally enduring that there were two separate competing versions of the strip in the newspapers for almost 50 years. The Katzenjammer Kids are still in syndication, a century after they first saw print. Since they were blatantly derived from Wilhelm Busch's Max & Moritz, the roots of it's family tree run deep into the 19th Century too. Did you know? The Katzenjammers live in Africa, and they've been there longer than Tarzan!
Thank goodness for NPR -- over the last week I have been able to celebrate Mozart's 250th birthday vicariously with the rest of the world. There was a recital of brilliant Avant Garde piano music this morning, and funky saxophone-driven jazz going on for an hour this afternoon before they presented a special program about early 20th Century jazz piano master James P. Johnson. Montana Public Radio

A Coyote was spotted trying to sneak up on the Bald Eagle perched next to the aereation pond on Middle Foy's Lake in broad daylight. Yeah, the eagle just took off flying. The weather is a touch colder, but light snow keeps falling intermittently, with sunshine in between the flurries.

New and Updated! Theater X-Net

Featuring: Ida Rubinstein Belle Epoch Russian/Parisian beauty.
Read more about Ida in Sisters of Salome by Toni Bentley

Visit: Michael's Montana Web Archive
Theater, Art, Flash Gordon, Funky Music and MORE!

Webmaster Blues: All basic links are clickin' along! I had an email from ex-Friends Roadshow stalwart Michael Novotny about a change I had to make, too.

Charity Alert: Keep that resolution! Click on The Hunger Site every day.

Theatre/Theater: Katie will be doing performances on the 28th and on Feb. 6th in Amsterdam before heading out to France and Scotland. Overtoom 301

Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Update

Ringmistress Philomena and Mr. Pennygaff of the
Bindlestiff Family Cirkus
(From a photo by Liz Steger on Backwash Zine)
Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Winter Cabaret
Every Friday Night from March 17 through April 28, 2006
at Galapagos Art Space, 70 North 6th Street, Williamsburgh, NY
directions: http://www.galapagosartspace.com/directions.html
Admission: $15 ($5 discount for clowns in make-up)Showtime: 10 pm. The BFC Cabaret brings together elements of circus, sideshow, vaudeville, burlesque, and cabaret to provide a stage for some of the most talented performing artists in the world. Jugglers, clowns, acrobats, and trapeze artists share the stage with musicians, magicians, dancers, daredevils, and more. Each show features a unique combination of acts, but all promise a legendary lineup of circus feats, sideshow marvels, and world-class entertainers. The New York Times said of the BFC Cabaret: "It's old-fashioned variety entertainment of the sort Ed Sullivan so astutely scooped up, but with twists."

Bindlestiff Family Cirkus presents Cavalcade of Youth
at Henry Street Settement/Abrons Arts Center, 466 Grand Street, New York, NY.
Sunday March 26, 2006 and Sunday April 2, 2006
3 pm showtime Tickets: $15 ($10 for those under 21)
The performers of tomorrow steal the stage today! Bindlestiff Family Cirkus presents a special showcase for young variety performers, ranging from amateurs to world-class professionals. Juvenile jugglers, diminutive dancers, adolescent acrobats and a host of other moppets and mummers present a full show of vernal vaudeville. Acts range from debuting amateurs to world-class champion performers—all under the age of 21.

Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Variety Show
at Makor, 35 West 67th Street March 19, 2006
The Bindlestiff's are bringing a bit of downtown entertainment uptown. More details coming soon.

Book Release Events featuring Bindlestiffs
Trav S.D., Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Advisory Board Member, has just released a hysterical and histrionic history of Vaudeville, No Applause, Just Throw Money: The Book That Made Vaudeville Famous. Not only does the book include the Bindlestiffs, book release events include a few Bindlestiff appearances:
* Saturday, March 4, 4pm: Brooklyn Public Library: "Brooklyn Vaudeville Past"
* Saturday, March 11, 4pm: Brooklyn Public Library: "Brooklyn Vaudeville Present"

Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Summer Tour (mostly Northeastern United States)
Thirst for excitement? Dying for a night at the Cirkus? Yearning for an ice cold beer? Well, you're in luck! This summer the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus and Magic Hat Brewing Company team up to satisfy all your thirsts! Coming to over 35 cities, form Maine to North Carolina, the long awaited Bindlestiff Family Circus East Coat Tour hits the road in June, July and August. To celebrate the launch of the Magic Hat Summer Variety Show 12 Pack, The Bindlestiffs will be rolling into a town near you with a classic variety show that promises something for everyone: circus, sideshow, vaudeville and burlesque presented in unique Bindlestiff style. Don't settle for any pale imitations! The cast features an All-star lineup of founding members of America's best travelling variety show--Scotty the Blue Bunny, David Didd, Philomena and Mr. Pennygaff, joined by Aussie circus sensation Dizzy Lizzie, musical guest stars, and other surprises! Stay tuned for more details. Coming to a Town near you!

Seeking young acts to be a part of this Year's Cavalcade of Youth
Wanted: contortionists, jugglers, magicians, puppeteers, ringmasters or mistresses, tap dancers, singers and musicians, clowns, aerialists, rope spinners, wire walkers, sideshow marvels, and other entertaining folks. Ground or aerial; solo, partner, and group acts are welcome! If you'd prefer to help out behind the scenes, that's great too. Take this opportunity to learn basic theater production skills of all kinds, including sound and lighting operation, set maintenance and construction, rigging, costume and make-up design, front of house management, and show promotion. Our staff of theater professionals is ready to invest its talents in the next generation of variety performers. You help us; we'll help you. No experience necessary if you're willing to work! Sign up now! Must be under 21 years of age.
To find out more or sign up to perform, please contact Cavalcade of Youth Director Viveca Gardiner at 212.989.4718 or Viveca@PlayfulProductions.com.
To find out more about Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, call 1-877-BINDLES or see www.bindlestiff.org.

Seeking Acts for Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Cabaret
We are always looking for amazing talent to take part in the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus. For over ten years the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus has presented some of the best variety acts working today. This show is unable to bring artists in from out of town, but if you are coming through New York in March or April and are looking for a good excuse to play New York, let us know. We will not be holding auditions this year, however,tapes and promotional material can be sent to Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, PO Box 1917, New York, NY 10009.

Bring the Cirkus to your town
We are currently seeking venues to host the 2006 Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Summer Tour. We are looking for venues that are Cirkus friendly and ready to serve pints and Bottles of Magic Hat Beer. The larger the stage the grander the show. For booking details email Stephanie at stephanie@bindlestiff.org

Volunteer and/or intern with the Cirkus
Bindlestiff is seeking volunteers and interns for all New York events. If you are interested in being a part of show email Ellia at ellia@bindlestiff.org.

Bindlestiff Family Cirkus on DVD coming soon.
For over ten years the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus has been presenting its unique blend of Circus, Sideshow, Vaudeville, and Burlesque and you will soon be able to take the Cirkus home with you. Produced by Alan Plotkin this documentary highlights the travels, trials and evolution of the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus. Warning: Video may contain risque material. Stay tuned for actual release date, early bird specials, ordering info, and public screenings.

Keep the Variety Arts Alive Here at BFC headquarters we're already thinking about spring. We have a new season of shows coming up, and some big changes on the way. As we raise funds for publicity, marketing, management, costumes, rehearsal space, technical support, and equipment, we come to you, our fans, friends, and donors, with our annual appeal for your support. Every donation is greatly appreciated, whether it is five dollars or five thousand dollars. With your help, Circus, Sideshow, Vaudeville and Burlesque continue to thrive despite the rising costs of insurance, gas, props, publicity, legal fees, moving costs, storage, venue rentals...
Donations can be give on-line at http://www.bindlestiff.org or by sending a check or money order to Bindlestiff Family Variety Arts, Inc., PO Box 1917, New York, NY 10009. You can also donate online at http://www.bindlestiff.org/donate.html
Bindlestiff Family Variety Arts, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization devoted to the preservation and evolution of the variety arts.
Bindlestiff Family Cirkus PO Box 1917 New York, NY 10009 1-877-BINDLES

Three Whitetail Deer were foraging under the feeders in the back yard. More snow melted than fell yesterday, so there was plenty of greenery to graze on too.

New and Updated! Theater X-Net

Featuring: Ida Rubinstein Belle Epoch Russian/Parisian beauty.
Read more about Ida in Sisters of Salome by Toni Bentley

Visit: Michael's Montana Web Archive
Theater, Art, Flash Gordon, Funky Music and MORE!

Webmaster Blues: I have some links and images yet to fix on the above sites, but the changes are in gear.

Charity Alert: Keep that resolution! Click on The Hunger Site every day.

Media Watch: Jillian (Warry) Barbarie and John Zimmerman are leading everybody on Skating with Celebrities. Todd Bridges fell down in his performance and was the first one voted off. Soon the Winter Olympics will be televised and we'll see some REAL skating! Zimmerman's wife is on the Italian team, and home ice has it's advantages. Let's see -- Deborah Gibson was entertaining. (I have always admired her determination.) Kristy Swanson got better. Dave Coulier and Nancy Kerrigan were fairly flat. Ex-Olympic jocks Tai Babalonia and Bruce Jenner were better too.


Jillian Barbarie (Left) injured a groin muscle during practice for the second week's number. It looks like there will be more bumps and bruises during this show. John Zimmerman (Right) looks like he's thinking, "She got through the routine ALIVE!"

SUSPICIONS CONFIRMED -- I was outside filling the feeders when the Sharp-Shinned Hawk chased a Finch into our cedar tree and caught it. They must have been flying over 30 MPH! The alternating snow, clouds, and sun pattern continues.

Updates later this week: Theater X-Net

Featuring: Ida Rubinstein Belle Epoch Russian/Parisian beauty.
Read more about Ida in Sisters of Salome by Toni Bentley

Visit: Michael's Montana Web Archive
Theater, Art, Flash Gordon, Funky Music and MORE!

Charity Alert: Keep that resolution! Click on The Hunger Site every day.

Media Watch: Let's go for the superficial stuff first!
Dancing with the Stars -- Cheryl and Drew stayed, as did "Tina Sparkle." Master P and Ashley Del Grosso must have generated some sympathy votes like ours -- they will come back. Newscaster Giselle Fernandez, who topped George Hamilton in the comedy department on Thursday, came in last. Too bad -- we liked the Soap Opera Lady the least this time.
NFL Football -- The Denver Broncos were out-muscled by the Pittsburgh Steelers at Mile High Stadium. The Seattle Seahawks made cat skin rugs out of the Carolina Panthers in Seattle. Pittsburgh's veteran running back Jerome Bettis AKA "The Bus," is a sentimental working-class favorite with much of the nation, myself included. He's retiring from this very rough game before he's permanently crippled. For his sake, I'm rooting for the Steelers over the Seahawks, even though I once lived in Seattle. The Superbowl will be in Bettis' home town of Detroit. Sad to say, but Frank and Jillian's final diversions of the season weren't worth describing. (Barbarie will get a few mentions in the near future as I follow Skating with the Celebrities, though.)


Giselle Fernandez during her tango with Jonathan Roberts
She may be off the show, but her quick wit won't be forgotten.
Book TV -- Einstein on Race and Racism was a surprising program. The two authors not only told the story of Einstein's support for Civil Rights in his adopted country (my own), but how this information has been suppressed and censored over decades. He was friendly with then-controversial 'radicals' like W.E.B. DuBois and Paul Robeson. He joined the N.A.A.C.P. and attended their meetings in the segregated town of Princeton, New Jersey. He lobbied on behalf of anti-lynching legislation, and other life-affirming activities which got him placed on Hoover's FBI watch-list. There always seems to be more to admire about this remarkable human being.
Another program was about the book Mastermind by Daniel Charles, the subject of which was Fritz Haber, the German chemist who created and oversaw the use of poison gas in World War One. To Haber's credit, he also made large-scale nitrogen fertilizers which enabled the post WWII "Green Revolution," for good and bad. He was born a Jew and converted to Christianity. He tried to excuse his deadly weapons of mass destruction as a patriotic act, rather than the hideous corruption of science and technology that it was. When Hitler came to power Haber was forced to flee his Teutonic military masters because of his genealogy. The Nazis later used Haber's commercial insecticides on his cousins and other human beings in the death camps.
Some dense or misguided audience members tried to categorize he and Einstein together in the Q & A session, but the author made it clear that Einstein was always courageously working for peace, while Haber saw warfare as a business opportunity. Einstein DID help solve some aeronautical problems which helped the German air forces in WWI, and wrote a letter warning FDR about the certitude of the power of a Uranium bomb in 1941, but he didn't participate in weaponizing anything in either case, and always counseled against the stupidity of war. From his letters, there are reasons to believe that Einstein regretted the few interfaces he experienced with governments and their militaries.