The Big Sky is bright this morning. Our famous Going-To-The-Sun Road was all but clear last week, but guess what...? Weather waits for nobody's permission! Ducklings range in size from three to a handful to about six inches -- mixed groups of mothers, chicks, and drakes are paddling around the lake or feeding onshore.

Sax Legend Maceo Parker at: Theater X-Net

Starring: 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!
NEW! Spitfires of the Spaceways
Watch Dale Arden rescue Flash Gordon for a change!

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

Sitemeter Sez: Natalia Kanounnikova's fan in Settimo, Italy -- up there in the Piedmont region, skated by; "make it funky" ... pbs was the subject of a search from Unknown, USA; Rogers, Arkansas came by looking for bodybuilder Mickey Hagarity and found him on a Something Weird video collection; Every Sunday a bunch of gawkers look for Tanya Memme, but it appears like Google is sending them to the right page at last. (Pssst -- she's in the May archives.)

Theater/Theatre: The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus Calendar:
Bindlestiff Family Cirkus in a Spiegel tent in NYC -- This September the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus will be presenting shows throughout the month under the Big Top. Come down to the South Street Seaport in Manhattan and experience a grand spectacle featuring the Bindlestiff's amazing blend of Cirkus, Sideshow, and Vaudeville in a memorable circus setting, a Spiegel Tent.
(What the Hell is THAT? Ahhh -- from http://www.spiegeltent.net : A European Mirror Tent - the ultimate cabaret and music salon'.
Spiegeltents are hand-hewn pavilions used as traveling dance halls, bars and entertainment salons since they were created in the early 20th century. There are only a hand-full of these unique and legendary ‘tents of mirrors’ left in the world today. Built of wood, mirrors, canvas, leaded glass and detailed in velvet and brocade, each has its own personality and style.
The most beautiful of the last remaining Belgian Spiegeltents, The Famous Spiegeltent, was built in 1920 by master craftsmen Oscar Mols Dom and Loius Goor. This Grande Dame has spent her lifetime at the bequest of festivals and fairgrounds throughout Europe and beyond, playing host to the world’s greatest cabaret artists, musicians and circus burlesque performers.
Since Marlene Dietrich sang ‘Falling In love Again’ on The Famous Spiegeltent stage in the 1930’s, its magic mirrors have reflected thousands of images of artists, audiences and exotic gatherings.
The Famous Spiegeltent is the very essence of a festival club, ‘kabaret salon’ and intimate concert hall. Like every old theatre, her ghosts travel with her, woven into ballooning velvet canopies, circular teak dance floor and stained, cut-glass windows. Her intimate booths, ornate bar and beveled mirror columns hold a million secrets while her glorious Art Nouveau chandelier, or trapeze rig, swings overhead...)

Bindlestiff Family Cirkus and Magic Hat Summer Variety Tour Schedule and Details:
Wednesday June 14 Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial 719 Catharine Street, Philadelphia PA Showtime: 8PM Admission: $20 $15 for members and those in circus costume/ clown makeup Bindlestiff will also be offering Cirkus skill workshops. Info: http://www.fleisher.org
Saturday 6/17 and Sunday 6/18 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Manchester TN Preservation Hall Tent Contact: http://www.bonnaroo.com/2006/
Monday, June 19 and Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Dark Horse Theater, 4610 Charlotte Ave., Nashville, TN 37209 Show time: 7 pm Admission: $15 / $10 for clowns in make-up Info: 615-297-7113 / darkhorsetheater.com
Wednesday June 21 Future of Tradition, 129 Roberts Street, Asheville NC Show time: 9pm Admission: $15 Featuring a Costume Contest! Dress in your Festive Finest Info: 828-232-2980 www.futureoftradition.com/index.html
Thursday, June 22, Friday June 23, and Saturday, June 24, 2006 The Garage, 110 West 7th Street, Winston-Salem, NC Show time: June 22 at 8 pm. June 23 and 24 at 10 pm. Admission: $12 advance / $15 at door / $10 for clowns in make-up Info: 336-777-1127 / www.the-garage.ws
Sunday, June 25, 2006 The Visulite Theatre, 1615 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte, NC Show time: 9 pm Admission: Tix $15 day of show, $12 in advance or with costume. Also featuring a costume contest. Info: www.visulite.com / 704-358-9200
Monday, 26 June, 2006 King's Barcade, 424 S McDowell Street Raleigh, NC Show time: 10 pm Admission: $10 Featuring a costume contest. Dress in your finest Cirkus costumes. Info: 919-831-1005
June 28 2006 The Flying Anvil, 219 W Lewis Street Greensboro NC Show time: 9pm Admission: $15/ $10 for costumes ( plus $3 membership fee) Info: 336-275-7526
Thursday, June 29, 2006
The Birchmere, 3701 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria, VA Show time: 7:30 pm Admission: $19.50 Tickets: Ticketmaster.com or to charge call (202)397-SEAT Info: 703-549-7500
Friday, June 30, 2006, Saturday July 1, and Sunday July 2 Spiegel Palais, Summerscape 2006 at Bard College's Fisher Center, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY Show times: 6/30 at 8:30 pm; 7/1 at 1 pm; 7/1 at 3:30 pm; 7/2 at 3:30 pm; 7/2 at 8:30 pm Info: 845-758-7900
Thursday, July 6, 2006
Iron Horse Music Hall; 20 Center Street, Northampton, MA Show time: 7 pm Admission: $18 door, $15 advance, $10 for costumes/ clowns Info: 413-584-0610
Friday, July 7 and Saturday, July 8, 2006
Basilica, 110 South Front Street, Hudson NY Show time: Friday at 9 pm, Saturday at 10 pm, Saturday All Ages Matinee at 4 pm Admission for Friday and Saturday Night: Ticket $20, $15 for students with ID (18 and up)
ALSO Saturday Matinee All Ages Family Show will be presented July 8 at 4 Tickets $10 or $25 for families.
Monday, July 10, 2006 Cumston Hall, Theater at Monmouth, Main Street, Monmouth, ME Show time: 7:30 pm Admission: $20 / $18
Info: 207-933-2952 www.theateratmonmouth.org
Thursday, July 13, 2006 Chameleon Club, 223 North Water St., Lancaster, PA Show time: 8 pm Admission: $10 / $8 for clowns in make up Info: 717 314 5683 / chameleonclub.net
July 14, 2006 123 Pleasant Street, 123 Pleasant Street, Morgantown, WV Show time: 10 pm Admission: $15/ $10 for clown makeup or circus costumes Info: 304-292-0800 http://www.123pleasantstreet.com
Saturday, July 15, 2006 Creative Alliance at the Patterson, 3134 Eastern Ave, Baltimore MD Show time: 8 pm Admission: $16 / $13 CA members and students Info: 410 476 1651 / www.creativealliance.org
Sunday, July 16, 2006 Sycamore Rouge, 21 West Old Street, Petersburg, VA Show time: 7 pm Admission: $15 / $10 clowns in make-up
Info: 804-957-5707 / www.sycamorerouge.org

Bindlestiff Family Cirkus PO Box 1917 New York, NY 10009
1-877-BINDLES http://www.bindlestiff.org



Fire-breathing Ringmistress Philomena -- The story goes: She and Mr. Pennygaff met while working at a New York restaurant, and began their relationship blowing fire in the alley behind the kitchen.

MORE rainy late-Spring weather under the dark old Big Sky. Eastern Kingbirds are fluttering around the fields by Little Foy's Lake. I spotted two families of Canadian Geese on my way to work today in Firehouse Pond, and took some photos on the way back. (Posted 6/13/06)

Sax Legend Maceo Parker at: Theater X-Net

Starring: 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!
NEW! Spitfires of the Spaceways
Watch Dale Arden rescue Flash Gordon for a change!

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

In The Community: Sunday at the Hockaday Museum of Art again! We had some visitors from rural Alberta who LOVED what they saw, and some North Dakota travellers who were pleasantly surprised at the quality of our museum. I also had to catalog and condition some signed Thomas Hart Benton books we have on display. I played Ken Burns' PBS documentary in the background.

Sitemaster Sez: New Jersy was looking for sideshows and found the Bindlestiff Family Cirkus in the archives. Someone else was looking for current Rolling Stones backup singer Blondie Chaplin, and found my essay about the Beach Boys -- Chaplin sang the lead on one of my very favorite records by that group Sail On, Sail On, Sailor!

Media Watch: Who wants to see any more of THIS? Pathological liar John Stossell whoring one of his stupid books on CSPAN. The man who coined the term "Junk Science" is it's leading practitioner. Leslie (Wolf) Blitzer interviewing an obviously scared and powerless Iraqi minister, as if either of them knew how to pour piss out of a boot by reading the directions on the heel.
There's always NPR -- St. Paul Sunday is spontanious and different. Their news programs often try to inform us, but they are bound by many of the suppressive paradigms that cripple other mass media.



Canadian Geese and their Goslings on Firehouse Pond

Rainy late-Spring weather under the Big (gray) Sky. We have Goldfinches nesting nearby too.

Funk Overlord Maceo Parker at: Theater X-Net

Starring: 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!
NEW! Spitfires of the Spaceways
Watch Dale Arden rescue Flash Gordon for a change!

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

Sitemaster Sez: Palm Harbor, Florida stuck around and read for awhile -- they also found Tanya Memme. Other visitors -- Belgrade, Serbia read about Ida Rubinstein and Rabat, Morocco was looking for Indian actress Rimi Sen, star of Hungama.

Media Watch: Jon Tester's victory in Montana's Democratic primary election for U.S. Senate made national news. He'll be up against the very well-funded Conrad Burns, whom Abramoff and the Northern Mariannas sweatshop owners bought a few years back.


Shakira Isabel Mirabel Ripoll is a major Pop star who was born in Colombia, and has been recording since 1991. She is a natural brunette, and a pretty good dancer. I saw her on VH1 this morning singing with Wycliff Jean on her video Hips Don't Lie. Sometimes entertainment itself is art, 'cause fun is a good thing!

It's 6 6 6 today! Let's call this the Gog and Ma-Gog Blog -- if you can't have some fun with that old superstitious nonsense, I feel sorry for you. (see below)

Funk Overlord Maceo Parker at: Theater X-Net

Starring: 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!
NEW! Spitfires of the Spaceways
Watch Dale Arden rescue Flash Gordon for a change!

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

Sitemaster Sez: North Holland, Sweden, and a buncha USA voyeurs -- Tanya's in the May archives, and she's lookin' 'atcha like you're a FOOL!

Media Watch: NPR and CNN both had stories about statistical aspects of 'road rage' this morning. The former redeemed itself by an in-depth story about stem cell researchers in San Francisco.


Gog and Ma-Gog Agog! Devilish Emperor (Charles Middleton) Ming enjoys an interplanetary floor show in his palace -- starring the Just Imagine Dance Revue from Planet Mars (1930), followed by an uncredited swing-and-sway lady from Planet Mongo (1940). The Mistress of the Ma-Gong signals Armageddon, or at least the arrival of pesky Earthpeople like Dale Arden, Dr. Zarkoff, or Flash Gordon -- breaking up the revelry.

Scaring people to death and despair for over two thousand years!
Read about the whole Apocalypse of John thing in Wikipedia.
Scholarly quotes from Revelations of John (King James Version, 1604): From Rev.13 ... [9] If any man have an ear, let him hear. [10] He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
[11] And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. [12] And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. [13] And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, [14] And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. [15] And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. [16] And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: [17] And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. [18] Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
From Rev.16 ... [12] And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. [13] And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. [14] For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. [15] Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. [16] And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. [17] And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. [18] And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. [19] And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. [20] And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. [21] And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
From Rev.20 ... [1] And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. [2] And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, [3] And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. [4] And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. [5] But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. [6] Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. [7] And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, [8] And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. [9] And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. [10] And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. [11] And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
[12] And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. [13] And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. [14] And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. [15] And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Spotted Sandpiper just buggin' about on the log this evening.

Funk Overlord Maceo Parker at: Theater X-Net

Starring: 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!
NEW! Spitfires of the Spaceways
Watch Dale Arden rescue Flash Gordon for a change!

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

Sitemaster Sez: Italy stopped in TWICE to read about Natalia, the ice-skater -- they found her picture on the second try, but spent some time reading my other Late May/Early June entries. (Grazzi!) There was a Sell This House marathon on A&E, and we got a lotta lookers sneakin' into the wrong page again. (Tanya's in the May Archives!)

Media Watch: Sometimes reality is ugly -- the Haidditha massacre dominates the news lately. If you can't stand that kind of stuff, Celeb-reality started a new show on VH1 called Super Group -- Ted Nugent and Dave Mustaine, are in the cast, but I'm not watching those things any more. I am not really fond of Think You Can Dance?, either -- I don't mind seeing the GOOD dancers, but the rest is too painful to be entertaining. Simon Cowles' Inventor contest was the opposite of fun for me, but my wife was watching it, and there were moments she wanted to share -- that was cool, but I left the room right afterward.
Noam Chomsky was on CSPAN, speaking at West Point. Hostile speaker -- hostile crowd, but everyone acted reasonably politely to each other.

We Need Something Completely DIFFERENT: I've been in touch with Funkmeisters Gabe Gonzales and Greg Boyer through the magic of email. Greg is on the road with Maceo Parker RIGHT NOW around the Great Lakes. Gabe's in Detroit, waiting for the call to play with the 420 Funk Mob in New England this month -- these are members of George Clinton's P-Funk All-Stars stretching out on off-days. (Ex-members when they include Gabe.) By the way, check out George Clinton and Walter Cronkite tag-teaming Dope Dawg Decades at Huffington Post!



The 420 Funk Mob is a smaller ensemble that George Clinton's entourage of 20+ singers and players. Original Funkadelic Billy "Bass" Nelson is often on-hand, and Michael Hampton plays one of the LOUDEST guitars in creation. Greg Boyer has declared Gabe Gonzales to be one of P-Funk's best drummers. Michael "Clip" Payne usually leads the singing, but who knows who'll show up? Sometimes Ronald "Stozo da' Clown" Edwards is behind the mic! (FYI -- Jen Durkin used to sing for another great ex-Funkadelic, my friend Bernie Worrell.)

The weather blows hot and cold in late spring up here! We finally spied the Canadian Goslings on Firehouse Pond -- big yellow fluffballs on the islands.

Funk Master Bernie Worrell at: Theater X-Net

Starring: 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!
NEW! Spitfires of the Spaceways
Watch Dale Arden rescue Flash Gordon for a change!

VIEW: Dope Dawg Decades, my latest entry to the Huffington Post Contagious Festival!

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

Theater/Theatre: It's OFFICIAL! I'm on the list of volunteers for Footsbarn's 35th Anniversary Celebration. There will be 250 artistes from around the world, and 10,000 people coming to watch them from August 9 to 13 in Central France. I'll be leaving on July 27th, and will be back in the office on August 16th.
I had a long conversation with manager John Kilby last Friday morning -- they'll feed me, but I have to bring my own tent or shelter. I asked him to investigate how much it would cost to rent a camper -- that will give me some mobility. We'll see...


La Chaussee -- home of Footsbarn Theatre, photographed from the air. I'll be staying and working here in early August, 2006!

In The Community: I'm doing Sundays at the Hockaday Museum of Art this June. We have the Montana Painter's Alliance exhibit, and a collection of Thomas Hart Benton's lithographs, plus a couple of VERY nice paintings by Jackson Pollack's aristocratic mentor -- who HATED "Bug House Painting," and was appalled when his favorite student became America's foremost bug house artist -- uh, Abstract Expressionist.
The reception last Thursday was wonderful -- almost all of the exhibiting artists showed up -- Benton couldn't be with us 'cause he died over thirty years ago!

Sitemaster Sez: Somebody came by searching for Jacobs' book The Narnian, about C.S. Lewis. They didn't stay long -- maybe they didn't like my opinions -- whatever, Till We Have Faces, A Myth Retold is STILL Lewis' best novel, and you can keep his inferior Narnia books, after the first one. IMHO

Media Watch: Have I mentioned The Best of Web Junk on VH1? That show makes me laugh out loud -- Patrice O'Neil, the Executive Producer/Host, swears about every other sentence as he comments on each bit of bizzare video. He's bleeped out, of course, but nobody is unclear about his words. His timing is excellent, as one expects from a stand-up comic, and it makes a vast difference -- some of those video clips show people who swear more than O'Neil (!!!)
Other clips range from pathetic, to strange, to BLOWN-OUT -- like the cop who shoots himself in the leg with a Glock pistol as he's demonstrating gun safety to a classroom full of children.
I know a beautiful lady named Patrice O'NEILL (two L's) who produces quality video programs in the San Francisco Bay area with The Working Group. She did a PBS film about the Flathead Valley here, called The Fire Next Time, which showed some of the serious results of indulging hate-mongers. (They're NOT harmless, folks!)