Despite a 1931 lifestyle the last year had its moments, and on top of that the heat is back on. Unitheism is taking hold— at least two or three people visited the site this year (even if only to gawk at the spacemaids) and better yet the universal faith symbol itself (faithsymbol.org) is starting to really take off.

The symbol is free for non-profits, and painting is still a bargain even if a bit steep for the Paducah pocket-change market, so had to down-scale income projections for the next five years to no more that $5-10m tops. Thus figuring for taxes, etc. have had to recently mitigate hopes vis-à-vis a really cool castle in France.

Do expect though to be able to manage two new elements for the electric stove, as well as paint for the walls and ceilings of the main galleries, front and rear. Also still owe the framer considerable, and would like very much to relieve that obligation.

In regards to the stove lights, their loss is mostly my fault. Cheap home ranges are not designed for use as boilers for heating while the gas is off, or for use as a foundery for smelting in the various metallic arts (in this case for the fabrication of anklets, for the adornment of young ladies).

If you’ve ever blown a stove element it can however be an experience of considerable beauty— a hot spot develops which for a few seconds burns as brightly as an incandescent bulb and then fades. The aggravating thing is that it seems they’re fairly expensive— guess this poverty-meister will find out soon enough.

Speaking of high cost, the only cooler thing to blow is a car engine. Years ago this child of Indy was on his way to visit the hometown in his old Dodge Coronet, on I-70 headed East toward the state line, when the motor suddenly seemed to get louder, sounding like it was leaving its mount and going over the roof of the car towards the rear.

It didn’t really free itself from its bolts— that was just an auditory illusion. The car came to a stop whereafter a tow was had, winding up trading the vehicle itself for the towing fee, and catching a ride to pick up a bus out of Terre Haute.

The ongoing problem child though was and is the Rotoball light effect, having spent more time on the bench than dancing under it. Now it is down to either finding a replacement rotary contact or ditching it for parts and scrounging a new one on Ebay. The EMI Rainbow on the other hand has only required new bulbs, available locally.

Still dreams for a disco focus on the former center light, with the intention of surrounding it with ceiling mirrors to double the effect. Also yearned for are some kind of roving spot, maybe a bank of strobes and/or lasers, and smoke and bubble machines— all controlled, as well as the sound, by a pocket remote, for the benefit of the maidens.

Speaking of romance, a number of beautiful, intelligent, vibrant women of all ages are already in the range of sight, and a couple of them even return calls.

To aid in this endeavor a modest attempt has been made in the entertainment industry. A weekly routine, when rides are to be had or walking is feasible (as usually it is, other than during the season of Winter) is open-mike nights— Tuesday at Jeremiah’s, a restaurant and pub, and Fridays at Etcetera, a coffee house in Paducah’s Lowertown Arts District.

In each of these places, for a period of but five or six minutes, the audience is regaled by a selection of haiku, or hikues— mostly humorous and sometimes philosophical. The response has generally been favorable, and a bit of a following, or fan base, is already discernible.

Besides getting art revved back up, plans for the coming year include launching the Salvor Initiative (salvor.org), a non-supernaturalist approach to the problem of an afterlife. Aspects go way beyond current means, so for now it must remain a speculative ideation. Still dreams (like going into space) are often the fountainhead of a later reality.

In short, by the time— hopefully in the distant future— that this artist finds out about salvor in the most immediate way (in other words, kicks the bucket) one half of friends will think of me as a genius, and the other half as a harmless but lovable kook. Have a great New Year!

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2008
Real Choice in ‘08

The candidacy of Barack Obama offers a chance for intrinsic change, not that any redirection from the current administration wouldn’t be welcome. Obama has plans for universal medical insurance starting with children, bottom to top economic relief, and an end to all but the most necessary war, operating with— not in spite of— the world.

All taxes and government spending are a redistribution of wealth. It’s not a question of whether or not we are redistributing wealth but how fair the taxes and redistributions are. When the rich are given breaks there are some trickle-down benefits for the rest, but more efficient to start with the rest and let some of it trickle up.

Some say they are worried about a legislative and executive branch in the hands of a single party, that our country was built on the principle of checks and balances, yet those same people then complain that government is inherently ineffective and that change is impossible. There is another check, the ballot box— the election after this one.

Based on the signs at his rallies, McCain’s slogan is “Country First.” In these dangerous times shouldn’t it be “World First.” Just as in antebellum days it was state first, after which we progressed to country, it’s time now to further expand our concept of the human community and advance to world. Obama is the man with that kind of vision.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2008
Heather Ryan on KET

Last night Heather Ryan, Democratic candidate for the First District of Congress, appeared on KET to debate her Republican opponent, incumbent Ed Whitfield, who declined the invitation, submitting a short prepared statement instead.

Via digital receiver the audio for the entire program was weak and of poor quality. Despite this technical problem and Heather’s relative lack of experience campaigning and debating, she came off as enthusiastic and upbeat about the future of the nation and her ability to represent Western Kentucky and make a difference in Congress.

Other than her stance on a couple issues, such as refusal to consider some form of nuclear energy (which even Barack Obama does not rule out) if needed in addition to solar, wind, etc. for national self-sufficiency, her program— especially for improved health care— is forward-thinking and a better choice in this difficult period.

Whitfield’s statement included a list of accomplishments, a surprisingly modest set considering the length of time served. In fairness the audio was poor on his portion as well.

Heather is considered a long shot against an entrenched incumbent. Yet it is interesting what KET filled the rest of the hour with— a Revolutionary War documentary about Washington at Trenton and Princeton, ten of the most important days in world history.