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Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in bensong1's LiveJournal:

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    Friday, March 6th, 2009
    2:25 am
    Roommate wanted in Brooklyn near Prospect Park
    I was going to post this a long time ago (bad friend, bad), and now it's pretty last minute. A friend of mine is looking for a new roommate in her apartment on Parkside Ave. in Brooklyn near the Q train. The rent is $750/month + utilities. You'd have your own bedroom and share living room & kitchen. She's a very interesting and fun person.

    If you're interested, let me know right away and I'll put you in touch with her.
    Friday, February 20th, 2009
    4:06 pm
    OMG, OMG, OMf*****gG!!!
    I don't get easily shocked, at this point, when it comes to injustice in the "justice" system (horrified, yes, but not shocked anymore) but this managed to do it.:

    "As many as 5,000 children in Pennsylvania have been found guilty, and up to 2,000 of them jailed, by [Ben's edit: at least] two corrupt judges who received kickbacks from the builders and owners of private prison facilities that benefited. The two judges pleaded guilty in a stunning case of greed and corruption that is still unfolding."

    http://airamerica.com/blog/2009/feb/19/amy-goodman-jailing-kids-cash-0
    Thursday, November 27th, 2008
    7:11 am
    Corrected: Final CircleSinging event of the series this Tuesday in Brooklyn & brief update
    Edit: So this Tuesday is obviously December 2nd and not the November date that was here earlier. That's what I get for trying to cut, paste, and edit when I'm sleep deprived.

    Here's the corrected version

    I've been doing a lot more teaching than performing lately. In addition to this series, over the last year I've gotten to teach CircleSinging and Vocal Improvisation workshops in Boston, the Catskills, Maine, West Virginia and Washington State (where I'll be again next month, this time teaching an advanced class for a group of jazz singers in Seattle). I'm also being asked by choruses to lead CircleSinging workshops for them. The first of those will be happening in January. I've also been putting together a (still to be named) Vocal Improv performance group with some incredible singers.

    I do have a couple of NY/NJ area performances coming up:

    1) A house concert in a beautiful Soho loft at 1pm on Sunday, Dec. 21st.
    I'll be one of the solo performers and this will also be the debut of the aforementioned Vocal Improv group. If you're interested, you'll probably have to RSVP for at this one, so get in touch with me for details if you'd like to come.

    2) I'll also be one of the performers at Wicked Faire IV: The Chocolate Factory in Whippany, NJ. Feb. 20th - 22nd. I'll probably be doing mostly vocal looping with some singer/songwriter stuff mixed in.

    But first, this coming Tuesday will be the final evening of CircleSinging in the First Tuesday series that I've been running this Fall. It's been a such a pleasure to do and we've made amazing, beautiful music together. I hope to be able to get another series going soon but for the moment, this is it. This is a completely open event. Anyone who doesn't want to participate as one of the singers can be audience. Either way, it's a powerful experience (and some may just change their mind and join us in creating these pieces of improvised music).
    Details, a description of CircleSinging and a short bio for me are behind the cut )
    4:22 am
    OMG - That is so funny!
    How is it that SNL, after many years of being really bad and unfunny (at least on the rare occasions that I would bother to check it out) to being ridiculously funny again? A and I must have watched this segment at least 3 times, laughing hysterically.

    I'm talking about the bit they did about the AIG bailout(s) during the Weekend Update Thursday edition from October 9th. The news facts were all real and accurate (at least as I understand them). What's so hysterical is their reactions to those facts. They reflected my own (and I'm sure, so many other people's) reactions, so brilliantly, that it was quite cathartic.

    The bit in question is 14 mins and 19 seconds in, which is a little over half way through the middle section. When you click the link it'll say "Select an episode below". Ignore that. It'll then play a commercial, after which it will start playing the show. The debate sketch at the beginning is funny enough, but old news already. If you want to skip the earlier parts of the show, click just past the middle of the middle segment (they'll play another commercial before starting that segment, unfortunately, but at least it's short.) Let me know what you think. (I know; a lot of you probably saw this a month and a half ago, already. So I'm lagging.) I suspect that even (or perhaps, especially) the libertarians among you will be on the same page with me on this.


    http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/episodes/?vid=742181#vid=742181
    Monday, November 3rd, 2008
    5:17 pm
    Slogan
    G came home from school working on coming up with a campaign chant. I told him about the gaffe McCain made with his little parody of the Beach Boys song "Barbara Ann" and suggested using that to replace a phrase in what G had come up with. The result:

    Says Obama "Yes We Can!"
    Says McCain "Bomb Bomb Bomb Iran!"
    Friday, September 26th, 2008
    5:59 pm
    Monthly Circlesinging events in NYC
    Over the next few months, I'm going to be leading a series of Circlesinging events in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Details and description of Circlesinging behind the cut )
    Tuesday, September 9th, 2008
    7:48 pm
    So what's the plural of "allele", anyway? When they discover the existence of an allele, do they give it a name?

    ("Before we go any further, I need to know... Have you had your allele screening?")

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/01/AR2008090102087.html

    Current Mood: amused
    Friday, September 5th, 2008
    1:25 am
    Interesting background on Palin via a letter from her hometown: http://www.crosscut.com/politics-government/17341

    Thanks [info]yesthattom for this.
    Tuesday, August 19th, 2008
    6:45 pm
    While I'm here on LJ, it occurs to me that I should probably post something about a really cool vocal improv gig that I'm part of tonight at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe on the off chance that any of you might be able to make it at the very last minute. Here's what my friend, Kate Richards (who I'm sitting in with along with several stellar singers), wrote up about it:

    Kate Richards with Frank Wagner and Friends
    Tuesday, August 19, 2008
    8 PM - two sets
    Nuyorican Poets Cafe
    236 E. 3rd St. between Aves. B & C, New York
    $10 cover, no minimum

    The "Women Take the Bandstand" series at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe presents singer/songwriter Kate Richards with Frank Wagner on bass, and special guests, on August 19th, at 8 pm.

    Kate Richards worked the New England coffee house circuit in the 90's as a solo folk artist and in a captivating duo with guitarist Jonathan Carroll (currently living in Oregon). She also collaborated with Barbara Shepard and Kriss Santala in a vocal trio in New Haven, playing Toad's Place and street festivals. After a 10-year stint as a music therapist, she returns to the stage with veteran bassist Frank Wagner of Primary Colours, www.modalmoods.com, for clear and powerful renditions of some familiar standards and a few surprises. Her originals lean toward the folk/country genre and that's where her voice soars.

    For the second set, Kate will invite special guests [including Andrea Wolper, Alexis Parsons, Ben Silver, Kendra Shank, Laurie Newell, Nik Munson, Steve Sandberg, Tia Hanna] to join her for a dynamic and extraordinary improvised vocal performance. Using some of the structures they've learned from Rhiannon and Bobby McFerrin, this group will create musical compositions in the moment - 100% improvised.
    2:02 pm
    Immediate Work Opportunity in NYC (and Boston work from 8/22 to 28)
    If you know anyone who could use work today and/or tomorrow in Brooklyn and/or next week in Boston, please forward the message below to them -- it would help out my friend [info]punzel, who is staying with us while she does the NY part of this job and had the person that she had hired fall through. I did a couple of shifts with her yesterday and had a good time. She's fun to hang out with.



    From: [info]punzel
    Subject: HELP WANTED this week in Brooklyn, NY


    Hello! I'm visiting Brooklyn on a fun summer job, and I need help with it.

    Please help me hand out prizes this week, ASAP, August 19th-20th in
    Brooklyn. Fun for an outgoing person who tends to smile and likes to
    talk to strangers. Technically, it's marketing, but it's fun
    marketing that makes people want to talk to us. Each "event" is two
    hours long and up to 3 events can be done in one day. The work pays
    $20 per 2-hour event.

    I was scheduled to do this work early this week but
    my teammate is not available and I need to find replacement(s). Ideally I need people who will commit to working 2-3
    shifts on the same day, but anything is better than nothing. All
    work is done between 7am-7pm (store hours).

    The job includes identifying winners, giving away sweepstakes prizes
    and asking short voluntary surveys of the winners and a few
    non-winners. Some of the "events" will be quiet/slow and some are
    busy/exciting (it's unpredictable). Some of the time the job is just
    sitting/standing around chatting and hanging out with each other
    and/or with the store staff, who are friendly and often offer
    complimentary bottled water, soft drinks and coffee. The tasks that
    we do are not complicated and if you are able to talk with people and
    write legibly, you're qualified. Since we are handing out prizes,
    you MUST be over 18 to do the job.

    Work is outside and mostly in the shade, requires standing on your
    feet for most of the day. (Rest for 15-45 minutes between the
    "events," at our option. if you want to crank through the day and
    take shorter breaks, we can do that.)

    There is a uniform. I will provide a uniform T-shirt, and I have a
    few sizes of men's or women's khaki pants, but it's easier if you
    already have your own khaki bottoms. Shorts, pants, skirts, and
    cargo-style are all fine. Wear comfortable, plain, solid-color
    black, brown or white closed-toe shoes. (Sorry, no pink flip flops
    with purple ribbons!)

    I have a car and will drive us between locations. In some parts of
    Brooklyn I can even pick you up and drop you off at your doorstep. I
    have a cooler in my car that can be shared, and I have lots of snacks
    (from healthy/raw to salty/sugary/junk), which you are welcome to
    enjoy while you work with

    me.

    Please comment at [info]punzel if you would be available to
    work, and include what day
    or days you might be available. If you know someone with a flexible
    schedule or who needs very short-term or IMMEDIATE employment/income,
    this might be just the thing to forward on to them. Your help is appreciated.

    THANKS!
    [info]punzel
    </lj>
    Thursday, July 3rd, 2008
    6:26 am
    Almost 3 months later
    I think this is the first time I've been on LJ in close to three months. It's been a very busy time. On any number of occasions, I've thought to log in for a few minutes to check my friends list and then the idea seemed daunting - where would I start. I decided to wait until I had a bit more time (ha).

    There were a few things that I posted here with the intention of posting follow up entries (well, many over the years) and maybe I'll still get to some of them At least I've finally put a more current photo up (I only first shaved off my hair last August).

    So, in my last entry before this, I challenged people to punctuate: "lucy where kwame had had had had had had had had had had had a better effect on the teacher" and I screened comments to avoid spoilers for folks that might want to figure it out (and to create some fun suspense - overkill much?). Well, [info]tactisle got it right away and I never got back on to unscreened his comment, which I'm about to do now. I'm also about to put the answer in comments here, so it can be found in either place.

    Hmm, maybe I'll even get around to telling what happened that was so amazing that night in March - we'll see.
    Thursday, April 10th, 2008
    11:56 pm
    Can you punctuate the following string of words so that they make sense? I'll screen comments initially to give people a chance to get it themselves.

    lucy where kwame had had had had had had had had had had had a better effect on the teacher
    9:42 pm
    From an AP article of about an hour ago titled "Cheney, others OK'd harsh interrogations":

    The officials also took care to insulate President Bush from a series of meetings where CIA interrogation methods, including waterboarding, which simulates drowning, were discussed and ultimately approved.



    From Antony and Cleopatra Act II, Scene 7 (in which Menas and Pompey were discussing Marc Antony, Octavius Ceasar, and Lepidus, with whom Pompey had just make a treaty):

    MENAS.
    These three world-sharers, these competitors,
    Are in thy vessel: let me cut the cable;
    And when we are put off, fall to their throats:
    All then is thine.

    POMPEY.
    Ah, this thou shouldst have done,
    And not have spoke on't! In me 'tis villainy:
    In thee't had been good service. Thou must know
    'Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour:
    Mine honour it. Repent that e'er thy tongue
    Hath so betray'd thine act: being done unknown,
    I should have found it afterwards well done;
    But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.
    Thursday, March 6th, 2008
    2:43 am
    Last night (Tuesday) was amazing! I'll probably elaborate later but for now I need to get some sleep.
    Monday, September 17th, 2007
    2:11 am
    Looking for tips on negotiating new cell contract after completing old one.
    Our Verizon cellular contract has been up for a while and I remember seeing an entry that someone posted here on LJ some time (maybe a year) ago about having negotiated much better terms based on having completed their prior contract. We're probably going to be calling in the morning to set up a new contract and increasing our family plan from two to three phones (I think the extra line will cost $10 more a month and share whatever number of minutes we'll already be paying for).

    If the person that posted the aforementioned entry (or anyone else) sees this and is up for making any suggestions about how we talk with them to take advantage of the fact that we could just switch carriers if we wanted to at this point (and keep our numbers) if we wanted to, it would be quite welcome. What sort of favorable terms are we in a position to ask for (lower rates than those advertised, for example)? I'm already expecting that they'll offer us free new phones as a part of the deal for tying ourselves to them again for 2 years.

    Any suggestions?
    Saturday, September 1st, 2007
    4:24 pm
    I really need to get some new photos up here. I look very different.
    Tuesday, February 27th, 2007
    2:32 pm
    Anyone want a couple of hours work this evening @ $20/hr?
    My friend, Beth, is at the tail end of moving and is looking to hire someone this evening for 2 to 2 1/2 hours at $20/hr to bring carpet tiles and possibly some bags of garbage (if there's time and energy after the carpet tiles) from her former Park Slope apartment down to the street (two flights of stairs). If you're interested, you can reach her at BeEmGeebrklyn@aol.com

    By the way, anyone want some old carpet tiles? ;)
    Saturday, October 21st, 2006
    12:11 pm
    Brooklyn Peace Fair tomorrow (and Legacy's playing)
    The 4th annual Brooklyn Peace Fair will be happening from 11am to 5pm, this Sunday, October 22nd at the Brooklyn Campus of Long Island University (1 University Plaza at Flatbush and DeKalb Avenues). In addition to Legacy (we'll be on the "Justice stage" from 11:15 - 11:35 am), Sonia Sanchez, Michael Massing, Medea Benjamin (of Code Pink), Evelyn Harris (of Sweet Honey in the Rock) are amongh the speakers and performers listed. There will be 2 stages and about 7 workshop spaces (with about 6 or 7 workshops to chose from during most hours. A few of the workshops listed here )

    This is a free event and childcare will be provided (w/ some cool activities & wksps for the kids, too).
    Friday, September 1st, 2006
    8:05 pm
    Saturday, August 19th, 2006
    8:04 am
    Siddhartha Gautama
    You two would probably really get along!
    Founder of Buddhism

    "All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If mind is transformed can wrong-doing remain?"




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