Ulysses' Crewmen: 8 p.m. Curtain Today at Gone Wired Cafe

The Milwaukee-based Insurgent Theater has been winding its way through the Midwest with its performance of "Ulysses' Crewman." Today, Sept. 22nd, it arrives in Lansing, Michigan, for an 8 p.m. curtain at Gone Wired Cafe. The performance is free and open to the public, though the Peace Education Center welcomes any donations to help the effort.

I've been looking forward to the performance for a while now. The troupe's blog, documenting the behind-the-scenes details at each stop along the way, is very interesting and adds to the anticipation. The venue -- the room at the rear of Gone Wired -- is perfect for this show because the audience sits right in the middle of the performance. Expect a very intimate theatrical experience.

I plan to get there a little early, grab a cup of coffee from Colleen, and get a good seat. Theater fans and activists -- hope to see you out there.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

Preview of Insurgent Theatre's newest play: "Ulysses' Crewmen"

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Heard Here First: Jindal - Palin 2012

My Mardi Gras evening was spent discussing Leonard Peltier at Gone Wired Cafe.  Must say, Colleen's got the cafe nice and comfy with the new seating configuration.  It's gotten even better to relax, drink your choice of brown water (coffee or tea, that is), and have a good chat about current issues, if not surfing or tweeting on The Internets.

I scampered home just in time to catch President Obama's address to Congress.  It was easy to tell that partisanship is still hanging thickly over the institution.  Numerous times the Republicans were real slow -- almost grudgingly slow -- at rising from their seats to applaud specific points from the president. There were outright catcalls in when the elimination of earmarks was mentioned.  Overall, the speech did not break new ground in the President's plan for the country.  Incredibly, the television showed some members of Congress jockeying to get the autograph from the President as he exited the Chamber.

I thought the night was over until - gaak! - Bobby Jindal came on the tube to give a rebuttal.  Contrary to the positive-spin build-up for Jindal on NPR today, his presentation and appearance was, well, less than positive.  While he basically espoused the tired Republican mantra "tax cuts, tax cuts, tax cuts," all I heard was "deficits, deficits, deficits." (Spend-and-borrow Republicans don't change, do they?)

I got the impression that Jindal is truly the standard-bearer of the Republican opposition.  My immediate tweet reaction was three side fist pumps and shouts of "Yesh! Yesh! Yesh!"  I immediately imagined a Jindal - Palin ticket in 2012.  They'd deserve each other and represent the Republicans well.  Do the Republicans have a political training academy 

to churn out these types of hapless "leaders"?  If so, I'd like to donate to it.

I was so inspired, I created what I hope is the first rendition of a Jindal - Palin '12 bumper sticker.  Feel free to print it and paste it on the bumper of your car.  It may not stimulate the economy, but it might stimulate some knowing smiles.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

Jindal - Palin '12 Bumper Sticker

            

Music Video: History is Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Turn your sound up and hit play. This is the music video using the pictures from the Election Night Celebration at Gone Wired Cafe. It's a feel-good week all the way around, let's enjoy it now before we get down to business.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED!

Obamania: Gone Crazy @ Gone Wired Election Night

Here are photos of the crowd reaction at Gone Wired Cafe in Lansing, Michigan on the night of Barack Obama's presidential election win.

The Big Blue - Obamania Rises on Election Night

The evening is electric here at Gone Wired Cafe as the gathering crowd watches the election returns roll in. One by one, Republican Senate seats are falling and Obama is picking up steam as Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and more are going Obama Blue. CNN Live -- the Internet projected on the cafe's big screen (natch) -- is showing scenes from Chicago as our Midwest cousins are gathering by the thousands at the Obama Campaign HQ. But the feeling is coast-to-coast. It's the feeling of optimism and of community.

I walked the streets of south Lansing (Michigan) today, helping the Obama campaign get out the vote. Change was in the air. I was knocking on the door of one likely voter when he pulled into his driveway. He said he waited 90 minutes to vote and wasn't shy saying he cast his ballot in favor of Obama. He added one key observation: Another voter approached the line at the polls inquiring about the wait. Informed that it was 90 minutes, the guy said "It's not worth it" and started to walk. Before he got away, he was asked who he supported and admitted to being a John McCain supporter. "Buh-bye." The McCain guy didn't bother to vote.

I still predict we all will wake up tomorrow to a new challenge and a responsibility to turn this country around. Bring it on.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

Obama Tickets Go Fast at Gone Wired Cafe

I am making this quick post between breaks at the JazzFest, as the Peace Education Center and GLNAWI are sponsoring a peace tent. Word spread quickly last night at the JazzFest about the Obama ticket giveaway at Gone Wired Cafe this morning at 9 a.m. I drove by the cafe last night at about 11:50 p.m. to see if anyone was lining up. The cafe doors were open and I saw a couple sitting in the chairs outside. It turns out, those people were the first in line for tickets.

I got up early this morning and got to the cafe at approximately 7:30 a.m. and already there was a line of people about 5 blocks long winding through the neighborhood behind the cafe. It was quite a scene. I snapped a number of photos and conducted some video interviews. You can see all the photos posted here. I will probably begin posting my video interviews tomorrow morning. So please stop back to check it out.

Ok, I gotta get back to the JazzFest. If you come out to Lansing's Old Town tonight please stop by the peace tent and say "hi"!

-- Rico Thomas Rico

Again the photos can be viewed here:

http://www.flickr.com/gp/9000299@N07/08z87G

Obama Supporters Having Fun Waiting in Line