From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=332">Whispermist</a><BR>
Date: 23 August 2001<P>

Echolocation: (Batting eyes rapidly) Why thank you!  Do we put rum or tequila in this mix?
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=16">kevin urenda</a><BR>
Date: 23 August 2001<P>

Re: Chris' Bayou Summer and Chris and Misti's Mermaid in the Garden<BR>
<BR>
I think it is asking more than a little much of someone who takes writing words as seriously as Gala does to beg her forbearance in the face of such obvious slaps to her work (no matter how poorly or well written they are).  To publicly parody someone's work when there is a history of ill will there (or did you actually forget, Kirk?) seems to me to have really crossed the line.  This has always been a generally civil place.  I am sorry to see that the sensibilities, and yes the sensitivities, of poets here have finally been sacrificed at the altar of free expression.  I used to think that could never happen here.  Now I see that I must have been dreaming for the last three years.  <BR>
<BR>
There are reasons why so many excellent poets have left this place since I first came here in 1998.  And harassment has been one of those reasons (and looks to be once again).  I know for a fact that more than one poet whose work I admired and greatly esteemed left here because of harassment of a much more overt nature.  And they are SORELY missed.  The Blender is a lesser place without them, just as it will be without Gala.  Most people here would probably have absolutely no idea who I've alluded to - so to mention their names would break a confidence pointlessly.<BR>
<BR>
In the end, to excuse the motives of people who are hateful (not to mention having a history of bad behavior - HERE) merely because their work is not overtly mean-spirited (although I think that the second poem I mentioned was OVERTLY hurtful) is to condone such bullying behavior.  And that hurts everyone.  Is this no longer a civil place?  I am deeply troubled and saddened by this.<BR>
<BR>
But then, who am I other than a whisper in the wind?  When this post has passed from the Blender Board into memory, I too will be forgotten (if I have not been already), won't I?
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=9">Madison</a><BR>
Date: 23 August 2001<P>

hi Kevin, pull me up a chair please?  .....  I remember one of the worst poems I'd ever written (you don't forget those, ha).  I didn’t even realize it at first, seemed all clear to me but God was I wrong.  It lacked everything and _was_ everything that was confusion, goofy, and mush.  But ya' know, we aren't always at our best, bad week/bad day sometimes, or maybe even a too good week/too awesome day, what can I say.  And sometimes we’d just like to experiment with a new style (it’s called growth).  So I’m talking about ummm, about a year ago, and after posting this poem I’ve since alt-deleted, I was stupefied (same condition I must have been in when I wrote it) to realized just a day later that it was parodied, and not in a pretty way.  I never said a word.  I guess I felt like mentioning it would just create more havoc, make me look like a weenie, and fuel whatever tank some pour soul needed filled to thrive on cruelty (I know the difference between healthy criticism and abuse).  But I'm mentioning it now, only to support what I know someone else must be going through.  I mean, someone could have said "eh Madi?  that poem really sucked, you might consider reworking it" and I could have reacted "cool.. let me take a second look at that"  But to take the time to sit down and rip it apart in mimic, you know whoever does that is sitting there getting grins out of it, there’s got to be some kind of enjoyment factor there.  I’d not ask anyone to leave, every artist has their own special quirks, but hey, lighten up a little maybe?  My words will probably be laughed at over coffee or Mr. Pibb this morning, and it doesn’t really bother me at all.  Same reason I never said a word before, I consider the source.
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=9">Madison</a><BR>
Date: 23 August 2001<P>

hey scqueen and Gala, I reposted that poem (thanks for asking) and now that I look at it, I threw a return/enter on the wrong space of a line, and it sounds like I'm out there picking up body parts by the ocean.  haha.  want to do a parody?  
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=8">Ali</a><BR>
Date: 23 August 2001<P>

Madi~ Damn girl...Your poems knocked me clear off my chair...Amazing work, girlie...=)<BR>
<BR>
Love and surprises, Ali
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=2">scqueen</a><BR>
Date: 23 August 2001<P>

Thank you, Madi ~ fingertips and all :-)
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=29">~Harem~</a><BR>
Date: 23 August 2001<P>

Hey ~<BR>
I was told to leave this alone....<BR>
But sometimes when I have something to say,,,,<BR>
I just got to say it....<BR>
And I hope that it will not be taken the wrong way....<BR>
Ok... here goes......  *gritting teeth<BR>
<BR>
If young people enjoy listening to music that was created before their time.... ie: Sinatra, The Mills Brothers, Pink Floyd, Prince, Tommy Dorsey, Bing Crosby, etc., etc., that doesn't make them old fuddy duddy's - anymore than if mature people enjoyed listening to the new age music that appeals to the younger set, would make them goofy kids....<BR>
<BR>
Each age, and each era, has had their music immortalized by the musicians, singers, and styles that was unique to each era....<BR>
<BR>
And yet at the time that they were new and popular, there were those parents, who put the music down, calling it anything from trash - to sinful and wasteful.....<BR>
<BR>
In the 20's, the Charleston, took the young people by storm.... Their parents thought that it was indecent, and much to risque.<BR>
<BR>
The 30's and 40's ushered in the Big Band era.... where the tempo began to liven up, and parents were often embarassed.<BR>
<BR>
The 50's brought in Elvis, Rock and Roll.... hip gyrations, and drum beats attributed to the african culture.  Many parents listened with disgust, and even the cameras were not allowed at first to capture the movements of elvis, below his chest.... The older audience in general was appalled at what was happening to music. Many called rock and roll, downright sinful.<BR>
<BR>
The 60's brought in the Beatles, and groups with what they considered "long hair", which horrified some parents.  Songs began to have cute and silly themes and titles.  The kids were thrilled, and some parents contended that the music was stupid, meaningless and silly. And so the 'Oldies' got their birth.   <BR>
<BR>
The 70's and 80's brought in heavy metal, and punk rock, and shouting and screaming, musical lyrics with obscene gestures.... singing of drugs, sex and violence.... everyone endured... the parents frowned... and the kids loved it.....<BR>
<BR>
Not sure where rap got its exact start....  But some hate it, and others love it.....<BR>
And I have sat at traffic lights, where the booming from other cars shook my rear view mirror, and made my temples throb....<BR>
<BR>
Each era.... has music, songs, singers, musicians that have changed the way we think, feel, sing, dance, romance and move..... Some that were once hated, despised, ridiculed, blushed at, avoided, and banned, have in the years following them.... become immortalized, cherished, bronzed, and almost virtually worshipped....<BR>
<BR>
Think of how many parents disliked the music that their children listened to in ages gone by.... only to find them virtually worshipped in the decades that followed, and found themselves humming or whistling their tunes, long after the performers were gone.....<BR>
<BR>
And so with the Backstreet Boys, and a lot of modern day performers, who are considered music only for 8 year olds to listen to.....<BR>
<BR>
And yes there is a lot of sound and noise that blares through the speakers of our radios, that is not worth being classified with the greats, and never will....<BR>
But every era,  every age, has had its brilliant artists that were not appreciated at the time they came into existence, and often despised by the older audiences, who were resistant to change. These very same artists later became household words in music....<BR>
<BR>
*she now gets off the podium....<BR>
   satisifed.... and not too concerned with the repurcussions.....<BR>
<BR>
*sigh       <BR>
<BR>
smile and remember..........<BR>
<BR>
p.s. even poets, writers, and painters who were considered with inferior potential, whose words were considered mere dribble at the time of their writing, whose paintings were considered mediocre at the time of their conception...<BR>
are today revered amongst the ranks of the "GREATS"....<BR>
The genius of the world....<BR>
<BR>
~Harem~
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=12">Tanqueray Cowboy</a><BR>
Date: 23 August 2001<P>

Madi,<BR>
<BR>
I liked "Angel Man"... the beach is a great place to be in love, isn't it?<BR>
<BR>
Made me miss Port A. very much.<BR>
<BR>
~tc<BR>
<BR>

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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=9">Madison</a><BR>
Date: 23 August 2001<P>

thanks Tanqueray ~  I always miss the beach, too.  I accidentally butchered a line when submitting that one, hate to resubmit over one little boo-boo, so if you'd care to see it in the right (ocean)flow, you can find it here:  http://home.austin.rr.com/poetica/angelman.html  I've totally enjoyed the works you've been turning in, great writing.
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=4">TJ Holland</a><BR>
Date: 23 August 2001<P>

WOW! Harem....<BR>
<BR>
That was a LONG post! LOL! Anyway, as straightforward as I am about things, I grant the same for others. And I have to say, I agree with your litany of music and the generation gap. I have observed these things too. I, myself, enjoy a large range of music, from classical to punk and all that lies between. Indeed, I even enjoy some works from artist that share the Backdoor Boys' genre. All the points you made are very valid, but all I was saying is...I hate the Backyard Toys', is all. LOL! Sorry if I hit a nerve with ya, and prompted all that angst that was poured into your comment (to the degree of having someone tell you to just leave it alone). WOW! <BR>
<BR>
-Teej
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=328">Rhetoric</a><BR>
Date: 23 August 2001<P>

T.C and Madi ~<BR>
<BR>
  Am I to learn that you are both Texas residents?  T.C.: Is Port A - Port Aransas?  I am a former Bay City, Victoria, Corpus Christi, and Austin lover.  I miss Texas.  Texas is heaven on earth - and the bay at C.C. is wonderful at night with all the houses on Ocean Drive.  I live up in Virginia now - hills, not sand and trees, not water.<BR>
My childhood and early adulthood were spent hopping around <BR>
those cities looking for trouble to be found.<BR>
<BR>
Send me some of the lazy summer nights, if ya could!<BR>
<BR>
Rhet
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=268">Misti</a><BR>
Date: 23 August 2001<P>

Kevin~<BR>
I stopped thinking of fellow Blender regulars as friends a long time ago, but I'm wondering why you leave such positive, kind comments at my blog and then trash me and my husband on the Board. You know, it's really of no consequence. Like I said, any illusion I had that I actually had friends here was shattered quite some time ago. The only person who acted admirably when I lashed out at the Blender community was Dee and she had more reason than anyone to be upset with me. Regardless, most people here know what Gala has said about me at xanga and on this Board and I don't regret the parodies. I realize how dangerous it is to poke fun at the "Most Popular" person of any community. Bah. I'm not trying to earn brownie points here. I am who I am. Bye.
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=29">~Harem~</a><BR>
Date: 23 August 2001<P>

To TJ Holland ~<BR>
I sit here with a big smile on my face....<BR>
and wonderful vibrations from you !!!!<BR>
<BR>
Thanks so much for replying to my comment..<BR>
and most of all Thank you for being YOU !!!<BR>
<BR>
You give me warm fuzzy feelings, and I can tell<BR>
that you are a pretty WONDERFUL person !!!<BR>
<BR>
You made my day !!!<BR>
<BR>
~Harem~
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=29">~Harem~</a><BR>
Date: 23 August 2001<P>

To Ali ~<BR>
<a href="/blend/wv.cgi?id=2001.08.23.16.26.23518">This Whirling Storm</a> was great....<BR>
<BR>
So much truth about the effects of silence....<BR>
and how some fear closeness, and run from it....<BR>
and the unpredictability of some...<BR>
and how we might hurt others, to prevent from being hurt.<BR>
<BR>
Excellent!<BR>
<BR>
~Harem~
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=4">TJ Holland</a><BR>
Date: 23 August 2001<P>

I CANNOT figure out some men! What tha hell??? I just signed my divorce papers, invited the ex to a nice 'let's be mature' goodbye lunch and have formed plans on how the next 3 years or so are going to be for the kids and I...and what does he say?? He says "I am leery of lunch with you. I know you are cold about this divorce, but I feel like a piece of my soul has died with this. I am hurting and I feel like a fool. Write me an e-mail and tell me what you want to talk about so I don't come unprepared for any topic and have my heart crushed." !!!!???!!! This?? This...from a man who asked for this divorce, got a girl friend, (the order of which is undetermined as of yet) ignored my pleas to reconsider separating, refused to consider working it out, then changed his mind...twice!! (but refused to dump the girlfriend "because I don't want to do that until I know it's gonna work out with 'us'.")...and when I am finally through with it, moved on, and satisfied.... he says I'M COLD, and that he's hurting!! OMG!!! Any takers on guessing what the hell this guy is about? (laughing my FUCKING ass off!!)<BR>
<BR>
-Teej
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=1">Kirk, Blender-Keeper</a><BR>
Date: 23 August 2001<P>

TJ: Wish I knew.  I've never been through anything so traumatic as a divorce, but sometimes "the heart does not know from logic".  It's not impossible that he's being sincere about shifting, shimmering, dazzling feelings; it's not impossible he's trying to manipulate you.  <BR>
<BR>
Ok, this whole Gala/Misti thing.  Kevin, what would you have me do?  Grab my censorin' pen (or keyboard) and start deletin'?  Perhaps issue some really sternly worded tongue-clucking?  That's not the kind of role I want for myself on the Blender.  <BR>
<BR>
The Blender community is almost entirely a self-created thing.  I put up some technology that's a bit of a tabla rosa.  I invested a lot of time and some money to make this an easy to use and useful forum for works and commentary (the reward being a little attention and sometimes gratitude.) The Blender community has proven rather resilient over the years, as a whole.  Individual people may come and go, and a few I really distinctly miss, but overall I'm content with the way the thing has grown.<BR>
<BR>
This whole Gala/Lakes thing has gone on for a while, on this site and off.  (Usually I'm mercifully only barely aware of the ill-feeling that exists, since I've decided to position myself as the custodian of the Blender, not as its teacher or guidance counselor.)  In the past I've been impressed by works on both sides, Misti for the earth and Gala for the sky.  <BR>
<BR>
Anyway.<BR>
<BR>
On a nicer note, I have few other techie chores I need to get to real soon now... Let people edit their user info (mildly, things like public e-mail), add in a URL field for that for people's homepages. I'd also like to start that workshopping page.
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=254">chris</a><BR>
Date: 23 August 2001<P>

Kevin...c'mon! First of all, putting parody on the same level as harassment is in and of itself offensive. Read Swift. Read Pope. Read Alice Randall's take on 'Gone With the Wind'. Etc.! I find it pretty alarming whenever any writer--especially one who takes their words as seriously as you do--even implies that another writer be censored. <BR>
<BR>
It's true; I've made no attempt to hide my extreme dislike for Lisa Shields, Gala, whatever. Ever since her truly vicious (and unprovoked) attack on my wife in a public forum, I've had little use for her. She has never offered an apology to Misti. And we're not holding our breath waiting for one, either. <BR>
<BR>
All I can say is that no one should be above parody--not Lisa, not me, not anyone. Literary works should be judged by their literary merits (or lack thereof). Period. Thanks for the evenhanded approach, Kirk.
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=8">Ali</a><BR>
Date: 23 August 2001<P>

Isabella~ Damn girl! Whew! Loved you latest poem...I mean, WOW...Way to tell him!! Great job!<BR>
<BR>
Love and dreams, Ali
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=8">Ali</a><BR>
Date: 23 August 2001<P>

Harem~ *huge grin* Thanks!! You made my day!!!<BR>
<BR>
Love and dreams, Ali
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From: <a href="/blend/av.cgi?id=230">Isabella Svenska</a><BR>
Date: 23 August 2001<P>

Ali~<BR>
<BR>
Thanks - now all I have to do is convey that to him in person - wish me luck?  I feel that my most angst-ridden work receives the most praise...what am I to do when I am angstless? *grin*  Thanks again!<BR>
<BR>
~Isabella S.
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