The Friends of California Libre...

30 June 2003

The Fourth of July or Four Hundred Thousand Lies

Greetings, friends,
I've been feeling a little down lately, and not because of the wildfire (anybody been to Africa lately?) we're spreading. I need the full moon, which always smiles on me, to beam down. I need the distraction of friends with moist glasses and big grins. So let me dig into my Felix-like bag of tricks...

The arty types know that the LA International Biennial Art So-and-So is this weekend, but if you have any specific event you'd like spread around, by all means send it to yours truly.

For those near Echo Park, the Lotus Festival is, yes, this weekend as well.

If you are near Venice Beach on Friday, I'll recommend this:
11 July, Friday - 7:30 PM
CIVIL LIBERTIES IN TIMES OF TERRORISM: ARE THEY DEAD?
FEDERAL APPEALS JUDGES STEPHEN REINHARDT and ALEX KOZINSKI, with STEPHEN YAGMAN
A tough, liberal federal appeals judge, appointed by Jimmy Carter, STEPHEN REINHARDT has been called the brilliant, most liberal judge in America; ALEX KOZINSKI, appointed by Ronald W. Reagan, has been called a brilliant conservative, but is he? Both cherish America's liberties. Moderator STEPHEN YAGMAN, a federal civil rights lawyer, is Beyond Baroque's new resident legal scholar. The discussion will be lively and irreverent, and not what you'd expect to hear from judges of the court just one step from the U.S. Supreme Court

If anyone is interested in saving the Ambassador Hotel on Wilshire Boulevard from demolition by the School District, they are having a public meeting this Saturday at 10 AM. It's at Virgil Middle School (near Beverly and Vermont) and I am going FOR SURE if you've a like mind.

P.S. The political portion of this screed begins after this next nutty bit.

I also like to keep you posted with events out at the Integratron (in Landers near Joshua Tree NP.) For all of you who think this is just silly fun, that doesn't diminish my respect for anyone who thinks it sounds like their cup of tea:

"SUMMER CAMP FOR GROWN UPS"
SPECIAL OVERNIGHT RENTAL PACKAGES
Hey, remember Sleepaway Summer Camp? Well, it's back and it's for YOU. For those who have only dreamed of spending the night in the energy machine, maybe this is your season to cleanse & tune your "interior landscape." Check out these overnight packages and see if there's one that pulls you and your friends to the vortex:

MATRIX UNPLUGGED Overnight 4pm-11am
$50 per person Weekday (3 person minimum) $75 Weekend (4 person minimum)
Includes:
Specially blended teas for the Integratron experience
Iced Unplugged Tea with Kava Kava, St. John's Wort, Gingko and Gotu Kola
Nighttime Dream Tea with Mugwort (for dreaming)
Group Sound Bath w/Singing Crystal Bowls
Plate of Delish Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies
Relax poolside (bring your dinner) and overnight in the Integratron

Summer Spa Overnight Fasting Retreat 4pm-11am
$65 per person Weekday (3 person minimum) $80 Weekend (4 person minimum)
Includes:
Specially blended teas for the Integratron experience
Iced Unplugged Tea with Kava Kava, St. John's Wort, Gingko and Gotu Kola
Rejuvenation Tea with Fo Ti, Siberian Ginseng, Lemon Balm & Peppermint
Nighttime Dream Tea with Mugwort
Group Sound Bath with Singing Crystal Bowls
Plate of Organic Fruits
Abundance of Integratron well water
Relax poolside and overnight in the Integratron

SUMMER SCHEDULE

Public Tours: 12:00-4:00PM. Cost $5 (kids under 12 are free)

July 5,6 and 12,13
August the Integratron is CLOSED weekends for public tours and public sound baths.
Private group tours are available by appointment on weekdays in August.

Regularly scheduled public tours resume September 13,14
Sound Baths: Cost $8 - open to the public; please bring a mat or blanket.
Group Sound Baths will be held Saturdays & Sundays from 4:30-5pm on the following dates: July 5,6 and 12,13
Private Sound Baths & Rentals
Private Sound Bath $45 in the floating sky chair, by appointment.
Private group Sound Baths are $20 per person, minimum of 3 people.

Believe it or not, you can rent the Integratron overnight! For rental fees or information, please call (760) 364-3126 or send us an email and we'll send you a Word document that says it all.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Unplugged Mystical Goddess Retreat - July 19-20, 2003
(Saturday 4pm-Sunday 4pm
"People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out,
but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed ONLY if there is a light from within." Elizabeth Kübler-Ross
The Unplugged Mystical Goddess Overnight is designed for busy women who seek the maximum rejuvenation and relaxation in the shortest amount of time. We laugh, rest, dance, and gain back all that we have given. The retreat includes:
* Sound Baths
* Specially blended medicinal teas, light & healthy meals and, of course, chocolate.
* Rejuvenation meditation, ancient practices for healing and clearing
* Past-life regression and Recapitulation in the Kiva
* Rest and relaxation, swimming and hot tubbing
The environment includes an oasis of eucalyptus trees, fruit/nut trees, organic grapes, pool, hot tub and a sky overflowing with stars in the quiet, expanded Mojave Desert.
Goddesses sleep slumber-party style inside the Integratron in order to take advantage of its powerful healing and rejuvenation energies. (or bring a tent) Deadline for registration: July 15th Cost is $111.

Thank you for all your emails and calls of encouragement. We look forward to seeing you here again soon.
Shine On!
The Integratron Alliance
Nancy Karl
Joanne Karl
Tim Howard
Barbara Lindsey
The Integratron is owned and operated by The Integratron Alliance, a secret, visionary, multidimensional organization with contactsss, dedicated to the preservation and continuing research and development of the Integratron while creating heaven on Earth and a piece of apple pie with everyone.
Integratron
760 364 3126
PO Box 3461
Landers, CA 92285
theintegratron@aol.com

Okay, let's see how the world is collapsing around us...or maybe we're collapsing, and dragging the world down. At least that's what the optimist in me thinks.

A tragic rumination on this subject, how the United States is destroying the legacy of 227 years of its past, recently appeared in the Times:
Abandoning the Past, Mired in the Moment
By Pico Iyer
The Los Angeles Times
http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/070503A.shtml

And this very, very good article about the benefits (and costs) of our close relationship with Israel:
A Costly Friendship
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20030721&s=seale

A lot of people are sending me the "Weapons of Mass Destruction" error message floating around the Internet. Here are the simplest instructions for taking a look at it (and it bears a look, thanks, Geri):
Go to www.google.com
Then type: weapons of mass destruction -
Don't press search!!
Next click the I'm feeling lucky button
Read the whole error message carefully
Happy Independence Day!

But who cares about weapons? I mean, we saved those people from their corrupt and murderous dictatorship, right?
Occupation Forces Halt Elections Throughout Iraq
By William Booth and Rajiv Chandrasekaran
Washington Post
http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/062903F.shtml

The Government only did it for their own good....
10 Appalling Lies We Were Told About Iraq
By Christopher Scheer
AlterNet
http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/062903G.shtml

And if you're wondering how much this dastardly occupation is costing us, check out the following web site (thanks, Miles):
The Cost of War: http://www.costofwar.com/

The lengths to which the beasts running the show will stoop to is evident in this piece of news:
Washington Blackmails over International Criminal Court
Le Nouvel Observateur
Friday 04 July 2003
http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/070703H.shtml

This one as well, child-snatching murdering war criminals:
Military Recruiters Get School Directories
Pentagon says it needs to fill the ranks, but critics complain about aggressive sales pitches
By Douglas Holt
Chicago Tribune
http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/070703E.shtml

And guess what, it's our problem here in Los Angeles:
Blame Bush for California's Budget Woes
by Robert Scheer
The Nation
http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/070603C.shtml

A great article in the Economist about how California got into its present mess can also be found here:
http://www.economist.com/world/na/displayStory.cfm?story_id=1897472

Okay, if you ever considered a career in journalism, you will enjoy this little game on how to succeed in the American press (thanks, Miles):
http://www.sparko.com/news/vj.htm

And now for something completely different...
Remember Robert Anton Wilson, co-author of the Illuminatus Trilogy, master of the conspiracy theory? He back (thanks, Mike) and he has something to say:
http://www.rawilson.com/thought.html

And finally, if you're kind of a policy wonk and like to read long, detailed articles about the legality and methodology of humanitarian interventions (i.e. Iraq, Somalia, Liberia etc.), here's a nice long article in the Nation:
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20030714&s=forum

Vive le Screed!

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