Thoughts of the Moment

Opulent Temple 2008 line up posted

sydgris — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 03:45:17 GMT

If you're curious: http://www.opulenttemple.org

Looking ahead to '08...

sydgris — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 22:44:51 GMT

2008 looks to be another year of silly fun, hopefully... First, re: the state of the Opulent Temple. We are badly in debt from our '07 effort and won't be able to come back without some aid. BUT - we have a great way to help, and that's to share some music with donators from this year and the past. You can now see the whole list of live recordings we have available here: www.opulenttemple.org/otcds.php Please share this link with friends who might be interested. Awesome sets from Lee Coombs, Paul Oakenfold, Christopher Lawrence, DJ Dan, Dylan Rhymes, Hybrid, the Scumfrog, etc. Please check it. Second, re: upcoming fun to consider, please mark your calendars for this action: This Saturday, January 12th : Mephisto Odysey @ Unfiltered Breakz at Shine. $5 Also with new opel resident Dex Stakker, + Smoove and Deckard. Friday, February 8th. West Coast debut of electro house king D. Ramirez. At Ruby Skye. Friday, February 15th. The Rogue Element plays for Opel for the fist time, at Mighty. Saturday, February 23rd. DJ Dan donates his time for the Opulent Temple at this special benefit to help us out. At Ruby. Saturday, March 22nd. Opel 6 Year anniversary, with the Dream Team of tech funk: Meat Katie, Lee Coombs, & Dylan Rhymes all playing together. Yowza. At Temple. That's it for the moment, thanks for your continued support!

Opulent Temple '07 line up posted

sydgris — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 19:26:14 GMT

We've finally posted our line up Hope you enjoy. http://www.opulenttemple.org See you in the desert!

Why do we put so much energy into Burning Man?

sydgris — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 21:15:56 GMT

Some thoughts on this question http://www.opelproductions.com/archives/000212.php and why it happens to be relevant right now: http://www.opulenttemple.org/

How to get a free ticket to Burning Man

sydgris — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 04:16:06 GMT

This is a ploy but not a joke. This Saturday, June 9th :: Opulent Temple Underground :: Funky Dust! The OT returns to it’s regularly scheduled fun-raisers to help raise the temple like never before in BRC '07. For this one we'll be throwing a proper underground with undisclosed location in SF and all night revelry. **As a major bonus : First 250 to arrive will automatically be entered into a raffle to win a free Burning Man ticket with your entry!!!** ~Dirty house, electro and breaks provided by: Syd Gris (Opel / Opulent Temple) Smoove (djsmoove.net / Opulent Temple) ICON (djicon.com / Opulent Temple) Hoj (Opel / djhoj.com / Opulent Temple) Dulce Vita (Opulent Temple) Nathan Vain (Opulent Temple) Jeffrey Allen (Fast Vibes, L.A.) Astro (Opulent Temple) Space is limited so early arrival recommended. When we reach capacity we'll be closing the doors. $15 playafied, $20 normal. We'll also be showing some renderings of our projects this year so you can see what all this is about! Party location is a new underground used just once so far (where Garage Mahal did theirs in April). Big sound, full bar and added bathrooms! Near Mighty @ 17th & Connecticut. Exact address available day before and of party at www.opulenttemple.org or by calling info line at 415.674.9037

Reliable top notch music Saturday at Mighty

sydgris — Tue, 15 May 2007 19:27:24 GMT

Yes, blogging about Thrust on Saturday w/ Lee Coombs and Bassbin Twins. Lee's music seriously never disappoints, covering a range of breaks, techy house and electro. I've heard him lots, but he impresses me every time. Bassbin Twins have been blowing it up as of late, most recently at our Halloween party. This is a special edition of Thrust as Lee's in town for his upcoming wedding. : ) We also have a great cast of supporting talent including Opel rezzies Syd Gris, Hoj, & Melyss, + Soulsalaam (Sao Paulo, Brazil / myspace.com/soulsalaam / Future Juju) Felix the Dog (Groundsore.net), Smoove (djsmoove.net) MoPo (the Fringe - myspace.com / motionpotion) Little John (Raindance) Mozaic (Raindance / Nexus) Tamo (Angels of Bass), and more goodies tba. At Mighty. Cheap $10 pre-sales are still available on our site www.opelproductions.com @ Mighty : 119 Utah St. @ 15th 10pm-4am (there's also some juicy new event info posted - check it out!) Come out for good vibes and great music, 3 dance areas and chill bus. Have a great weekend, hope to see you, ~Syd

Opulent request for participation

sydgris — Wed, 09 May 2007 06:25:18 GMT

Hey friends. The Opulent Temple, the BM camp I help organize, is notching things up with our projects this year and are asking for participation from the wider community outside just the camp members to help us complete 2 ambitious projects. We're looking for folks willing to show up on a couple work days here and there to just pitch a hand around our work space (usually the Box Shop, at the end of Evans in Bayview). No special skills are needed - BUT - if you have welding / metal working skills we could definitely use your help!! We'll be scheduling work days every Sunday from now until the end of June from 12N-5pm and every Tuesday night from 7:30-10:30, also from now until the end of June. Please ping me through Tribe if you want to hear more or your willing to sign up for a shift. We have a lot of fun working and it's a great way to meet other cool peeps, to contribute to the space we're creating and the overall event. Many thanks!!

Lots of Weekend Fun!

sydgris — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 21:13:54 GMT

Hey friends, Happy 4/20 : ) Lots to share... Tonight, Friday: I go on after the Drumattic Twins, main room at Mighty for a Fingerlickin' Thang, Should be huge! Come have a dance. Also with Murphstar, Kramer, Rrrus, Trav. Cheap pre-sales HERE: www.mighty119.com . Should be a great show! Tomorrow night is the Opulent Temple benefit Evocation at the Porn Palace. Please help us raise the temple for year 5, only $10-$15 sliding donation playafied, $15-$20 street clothes. Killer line up includes: Carbon Community (Sober Music / Bless, Dallas TX) Dutch (Thump / Opulent Temple) Ethan Miller (Friends n’ Family) Aaron Jae (Evil Breaks / Space Cowboys) Dirtyhertz (M Theory / Looq) Evinrude (Space Cowboys) Nathan Vain (Opulent Temple) Cosmic Selector (Opulent Temple / Tech Support) Sentient (Opulent Temple / Thump) Jason Knight (djjasonknight.com) Jive (Fix) Dex Stakker (Opulent Temple) Billy Seal (Opulent Temple) At the Porn Palace: 415 Jessie St. @ 6th. (across from Mezzanine) 10pm-5am OT CD’s recorded live from the OT will be for sale including CD’s from Lee Coombs, Hybrid, Scumfrog, Syd Gris, and more. Cant make the party but want to support us? Please make a donation, you can do that through our site here: www.opulenttemple.org/donations.php ALSO! Friday and Saturday from 8-10 is the Think 13 show Balance featuring live music, cirque performance, fire dancing, etc. It's at the Cowell Theatre at Fort Mason. Their last shows at Xenodrome sold out, should be really special. Info: www.think13live.com/ Have a great weekend whatever you do!

Thoughts on the Promises and Perils of Religion in the modern age

sydgris — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 22:42:13 GMT

Easter got me thinking... http://www.opelproductions.com/archives/000202.php

Watch this Message from 'V' : )

sydgris — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 16:39:10 GMT

We created this video for the Opel 5 Year party on 3-17 to replace the midnight ceremony we would normally do. We posted on You Tube, please check it out, comment, and share! We're trying to spread it far and wide. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaPy27c0GEc

My New Age Pet Peeves

sydgris — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 22:54:33 GMT

Thoughts on how movies like 'The Secret' & 'What the Bleep' get it wrong. http://www.opelproductions.com/archives/000194.php

Unlimited guest list action this Saturday @ Ruby

sydgris — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 16:45:09 GMT

Hey folkers, this Saturday, March 24th Alain and I are tag teaming the co-headline spot at Ruby, 2am-close. I know Ruby is on many people's no-fly zone, but I've found if you're there with friends (and especially if you're not paying), it can be quite fun. Their sound system rocks, and we'll be rocking it on Saturday with some electro and progressive going on after Saeed Younan (Younan Music, Star 69, saeedyounan.com). So I have an unlimited G List if you want to consider it an option drop me an e mail: syd@opelproductions.com You have to be in before 12M, but you can show up, get stamped, then leave and come back if you're party hopping. Each name gets a +1 as well.... Come hang out and have no Ruby fears, you'll be in good company. (FYI: There is no dress code at ruby anymore - come as you are.) Have a sweet weekend whatever you do.... : )

Syd on the Radio today at 2...

sydgris — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 19:58:04 GMT

Hey yo, Today at 1pm ...in 10 minutes (!) Alain Octavo and I are the guest dj's on the monthly Air Spundae show on Frisky Radio (internet based: http://www.friskyradio.com ) We each get one hour so I'm pretty sure Alain's set is first, so I should be on at 2 if you want to tune in. It's a portion of my 'Six in the City' set from the Nitevibe Dreamteam Party last month. (You can hear a different portion of it here: http://www.redbullonthemove.com ) + an interview snippet Enjoy the music, hope to see you Saturday.... htp://www.opelproductions.com

Could use some volunteers for free entry to Opel 5 Year this Saturday

sydgris — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 16:55:06 GMT

Hey folkers, We'll be doing some extra special decorating and production stuff for the Opel 5 Year at Mighty on Saturday. (Deets: http://www.opelproductions.com/) If you'd like to help make the party happen (and get in for free of course), drop me a line! We'll be decorating late afternoon on Saturday, or I could definitely use some help with clean up if you're up for that half of it. Going to be a lot of fun, let me know

Report from the TED conference pt 2

sydgris — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 20:01:50 GMT

Wow what a whirlwind... Spent all day yesterday once again at the TED conference in Monterey (http://www.ted.com) Highlight was the giving of the annual TED prize, where the recipient gets to make a wish and ask for support from the TED community to get it done. WInners were Bill Clinton, biologist E.O. Wilson, and war photographer James Nachtwey. Most poignant moment was Clinton's request for help with a foundation he started bringing health care to rural areas, starting with a project in Rwanda. He essentially said, with sincereity, he should have done more to stop the wide spread slaughter that occurred in 1994, and now 13 years later he's using his power to do his part of correction action. It was powerful. Tamo and I dj'ed the awards dinner at a restaurant, Bill came, as did the other winners, Richard Branson, Goldie Hawn, etc. We can say we dj'ed for the president (former, in this case). I really wanted to say hi but never got my chance. He was surrounded by people and left after only a short time. 11:00 on the dot we jumped in the car and raced to SF to make the Ruby show where I closed for Hybrid. What a contrast of worlds. Gotta love it. Some good snapshots of the day I copied from TED's own blog: Former US president Bill Clinton, TEDprize 2007 winner: "Help me in creating a better future for Rwanda by assisting my foundation, in partnership with the Rwandan government, to build a sustainable, high quality rural health system for the whole country, that can then be a model for other countries. We have a chance here to prove that a country that almost slaughtered itself out of existence (while none of us, most of all me, did anything to help) can practice reconciliation, reorganize itself, focus on tomorrow and provide comprehensive healthcare to its citizens." News photographer James Nachtwey, TEDprize 2007 winner: "I am a witness and I want my testimony to be honest and uncensored. I also want it to be powerful and eloquent and do justice to the people I'm photographing." Biologist E.O. Wilson, TEDprize 2007 winner: "I've come on a special mission on behalf of my constituency, the millions of trillions of insects and other small creatures, to make a plea for them. Please keep in mind that if we would wipe out insects from the planet - which we are trying hard to do - the rest of life would disappear within a few months." Author Michael Pollan: "Looking at the world from other species' point of view is a cure for human self-importance." Former Microsoft CTO Nathan Myhrvold: "I have this picture up on my computer screen, and a woman comes up and asks whether that's a Jackson Pollock painting, but no, it's a picture of penguin shit on rocks." VC John Doerr: "I'm scared. I don't think we're gonna make it." (About climate change) Former Nigerian Finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala: "There is an Africa that you don't hear often about, the Africa that's changing, the Africa of people that are taking their destiny into their hands." TED Media Director June Cohen: "The newest digital technologies are returning us to the most ancient form of media — one in which a natural order is restored; our individual stories take center stage, with the rest of the world as a backdrop." Creative Commons founder Larry Lessig: "We have to recognize they kids different from us. We watch TV, they make TV. It is technology that has made them different."

Report from the TED conference pt 1

sydgris — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 07:41:31 GMT

So very randomly, or perhaps serendipitously, got asked to dj a few parties at the annual TED conference http://www.ted.com I hadn't heard of it, but it's pretty cool. Current movers and shakers in technology, entertainment and design. Last night played a Google party at the Moneterey Bay Aquarium. Played in sight of a huge window of water, with Meg Ryan, Forrest Whitaker, Tracy Chapman, and others hanging out. Chatted with Google co-founder Larry Page (and gave him 2 cd's just for good measure) and Thomas Dolby, whose my contat for the gigs. A trip being around so many obviously big brains and interesting peeps. Some quotes from some speakers today, copied from their own blog today. Cassini imaging team head Carolyn Porco: "So there are possibly liquid water, organic materials and excessive heath on Saturn and its moons. Which means that Saturn could be a place were life is possible. If we can demonstrate that Genesis has happened not once (Earth) but twice (Saturn) then we can infer that it has happened hundreds of thousands of times across the solar system". Nobel prize of physics Murray Gell-Mann: "In fundamental physics, beauty is a very successful criterion for choosing the right theory". Psychologist Steven Pinker: "The truth is that our ancestors were far more violent that we are, and today we are probably living in the most peaceful times in history". Computer scientist Jeff Han: "We basically have to un-teach people what they have learned so far about computing, and convince them that they can use several fingers, that several people can work on the screen at once". Architect Philippe Starck: "I believe in general that my job is absolutely useless; but now, after Carolyn and these guys, I feel like shit". Statistician Hans Rosling: "Bring me my sword!" (Rosling is a serious demographer but he is also -- another deadly serious activity -- one of the few sword-swallowers active in Sweden, and he ends his speech swallowing a Swedish bayonette). Still finding time to handle bidness, of course wi-fi everywhere, check these developments: : ) http://www.opelproductions.com/archives/000189.php More tomorrow, when Bill Clinton, Paul Simon, and others speak...

Recommended Viewing: Frontline Series on the Media starts tonight

sydgris — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 17:30:01 GMT

One of the great challenges of our time from further slipping into a subtle police state is the checks the media is supposed to have on government. Frontline examines this in a 4 part series starting tonight, just wanted to highlight it for peeps... POST-9/11 SECRETS, CONFIDENTIALITY, CONTROL: IN A FOUR-HOUR SPECIAL, FRONTLINE INVESTIGATES THE FUTURE OF THE NEWS FRONTLINE presents NEWS WAR Tuesdays, February 13, 20, 27, and March 27, 2007, at 9 P.M. ET on PBS www.pbs.org/frontline/newswar "The battle between the White House and the national media is the battle over who controls the national agenda," commentator Patrick Buchanan tells FRONTLINE. Mark McKinnon, former media adviser to President George W. Bush, agrees: "The Washington press corps for years thought that unless you talked to The New York Times and CBS, that you weren't talking to the American public. Well, that's just not the case anymore." McKinnon feels that it is a White House prerogative to choose its own communications strategy: "Presidents ... ought to determine who they want to talk to and when they want to talk to them," he says. But William Safire, author and former New York Times political columnist, fears that hostilities between the administration and the press could threaten the media's ability to hold government accountable. "The great check and balance that was built into the Constitution is under challenge," he says. "You've got to have a relationship between the government and the press that's adversarial, but not an enemy." In more than 80 interviews with key figures in the print, broadcast and electronic media, and with unequaled, behind-the-scenes access to some of today's most important news organizations, FRONTLINE correspondent Lowell Bergman examines the challenges facing the mainstream news media and the media's reaction in News War, airing Tuesdays, February 13, 20 and 27, and March 27, 2007, at 9 P.M. ET on PBS (check local listings). In this four-hour special, Bergman traces the recent history of American journalism, from the Nixon administration's attacks on the media to the post-Watergate popularity of the press, to new obstacles presented by the war on terror to changing economics in the media business and the Internet.

Crow Sandwich

sydgris — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 18:12:06 GMT

This little blog is intented to ~apologize for any genre bashing in my musing blog on the opel site, apologize for offending anyone, disrespecting anyone, coming off as an authority (I'm not, just opinionated), flippant, ignorant, myopic, or otherwise assholeiesh, a word I just made up. Also, sorry if I left out awesome parties and players in the scene who are doing cool shit I may not know about cause there's only so much time in a week. No disrespect intended. I had no idea so many would read it and care or take seriously what I had to say. It's just one's guy's late night opinion, not well thought out in it's content or reverberations. I seriously underestimated the extent to which anyone would even care. I'm sincerely sorry for the negative reaction it has sparked in some. I also hope in general, that despite bouts of self aggrandizing (sp?), self promotion, self righteousness, and other less than savory efforts to be in the promoter world AND stand up and be counted, and use the platform to reach people as a vehicle for something good, and not just a party, people will give me the benefit of the doubt that my heart is (in general) in the right place. It would be so much easier to be like -most- every other promoter and not muddle the waters with my opinion on things outside, "here's this party with this dj, come hang out." By going outside that formula, I realize I open myself up to taking some hits and I have to be prepared to deal with it. I am, in general, but it's harder than I imagined. Most of my efforts in the scene has been because I love it, and the community that supports it. Much of it has come with serious sacrifice to other parts of my life. If you know me you know this to be true. I hope some careless smack talking that was supposed to be in fun will not undermine that fact. Hope you can accept that. There's my crow sandwich. : )

Nitevibe poll time, consider this...

sydgris — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 23:26:16 GMT

Please support the Opel DJ's in the annual Nitevibe DJ poll, if you feel like it. You know the Nitevibe dealio, we don't win a trip to Disneyland, but it's always nice to be recognized by your community. Please vote HERE: www.nitevibe.com/dt06/page1.asp for Syd Gris, Hoj, and Melyss. You get to pick 5 DJ's, and can vote once per e mail address... I'd also consider supporting Opulent Temple DJ's Dutch, Nathan Vain, Jeffrey Allen or Opel favs Smoove, Jondi & Spesh, Laird, etc.... Vote early and often : ) ..or not....

Sensuelle is good

sydgris — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 18:31:46 GMT

I don't ususally blog about my events anymore, figuring you'll hear about them from all my other promo avenues, but, I'm quite excited about our upcoming Sensuelle party on the 5th. I've been so busy with LoveFest and Opulent Temple I haven't been able to dedicate myself to this but it's come together beautifully with One Taste, Spiral Muse, and holding it at the Porn Palace. Couldn't be better, really. Check the site for the deets. We priced it cheap to make it easy on you: $10 pre-sale, can't beat it! www.opelproductions.com Should be quite tittilating...

What a f**king weekend!

sydgris — Wed, 31 May 2006 00:13:30 GMT

Wow. I've said it before and I'll say it again, you gotta love this town. I'm struggling here on Tuesday to stay sharp and focused on the tasks in front of me. Need a vacation from so much damn fun this weekend, it was epic. Got to open for Tiesto on Friday from 9-12. Then closed the night from 3-4:30. Saturday night was going to just hit some spots, but they asked me back to play again for his Saturday show. So I played Saturday 11-12, and then again from 3:30-4:45. Then Sunday was Thrust, got to open for Lee with totally different music and crowd and but again incredible energy! Surely we are blessed, dripping with peak experience fun and amazing dance music.... Now, time to chill out, go camping, study for my last licensing exam, and prepare for the desert...

BM season heats up

sydgris — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 21:23:12 GMT

After BM last year I said no more fucking sound camps. I just want to be 'normal' at BM for once, and cruise around all day everyday and be silly. And then, as it happens, as I've said, the pain subsides and the joy remains. Pathways open up to make it more bad ass while not having to work as hard. You get the itch again. And so it is... The Opulent Temple will rise again, as we feel it our duty to bring more sonic joy to BRC in a flame throwing DJ booth. : -) In our efforts to make it happen, our next step to the great pilgrimage will be a camp party / fundraiser Saturday May 13th your presence is requested at. Check it: Opulent Temple presents: Fearless- A Burning Man camp party and fundraiser with: Smoove (Newsbreakz) Spesh (Qool / Looq) Syd Gris (Opulent Temple) Mancub (Space Cowboys) Shissla (House of Lotus) Aaron Pope (Deep End) Jeffrey Allen (Opulent Temple) Kramer (Deep End/ djkramer.com) Fred Funk (Brass Tax) Nathan Vain (Opulent Temple) Vinkalmann (Opulent Temple) Dulce Vita (Opulent Temple) and more tba Saturday, May 13th 10pm-4am $10-$15 sliding donation if in playa gear / costume / fearless $15 street clothes OT '04 CD liquidation and give aways Hop, light, poi, and aerial performance throughout the night Please bring your toys!! At the large playground with the fat sound system that is Mezzanine 444 Jessie St. @ 6th, SF If you can't come but want to donate to our efforts please hit our website! www.opulenttemple.org

Check out the new Opel 4 Year info

sydgris — Fri, 10 Mar 2006 21:41:35 GMT

This is going to be awesome http://www.opelproductions.com/archives/000143.php I'm freaking excited!

Some thoughts on

sydgris — Tue, 07 Mar 2006 00:52:02 GMT

...some commonalities between the religious right and the spiritually oriented progressive left. http://www.opelproductions.com/archives/000145.php

The Mission of Opel, etc. revisited...

sydgris — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 09:21:22 GMT

Posted this on the Opel site as well, just wanted to share some thoughts for the New Year.. The new year hearkens one to take stock and look around, to evaluate what's behind and what's ahead, to assess and ponder. So it is. I started throwing parties as a passion and a purpose. There I was dancing the night away at many a Nikita and thinking about how to harness the incredible energy around me to do some good, to be of service, to mean more than just a great night out. That in and of itself was not enough, not for me. Never has been, still isn't. The first idea was to throw a party that would benefit the group home I worked for, a home for severely emotionally disturbed (i.e. damaged) San Francisco pissed off teenagers... They were societies recipes for disaster, an amalgamation of what can go wrong in urban America. Drugs, sexual abuse, neglect, poverty, mental illness, racism, etc. It was our task to care for them and try to put them back together, and of course this noble calling was under funded cause our priorities never lie with the worst off of us, but in weapons and commerce and the like. I thought a benefit might do a small part, and it did. Meanwhile I wanted to channel what I felt was the heart opening experience of a proper party to bring people together at a higher focused frequency than many were already feeling chemically back when people were still partying. I had the idea of doing a ceremony at a dance event, not knowing I was not the first to think of such an idea, just probably the most naive in trying to do my first one at a huge rave in Fresno. I even had a sign made, it read Syd Gris: Spiritual Pioneer. So presumptious it makes me laugh. I almost got booed off the stage but I held it together and tried to make it work. I never go down easy. Then I found the Radiance party and found a home for my silly ideals. After joining that team and really putting to work some fanciful notions it was time for a solo project, and thus Opel was born. The idea was as it is now - using a platform of entertainment like a Trojan Horse of consciousness. To reach people in a subtle fashion (OK sometimes not so subtle) with a message of awakening, and peace, and of course love, and certainly hope while dancing our asses off surrounded by friendly freaks. It's so easy to feel like the machine is too big for us to ever have an effect. But if we are resigned to that outlook, sorry but we are dead! We are the socially aware and educated economically advantaged Bay Area Gen X'ers (in more ways than one).... If we don't lead the charge to change our world who will? And so we built it, one party at a time, trying to make it quality and reach new people at the same time. Trying to establish relationships with all the right people and build the respect of the finicky underground without staying there in sonic mental masterbation. Must keep pushing forward. Take it to Burning Man and the desert. Take it to the streets of San Francisco and Love Parade. Diversify, grow, challenge ourselves and our audience. We simply don't have the luxury of just throwing a good party - it's not enough, not for me. Not when the world is burning. How to keep reaching? Does any of it matter I ask myself at times? Am I just another fucking promoter throwing a good party and simply using a meassage as a marketing ploy instead of bimbos and hoochies? Does anybody care? In some ways I have no idea. But I can say this with a true heart - we are trying. No promoter anywhere is trying to do what we are trying. It's not always pretty, it will never please everyone, but we are trying. Some people hate ceremonies, others think we've lost touch with our 'intentional party' roots, that it doesn't feel the same as it used to. We are trying to balance the overall mission with not turning people off, very tricky indeed. We are trying to grow it and not just preach to the chior. I take a long term perspective on the enterprise, and believe me, we're not done pushing. People love to hate, and to tear down others who are trying to create and DO. If they have something constructive to offer the mission, I am all ears, fire away! If you're just hating, well fuck off. Not to be harsh, but I don't have time to waste on haters. Give me some real juice, even if it tastes bitter and I will taste it all. Thank God I have a day job as a psychologist still giving direct service to the most needy families so I feel like I'm doing something good with more tangible results... We are still losing the battle if you think about it, to keep the nation free and tolerant and out of the hands of butchers and mad men. To be moving collectively towards consciousness and the realizations the Sages of the ages have laid down for all us to hear and know. There is always more to do, and all we can do is to assert our skills and energy in the domains and in the communities before us. To do our duty and try not to be attached to the outcome - the central teaching of the Bhagavad Gita. I feel like if I am to give full voice to my passions and potentials there has to be further means to reach more people than just a party. There lies the future....