Netroots Nation in SL

Netroots Nation closing keynote – Darcy Burner

Jillan McMillan — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 20:43:25 +0000

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15
2:15pm: “Closing Keynote: Darcy Burner.” Saturday night’s closing keynote will be headlined by Darcy Burner, director of the American Progressive Caucus Policy Foundation. After three days of strategizing around progressive change, Burner will close out the convention with a message on how we make that a reality after everyone has left Pittsburgh. She believes activists must strike a balance between applying sophisticated pressure on their elected leaders and amplifying their efforts to create space for progressive policy.

Two of Pittsburgh’s own will also speak, Pennsylvania State Senator Jim Ferlo and Richard Trumka of the AFL-CIO. Ferlo is a respected progressive leader in Pittsburgh and a strong advocate for a single-payer healtch care system. Trumka, Secretary-Treasurer of AFL-CIO and candidate to become its next President, gained notoriety in the 2008 election by confronting head-on the challenges faced by the nation’s first African-American Presidential Candidate, Barack Obama.

Netroots Nation staff will also reveal the host city for 2010.

The Official Social Events Calendar is here!

Jillan McMillan — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 06:33:55 +0000

In addition to all our content-filled panels and documentary screenings, we hope you’ll join us for a variety of in-world dances, live music events, and other social gatherings. Many of us first came together into this community at events like these, and we’d love to share them with you.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13

5:45PM: Idella Quandry sings blues, funk and soul, with a little jazz thrown in for kicks. Come to Virtually Speaking and listen to a mixture of original music and favorite covers. Then stay for a conversation between Jay Ackroyd and Markos Moulitsas. Virtually Speaking’s InWorld Amphitheatre

7:30PM: Opening party – NNSL 09 Opening Party. Come party with us on Netroots Island, immediately following Virtually Speaking’s interview with Markos Moulitsas of DailyKos. Tour the new sim and discuss the days convention event. Zathras Afarensis will be playing a set of live music, and DJ Pb Recreant will close out the night with his superb, eclectic brew. Netroots Nation Ballroom

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14

10:30PM: Second Life Caucus Streamed transreality event. Connect with like-minded folks and talk with others from your community in our identity, issue and regional caucuses. Netroots Nation Ballroom

3:30PM: Primtionary Comes to NNSL! Please join us for a break after all of Friday’s panels with a round of one of the most popular group games in Second Life, Primtionary! An experience truly unique to the virtual world, Primtionary is the modern Pictionary: One person gets up on stage and is given a secret word by the host which describes what they have to build. As they build the audience tries to figure out what the word is. The first person to guess the word wins a token prize – currently 25 Lindens per word – and, more importantly, the privilege of building the next word. Bring your imagination and your sense of humor. Trust us, it’s not to be missed! Primtionary @ NNSL!

7:00PM: Dancing Liberally at Cafe Wellstone Friday night, we invite you to come dancing with us at the venerable venue where for many of us, our in-world activist lives began: Cafe Wellstone, the labor of love of GenJCChristian Homewood, author of acclaimed satirical blog Jesus’ General (http://patriotboy.blogspot.com). Thrill to the ballistics of the General’s poultry cannon. Cringe at the questionable wisdom of an automated Alberto Gonzalez. Avoid, at all costs, bartender Dick Cheney. And dance your pixillated socks off to the stylings of DJ Rocky Torok. Cafe Wellstone

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15

7:00PM: NNSL Formal Ball Come dance with us at the Netroots Nation Formal Ball, held at the Netroots Nation Ballroom. DJ Dano hosts. Netroots Nation Ballroom

SUNDAY, AUGUST 16

6:00AM: Transreality Interfaith Service With Pastor Dan One and all are invited to join us at the Netroots Nation meeting space for an interfaith Sunday morning service with Pastor Dan streamed in from Pittsburgh. We recommend you go to World, Environment Settings and set them to Sunrise for a beautiful view of the virtual ocean! Netroots Nation Meeting room

10:00AM: Billybob Neck Saves Us All: A Special NNSL Edition of Billybob’s Hour of Bein’ Good In-world comedy event. Moderator: Billybob don’t need one. William Robert Neck was born in the house his father built on Jekyll Island, GA and has followed the Lord ever since. Every night he puts his slippers under the bed so that he gets down on his knees every morning to thank God for the the good things in life and humbly ask Him to wipe liberals off the face of the earth. This Sunday, he’s a-comin’ to Netroots Island to save our souls. So you come listen, y’all. Netroots Nation Meeting room

2:00PM: NNSL 09 Closing Beach Party Please join us as we say farewell to Netroots Nation in Second Life 2009 with a party at the most laid back spot on the island. We’ll party with music and dancing, some 7Seas fishing, and maybe lounge in a hammock. DJ Zathras will be taking requests for your favorite tunes.

The Official Program Schedule is Here!

Roisin Hotaling — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 00:11:58 +0000

Drumroll please…! It’s the OFFICIAL NETROOTS NATION IN SECOND LIFE SCHEDULE! Please note that Second Life runs on one official time zone called Second Life time, which just so happens to coincide with Pacific Daylight Time. All times on the schedule are PDT. All events marked with a * are EXCLUSIVE to Netroots Nation in Second Life and WILL NOT be seen at the real-life convention in Pittsburgh.

All streamed events and films will be shown in the Netroots Nation arena - unless otherwise noted.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 13

9:15AM*:Exclusive screening of Silent Partners, a documentary about the same-sex partners of soldiers forced to live in complete silence under the cloud of Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell. Following the screening will be a discussion and Q&A with the filmmker, Richard Ray Perez.

10:45AM*: “First They Ignore You.” NNSL Programming Director Zathras Afarensis in a conversation with SL/RL peace activists Siri Vita, millay Freschi and Cotton Thorne about the challenges and rewards of online and in-world activism in support of human rights on a nonviolent resistance model, particularly in the context of events in Iran since this year’s presidential election there.

5:00PM: Opening keynote address by President Bill Clinton, streamed live from Netroots Nation in Pittsburgh.

6:45PM: Jay Ackroyd of Virtually Speaking sits down with Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas for a discussion of his book Taking On the System. Held at Virtually Speaking’s InWorld Amphitheatre.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14

6:00AM: “Rx for Reform: Health Care Town Hall with Dr. Howard Dean.” Streamed live from Netroots Nation in Pittsburgh.

8:00AM: “Pennsylvania Leadership Forum.” Q&A with Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter and Rep. Joe Sestak, moderated by Susie Madrak and Ari Melber. Streamed live from Netroots Nation.

10:30AM: “Mixtapes to Myspace: How Hip Hop Builds Movements”. Discussion of the interplay between the hip hop music world and the progressive community, and how the two communities can work together. Panelists include Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr., Davey D, Paradise Gray, Kimberly “Dr. Goddess” Ellis, and Jasiri X. Streamed live from Pittsburgh.

12:00PM: “After Sotomayor: How Progressives Reshape the Debate Over Our Constitution and the Supreme Court.” Discussion of issues surrounding the Supreme Court and the Constitution, how these issues may play out during the Obama Administration, and what the Netroots can do to engage the Administration in an effort to restore our claim to the text and history of the Constitution. Panelists include Nan Aron, Doug Kendall, Christy Hardin Smith, Rep. Jerry Nadler, and Thomas Saenz. Streamed live from Pittsburgh.

1:30PM: “Organizing in Second Life and Other Virtual Environments.” Within five years, some say 3D internet will be as important as the web is today. Virtual environments are a viable and effective platform for community building. How can virtual worlds connect rural, urban, red state and blue state activists to the greater progressive community? Virtual worlds like Second Life provide opportunities for interactive and not-possible-in-real-life displays and offer an enhanced sense of presence for social networking and expansion of progressive alliances. Panelists include General J.C. Christian of Jesus’ General and members of the Netroots Nation in Second Life team. This event takes place both in Pittsburgh and in Second Life.

5:00PM: A Soldier’s Peace documentary screening Last month, NNSL and Virtually Speaking hosted the SL premiere of Marshall and Kristen Thompson’s documentary A Soldier’s Peace, the remarkable chronicle of one veteran’s 500-mile journey into activism, which follows former Army journalist Marshall Thompson, an Iraq war veteran, as he walks the entire length of his home state of Utah, talking to people along the way about war and peace. We are proud to invite you to the Netroots Nation Arena for an additional screening of this simple yet powerful film.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15

6:00AM: “A Conversation with Valerie Jarrett.” Stand-up comic and blogger Baratunde Thurston of Jack & Jill Politics sits down for an exclusive conversation with one of President Obama’s most trusted advisors, Valerie Jarrett. Streamed live from Pittsburgh.

9:00AM: “Building a 21st Century Economy.” New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine, Change to Win Chair Anna Burger and economist Dean Baker will join us in Pittsburgh for a discussion about the economy and how it affects working Americans. The panel will be moderated by Kevin Drum of Mother Jones. Streamed live from Pittsburgh.

12:00PM: “Outside Getting In: Tying the Progressive Movement to Congress for Policymaking” This panel will discuss how the Netroots and progressive movement can have a greater impact on Congress. We’ll also discuss current Congressional processes and some of the innovations being pursued by the Progressive Caucus. Panelists include Joan McCarter, Darcy Burner, David Waldman, Jane Hamsher, and Shaunna Thomas. Streamed live from Pittsburgh.

4:00PM*: “Mountain Top Removal: A Documentary by Michael O’Connell.” Netroots Nation in Second Life is proud to present Machael O’Connell’s 2006 documentary about the coal industry in Appalachia, Mountain Top Removal, followed by a conversation with the film maker.

5:15PM*: “That Used To Be A Mountain”: Discussing “Mountain Top Removal” In-world interview. Moderator Zathras Afarensis joins filmmaker Michael O’Connell to discuss his documentary and the issues it raises.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 16

6:00AM: Transreality Interfaith Service With Pastor Dan One and all are invited to join us at the Netroots Nation meeting space for an interfaith Sunday morning service with Pastor Dan streamed in from Pittsburgh. We recommend you go to World, Environment Settings and set them to Sunrise for a beautiful view of the virtual ocean! Held at Netroots Nation Meeting room

10:00AM*: Billybob Neck Saves Us All: A Special NNSL Edition of Billybob’s Hour of Bein’ Good In-world comedy event. Moderator: Billybob don’t need one. William Robert Neck was born in the house his father built on Jekyll Island, GA and has followed the Lord ever since. Every night he puts his slippers under the bed so that he gets down on his knees every morning to thank God for the the good things in life and humbly ask Him to wipe liberals off the face of the earth. This Sunday, he’s a-comin’ to Netroots Island to save our souls. So you come listen, y’all. Held at Netroots Nation Meeting room

11:00AM*: “Brainstorming For Action”: Looking Towards the Future of SL Activism Moderator: Hypatia Eames. Panel: You! Netroots Nation in Second Life invites any and all attendees to join NNSL VP Hypatia Eames for a conversation about where we go from here as an organization and as a network of communities to promote progressive causes within Second Life. Held at Netroots Nation Meeting room

We hope to see you there! Join us at Netroots Nation!

H/t to Stormy Firanelli for compiling the schedule.

Silent Partners: Screening and Discussion Aug. 13

Roisin Hotaling — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:45:57 +0000

On Thursday, August 13 at 9:15 Pacific/Second Life Time (12:15 Eastern Time) we will be hosting a screening of Silent Partners, a documentary that goes under the surface of Don’t Ask/Don’t Tell and shares the stories of some people directly affected by the law but who, by necessity, must remain silent to the point of invisibility: the same-sex partners of soldiers serving in the military under the cloud of DADT. Silent Partners is an episode of a larger series called In Their Boots produced and distributed by Brave New Films, a company well-known for producing some of the best progressive documentary films in the business. Ohhhh, but there’s more: after the screening of the film, we’ll be bringing you a live Q&A session with Richard Ray Perez, Executive Producer of In Their Boots.

Join us at Netroots Nation Arena for the documentary and the discussion!

A Soldier’s Peace, A (Rescheduled) Documentary Premiere in Second Life

Roisin Hotaling — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:41:45 +0000

If you came to the scheduled “in-world” Second Life premiere of peace activist Marshall Thompson’s remarkable documentary film, A Soldier’s Peace, on June 20, you know that technological glitches prevented us from seeing the film. We went ahead with the interview, though, with C.S. Kappler leading the discussion; and are we ever glad we did! Marshall, an Iraq War veteran, is a passionate, warm, and kindly advocate for peace with a terrific sense of humor.

Of course, we still wanted to stream the film into SL, and we’re not the kind of folks to let technological problems stop us! It is a distinct pleasure for all of us involved from NNSL and VS to host Marshall a second time, and we are proud to announce the Second Life premiere of A Soldier’s Peace at 5 PM PDT on Saturday, July 11. We’ve moved the film onto a new streaming server, and are tested and ready to proceed with our screening tonight. The only thing we lack…is you. Please join us at Netroots Nation Arena, where the film will be followed by an interview with Thompson.

For more information about the film, visit its official website at A Soldier’s Peace, and to find out more about our co-hosts, visit Virtually Speaking.

Live Music and Album Party at SL6B

Roisin Hotaling — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:11:12 +0000

Netroots Nation at SL6B

Netroots Nation in SL has a booth at SL6B this year! SL6B is Second Life’s 6th birthday celebration, which takes the form of an expo covering 20 regions in SL and showcasing the work of over 300 exhibitors. The festivities officially run through June 29th, but the exhibits are open until July 6th to give everyone time to explore.

Last January, Revpaperboy Boozehound and a bunch of like-minded musicians who are members of Netroots Nation in Second Life put together an album compiling some of their favorites among their own performances, and named the result “The Revolution Will Be Streamed.” The album is available as an MP3 download from Amazon.com and on U.S. and Canadian iTunes, and proceeds support NNSL.

Live Music and Album Party!

On Sunday, June 28, we’re celebrating “The Revolution Will Be Streamed” with live music and an album party at our booth in SL6B. Zathras Afarensis will be performing his “Zumbro Valley” from the album and several of his other favorites, and we’ll be streaming the album itself. Join us from 3pm – 4pm SLT for dancing and music!

A Soldier’s Peace, A Documentary Premiere in Second Life

Roisin Hotaling — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:03:20 +0000

(Courtesy of Zathras Afarensis)

To date 4,311 men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces have perished in a 6-year war on foreign soil in Iraq.

For many of us, the ever-increasing count of American and Iraqi dead has been a central fact driving our political lives since it became clear that Bush was intent against all reason on pursuing a preemptive misadventure in Iraq. It is what drove us to the blogs, to march and to protest, to speak out.

For those in Red States, where opportunities to voice opposition with any real effect have seemed too few and far between, few examples of principled dissent have been more inspiring than that of Sgt. Marshall Thompson, who–on his return to Utah from a year in Iraq as an Army journalist–undertook to walk the state’s length to talk with everyday Utahns about war and peace. The award-winning 2007 documentary A Soldier’s Peace by Kristen and Marshall Thompson chronicles his remarkable 500-mile journey into activism.

Netroots Nation in Second Life and Virtually Speaking are very proud to announce the Second Life premiere of this simple yet powerful film.

The image above is of the Iraq War Memorial the NNSL team have built on Netroots Island in Second Life, with one simple, unadorned marker for each fallen son or daughter. Although the virtual land, the markers, and the Arena exist only as binary digits in a database and pixels in phosphor, the effect of “walking” through the memorial display is powerful and sobering.

The memorial is right next to Netroots Nation Arena, where we will be showing A Soldier’s Peace at 5:00 pm PDT on Saturday, June 20. So we invite you not only to see the film, but also to arrive early and walk through our memorial, a labor of love in its own right. Following the film, Daily Kos’s own CS Kendrick (known to some of us CS Kappler, one of the hosts of the Second Life interview series Virtually Speaking), will interview Marshall Thompson, after which, in our usual Second Life style, we will retire to one of our favorite SL hangouts, the Lonely Yak, for live music and a DJ.

Thompson’s own solitary labor of love was met with official resistance before it even began. From Atkinson on Film’s review of A Soldier’s Peace:

Upon learning of Thompson’s plan, state officials initially insisted that he must obtain a permit for his walk, then not only did these same officials deny his application, but also told him that if he started on his roadside walk, he would be arrested “because his walk would have no purpose” (i.e., akin to a vagrancy charge). His attorney father-in-law, collaborating with ACLU lawyers, persuaded the Utah Attorney General to permit Thompson’s peace walk rather than face litigation on violation of his First Amendment rights. The AG capitulated, and Thompson set out, with one friend, early on a rainy morning, October 2, 2006, with his backpack and rain slicker.

For more information about the film, visit its official website at A Soldier’s Peace, and to find out more about our co-hosts, visit Virtually Speaking.

If you hope for an end to this war, if you pray for peace, we hope you will join us in Second Life at Netroots Nation Arena.

Netroots Nation 2009 is Fast Approaching!

Roisin Hotaling — Mon, 11 May 2009 19:24:00 +0000

When our elderberry leafs out and begins to block the path through the yard, it isn’t just time to sharpen the pruning shears; it also means summer is right around the corner, and with it, Netroots Nation! This year, the progressive community will descend on Pittsburgh for the fourth annual Netroots Nation conference, taking place August 13-16, 2009.

Not everyone can travel to Pittsburgh, but you don’t have to miss out on the party. Netroots Nation also occurs in Second Life, running concurrent with the conference in Pittsburgh. You don’t even have to leave the house, and you can still connect with like-minded folks from around the globe. In addition to live streaming sessions from Pittsburgh, there will be Second Life-only events and interactive events between the two gatherings. Bring your avatar to Netroots Nation Island, participate in the discussions, dance to the spinnings of DJs Dano Bookmite and Zathras Afarensis, and visit the booths of Etopia and Jackson Street Books.

Don’t have an avatar? Join Second Life, then join the Second Life group Netroots Nation. If you get started now you’ll have time to get up to speed on the unique opportunities in Second Life before the conference. Check out the schedules at Cafe Wellstone and Virtually Speaking and choose some events to attend. You’ll find lots of friendly folks ready to help with avatar customization, places to visit, and how to get around in the virtual world.

Netroots Nation in Second Life is organized by a dedicated team of volunteers, and is supported by contributions. To donate, click the link on this website or drop by Netroots Nation Arena in world and add some lindens to one of the donation jugs. We’re in the throes of planning right now and welcome additional volunteers, too!

And if that isn’t enough, you can follow us on Twitter and join our Facebook group! See you in Second Life!

The Revolution Will Be Streamed

Jillan McMillan — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 05:22:09 +0000

The Revolution Will Be Streamed

ON SALE NOW!!!

The MP3 album is finally available on Amazon and on U.S. and Canadian iTunes.

A killer collection of 14 tracks of folk, funk, rock, salsa, dance pop and country, The Revolution Will Be Streamed is a cooperative effort by musicians and political activists coordinated by RevPaperboy Boozehound, with a lot of help from a lot of people. The entire album will be streamed for the next few days on Radio Woodshed. After that, you can go to the Amazon site and listen to free samples. And if the Radio Woodshed stream is down, you can go listen to the it at Jesus’ General’s joint (His inner Frenchman did the cover art).

All the money raised from the sale of the MP3s, available now at Amazon.com and iTunes, will go to support Netroots Nation in Second Life. Netroots Nation in Second Life makes it possible for hundreds more to attend the convention online by streaming the various speeches and workshops in Second Life. The massive Second Life effort run simultaneously with the real life event also affords the opportunity to do the sort of networking the convention is intended to foster.

Liner notes

As the famous anarchist “Red” Emma Goldman may or may not have said: “If I can’t dance, I don’t want to be in your revolution.”

There are few things more popular in Second Life than music and dancing. After all, in a virtual universe, we are all young and fit and we can all dance like the genetically cross-bred children of Martha Graham, Fred Astaire, Alvin Ailey, Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson and Gypsy Rose Lee. But while we dance, we talk, and as often as not, we talk politics. And you can’t dance without music, whether it’s the hot salsa of Los Gatos, the sunny folk-funk of Richard Maynard-Langedijk, the brooding, country-flavored power-pop of Calliope’s Radio or even the off-beat satirical stylings of Billy Bob Neck — it’s all here.

The proceeds from this album will go to aid Netroots Nation in Second Life in its efforts to support progressive politics through online activism, networking, advocacy and work on behalf of progressives running for elected office. We are grateful to the artists for the donation of the their inspiration, creativity and hard work. And to you, the listener for contributing to this worthy cause.

Special thanks to all the artists who contributed, Gen. J.C. Christian, Jillan McMillan, Jane2 McMahon, Rocky Torok, Michele Mrigish, Jackson Street Books, and all the regulars at Cafe Wellstone, the Lonely Yak and the Red Zeppelin.

The Revolution Will Be Streamed
1. So Glad – Richard Maynard-Langedijk
2. My Strange Love – Brian Lillie and the Squirrel Mountain Orchestra
3. Super Evil – Spoon Spatula
4. Arianara – Los Gatos
5. Hank Paulson’s Blues – The Black Tie Martini Club
6. Gimme a Job – the Extras
7. Jesus: The Anti-Rap – Billy Bob Neck
8. Endless Night – Richard Ainslie
9. Zumbro Valley – Zathras Afarensis
10. One More (Land of Beginning Again) – Katherine King Segal & Charlie Brown
11. Watcha Gonna Do? – Golgotha
12. Rachel’s Song – Scott & Michelle Daiziel
13. Samba Do Sueno – Pete Siers & Los Gatos
14. Darker, Longer – Calliope’s Radio

Who is on the album? Who are these wonderful, talented and generous people who have given their time and creativity (and royalties) up for good cause? I’m glad you asked.

Richard Maynard-Langedijk

This singer-songwriter-guitarist-producer, who has been a stalwart at the Hillside music festival, operates out of a fortified compound in Guelph, Ontario.

Brian Lillie and the Squirrel Mountain Orchestra

Brian Lillie is a folksinger from Ann Arbor, Michigan who has been playing guitar and writing songs for over 20 years. He has performed in everything from loud, weird rock bands to sufi-inspired dance groups, but his first love has always been simple, heart-felt acoustic music. Other works include Rowboats and Good Luck Fire Chief

Spoon Spatula

Better know in Second Life as Spoon Dastardly, the most dastardly spoon in Spoontown and King of all cutlery. “Super Evil” is about a terrified pedestrian walking through dark city streets while fruitlessly attempting to project the false image that he, himself, is dangerous. Written in Hollywood, CA, in 1994 as part of a collection of songs about Los Angeles.

Los Gatos

This Michigan-based Latin Jazz quartet has a pair of albums to its credit: “Cats Got Your Tongue” and “Insight”. Los Gatos plays weekly at the Firefly jazz club in Ann Arbor as well as in numerous music festivals. They have been together since 1997. “Samba Do Sueño” was originally released on Insight and the previously unreleased “Arinañara” was recorded at the Michigan Jazz Festival in 2007. Check them on video here

Black Tie Martini Club

Lead by Second Lifer and podcaster extraordinaire Caleb Bullen. Sadly, the astounding podcast which can be found here or on itunes, is on semipermanent hiatus, though the management is still throwing fans an occasional bone. Thankfully, we still have the archives.

The Extras

Terrific Canadian band from back in the day, best known for their paean to contraceptives “Circular Impressions” — more can be learned here and here.

Billy Bob Neck

A fine upstanding conservative Christian man who’s Hour of Being Good is a beacon in the darkness for us all.

Richard Ainslie

A mysterious man of mysterious talents who intends to keep it that way.

Zathfras Afarensis

Network geek? Raconteur? Rootsy, eclectic Second LIfe DJ with a KT Tunstall fixation? Minnesota-born folk singer and occasional songwriter? Guilty, on all counts.

Katherin King Segal and Charlie Brown

Katherin King Segal is a singer-songwriter from New York who is now based in Los Angeles. She teamed up with veteran studio guitarist Charlie Brown for their 2006 album Land of Beginning Again. And she is very understanding (we hope) about rookie producers who spell her name wrong.

Golgotha

Goth-tinged rockers featuring Second Lifer NTropy Sellers, “I’m not sure who this band is but they have great shoes.”

Scott and Michelle Dalziel

Amazing husband and wife team who are much in demand musically in both first and Second Life. The fresh and soulful sounds of Scott and Michelle’s voices, combined with their high energy performance, memorable and meaningful songwriting, and instrumental finess, put them in a category all their own. Said to have more sound than two people should be allowed, they cannot be confined to acoustic the Rock or Folk genres, as they continue to branch out intoThey R&B, Jazz, roots, and Blues. The duo were Kerrville Folk Festival finalists in 2004 and 2007, and they were selected as a featured artist of the month in 2008 by Folk Alley, one of the leading genre radio stations. Their 2007 CD, Thinking Out Loud, hit #12 on the International Folk charts. They are also very understanding and forgiving of rookie producers who spell their name wrong in liner notes (we hope).

Calliope’s Radio

Formed in mid-2006, Calliope’s Radio is the dazzling product of many musical backgrounds, stories and styles. With Dana Komer’s soaring vocals fronting a dynamic band, Calliope’s Radio recounts haunting, beautiful and instantly classic musical stories. These Kitchener-based musicians are capable of capturing the audience with everything from Joplin-esque and Sheryl Crow alt-rock infused hooks to aching country-steel ballads, reminiscent of the Cowboy Junkies. Calliope’s Radio is melody at its finest.

Special thanks to RevPaperboy Boozehound for putting this album together

Thank you

Jillan McMillan — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:13:06 +0000

Our Inauguration Celebration was a big success! Thank you to everyone who attended; the best part of the day was sharing the moment with the more than 130 people gathered together to watch President Obama take the oath of office.

We had a fantastic write up at New World Notes – check out photos and interviews from Netroots Island. Also, IllClan Animation Studios posted a great video report of the Inauguration here.

A special thanks to all who helped bring the event together: Michele Mrigesh, Jane2 McMahon, Shinigami Kayo, Roisin Hotaling, Trouble Streeter, GenJCChristan Homewood, Rocky Torok, Dano Bookmite, Vex Streeter, BookemJackson Streeter, Skal Paulse, SmittyGal Torok, Zathras Aferensis, Hypatia Eames, Aerik Forager, Moose Griswold, Witchy Whitfield, Spoon Dastardly, Dimawa Capalini, Sinsaber Holgado, Marisela Bouchard, Spokane Skytower, Gamma Infinity, and countless others who lent a hand, offered moral support, and donated Lindens.