That's an important notion, one taken as a commonplace by just about every neuro researcher I know that will, I still think, have a profound cultural impact, potentially as great as that of the concept of the descent of man from prior forms.

But then this story appears. Another man gone, to remind me and anyone who reads this of fact of tragedy that is the reality, the hard ground of fact and loss.

I have no deeper scientific argument that I want to pursue here, and I am not going to express any of the political thoughts that this story does evoke in me.

This is just a pause, to think about Joseph Patrick Dwyer, and those whose loss should not simply be aggregated into the accumulating totals -- both the official count of war dead, and those, like Dwyer who have paid such a terrible price outside the neat categories of conflict caualties.

My deepest sympathy to the family and friends of PFC Dwyer.

Image: Francisco de Goya, "Desastre de la Guerra (Disasters of War)" 1810-11. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Unibomber -“DJ Tron Tribute Mix“
Symbiotic Love Recordings- DJ Tron - Paranoid EP - Love From Her
HDF 005 Resurrection EP - Death (Doomcore Mix)
Symbiotic Love Recordings - DJ Tact vs. DJ Tron - Creator
DHS006-6 DJ Tron - Torture Traxxx Vol. 1 - Phantom 12XU
WAR004 DJ Tron - Massacre - Monster
DJ Tact vs. DJ Tron - Hardcore DJ (1st Trontact Mix)
DJ Tron - Paranoid EP - Hardcore DJ
BNG001 DJ Tron - Undead EP - Zombie 1
HDF 005 Resurrection EP - Demon
UHF#04 DJ Tron - The Threshold Of Tolerance - Kill Them All
Symbiotic Love Recordings - DJ Tron - Paranoid EP - Live On Fear
DHS006-6 DJ Tron - Torture Traxxx Vol. 1 - Demon Slut
WAR004 DJ Tron - Massacre - Murder The World
BNG001 DJ Tron - Undead EP - Zombie (Die Slowly)
UHF#04 DJ Tron - How Long Can You Survive This Massacre
BCHUD 08 DJ Tron - Fuckin’ Deathcore EP - Fuck That Happy Shit
WAR004 DJ Tron - Massacre - I Believe In Pain
BCHUD 08 DJ Tron - Fuckin’ Deathcore EP - I Don’t Give A Fuck
BNG002 Cannibal DJ - Fresh Flesh EP - Dog Will Hunt
BNG002 Cannibal DJ - Fresh Flesh EP - Cannibal DJ
OR002 DJ Tron - Crimes Of The Mind - Serpent

For those who dont know, Dj Tron was one of the pioneers of the US Hardcore scene.
Besides his productions he has made some groundbreaking mixes where old dark industrial, acidtechno, hardcore gabba, noise and speedcore got mixed together into new styles.

DJ Tron was also known as Cannibal DJ

DJ Tron had releases on labels like Blood 'n' Guts, Brutal Chud, Digitalhut Sounds, Head Fuck, Pure Acid Mixtapes, Strike Records, Symbotic Love Recordings and  UHF. See also http://www.discogs.com/artist/DJ+Tron

RIP Jeff Belser

From Tron's Roommate Sean:

"DJ Tron was my best friend, mentor, brother and room mate. At 1:30 a.m. July 4th, 2008 Jeff was found in my studio completely unresponsive. At that time peramedics were called and I attempted to perform CPR but was unsuccessful. At 2:15 a.m. the hospital prenounced his death. I've been in close contatact several times a day with his mother "Momma Tron" and she stated that after the police performed a thorough investigation of the living premisis, and DuPage county coroners office performed a preliminary medical examination, his sudden death has been determined accidental. As with all accidential deaths the coroners final report will be avalible in 8 to 10 weeks. They do not anticipate any other findings. These rumors of overdose are hurtful to his family and friends closest to him and should be stopped immediately per Momma Tron."

R.I.P. DJ Tron.

Giovanni Papini (Florencia, 1881 - id. 1956), escritor italiano.

"Nada se obtiene sin sacrificio, sin sangre. Yo me sacrifico por ti; mi sangre la derramo en aras de tu grandeza. También yo, como Jesús a los treinta y tres años, marcho voluntariamente al suplicio extremo. Él murió para salvar a todos los hombres; yo, que no soy Dios, muero para salvar a uno solo. Esperemos que mi holocausto sea más afortunado que el suyo. Puede ser que yo me engañe y que tú estés ya tan enfangado en la mediocridad que ni siquiera la impresión que te cause mi muerte pueda hacerte rezarte y hacer que recuerdes tu verdadero yo. Pero quiero esperar hasta el final. Cuando sepas que un hombre que tú estimabas se mató por la pena de verte tan bajo y por la esperanza de devolverte a tu verdadero destino, quizás no sonrías más como en este momento. Yo no bromeo. Dentro de dos días te enterarás si me he comportado como un payaso o si te he dado verdaderamente la máxima prueba de amor que un hombre puede dar a otro hombre."

© “El suicida sustituto” de Giovanni Papini.

En palabras de Jorge Luis Borges, "Si alguien en este siglo es equiparable al egipcio Proteo, ese alguien es Giovanni Papini, que alguna vez firmara Gian Falco, historiador de la literatura y poeta, pragmatista y romántico, ateo y después teólogo."

But I can't just leave it behind me. It's too much a part of me. This nasty, angry beast has crawled inside me, fighting me from the inside as I fought it from the outside, and although I won, there are scars from the battle still. They are on my chest, red and angry lines where once there were breasts. They are on my arms, scarring collapsed veins that even the nurses curse. They're on my hand, swelling it with lymph as it hangs on a tender arm. They even scar my skull, causing my hair to grow slowly, so slowly, so that I cease to recognize myself.

Although I cannot see them, I fear there are scars on my very soul, toughening my heart with every battle.

It is true that I have won this war.  I fought this foe.  I beat cancer. But it has taken parts of me that i will miss.

My confidence.

My assurance.

My conviction that I can conquer the world, run for Congress, discover great things, and dance at my children's wedding.

My lightheartedness, and the ability to just enjoy a summer afternoon without stopping at least once to think "I could have missed this."

My innocence.  I now have nineteen friends who I travel this road with, who all are fighting this fight, and I know there are hundreds and thousands more out there who need to find their own comrades in this battle, who need to understand that they are not alone out there.  That there are other mothers who fight these battles ... physically ... and mentally.  That we can be strong for our children but weak among friends.  That the fight is not over the day of the clean scan, much as we wish it to be so.

And when we lose one of our own, the tears rip open the scars again, and the sorrow threatens to overwhelm the joys of living.  For Andrea, Punk Rock Mommy, was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer just thirty-nine days before I was.  We fought this war together, every post, every needle, every appointment up until very recently.  And now, I'm well.

And she is gone.

It doesn't make sense.  It just does. not. make. sense.

It leaves me with more questions than answers, particularly as I read her husband's loving words and see the pictures of her six children.  Why is this disease so aggressive?  Why don't we yet have a cure?  Why do some people get cancer, anyway?

I wring my hands, desparate to do something to make it better.  But some things just can't be made better.

Some scars still hurt long after the pain is gone.

Please keep her six beautiful children in your prayers, for as long as you remember, and then whenever you think about it. Andrea was a good mom and a loyal friend, and she will be missed terribly.

Far too late for it to do anybody any good, Jesse Helms has died.

— Hendrik Hertzberg, who also gets off another couple of zingers at the late Helms's expense.

It is hard to believe that it has been two weeks since we've lost comedian George Carlin. Believe it or not as a person of faith, I liked him.  If it has to be an atheist to expose the hypocrisy, the legalism, the irrationality and fanaticism of organized religion, so be it! He did it well and he also sure trained Bill Maher well when it came to the topic. I wished George had another decade to live but it wasn't meant to be but I think we all know that he died a happy man with a legacy. Enjoy this youtube.com clip doing a nice tribute to this man.

Nature, green in spike and bough
With ravine, shriek'd against his creed
Royal palms FTW! - Alfred Lord Elevenyson

Fireflies in the Garden
by Robert Frost

Here come real stars to fill the upper skies,
And here on earth come emulating flies,
That though they never equal stars in size,
(And they were never really stars at heart)
Achieve at times a very star-like start.
Only, of course, they can't sustain the part.

"I've been portrayed as a caveman by some. That's not true.   I'm a conservative progressive, and that means I think all men are equal, be they slants, beaners or niggers."

- Jesse Helms

I don't imagine you'll be missed.  Oops, I stand corrected:

"Jesse Helms was a kind, decent, and humble man and a passionate defender of what he called "the Miracle of America." So it is fitting that this great patriot left us on the Fourth of July. He was once asked if he had any ambitions beyond the United States Senate. He replied: 'The only thing I am running for is the Kingdom of Heaven.' Today, Jesse Helms has finished the race, and we pray he finds comfort in the arms of the loving God he strove to serve throughout his life."

-President Bush.

One man's crazy racist wackjob is apparently another's "great patriot."

And yes, the keen-eyed, dedicated fans were not only posting pics of the full article - but even typing out a transcript for the ease and breeze of bloggers like me. Oh, they are wonderful.

If you haven't checked out my TANK Vodcast interview with Tim Minchin, on skepticism, science and belief, it is featured right here.

From the article (in full here, thanks to Horse Hannah):

Heath Ledger was arguably the most successful actor Perth ever produced.

He had the lot – beauty, and amazing voice, wonderful stillness, great instincts, powerful physicality and that passionate dedication to his craft that not only brought him great rewards but probably contributed, in the end, to his tragic death.

Surely he had only just scratched the surface of his potential and I am sad that we won’t benefit from the performances he would have given as he matured.

The naming of Perth’s new theatre after Heath has drawn criticism for three main reasons: the “he didn’t act in theatre” objection, the less interesting and highly predictable “he’s a bad role model ‘cos he took some drugs and drugs are bad” moan and the non sequitur "Carpenter's doing it for political reasons, therefore it’s not a good choice.”

First, these days “film actors” and “stage actors” are not two distinct groups of people. Sure, theatre and film involve the application of different specific skills but I have never met a stage actor of my generation who is not also a film and TV actor or does not aspire to be one.

Perth has produced many wonderful performers and because of the sparse film and TV opportunities in WA, most of those who stay are predominately stage actors. But I would be surprised if any of them would pass up a role in a film for reasons of loyalty to theatre.

...Judge away ye righteous folk but remember that thing about the mote(?) of dust and the log in the eye of the whatsit… you know, from that book you all love so much.

As for Alan Carpenter’s motives – who cares? How he arrived at his decision does not have a bearing on the validity of the choice.

It is wonderful that a new theatre is finally being built and I reckon it is just fine that it has been named after an extremely talented, hard-working, much-loved and greatly missed Perth born and bred actor.

Oh - if you want to know where Tim Minchin is performing, he's popping up updates on his Facebook page about the tour (yes, there is a new DVD out soonish! ) with all the dates here.

Next Sunday 13th July, he's performing alongside Jo Brand, Jo Neary, Jo Enright, Ed Byrne, Milton Jones, Steve Merchant, Mark Steel, Mat Holness, Dan Antopolski and the great Robin Ince to raise money for the Childhood Cancer Research Fund. There's also four previews of his Edinburgh show, “Ready For This” at Soho Theatre in late July. Tickets here.

Every year, in Vegas, the James Randi Educational Foundation gathers together for a conference as many like-thinking participants as you can get from people who question whenever people think alike. There are smart, famous and groovy speakers such as Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Trey Parker and Matt Stone. There's lots of real science stuff with real scientists questioning things that a lot of people take for granted, like ESP, UFOs, faith healing and creationism. It's a party.

Well, there's another take on TAM conferences - 'It's a party'. Right.

...During our loose Q&A period this year, someone asked us about global warming, or climate change, or however they're branding it now. Teller and I were both silent on stage for a bit too long, and then I said I didn't know.

I elaborated on "I don't know" quite a bit. I said that Al Gore was so annoying (that's scientifically provable, right?) that I really wanted to doubt anything he was hyping, but I just didn't know. I also emphasized that really smart friends, who knew a lot more than me, were convinced of global warming. I ended my long-winded rambling (I most often have a silent partner) very clearly with "I don't know." I did that because ... I don't know. Teller chimed in with something about Gore's selling of "indulgences" being BS, and then said he didn't know either. Penn & Teller don't know jack about global warming ... next question.

As I previously mentioned, there was some video footage was taken of the speech, which I'm certain will be available in longer format via DVD for sale, if you want to check exactly what was said. There's a variety of accounts online about the conference (I particuarly liked the detail overall in The Lippard Blog and forwarded it to a few friends who were there).

The next day, I heard that one of the non-famous, non-groovy, non-scientist speakers had used me as an example of someone who let his emotions make him believe things that are wrong.

Er, because that's what really matters... famous, groovy people being center stage?

To be fair (and it's always important to be fair when one is being mean-spirited, sanctimonious and self-righteous), "I don't know" can be a very bad answer when it is disingenuous. You can't answer "I don't know if that happened" about the Holocaust.

But the climate of the whole world is more complicated. I'm not a scientist, and I haven't spent my life studying weather. I'm trying to learn what I can, and while I'm working on it, isn't it OK to say "I don't know"?

I mean, at least in front of a bunch of friendly skeptics

Look, I'm certain that there's people shrugging and going 'Okay, so what? Watch the final footage when it comes out, see for ourselves exactly what he said. In the end, it's just his opinion. The popularity of Penn doesn't mean we can't question him nor be silenced for daring to criticise , him or any other "famous, groovy, scientist or not" person in skepticism or anywhere else - QED.'

So, I'm just going to link to a wonderful blog entry by Daniel Loxton for the Rational Inquirer Blog, in memorial to Barry Beyerstein, who passed away almost exactly a year ago. It in itself is a fitting tribute to the man.

Though, I must admit, the part about 'skepticism not being a theatre in a culture war' particularly struck me after all of this...

Get reading elsewhere - the 90th Skeptics Circle is out at the ever-wonderful Millennium Project!

-Planning Commission Chairman Jeff Aimonetti's funeral is being held today. Planning Administrator Chris Boies explains the process for replacing Mr. Aimonetti here. 

-Speaking of Mr. Boies, he is leaving his job at the end of the month to become the town manager iin New Market. From what I've seen at Planning Meetings, they've made an excellent choice. Chris really knows his stuff for a 27 year old.

-And speaking of youth, 19-yeard old Justin Ritenour officially became Shenandoah County's youngest elected official on Tuesday when he was sworn in as a member of the Strasburg Town Council. 

-Bob Goodlatte: World Traveler. Or at least this week, anyways, Bob Goodlatte reports from Afghanistan, where the U.S. has been facing a surge in violence. Still, the Congressman points out some improvement on some important fronts, including the fact that the nation has been holding free and fair elections since the Taliban was removed from power.

Marlon Brando (Omaha, 1924 – Los Angeles, 2004), actor estadounidense.

"La profesión de actor es la que me da más dinero hasta que decida qué quiero hacer con mi vida." (Marlon Brando)

]]> http://shenandoahgop.wordpress.com/?p=24 Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:42 +0000 Craig Orndorff http://shenandoahgop.wordpress.com/?p=24 Tragedy came again to the Shenandoah County Government Center when it was learned that Jeff Aimonetti, Sixth District Member and Chairman of the Planning Commission, passed away over the weekend after collapsing during a basketball game held in conjunction with a Senior Olympics Event in Charleston. Early media reports indicate that the cause was a massive heart attack. Mr. Aimonetti was the brother-in-law of Strasburg Town Councilman Scott Terndrup and the father of Jeff Aimonetti Jr, a Voting Member for the Edinburg Precinct on the SCRC. 

I only had the chance to see Mr. Aimonetti in action a few times, but he seemed to be extremely fair and judicious as chairman, not one to court controversy, and extremely interested and knowledgeable on an area of government that can be extremely nuance and difficult to understand. 

The Aimonetti Family has the Committee's deepest condolences for their untimely loss. We will be sure to provide you with details on arrangements as they become available. 

UPDATE: The Northern Virginia Daily has done an excellent job with their article looking back on the commissioner.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete as of this morning. 

Weigh in with your memories in the comments below. 

O data cu ea se duc multe din amintirile copilariei mele, casa aceia vrajita unde ma ducea mama si mereu primeam ceva bun :), memoria si cultura ei nemarginita si veselia de care a dat mereu dovada, chiar si cand batranetea au imbolnavit-o. Pisicile ei (si Doamne! a avut multe) pe care le plimba cu presul prin casa :) si Michi, papagalul care intamplator i-a intrat pe blacon si era la fel de "zuz" ca ea. Vorbea in limbi straine si o fugarea pe Meghi (ultima dintre pisici, avea atunci cam 15 ani) prin casa...

Intre timp Michi a plecat la fel cum a venit, burand de pe balcon, Meghi a murit de batranete (19 ani) si de boala, si azi... si Lizica, "fetita de 5 ani", a plecat in vis, dupa mai mult de 60 de ani de viata. Maine o vor duce la Brasov, iar luni o inmormanteaza...

Pentru ea, singura melodie care ma mai calmeaza acum...

Lullaby

[ ich verneige mich vor dem schöpfer in dir ]

bin gerade online über ein projekt gestolpert, das stolpersteine heisst - und das ist mir glatt einen post wert. ein interessantes lebenswerk, wie ich finde, aber macht euch selbst ein bild und schaut rein ...

.

.

in memoriam

“Ein Mensch ist erst vergessen, wenn sein Name vergessen ist”, sagt Gunter Demnig. Mit den Steinen vor den Häusern hält er die Erinnerung an die Menschen lebendig, die einst hier wohnten. Auf den Steinen steht geschrieben: HIER WOHNTE… Ein Stein. Ein Name. Ein Mensch.

stolpersteine.

]]> http://antoniogenna.wordpress.com/?p=12547 Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:52:22 +0000 Antonio http://antoniogenna.wordpress.com/?p=12547 Ancora un lutto nel mondo del doppiaggio italiano: è morto ieri in Scozia all'età di 55 anni a causa di un ictus Claudio Capone (la pagina a lui dedicata nel mio sito "Il mondo dei doppiatori").
Nato a Roma il 18 novembre 1952, Claudio Capone è stato la popolare voce narrante di moltissimi documentari naturalistici trasmessi all'interno di programmi Rai come "SuperQuark", "Il mondo di Quark" (con Piero Angela), "Passaggio a Nord-Ovest" (con Alberto Angela) e "Geo & Geo". I telespettatori dell'ora di pranzo di Canale 5 invece lo ricorderanno come voce di Ronn Moss, ovvero Ridge Forrester, uno degli storici personaggi centrali della soap opera "Beautiful". Per inciso, Capone è il terzo doppiatore protagonista storico di "Beautiful" morto negli ultimi anni, dopo Angiolina Quinterno e Oreste Rizzini.
Tantissimi i personaggi doppiati da Capone nel corso della sua carriera: in campo cinematografico, è stato la voce di Mark Hamill nella trilogia "Guerre stellari", "L'impero colpisce ancora" e "Il ritorno dello Jedi"; Alan Alda in "Crimini e misfatti", "Misterioso omicidio a Manhattan" e "Tutti dicono I Love You"; John Travolta in "Face/Off - Due facce di un assassino" e "Phenomenon"; Karlheinz Bohm nelle riedizioni televisive replicate annualmente su RaiUno del ciclo di film de "La principessa Sissi" con Romy Schneider; Steve Guttenberg nei primi quattro film della serie "Scuola di polizia"; Christopher Walken in "I mastini della guerra" e "Io e Annie". In TV, il doppiatore ha prestato la voce a Don Johnson nelle serie poliziesche Miami Vice - Squadra antidroga e Nash Bridges; Dean Cain in Lois & Clark - Le nuove avventure di Superman (dalla stagione 2 alla 4); Stephen Collins nella longeva serie familiare Settimo cielo; Tom Skerritt nella serie La famiglia Brock. I meno giovani lo ricorderanno anche come voce di William Katt nella serie anni '80 Ralph Supermaxieroe.
Gli appassionati di cartoni animati ricorderanno Capone come voce di Egon Spengler nella serie "The Real Ghostbusters", basata sui film con Bill Murray.
Claudio Capone ha anche diretto il doppiaggio di diverse serie TV come Sex and the City (solo la stagione 4), le inglesi Coupling, Extras e The Office, e la fantascientifica Firefly.
Negli ultimi anni Capone ha anche prestato la sua voce per la campagna pubblicitaria "Le acque della salute" di Uliveto e Rocchetta.
A seguire un clip audio della voce di Capone, impegnato qui al doppiaggio di Stephen Collins nella sopra citata serie Settimo cielo.

[audio=http://www.antoniogenna.net/doppiaggio/suoni/vocecc.mp3]

La cerimonia in memoria di Claudio Capone avrà luogo mercoledì 2 luglio alle ore 09.00 presso la Chiesa degli Artisti sita in Piazza del Popolo (a Roma).

Charles Romauld Gardes conocido como Carlos Gardel (Toulouse, Francia, 1890 - Medellín, Colombia, 1935), cantante, compositor, actor y, sobre todo, tanguero naturalizado argentino.

[audio http://boxstr.com/files/2472501_z2hk6/Carlos%20Gardel%20-%20Volver.mp3]

Canción: Volver. [Link] Autor: Carlos Gardel. [Gardelweb] Álbum: Tango (1935). Letra: Alfredo Le Pera. Video: [YouTube Link]. Letra: Volver. (Compuesta en 1935 y aparecida en la película "El día que me quieras").

- ¿Cuál fue su primer amor?

- He amado muchas veces en mi vida y conservo de ello gratísimos recuerdos, como que en todos mis amores he sido feliz. En ellos he querido de diferente manera según el temperamento de la chica, las circunstancias y el ambiente. Sin embargo, cada vez que me enamoro creo ser ésta la única ocasión en que verdaderamente he querido.

- ¿Cuál es el tipo de mujer que prefiere?

- Prefiero las latinas, indudablemente, por ser de mi misma raza y por lo tanto comprender más mi temperamento, pero todas las mujeres atractivas e inteligentes me agradan.

- ¿Es Ud. partidario del divorcio?

- Debido a mi carrera no soy partidario del casamiento

(Carlos Gardel en una entrevista para el diario El Nacional de Bogotá el 18 de junio de 1935, seis días antes de su trágica muerte)

Más información: http://www.gardelweb.com/

Ha! You thought I was going to say something else, didn't you?

(Oh, all right....)