Saturday, November 28, 2009

Charks Guest Speaker Mallika Sarbhai



Here is a fascinating artistic speech given by Mallika Sarabhai. She is a writer, publisher, actor, producer and leads the dance company Darpana and uses various forms of artistic engagement to further a deep social conscience. This particular skit playfully uses story backdrops to shine the light on social injustice. She uses fun ways to express dark subjects that otherwise don't get talked about in a normal professional setting.

Hope everyone had a marvelous Thanksgiving without busting your guts with food! Love to you all!

Monday, November 23, 2009

Guest Speakers on Chark's Corner



Here are just a couple of interesting videos of people talking about their experiences in front of an audience. I found TED a neat place to learn about stuff through a site that contains free lectures.

I will start posting a few a found interesting this week leading up to Thanksgiving to give my guest some mild, or in some cases...not so mild entertainment.

During the holidays one can get laden down with food and activity, so feel free to kick your heels up at your computer or laptop and enjoy from the same "virtual cup" as it were.

Cheers! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Not Easy Being Green, But Easy Being a Green Lizard




As you probably already know I am trying my best to be as green as possible. But, like everyone I can make some mistakes along the way. I'm still learning, and perhaps experiencing what life must have been like before the dawn of chemical pesticides that inspired the book "Silent Spring".

I don't use pesticides on my lawn and have not for about 3 years now and its amazing how the animal life seems to know this and gravitate to my little slice of eco heaven. I am inundated with grasshoppers, preying mantis and all sorts of birds that are just ecstatic that I have such a wide variety of insects that I don't even have to put out birdseed to attract them.

I admit, I was skeptical in the beginning as I lost several vegetable garden crops when my mini-eco system was unbalanced. But, now there seems to be a balance going on with the different species taking their part.

My mosquito population is down as an upswing of my insect zoo like conditions. Plus my herd of green little Jedi's seem to know through "The Force" that their little asses will be sprayed organic soap if they do not defeat the "bad" insects that drift in from the farmer's field to feast on my veg. So far it seems to be working.

Plus there has been an explosion of green lizards that seem to gravitate to my shed and all hang out around the door sunning themselves. We even had some accidentally make it into the house, so we had to run after them double time (because the insects they eat are very nutritious, sort of like the Backstreet Boys on wheat grass)

It becoming a veritable Galapagos Island around here. Maybe I should start selling tickets!

Monday, November 2, 2009

The Uninvited for Halloween


Boy, I was totally spooked for Halloween night.

Went over a friend's house under the bath of moonlight and trepidation. Had a dash of wine over some homemade pork chops and prepared myself to crawl out of my skin without my own express permission.

We watched "The Uninvited" and I was not prepared for the creep fest that ensued. The wine ended up on the ceiling. The pork chops reminded me of the goulish dead flesh flashing on the screen so I placed it down after a few bites. When I excused myself to go to the restroom all sorts of odd shadows enveloped me.

It did not help that this place was out in the boon docks. If I cried out for help, no one would have heard my pleas.

I think it was the surround sound my friend had. I do not have all the hookups to all that kind of equipment so it created another dimension for me. It was a real treat...yeah I kind of like getting scared....doesn't everyone?