RIP James...

Tragedy brings introspection. Its hard to find meaning in life's events, but it's necessary. Every day can bring both heartache and happiness. It is very easy to get caught up in the heartache, the pain, and the sorrow. It's very easy to live in misery, feeling sorry for yourself. But it's a lot harder to turn negativity into something worth living for. It is our choices that shape who we become. When you see someone take their life, it makes you wonder why certain choices weren't made. It makes you wonder who in that person's life allowed their friend to self-destruct. Sometimes you have to choose what's hard, and not what's easy. That goes with standing up to your friends in pain and helping them make better choices. Remember that the falling mortal is...our brother.


Some days worry,some days glad,
some days more than make you mad,
some days, some days, more than shine,
when you see what's coming on down the line.

Some days you say, oh not me never,
Some days you say,bless God forever,
Some days you say, curse God and die,
And the day comes when you wrestle with that line,

Some days tussle, Some days groan,
and some days don't even leave a bone,
Some days, you hassle all alone.

I don't know sister, what I'm saying,
nor do no man if he don't be prayin,
I know that love is the only answer,
And the tight rope lover, the only dancer.

When the lover come off the rope today,
the net which holds him is how we pray,
and not to God's unknown, but to each other,
the falling mortal is our brother.

Some days leave, Some days grieve,
Some days you almost won't believe,
Some days believe you, Some days don't,
Some days believe you, when you won't.

Some days worry, Some days mad,
Some days more than make you glad,
Some days, some days, More than shine,
Witnesses coming on down the line

by James Baldwin

Queer Fest Midwest

I promised my friend Erik I would give him a plug in anyway i could. Erik (host of Think Pink Radio) is putting on an awesome event on August 25th. Straight from their myspace page...

As two of Chicago's prominent independent queer voices, Chill Magazine and Think Pink Radio have joined forces to put together Chicago's first summer queer music festival. Queer Fest Midwest will be an all-day celebration featuring national and local queer musical acts and art and will benefit About Face Theater and WLUW. The festival will be held Aug. 25 at the Pulaski Park Fieldhouse (1419 W. Blackhawk)

Erik is pretty much doing this on his own and so i'm spreading the word. It should be a really good time and is very important to the promotion of queer art and music. That is an area that is very important to Erik...and should be to all of us. The following artists are lined up for the day...

Musicians:
Office
Katastrophe
Ex-Members
Chris Garneau
Hey There Cowboy
Johnny Dangerous
Team Gina
Katz
Gina Young
Actor Slash Model
8" Betsy
Opportunity School
Stiletto Attack'

Dancers:
Jyl Fehrenkamp + Peter Carpenter
Zac Whittenburg
Asimina Chremos

Visual Artists:
Bruce La Bruce
Sadie Benning
Sean Fader
Matthew Lew
Dylan Mira and Latham Zearfross
Kean O'Brien

Though i'm only familiar with Johnny Dangerous and Zac Wittenburg, i'm sure its going to be an awesome day. Please join in the fun.