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Tarot Reading
ECW ON SCI FI
ECW on Sci Fi opened with a tarot card reading witch (OVW's Shelly Martinez) surrounded by lit cameras and laying out cards. She narrated what happened last night on Raw, interspersed with clips from the show. She then noted that tonight, it would be Rob Van Dam & Kurt Angle vs. Randy Orton & Edge.
They showed close, tight shots of the crowd as Joey Styles and Tazz welcomed everyone to ECW, noting they were live from Albany, New York.
Sabu vs. Tony Mamaluke (with Trinity)
Sabu made his way to the ring for a match. They aired clips of a bloody John Cena from last night after he had been put through the table. Mamaluke then made his way to the ring with Trinity. Tazz said if you want Divas, go to Raw or Smackdown. If you want Vixens, you go to Smackdown. Styles noted that ECW was the top show on Sci Fi last week when they aired. Tazz noted that Raw was the top rated cable show of the week. Yep, Vince McMahon is already feeding lines.
The match started out fast. They are shooting the ring tight with the lights in the Arena low to give it a darker feel. Sabu got a near fall with a legdrop. Mamaluke hit a belly to back suplex for a near fall. The commentary focused on what Sabu did to Cena. Sabu hit a slingshot legdrop, then cinched in a Camel Clutch. Sabu hit a springboard plancha off a chair to the floor on Mamaluke. The camera angles are absolutely more intimate this week. Sabu set up a table but Mamaluke attacked him and tossed him back in the ring. He slammed the chair down over Sabu's face and went to the top. He went for a frog splash but Sabu tossed the chair into Mamaluke's face while laying on the mat. Sabu put Mamaluke on a table and hit a plancha out of the ring into a splash, putting Mamaluke through the table. They used a closeup angle that made Sabu look like he was crashing into the camera. That looked awesome. Sabu tossed Mamaluke back in the ring and locked on a camel clutch. Mamaluke tapped out.
A short but satifying matches with some hard hitting spots. At this point, the show is already WAY better when compared to the debut.
Kelly introduced herself and said again, she's an exhibitionist. She said that last week she was so excited she couldn't get her bra off, but tonight she'll show us, "everything she has."
When they returned from commercial, Rob Van Dam did a promo backstage, wearing the WWE title around his waist and the ECW title above it. Van Dam promo'd his match later tonight and then said that Edge was going to get his ass whipped at Vengeance, but tonight Edge will get an "Extreme asskicking." Van Dam said he needed to get rolling, "if you know what I mean" and then led the crowd in reciting "Rob Van Dam."
The Big Show came out. Tommy Dreamer then made his way to the ring. Styles mentioned how Show put Dreamer through a table last week. Styles announced the ECW 7/4 taping in Philly. Dreamer took the mic and said that last week Show was dominant and got a taste of what is hardcore. He said that if Show wants to feel the heart and soul of ECW and to truly feel what it's like to be ECW, "You have to go through me."
Dreamer slapped Show, but Show easily beat him down. Dreamer rolled out of the ring with Show following. Show tossed Dreamer into the ring steps and then beeled him into the guard rail. Show picked up Dreamer and drilled him, back-first, into the ring post. They returned to the ring, with Show continuing to beat Dreamer down and Dreamer fighting back. Dreamer kept getting up every time he was beat down. Big Show put Dreamer in a Cobra Clutch and hit the Chokenstein move that Nick Gage uses in CZW (chokeslam into an over the knee backbreaker), drilling Dreamer down over his knee. He then flung Dreamer across the ring and hit the Chokenstein into the knee again. Show walked off. They showed a beaten Dreamer, pulling himself up, staring towards Show, smiling.
They showed a clip of Randy Orton tapping out to Kurt Angle at ECW One Night Stand, then promo'd the main event/
A Vengeance promo centered around DX vs. The Spirit Squad aired as they came out of commercial.
Kevin Fertig The Vampire was shown baring his fangs outside the Arena. Tazz quipped, "ECW attracts all kinds."
A masked wrestler, billed as "Macho Libre" made his way to the ring. He said, "Buenos Noches, Ooooh Yeah" acting like Randy Savage and Jack Black had an offspring. He said, "Those this is ECW. Well, Macho Libre is looking for a fight. Yeah! Looking for a fight. Oh Yeah! Snap into It."
That brought out Sandman, who came down the stairs of the Arena. They showed a pre-taped promo of Sandman inserted in the upper corner of the screen, claiming to be an "ECW original." He said he only cares about drinking beer and chasing women and, "If you get in my way, I'll cane the holy Hell out of you." Nacho tried to talk to Sandman, but Sandman simply caned the hell out of him, then cracked open a beer. Sandman hit the White Russian Legsweep on, as Joey Styles called it, "That big steaming pile of sports-entertainment." Sandman then covered him for the pin.
Backstage, Paul Heyman was telling referee Mike Posey that the only thing an ECW referee does is count the fall or rule the submission when Jim Molineaux told him John Cena was in the parking lot. Heyman said Cena has some pair of balls and told Molineaux to get everyone together, because, "It's time for action." When they returned from commercial, Paul Heyman was riling up the troops. Cena walked into the building, his eye looking like hell. He approached them, acknowledging Van Dam and Sabu, then called Heyman a, "sc*mbag." He said last night Sabu pulled a hell of a stunt. He said that he's sure Sabu has a lot more in store for him. Cena said that he has an offer for Sabu and he'll look Sabu and ECW dead in the eye so they know he's serious. He said that apparently ECW doesn't like him or the way he does business. He said he has no problem with that, but he doesn't like people attacking him from behind. He said that this Sunday, Heyman can bring anyone he wants or anyone he's got. He said that at Vengeance, it's Cena vs. Sabu and offers it to be an Extreme Lumberjack match. Cena said he's man enough to stare a good asskicking in the face, but just wants have a chance to go down swinging. Cena asked Heyman if they have a deal but before he could respond, Sabu screamed, "Deal!" Cena turned his back on the ECW crew and walked away slowly, as they glared at him.
Kelly came out and stripped. She got her top off this time, but an unnamed wrestler in tights (Deep South Wrestling's Mike Knox) came out with a towel and covered her, forcing Kelly to leave.
Edge (with Lita) & Randy Orton vs. Kurt Angle & ECW/WWE champion Rob Van Dam
Edge and Lita came out first. Edge took the mic and said he wanted to set the record straight, saying ECW sucks. He said that all the ECW fans suck. Tazz said, "The only thing that sucks is his old lady." No pyro for Orton. Angle made his way to the ring. Van Dam came to the ring, with pyro. They shot from under the pyro as opposed to a long shot.
Edge and Angle started. Van Dam tagged in, with the Raw heels taking over. Van Dam responded with a kick to Orton, then straddled him across the top rope. Van Dam hit the Ryder Kick (leaping side kick off the ropes) to Orton, who fell to the floor. Van Dam slammed him into the guard rail, then hit a moonsault off the apron to the floor. Orton cut off Van Dam when they returned to the ring and the Raw team worked over Van Dam. Van Dam elbowed Edge as he charged and hit a kick off the middle turnbuckle. Van Dam went for Rolling Thunder, but Lita tripped him and pulled him out of the ring. The fans chanted, "Slut" as they went to commercial.
When ECW returned from commercial, Edge was working over Van Dam. They showed Lita choking RVD over the ropes from during the break. Edge and Orton continued to beat down Van Dam. Edge tossed Van Dam to the floor, right in front of the announcers table. Edge whipped him into the ring steps. Styles theorized Edge was softening up Van Dam for Vengeance. RVD kicked Edge in the face and finally tagged in Angle. Angle hit three German suplexes on Orton. He hit one on Edge. Orton came from behind Angle, but Angle evaded him and locked on the Ankle Lock. Edge broke it up. Edge came off the top rope but Angle caught him and hit an over the top suplex. Angle went for Angleslam but Orton clipped Angle's knee and then attacked it, driving the knee into the mat. Orton tagged in Edge, who threw Angle to the floor. The storyline was that the heels were trying to take out Angle's base as a wrestler by injuring his knee. Edge beat down Angle on the outside and tossed him in. Angle wrestled his way into a choke on Edge, but Lita jumped into the ring and raked Angle's eyes.
Orton tagged in and continued to work over Angle. Angle got an Ankle Lock, but Orton tagged back out. Edge continued the beating, until Angle caught him with a German suplex. Angle made the hot tag to Van Dam who cleaned house. Van Dam hit a windmill kick on Edge and then dove out of the ring on Orton. Van Dam chased Lita around the ring, then grabbed a chair. He started to return to the ring but Orton grabbed his legs. Van Dam hit in in the back with the chair and Orton went down. Edge knocked Van Dam off the apron, sending him into the ringside table.
Angle locked the Anklelock on Edge. Lita tried to interfere but Angle saw her coming and hit the Angleslam. Orton surprised Angle with the RKO. Orton celebrated but was caught unaware with the Ryder kick. Van Dam went for Rolling Thunder but Edge kicked him as RVD sprung out of a somersault. Fans chanted "ECW." Edge set up for the spear but RVD hit him with a forearm as he charged. RVD went to the top and hit the Five Star Frog Splash, pinning Edge.
They showed several replays as Van Dam and Angle embraced and celebrated.
Major **SPOILERS** For WWE Vengeance REVEALED: New DX MEMBERS!
* NOTE: Please be advised that we are not responsible for the above advertisement It is posted by the reporter and may not always contain true information*
Tarot Reading
P.S. Somebody needs to tell Lita that bangs went out in the 80's.
Tonight as many of you may know Paul Heyman was given total creative control of the show and as I am concerned it didn't make one difference sure they messed around with the lights lowering them but then this was also done in the old days of wrestling to conceal the fact that the show had a poor or low attendance...In one hour the show could only summon up enough strength to give one good match and that being the main event which wouldn't have been possible without ECW borrowing two of Raw's stars in Randy Orton and Edge....There once again was too many vampires and ghouls on this show to make it an effective show...They wasted time showing Big Show and Tommy Dreamer and it wasn't even an official match they could have used this time more wisely...If I want to see porn as in the case of the ECW stripper I'll rent a tape at the local porn shop to put that on the show and then have someone yank her off stage at the last moment only served as filler and weakened the show further...The Macho Libre make fun of "Macho Man"Randy Savage skit was dull at best and in poor taste what heat could ECW have with Savage as far as I know he's never appeared or shown an interest in appearing in an ECW wrestling ring...EDGE was right when he proclaimed ECW sucks....This was week number two and under Heyman control the man who created the original ECW and he dropped the ball! That's two weeks in a row they put out a weak show and I've wasted my time it won't happen next week!. On a positive side at least I along with many other wrestling fans still have TNA on Thursday night to enjoy and with Senshi Facing Samoa Joe and Sonjay Dutt for the X Division title it should be an awesome show unlike tonight's ECW product!
Dan Retnyap ,CT
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I don't know if you guys will post this or not, but I need to vent to someone. I have watched wrestling for over 25 years, and was a diehard ECW fan through it's history. I have to say that the new show is almost unbearable to watch. first- I am glad that Justin credible, balls Mahoney, Sabu, and others have contracts. I am glad Stevie and al snow are on TV. these are my only comforts. as far as the "new breed unleashed" is concerned, it is awful. it's another hour of putting over WWE. Cena, edge, angle, big show (who are still WWE no matter what shirt they wear or how many times angle chants ECW!) there is no point in taping the shows at Smackdown events. the fans there came to see Smackdown stars and don't care about ECW or it's workers. changing the entrance, mat, ropes, and announcers table location are not the changes they said would be made. there is no "edgy" feel or difference from Raw. the show is worse than velocity, because it is so disappointing.
now to the actual action. seeing angle destroy credible was bad. seeing show destroy dreamer was worse. these are former ECW world champions for god sake!!! I don't even mind the comedy of the zombie and macho libre as much as I hate Kelly!!! why the hell do we need this buck tooth plastic surgery case who can't manage to disrobe. exhibitionist? who cares? I would have killed to see Guido vs. CW. Anderson in that timeslot!!! and test!?!? why test? why do we get these crappy guys to destroy our heroes? and that's what will happen. what is the point of having every man on the ECW roster rallying together backstage? there is no story whatsoever other than "we need to get those guys from raw". will we see an ongoing cross-promotion forever? it's like Vince and his yes man Kevin Dunn (who has no place in wrestling) have taken everything that ECW ever was away from Paul E. so he could play around with WCW thunder or Saturday night.
I know I sound totally negative, but this ECW rebirth truly breaks my heart. it should make us realize how good ECW on TNN actually was. and that is sad!!! watching this show is like someone digging up the corpse of my dead mother and raping it in front on me...every Tuesday...10, 9 central.
Ok, this weeks ECW on Scifi was not nearly as bad as last weeks debut. I thought the actual matches were solid, but of course this is McECW, so there had to be stupid things.
Why is Taz putting over the Raw rating?
Why is Taz putting over Orton and Edge, when Jerry Lawler calls every ECW "Rebel" crappy week after week?
Why was Cena allowed to go into ECW and walk back out untouched?
Why is Kelly still on my TV screen? Don't get me wrong, she's hot, but the stripping thing got old the first 10 seconds of last week.
Why is ECW still starting with the same crowd shots as Raw and Smackdown?
What was the point of Big Show beating down Dreamer?
Macho Libre?
The main event was a real good match, but it featured 2 WWE guys vs. a WWE guy pretending to be ECW, and an ECW guy who's been wrestling in WWE for 5 years now!
Robert
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Caught some of the end and have read everything else that happened and am ready with my two cents....
1. Its good that they went live.
2. The dark arena was a good idea for the matches because its the most logical way to give the building a smaller look. At least the powers that be were listening on that one.
3. They also heard the constructive criticism by using more hand-held floor level shots. I think they used too many camera cuts, but I think they are on the right track if they don't give up on it too soon.
4. MovieExchange made a good observation when he compared ECW to Wrestling Superstars and Challenge. But I think they may have come up with something from that era that they can use if they're smart (although we all know they aren't)-the pre-taped promos during wrestling action. For WWECW to work, they have to be a true alternative to RAW or Smackdown. The easiest way to do this (and to give at least the most vocal of those who bash the current WWE product) is to do more wrestling. They can have the best of both worlds if you cut the promos during the match.
That's all I got right now....at least til I watch my disc of the show anyways
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I know that everyone at PWInsider.com have been preaching that while watching "ECW" we are really watching wweecw. And I'm not a fool and know coming in that this is not the ECW that I knew and loved. That being said... I'm sad and outraged at the way "ECW" is being presented.
Apparently I am in the minority as the poll that pwinsider.com has going states that most of the people thought it was a good show. If that was a good show... then David Arquette was a good WCW champion. The show was boring, predictable, and lame. The only thing lamer then putting out Macho Libre for Sandman to squash was Sandman's pre-interview up in the upper right corner like were watching the old Wrestling Challenge or my first thought GLOW. Is David McLaine part of the new ECW? Seems like everyone who isn't from the original ECW is. I'm done with this charade. Thanks Vince... thanks for nothing.
Marc New York, NY
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I thought the show was much better than last week, though that is not saying much considering it sucked last week. In all fairness, this was a good, but far from great show.
One of the problems is the audience. I realize that they are having a joint ECW/ Smackdown crowd in order to save costs. That being said, the crowd was dead for most of the show. During the main event, both Kurt Angle and RVD at different times were clapping their hands trying to get the crowd to react. Both times, there was little if any reaction.
And the bastardization of the music does not help either. I fully agree with WWE not wanting to pay $10+ million to Metallica for the rights of using Enter Sandman. I am a huge Metallica fan, but in this case f**k them that is ridiculous money. Why they can't pay Motorhead I don't know say $2.5 million for their version (yeah it's not my money) I don't know. Same with Dreamer's Man in the Box, I think what they have playing for him now is supposed to be a version of it, but it is no Alice in Chains
Opening the show with Sabu vs. Mamaluke was smart. Sabu is one of the most exciting wrestlers they have in ECW and Mamaluke can wrestle pretty well (especially for a fellow Bensonhurst Italian). Mamaluke got in the right amount of offense and Sabu hit a couple of his trademark spots to perfection.
Macho Libre cracked me up. Until I read the site, I did not recognize that it was Tony DeVito in the get up, but it was good for what it was. But, after a few weeks, they will need to have Sandman do something else than sub one minute squashes over spoof jobbers.
The Big Show beatdown of Dreamer served it's purpose to try and build him up in the eyes of the ECW crowd. The smile at the end by Dreamer was a nice touch showing he wanted to bring out an ECW version of Big Show. The problem is Big Show has always been an underachiever in WWE (I thought he was great his first few years in WCW as the Giant), so I don't think he will get over like they want him to.
I don't know who the wrestler was that stopped Kelly, but that was a good way to get heel heat. Granted it has been done many times in the past like with RTC, but they obviously could not have Kelly completely nude on TV, so it was the best way to do it (unless you don't do it at all). I also like she poked fun at herself for not getting her bra off last week
The main event was so-so. Randy Orton should not be in an ECW ring. I used to like him a few years ago when he first turned heel when he had the shoulder injury and did the weekly updates of how well his shoulder was doing (it's at 84% now) and I loved his dad when I first started watching wrestling in the early-mid 80s, but man he is so damn boring now.............Yes the women like his looks.......yes he is a good athlete and has a very good physique and can throw a great drop kick.........but his promos are the same old same old and if he uses that headlock on the mat spot again I will probably fall asleep...........Side headlock by Orton...........ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ...................Overall considering the other 3 wrestlers in the ring, I thought it would be better.
Hopefully next week will be as much an improvement over this week and this week was to last week, but I doubt it.............Still too much WWE wrestlers on the show, but time will tell
Thumb in the middle (compared to last week's show, thumbs slowly pointing up)
Best Match: RVD & Angle vs. Edge & Orton Worst Match: Whatever the hell that stripper thing was all about
Its not there yet. I can see signs that its getting there (& maybe that's just my optimism), just not quite yet.
The Positive Signs:
Sabu is starting to deliver. After that amazing move Sabu pulled last night (which btw, that 3 seconds balancing on the top rope was the most amazing part, & I don't get why WWE editing keeps skipping past it), Sabu puts on some much needed relief for the ECW fans. What WWE hasn't quite figured out yet is that Sabu isn't meant for squash matches. He's the that guy always looks best when he takes on the biggest, meanest dog you got.
Macho Libre, OOOOOOOO YYYEEEEAAAAAHHHH!!!! I might actually be the only one who got a kick out of that gimmick, but it was just genius (How much you want to bet that movie is going to be worse than 'Ready to Rumble'). At least SciFi is safe from the cane of the Sandman for one night.
ECW vs. RAW tag match. All four men worked very well for this match. The only real problem was that it seemed more like a main event for RAW then an ECW match.
Ultimate Angle I know a lot of people didn't like the squash match last week, and its true, it did make Justin Credible look like a jobber. BUT, I love this ECW/Ultimate-Fighter Kurt Angle. In fact, for now, I'm dubbing him Ultimate Angle! (Hey, it's still a lot better than Ultimate Spider-Man)
What Still Needs Work:
ECW's Loyal Cult-like Fans???? Okay, whose genius idea was it to put ECW on the same show as Smackdown!? At this point, I could actually understand putting it with RAW, but Smackdown!? The last time I checked, Smackdown! Is a kids' show! That's like trying to plug a US electronic into a Czech outlet'. It just doesn't work!! The point is, that arena didn't have ECW's loyal fans. They had a bunch of silent Smackdown! fans up past their bedtimes.
My advice: Let Smackdown! have Velocity back (or give it Heat, I really don't care), and put ECW as RAW's pre or post show. BUT!!! Don't tape it there (or if you do, put it on as a webshow). Instead, pretape ECW on SciFi at the ECW house shows. ECW has, and always will, work better in smaller arenas. That's where your real fans will show up. If money is an issue, than just cut back on it. Don't use pyro, use less cameramen, use a megaphone instead of a sound system. They'll figure it out. I'd much rather watch an edited house show taping with a rowdy energetic crowd than a live uncensored silent crowd.
ECW on SciFi. You know, Science Fiction Okay, this is a really annoying issue that just doesn't seem to be getting any better. ECW is on SciFi, and they want it to be SciFi. They want Aliens, Werewolves, Vampires, Zombies, the whole friggin' Monster Mash. The problem is this is ECW, not WWE (or at least that's what its supposed to be), and ECW does not equal Cheesy Gimmicks.
My advice: If there absolutely must be SciFi themes on the show (and that's what looks to be happening), at least let it be practical. I know that's actually next to impossible. In fact, the best idea so far is the whole Gangrel/Mordicai vampire stable, and that's not really saying much. So here is some ideas I'm just throwing out there:
- If you're going to use Vampires, make them like the real goth cults, and not like some Dracula ripoff.
-and if you're going to use Dracula, bring in Leslie Nelson form Dracula: Dead and Loving It! (I still love that guy)
-I know it was meant as a joke, but if you're going to use Zombies, for the love of God, make it a George A Romero Zombie, not a cheap 'Return of the Living Dead' Zombie. Like, make him bleed from the mouth or missing a limb or something. Hey, see if Zach Gowen is interested. :-P
-It might help to advertise the other SciFi shows inside the arena, at least just for now. Also, it wouldn't hurt if some of the wrestlers came out wearing T-Shirts for SciFi shows, like Stargate SG-1 or Twilight Zone. Something like that.
-Big Show is a Giant!!! Just find something about that to work with.
-I know I'm definitely alone on this one, but it would be kind of funny if we saw a Klingon on the show. (Hey, lets see you come up with something better)
-Have an ECW vs. SciFi thing (like ECW vs. TNN) where it's the true ECW wrestlers in a feud with a bunch of cheesy SciFi gimmick wrestlers. Have an Alien, a Zombie, a Werewolf, hell I'd even put in a Lord of the Rings character or two. Then when the time comes for them to wrestle each other, surprise the hell out of the fans by making the SciFi wrestlers turn out to be down-to-earth authentic hardcore wrestlers (find a bunch of new unknown Indy wrestlers).
-On that last note, bring back Cyrus and make him SciFi. It would be funny to see him turn into a Trekkie.
Unless Taz comes back, send Tazz back to Smackdown! Sorry dude, but you just suck!
Tarot Reading
PITTSFIELD ' Spirits were high, attendance was not, according to a consensus of vendors and attendees yesterday at the first Berkshire Spirit Fest at Bousquet Ski Area.
The event was presented by the Berkshire Spirit Ministries of Becket and L.O.V.E., a Pittsfield-based volunteer group that advocates compassion and inspiration through community music and art.
According to the Rev. Bettina Zumdick, one of the three founders of Berkshire Spirit Ministries, 50 percent of the proceeds from yesterday's festival will be turned over to Berkshire Community Action Council Inc., a Pittsfield-based organization with offices in Great Barrington and North Adams, that sponsors a host of programs designed to help area residents move from assistance to self-sufficiency.
"We chose BCAC because they know the needs (of the area), they know where the money should go," Zumdick said. "They're very connected."
Yesterday's event was an offshoot of a psychic fair in Lenox in November produced by Berkshire Spirit Ministries. The proceeds from that event went to BCAC's winter fuel-assistance program.
At yesterday's fair, BCAC staffers told Zumdick that funding was needed in the early summer to meet the increased nutritional needs for schoolchildren who no longer receive a free lunch.
In addition, said Zumdick, "we believe it's time to raise awareness of sustainable alternatives."
The festival featured speakers, bands and a number of booths that offered information on subjects including solar electricity, organic farming, biodiesel fuel, renewable energy, recycling and waste prevention.
There also were booths that featured jewelry, massages, Tarot card readings, psychic interpretations, channeling and clothing.
"We've included the alternative community because we wanted to be as inclusive as possible," Zumdick said. "Someone may come to a reader and also get a chance to learn about alternative energy sources."
The principal downside, according to most booth personnel, was a low turnout. By 2, only about 100 people had made their way to the festival.
"These (kinds of festivals) help to get the word out," said Laurenne Teachout, who was manning an information booth about Mountain Road School in New Lebanon, N.Y., "but it's too bad there aren't more people
here."
The food included Indian and Mexican fare, natural foods from Guido's, and hamburgers and hot dogs.
"The food is very good," said Janice DiFilippo of Dalton. "But it's unfortunate there aren't more people."
"More people would bring more energy here, I think," said her friend, Jane Ruscetta, whose son, Tony Lee Thomas, was in the last band on the bill.
"He's a Berkshire treasure, it says right here in the program," said Ruscetta with a chuckle. "We're here for the day. We'll be OK if the rain holds off."
Throughout the day, a variety of speakers stepped to the stage, discussing global climate change, sustainable agriculture, biodiesel fuels and renewable energy.
Donald Campbell of Northfield, president of DCA Solar, gave an entertaining speech at midday about sustainable energy.
"How many of you out there think slavery is a good idea?" he asked the audience. "OK, no one thinks it's a great idea, which is good."
But, said Campbell, it would take about 300 slaves to generate the amount of energy used by every American on average in a year.
"Five percent of the world, (Americans), use up 25 percent of its resources," he said. "That's not good."
Campbell offered several basic tips about energy conservation, including turning lights off when leaving a room, closing windows on cold days and, overall, being aware of energy use.
"The good news is that events like this help us out by raising awareness," he said.
A number of local musicians and bands were on the bill, including Michael Haynes, Billy Pilgrim, Axis, Jerac Andre, Hector on Stilts, the Loveknot Shrine, Dooley Austin and the aforementioned Tony Lee Thomas Band.
Derek Gentile can be reached at dgentile@berkshireeagle.com or at (413) 528-3660.
Tarot Reading
Head out to the cool(er) desert for this educational look at the skies that focuses on giants - planets, star clusters - that can be seen with the naked eye. Bring lawn chairs. Binoculars and telescopes available if you don't have your own. When: 8:30-9:30 tonight Where: Tucson Mountain Park, Ironwood Picnic Area, 1548 S. Kinney Road Price: free Info: 877-6111
Take a walking tour of the Sixth Avenue and Toole Archaeology Data Recovery Project. Maps of former area properties will be on display, and you'll be able to dig into the hands-on dirt screening area. When: 9 a.m.-noon Saturday Where: Tucson Warehouse Historic District, Sixth and Toole avenues Price: free Info: 791-4505 Parking: free at the Pennington/Toole surface lot
The festivities at Yoga Connection's 20th-anniversary event include a yoga class, 8:30 a.m.; chanting, 10; meditation, 11; tea and refreshments and services - tarot card readings, massage, reiki, for $1 per minute - noon-4 p.m. When: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday Where: 4893 E. Speedway Blvd. Price: free (donations welcome) Info: 323-1222
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Tarot Reading
A: That she remains consistent and has been consistent since she was 8 years old. She developed a grandiose idea of her own self-importance and has never been shaken in that conviction throughout her years in politics.
Q: What have you learned about the mainstream media since your book came out?
A: The mainstream media, in the year since my hardcover edition came out, have fallen slightly out of love with Hillary because of her backing of the war in Iraq. And the vehemence with which they once supported her is no longer as evident. It would be no exaggeration to say that the mainstream media and the base of the Democratic Party are now actively looking for another candidate to back in 2008.
Q: What have you learned about conservatives in the last year that has not pleased you?
A: There are some conservatives who appear to be conservatives in name only and are more interested in sipping Chablis with their liberal friends at New York cocktail parties and out in South Hampton and East Hampton than they are in the conservative cause. Among those who I would call Chablis conservatives are people like John Podhoretz of the New York Post and Peggy Noonan, who are more concerned with how they are treated by their liberal friends than they are with their adherence to conservative principles.
Q: When we talked last year, you said Hillary's whole life was a sham and she couldn't be trusted with the presidency. Do you regret or retract anything that you wrote?
A: Quite the contrary. I not only stand by what I wrote, but I'm very glad that I wrote it because it had to be said. I think a lot of what I wrote about Hillary -- that she is untrustworthy, that she is a liar, that she is a sham, all of those things for which I was attacked by so many people -- have now become clearer to everyone, even to some people left of center. ... Her posing as a God-fearing moderate who is against flag burning and in favor of Mom and apple pie doesn't fool many people any longer.
Q: Your next book is going to be about Katie Couric. Is there anything you can tell us about that?
A: I can only say that whereas my book on Hillary was intended to be a polemic against Hillary because I did not and do not want to see her become president of the United States, the book on Katie Couric is going to be much more of a journalistic, fair-and-balanced enterprise.
Ann Coulter: Quick Quotes
We asked Ann Coulter this week to personally select a paragraph or two from her best-selling book "Godless" that she wished her critics had concentrated on instead of harping about what she said about the "Jersey Girls," the anti-war widows of 9/11. Here' are the ones she e-mailed to us:
Our book is Genesis. Their book is Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring," the original environmental hoax. Carson brainwashed an entire generation into imagining a world without birds, killed by DDT. Nazi concentration camp victims were bathed in DDT when they were rescued to save their lives. But because of liberals' druidical religious beliefs, they won't allow us to save Africans dying in droves of malaria with DDT because DDT might hurt the birds. A few years after oil drilling began in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, a saboteur set off an explosion blowing a hole in the pipeline and releasing an estimated 550,000 gallons of oil. It was one of the most devastating environmental disasters in recent history. Six weeks later, all the birds were back. Birds are like rats -- you couldn't get rid of them if you tried.
Liberalism is a comprehensive belief system denying the Christian belief in man's immortal soul. Their religion holds that there is nothing sacred about human consciousness. It's just an accident no more significant than our possession of opposable thumbs. They deny what we know about ourselves, that we are moral beings in God's image. Without this fundamental understanding of man's place in the world, we risk being lured into misguided pursuits including bestiality, slavery, and PETA membership. Liberals swoon in pagan admiration of Mother Earth, mystified and overawed by her power. They deny the Biblical idea of dominion and progress, the most ringing affirmation of which is the United States of America.
Although they are Druids, liberals masquerade as rationalists, adopting a sneering tone of scientific sophistication, which is a little like being condescended to by a Tarot card reader. Liberals hate science and react badly to it. They will literally run from the room, light-headed and nauseated, when told of data that might suggest that the sexes have different abilities in math and science. They repudiate science when it contradicts their pagan beliefs -- that the AIDS virus doesn't discriminate, that there is no such a thing as I.Q., that nuclear power is dangerous and scary, or that breast implants cause disease. Liberals use the word "science" exactly like they use the word "constitutional." Both words are nothing more or less than a general statement of liberal approval, having nothing to do with either science or the constitution. (Thus for example, the following sentence makes sense to liberals: President Clinton saved the Constitution by repeatedly ejaculating on a fat Jewish girl in the Oval Office.)
Everything liberals believe is in elegant opposition to basic Biblical precepts.
Our religion says that human progress proceeds from the spark of divinity in the human soul; Their religion holds that human progress is achieved through sex and death.
We believe in invention and creation; they catalogue with stupefaction the current state of our diminishing resources and tell us to stop consuming.
We say humans stand apart from the world and our charge is planet earth; They say we are part of the world, and our hubristic use of nature is sinful.
We say humans are in God's image; They say we are no different from the apes.
We believe in populating the earth until there's standing room only and then colonizing Mars; They believe humans are in the twilight of their existence.
Liberals beatify health, no-smoking, camping, non-fossil-fuel travel, organic foods - all while creating exotic new diseases in pursuit of polymorphous perversity. Don't be confused by your capacity for reason! We're just apes. A chief ingredient of the liberal religion is the bestialization of humanity. So on one hand, we have to give up on SUVs, snow mobiles, and indoor plumbing, but on the other hand -- at least we get the funky bestial behavior! (Including actual bestiality - keep reading!) They believe in the coarse physical appropriation of women by men -- hook-ups, trophy wives, strip clubs. Through movies, magazines and TV, liberals promote a cult of idealized beauty that is so extreme as to be unimaginable. We must listen to Hollywood airheads like Julia Roberts and George Clooney because they are beautiful. Today's worship of physical perfection is more grotesque than Hitler's notion of the Aryan.
Box of Books
"White Guilt : How Blacks and Whites Together Destroyed the Promise of the Civil Rights Era" by Shelby Steele (HarperCollins)
Blacks in America, Steele says, have traded away their personal responsibility and control of their own destinies for a belief in their own permanent victimhood and a dependency on government handouts (like affirmative action) from white liberals who feel guilty about the country's racist past. Steele, whom George Will calls "America's most discerning black writer," is a Hoover Institution fellow. Will says he "casts a cool eye on yet another soft bigotry of low expectations" that destroys blacks' individuality and reduces them to helpless victims of their skin color and an allegedly racist social structure.
"Death in the Haymarket : A Story of Chicago, the First Labor Movement, and the Bombing That Divided Gilded Age America" by James Green (Pantheon)
Only seven policemen were killed in Chicago on May 4, 1886, when a bomb was set off at a riot following a labor union rally in a farmers market. But thanks to the sensationalistic coverage by newspapers of the subsequent trial of the alleged ringleaders, what became known as the Haymarket Riot created the country's first "Red Scare" and set back the labor union movement for decades. Though subsequently shown to be innocent, four of eight convicted socialist-anarchist labor leaders were hanged. Critics have generally praised labor professor Green's readable account of the tumultuous era, the riot and the long-term effect the controversy had on labor unionism.
"Depression, War, and Cold War: Studies in Political Economy" By Robert Higgs (Oxford University Press)
No American knows more about the link between the growth of Big Government and war than Higgs, whose 1989 classic "Crisis and Leviathan" documented how each new war or economic crisis ratchets up government's size and power at the expense of individual liberty and a free society. This time economic historian Higgs asks -- and answers -- such questions as why the Great Depression lasted so long, how the Cold War altered relations between government and big business and how Congress abetted the growth of the military-industrial complex.
Tarot Reading
She is stalked in restaurants, approached in airport washrooms and even hounded at home. All people want to do is see her once and ask her some personal questions. Her close pals are Karan Johar, Urmila Matondkar, Manish Malhotra, Tusshar Kapoor, Ektaa Kapoor' But she is no film star. Instead, she is someone who film stars believe can make or break their stardom.
She is Sunita Menon, astrologer and tarot card expert, someone whom Bollywood swears by. Not surprising for the superstitious lot the film industry is.
'Not surprising,' agrees Sunita, 'Considering how much money is at stake there. How many careers are launched and finished with just one single release,' she says, in Calcutta for a private function over the weekend.
lywood-related or not, answering crazy questions is a part of her daily existence. Try this: 'I am baking a cake' How much baking powder do you think I should add?' Or this: 'I love this diamond. It costs this much and it is 2.3 carat. Do you think I should buy it?' Or this: 'My maid servant has left. When will I get a new one?'
l of them are not her professional clients ' some are even close pals. 'I also have childhood friends asking me 50 silly questions a day. And some clients who ask me the same question 50 times over, sometimes rephrased and sometimes in a different tone,' she laughs good-naturedly.
But the classic query, says Sunita, is: 'When do you think I will lose weight?' The same question had the entire nation in splits on prime time during Koffee with Karan, when Ektaa Kapoor and Karan Johar both admitted to having asked her this many times.
'But this question has deep psychological implications,' reveals Sunita. 'Many times, immense emotional baggage is signified with excess body weight. People are advised to shed this to make new beginnings. They need to love their body and not let go,' she explains.
Having studied astrology from her uncle from age 14, Sunita then went to Ireland to master tarot cards. 'It was quite a struggle to reach where I am today. Today, being a tarot card reader is fashionable. Those days it was not so. In fact, when my parents discovered this side of me, they thought I was weird.'
A sound eight hours of sleep and a peaceful atmosphere, reveals Sunita, keep her ticking. But she has her bad days, too, the days when she is not up to consulting. 'That happens mostly due to lack of sleep. There are days when I am so tired physically that even the right frame of mind cannot get me to work. On such days, I don't take appointments,' she admits.
Her career comes with its share of naturally 'painful moments'. People come to her in distress, when one line from her could make or break them. 'At times I shudder thinking of the huge responsibility that I have to shoulder. So many people depend on me; I have to be committed to them,' she says.
On the other side are the 'young, happy people' who get her going. 'It uplifts me, their go-getting attitude, their sense of adventure. That's what keeps me happy and energised,' she smiles. If she does the same to her clients, Sunita does not believe in impractical recommendations. Astrology can come with a very high-maintenance package deal ' early morning prayers and an ever-increasing number of gems. But Sunita is different.
'My advice is mostly self-help, especially since I connect with so many youngsters. I encourage a lot of meditation and yoga, rather than persuading them to visit the temple at 6 am,' she smiles.
One day, Sunita would love to set up an old-age home and also write a book. She is also well into finalising project Sukun to fund treatment of the old and needy.
But she does not believe in reading her own future because professionals like her are strictly 'not advised personal readings'. She also feels that she would not be able to remain objective. 'I get my guidance through meditation, I don't depend on my cards,' says this beautiful Aquarian.
Tarot Reading
Always dreamed of being a high roller? Now's your chance to do it Vegas-style and be a Patron of the Arts at the same time. 12 Miles West Company in Bloomfield invites you to its sixth annual fundraising gala, a Vegas-style ca-sino night, on Tuesday, June 27, from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m., at Mayfair Farms in West Orange.
The evening promises to be a very special one to kick off the capital campaign for 12 Miles West's new season with live musical entertainment by Joan Streit and special surprises including Tarot card readings by Miss Julie, caricatures by Gene Meyers, and magic illusions by magician Michael Turco.
The $75 ticket price includes a full-course buffet dinner with wine, beer and soft drinks, and $100 in Casino Night chips. During the evening, attendees can cash in their chips to win raffle tickets to win incredible donated items including VIP tickets to Comedy Central's 'The Daily Show with John Stewart' and 'The Colby Report'; a sailboat ride around Manhattan on a 34-foot sloop; a stay in a beautiful condo in Clearwater, Fla.; gift certificates to area restaurants and businesses, and more.
'Our Gala has become a vital fundraising event for 12 Miles West and I'm delighted to be able to offer such a wonderful evening to our attendees in return for their generosity,' stated Gloria Falzer, who serves as treasurer of the company's board, development director and co-chairperson of this year's gala.
Tarot Reading
There's an unusual addition to the menu at Proof on Main this week, and it has nothing to do with the bison or duck entrees.
Kentucky artist Lauren Argo is calling a small, enclosed window space at the restaurant home sweet home through Saturday.
Argo, a Cynthiana, Ky., native who lives in Lexington, moved into the cozy 8-by-5-foot space facing Main Street last Saturday. Her temporary residence at the restaurant in the new 21C Museum Hotel is part of an exhibit she's dubbed "Life As Art" that is a part of this weekend's grand opening celebration.
Nearly everything the 24-year-old installation artist does for the next five days can be viewed around the clock. From brushing her teeth, styling her hair and putting on makeup to creating art, acting, dancing or sleeping -- it's all on exhibit.
And if you can't make it to Main Street to catch Argo, a Web cam will record her every move on Proof's Web site, proofonmain.com. Plasma screens inside the restaurant also will broadcast Argo's movements.
"I really want to be able to show some of the daily rituals of life," Argo said. "I think it's really important to show these things because this piece is just about looking at life."
Argo will change clothes in the window using a privacy curtain and will leave for short bathroom and shower breaks.
The idea for the exhibit came to fruition after Argo met 21C owners and developers Steve Wilson and Laura Lee Brown through her older brother, Haviland Argo, one of the architects on the hotel museum.
The four were at a dinner at the Speed Museum in March, and the idea came up in conversation. The next thing she knew, she was quickly preparing to make her debut living in a window.
"The performance is exactly what 21C is all about," Wilson said. "Current, living artists at work in all kind of innovative as well as traditional art mediums. It was meant to reinforce the anticipation for the grand opening and the idea of bringing art to more common places."
So how does Argo plan to keep herself occupied in such cramped quarters for 20-plus hours a day?
For starters, she'll reflect on her weekly experience by creating a multimedia collage on a blank wall in the back of the window using magazine and newspaper clippings, fiber and paint.
You can watch her prepare meals, such as cereal and tuna, as well as do sit-ups, jumping jacks, yoga and dance. She'll also be creating fiber art on a sewing machine and, if you're lucky, she may even give you a tarot card reading through the glass.
On Sunday evening Argo was decorating her new "home," and you could see the few commodities she brought along, including a bedroll for sleeping, a couple of bowls and utensils, water and fruit, a small chair, mirror, lamp and laptop computer.
Other visible items included colorful masks she will use for performing. A silver bell will serve as her tool for communication with Proof on Main staff, and an air horn is on hand for emergencies. Dried tobacco leaves hang on the wall to serve as a reminder of her parents, who still live in Cynthiana.
"I'm living out of Tupperware this week," she said in a reference to several of the large containers holding her art supplies and other necessities.
Her wardrobe hangs on a rod in the front of the window. A pair of red vintage heels, silver sequined flats and red leather cowboy boots that she couldn't resist bringing are strewn on the floor.
A message from Argo handwritten on the glass on Sunday read: "Hey Louisville, it's nice to meet you. I'll be here all week." She invites the public to communicate with her through e-mail and will be responding to as many as she can.
Argo said her only real trepidation about taking on the project was sleeping in the window.
But after spending her first night in the window on Saturday, she was feeling more confident. She awoke Sunday morning to the wide-eyed stares of two young boys.
"I started laughing and waving, and they took off running," she said.
So what are her friends and family saying about her living in a box for the next week with all eyes on her?
Her mother warned her, "Don't do anything that's extremely unattractive," Argo said. And some people are even calling her "the female David Blaine" (the street magician whose stunts include spending 44 days in a Plexiglas box suspended over the Thames River in London and living in an aquarium for a week).
Lauren Argo held up a sign that says, "Have you ever seen anything this strange?" to passers-by, from left, Alyssa Broadwater; her mother, Suzanne; her brother, Ethen; and her sister, Chloe. (By Sam Upshaw Jr., The Courier-Journal)
Tarot Reading
In this numbers game, Ronaldinho comes out tops. Says Ratnaker Shukla, an astrologer, "Ronaldinho and Kaka of Brazil will outshine all the other players in this World Cup. Ronaldinho's T-shirt sports number 10, which denotes Saturn. He will be a star like Tendulkar.
Ronaldinho will earn name and fame both quite early in the World Cup. While his team might see a rough patch, his individual performance will be exemplary."
Tarot card reader Bindu Maira, however, isn't so positive. "Kaka's number eight is an erratic number. It always gives you a surprise. It signifies Saturn, he will either do very well or very badly. This number works in extremes so he won't be lost in the crowd, he will be noticed," she says.
As for Beckham, Ratnaker says, "Beckham, with number seven, will always be second. Seven denotes Venus, which means he will always be good looking, charming and popular. But his game will be affected."
Meanwhile, France's Zidane has still a lot of football left in him. "Zidane with number 10 will prove to be a stable member of his team. Zidane will succeed gradually and fall slowly," he says.
And the rest, as they say, will be decided on the field!
Tarot Reading
As the world is taken over by football frenzy, astro experts predict top players' performances based on their jersey numbers.
Even as football stars take to the field, astro experts are working overtime to find out what the stars foretell about players' performances based on their jersey numbers.
Says astrologer Ratnaker Shukla, "Ronaldinho and Kaka of Brazil will outshine others in this World Cup. Ronaldinho's T-shirt has number 10, which denotes Saturn. While his team might see a rough patch, his individual performance will be exemplary."Tarot card reader Bindu Maira, however, is not positive about Kaka.
"He's number 8 is an erratic number. It always gives you a surprise. It signifies Saturn, so one is sceptical about this number. Either he'll do very well or very badly. This number works in extremes so he won't be lost in the crowd, he will be noticed," she says.
Numerologist Sanjay B Jumaani, says that Ronaldo whose jersey number is 9, will do well. "He was born on September 22, 1976, therefore his compound number is 9 of Mars."
And what about England's David Beckham? Ratnaker says, "Beckham, with number 7, will always be second. 7 denotes Venus, which means he will continue to charm. But his game will be affected."
Meanwhile, France's Zidane has still a lot of football left in him, says Ratnaker. "Zidane with number 10 will prove to be a stable member of his team,"he says.
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