last ever blog post ever

Guess what loyal readers (aka Mom), this here is the last post that you will experience on this blog. I will continue to think and write, especially pro-bicycle/anti-deathmobile poetry, just not here.

My blog doesn't have swine flu or anything, it is just time to shut it down. But before I go...

Funkytown went off without a hitch on Tuesday. Our fear leading up to the presentation was that there was no way to make delivering a research proposal fun (which we all had hoped to do). I think we overcame this hurdle, by our use of creative pictures, puns, and funky-style delivery. I liked it at least.

The idea itself will probably end there, which is a shame. I'm pretty sure that more events in a small community (probably not as much in big cities) would make a difference, somehow. It would at least give people the opportunity to get off the couch and meet some people/do some things they might not otherwise had.

Admittedly, I am freaking totally idealistic about these things and believe that if we all threw our computers into the trash we would be better off for it, so take that into account.

Anyway, a big "Oh-Yeah" to my Funkytown mates for some great times and good work. We turned an idea that we had totally thrown out as a joke (seriously) into a completely legitimate research proposal that everybody believed in. As an added bonus, we didn't involve social networking or twittering.

Speaking of social networking...although I still think of Facebook as a heaping pile of rubbish, I do enjoy how they have added "Pirate" as one of the available languages. Finally, somebody recognizes its legitimacy.

Speaking of language...you should go to Barcelona.

That's it. I love you. See you in real life.

the doctor recommends friends

Seeking those elusive secrets to good personal health? According to this article in the New York Times, you might want to try friends.

The article touches on the main point of what Funkytown is all about. We think that having more cultural events within a community can foster and nurture these beneficial relationships.

For many of us, I don't think we needed "official" testing to determine this outcome (although I rather enjoyed the "walking up the hill with friends" tests), but it is good that somebody has finally settled the score.

poetics

freedom

what is freedom?
is that what you ask?
such a big question,
such a large task.

its not the car,
although they sell you it as such.
but i'll take my freedom sans traffic,
thank you very much.

how about the plane?
it can bring you oh so far.
but why can't freedom happen
where you already are?

perhaps there is no answer,
but since you've asked me.
i would say the bicycle,
because it makes me happy.

maybe research. or maybe not.

This video is absolutely beautiful, and I think it fits into our Funkytown goodness.

Personally, I especially enjoyed the red streetpost's comment:

"The same way you come from I come from too. Where'd you come from? Your mother."

That kind of poetry should be painted on walls.

research.

While book and journal research is all well and necessary, sometimes a subject is more appropriately embodied in another form. I think this may be the case for Funkytown. I came across the video below, and found it to be more affirming of our intents and purposes than anything else I have found. A few notes:

1. Check out the crowd. Note the mixture of people and how everybody feels cool getting down. That is some magical stuff. Of course our town events will not always feature the likes of Chuck Berry, but I don't believe they have to in order to create this type of environment. The recipe is pretty simple: good times and freedom to groove will lead to nice things.

2. Chuck Berry is an icon.