And after that, music

I think I may switch to having the VNV icon as my default. In case you've forgotten or not known, VNV stands for "Victory, Not Vengeance" and the group's motto is "One should strive to achieve, not sit in bitter regret." It seems wholly appropriate for this moment.

https://soundcloud.com/ghettofunk/gf-allstars-ft-profit-natty-space-ibiza-13916
Also appropriate for my mood right now is some of the most amazing flow I've heard in a long time. Ghettofunk Allstars is a group I've not blogged before, apparently, which is really a shame. They're amazingly good at combining some of the great tracks of hiphop and its roots with modern sensibilities. This set, apparently recorded live, also includes rappers in the style I like. Hours of fast words and sharp lyrics and nary a b* or n* uttered.

https://soundcloud.com/fortknoxfive/four-deck-dj-set-shambhala-living-room-2016
If I haven't abused your patience with one long set let me share with you another great hour and 45 of Fort Knox Five. I originally found these guys through DJ Steveboy and I'm glad I did. This is another live set - this time from Shambhala - and the range is amazing. You've got old-style funky disco tracks, spontaneous acapella bits, and sounds from classics like Jimi Hendrix and Earth, Wind, and Fire, not to mention Steely Dan, Talking Heads, and the Eagles.

https://soundcloud.com/rudcloud/cnsib
Rudeejay is a DJ from Italy who I bumped into early this year. Many of his tracks use songs in Italian, so most of them aren't familiar to me. But you can't miss "Blue" no matter what language it's done in. This is a fun dance banger.

https://soundcloud.com/iamsidmoore/y2038
I've been actively avoiding "angry" music for a while now because FUCK YOU TWO THOUSAND SIXTEEN. This is about as close as I'm willing to get, a heavy bass-centric dark track from I am Sid that reverberates with the kind of energy one might march to. If one was still very very angry.

https://soundcloud.com/wearegalantis/loveonme
Just in case you wanted to skip that last one or need an antidote let me give you as close as I am likely to get to a silly electro-pop track. SoundCloud frequently puts up "promo" tracks that it thinks will appeal to me and this one has appeared a couple times. Eventually it grew on me - yes, it's cheesy pop, but I like the faux steel drums and the the male vocals that come in about halfway through. It's catchy and a bit infectious. Come what may, I'll be singing.

To done, and a bit of status update

Done:

1. Now a monthly supporter of ACLU. There will likely be more organizations I need to kick up my donations to. I feel like those that take the fight to the courts (Lambda Legal and NRDC to name a couple I support) are going to have their hands full really soon.

2. Potential schools investigated, except BU. Basically, any school we'd consider sending our kids to is going to be way more progressive than the state or the nation.

3. Packed boxes (100) for troops overseas to receive during December holidays. It was easy work, and the best part was we got to write personal notes to include with the boxes. It was interesting to see the differences in styles. I wrote personal things and tried to keep in mind that the person reading my note might not celebrate Christmas, nor particularly want to be reminded that even if they did they were spending this Xmas away from their families. So I wrote about thanks and that they were not forgotten because they were far away. I wished them a safe return home. A couple of my coworkers (both younger females) had a great time decorating their notes with colorful depictions of Christmas themes and items like wreaths and reindeer. I can't help but see how much these differences say about us and I wonder what the reactions will be of people who get such different missives.

I'd like to find another organization or opportunity to do volunteer work. I'm not very good with "get involved with Organization X" but find it satisfying to "help Organization X do good thing Y".

Status:

Emotionally I'm not doing all that great. I feel worn down and very raw all the time - I said to mizarchivist that it feels like most of my nerves are on the outside these days and I realize my reactions are going all out of proportion.

I normally dislike this (Xmas shopping-binge commercialism) time of year anyway. But the amount of sheer RAGE I felt on seeing an advertisement that equated "being thankful" with "here's a chance to spend more money" was pretty high. It makes all kinds of interpersonal interactions really hard.

Seriously, though, do not equate "giving thanks" with "spend money" around me, please? That's just Not OK with how the world is right now.