Very rough draft.

Chapter One

Arrival

This was no ordinary vacation spot, and rightfully so, it was built to accommodate people who were generally atypical. This was a place that the whole family could enjoy, and if things went smoothly here these would be popping up in chains across the country within months. My aunt had chosen this place in particular not for the exclusive advertising or illustrious entourage of people that would flock, but rather for the programs and activities it had to offer. I hadnt even known about it until she called and only chose to join her to work on my thesis and because some of my friends would be vacationing here as well. Upon our arrival I hadnt much prior knowledge of what would be here. I knew my aunt came because it supported programs such as painting, art classes, a gymnastics, swimming, all things the kids would enjoy, along with the biochemistry projects, the reason my aunt came in the first place. When we arrived, the outside didnt look much different from any other hotel or resort, maybe a little bit larger but no significant difference. Once inside we saw the vastness of what it had to offer, huge dining rooms, pools, beverage counters, galas, show rooms, a small casino like area(since gambling is illegal in Florida they dont use real money, but you can get prizes), and lots of other scheduled activities, the activities being the biggest reason people came. Knowing my aunt and the kids would be busy most of the time excited me because that meant I could spend more time fraternizing. I hadnt come for the activities, and most of my friends were also going to be here this week, so I starting scouring the room for friendly face. I almost instantly spotted my close friend Joey and went over to greet him. I started asking him where he was going to be spending the evening but he said he hadnt really thought about it. My aunt walked over to the counter to check us in, the bag boy took my luggage and I knew I was going to love this place, especially with me being the one that was being served for a change. I asked Joey if had noticed how great the little town was on the way in and he agreed,"This is probably just the type of thing they need to build the economy" he said. I agreed. "We should go get a drink somewhere and get familiar, well probably be here awhile"I suggested. He agreed, "Let me put my stuff away and grab something, Ill be right down," he said and took off down a corridor. "Sure thing" I said back, he turned around,"Keep your eye out for other attendees"he said. " No problem" I said and walked over to my aunt. "Who was that" she said, being that my aunt was actually from Maine she hadnt met any of my friends before. "Oh, youve heard me talk about Joey before weve been friends since we were kids" I responded. "I dont recall" she said,"but he is handsome"she winked. "I didnt even know he was going to be here. We don talk much since he started going out -of-state." What are you kids getting into tonight?"she asked "Not much, probably go find something to eat and check out the college." "Dont stray too far, I dont want you getting lost." "I wont get lost thats what Im here for "I explained. When I found out she would be spending almost her whole summer here I agreed to help her settle in the unfamiliar surroundings of central Florida. "Things can get tricky being so close to Disney World if your not familiar with that type of industry", I joked with her. Well were going to the room to get the girls ready for super, and Ill see you when?" she asked "Probably in the morning" I responded. "I thought you two were just friends" she chuckled. I laughed and she kissed me on the cheek,"heres a room key and the number to the hotel, call me if anything goes wrong, an attendant will give you directions if you get lost." she said "Thanks", I responded and kissed her back.
Standing around waiting for Joey opened a window of opportunity, I already spotted the cute guys working the counter and needed directions, on top of that I could keep an eye for others that were arriving. I walked over to the counter and asked the guys if there were any cool spots to grab a beer in town, they werent helpful though they just referred me to some of the beverage counters inside, he said "theres not much in the town but the college, where I will personally be graduating from after this fall term," he responded to the other clerk, "a couple of mom & pops, and a small bar about 10 miles down the road." "Other than that theres mostly old houses and neighborhoods"." If you need anything Im sure that you can find it here though" he responded. "No Im fine, I just dont like confinement."I explained. "I cant argue there" he said."But do be careful on these back roads the police will get you, theyre always patrolling to catch the college kids who try to race at night." " He only works here to pay off the tickets from that" the other clerk said and started pointing at the other guy and laughing,"hell its not like you got away, would you like a fresh towel with that Mrs. Daisy" he chuckled. " I couldnt help but laugh " I said to the other clerk. Now more people were arriving and I noticed my friends Davie and Chris, "Hey I didnt know you guys were going to be here," "and neither did we you" they gave me a sort high-class cheek to cheek "smooch" " I already saw Joey, were going to check out the town." "Well call the room if you find something" " I will". I heard Joeys voice down the hall and started towards the door waved at the desk clerks they waved back"Be careful" one of them winked. "Oh he is too gorgeous" I started telling Joey as we walked to the car "You want me to hook you up, I know I can, hook you up" he started poking at my sides. "Dont poke me there I hate it when you poke" I started tickling him, we started to scuffle I wiggled they keys from his hand and he started running after me. I got to the car ran to the other side and paused for a second he started running over and I threw the keys under the car to the ground. We both looked at each other and with equal opportunity for one to successfully obtain the keys form the other both made a mad dash to the other side of the car. "Whoever gets the keys gets to drive," we both of course reached for the keys at the same time and like a couple of kids in the sand box after preschool daycare fell to the ground and started struggling again with one another. Joey grabbed my head and started to noggie the keys away rubbing the top of my head back and forth until I got a hand free and I started tickling him again, Joeys infamous weak spot. He couldnt resist and like a tired cub slouched to one side and gave in to his fit of laughter. We went on this way for a couple of minutes, sitting on the ground of an adult resort laughing like a couple of wild dogs, when someone started pulling in. We decided to shuffle to our feet and I decide
d it would be best if I drove under Joeys condition. "My condition" he said, "and that would be?" " Joey , my man, you cant even jiggle keys away from a girl" I laughed and started running around the car again."How about your condition thinking the desk clerk was cute. He couldnt even get a date with medusa!" Now I told you that jealous behavior isnt going to get you that PHD at Harvard" Seriously though, Ill drive, the seriously unattractive desk clerk gave me the directions, so I nominate me to direct!"All in favor step on Joeys toes, just kidding". "So do you think we should stop to get a picture of these houses, I mean this is the most unique architecture Ive ever seen. I would bet some of these houses date back to the late 1800's?" "Yeah, I know and there all still in perfect condition, you can tell they really tried to preserve their originality here." "Im sure they all think it as wonderful as we do, lets turn down here and see if we can get a close up." We became so enthralled with the houses we drove around until well past nightfall and kept talking about them and how we thought life was when they were originally built we loved the ideas of the British settler that probably originally invested their time in the creation of this amazingly almost like new, re-vamped site. "I would bet these people originally intended to cover the whole Appalachian countryside with these houses. If so I wouldnt blame them"As we were started approaching the end of a cul-de-sac we noticed a house that was dramatically different from the others. The roof was collapsed on one side and it was practically condemned. "Hey Joey, look at that one." Dont you think its odd that its all the way down here and completely run down when none of the others look this way?""Even stranger is that iridescent glow coming from inside." "Yeah, it looks like a black light." I said "Lets get a closer look". We pulled in front and parked. "Lets get out and take a picture. Im sure noone lives here." " I think it will make a great scene, the collapsed roof with the night backdrop." These houses were truly like nothing I had ever seen, they had a gothic sort of colonial theme, with high tipped roofs, almost like steeples. They were all massive in size but were built up rather than out. Most of them over 3 stories and no one house resembled another, other than the unique shape. The people who built the first most have impressed the rest because there were well over a thousand still in tact and all preserved in their originality. But this one, completely condemned it looked like it had been for awhile. "Lets walk around to this side. I think well get the best angle with the moon in the back round." As we approached I noticed the door half open and could smell something from inside not a bad smell it was actually familiar, reminded me of an Indian scent that people often use in meditation rituals, nag champa. As we got even closer I could make out a faint noise, almost like tribal transcendental music with modern additions and peoples voices. Joey looked over at me,"Should we see whats going on inside." "I dont know maybe we should walk up on the porch and see if we can see anything from there, the people probably own the house. Should we leave?" "I dont know. Ill make something up like, I think Im lost do you have a phone, and knock."Before we even ascended the first stair someone came out to greet us. "Finally visitors"she exclaimed. Joey and I were puzzled."Please, come inside." Were really very sorry." I started to explain. "We were driving around looking at these magnificent houses." " They are wonderful arent they." she said "Yes, gorgeous." "And we were wondering if we could go around back and get a picture." "Of course but first you must come inside to meet the other guest to have a drink."" Well actually," Joey began to explain," We were staying at the resort up the road and went out for a drink or to find a place to hang out when we decided to get some pictures of the houses, and didnt mean to intrude but my friend has thing for 18^th century gothic and black and white photography. So she wanted a picture of your house for her thesis." Most of which was made up."So we didnt mean to bother you." "No worries" she said. We looked at each other puzzled. "I wonder what she means" I said to Joey as we followed her inside.
The girl was around our age, probably a student attending the college. Roughly 5'10,long straight brown hair, blue eyes, extremely milky white skin, extremely thin, with a straight narrow nose. She wore mostly black clothes that looked like they could have been made in the same century that the houses were built, she wore a long smock with embroidery up the front in purple velvet, a hippie with and sort of gothic-vampiric style. When we got inside most of the thirty or forty people with in looked about the same, gothic sort of vampirial styling with brown or black hair, all sitting in different groups usually in numbers of three or four mostly keeping to their own groups. We noticed that the people liked to move around a lot but usually just one from a group would go join another and then someone would follow behind in their place, keeping a nice cycle going through out the room. Spider webs hung from the ceiling and instead of removing them someone actually took the time to label them with individually hanging signs all with different quotations, "beware of spider" or "Ive come to suck your blood", and some didnt say anything just had pictures of spiders with smiley faces or strange symbols with glitter trimmings. I had never seen anything like the decor with in either, velvet draped over every wall. Even the window boxes had been lined by one piece velvet clothe gathered to a point at the top of the window and cascading down with in the box and then on to the floor. One piece of un tailored velvet over another until the entire interior of the house was literally covered in it. There were people sitting on top of the velvet in the window boxes as well, three or four people could fit inside easily since the windows were so large to accommodate the obesity of the house. The front area was huge like in most houses of its era and was probably used mostly for entertaining. "So whos house is this" I asked the girl but she didnt hear me. Joey leaned over to her, "Are you the one orchestrating this shindig?" "Yes sir and you are more than welcome to a beverage." "So, you guys say you just stumbled upon us while driving around? Arent you the lucky ones"she smiled a sly little grin and winked "Yeah" Joey responded "We understand if want us to go, we just dont want any trouble." "No worries" she repeated. "Please, come in meet people, have a drink, take a look upstairs as well, I think you find it to your liking. I have to go tend to somethings, meet me back here in a little less than an hour. Then I will show you whats next." "Whats next?" I asked Joey. "Ok" he called back. "Free beer" Joey looked at me"lets just stay here for a few more minutes, Im sure these sorority chicks found this old house and thought they should christen it."he chuckled "Can we stay here long enough to see what shes talking about?" I asked him. "Sure, let me go lock the car." When Joey left I started to check out the house and see what sort of people were there, and what they were doing. Whomever set this up went to great lengths. And I could tell these people werent your usually sorority girls most sorority girls wouldnt be caught dead in place like this. They had all kinds of gadgets I had never seen and the layout was very unusual. The people had five or six mobile wet bars each with its own attendant and two or three people standing around. You could tell the people in this town really appreciated their individuality and seemed like a friendly bunch. In the middle of the room was a huge oak coffee table, it was probably in the house when they found it. Around the coffee table were nine or ten people all with flat hand held computers and all of them seemed to be linked to an interwoven network. The way they were conversing was very unusual, you would see one of them working on something, and the one next to them would be waiting to receive a message usually while working on something themselves. From what I could tell a message mostly consisted of colors, shapes, and abstract graphics with a couple of messages that would pop in during a streaming of sequences. Once one was finished almost immediately it would stop someone elses computer and transfer over then that person, the one being intercepted would watch and wait until it was done. Once the message was received they would send back a counteracting message, usually it would say thank you and add in modifications to the graphics from the previous message, distorting it a little or changing colors, writing in colorful phrasing or uplifting paraphrases seemed to be popular among them. Immediately after they completed a message they would be put back on whatever they were working on. The graphics on their computers displayed they were not much like anything I had seen before. I thought I would go chat with them awhile while I waited for Joey. I walked over to one of them and started looking on to his screen, he looked up, paused a second," Hey" he said, he was very handsome "I saw you watching over there, you can look on with me if you like." " where did your friend run off to?" " Oh he had to lock the car", Sorry, I just realized how rude I am leaning over you like this, I was just standing over there waiting for him to return and thought I might come over to get a better view." Ive never seen graphics like this before." "Do you like it?"he asked " The network I mean, I invented it myself." " Well I actually invented this," he showed me a splicer, almost like the ones people use for stealing cable. " With this I can link people via internet and noone can ever trace me." "Really" I exclaimed. " thats really revolutionary." " I dont know about that he said. If we were ever capable of starting a real revolution someone would probably shut me down before we succeeded and once we made for the public Im sure people would find ways of tracing it." " So far though somehow I have managed to stay untraceable." " So is this just something you do to show girls at parties or are you some kind of drug lord using to smuggle drugs from Columbia?" I said and he started laughing. "Actually" he started to explain, " With this network I can keep in contact with people all over the world just like you can on the internet." " The people at this party are members of a nomadic "community" we call the Obloxigenaries or for short The Oblox." We keep in contact through the network and help each other find one another. Since were nomadic, we find sites like this one and fix them up. We usually stay awhile, until we are done or have found a new party to travel with. Then we just move on." We stay in touch with and recognize each other through our faith." I was a little puzzled by these statements so I its always in my nature to clarify. "So you guys travel around living in houses you dont own and when your done you just go out and find a new one." No t entirely true" he added "We mostly live with the others that we meet at functions like these. For example, I arrived here at three oclock today and most of what you see had been already finished, as far as the drapes, candles, little flower arrangements, spider trinkets, goblets, a few other things. Mileako is the type of host that keeps things to herself, and as do most people of the Cantro-Ex-Harma Oblox its against their pledge to do so, for instance I may never know where she just came from, and Im also obliged to never ask. When I got here only a few people had arrived. Most of these people arent stationary yet, and most of them will never be, it would be against their faith. I for one am not a stationary Oblox. People ask me if I think of converting and I respond with an over dramatic, Never! So people come to events like these to find other Oblox to travel with. The job of an Oblox is to spread their faith and to share in the faiths of the others to achieve what can be explained as "full enlightenment." I have only come here seeking refuge because once again I have stirred up trouble in the Nether region, my native home land, and was banned for several months until I can get there system running properly again." "Uh-huh, so this is basically a cult?" I asked "Not exactly, we dont like the indirect harshness thats associated with a word like cult, so we refer to it as a new religion. The way we see it is why because man starts to calculate time should he have to conform to an old religion? It wouldnt make sense for me to be born and not have the authority to disagree with someone 3,000 times my elder. " Looking at him stunned I conveyed no body language to him at all and sort of remained stifled in our conversation. To be quite honest I think I may have been a little scared. At that time he informed me that my friend had returned. "Please" he implored "stop back by before you leave I want to show you something."I agreed but wasnt sure that I would stay much longer. I walked over to Joey he was walking in with a group of people with whom he had been conversing with outside. " So, he said what did you hear so far." "I dont think I could begin to explain." I said back to him. "Do you still want to stay." he asked " To be honest Im still curious about whats upstairs."I said "Me too." So we agreed to go up and check it out.

Part 2, Chapter 1: Upstairs

As we ascended the stair case it was quite a magnificent sight. Through the hole in the roof shone the moonlight in a bright yellow glow, it was more than marvelous. You could see the whole sky, it was breath taking I almost slipped on the stairs because I couldnt take my eyes of the sky. "Its really wonderful" I looked over to Joey finally to find his mouth completely agape as well, "it really is" he responded in a sort of low monotone voice with a hint of complete wonderment. When we got to the top of the stairs it was more like being on the roof than on the second floor of a house, the ceiling looked almost too perfectly decomposed to match the setting of the rest of the house, and to be honest the rest of the evening up until now. "So who did you meet outside? Any hot sorority chicas?" "Haha. No but I did meet very interesting people though have you noticed how nice they all are?" "Im starting to think you might be becoming a little smitten with these people" I grinned at Joey to poke fun, he never really liked "eccentrics", especially at this degree though. He seemed oddly taken by them, and I say oddly in an overly fitting context in this situation. "I dont know I think maybe they could grow on me, they seem to have a good ora. Something about them makes me feel excited." I looked at him with my mouth open, "you can get excited!" I cheesed him a flashy grin and chuckled. "And by people none the less. Im in shock." he stuck out his tongue at me. Suddenly we noticed something in the shadows and just then we saw a lighter lite and could see that there were people all over in the shadows that we hadnt even noticed for the last five or ten minutes. We got quiet and still, the people seemed to not even notice us though and just kept on talking and joking, some were just staring up at the sky. The tension quickly faded between Joey and I so we got back into our conversation. "So does it seem to be getting closer to us and bigger even" he pointed to the moon. "You know I was just going to say the same thing to you" "Very interesting" he responded in an almost Freud inspired tone. " not just the moon though" I went on" its almost like the whole sky is getting closer to us. And its almost hypnotic like no one can stop staring at it and its making feel so tranquil and at peace, its entirely consuming my every whim" "I know I feel like Im in a complete state of euphoria" I started to take notice of the situation, it was striking me as odd that Joey and I were sharing these kinds of feelings with one another, or I guess just in this situation. "So are we really going to stick around for, whatever next she was referring to?" I asked. " well the way I see it," he said. " This could go either way, I didnt here you leaning one way or the other and considering you didnt even take your eyes off the sky and neither can I . It would be safe to assume that we will most likely both want to see the whats next she was speaking of." "So what should we do until then" I agreed, we should probably stay to check it out. There was some kind of energy in the air there was something else going on here, and even though when I really thought about the whole situation I mean, we didnt even know these people, we hadnt been invited until we showed up on the porch, the woman who let us in seemed certain we had been invited when we hadnt, but we still just went right in like it was nothing. We hadnt even wanted to see the inside of the house but now we were with friendly unfamiliar faces surrounding us and looking at this beautiful portrait that the sky was painting right before our eyes with the moon and a endless sea of twinkling stars for our delight, and the harder we gazed the more drawn in we would become, it was extremely out of the ordinary thing, in fact nothing like this had ever occurred before in my life and took me for being the most out of the ordinary thing I had ever done to be exact. I was still none the less completely enthralled by the entire situation. I found myself not wanting to leave. I felt like I belonged here and this happened for a reason. Then suddenly I realized what I said to the man I spoke with downstairs. I exclaimed right to him "Uh-huh, so this is a cult." In those exact words, and I became frightened for a minute. I realized that I felt exactly like I was being sucked in by mind controlling people and that must be why I was feeling thee feelings of euphoria. Had I been drugged by them? I hoped not, but I didnt feel the side effects of drugs, just maybe like I was hallucinating a little. Then I realized that I could probably control myself long enough to at least see the illusive "whats next" to which we had all referred to. 

DbFest review in it's entirety

OK I always have to start with my sappy love story, here goes: It's times like these I reflect on different choices and paths I have made in life. I am very sentimental and I live in nostalgia. This is the place where I feel safe and warm. I reflect on how many times I have chose happiness over what perhaps some may perceive as "prosperity". I have gotten my fair share of flack for this throughout the years, mostly from myself. Now I realize my path is unfolding beautifully, life is not just about how other’s perceive me, it's about how you are able to perceive the world in the end. Did I come out feeling positive and inspired in many things I CHOSE to do? Well I can honestly say after this trip I was inspired in a very satisfying and somewhat new way. Last time I did my west coast tour I was left with a similar feeling. I often come home from anything involved in rave culture being totally inspired by the music and somewhat inspired by the people. This time I was totally static as a result of BOTH, it was for lack of better terminology a "double whammy". haha. Thanks again to every single person I had the pleasure of interacting with along the way, your hospitality and overall positivity once again has reaffirmed for me that there are incredibly sane, beautiful, fun loving, intelligent, kind hearted (among many other varying attributes) people left in the world...it's humbling to say the least <3

  So my trip couldn't have started off better. Speaking of hospitality, Daniel you are the best. As soon as I am picked up, I am whisked off to a fantasy wedding of a couple getting married for their third time. Talk about love! It was all around me. The rose gardens were amazing, I felt a little like I was in Alice in Wonderland "painting the roses red". The reception gorgeous, the people made me feel at home. There was not a dull moment. After the wedding we proceed to a desolate winding mountain road, Daniel and I both joked “so this is the part where I never see civilization again, oh well it’s quite beautiful up here, I’ll die happy” haha. Great bar, great view. We were having a laugh riot, Dr. Claw?

  Next day we get out to the Steelers/Raiders game. It was really a great time. I was a little surprised that I wasn’t harassed a little harder but like I always say, we travel very well. Even though we lost I was very excited to be at a stadium coming off of a big win for them. Commitment to EXCELLENCE. We then head up North to Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa. They had some incredibly good beers. I am not usually a huge fan of sour beers but when they are casked in pinoit noir barrels, it’s a completely different story. We stayed in Santa Rosa, woke up to the billowing wine country mountains. Mexican at some insanely good Mexi place and got back on the road home. We were exhausted, posted up to a friendly bar and partook in some Monday night football. I really had a great time there. Great food, great BEERS, and great FRIENDS, felt like I had known you guys for years ;) Thanks for everything.

 Next on my trail up the coast is of course my lovelies in Portlandia. Book club tonight? Yes we will get some salmon for the grill buy 50$ worth of beer and drink all of it at the house, with the chickens <3 Coy ponds and puppy dogs. Cayvid there is never a dull moment with the two of you. Cay you’ve got yourself a “mernly mern” there, roof fix’in, coy pond building dream boat… I love you two.

  Where to next? Oh yea, Seattle! So walking up to the Turrets house I could hear the conversation flowing. I was completely winded from my trek across the country (missing my flight in SFO and running through the terminal like a mad woman was a great exercise after nights of beer drinking, what the doc ordered). Making my way into Turrets I was overwhelmed at the sheer beauty of our spot. Are you kidding me? And everyone is just upstairs, even more friendly and inviting. So, I find everyone and we make our way up to get our bands. Good choice because my friend Adrian was playing at the opening bier garden party! Out of bands, again no big deal we can get our optical tickets! Brian finally lands and meets us there. Then I am whisked off into a magical fairytale land of Dalot, Brock van Wey and Robert Henke. Thnx! We held out until the bitterest of ends too, as Henke walked out we just looked upon him in awe. Great wine, my food was stellar, all around great experience at triple door for the first optical.

I had to head to Rebar for Slowhands. I was pleasantly surprised. They had my fav beer on tap (Deschutes Porter) so I was pretty happy for awhile, saw a bit of FaltyDL, his opening was majestic, cannot attest to the rest as I trekked onwards to Nuemos for the end of BvDub and Monolake. WoW. Monolake, my ears, I have never been that intrigued by sounds and like I said, my ears, they were frightened and pleased in one fail swoop. Yummmm <3 I was curb dancing after and during this show. I was lighting the town ablaze, if only in my own mind. I wanted so badly to venture out to see Sinistarr but Henke and his encores! … <3

Shall we nap? No complaints from the chick that has been up for days as it is. Thursday? Brunch for DbFest crew, thank you Arabica for your hospitality, the croissants and beats were very much on point<3 Met Meg AMaybezing there! Had to trek again up the hill into the unknown. Hit wall of sound on the way. Great books (and of course better music) in that music/book/music/used to be bookstore. Please check it out if you are ever close<3… Up the hill more to 2$ beers, ok thnx for that across from Nuemos where all of the magic had unfolded just hours before. Back to the house for a few, drink vodka, champagne, beer moar moar moar…. And then off to Udon noodles! O yum sake and noodle (BOOM noodle) you are my solace, you are my companion, my close friend. Feeling good enough to dance, ORBITAL!

 Oh wow, Orbital..my expectations were perhaps set all too low for you. My feet had blisters afterwards. That’s odd I didn’t expect to dance so much. You cannot help it though when these vibes are just on point and out of control. So we headed to modern love, there was love in abundance but I was just too tired to find it unfortunately and went to my pillow.

 So next day, FRY day is a little still on the blurry scale. Oysters today? What a fantastic idea. I know I showed up for Optical but missed Biospehere, which may have been for the better because I literally took a nap during Jon Wozencroft. A good nap, as I woke up disoriented and literally drooling (as much as I hate to admit that) I thought I was in my bed and just lost. REFRESHED and lost! Found Jeff and Annamae and preceded onwards to Erykah Badu and Renegades of Funk. Such a stellar performance, the band was astronomical. With the vocals, I am lost in some platitude of righteous vocals and a symbiotic band of groovy luster. What I wouldn’t have given to have been by all of your sides on stage during that performance of funk grooves and outright debauchery. Heading again up the hill to catch the tail end of Octave One and Carl Craig. Oh boy Oh boy Oh boy. What a proper way to round out the night,  getting intriguing and flabbergasted glares from Detroit’s finest, Carl Craig. Dance Dance Dance. Causing a ruckus on the dance floor with the few people that could feel my hectic and bounced upon vibes. Let’s get nasty filthy dirty and lifted! So then my journey begins to find electric tea garden? I must have walked into every bear den in capitol hill looking for this place. As I wonder around I get invited by some extremely attractive, assumedly same sex loving males to drive me around to find it! I mean seriously, how freaking sweet is that? I decline, I was enjoying my stroll, well stumble really, around the mean streets of Seattle’s gay district(I say this with lightest and tenderest of hearts). Then I hear some music, and think shit I will just camp out at this place for a few minutes. I sneak passed the door guy, go up to the atm ::damn these beats are fantastic:: upon finishing the atm transaction the screen says, “Welcome to Electric Tea Garden”. I mean seriously I have robot ears, you would understand if YOU had robot ears. As I look around I realize this place is familiar, I have been here on my first dB visit. FANTASTIC! Dancing, Dancing, Dancing. My Cay shows up, I pop out for a smoke and they will not let me back in for free L Well I am turning into a pumpkin anyhows. I will take two pillows and a Turrets house and call you in the morning <3

 Wake up to a gorgeous Saturday morning. Let’s get cleaned up, make breakfast, and head to a boat, shall we? Whew, gathering up an entire house of people to be somewhere that is literally not going to be there if you do not arrive on time is FABULOUS. I work well under pressure in most circumstances. Boat is departing late, whew again. Wow, I would say for me the boat party was up there in my favorite experience/music. Just the kind of atmosphere and music I am more accustomed to? Not sure, I really think there is just something to be said about dancing, scratch that, ROCKING on a boat losing your footing and pulling it off as some sweet sick dance moves. As Karl would put it, Rocking rocking flooooooooating. I need to find my friends I made on the boat, my harem of gorgeous lovely Asian men. <3 We were rocking/dancing/floating and having a grand time. I found my friend from Detroit there too, Casey! Was grand seeing her and FINALLY getting the contact info J. While we try to rope Ripperton into coming to the house after the boat, I am paparazzi styling it up with my new group of friends (again, have to find them) on one side and trying to convince Ripperton it is a good idea to come get wasty faced with a bunch of us at the house, “I have to be in NYC in the morning, I am from Switzerland” on the other side. Haha. So great. We get a great car service to pick us up, thanks for that Heidi! I think we headed back to the house, honestly this part is again a bit blurred in my field of vision. I do however know that somewhere along the way I ended up with Nils Frahm front in center. This part I can recall quite clearly. Was glad to have Andrew by my side for this too because he had never seen Nils either. As our jaws dropped to the floor and I had and extremely huge musically inspired erection ..I began to drool in Optical, yet again, but this time with my eyes opened and my senses exposed. I keep hearing someone banging their foot on floor and I’m thinking, that guy must really be feeling this and look up to realize it is in fact Nils, and he is most definitely feeling every single note.

  We were blown away by Nils honestly I don’t think it would have mattered if Rochmaninoff had taken the stage afterwards, we may have found it lackluster and to make little impression ;) So we head to a little spot that Forza was intrigued with where they are playing smooth and sultry house with the Lisa Shaw vocals and jazzy piano riffs. My kind of music <3 Well we started drinking again, so “hazy jane” settles in. I believe from there we ventured to Hotflush. I have to point out along the way that we ran into the most interesting little group of people. We did not interact with them, which seems a shame now. I think they may have literally been some sort of circus performers, a little lady person, a guy with one of the single most sparkling bedazzled belly dancing shirts on I have every seen, our motley crew would not hold a candle to theirs. J So I believe George Fitzgerald was playing at this showcase? The Dj was playing some really greatly intense dancing vibes music. I was just kind of holding on for the ride at this point, I was so dazed and confused, luckily my trusty babysitters stood by my side. <3 Max Cooper! Ok on the way to Max Cooper, anyone else remember that moving lighted dance floor thing that was rolling around in the streets? Haha of course they are a friend of Cays. Maaax Coooper, I have to apologize for myself at this point, I just sincerely hope that no one’s night was in anyway hindered by my wastey-faced antics. So the boys decide they need to get me back to the house. Crystal needs to wake the hell up. As we shovel booze into my mouth I am just falling deeper into the couch and realize it’s just a lost cause at this point. Damn you pillows at Turrets house, I feel like you should buy me a steak dinner after all of that heavy petting, and that goes for you too blanket and mattress <3 I just love pillows what else can I say. So the guys, as freaking awesome as they are, hang out with me until I FINALLY drift off into dreamland.

  Wake up seriously bright and early, like 7am and start cleaning, doing laundry the whole nine yards. Heidi sneaks in and it’s time for bloody maries and breakfast. As it is our last day on the island (hehe) I decide to cook every last thing in the kitchen. This literally turned into countless people coming in and out of the house all day long. Heidi and I just kind of entertained and fed everyone. It was a very relaxing and great day. I think we had the same plate of food for something like 4 hours.. haha just rotating all of Heidi’s amazing crackers and cheeses! Thanks Heidi you are a miracle worker, I left feeling like I owe you a ton of food. There is plenty of time for that in future endeavors though <3 My Cay heads over and Brian has an extra Optical ticket…hoooraaah! We head up to optical, we have a table of I think 7 or so people and it was just perfect. I mean I literally fell asleep but it was perfect, Windy and Carl’s last time performance ever. It was quite magical to be a part of that <3 I unfortunately could not make anything function properly, so again I fall into a night of servitude to the pillows and blankets.

  Morning leaving Turrets was a tough one. Seriously glad I came up to say bye to the ladies on the second floor because I almost couldn’t. I didn’t want you to think I was crazy because I was feeling a bit emotional. Haha The journey home was aight. Las Vegas airport was cool. The flight from Vegas to Orlando however was one of the worst I have ever been on. Turbulence was terrible and I was literally having a panic attack! Ugh. Someone even offered me xanax but I thought it was prob a good idea to lay off of it. As we touched down it was literally like a kissing the ground occurrence. Thank you dear sweet baby infant Tebow in your golden, fleece diapers we made it. Then the loverly Miss Sexay Jackie picks me up at the airport, and as it is Monday night and a tradition in Orlando we head to see the Torque fam. Always a lovely way to end a trip with some familiar faces <3 You guys were playing some excellent tunes and had a great crowd. I hope to make it back very soon J. As we are walking to get a late night snack we stumble upon, or better yet HE stumbled upon, or into us, an English fellow who stammers to us “you are tall beautiful women you look like you know where to get a good healthy snack”. This bloke was outrageous!! What a laugh we had, he even bought us our dinner. I started telling him I was just seeing Orbital and he went bananas, “Did you see Underworld do the opening ceremonies!?” I said yup, “Did you see Orbital and Stephen Hawking do the opening of the paraplympics? “Of course he did he’s from Windsor. He lives in a castle there or something..  haha .He was a delightful treat for us, as I am sure we were for him. I have to say though to finally be on the bus home was great. When I felt everything was coming to a screeching halt I knew it was best to just make my way home, and actually want to be there <3

  Again, I may get a little sappy again here at the end. I know this is one long run on sentence, so if you stuck with it I may have to get you a lollipop for being such a fucking trooper. <3 I will reiterate, what a lovely experience. Did not have a snafu other than missing the flight, which was really not a big deal at all.  So all in all I can honestly say is that this trip and of course dB fest is becoming a staple for me. It’s just a beautiful experience all around. We were joking with the cab driver when he asked, “why do you come on vacation to Seattle” umm “because we live in the south, this is where we go on vacation as I am sure you might come to Florida for yours.” J I have to admit I am having trouble properly closing this one out. I guess I cannot say enough great things about this experience. Thanks for hanging in there everyone, you are beautiful, you are beautiful you are perfect JUST THE WAY YOU ARE !! <3 Love love and life. LIFE music FUN! What’s not to love <3

 

 

  MUAH xoxoxo

Ciao for now beautiful dancing bouncing souls <3

Appeal to vote against the Energy Tax Prevention Act

  The Bill I chose is S.482 -- Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011. This bill would prevent the Environmental Protection agency form taxation and/or regulation of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. The passing of this bill would hinder the EPA from enforcing to reduction of greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.  This Act would prevent specific gas emissions such as Water vapor, Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous oxide, Sulfur hexafluoride, Hydrofluorocarbons, Perfluorocarbons from being considered “greenhouse gases” and would prevent the EPA from regulating their emissions, or from categorizing them as “greenhouse gases” in order for them to be regulated. Provisions include, no further implementation of the "Light-Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards and Corporate Average Fuel Economy Standards" and the "Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards and Fuel Efficiency Standards for Medium- and Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles"(Thomas.gov). Both of these standards would enable the production of more fuel-efficient vehicles and would aid in the reduction of greenhouse gases. Major automobile manufacturers are in support of producing more energy efficient vehicles.

   This bill would also retract the implementation of renewable fuel program. The act would not allow “statutorily authorized federal research, development, and demonstration programs addressing climate change” (Thomas.gov). Which would not allow any kind of government funding to aid in alternative fuel sources in order to reduce greenhouse gases in reference to concern over climate change.  The act would also not allow “implementation and enforcement of stratospheric ozone protection to the extent that such implementation or enforcement only involves class I or II substances” (Thomas.gov). This means that there would be no allowance to enforce anything in relation to the depletion of the ozone. “Implementation and enforcement of requirements for monitoring and reporting of carbon dioxide emissions” (Thomas.gov) would not be allowed to be  regulated in relation to climate change, or be referred to as “greenhouse gases” for the purpose of regulation.

Dear Senator Nelson,

  I hope this letter finds you well. My name is Crystal M Kuntz, and I am a resident of District 3. As my Representative I would like to ask you to oppose the Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011 (S.482). This Act would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in taxing and/or regulating purveyors of greenhouse gases. Greenhouses gases are thought to contribute to Climate change, and scientists are in the process of proving this well founded theory. Greenhouse gases are called so because they create an effect similar to that of a greenhouse. The atmosphere traps in heat on the surface like the walls and the ceiling do of a green house, creating a warmer climate with in.  The greenhouse gases themselves are not bad, in fact they are a necessary contributing factor to life on Earth. The negative effects come from an artificial overproduction of greenhouse gases on the surface. The effects of this, scientists predict, could be catastrophic, such as polar ice caps melting, sea levels rising, and coastal flooding. These dangers propose especially detrimental to our peninsula state, Florida.

   The US is currently in the top 20 countries of greenhouse gas emission producers, yet we have not ratified the United Nations KYOTO protocol. They Kyoto protocol and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change are both devoted to the reduction of green houses gases globally. As you may already know, the Clinton administration signed the protocol but it was not ratified. The Bush administration then rejected the protocol and did not participate in Kyoto-protocol related negotiations. 35 developed nations have already ratified the protocol, and we are falling behind. The US is currently being sued over their noncompliance in the reduction of greenhouse gases by several island nations, the state of California, and by environmental activists groups in America.

  I believe that opposing this bill is important. Although we have not ratified the Kyoto protocol you could start taking steps into the right direction, by not allowing this law to come to pass. We only have one world, one nation, and one human race. It is our duty to protect it. We also have an obligation to our fellow nations to not put them into harms way due to our own noncompliance issues. Allowing the EPA to tax companies based on greenhouse gas emissions will go a very long way in securing a future for our State, our Nation, and for generations to come. I implore you Representative Brown, when this bill comes to you, please consider what you have read here today and consider what may be at stake if this bill is not opposed.  I thank you for taking the time to allow me to show why this matter is of the upmost importance to me, and many others.

Sincerely,

Crystal M Kuntz

Self Evaluation:

  I believe I did well on this assignment. It is very important to me that this bill not be aloud to be passed. I believe that our environment is precious and we should not be turning a blind eye to it in order to fuel a capitalistic agenda. By allowing constant pollution of our air and our world, we are dooming future generations to clean up after our mistakes. I wasn’t even aware that they were trying to pass this law. I was shocked that there is even consideration to oppose compliance to reduce greenhouse gas emissions when most of the developed nations in the world are complying.  I believe that this problem should be addresses, not suppressed. I have not received a response to my letter, I am hoping Sen Nelson will be on my side of opposition of the bill. I believe the senator will most likely be on the side of the head administrator of the EPA, Administrator Lisa Jackson, who also opposes this bill.

References:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:S.482:

http://www.livestrong.com/article/176853-why-are-greenhouse-gases-bad/

http://unfccc.int/kyoto_protocol/items/2830.php

http://www.scribd.com/doc/48518769/Energy-Tax-Prevention-Act-of-2011

Toxic Algae in Florida.

This is a paper I wrote for school about the problems in our waterways. There is a massive growth of bluegreen toxic algae all over the country, but especially in Florida. Scientists attribute this overgrowth to dumping and runoff by certain companies' improperly treated sewage, fertilizers, and manures. The problem is that dumping these creates an increase in nitrogen and phosphorous in water, which algae needs to grow and flourish. The problem is that many of these algae can be toxic and create health risks to humans along with fish and ground waters. 

   Now my problem: Environmentalists have been appealing to the Federal government for years to enforce country wide regulation laws in Florida with no success. With the new EPA representative in office the state was encouraged to uphold the compliance laws, and then in accordance with the settlements the EPA informed the state that they would circumvent and set in place new laws that the state would be required to enforce. The state claims that the Federal government should not be aloud to interfere in the matters, and then supported claims that their own research was unfounded. Now the lobbyists for the industrialists are suing the federal government, with support from many state officials. 

 Should not the jobs of state officials be to protect us from health and environmental risks. I am in no way an advocate for every aspect of our government but this is my biggest problem with not having the support of Federal Government, I may be speaking too soon, but they seem to be the only ones on the side of natural, public, and wildlife health and safety risks in these matters. One of the states own representatives for the Department of Agriculture seemed to think it more important to argue jurisdiction debates than to be active in trying to remedy the problem. 

Here's what I wrote for school, but more importantly the links at the bottom on the subject:

Introduction:

        This proposal is an appeal to Congress Representatives and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to stand firm on the federal ruling in Florida last year to limit the amount of Nitrogen and Phosphorous dumping by commercial companies into the states waterways. Since the ruling last year many industrialists have filed lawsuits against the federal government in order to nullify the newly set in place order to reduce the numeric limits of phosphorous and nitrogen compounds dumped in Florida’s lakes, streams, rivers, and estuaries. These laws are to be fully enforced by March of 2012. Dumping in our waterways of improperly treated sewage along with fertilizers and manure can trigger excessive and destructive growths of toxic algae in streams, lakes, and coastal waters.

The Problem:

     Some algae produce natural toxins. Nitrogen and phosphorous are both part of a healthy natural ecosystem, the problem lies in the excessive levels of nitrogen and phosphorous being dumped. Unhealthy levels of nitrogen and phosphorous can cause rapid growth of algae both toxic and nontoxic. This process presents serious and dangerous ecological problems. Over abundance of nitrogen and phosphorous in our waterways has been attributed to improperly treated sewage, fertilizers and manure. These overgrowths of toxic algae can bring with them fish deaths, cause underwater plants to not receive nutrients necessary from sunlight, and even cause human health issues. The toxins in huge abundances can even affect our groundwater.

       Florida’s department of agriculture is in a dispute with the EPA over issues of state and federal government jurisdictions. When Florida instated it’s own “Clean Water Act” they had trouble with lobbyists campaigning against them, none of the laws were ever set in motion because they could not get them into effect due to legal red tape. As a result of the states failure to protect our waterways, the EPA stepped in and made the laws that Florida’s representatives did not enforce, apparently due to the encroachment by industrial lobbyists. Since then the EPA has not had success in keeping these industries in compliance because they have been locked in lawsuits against the enforcement of these new laws. A series of lawsuits were filed against the state by environmentalists’ groups, the lawsuits stated that if the state did not get up to code with the EPA’s regulations in a specific amount of time that the EPA would step in and ensure that the codes were being met.  When the EPA stepped in they were met with lawsuits from lobbyists and business owners claiming that they should not be allowed to interfere with state law

Possible Solutions:

   I propose in order to solve this problem that Congress and the EPA stay active in enforcing the rules already set in motion by our federal government. While these litigations are still going on our Ecosystems are suffering drastically, and certain industrialists and their lobbyists are using all resources to circumvent national laws. We are appealing that the EPA make these polluters comply with regulations, the result is unprecedented if they do not take action immediately.

    One possible solution could be that the EPA adapt to the state’s law in requiring the companies to comply up to a certain level of toxicity and when they are no longer an environmental threat they can then be marked as “Green”. This compliance level would not leave the companies exempt from being tested periodically, but would lift any issues with environmental compliances off of them, and put them out of default. This would also nullify some of the claims in the lawsuits against the EPA, claims that this stipulation was in the state’s proposal but the EPA’s proposal is for an indefinite amount of time.  Allowing that claim to be squashed could go a long way in finally seeing some results on this serious environmental issue.

  A second solution would be to simply just tell the companies if they do not comply they would have to be shut down due to public health concerns. In a time when we are so economically uncertain, it is undoubtedly difficult for government officials to tell any company that they cannot stay open for business, but when it comes at the cost of thousands of acres of natural resources, that are in fact irreplaceable, there needs to be legal ramification.

    A third option, campaigning for public awareness of the problem funded by polluters and regulated by the government. Not enough people are aware of this imminent danger, as members of congress and the EPA Admin, there should be certain level of responsibility to protect the wildlife, nature, and population of the country. We live in a democracy and thus should be aloud to use the public opinion and will to the advantage of working for them. When people are not fully aware that these dangers are in their local water, they have no way of determining what their stance is on the outcome of their natural resources. Educating people on matters like this would be a great way to go about getting support to demand these compliance issues be resolved.

    Lastly, I propose that the government also educate the companies. The government should help new and upcoming industry understand and take seriously the importance of environmental compliance, and the consequences of noncompliance. Existing companies should be assisted in pinpointing exactly where the problems are, and the government could assist with the most economically sound ways of obtaining necessary equipment, and the best and most cost efficient ways of installation.

Is it feasible?

   Strictly enforcing environmental compliance is not so far out of reach. When it comes to the health and well being of our people there needs to be a point where we as taxpayers can feel as if we as humans, our countries land, and waterways are protected by our government. These things are feasible because it is resulting in a matter of dangerous levels of toxicity that could damage our drinking water, our fishing industry, tourism and recreation. When this issue has become a matter of life and death, it is necessary to these enforce laws, recently a girl in central coastal region of Florida died after falling fatally ill from swimming in a local waterway. These incidents of death are telling us that these companies creating the pollution can no longer be aloud to persuade our sense of authority in these matters.  

Costs:

    Where these companies are economically benefitting by not complying, others suffer. It is predicted in 2006, 82 million dollars were lost in the US due to the ecological impact of these out of control algae. In Florida, tourism and real estate are two of our most thriving industries.  These algae are not only health hazardous, they are unpleasant to look at and often emit foul odors in the stage of decomposition, they also cause respiratory problems. These problems are sure to have a profound affect on the tourism and real estate industries in Florida. The companies engaged in the lawsuits to circumvent the law should be not exempt from the liabilities of their unwillingness to comply with these environmental laws, and the inconveniences to other industry their negligence has created. Commercial fisheries, health costs of those infected, and even the government costs are all tied into financial strain as a result of allowing for the noncompliance to these laws.

   The costs to the companies being targeted could be very great as well. This is why these companies are fighting that the laws not be enforced in March 2012. It is estimated by the EPA that the costs cold be between 108-219 million dollars to the offenders, where as the state (who has seemed to be on the side of the companies' lobbyists) are estimating between 5.7-8.6 billion, a substantially higher and likely inflated figure to persuade the federal government to back down. Either way the costs are great, but the costs of our public health could potentially come at a much higher price.

Conclusion:

    In conclusion, I would like to take a look at how beautiful and truly breathtaking the Sunshine State is. People come here for a number of reasons, seeking refuge from the harsh winters of our northern neighbors, to sit on our beautiful beaches with toes in the sand or to take a dip in the ocean. People come here to swim in our lakes and streams, and to fish or go rafting or boating. All of these activities are in peril, not only to tourists but also to our residents. Water, the very element that sustains life is being tainted in our local waterways and there are actions that could be taken to prevent these events. Please, as public and state representatives do not allow this to continue. Do not allow false accusations that the same scientific data collected by the state, is now being claimed insufficient by the state in compliance with lobbyists. Please remember that the costs to that these companies have put into lobbying and lawyers could have gone to minimizing their risks to the environment, and do not turn a blind eye to the profiteering that is coming at such a great cost to our citizens and waterways. Do not allow the economic gain of some to out weigh the ecological needs of everyone.

Works Cited:

Article on the compliance costs and lawsuits:

http://southeast.construction.com/southeast_construction_news/2011/0323_WaterQualityRule.asp

Environmentalists website on toxic algae:

http://earthjustice.org/features/campaigns/ending-toxic-algae-in-florida

Green Blue Algae, State of Florida website:

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/bgalgae/index.htm

Article Orlando Sentinel:

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-08-27/news/os-federal-pollution-rule-fight-20110827_1_pollution-rule-agricultural-pollution-pollution-limits

EPA website, effects of nitrogen and phosphorous:

http://water.epa.gov/scitech/swguidance/standards/criteria/nutrients/effects.cfm

Costs of Green Algae in US:  http://www.cop.noaa.gov/stressors/extremeevents/hab/current/econimpact_08.pdf