Wednesday, November 28, 2018

Hemp Legalization Enjoys Broad Bipartisan Support.

In case you missed this story in June, this hemp bill enjoys bipartisan support.
Hemp has potential as a replacement crop for our farmers, who are going bankrupt at alarming rates due to sudden tariffs on soybeans.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomangell/2018/06/28/u-s-senate-votes-to-legalize-hemp-after-decades-long-ban-under-marijuana-prohibition/

Another crop with great potential : Milkweed.

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Women AND Men Are Paralyzed By Patriarchy

Just came across this short Quartz piece on Alexis Ohanian, Serena Williams' husband. It helped me to understand why I get angry every time I see an article touting Beto O' Rourke's possible 2020 run for POTUS.
https://qz.com/work/1415102/hww4-alexis-ohanian/

Saturday, July 21, 2018

Recommended Read: Yes! With Kennedy's Vacancy, Only Voting Can Check One Party Rule

If we learned anything from the 2016 Presidential election, we learned that every vote counts. If you don't vote, you don't have a say.

Recommended read and feel free to share:

http://www.yesmagazine.org/people-power/with-kennedys-vacancy-only-voting-can-check-one-party-rule-20180627

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Shows this week.and next...

Please join me and my musically gifted and socially conscious friends at the Impact Hub Oakland, this Saturday for a show that creates jobs in the music industry while raising funds to aid in the fight against breast cancer! 
Hey Hey Mama : A Led Zeppelin tribute. 

http://www.marimackmusic.com/2018/07/shows-this-week-and-next.html?m=1

Thursday, June 28, 2018

Life is Precious

Not sure if the two are connected, but the way I see it, both are tragic. Life is precious. It is about time we all started treating it as such. Not sure what it is going to take to make a change for the better.

https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2018/06/27/milo-wants-vigilantes-start-killing-journalists-and-hes-not-being-ironic

http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/annapolis/bs-md-gazette-shooting-20180628-story.html



Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Border Family Separation Actions, Protests

Local : Wed, June 20, 2018 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM PDT
Marin County Civic Center - Post Office In protest of the Trump Administration's cruel and inhumane policy of separating children from their parents at the border, the Marin community will gather for a vigil on World Refugee Day.
Please join us as we come together in protest and song. We will hear from public officials, community leaders, and affected residents, and learn about opportunities for action. We will send you an email with the exact location as soon as possible.
 Please bring signs as desired.
Flameless candles will be provided to all participants. We are coming together to demonstrate our opposition to this horrific new policy.
Bring your families and tell your friends.
Together we can bring an end to this practice that violates American values.
The vigil has been organized by local groups concerned about the administration’s immigration policies, including Indivisible Marin, Indivisible Sausalito, Marin County People Power, Novato Stands United, REsisters and SURJ Marin.
Activist and faith-based groups across Marin have joined in support of this effort.

National: 
June 30th
https://act.moveon.org/survey/June_30_Pledge/

Donate:

http://firrp.org/

https://supportkind.org/

https://www.texastribune.org/2018/06/18/heres-list-organizations-are-mobilizing-help-separated-immigrant-child/

Food for Thought : Depression

Lots of depression triggers circling. Here are a few resources:


SPIRITUALITY AND DEPRESSION webinar next Sunday, June 24 and Wednesday, June 27.
Marianne Williamson

https://marianne.com/spirituality-depression-free-webinar/


“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

_______

Can We Talk About Anthony Bourdain and Alcoholism? 

http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/article213372539.html

_______

published on Cafe Tamburo

Next Show : July 21st "Hey Hey Mama" Cancer Relief Benefit! Mill Valley Music 10th Anniversary Show Recap, Father's Day Thoughts, Mom Update.

http://www.marimackmusic.com/2018/06/next-show-july-21st-hey-hey-mama-cancer.html

Friday, June 15, 2018

Stephen Colbert on Cruelty as an Immigration Deterrent, "Ricochet" : Film About the Politicalization of a Tragic Death

I gasped in horror while watching yesterday's press conference. Thankfully, Stephen Colbert is using his platform to raise awareness. Hopefully, some more people will "get it."

https://twitter.com/colbertlateshow/status/1007434644084568065


"Jeff Adachi is raising funds for his newest feature film about the tragic death of Kate Steinle and the trial of the immigrant accused of her murder. The film examines how then candidate Donald Trump's used the case to fuel his anti-immigration policies, and ultimately attempt to pass a law increasing penalties for immigrants facing deportation."

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ricochet-film-fund-security-family#/


Mill Valley Music 10th Anniversary : "Blood on the Tracks"

In case you missed it, I posted this on my main music blog yesterday:

http://www.marimackmusic.com/2018/06/reminder-mill-valley-music-10th.html

If you are near Mill Valley and want to buy tickets, here is the link:
https://throckmortontheatre.org/event/mill-valley-music-10th-anniversary/

Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Election Day Information

My grandparents were immigrants to this country, from Italy. They never missed an opportunity to vote. Please exercise your right to vote, if you have that right, for those who cannot.

This image is from a facebook post shared around this time in 2016. I voted for Bernie in that primary, and although I was greatly disappointed in how the DNC mishandled it, I voted for Hillary while having a sinking feeling in my stomach that she would not have enough electoral votes to win the general election. Of course, we all know how that turned out.

Related:

http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place/

https://www.usa.gov/election-day

Cookies notice for EU

Cookies notice for EU

Saturday, May 26, 2018

Let's Give It Another Try! Artsboretum Go Fund Me

https://www.gofundme.com/musicarts

I started another GoFundMe. 

This GoFundMe exists to find kindred spirits, with the hope of creating a more organic, sustainable and equitable music industry.  

What inspired this project: 
When I was a kid, living in the projects in NJ,  I used to listen to great music over a little radio that sat on a shelf above the washing machine. Amazing music used to flow out of that radio: Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin, The Rascals, Marvin Gaye, Dusty Springfield, Petula Clark, many more.  The music soothed and inspired me. 

When we were able to upgrade to a stereo, the music ranged from big band jazz to album oriented rock. One thing all this music had in common: 
Music was played by talented musicians and singers and the magic was captured by skilled audio engineers. 

FAQ : 
Q: How did The Artsboretum project get started?
A: The seeds for this non-profit project took root many years ago, when Arne Frager convinced KFOG to resurrect “Live from The Plant” to raise money for Bay Area Food Banks. Additional organizations served by “The Plant Studios” include: Little Kids Rock, KSRH, the Girl Scouts, Youth In Arts, Blue Bear School of Music, Bread and Roses, Missing Children’s Foundation and more. 

Essentially, our first non-profit project, A Vehicle for Change, was a way to expand upon the Plant Studios' service to the local music and non-profit communities (as in "music is a vehicle for change.) 

As the music and recording industry took a downturn, it became more difficult to be philanthropic. I started researching feasibility and community need in 2006, finding inspiration from the Sundance Institute. 

However, in March of 2008, when The Plant Studios ceased operating in Sausalito, we lost our home base. 

We secured a fiscal sponsor, International Humanities Center, which closed abruptly in 2012 and took the money in our account.  

Needless to say, that was discouraging, but it doesn't matter how many times we fall in life. What matters is how many times we get back up.

This fundraiser is to regain our lost funding and start back up again. 
To do all we want to do would take about $7 or 8 million, but we have to start somewhere! 

If you love organic music and believe in the power of music to change lives and heal the world, please join this effort. 

Thank you for your consideration!

Sincerely,
Mari

https://www.gofundme.com/musicarts

Thursday, May 24, 2018

Solar Wherever Possible Is a Positive Thing, But We Should Have a Choice of Solar or Green Roof

I support using renewable energy whenever possible, but we should have an option of solar or green roof. Otherwise, people will be forced to cut down more trees, which will have a negative effect on our environment. 

https://www.npr.org/2018/05/17/612082781/california-to-require-all-new-homes-to-have-solar-panels-starting-in-2020

Originally posted on https://www.facebook.com/maritamburo/

I Case You Missed It :

You may or may not have heard about the man who was refused a lung transplant and was given a short time to live, so his son started a GoFundMe and his wife, a retired teacher, went back to work as a substitute teacher. Well, his wife was murdered in the recent Santa Fe school shooting.

Here is the story:
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/22/us/gofundme-cancer-patient-santa-fe.html


Here is the link to the GoFundMe:

https://www.gofundme.com/lung-stem-cell-treatment

Monday, May 21, 2018

Royal Wedding, Special Olympics Anthem, Billboard Awards

Just popping in here to share a couple of things:
Watched the royal wedding a bit by accident, as I was awakened in the wee hours of Saturday morning, so I figured I would check it out. I tuned in just about what I guess would have been midway into Reverend Curry's sermon. Bless him for using his platform to spread a message of love.
Best wishes to the happy couple. Hope their love grows.
Later that morning, I had the honor and pleasure of singing the anthem with my dear friend, Linda Imperial. That fellow in the middle is Michael Pritchard. Look him up, he does good work.
Billboard Awards left me inspired to make more music.
That is all for now.
Ox,
Mari




Tuesday, April 24, 2018

Petition against Mill Valley's proposed $250,000 public restroom: Request to use more affordable, community led building methods.


I can't stop thinking about this proposed $250,000 public restroom in a Mill Valley park. It's excessive public spending and it makes me ill. It's more than that - it's wrong for this space - a small neighborhood park.

I had to start a petition about it. Please read, sign and share. 

Monday, April 16, 2018

Musings for Monday, April 16th: World Voice Day Facebook Live Q&A, 9:00 am

Hello There,

Monday is World Voice Day, an event about voice health.

Since I happen to know a little bit about the subject of hoarseness, I signed up to do an online event.  So, if you have an interest in voice health, please feel free to join me on my facebook page, where I will be offering tips for protecting your voice:

https://www.facebook.com/maritamburo/

From 9:00 am - 9:30 am
April 16th

Have a great day!

ox,
Mari


Thursday, March 22, 2018

March 24th in San Francisco

Mari Mack & Livin' Like Kings
9:30 pm
The Saloon
1232 Grant Avenue
San Francisco, CA

Please join us if you can.

Ox,
Mari

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Happy Pi Day!

To celebrate Pi Day, thought it would be fun to share this video, "What Pi Sounds Like"

Monday, March 5, 2018

March 24th in SF, Plant Studios Vibe Light Kickstarter!

Hey Everybody!

Let's have some fun...
March 24th, a Saturday night, we are back at The Saloon in North Beach!
1232 Grant Avenue
Hope you can join us!

Lineup:
Mari Mack on vocals
Pat Duffey on guitar
Arne Frager on bass
Richard Wood on the B3
Roy Blumenfeld on the drum throne

In case you are interested, I've got a Kickstarter in the works. It's not for another album (not yet, anyway, although I might do one for a vinyl release soon, more about that later.)
This is something that I have been wanting to do for a while now! It's a reproduction of the recording warning light from The Plant - this one used to hold court over the doorway to the Studio A Live Room. Hard to believe that we had to leave that building ten years ago at the end of  this month.  Check it out  and let me know what you think!

Would You Like Some Legendary Vibe for Your Music Space? 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/marimack/plant-studios-vibe-light-recording-do-not-enter


That's it for now. Hope you have a great day! Sending lots of love your way.

ox,


Mari

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

The Creative Brain

"It's often said that creative people see the world differently than the rest of us -- and a Harvard researcher is providing one answer why."

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/01/180117163954.htm

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Kansas Scrambles to Change Rules After Teens Run for Office

As you may or may not remember, towards the end of Obama's second term, I started a petition on White House dot gov that asked to require all potential presidential candidates to pass a citizenship or civil service test. I still think that is a good idea.

"There are a lot of requirements if you want to vote in Kansas. You must be 18 years old. You need to show a photo ID at your polling place and show proof of U.S. citizenship when you register to vote. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights says the state's voter ID laws are among the strictest in the nation.
 But when it comes to the rules about who can run for state office? There are no rules..."

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2018/02/09/584678163/kansas-scrambles-to-change-rules-after-6-teens-enter-governors-race

Saturday, February 3, 2018

Recommended Read: Why Uma Thurman is Angry

I'm so glad for Uma that she found the strength to share her story and hope that she will find a way to heal her anger.

We cannot change the past, but we do have the vision and strength to create the future.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/03/opinion/sunday/this-is-why-uma-thurman-is-angry.html

ox,
Mari

Monday, January 1, 2018

Time's Up Legal Defense Fund


TIME’S UP is a unified call for change from women in entertainment for women everywhere. From movie sets to farm fields to boardrooms alike, we envision nationwide leadership that reflects the world in which we live. (more)
Donate:
https://www.gofundme.com/timesup

January 13th in SF


Happy New Year, everyone!
We have a show this month - woohoo!  January 13th at The Saloon, 1232 Grant Avenue, San Francisco, CA.
Lineup: Pat Duffey on guitar, Arne on bass, Doug Rowan on sax, Richard Wood on B3 and Roy Blumenfeld on the drum throne. And of course, me in "Mari Mack mode" on vocals.
Hope you can join us! It will be fun.
Until then, keep your chin up, be kind to yourself and others.
Ox,
Mari

originally posted on MariMackMusic.com