MOVEMENT: VOX POPULI

Life Without Hitch

2011-12-16T16:12:00.000-08:00

It’s about 1 o’clock in the morning on Friday, December 16th and I just heard the news that Christopher Hitchens has passed away. As a tenured fan of his work and character I’m genuinely depressed to hear this news, but I can’t say that it comes as a great shock either. Back in June of 2010, Hitchens announced that he had been diagnosed with esophageal cancer; and given his propensity for treating his body more like a brothel than a temple, the outlook seemed pretty grim. While he endured for another year and a half, it was a steady decline. As perhaps one of the most erudite public speakers in generations, he suffered an especially cruel fate when cancer claimed his voice. I can think of nothing more disheartening than having one of your strongest assets stripped away and being forced to press on without it.

Yet, what impression did “Hitch” leave upon the world? Most notable would be his recent outspoken support of the “New Atheism” movement; but he was also wildly successful as an author, journalist, literary critic, orator, humanitarian, and pundit. His was a wit that knew no bounds. Fan and critic alike loved nothing more than whipping him into a trademark frenzy of haughty, sharply worded retorts, with which he would level even his most intellectual opponents.

Personally, one of my favorite events was the public debate, entitled “Is Religion a Force of Good in the World?” held between Hitch and former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair in November of 2010. As he strode out onto the stage, Hitch debuted his newly hairless head as well as a confidence that surprised even me. It is no small feat to accept an invitation to debate the former leader of your nation of birth, but Hitchens didn’t hesitate for one moment before verbally shutting Blair down. Watching the debate was like watching someone’s mind being read. Every time Blair made an argument in religion’s favor, it would somehow play into the logical ambush that Hitch had laid in the early moments of the debate. By the end, not only had Hitchens clearly won, he had convinced Blair that even if his faith hadn’t been misplaced, his argument certainly was. It was a magnificent public defeat of tired principles and dusty logical fallacies.

While it’s easy to get hung up on the brash, visceral element of his spoken word, Hitchens was even more effective with a pen. During his life he worked as a journalist for many prestigious periodicals such as The Atlantic and The Nation, until becoming a Contributing Editor to Vanity Fair in 1992. He authored 18 books, including his best seller “God is Not Great”, and contributed to dozens more as an editor or co-author.

As a humanitarian atheist, Hitch held that the world did not need a supernatural guardian or man-made dogmas in order to do right by one’s fellow man. It was this fervor for the greater good of understanding that often got in the way of Hitchens’ own professional life. On multiple occasions, he was fired from positions because of his unwillingness to bend to his editors’ agendas, and he often landed in hot water with the media for his typically heavy-handed critique of culture. He was a champion of a logic that knew no creed or party and would often cross political and social borders. This was exemplified in his simultaneous criticisms of George W. Bush’s policies and belief that the Iraq War was our nation’s virtuous duty. He would rail against the right, left or any person or party that, in his eyes, was acting on less than ethical principles. He was also never opposed to endorsing figures that he felt were acting in the greater good. His support of Ralph Nader in the 2000 presidential election showed that he was not above the process of politics, just one of its rarest supporters.

In so many ways, what we have lost in the personality of Christopher Hitchens is more than just the man himself. We have lost an irreverent voice of reason, whose place in society is not likely to be matched again in my lifetime. It was a voice that was unburdened by the pressures of politeness; indeed I would guess that Hitch felt there was very little time for anything but frankness in this modern age. He was as important to literary, political and intellectual society as he was entertaining and I will miss his influence greatly.

by Grant Nielsen

The Fantasy Effect

2011-12-16T12:10:00.000-08:00

One of the first things I ever knew about John Lennon was that he had just been shot. I was 10 years old on December 8th 1980, and I heard about it the following morning on the news right before heading out to catch the school bus. I mentioned it to my mom, and I noticed she was visibly taken aback. I got the sense that something very significant happened, and the chatter prior to school with older students and a few grown-ups seemed to confirm this.

I really didn’t know that much about the Beatles prior. I knew they had been an incredibly popular rock band, and I was starting to really like rock music, but honestly, I was more of a Doors fan. Their Greatest Hits album- that red & white one- ruled the roost around my way. The only Beatles album in the house that my parents had was Sgt Peppers, and frankly, I didn’t care much for it. I recall thinking it looked and sounded like a big deal, but it never really said anything, just suggested it. Again, I was 10, a fascinating time to be a Doors literalist.

Within 24 hours of Lennon’s murder, I gleaned a bit more information from the ensuing news coverage. I had figured out that he was the Beatle with the glasses. He was really into Peace, which made his untimely death a little more odd to me. I learned he was married to a Japanese woman and they had a child. I’ve come to realize it is fairly common for an artist’s passing to result in an increased awareness, but this was my first time experiencing this, and it was a biggie.

As fate would have it, John Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, had released an album merely weeks before his death entitled Double Fantasy. Rumor has it that the initial reaction was not very positive (one review proclaimed the album “a self-obsessed disaster”), but the events that soon followed provoked a severe reworking of opinion. Indeed, the album wound up going to the top of the charts and winning a Grammy for Album of the Year. Decades later, I’m of the opinion that the murder of John Lennon altered the sound of music in ways wholly unintended.

On Christmas morning of 1980, my mother gave my father a present to unwrap. Of course, based on it’s flat, square shape, it was pretty obvious it was an album. The times being what they were, it was pretty obvious which album. I think this was the first new album brought into the house by either of my parents in at least a decade. I was fascinated by it. The artwork for Double Fantasy was a fairly monochromatic affair, even down to the Geffen label pasted onto the vinyl. Somehow, this lack of color seemed perfect for such a somber winter.

I couldn’t wait to hear this Important Record, but I had to, and adding insult to injury, I couldn’t even be in the same room when it was finally played. My aunt and uncle came by the following night to celebrate the holiday with my parents, my dad and uncle exchanging their traditional gift: identical fifths of scotch. My uncle was a musician, and kept up to date with musical trends (rifling through his collection was soon to be a favored pastime). We had our Xmas tree and presents in the family room so we all hung out there for most of the evening, but as the grown-ups adjourned to the record-player containing living room, I was sent to bed.

Oh hell no. I knew what was about to happen. After my mom put us all to bed and went back downstairs, I crept from my room to the top of the staircase and set up camp.

To this day, whenever I hear that bell at the beginning of John Lennon’s “(Just Like) Starting Over,” I am taken back to that moment. I remember the lighting in the hallway at the top of the stairs. I remember hearing my family members as they were just out of sight. Nowadays, I can recognize the style of the song as an homage of sorts to the rock and roll of his own youth, but it also takes me back to my own and that illicit thrill that can come with hearing such sounds. Furthermore, damn, that dude had the knack for killer middle eights.

As a whole, Double Fantasy was put together as a concept album. The concept being that John Lennon and Yoko Ono happened to be artists that shared a life together. Many of the songs are likewise “partnered.” John’s “I’m Losing You” is followed by Yoko’s “I’m Moving On.” He has a song for his “Beautiful Boy,” she sings to her “Beautiful Boys.” He proclaims his love to his “Woman,” she acknowledges that “Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him.”

So, the album begins with one of his finest numbers, and Yoko comes to the plate for the second song with “Kiss Kiss Kiss.”

Holy. Shit.

She coos, she shrieks, she pretty much goes batshit insane. To this day, I still can’t tell if the backing musicians were really into it or just having a laugh playing “freaky ” for the paycheck, but Ono seems unfazed and in her own world, offering us only the glimpses she wants us to see. For a preteen obsessed with the Lizard King, a lady yelling “BROKEN MIRROR WHITE TERROR!” is gold. She ends the song with some “sexy” noises a la Donna Summer, but frankly, it was kinda scary too.

Upstairs, my mind was blown. Downstairs, grownups were howling with laughter. I get it, I mean, she was strange, not for everyone, no doubt about it. That’s the rub -when you get right down to it, we wouldn’t have been listening to her in the first place if John Lennon had still been alive. I imagine similar scenes happened all across suburbia that winter: because of his death, John Lennon “Trojan horsed” his wife’s weird art into hundreds of thousands of homes that wouldn’t have welcomed it otherwise.

It’s not like I became a fan of hers immediately upon hearing her, but it absolutely planted a seed. Lennon may or may not have been misguided in his assessment that she had some kinship with the punk and new wave bands of that era, that can be debated, but I do know she made it into my house first, and I’m pretty sure that’s how it went down for quite a few others as well.

How much of a stretch is it from Yoko Ono to Cyndi Lauper? A hell of a lot shorter than it is from Pat Benatar, I’ll tell you that much. Double Fantasy moved “weird” closer to the center. A band wanting to show an allegiance to the underground is far more likely to cover one of her songs than one by her husband. If they *did* opt for a Lennon-penned number, odds are they’ll go with one written when she was around. Heck, even Ono’s choice in eyewear has proven some longstanding merit if Lady Gaga is to be trusted. Lennon’s influence as a songwriter is undeniable, but Ono’s influential role as a stylist deserves reassessment.

Would John Lennon really have been willing do die to get his wife’s artwork recognized on a larger scale? He probably would have said something along those lines, but that kind of thing never gets put to the test. Except when it does, and that’s when things get weird.

Tommy Salmon
Movement Magazine Athens GA correspondent

OCCUPY

2011-10-05T12:46:00.000-07:00

FUCK!

2011-06-03T23:00:00.000-07:00

Not as thrilled with the new COLDPLAY as I'd sort of hoped I would be. I will listen to more SUEDE to make up for it. Where are bands of their caliber today? Where is the new SUEDE? Where are the new Smiths? And I don't mean some fucking carbon copy, I mean an equally talented group of musicians making music that will change the world. Someone please fucking shake this shit up. Fuck this GaGa-gay-bar-top-40-vocoded-dime-store-rap shit! It is dumbing down our cattle-like society. Fucking wake up!

The Jax Band Rant

2010-07-28T09:57:00.000-07:00

There's a reason why there isn't a thriving audience for local music and it goes beyond a handful of terrible, patron-abusing establishments and their counter-productive owners. What's more, it goes beyond the 21st century's promotion of a sedentary, computer-oriented, never-leave-the-house, lifestyle: it's the fucking bands!

I'm going to name names so it's worth acknowledging that some of you will know (perhaps even BE) these people. In my view, they are destructive. They contribute to the public's apathetic view of our city's otherwise talented musicians by perpetuating a mediocre-bordering-on-laughable substitution for music that thinly masks a narcissistic impulse to place themselves in a narrow spotlight, failing that, to condescend to those of us not hip enough to "get it."

Let's begin with an obvious question: Who the FUCK am I?!

My name is Sam. I'm not a cynical, overweight music nerd, blogging from from my parents' basement in between marathon sessions of WoW, cursing the death of vinyl (in fact, good riddance). I too am a musician and all too often observe the negative impact of these bands. If you want to rip apart my musical offerings, be my guest: I currently front The Skraelings, play keys and produce Shocktopus; I've fronted Man-Sized Rat, played drums for Pilar, and contributed to Esther and Lokyata EPs. That's the short list.

Musicians like to pay lip-service to the general public with rumblings about their varied musical influences as that same audience struggles to pick out those influences in their banal catalogue. From electro-clash to death metal, I do it. That's who I am. That's what I do. I'm not above criticism.

When it comes to local bands and their inflated sense of entitlement, it's always inversely proportional to their musical ability. Walk into any men's room at any rock venue on a Friday or Saturday night and wait for Mr. Bar Star to hose the urinal down with voided Budweiser and break the ice with, "yeah, my band is being looked at by several labels..."

What is it about a musician gripping his member in the presence of another man that makes him feel inadequate enough to compensate with a statement about his perceived marketability?

No matter. Just understand that your favorite local band may be "all about the music" in front of their fans but in front of other musicians, their motivations become clear.

I've been playing music here for roughly a decade, bouncing between genres that wouldn't condescend to pay attention to each other and I can safely say that the attitudes are universal beyond the fashion borders. Along the way, I've also met a lot of GREAT musicians. Unfortunately, most of them are adrift in an ocean of banality, stuck at the ass-end of terrible FIVE BAND BILLS that no one has the endurance or curiosity to subject themselves to.

Let's assume you are curious John Q. Public, looking to "support the scene" and check out some of these great local bands you've read about or maybe you'd like to check out a few bands you're connected to through various social networks. How do you decide?

It's 2010 and anyone can sound passable with Pro Tools. Even DIY efforts can be quite polished. So it's not enough to base your local show success on recordings alone. At the opposite end of the spectrum is this ridiculous Lo-fi movement where laziness is intentional and white noise is a by-design excuse. These people spend so much time intellectualizing their work, if they spent half as much energy on their music they wouldn't have to present an argument for why it doesn't suck… or why you don't get it.

Let's focus on 3 locals who will act as examples for their like-minded contemporaries:

First of all, something personal: Kevin Newberry. I don't know what possessed him to pop up on The Skraelings fan page and leave a snarky comment about his distaste for my lyrics but, the minute that he did, he landed square in my cross-hairs.

My first reaction was, "Who is this guy?" and "How awesome is his music?" I know that reads a little facetious but, for a moment, I thought he might be rad and laughing at my silly attempts to compete on his level of excellence. Then I heard his music. Now I'd simply recommend Zoloft and guitar lessons.

Musician etiquette 101: if you don't like someone's music, don't go to THEIR page and express your distaste. You've got your own page or, if you feel the need to vent publicly, do so.

Tell your friends we suck. Don't tell OUR FANS we suck. I don't go to your page and call you out you for your half-ass, hipster, atonal, acoustic, lo-fi noise that you pretend is music while dispassionately counting off a monotone "...2...3..." before you unleash that sleep-inducing, diminished, open mic night drivel that is your ENTIRE repertoire.

Learn how to play your fucking instrument. I know that sounds totally un-hip but I will fuck you in public! Seriously, book a show on the same night and follow our set. Stick to what you know: high cholesterol and facial hair.

Moving on...

AC deathstrike: Is it just me or have these guys been first in line to the indie music media teat with a frequency that suggests favoritism? No matter, seeing as how they don't have the ability to hold the attention of a brain-damaged, 6 year old coma victim who would prefer the simple pleasures of a shiny object to their fucktarded noise, they will NEVER live up to the press hype they've received and therefore, anyone who takes a chance on checking out Jax's thriving indie music scene will no doubt lose all faith in music media coverage locally and continue to flock to St Augustine to see The Flaming Lips for the billionth time.

No real personal grudge. I simply have no tolerance for bands that treat music like an exercise in irony.

Finally, there's Marion Crane.

I had a long rant prepared but just go listen to their music. These guys are status quo nu-metal all the way. A whole lot of ego for something so tired. Marion Crane is a poor man's Mindslip; Mindslip is a watered-down Burn Season; Burn Season was a desperate emulation of … well … everything 1998. I call it "Goatee rock." You are welcome to use that.

The Marion Crane frontman sounds like he's trying to sing and work out a reluctant shit at the same time. If you choose to subject yourself to their music--for pure comedic value--go ahead a read their bio on facebook. Recommended reading for any fan of verbal irony. At least we know someone in the band can read and write at an 8th grade level.

Years ago when I was fronting Man-Sized Rat I waged an ideological war with that superficial group of spray-tanned, no talent, tween-fucking, style over substance, goth ass-clowns, PHILLER. I don't care if your dad owns a fucking car dealership in Orlando and pays for however much studio time it takes to make you sound like you shouldn't be wearing Ed Hardy and putting ground effects on your honda civic, you don't know the first fucking thing about rock n roll.

To borrow a quote from my musical ally and local trouble maker/musician, Ryan Gunwitch Black, "You ain't nobody till somebody hates you." I'm certain there's a small army of haters now but here's the thing: I don't have to like your music. You don't have to like my music. Honestly, I'd rather you prove me wrong and write better music. However, in all the cited examples, I'm certain you won't.

That's a challenge!

-Samuel Farmer
Chance In Hell Productions

B.P. and the Gulf Coast

2010-07-06T05:57:00.000-07:00

The once beautiful beaches of Pensacola and the surrounding area are now littered with tar balls, and sad, angry, devastated people. As the oil pushes on shore whether it be tar balls or, the full onset of oil it has become a topic for discussion across the entire nation. However here in the gulf coast it is much more than just a topic of discussion. The locals here are facing so many life changing events. The fishing industry is being destroyed, with most every fishing area of the Gulf closed, the unemployed fishermen are facing a financial crisis, with the unemployment rate in America already at a high rate, and foreclosures at high levels what’s next for the Gulf Coast?

The out of work fishermen have attempted to get work pulling booms, cleaning up oil. While some have succeeded many have not, or they get the job only to be let go after a few days. Many of which have been reporting that they have not received the pay they are owed. B.P. continues to promise that they are taking care of loss of income claims; it seems like propaganda, because of these reports.

Our tourism industry is suffering as well. With cancellations at resorts, and a significantly lower number of locals hanging out at the beaches, the beach shops, restaurants, hotels, beach condos and night clubs are feeling the pinch. Speculation shows a loss of 75% of our tourism. Our economy relies on 2 major factors on the Gulf Coast, fishing, and tourism. This has become an “oh shit” moment for the residents of the area.

Here is the bottom line for the majority of locals. It is heart breaking, I’ve seen people cry when they see the condition of our beaches, I’ve heard the sorrow in peoples voices as the talk about the spill, I’ve been able to smell the oil at the beaches, I’ve seen the effect the B.P. oil spill has had on the community. This is a disaster for our area. People here love their beaches. It is like our children we love them, and treat them as if they belonged to us. We love to hear people say how beautiful it is here, and they were right. Now our child has been scared by a terrible accident. And God only knows when our child will be that beautiful child again.

It seems that a lot of talk from the federal government is just that, talk. There are a lot of skimmers waiting to work in the gulf to help ease the amount of oil hitting the shore, but have been reported that they are getting caught up in political red tape. To put it bluntly “what the Hell are they waiting for?” This spill has already pumped more oil into the ocean than the Exxon Valdez spill; however it has the potential to do a lot less damage over all. If we get over the politics of who is better in Washington, Maybe this can be resolved with something positive to say about the way the Government handles crisis. I for one am tired of finger pointing about the oil spill, “B.P. is wrong, and so is putting politics ahead of what is best for the citizens affected by this tragedy.

- Scott Fowler/Pensacola Beach, FL

MART WARS

2010-03-22T10:20:00.000-07:00

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY IN JAX!!!

2010-03-19T13:40:00.000-07:00

COREY HAIM - R.I.P.

2010-03-10T06:17:00.000-08:00

December 23, 1971 - March 10, 2010

The MOVEMENT crew saw Corey for the first and last time at Ultimate Horror Weekend 2008 in Orlando, FL. Sadly we could not afford his autograph ($25? Really?)

- Max

(This one's for you Lisa!)

When I learned what a "spoiler" was.

2010-03-09T18:59:00.000-08:00

It was near time for the release of the highly anticipated squel to STAR WARS; The Empire Strikes Back. So anticipated that I could not wait to buy the oversized comic the moment it came out. In the book store my mother warned me not to spoil it for myself, and I swore I wouldn't, maybe just read the first few pages. But once I started I couldn't wait to see what happened next and read the whole thing on the way home from the mall. I recall the chills and tiny gasp that escaped me when I read that fateful panel, fuck. My mother knew I had fucked myself and threatened physical harm were I to reveal this monumental plot twist until after the family had seen the movie. Horrified that I had blown my chance to be surprised by the epic reveal in the film. I had also not anticipated the torture of being unable to discuss it with anyone until the film opened. Longest fucking week ever. The whole family FINALLY went on opening day and it was sweet relief once those four critical words rasped out of Vader's mask. I watched their shocked faces, heard their audible gasps and finally I could talk my head off about one of the most infamous motion picture plot twists. Fuck spoilers.

-MM

MOVEMENT ATLANTA

2010-03-07T17:33:00.001-08:00

Look for free issues of MOVEMENT around Atlanta GA in Urban Outfitters on Ponce (pictured) and various shops in Little 5 Points.

Florida Local Non-Profit TO WRITE LOVE ON HER ARMS Finalist in Chase Contest

2010-01-20T06:30:00.000-08:00

TO WRITE LOVE ON HER ARMS
FINALIST IN CHASE COMMUNITY
GIVING CONTEST TO WIN $1 MILLION

VOTING IS LIVE NOW!

To Write Love on Her Arms are a finalist in the Chase Community Giving Contest. TWLOHA is up against 99 other charities and the winning charity will be given a $1 million grant with the next 5 organizations receiving a $100K grant. The second round of voting is live now and ends on January 22nd. Please click here to vote: http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/charities/1299927

TWLOHA hopes to win the $1 million grant to help suicide prevention. TWLOHA is partnering with Kristin Brooks Hope Center to launch IMAlive, a live online crisis network which will provide real-time online crisis support to millions of people and will be the first 100 percent certified and trained staff and volunteer crisis line. Users will be able to talk one on one to responders through IMAlive's instant messaging program.

"We believe we have the opportunity to help save thousands of lives with this. We believe we can lower the suicide rate in America and around the world by meeting people where they are - online," says TWLOHA founder Jamie Tworkowski.

James Earl Jones lends his familiar powerful voice to a video on TWLOHA's voting page, articulating both the need and the call to care.

THE BIG IDEA!
The Issue
19 million Americans struggle with depression & untreated depression is the leading cause of suicide. 2/3 of people who struggle with depression never seek treatment. There are an estimated 840,000 suicide attempts & more than 32,000 people die by suicide in America each year.

Many people are unwilling or unable to reach out to traditional crisis hotlines. Studies show that compared to telephone and face-to-face communication, people are most comfortable / willing to reach out for help online via written communication. More than ever, people are communicating through instant messaging & phone texting. The primary current forms of crisis intervention and suicide prevention are telephone hotlines and face-to-face (i.e. counseling and treatment centers).

There is a tremendous need for an online network.

TWLOHA has an online audience of over 500,000. Since 2006, we have responded to more than 100,000 messages from people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide.

The Plan
TWLOHA is partnering with Kristin Brooks Hope Center to launch IMAlive, the first live online crisis network with 100% of its staff certified & trained in crisis intervention. Since 1998, 1-800-SUICIDE has responded to more than 3 million calls from people in crisis.

KBHC built the National Hopeline Network by networking 200 community crisis centers through national toll-free numbers, 1-800-SUICIDE/SUICIDA. KBHC developed the software necessary for location-based routing to allow for appropriate referrals as well as emergency rescue. KBHC will develop state-of-the-art tools to manage routing of chats & crisis calls/chats.

Need: 1,000 volunteers to launch. Minimum of 50 hours training as well as a series of tests & screenings.

Training costs $250 per person & will be provided by the QPR Institute, regarded as the leader in crisis intervention training.

Our plan is to use the internet to allow thousands of trained crisis line workers to create the first virtual crisis call center.

The Outcome
Once launched, IMAlive will allow crisis responders to reach millions of people through its custom built instant messaging service.

IMAlive will provide online support to people who are unwilling or unable to make phone calls to traditional crisis hotlines.

The IMAlive network will provide access to online crisis intervention 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and will be the first crisis network with 100% of its staff and volunteers certified and trained in crisis intervention.

We're currently in the BETA testing phase of IMAlive training. We plan to have training for 1000 volunteers completed by end of Summer 2010. IMAlive will launch Fall 2010.

ESHC of Jacksonville, Inc. is Gearing Up for Annual Homeless Count and Survey

2010-01-14T20:14:00.001-08:00

Jacksonville, FL: The Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition of Jacksonville (ESHC) is preparing for their annual Homeless Point in Time Count and Survey. The Point in Time count is a one day snapshot of who is homeless during the coldest month of the year. Every January ESHC, in partnership with the Northeast Florida Center for Community Initiatives at UNF, volunteers and a number of member agencies, conducts interviews and counts the homeless population of Duval, Nassau and Clay counties. This is currently the most accurate way of learning just how many adults and children have no where to live.

“This count not only provides information on the number of people that are homeless, but who they are,” says Dawn Gilman, Executive Director. “We anticipate both an increase in total numbers in all counties and a percentage increase in homeless children and veterans.”

Last year ESHC reported 3,594 homeless adults and children in all three counties which is a 27% increase from 2008. This year’s count is expected to be even higher and more diverse due to the state of the economy. Job loss and lack of healthcare are contributing to a rise in families becoming the new face of homelessness.

ESHC is currently seeking volunteers to help with the count on January 25, 2010. Various timeslots are available throughout the day. Volunteers will survey and count in all three counties at a number of locations and must be at least 18 years old. “The more volunteers we have the more adults and children we are able to count and really define where help is needed the most,” Gilman adds.

ESHC is committed to coordinating efforts to raise, distribute and manage resources for preventing and ending homelessness. As a Lead Agency for Duval, Clay and Nassau counties, ESHC assists member organizations in applying for and receiving federal and state grant money, develops the local homeless Continuum of Care plan and coordinates the delivery of services for the homeless and those with extremely low incomes. ESHC employs two staff members and supports an Americorps VISTA. For information about volunteering or donating to ESHC contact Dawn Gilman at 904.384.1366 or email dgilman@eshcnet.org.

2009-12-30T11:01:00.000-08:00

LOCAL BUSINESS GROWS AND THRIVES IN DOWN ECONOMY

2009-12-30T10:58:00.001-08:00

Local Jacksonville Favorite is Expanding Operations Despite Current Economic Condition.

Jacksonville, FL. – For over 40 years, Orange Tree Hot Dogs has been a mainstay restaurant in the Jacksonville area and a favorite quick serve eatery for many Jacksonville natives. The restaurant has managed to not only stay in business, but expand in a shrinking economy because of their reputation for a clean, inexpensive, efficient, great quality, family environment that has continued after all these years. Between 2007 and 2008, Orange Tree Hot Dogs has opened 9 new locations in the Jacksonville area, and plans on opening 5 new locations per year. The newest location is opening in Gainesville in January of 2010, with more stores in St. John’s County and Atlanta on the way.

One of the ways Orange Tree has been able to survive and thrive is by adapting to the ebb and flow of the economy. Orange Tree has always offered a quality meal at a low cost to customers, but during tougher economic times they offer even more value. Conscious to family budgets, Orange Tree provides discounted items, meal specials and coupons so the customer can still enjoy a meal out without hurting their wallet.

For Orange Tree Hot Dogs, it’s all about the toppings. They’ve made their dogs unique with a variety of topping combinations, including the Slaw Dog, Slaw & Onion Sauce and Chili Cheese Dog. The cole slaw, onion sauce (onions cooked in a spicy tomato blend) and Orange Frost beverage have become legendary favorites and are still made using the original recipes. Their six custom toppings - that can’t be found anywhere else - is the main reason Orange Tree Hot Dogs sells over 1 million hot dogs per year.

Originally founded by Peter Koppenburger and his wife Carolyn, the restaurant has always been a family business. Today it is owned and operated by the Koppenburger’s daughter and son-in-law, Ann and Frank Roeber, and by their granddaughter and grandson-in-law, Amy and Shawn Emling. Orange Tree’s management is now focusing its efforts on expansion via franchising and has been successful in doing so.

Orange Tree Hot Dogs was established in 1968 and is one of the original tenants of the Regency Square Mall. The franchise now has 11 locations in the Jacksonville area and is currently expanding. The business model is founded on providing a great quality, inexpensive food in a fun, family environment. For more information, visit www.orangetreehotdogs.com

The Red Tie Affair

2009-12-03T11:17:00.000-08:00

The Red Tie Affair is a silent auction event to help raise needed funds benefiting the Teddy Bear Touchdowns of Dab the AIDS Bear Project. The Teddy Bear Touchdowns provide children affected by HIV/AIDS with holiday gifts during the Christmas season. Learn more about Dab the AIDS Bear Project at www.dabtheaidsbearproject.com

"Our Teddy Bear Touchdowns are holiday events for children with HIV and AIDS in several cities throughout the United States.

The holiday season is a special time for all children. But our wonderful kids come from financially challenged families dealing with the additional financial strains of high medical costs. Without your help many of these children would not have a gift this holiday season

We are looking for businesses, organizations, churches, groups and our fellow Americans to donate new teddy bears and other gifts to be given during the upcoming holiday season to children affected and effected with HIV and AIDS." Dab Garner, Daddy Dab

DATE:
Friday, 12/04/09

TIME:
6:00 - 10:00 pm

LOCATION:
Rainbow Room
Metro Entertainment Complex
2929 Plum St
Jacksonville, FL 32205

ATTIRE:
Red Tie theme

SPONSORS:
MERGE Jacksonville, Inc
www.mergejacksonville.com

Metro Entertainment Complex
www.metrojax.com

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE Contest

2009-10-16T09:56:00.000-07:00

Email MOVEMENT about the wildest thing you've done (and where you did it) to be entered to win a WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE prize pack!

E-mail MovementMagazine@aol.com
One entry per e-mail address please! Prizes are limited. Entries chosen at random. Good luck!

AaaaWwwoooooooo!

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
now playing in theaters and IMAX

Lament, True Believers...

2009-09-01T15:22:00.001-07:00

For the Mighty Marvel House of Ideas has been consumed by a planet devourer that Galactus would be hard-pressed to keep up with: Disney.

It remains to be seen how this change will effect Marvel's output, but one worries that the merger might hinder the comic giant's creativity, leaving us with dumbed-down two dimensional children's stories.

We can only hope that, as both companies have stated, Disney will actually keep their fingers out of Marvel's day to day operations and let them keeping creating the great stories we've been reading for the past few years.

And as far as the movie side of things go... well, so long as Miley Cyrus and Whatever-Their-Names-Are Jonas aren't going to start taking on leading roles as our favorite spandex-clad heroes, then this could actually be a good thing. Sure, Disney fails from time to time, but no one can deny that they hit it out of the park just as often, (the first years of Miramax, anyone?) and if Marvel really will get to maintain creative control and make movies the way they've been making them these past few years, then yippee for a huge new weapon in their arsenal.

So, we'll keep an eye out and hope that the House of Mouse doesn't bring down the House of Ideas like a ...house of cards?

Excelsior, indeed.

MOVEMENT at Mini-MegaCon booth #603

2009-08-17T16:50:00.000-07:00

COME SEE THE MOVEMENT CREW!
Mini-MegaCon
August 22nd-23rd, 2009
Orange County Convention Center Hall E1
9899 International Drive
Orlando, FL 32819
http://www.megaconvention.com/

Riverside Funnel Cloud 06.26.09

2009-06-26T14:37:00.000-07:00

Light up Friend Finder..

2009-02-16T10:47:00.000-08:00

http://portland.maineville.com/detail/99505.html

Ugh, so its like MySpace meets LARPing...

"My shirt says I should friend you, lets play rock-paper-scissors to see if I should."

National Freedom to Marry Day

2009-02-12T09:02:00.000-08:00

On National Freedom to Marry Day, Thursday, February 12, 2009, at local marriage counters in cities all over the country, same-sex couples will request marriage licenses at their local County Clerk’s Offices to raise awareness of the harms and impact the inability to marry causes on their families.

Since 2001, Marriage Equality USA® chapters have engaged in these annual marriage counter actions to render visible the discrimination that is enforced every day. It is an affront to our basic dignity as fellow human beings when same-sex couples are turned away from the marriage counter, but it gives us the opportunity to tell our stories and show that we live in every community and want to honor and protect our families like everyone else. Everyone who supports marriage equality is welcomed to attend and support this event. Get Engaged for Marriage Equality!

Same-sex couples who wish to marry and all who support them are invited to attend!

Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009
From 3:30 pm to 4:30

Duval County Courthouse - Downtown
330 E. Bay St., Room 101
Jacksonville, FL 32202

Rally Will be in front of Duval County Courthouse, 330 E. Bay St

Please pass this on to every marriage equality supporter you know and ask them to pass it along. We have power in numbers and your support in this way will help get the message out and the attendance we need.

The End Of Racism?

2008-11-15T14:57:00.001-08:00

Wednesday, NOVEMBER 5th, 2008

White people seem more excited abut the Obama election than black people and I'll tell you why.

I'm sorry to rain on your parade my African-American friends, but do not be fooled. Although one of your own has been elected; although he has the best of African-Americans at heart; although he will do more for you than any other president has done (we hope); understand this: white people in America now believe racism is over. No, they really do. So prepare for the backlash, Black America. Don't be fooled by the tears of Jesse Jackson and Orpah Winfrey, which seem to say the election of Barack Obama is the culmination of years of Civil Rights struggle. Give white people an inch and they'll take a mile. Now that a black man has been elected president of the United States, white people the world over (and especially within the U.S.) believe the problem of racism is solved. They believe 400 years of human rights violations is paid for. They believe that they (yes "they"... white people) have "allowed" a black man to become president of the United States
and therefore there is nothing you can say as an African-American ever again to justify feelings of racial discrimination. If you don't believe me... just wait.

And although he was the best choice to put America back in the seat of "Citadel of Freedom" or "Liberty" or any of those other pretty sounding words; the reality of the situation is that he is a run-of-the-mill Democrat Party politician. The good news is that he will make the better decisions for foreign AND domestic policy (again, we hope). The bad news is that because he is black, the entire population of White America is going to hold that against you, my African-American friends. Prepare for the backlash. White people will no longer allow you to say you didn't get the job you deserve because you are black. White people will no longer allow you to say liquor stores and churches litter your communities because you are black. White people will no longer tolerate your leaders. Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and Louis Farrakhan are basically "Persona Non Grata" now. If you don't believe me, just watch... and wait.

The person I feel most sorry for is Barack Obama. He is now considered the messiah of Black America. And to make it worse, he is expected to solve every single problem America is facing right now. And if he doesn't, Afro-America; like Jesus before him, poor Barack is going to be nailed to their fucking cross with as little mercy as they showed Christ himself. If you don't believe me... just watch... and wait.

- Robert M. Cluesman. Paris, France 2008

MARCH FOR EQUALITY

2008-11-15T14:50:00.000-08:00

Today marked what we hope to be a series of demonstrations for equality in our nation and give people of all sexual orientations to live their lives however they see fit without their government intervening in any way. If you did not get to make it out today we've posted a photo gallery from the demonstration here:

MARCH FOR EQUALITY GALLERY

VOTE '08

2008-10-29T09:30:00.000-07:00

MOVEMENT is not taking sides in this years presidential election or endorsing any candidate, but with just one week to go before the day that will in many ways change the world the one stance the magazine will certainly firmly take is that it is imperative that every eligible person must get out and vote! If you think your candidate is either a sure winner, or the under dog, no race is over until the last ballot is counted and if you listen to the media chatter and become complacent that your candidate is either a sure winner or looser and sit this election out because of it then do not be surprised if the end result is quite different from what you'd expect. Next Tuesday will prove to be the most important days in recent history and we insist that every voter must do their part to make sure the American system works and every vote is cast! If you fear the predicted long lines on Tuesday you could opt to vote early like the MOVEMENT crew did, however you do it, by next Tuesday evening wherever you do... VOTE!

MOVEMENT EDITORIAL

2008-03-23T14:26:00.000-07:00

This blog will be home to MOVEMENT editorials. Submit your editorials to be posted here by e-mailing them to MovementMagazine@aol.com with "Vox Populi" in the subject line.