A friend recently posted the following interesting quote:
"With liberty comes excess. I mean, if you want to play it safe then you're not going to have liberty. The safer you are with guarding those things that you value, those speech codes that you value, the more you invite tyranny, the more you invite suppression, the more you invite censorship."Ron Collins (author/scholar at the First Amendment Center).
Thinking about these thoughts lead me to remember the Old Couth Buzzard and it's "George Carlin" Discount offer. I put up a sign right after learning of the death of that great, essential even, comic and social commentator. Next to a photo of George, I posted: "Say One Of The Seven Banned Words and Receive 50 Cents Off Of Your Book Purchase!" Most of you know of Carlin's famous routine about the seven words that the Federal Communications Commission bans from the airways. In a famous Catch 22 situation, the FCC will not tell you which words are banned because, well, they are banned. Carlin mock just idiocy, and his case went all the way to the US Supreme Court.
Anyway, one of my most pleasant surprises was watching the almost child-like glee arise in those customers who took up the challenge. Saying "those" words in public!? In a store!Some customers knew all seven words, and then, playfully asked for $3.50 off.
The New Couth Buzzard Books Espresso Buono Cafe continues with it commitment to celebrate one of this country's most important freedoms: Expression. We are, indeed, a Free Speech Zone. A Free Ideas Zone.
For how else are we to discover how best to move forward as a community, as a people, as a country, as humans unless we have the forum to fully express ourselves, to listen to each other.
UPCOMING EVENTS
COMING UP .....
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27th 7:30pm COMMUNITY OPEN MIC--HOSTED BY COUTH BUZZARD'S THEO DZIELAK Hey, we had so much fun at the last weekend Community Open Mic, we decided to do it again. There is so much talent in our Community. Come Strut you stuff: Music, Poetry, Stories, Dance, Rants, Whatever. No Cover. Sign-up at 7pm Come early. Great Food and Drinks--including beer from Fremont Brewing--available.
OPEN MIC...Strut Your Stuff....Every Wednesday at 7:30pm. it is growing more popular weekly. Come discover all the great talent in our community. Music, Dance, Stories, Poems, Comedy, Whatever. Sign-up is at 7pm. Drink Available.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19th 7:30pm THRESHOLD THEATER--DWELLING IN POSSIBILITY--FALL FORWARD Dwelling in Possibility....Fall Forward with Threshold Ensemble
Stories about What's Coming from the Future" The return of Threshold, for another intimate evening where your life stories are brought to life by this great improv theater and music ensemble. $15 Donation. Great Food and Drinks--including beer from Fremont Brewing--available. More Info: http://www.thresholdensemble.org/
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20th 7:30pm JIM PAGE RETURN CONCERT Seattle's Legendary Bard Poet and Guitarist, Jim Page returns for another evening of original songs, from love songs, to social commentary, to sharp political commentary. Always a treat. A favorite of Bonnie Raitt. No Cover. Donation Appreciated. Great food and drinks--including beer from Fremont Brewing. Hear Jim's music: http://www.myspace.com/seattlejimpage/
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26Th 7:30pm PICKLED OKRA IN CONCERT.
We keep serving them up, and you keep asking for another helping. So here they are. There are many bluegrass and old-timey bands in the Northwest, but none quite like PICKLED OKRA. They breathe new life into a classic genre with fresh ideas and playful family charm. Conceived in 2006 by a husband and wife team, Todd and Paisley Gray, playing of mandolin, upright bass, and banjo leaving plenty of room for their rich vocal harmonies. New bandmates, and Alyse Read (banjo) complete the band's rich sound.
Yes they all know their bluegrass licks and aren’t afraid to show them off, and their music is full of ideas borrowed from old time fiddle tunes, jazzy delta blues, pop, rock, reggae and funk as we. No Cover. Donations appreciated. Hear Pickled Okra: http://getokra.com/fr_home.cfm .
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27th 7:30pm COMMUNITY OPEN MIC--HOSTED BY COUTH BUZZARD'S THEO DZIELAK Hey, we had so much fun at the last weekend Community Open Mic, we decided to do it again. There is so much talent in our Community. Come Strut you stuff: Music, Poetry, Stories, Dance, Rants, Whatever. No Cover. Sign-up at 7pm Come early. Great Food and Drinks--including beer from Fremont Brewing--available.
Writer's Group Now you have two Writer's Groups to choose from: Writing with Marilyn meets every Monday at 7pm and is for those need fun exercises to perk up their creative muse. Writer's Sharing Group is for Writer's already working on something, wanting friendly tips and critiques. Every Tuesday at 7pm.
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