The Pranayuga Weblog

Pranayuga 2006

2006-07-22T16:58:00.000-07:00

Richard Fosbury Shares Beer with Squirrel

2006-07-22T16:56:00.000-07:00

Early Morning at the Deakin House

2006-07-22T16:54:00.000-07:00

Backpack Tiger!

2006-07-22T16:51:00.000-07:00

Pranayuga Reunion 2006

2006-07-02T00:52:00.000-07:00

The Pranayuga 2006 Reunion arrives at 6605 Deakin Street

Oakland, CA Saturday July 8th.

Come check out live drumming, live airbrush performance art by

Ciaran, fractal art by Vanessa and world class DJ’s Dr. Doom,

Raygun, Faith and Believe along with an ambient chill set from

Impure Cell!

This event marks the return of our beloved Clint and Marly from Cabo Pulmo, Baja Mexico!

Big ups to The Pranayuga Collective for coming around full circle.

Stay tuned…

"An Inconvenient Truth" Gets Five Stars For Accuracy

2006-06-27T16:26:00.000-07:00

19 climate scientists who had seen the movie or read the book said Al Gore's movie got most of the science right.

read more | digg story

Just Released: Insider Information on NSA Wiretaps

2006-05-24T12:40:00.000-07:00

"The N.S.A. began to eavesdrop on callers...or to investigate them using traditional police methods. A government consultant told me that tens of thousands of Americans had had their calls monitored in one way or the other. [...] the Administration, by not approaching the FISA court early on, had made it much harder to go to the court later." - from Digg.com.

read more | digg story

Click Comic to Enlarge!

2006-05-24T10:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday Half-Month Clint!

2006-05-12T13:57:00.000-07:00

Clint, you rule! I love you! I hope that one day soon...

we can skip out of work together and go put lampshades on our heads again.

Big ups to the Whole Foods get drunk all day in Santa Cruz California and call in to work the next day Nation,

Michael

p.s. Happy Birthday Clint!

Is it real, or is it art?

2006-05-04T14:51:00.000-07:00

Hey all, check this dude out!

This stuff is all done with color chalk.

Unh!

Click on the link...

http://www.rense.com/general67/street.htm

Largest Solar-Power Park in the World Opens in Germany

2006-05-01T11:55:00.000-07:00

"A total of about 16,5 km (10 miles) of solar panels mounted on a former military grounds at Pocking, near Passau in Bavaria. The installation saves 10,000 tons of CO2 yearly--the equivalent of 1,000 hectares of woodlands." - from Digg.com and originally reported on TreeHugger.com

I know that this technology has a long way to go, but it's amazing to see what can be done with today's available technology!

read more | digg story

Dr. Jimbo's Communiqué

2006-04-20T23:02:00.000-07:00

Pranayuga Re:Union 2006

2006-04-20T00:49:00.000-07:00

Affirmative Beats

2006-04-18T21:42:00.000-07:00

www.affirmativebeats.onesite.com

Coming soon...the Affirmative Beats website

2006-04-12T19:21:00.000-07:00

Hey kids,

Be on the lookout, coming soon...hopefully will be the Affirmative Beats...website brought to you by Faith...

this site will have listings of events, music reviews, hopefully live mixes or at least links to them as well as a number of volunteer goodies for Hawaii and the Hawaiian Habitat Assistance project which will have it's own website soon.

I just started designing it today so it will be a while before it's ready, but I will make it rad.

I can't wait to have people contributing...

Clint, please write more amazing music so that I can get it on there, that 1st track you sent me was the bomb.

Hopefully soon also, Affirmative Beats will be a patented trademark and I can start the label.

p.s.

UNH!

Much love and aloha to all,

Michael

Make Your Own Comic

2006-04-10T23:35:00.000-07:00

New Bassnectar Website

2006-04-10T18:53:00.000-07:00

Dj Lorin (Bassnectar) has a new website that you can check out by clicking on the title of this post. The new website is Macromedia Flash based and has a wealth of multimedia offerings. I'm not sure that I like the new format all that much...the Flash interface has that (as J. Dunn would put it) 'Back to the Future' aesthetic. The new site has plenty of great graphics, amazing audio and video files and overall artistic flair, but it seems a bit overdone to me. I found the site to be difficult to navigate quickly (this could be due to my satellite internet connection) and a good example of form over function. Check out the site and see what you think. There is plenty of good content, but is the flashy interface worth your time?

Wind Power

2006-03-27T14:01:00.000-08:00

Wind energy power is now cheaper than convention sources in at least two areas: Austin, Texas and Colorado. A newly published report says that this trend is will likely be seen in other parts of the U.S. Posted by cephoe on Digg.com

read more | digg story

We're Too Late to Stop Global Warming

2006-03-26T11:37:00.000-08:00

Never mind what you've heard about global warming as a slow-motion emergency that would take decades to play out. From heat waves to storms to floods to fires to massive glacial melts, the global climate seems to be crashing around us. Another bit a proof that governments are too slow and that Bush should have signed the Kyoto Treaty. Submitted by Syni on Digg.com.

read more | digg story

One Love One Heart

2006-03-24T20:22:00.000-08:00

You Bring Light In

2006-03-24T20:19:00.000-08:00

Photo by Leland Dunn

TheStar.com - Ice caps melting faster than forecast

2006-03-24T09:21:00.000-08:00

"Global warming of only a couple of degrees Celsius projected by the end of this century is enough to trigger widespread melting of the massive Greenland ice cap and the partial collapse of Antarctica's ice sheets, prominent climate researchers warn in two studies published yesterday." Quote taken from the Toronto Star article by Peter Calamai. Read the entire article by clicking on the title of this post.

Arkansas Teacher Can't Say 'Evolution' in Class

2006-03-24T09:15:00.000-08:00

Not only is this Arkansas science teacher prohibited from saying the "e-word" in class, but he can only say that 300 million year old rocks are "very, very old". Submitted by hardcle on digg.com.

read more | digg story

See Story Below

2006-03-20T15:17:00.000-08:00

1000 Suns From Huge Concentrating Dish

2006-03-20T14:44:00.000-08:00

"The dish is 4,300 square feet, but the actual solar panel part is only 3 inches by 3 inches! This will soon be tested by the National Solar Energy Center in Israel." - submitted by THMike on digg.com.

This is of particular interest to me...I'm off the grid and rely on solar power. Hopefully this technology can lead to a better future...

read more | digg story

Original Story Here

Nightmares on Wax

2006-03-20T10:40:00.000-08:00

Nightmares on Wax has released a new album titled In a Space Outta Sound. It is available for download at the iTunes music store. I can't say that it holds up against Smoker's Delight (which is available for download at eMusic) or Carboot Soul, but there are a few really good cuts on this latest album. So far my favorite is The Sweetest.

Pranayuga CD Crate-Oshen "Rascal in Paradise"

2006-03-11T12:03:00.000-08:00

Aloha all,

Time for a bit o' island reggae courtesy of Oshen, the crazy freak hailing from Papa New Guinea and the Hawaiian islands. The key to Oshen is to ignore all his chic songs and concentrate on the real shit. Tracks like "Carry on Rootsman" (my all time favorite reggae/Jawaiian track) and "Put Down the Gun" are reggae classics. Each has that awesome bounce and excellent groove that every good reggae track needs to have for it to make the cut into the Pranayuga CD crate. The rest of the CD is not nearly as good as it tends to lean to the "oh girl" style which has been done to death. Overall, Oshen is a good pick, just don't expect every track to be...well Rootsy. (Click on the link for a sample)

Carry on!

Faith

eat it up yum. propane fridge style.

2006-03-07T14:35:00.000-08:00

More breaks for the Pranayuga Record Bag

2006-02-14T03:23:00.000-08:00

I was at Reverb Records in the upper Haight (the shop that replaced F8), when this record caught my eye. The title.."Lonely Platipus" almost didn't make it into the stack...but then...something told me...Michael you should listen to this track...

and so I did...and my eyes got wide...and that slow smile that creeps up on my face when I find something that kicks ass.

With a gourgeous layered echo effect slipping in and out of the fattest bass I have heard since Tony Allen's stormer classic "Lower the Bass", a clean and well placed sample right where you need it...this track has it all...a perfect first song to play in a nice dark time set in an Ewok Village Bassment with Martin Luther King's "We Shall Overcome" speech played in the background....

From out of nowhere comes this instant classic from Kraymon, extremely well produced and a perfect bpm for that infectious bounce..this song is sure to get you movin' right away onto a flowy dreamy abyss filled with a blanket of bass to keep you warm.

Click on the link for a sample...

Another killer cut for the Pranayuga Record Bag

2006-02-12T12:08:00.000-08:00

Aloha all,

Time for another review for the Pranayuga Record Bag. This time it's General Midi aka Paul Crossman http://www.distinctiverecords.com/default.asp?pid=artists&aid=15 with "Turn it Loud" . This track came out in October of 2005 and is one of the strongest offerings of last year. The "Rollin" mix is definitely the better of the two versions and includes a nice sample that stays in your head without being too repetitive... (Something that most tracks suffer from) I especially liked the use of the words..."Hold Tight" at the break at one minute thirteen which indicates that there are great things soon to come, which they do shortly afterward. The bass kick is perfect and clean and the classic slightly broken rolling bass line flows like a dream keeping your brain wanting more. The high hats are extremely crisp and not too busy, then mixing well with the use of the ride that comes in later. The almost psychedelic noises in the middle of the track are beautiful without getting scary...just enough to get your attention. The adding of the OOhWah! sound in the second chorus is almost too repetitive but by the time it gets to that point, the track is over and it's time to get started on dropping the ultra slammers. This track is perfect for the third or fourth song in a bassy, steppy midnight breaks set.

A definite improvement from General Midi...

enjoy!

Click on the link for a sample...

Life Goddess - Mexico

2006-01-12T16:32:00.000-08:00

2006-01-10T21:57:00.000-08:00

Just a little reminder...

One More from the Record Bag / Ils "Angels" 12" version

2006-01-09T18:08:00.000-08:00

This one is a classic in the making! A gorgeous vocal and a beautiful bassline with a driving break beat. Can't go wrong with this one in the room. If this were a rock track, there would be lighters in the air everywhere when this one comes on. More good stuff from Ils on Distinctive Records. A must have for any serious breaks DJ! Click on the title of this post for a sample!

El Pranayuga Record Bag / Care in the Community - "Thirteen"

2006-01-09T17:47:00.000-08:00

Once again, another rockin' bass brain rearranger from Care in the Community. This 2004 cut has it all, a deadly bongo hook with the right jumping effects, a great sample, and ROLLING BASS that will send you to your local free clinic for a checkup. Once I heard this one, it was my bill money taking the hit. This is a pretty underground track so I think it may be hard to download legally, Clint I am recording all these tracks for you though as I know you would pay for them if you could, and can't recieve mail to order them. I bought the records at full price and they are worth every penny. Click on the title of this post for a quick preview from my friends at Juno records in the UK.

Unh!

Care in the Community fills my taste for bass again!

This is NOT a Paid Advertisement!

2006-01-08T22:40:00.000-08:00

Okay...how cheap are you? At eMusic you can download MP3s for around 20 cents a song. And the artist gets paid! You won't always find the latest and greatest, but you will find a slew of independent and underground artists with plenty of high-quality files for download. Get involved in the eMusic community and you're bound to find plenty of excellent cuts.

Click on the link to get started:

eMusic

The Sea of Cortez at Cabo Pulmo

2006-01-08T21:37:00.000-08:00

Check out some family-style photos by clicking on the link:

What are you waiting for?

2006-01-04T11:18:00.000-08:00

Artwork by Larry Burnett

2006-01-04T10:55:00.000-08:00

inmydreamsicanbreathefire by Larry Burnett

Check out more paintings and photos by Larry Burnett by clicking on the following link:

Dr. Jimbo Tree Frog's Mindwarp Emporium and Turtle Gallery

From The Pranayuga Record Bag cont/Naga-"Nobogadjamin Hotep"

2005-12-13T09:17:00.000-08:00

This one's another cut that doesn't seem so deadly until you have a house of people jumping up and down at the same time. Perfect for track five or six of that nasty, deep, shaky your booty profusely set that comes on at two in the morning. The beginning of the track takes a while to set up for the beautiful wickedness to come, this is the perfect time to mix in a nice 30 second sample of positivity while everyone is deciding whether to accept the groove. Once this one gets moving (after the first break) though, look out...it's on. The drum hook is so addicting, you might have to seek treatment.

Playing this one loud is the only way to get it's full effect.

More from the Record Bag/Baobinga & I.D - "The Feeling"

2005-12-13T09:05:00.000-08:00

This one is the floor destroyer! Make sure there is a fire extinguisher close by the decks or you may have a problem. This track is simply beautiful while rearranging your sensibilities that you will not remember. The vocal hook is super catchy although perhaps used a little too much throughout the song. The bassline will rock you out of your socks and you will spend the morning in a haze looking for them on the ceiling. What else can I say? This one is the mad killer...the breaks stormer!!! Click on the title of this post for a sample, although thirty seconds plus doesn't begin to do this gem justice. UNH!

This is another hard one to find in stock if you wish it so be prepared to look for a while or to be on a re-stock wait list like I was.

Happy Jumping!

Tales from the Pranayuga Record Bag/Meat Katie "Feel It"

2005-12-13T08:44:00.000-08:00

This is a breaks killer that I bought on vinyl about a year ago but never had the chance to hear it in action. This track is simple yet very effective, with a rolling repetitive bassline and nice catchy, clever fills that will get everyone on the floor movin' Definitely a good one for the third to fourth track in a deep, dark bass heavy breaks set.

Almost nasty, this track lays down a nice foundation for everyone who likes that awesome "whump" sound.

Sorry, no picture of the record available, but please click on the title of this post for a sample. This one is hard to find due to it being out of stock so you may have to hunt for it if you want it.

Pearls Before Swine

2005-12-09T13:57:00.000-08:00

Click on the comic to make it bigger!

Impure Cell at Soundclick

2005-11-28T11:09:00.000-08:00

Impure Cell mp3s available at Soundclick.

Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Highest in 650,000 Years

2005-11-25T22:21:00.000-08:00

World's seas rising twice as fast: study

2005-11-25T22:17:00.000-08:00

AGENCIES , WASHINGTON AND PARIS
Saturday, Nov 26, 2005,Page 1

Sea levels around the world are rising twice as fast as they were 150 years ago because of human-induced global warming, US scientists say in a study released on Thursday.

Sea levels are now rising almost 2mm per year, compared to 1mm annually for the last several thousand years, a team of scientists at Rutgers University and other institutions said.

"The main thing that's changed since the 19th century and the beginning of modern observation has been the widespread increase in fossil-fuel use and more greenhouse gases," said Rutgers professor Kenneth Miller, who led the study. "Our record therefore provides a new and reliable baseline to use in addressing global warming."

The findings, based on drilling studies in New Jersey along the Atlantic Coast of the US, are published in the Nov. 25 issue of the weekly US journal Science.

The study claims that ocean levels 100 million years ago and earlier were 150m to 200m lower than previously thought. It also questions whether any of the Earth's warmer areas were ever fully ice-free.

In a separate study published in the same issue, European researchers found that today's atmospheric carbon dioxide is at the highest level in 650,000 years.

Levels of carbon dioxide, the principal gas that drives global warming, are now 27 percent higher than at any point in the last 650,000 years, according to research into Antarctic ice cores published on Thursday.

The evidence comes from the world's deepest ice core, drilled at a site called Dome Concordia (Dome C) in East Antarctica by European scientists who battled blizzards and an average year-round temperature of minus 54oC and made a 1,000km trek to bring up supplies.

The core, extracted using a 10cm-wide drill bit in 3m sections, brought up ice that was deposited by snows up to 650,000 years ago, as determined by estimated layers of annual snowfall.

Analysis of carbon dioxide trapped in tiny bubbles in the ancient ice showed that at no point during this time frame did levels get anywhere close to today's CO2 concentrations of around 380 parts per million.

Today's rising CO2 concentrations are 27 percent higher than at the highest level seen over the 650,000-year time scale, according to the study, which also appears in Science.

The Dome C core, extracted by the 10-country European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA), outstrips by 210,000 years the previous record-holder, drilled at an Antarctic site called Vostok.

In the past five years, the average global temperature has risen by 0.2oC and this year is on course for being the hottest year on record.

From the Taipei Times

2005-11-25T21:59:00.000-08:00

2005-11-25T21:53:00.000-08:00

2005-11-23T23:43:00.000-08:00

2005-11-23T23:36:00.000-08:00

2005-11-23T23:27:00.000-08:00

2005-11-23T23:18:00.000-08:00

Uh...we're going to be a little late for work.

2005-11-23T23:12:00.000-08:00

2005-11-20T22:36:00.000-08:00

2005-11-20T22:21:00.000-08:00

NDM EP-005 – Raygun - "Velosophy" EP

"The leading edge . . . To say the changes we face will be revolutionary, however, is not enough. Before we can control or channel them we need a fresh way to identify and analyze them. Without this we are hopelessly lost. One powerful new approach might be called social “wavefront” analysis. It looks at history as a succession of rolling waves of change and asks where the leading edge of each wave is carrying us. It focuses our attention not so much on the continuities of history (important as they are) as on the discontinuities – the innovations and breakpoints. It identifies key change patterns as they emerge, so that we can influence them."

-Alvin Toffler (from The Third Wave)

With this Night Drive Music – EP Jason Howell alias Raygun presents unbelievably deep and minimal tech house. Calmly and tenderly he caresses our soul with soft chords, enchanting melodies and flattering beats, to feel the emotions of these tracks with closed eyes. Absolutely great and unique warm tech house. While dancing please close your eyes. The effect is long-lasting.

A1 – Raygun - Whynumnabah 07:09 min

A2 – Raygun - Velosophy 06:14 min

B1 – Raygun - Sore Eyes 07:36 min

B1 – Raygun - PWR 06:10 min

All Tracks written and produced by Jason Howell / San Francisco / US / 2004-2005.

Lengtht: 0:27:09h
Tracks: 4
Available: 192kbpsmp3 / 320kbpsmp3 / wav / mp4 / fla
from Night Drive Music

www.djraygun.com

2005-11-20T22:14:00.000-08:00

New music from Mexico and San Francisco. Scroll down, click on a link and download!

Downloads from the Pranayuga Network

2005-11-20T21:54:00.000-08:00

Help keep music alive. Support the musicians!

2005-11-20T21:28:00.000-08:00

The following was taken from http://www.calabashmusic.com/ ~

Panoptica is a member of the Nortec Collective (short for Norteno Techno).

Roberto Mendoza a.k.a. Panoptica, a founding member of Nortec Collective, steps forward with a new solo effort

Panoptica creates and performs a style of music called Nortec, a fusion of Norteno and Techno, describing the collision between the style and the culture of Electronic music and traditional Mexican music. Panoptica also delves into minimalist techno and dub influences on the new album.

The movie “Traffic” was shot in Roberto Mendoza’s hometown of Tijuana, Mexico. Even so, the violence of the international drug smuggling trade isn’t immediately apparent in the soothing melodic electronica he puts out under the guise of Panoptica. Instead, the antithesis of its dictionary definition, as Panoptica, Roberto takes things from outside and incorporates them back into his music. The result is a hybrid of European-influenced electronica and techno fused with Mexican "urban blues," the sounds he’s heard since childhood. The two cities of Tijuana and San Diego merge into one. Each day, hordes of American marines and underage kids cross into Mexico to party on tequila. Even the radio antennas for San Diego transmit from here. In his childhood, Mendoza was raised as much on a diet of New Wave as the local sound of Nortena and Banda.

In 1989 when he formed Artefakto with a couple of school friends, they were one of the first techno industrial bands in Mexico. Artefakto caused a big buzz in Mexico. In 1991, their first album reached number three in the charts, they came in first in many radio station polls, and in 1994 the German label Zoth Ommog put out their album ‘Des-construccion’. Ten years later, Artefakto had changed their musical direction and name to Fussible. Mendoza decided it was time to go it alone: "The other guys didn’t like German minimal techno as much as me," he said. So he left to become more experimental and bring a local Mexican flavor to his music.

Panoptica doesn’t stand alone. He’s one of the main movers and shakers of the Nortec Collective, which comprises five musicians (including his longtime collaborators Fussible and Bostich), several graphic artists, and one fashion designer. Together they’ve created a scene which is popular in the Tijuana underground clubs.

"People will say, ok, I’ve heard this sort of music before, but if they listen deep into it, there’s something unique going on which isn’t in European music,” said Mendoza. “It’s what makes the Mexican music scene different."

Tracks available for download at http://panoptica.calabashmusic.com/ and eMusic.

2005-11-17T00:18:00.000-08:00

Found art. Check it out...scroll down and get tuned in!

2005-11-17T00:16:00.000-08:00

Artist Unknown. Where are you? We'll give you credit!

pranayuga@gmail.com

2005-11-16T21:26:00.000-08:00

Artist Unknown

This post is dedicated to DJ Faith. Thanks for bringing the light in!

New Release from DJ Raygun

2005-11-16T20:31:00.000-08:00

Sen-Sei & Dub Theory - Q on the Turn Remixes
Jah Love Recordings
Release Date: 24 October 2005
Details: "Q on The Turn (Dub it Up Rework) - Dub Theory's Ivan-I teamed up with DJj Raygun (Jason Howell) for this track to represent San Francisco's underground dub house at it's best"
Purchase at: Juno Records , Zions Gate Records, Primal Records

www.djraygun.com

2005-11-16T10:15:00.000-08:00

Up, Bustle and Out - Mexican Sessions

Download the new Up, Bustle and Out album!

2005-11-15T17:55:00.000-08:00

Click to Enlarge
From pbs.org

What is Global Warming?

2005-11-15T17:41:00.000-08:00

Simply put, human activities that create pollution are raising the Earth's temperature. Since 1980, we have experienced 19 of the 20 warmest years on record; all three of the hottest years ever recorded have taken place since 1998.

Ten Real Facts About Global Warming:

1. The Earth today is warming at a rate faster than in any time in the last 1,000 years.

2. Global warming has been particularly strong over the past 20 years.

3.. In the United States, electricity generation accounts for 33 percent of total global warming emissions, transportation activities for 27 percent, and industrial activities for 19 percent.

4. Temperatures are predicted to rise another 2.5 to 10.4 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century.

5. The sea level across the globe has climbed between four and 10 inches in the past century.

6. North Pole arctic sea ice has shrunk almost 40 percent in recent decades, attributable in part to global warming.

7.. If the West Antarctic ice sheet were to melt, sea levels could rise by another 16 to 30 feet, flooding coastal regions in places like Florida and Louisiana.

8. Droughts could become more frequent, putting central and western agricultural areas in the United States at risk.

9. El Nino events, which can lead to significant damage, could become more frequent and severe.

10. Tropical diseases could expand their range into areas further north, including the southern United States.

Effects of Global Warming

The impacts of gradual climate change are predicted to be serious and widespread more violent weather, shifting patterns of rainfall and drought, the spread of tropical diseases like malaria, and rapid increasing extinctions of plant and animal species.

The impacts of abrupt climate change would be even more frightening. Sharp temperature increases like we have seen in the last decade may cause the worlds climate systems to shift into a different state altogether. The melting of the Greenland ice sheet, for example, would cause a rise in sea levels measured in feet, not inches. Click here to learn more about abrupt climate change and its relationship to global warming. Browse through the links to More Resources below to learn more about the possible effects of global warming.

Causes of Global Warming

Naturally occurring carbon dioxide (CO2) surrounds the planet like a blanket, keeping in the sun’s heat and making life on earth possible. But by burning fossil fuels (oil, gas, and coal) we are pumping unnatural amounts of CO2 into the air, trapping heat in the atmosphere and altering its natural balance. Like an extra blanket on a summer night, this is causing the planet to overheat. In the past century, we’ve raised levels of heat-trapping pollution in our atmosphere by 30 percent.

The primary sources of this carbon dioxide pollution are power plants -- especially coal-fired ones -- and other industrial sources that burn gasoline, coal and other fossil fuels. In the U.S., power plants account for 36 percent of all CO2 emissions. Cars, sport-utility vehicles and other light trucks account for another 20 percent. Every year, one-fifth of humankind's annual emissions of carbon dioxide can be traced to the destructive logging of forests.

Although carbon dioxide produced by burning oil and coal is the primary culprit, a number of other chemicals produced by humans contribute to global warming, as well. They include: methane (agriculture and burning natural gas), ozone (car exhaust and power plants), water vapor (naturally occurring), nitrous oxide (fertilizer use) and chlorofluorocarbons (refrigerants and aerosol). Browse through the links to more resources below to learn more about the causes of global warming.

From earthtimes.org

Is This What Kirby Was Talking About?

2005-11-11T09:22:00.000-08:00

circa 5000-3000 BCE : The earliest evidence of Amanita muscaria use as an intoxicant is based on linguistic analysis of languages from northern Asia. Around 4000 BCE, the Uralic language split into two branches, both of which contain similar root words for inebriation. In some of these languages the root "pang" signifies both 'intoxicated' and the A. muscaria mushroom. These linguistic similarities suggest (but do not prove) that A. muscaria was known to be intoxicating before the languages split around 4000 BCE.

Disclaimer: Pranayuga does not wish to promote the use of illegal intoxicants (especially the use of Amanita muscaria...we hear the trip is way too intense!) However, we believe that individuals have the right to altered states of consciousness and as long as no harm is brought to others, that responsible persons should be free to use substances that bring about these altered states of consciousness. Either way, we only brought the Amanita muscaria mushroom to your attention as a preface to the story below. So relax!

Wal-Mart Defends 'Happy Holidays' Approach

2005-11-11T09:07:00.000-08:00

By MARCUS KABEL, AP Business Writer

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. on Thursday said it no longer employs a worker who wrote to a shopper that Christmas is a mix of world religions, but that the company does support the generic greeting, "Happy Holidays," as being more inclusive amid year-end celebrations by numerous faiths.

The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights criticized the world's largest retailer and called for a boycott over Wal-Mart's approach to Christmas.

"We want a) an apology for insulting Christians by effectively banning Christmas and b) a withdrawal of its insane statement regarding the origins of Christmas and c) a revision on its website," Catholic League President Bill Donohue said on the group's Web site.

In an interview, Donohue dismissed Wal-Mart's statement that it was respecting multiple beliefs as "corporate arrogance."

"If Wal-Mart, which is the family-friendly institution, gets away with this, then all the other department stores will just fall into line," he told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The dispute erupted after a Wal-Mart worker responded to a woman who complained that the company was replacing "Merry Christmas" with "Happy Holidays." The response described Christmas as a combination of world traditions from Siberian shamanism to Visigoth calendars.

The e-mail, which Wal-Mart spokesman Dan Fogleman said was genuine, said Wal-Mart had to act as a global organization in a world with many different practices.

"The colors associated with Christmas red and white are actually a representation of the amanita muscaria mushroom. Santa is also borrowed from the Caucuses (sic), mistletoe from the Celts, yule log from the Goths, the time from the Visigoth and the tree from the worship of Baal. It is a wide wide world," said the e-mail, from a customer service worker identified only as Kirby.

Fogleman said Thursday that Kirby no longer worked for the company.

"We at Wal-Mart believe this e-mail between a temporary associate and one of our valued customers was entirely inappropriate. Its contents in no way represent the policies, practices or views of our company. This associate, who was hired less than three weeks ago, is no longer employed by our company," Fogleman said in an e-mail to the AP.

"Wal-Mart is proud to welcome customers of all faiths, and celebrants of all holidays. We sincerely apologize to any person or organization that was offended by the inappropriate and inflammatory comments made by this former associate."

Fogleman said the e-mail had been taken out of context and that the stores, while encouraging employees to say "Happy Holidays," did so to include celebrations from Thanksgiving to Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and New Year's Eve as well as Christmas.

2005-11-11T09:06:00.000-08:00

Go Kirby!

2005-11-08T22:57:00.000-08:00

Artwork by Owen Martucci

Cabo Pulmo National Marine Park

2005-11-08T22:38:00.000-08:00

2005-11-08T14:13:00.000-08:00

We'd love to see you down here in Baja!
Click on the image to enlarge.

2005-11-06T12:35:00.000-08:00

I'm not exactly sure what this photo has to do with Pranayuga, but I've posted it nonetheless. That's Jimmy Jungle (a.k.a. Mac Daddy) in the background. Get down to Baja and you might just get a glimpse of this wild individual.

Make sure to scroll down and check out Faith's latest posts. He's got the right idea. Pranayuga is many things, but it all comes back to the music. Email me with a list of what you're currently listening to these days and I'll post the results as soon as I get them. We're always on the prowl for new music, so send us your list!

pranayuga@gmail.com

La Cascada

2005-11-06T12:20:00.000-08:00

This is Squirrel at a waterfall in Baja, Mexico. You can check it out when you visit us (hint, hint).

Pranayga Record Bag Update

2005-11-04T15:53:00.000-08:00

This is a new slightly jazzy, head bouncing, mid tempo, scratchety scratch killer from Rex Riddem. I found it last night at this excellent record store down the street from University of Hawaii. The "Riddem Mix" is the one that stands out. Click on the title of this post to listen to a sample. If you can't bounce to this, you need a hug....enjoy!

More from the Pranayuga Record Bag

2005-11-04T15:38:00.000-08:00

New Thievery Corporation feat. Perry Farrell from Janes Addiction. Beautiful mid-tempo groove in the usual Thievery Corporation formula. Can't go wrong with the album version...more excellent beats from these two geniuses. Click on the title of this post for a sample at Juno Records UK. Believe, you now own this record...hope you like it.

2005-10-30T11:02:00.000-08:00

Jason and Hue are joined in union.

Much Love and Respect!

2005-10-23T22:10:00.000-07:00

Okay...this was sent to me by one of our Berkeley-Station Pranayuga Operatives. I really have no idea what this all means and/or what the hell is going on in this photo. However, knowing what I know and whom I am lucky enough to know, I would gather that what is going on in this photo is a good thing and I would like to invite the collective Pranayuga Network headz to partake in this sort of intense pumpkin madness.

Mad Respect to Da Pumpkin King!

P.S. Check out the Kokua Project link to the right side of your screen.

2005-10-23T16:25:00.000-07:00

Some Veins by Owen Martucci
http://www.geocities.com/kevinowenmartucci/

Make sure to check out the artwork and photos below (click to enlarge). There's also some new photos in the Photo Gallery. Enjoy!

2005-10-23T16:10:00.000-07:00

Click to enlarge!

Owen's Universe

2005-10-23T10:45:00.000-07:00

http://www.geocities.com/kevinowenmartucci/

Ciaran's Journey Into Within

2005-10-23T10:40:00.000-07:00

2005-10-21T13:23:00.000-07:00

¡El Subterráneo de Pranayuga no es muerto!

2005-10-21T12:03:00.000-07:00

Need a luagh? Check out Pearls Before Swine by clicking on the underlined hyperlink!

Ben in Corsica

2005-10-09T14:57:00.000-07:00

This is one of Ben's pictures from Corsica.
Doesn't look like too bad of a place.
I hope to go there with him some day.

Anini Beach

2005-10-09T14:52:00.000-07:00

This is Anini Beach, real chill spot on the North Shore.
We stayed here for about three hours, Ben stayed in the water
the whole time almost.

Wailua Waterfall

2005-10-09T14:46:00.000-07:00

Aloha all,

This is a picture of one of the most famous waterfalls on Kauai. This is a few miles down the mountain from where I grew up. I used to ride down here on my bike and pray my stepdad wouldn't see me coming home from work.

Love and light,

Faith

Michael loves Katie

2005-10-01T14:58:00.000-07:00

This picture was taken on Kauai at Poipu Beach at the end of sunset. About 50 yards out in the ocean to our left, turtles chill in underwater caves. I was blessed to swim with three that day.

Squirrel sightings

2005-09-30T02:27:00.000-07:00

This photo of Secret Squirrel was taken deep in the Southern California desert. At last sighting, he was on the Mexican border headed south. Props to Secret Squirrelz everywhere!

You know who you are.

Kauai's Tree Tunnel

2005-09-29T23:58:00.000-07:00

The tree tunnel is back to normal after the Iniki Hurricane! This is a sacred place...lots of magic going on around for sure...down the way from here...the magical town of Koloa. Look at the happy faced Ben in the foreground I think it's non-native but it was really friendly!

The happy Katie I liked too.

2005-09-17T17:29:00.000-07:00

Click on this picture to make it bigger! Artwork by...

Make sure to check out the Archives section located on the right side of the screen for more artwork and photos!

Some Waves by Owen

2005-09-10T13:35:00.000-07:00

www.geocities.com/kevinowenmartucci

Mendiga for 400 Years

2005-09-04T20:59:00.000-07:00

Remember the ridiculousness of it all. Positively Ridiculous, you know?! Giralfe, Malph, Pengy (pronounced Pen-ji in Peru), and of course, Wrect. "Live the questions now." There is just so much more. Love to you all. Squirrelzilla Paddington Evermore

Happy Birthday Faith!

2005-08-26T21:26:00.000-07:00

Believe learning to have Faith. Photo by Owen.

Scroll down to view the Thievery Corporation video!

Satellite Birthday Love for Faith

2005-08-26T21:09:00.000-07:00

Warning Shots by Thievery Corporation

2005-08-25T17:49:00.000-07:00

Warning Shots

They try their best just to mash up the resistance
Warning shots and sirens from a distance
Riot gear and barricade for an instance
And the words from mi mouth, mi nuh response
Hollywood sending signals of destruction
Stereotype the ghetto youths as the bad man
Overcome the rough times and we grow strong
Step up in a life, now them want to shake we hand

We are eternal, made of the creator
Won’t fall to the soul-less devastators
Divide and conquer, and try to separate us
Up to this day, them still try fi rape us

...

Owen Has Landed

2005-08-17T20:05:00.000-07:00

Some Rays by Owen Martucci.

Check, Send, Come on down!

2005-08-15T19:38:00.000-07:00

Hey Beautiful People!! Don't forget to check out the Photogallery!! That is where all the art is and flyers from the past! Send more art! Send photos! Send scribblings, rants and raves! Poetry, Haiku, prayers or dreams... We are down here in Mexico missin' you all like crazy and sending out big love, big light and big hope. We have Faith and we Believe in our ability to come together with you all. We will Accept it in person or through this cyberspace channel! Come on! What are you waiting for?! Much love to you all. Yo tango mucho amor para Uds. Find a way to get down to Baja. We're waiting for you. Can't wait to visit SF again. Squirrelz, Giralfe and a special shout out from Sneaky!!

Music from the Pranayuga Record Bag

2005-08-09T12:48:00.000-07:00

This E.P. was released by Up, Bustle and Out in 1997. If you're unfamiliar with Up, Bustle and Out have a look at the albums available on Amazon.com or MP3.com. There has been some truly amazing music put out by the collective artists of Up, Bustle and Out. There are a ton of free mp3s available in the music archives hosted on the 500cc Revolutionary website. Keep an eye out for their new releases: City Breakers and the City Breakers remix albums. These albums are currently only available on vinyl.

Dunn in Taiwan

2005-08-06T12:58:00.000-07:00

This photo was taken in Taiwan by Jason. For more photos by Jason and Hue check out: Trip to Yilan July 2005.

Please notify us if the above link does not work. pranayuga@gmail.com

Satellite Communications 8.6.05

2005-08-06T11:10:00.000-07:00

Faith's Decent Into Drum and Bass....

2005-08-05T22:19:00.000-07:00

So I have descended into the nether regions, deeper then I've ever gone... I have been listening to dark but beautiful drum and bass.

Have you heard or do you own...Sunchase with Yana Rey- "Remember Me" ? It's one of the most beautiful gorgeous aggressive monsters I've ever heard. Big ups to the dirty dark bass, wonderfully beautiful synth line, nice fat drum track.... drum and bass nation.

Streaming Audio of Sunchase with Yana Ray- "Remember Me"

This link should automatically open up a media player in your browser. If that doesn't work, go to www.breakbeat.co.uk and do a search for 'Remember Me'. When you've found the track click on the title link and give it a listen. There's a lot of amazing tracks to be found on the rest of the website...check it out!

Your apprentice,
(((Faith)))