A daily series, Connect! Unite! Act! seeks to create face-to-face networks in each congressional district. Groups regularly socialize but also get out the vote, support candidates and engage in other local political actions that help our progressive movement grow and exert influence on the powers-that-be. Visit us every morning at 7:30 A.M. Pacific Time to see how you can get involved. The comment thread is fun and light-hearted, but we're serious about moving the progressive political agenda forward.
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Good morning Kogs and Kossacks in Dailykosland!
Let's start the working week with a Moral Monday.
Have you ever fallen in love with a voice?
I react to a man with a certain kind of voice with a sudden overwhelming and almost uncontrollable attraction. I do the equivalent of my jaw dropping open, my tongue hanging out and my eyes bulging like the cartoon wolf seeing the curvaceous blonde, but it is my ears that are going into hyperexcitement.
In my "love at first sight" diary I talked about a guy I fell for at first "sight" but in reality I was already a bit gaga over him because of the phone conversation we had had the night before. I could hardly wait to meet him the next day because I wanted more of that voice. True, I wanted to see the person who was attached to that voice, but the voice alone did all kinds of amazing things to me. Sadly, as I said in the other diary, nothing at all ever happened between us, not even one kiss, because he was married, but he knew I liked him and he knew I liked his voice, so we did have some interesting telephone conversations that, in spite of no sexual content in the words whatsoever, may as well have been phone sex...
A few years back there was a local news personality whose voice I fell in love with over the radio. I used to wake up at the crack of dawn, hours before I needed to be awake, and turn on the radio just hoping to hear him say a few words. Sigh—that was true love in my book—I don't let anything get in between me and my sleep!
It's more complicated than just a deep resonant voice though. James Earl Jones has a spectacular voice and I would pay money to listen to him read the telephone directory but it just doesn't grab me in the gut. Barry White is the voice that launched a thousand pregnancies, and while I hear the reason other people are moved by him, for me his voice is too, for lack of a better word, "obvious" to be a turn on.
Patrick Stewart on the other hand... oh dear God. He brought all of his Shakespearean training to several great speeches during his time at STNG. But he only needs a word or two to have the desired effect. Listen to the way he says "very well" at 4:10 in this clip.
Unfortunately that compilation is missing the Locutus of Borg speech. But there are a lot of good speeches to choose from. They all make me catch my breath a little. Right now any hardcore Jean Luc fans out there are thinking about the time he made tea for Beverly in his quarters because she couldn't sleep. "Thank Aunt Adele." Oh yes, thank her indeed.
When I had my crush on Spock as a teenager I was not even aware of his voice played into it. Listening to my favorite episodes now as an adult with more self awareness, I enjoy those speeches even more.
In Amok Time, the voice was even huskier and richer than usual, with the express intent of evoking sexual tension. The birds and the bees are not Vulcans!
After Leonard Nimoy died, I bought his "I am Spock" audiobook, and was astonished to hear the difference between his natural voice and his voice characterization of Spock. It proved definitively that it was Spock I loved, not Nimoy. His normal voice is just not the same.
After loving Alan Rickman in Truly Madly Deeply, I remember how my heart skipped a beat when I heard he was going to play Severus Snape. It was hard in the early Potter movies to accept him as a villain because his voice stirs me so. But Snape is in some ways the most complex and compelling character in the Potter series and it really needed someone who could take it just to the edge of sending it up while still holding you in the palm of his hand. I had the tremendous pleasure of meeting Rickman in person during a film festival screening of The Winter Guest. I only barely managed to restrain myself from having my eyes bulge out and my tongue hang to the floor when he said hello to me.
Even a great voice can be counteracted by the rest of the personality package. I have something called "the Sting paradox"—he has written some of the sexiest love songs ever, and I like his voice and accent a LOT, but I never came even close to having a voice crush on Sting. He does not move the needle off neutral in the slightest.
On the other hand, and I know I risk deep ridicule for admitting this, I just melt for Michael McDonald. For decades he has been the undisputed king of the voice crush category. Yes, the ex-Doobie Brother who was one of the archetypes of "blue eyed soul" back in the day. What can I say. I honestly believe we have very little control over what moves us on the deepest levels. I used to buy records just because he was singing the background vocals.
One of the last "albums" I ever bought in a "record store" was his little-known "Take It To Heart". Sappy soft-rock at its soft-rock sappiest. But I wore out several cassette tapes (what are THOSE?) and then overplayed the CD so many times it started to mistrack on the parts of my favorite songs. Even after almost 40 years, there are notes he hits that make me involuntarily exclaim "Damn!" or "Michael!" even though I know they are coming and I have heard them hundreds of times. I like Ya Mo Be There also! So sue me! On the off chance that anyone else here is a fan of his, his speaking voice is just as delicious:
i've heard this little clip countless times--I love his backing vocals in Peg!
Last but not least, I keep taking him out and putting him in but the final decision is that Neil deGrassse Tyson has to be in because I have a strange relationship to his voice that I can't explain.
I wouldn't have thought to call it a voice I am in love with, but I listen to his lectures at night to help me fall asleep. I listen to his lectures during the day to help me work. I could listen to him for hours at a time, and in fact I have done so on more occasions than I can count. I just put on my NdGT YouTube playlist and listen to him go on and on and on and never get tired of him.
it doesn't get any better than this
It's more of a geekcrush I guess, because I love the stuff he talks about and the way he talks about it. His voice is as soothing as warm butter and as intoxicating as fine wine. The more I listen the more I want to listen. I wish he had some books on tape!
In a previous diary when I mentioned falling in love with voices in passing, a few people suggested I follow it up with this diary, so here it is! Much longer than I expected it to be, and I could have gone on for two or three times as long!
Has anyone else ever heard a voice and been instantly smitten with someone? Are there any other auditories out there who react to voices in the same way other people react to a pretty face or a hot body? Good looks fade and bodies change with age, but a spectacular voice can stay the same for a person's entire life. A much more solid and lasting reason to fall for someone, if I do say so myself! :-D
Have you ever fallen in love with a voice?
start up soundtrack
love can break your heart... i know it will baby...
I need to believe in... real love darlin'... oh just one minute of... real love baby... just one minute of...
the Michael McDonald equivalent of "Love you just a little more babe"
kind of hard to leave him if he's going to sing like that...
Let's Build Communities!
Our team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events.
We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in.
If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
List of All Existing Meatspace Groups
Where the Kogs Are: Index/Directory of the 130+ Localized Daily Kos Groups
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
by AndyT ♥ for Dallas Kossacks
For our first Meet-up we kept it social for the most part. We discussed our histories in activism and what got us involved. Our lurker, CJ, had some questions about how Daily Kos works and we were happy to explain the basics. Some of the topics discussed were fracking, trans teens, LGBT activism, police violence, increasing the minimum wage and income inequality. We also got to know each other a little bit.
It's always a treat and privilege to meet fellow progressives. I personally feel right at home with them almost immediately. I had a great time and I believe everyone else did as well.
So come see us on May 23rd at Ojeda's!!!
Texnance, dalfireplug and Andyt photographed by lurker CJ
Please visit
AndyT's diary. You can still REC it. You can join
Dallas Kossacks by sending a
Kosmail to AndyT.
by randallt ♥ for DKos Asheville
DKos Asheville brought its eighth community meet up to life this past weekend with a historic appearance of a civil rights icon, Dr Fergie Reid, in Roanoke Virginia.
As reported by Roanoke's NBC Station, WSLS10:
A living legend was honored in Roanoke on Saturday. A special event was held at Hotel Roanoke recognizing William Ferguson Reid. Dr. Reid was the first African-American elected to the Virginia General Assembly in the twentieth century.
In March of this year, Reid celebrated his 90th birthday. In an effort to continue his long history of expanding voters' rights, people are taking part in a campaign called "90 for 90." The goal is to register new voters for the election. People across the state are working to register 90 new voters in each of Virginia's precincts.
randallt (Connect! Unite! Act! State Leader for North Carolina), Chris LaGrant (Campaign Manager for Virginia State Senate candidate Mike Hamlar), Dr. William Ferguson Reid, Sr. (Civil Rights Leader & 90 for 90 Icon), Freeda Cathcart (Democratic Activist), Dr. William Ferguson Reid, Jr. (Son of Dr. Fergie, Sr.) and Gordon20024 (DKos Meet-up Benefactor)
Please visit randallt's diary for many MORE photos! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join
DKos Asheville by sending a
Kosmail to randallt.
by Chris Reeves ♥ for Kansas & Missouri Kossacks
&
by navajo ♥ for Connect! Unite! Act!
More than 140 readers of Daily Kos and friends came together in Kansas City to discuss the future of Kansas, Missouri and the Democratic Party - as well as what they can do about it. All of the speakers were excellent and many of the attendees loved meeting the writers at Daily Kos and underlining the fact that we are there for them. We had a great day starting with a continental breakfast and enjoyed the spaciousness of a really swell theater for the presentations. There was a greeting by navajo, a presentation by Chris Reeves and Reuben Eckels, a speech by David Nir and a talk by Joan McCarter. We had a casual pizza buffet for lunch. We resumed with Markos giving a preview of DK5 and then an Ask Me Anything session. Next up was an interview by Monique Teal of Patricia Bynes, Dr. Jacob Wagner spoke next and then we finished off with a Meteor Blades's summary of the purpose of the event and then we Skyped in the Roanoke event and an address by Dr. Ferguson Reid, Sr.
Markos addressing the crowd
Markos chatting during a break
Please visit Chris Reeve's diary for many MORE photos! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join Kansas & Missouri Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to Chris Reeves.
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast the date of your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Saturday, May 16th
NYC Kossacks Welcome Peregrine Kate!
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Spitzer's Corner
101 Rivington Street (corner of Ludlow) • NYC
ORGANIZER: Send kathny a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. kathny
2. peregrine kate
3. belinda ridgewood
4. asterkitty
5. ericlewis0
6. Design the Future
7. mattc129
8. blue jersey mom
9. rubyr
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Maybees:
Its the Supreme Court Stupid
wader
NancyWH
garth
joan brooker
thirty three and a third
followyourbliss
Catskill Julie
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Latest diary: REMINDER: NYC Meetup May 16 - Can you help PEREGRINE KATE find a place to stay??
Saturday, May 23rd
Dallas Kos Meet-up, Let's Build Community!
TIME: Noon
LOCATION: Ojeda's Mexican Restaurant
4617 Maple Avenue • Dallas
ORGANIZER: Send AndyT a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. AndyT
2.
3.
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Maybees: |
Latest diary: Dallas Kossacks Meetup Report and Next Event
Saturday, May 30th
Seattle Puget Sound Kos Meet-up with Guest Speaker Yoram Bauman
Connect, Unite and help plan Action for 2015!
Cost: $20.00 with selected menu
LOCATION: Pyramid Alehouse, Brewery & Restaurant
1201 First Avenue South • Seattle
ORGANIZER: Send John Crapper a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. John Crapper
2. John Crapper's SO
3. bleeding blue
4. LarisaW
5. |
Maybees: |
Latest diary: S&PS Kos - Take the Initiative with Yoram Bauman
June 26, 27 & 28th, 2015
EPIC Glacier National Park Meet-up II
ACTIVITIES:
June 26: TBD
June 27: TBD
June 28:
Day - TBD
Evening - 5:00 PM, BBQ potluck with Jen Hayden at the lower picnic area at the Historic Tamarack Lodge, 9549 U.S. 2, Hungry Horse, MT 59919. Entertainment at 6:00 PM by Truckstop Honeymoon
TIME: 24/7
LOCATION: Exact location inside park TBD
[Address] • Glacier National Park
ORGANIZER: Send Ojibwa a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Ojibwa
2. state of confusion
3. Thinking Fella
4. side pocket
5. Mrs. side pocket
6. navajo
7. jakedog42
8. paradise50
9. Jen Hayden for 6/28 only
10. Joan McCarter
11. peregrine kate
12. BoiseBlue
13. Mrs. BoiseBlue
14. figbash
15. mcmom
16. MTmofo
17. woolibaar
18. markdd
19. Mrs. markdd |
Maybees:
NormAl1792
winifred3
dharmasyd
foresterbob
714Day
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Latest diaries:
• A 2015 Glacier National Park Meetup?
• The 2015 EPIC Glacier Park Meet Up: Travel and Lodging
• The EPIC 2015 Glacier National Park Meet Up: Camping
• The 2015 EPIC Glacier National Park Meet Up: Tours
• Glacier National Park: Red Rock Falls (Photo Diary) and Meet Up Stuff
Announcing Asheville, North Carolina as the location
for our next Regional Event! 9.26.15
Asheville, N.C. is the destination for September 26, 2015! DKos Asheville, the In-Real-Life group under the leadership of randallt, has been setting the example for other IRL groups across the nation regarding registering people to vote, getting out the vote, having a state open thread and setting up strategy conferences for their region. Because of this impressive leadership we've asked randallt to be the State Leader for all of North Carolina. We've got important work to do on the ground there and randallt has shown he's the person to make that happen.
All states are welcome to attend this event and if you do you can expect to meet Markos Moulitsas in person, as well as some of the Daily Kos staff. More details regarding this regional event will be shared in the future so please stay tuned to Connect! Unite! Act!
For now, SAVE THE DATE and spread the word!
navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries
about your event or if you have changes or additions.
EVERYONE is welcome, tell us what you're working on,
share your show and tell, vent, whatever you want.
This is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.