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... a monthly column presenting five random topics of interest associated with the underlying themes of the site ... music . dance . life . art . culture ... 

music
The Groove Cartel examines the recent trend towards 8D audio aka Spatial Sound, which enables a listener to  appreciate a variety of sounds coming from different directions.  It is an immersive experience quickly increasing in popularity around the world recently, but has been used in a lot of gaming systems over the last couple of years.

dance
Cultural dances of indigenous people across North America are usually more of a community experience best served "live."  All that is quickly changing as the pow- wow reaches out across the digital divide to offer  the world community emotional support.

life
As of April 1, 2020, nearly 4,000 people infected with Covid-19 aka coronavirus have died in the United States, according to a New York Times story and database. The number of cases continues to explode exponentially in the nation, and now surpasses numbers in country of origin for the pandemic that started in December.

art
The first original release from music legend Bob Dylan meditates on "art touching and shaping American lives" through a lens focused on the death of President John F Kennedy.  Starting with the moment that changed America forever, the song winds through the pop culture associations, touching on just about every song, movie and artist that preceded the death of the popular President.

culture
A new study from the University of Texas at San Antonio takes a look at the association of individual values towards what is considered "socially appropriate sickness" within socioeconomic cultures and norms, suggesting that a person may take greater or lesser action in coping with their illness, aiding in the suppression or spreading of diseases. 

site
The restoration process is currently complete through December 2007.  Full restoration of all photography anticipated in mid-April 2020.  The compiled version of photo albums discontinued with December 2006.  Individual postings for events from January 2007 to current have resumed.

Always looking to expand content, if interested in writing a column similar to this, any one of these topics, or have your own idea, leave a comment below or get in touch with the editor at phocas.net.

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freedom fest on the lake 2024

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The annual Freedom Fest on the Lake stood in stark contrast with all prior versions of the event, nearly to the point of being a non-event.  Day time activities were limited to a couple of vendors showcasing products, a bouncy house by the Arkansas National Guard and four or five food vendors overcharging.  Cardboard boat races, which had taken center stage for the last several years, failed to make an appearance due to lack of support. That probably should have been left for the end of the month anyway, rather than trying to combine it with the fourth of July.  Participation had declined significantly since combining it with Freedom Fest. A hot day at the beach on Saturday ended with music from local area talent  Sophie and the New Relics , playing their hearts out to a good crowd gathered on the asphalt, as well as the masses littering the beach and soaking in the lake.  The whole affair culminated with the usual massive display of fireworks li
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32nd world championship cardboard boat races

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While visiting the great state of Arkansas, we had the opportunity to check out this event, which had been elusive for several years.  The endurance of some of these hand manufactured boats was quite surprising, and amusing at times. Apparently, the theme of the year was Star Wars, and there were quite a variety of flotation constructions about the landscape of Sandy Beach. All of the contraptions endured the warm waters quite well, and really did not take on any water.  It was quite surprising, considering the construction materials permitted. A few, while water tight, contained a few minor design flaws that caused disintegration under pressure. One almost fell apart at the starting line, and eventually did, prior to the finish line. It was quite a lot of fun though, and a full house on the beach in spite of threatening rain.  We look forward to getting back to it again. view more photos from this event or add your own to the mix
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A couple of folks from our crew participated in a run out at a local elementary school.  The entire schools showed for this one, lined up and ready to be splashed with some colored powder or another. The more they ran the more colorful they became.  Beats all around set a festive tone for everyone. Those of us participating chilled on the playground after a few laps, then joined back in for another lap or two to close out the day.    Free drinks and snacks refreshed those otherwise banned from enjoying the ice cream truck.  
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d returns to the jam

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  The Saturday Open Jam has been missing from our agenda for quite some time now.  It is one the best ways to burn up a Saturday afternoon in Kansas City, listening to some of the best rock and blues musician in town.  This particular occasion featured the return of a longtime resident of the event who had been off the roster for more than year following multiple personal crises, one of which nearly ended his ability to perform at all.  Taking his spot behind the drums once again for a couple of tunes, "D" picked up right where he left off, keeping cadence as if nothing had ever happened.  There were tears among some of the crowd that were closer to him, understanding the extent of his dilemma.  After playing, he admitted stumbling a few times, but everything sounded great from our side of the stage and we look forward to seeing him play again more often.
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chaos theory

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Very likely one of the biggest, and most looked forward to event to hit Kansas City in a long time, Chaos Theory descended on the Uptown Theater bringing Baby Anne, Charles Feelgood, Dara, and John Kelley to play for a packed house. Supporting cast consisted of Stan Doublin from St Louis, along with local talent DJ Bounce, Zak C, Jimminy Kickit, Sydeburnz, Paul Wicked, cQuence vs Skizm, DJason, and DrumLoc. It was wild night, and there was not an unhappy soul in the house. The crowd stayed until last beat dropped, and had to be told to get out. Nobody wanted the night to end. It was that good. view more photos from this event
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