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    <channel>
        <title>The Den</title>
        <link>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/</link>
        <description></description>
        <language>en</language>
        <copyright>Copyright 2007</copyright>
        <lastBuildDate>Wed, 10 Oct 2007 21:49:39 -0800</lastBuildDate>
        <generator>http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/</generator>
        <docs>http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification</docs>
        
        <item>
            <title>FULL DISCLOSURE!</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<big><strong><a href="http://vimeo.com/337405/l:embed_337405">Your Questions Answered (FUBU)</a>: 
</strong></big><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="460" height="300" data="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=337405&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;fullscreen=1&amp;show_title=0&amp;show_byline=0&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=99ccff">	<param name="quality" value="best" />	<param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" />	<param name="scale" value="showAll" />	<param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=337405&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;fullscreen=1&amp;show_title=0&amp;show_byline=0&amp;show_portrait=0&amp;color=99ccff" /></object><br style="clear:both;" />


<big><strong><a href="http://existentialmedia.org/ub3/fuck.mov">Alliances 101</a></strong></big> (click for video)
<a href="http://existentialmedia.org/ub3/fuck.mov"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2069/1539716446_6ad18ff757_o.jpg" width="460" height="345" alt="Alliances 101 on Vimeo" /></a><br /><br />]]></description>
            <link>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/full-disclosure.html</link>
            <guid>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/full-disclosure.html</guid>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Challenge 07</category>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Existential Media</category>
            
            
            <pubDate>Wed, 10 Oct 2007 21:49:39 -0800</pubDate>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <title>We are winners</title>
            <description><![CDATA[Take a deep breath.  Starting this weekend we will have to find a replacement website to check out every 10 minutes.  It has been a wild bumpy stumbling spinning kareening cacophonous titilating time travel tube of new knowledge and utter enjoyment.  Thank you all for the experience.


 <object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="300" data="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=337381&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;fullscreen=1&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=1&amp;color=00ADEF">	<param name="quality" value="best" />	<param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" />	<param name="scale" value="showAll" />	<param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=337381&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;fullscreen=1&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=1&amp;color=00ADEF" /></object><br /><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/337381/l:embed_337381">We are winners</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/bodycity/l:embed_337381">bodycity</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/l:embed_337381">Vimeo</a>.]]></description>
            <link>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/we-are-winners.html</link>
            <guid>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/we-are-winners.html</guid>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Challenge 07</category>
            
            
            <pubDate>Wed, 10 Oct 2007 21:02:34 -0800</pubDate>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <title>&quot;Real Talk&quot;</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="320" data="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=337363&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;fullscreen=1&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=1&amp;color=00ADEF">	<param name="quality" value="best" />	<param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" />	<param name="scale" value="showAll" />	<param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=337363&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;fullscreen=1&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=1&amp;color=00ADEF" /></object><br /><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/337363/l:embed_337363">Real Talk</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/SCEMO/l:embed_337363">mixed-feelings</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/l:embed_337363">Vimeo</a>.
<br>
Thank you for blogging with us.

&hearts; Team G-RAD]]></description>
            <link>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/ultimate-video-3.html</link>
            <guid>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/ultimate-video-3.html</guid>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Challenge 07</category>
            
            
            <pubDate>Wed, 10 Oct 2007 20:55:05 -0800</pubDate>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <title>Campaign 2007: No Holds Barred</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<br /><span class="mt-enclosure mt-enclosure-image"><a href="http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/patriot.html" onclick="window.open('http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/patriot.html','popup','width=733,height=733,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false"><img src="http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/patriot-thumb-200x200.gif" width="200" height="200" alt="patriot.gif" class="mt-image-left" style="float: left; margin: 0 20px 20px 0;" /></a></span><p>If you've been following Ultimate Blogger 3, you remember that at one time a call was issued for <a href="http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/09/total-disclosure-will-set-us-f.html">Full Disclosure</a> of contestants' strategies. The time has come for the kids at Existential Media to hearken that call. We want You to send us your questions, no holds barred.<br /><br /></p>

<p>Tell us what irks you about us. Is it the relentless sincerity? The pompousness of youth? Give it to us straight and demand a response. Want to know the location of the Secret Alliance headquarters? Curious about behind-the-scenes romances? Confused by our concentric circles of allies?<br /><br /></p>

<p>We encourage you to submit your questions via <a href="http://youtube.com/">YouTube</a> or <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>, tagged with <a href="http://vimeo.com/videos/search:UB3debate">UB3debate</a>. All we need is a clip of you asking your question, though you're free to be as lengthy and elaborate as you want. If the process of filming and uploading a video is really going to discourage you from participating, then please email your queries to <a href="mailto:existentialmedia@gmail.com">existentialmedia@gmail.com</a>.<br /><br /></p>

<p>Think of this as a debate, except only one candidate is involved. Think of this as a debate between Existential Media and You--the Viewer, the Participant, the Contestant, the Host. We are taking questions from everyone and anyone. We are not here to argue, we are here to pay our debts.<br /><br /></p>

<p>These are due on <strong>Tuesday, October 9th, at 9:00 pm</strong> (LA Time).<br /><br /></p>]]></description>
            <link>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/campaign-2007-no-holds-barred.html</link>
            <guid>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/campaign-2007-no-holds-barred.html</guid>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Challenge 07</category>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Existential Media</category>
            
            
            <pubDate>Mon, 08 Oct 2007 14:28:21 -0800</pubDate>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <title></title>
            <description><![CDATA[<img alt="lol.jpg" src="http://existentialmedia.org/ub3/c-06/lol.jpg" width="600" height="400" />]]></description>
            <link>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/post-4.html</link>
            <guid>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/post-4.html</guid>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Challenge 06</category>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Existential Media</category>
            
            
            <pubDate>Mon, 08 Oct 2007 01:24:12 -0800</pubDate>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <title>What are we working for?</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://existentialmedia.org/ub3/c-06/copy_1.html" onclick="window.open('http://existentialmedia.org/ub3/c-06/copy_1.html','popup','width=300,height=300,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false"><img alt="copy_1.jpg" src="http://existentialmedia.org/ub3/c-06/copy_1.jpg" width="300" height="300" /></a>
<a href="http://existentialmedia.org/ub3/c-06/copy_2.html" onclick="window.open('http://existentialmedia.org/ub3/c-06/copy_2.html','popup','width=490,height=400,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false"><img alt="copy_2.jpg" src="http://existentialmedia.org/ub3/c-06/copy_2.jpg" width="300" height="300" /></a>
<a href="http://existentialmedia.org/ub3/c-06/copy_3.html" onclick="window.open('http://existentialmedia.org/ub3/c-06/copy_3.html','popup','width=430,height=375,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false"><img alt="copy_2.jpg" src="http://existentialmedia.org/ub3/c-06/copy_3.jpg" width="300" height="300" /></a>
<a href="http://existentialmedia.org/ub3/c-06/copy_4.html" onclick="window.open('http://existentialmedia.org/ub3/c-06/copy_4.html','popup','width=600,height=600,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false"><img alt="copy_4.jpg" src="http://existentialmedia.org/ub3/c-06/copy_4.jpg" width="300" height="300" /></a></p>]]></description>
            <link>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/what-are-we-working-for.html</link>
            <guid>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/what-are-we-working-for.html</guid>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Challenge 06</category>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Existential Media</category>
            
            
            <pubDate>Mon, 08 Oct 2007 00:40:00 -0800</pubDate>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <title>Healing Crystals for the Ultimate Heartbreaks</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<div style="width:500px;text-align:justify;">
Here it is! <strong>Magic Healing Crystals for the Ultimate Heartbreaks</strong>. Made possible only by all of you coming to the rescue with amazing song suggestions. We had enough to make 3 tapes full of bittersweet jams, but in the end, we had to edit the list down to fill only ONE ultimate 90 minute break-up tape. We hope that you will never need to listen to this, but you very well might one day, if not now. Just download and transfer to that melancholic magnetic tape, and get ready to lose it for sure.
<br><br>
<strong>Directions</strong>:<br>
To make your own "official" <strong>Team G-RAD "Magic Healing Crystals for the Ultimate Heartbreaks" Breakup Mixed Cassette</strong>, please: <br><br>
1) Download the following .MP3 files and record them onto a 90 minute cassette.<br>
2) Print out the cover, fold appropriately and insert into the cassette case.<br>
3) Play in a cassette player, or save for a rainy day.<br>
<br><br>
<div style="float:left;">
<a href="http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/mp3/SIDE%201.mp3"><img src="http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/05/mp3-icon.gif"></a><br>
<a href="http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/mp3/SIDE%201.mp3">Side A</a> (.MP3, 51.7 Mb)
</div>
<div style="float:left;margin-left:20px;">
<a href="http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/mp3/SIDE%202.mp3"><img src="http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/05/mp3-icon.gif"><br>
<a href="http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/mp3/SIDE%202.mp3">Side B</a> (.MP3, 51.6 Mb)
</div>
<div style="clear:left;"></div>
<br>
<a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2084/1508473403_cff593c473_o.jpg"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2084/1508473403_7c1dbcaa37.jpg"></a><br>
(click for print-appropriate size)
<br><br>
</div>]]></description>
            <link>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/healing-crystals-for-the-ultim.html</link>
            <guid>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/healing-crystals-for-the-ultim.html</guid>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Challenge 06</category>
            
            
            <pubDate>Sun, 07 Oct 2007 21:04:31 -0800</pubDate>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <title>It Seemed Too Dark</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<p>My favorite song about relationships (or "break up song") of all time<br />
just so happens to have been made by one of my closest friends.  I<br />
met my friend Matthew the first year that I lived in Grand Rapids, MI<br />
while going to school at Grand Valley State University.  Gradually we<br />
started to hang out more and eventually began to play music<br />
together.  I ended up moving to Los Angeles after I graduated from<br />
school and a year later he moved out to live in L.A. and attend<br />
school at Art Center in Pasadena, CA.  He moved in with my friend and<br />
I and we started to play music together again.</p>
<br>
<p>Very often I would have to trick my friend into recording.  In fact,<br />
this has actually caused a few arguments between us, but I've come to<br />
understand the idea better over time.  There's something important<br />
that happens only when you're not "trying" and just creating for<br />
yourself in the moment, unaware that someone is documenting your<br />
actions.  Some of my favorite music and art seems to come from a<br />
place that is based in improvisation and is unmotivated by making it<br />
for others to hear or see.  The best things I've done or been a part<br />
of creating musically or otherwise, could never be recreated because<br />
they could have only happened that specific way at that specific time.</p>
<br>
<p>Matthew has a habit of playing and making up some of the most amazing<br />
songs off the top of his head while there is no tape rolling. In this<br />
case though, I was able to catch him in the middle of one of his sub-<br />
conscious-zone-out-rambling-at-the-piano episodes, that would tend to<br />
take place at our house more often then not.  I remember walking in<br />
and liking the melody he had started to put together slowly in a kind<br />
of weird pattern that sounded upbeat and a little sad at the same<br />
time.  So I rushed to grab my tape recorder and quietly set it on the<br />
top of the piano in front of him while his head was down staring at<br />
the keys, I'm not sure if he realized I was recording, but I remember<br />
hoping that he didn't.  I let the tape player go, but at the same<br />
time cued up my new laptop on the other side of the room to record<br />
through the mixer I had set up next to the piano the week earlier,<br />
it wasn't really an ideal set up for recording, but I wanted to give<br />
it a shot.  After pressing "start" on my computer, I crept over to<br />
the other side of the room and sat down.</p>
<br>
<p>After Matthew stopped playing he went in his room and I pressed stop<br />
on the tape player and the laptop.  At the time I wasn't really sure<br />
if it worked nor did I remember anything he sang or what it sounded<br />
like.  I just wanted to see how it would turn out.  Later that night<br />
I transfered from the tape onto my laptop and had two tracks to work<br />
with.  There was a lot more to the session then what it ended up<br />
being, but I feel like the really important parts recorded well and I<br />
was able to capture.  There was something that happened to the tape<br />
when it recorded, that you can hear halfway through the song.  It<br />
sort of breaks down and gets distorted, as my tape player was tending<br />
to do at the time, so it seemed like a logical time for the recording<br />
to switch from tape to the computer.  I think it took me about two<br />
hours to mix and get it sounding even, I'm not producer by any means,<br />
and I was just learning how to make things on my laptop, but once I<br />
got it to a finished point, I played it for Matthew.  I remember he<br />
really hated it, and I didn't know why. I happen to be a huge fan of<br />
nearly everything he does musically, so it makes me a little biased<br />
to say the least.  But I really thought it was incredible.  For one,<br />
I knew he was making it up as he went along, with no pre-conceived<br />
notions or practice, and two, it seemed very genuine and heartfelt.<br />
I knew that the relationship where this song comes from was very hard<br />
for him to talk about and he didn't seem to be very happy about me<br />
recording him, but I still thought it was very special.  After a very<br />
drawn out discussion and a little bit of prodding, I persuaded him to<br />
not have me "delete it".</p>
<br>
<p>Since then, Matthew and I have recorded quite a bit together,<br />
specifically in that house and in the past year or so.  But this<br />
track remains as one of my favorite songs that he's put together.<br />
There's something very nice about being a "fan" of your friends.<br />
I'll be the first to say that I'm very lucky to know some of the best<br />
people in the world who seem to just get better at what they do as<br />
time goes on.  I wanted to share this song because I feel like its a<br />
good example of how something really incredible can come from<br />
heartache and pain.  As with everything that my friends make, I hope<br />
you enjoy it as much as I do.</p>
<br>
<p><a href="http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/g-rad/mp3/It%20Seemed%20Too%20Dark.mp3"><br />
<img src="http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/05/mp3-icon.gif" border="0" style="border:none;"><br />It Seemed Too Dark.mp3</a></p>
<br>
<p>Lyrics:<br />
On the way back to,<br />
your house you wanted to kiss in my car</p>
<br>
<p>But it was raining too hard<br />
and i can't see well in the dark<br />
so i turned away<br />
from you</p>
<br>
<p>In the mail I received half your heart<br />
it looked like a t-shirt from texas<br />
two photographs</p>
<br>
<p>Do you still hang that lion up or out?<br />
I bought it from the chinese ghost on the way to the tower that<br />
looked like my southern parts</p>
<br>
<p>I can't fix your bike 'cause its too cold and my hands hurt<br />
I apologized to your parents 'cause i got too sauced up at your<br />
recital's reception and I was embarassed to talk<br />
and your gay friend was dancing with girls that he tried to kiss on<br />
the lips<br />
tried to kiss on the lips</p>
<br>
<p>I said sorry for hurting your heart,<br />
but it seemed too dark<br />
</p>
<br>
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2307/1511390831_25fcd6b146.jpg">
<br><br>
Guest post by <a href="http://www.portablecassettetaperecorder.com">Patrick L.</a> ]]></description>
            <link>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/it-seemed-too-dark.html</link>
            <guid>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/it-seemed-too-dark.html</guid>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Challenge 06</category>
            
            
            <pubDate>Sun, 07 Oct 2007 20:00:09 -0800</pubDate>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <title>Boner Jams and Romantic Ephemera</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<div style="width:500px;text-align:justify;">
"Don't need to get it off my chest or have a dialogue/ So, save it for your blog - The one that no one wants to read because it's all about your feelings!" - Dites Donc!
<br><br>
Part of me thinks it's maybe just a little lame that my most recent "breakup" (and with it, the relationship) of any significance happened so long ago. Reflecting back on it now well over a year later and realizing just how dumb and immature I was about the breakup (and preceding relationship) in fact was does much to confirm this lameness in my mind. Lame that it may be, this recent reflection has caused me to realize how important this event may actually have been.  Really, it was a transformative, codifying experience that introduced me to the idea of "romantic ephemera" the allowed me to better understand the myriad breakup ceremonies: the exchange of belongings, the removal of ex-related photographs, letters and gifts from daily life, and ultimately starting on the long road to catharsis through the creation of tangible goods. These are all helpful exercises that I believe speed the recovery process along. The last one brings both good and bad things.
<br><br>
Romantic ephemera, as I understand it, is a lot like normal ephemera. Artifacts (ephemeron) produced as the result of some sort of romantic effort (be it in courtship, mid-relationship, or postmortem) that is created sincerely in the spirit of permanence but in most cases (particularly for the former two) have a very limited shelf life indeed. The recipient might only enjoy these items for a limited time - such as the lifespan of the relationship, at the end of which they may possibly be sequestered away in a box somewhere or destroyed as part of the owner's own breakup ceremony. We often make things for ourselves that can be classified as romantic ephemera. These are the most interesting to me. These objects - perhaps because they helped us get over a momentary hurdle in life, perhaps because they are so spectacularly self-indulgent - might enjoy a longer shelf life. Recently there was an amazing <a href="http://thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1203">This American Life episode</a> all about breakups in which correspondent Starlee Kine enlisted the help of none other than Phil-fucking-Collins to help her write a song to get over her own recent breakup. A lot of what made this segment so appealing, I think, is that it took the everyday, pedestrian, totally-relatable practice of creating romantic ephemera to the most awesome extreme (Phil-fucking-Collins!). 
<br><br>
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2019/1511142186_41e3bc1e76.jpg">
romantic ephemera, circa 2002
<br><br>
</div>
]]></description>
            <link>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/boner-jams-and-romantic-epheme.html</link>
            <guid>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/boner-jams-and-romantic-epheme.html</guid>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Challenge 06</category>
            
            
            <pubDate>Sun, 07 Oct 2007 19:36:29 -0800</pubDate>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <title>Dumped</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<div style="width:500px;text-align:justify;">
Like most of my past break-ups, my most recent was not a surprise. There were red flags from the beginning. When my boss showed me the kitchen during my tour of the facility she laughed nervously and said, "We usually just come down here for like 15 minutes and wolf down lunch. That's all the time we have." The first week, I was already working overtime. At six months, I realized that I had absolutely no decision-making power, yet somehow things were still my fault. By nine months, I couldn't sleep at night, and I cried in the shower before work. Why was everything I did wrong? Why couldn't I meet their needs? 
<br><br>
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2004/1508190133_2701c3c1f0.jpg">
<br><br>
The relationship started to become abusive. They'd say they needed one thing; then after I spent a week working on it, they'd go in a completely different direction. I'd work really hard on something and then they wouldn't even use it. They didn't trust me. They didn't like my clothes. 
<br><br>
I felt like I was giving, giving, giving and never really felt appreciated. No one noticed the special little things I'd do to make their lives easier. I had no power. All the decisions about our future were made by VPs behind closed doors. There was no system for collectively evaluating our relationship, no way to voice my feelings of powerlessness. It was like a bad marriage.
<br><br>
I never had inflated expectations about the longevity of our relationship. Statistically most relationships don't work out, so why get your hopes up, right? I always new deep down that it wasn't forever. They wanted me to commit to three to five years. But then, because of a merger and budget cuts, they eliminated my position after one.
<br><br>
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2042/1508190353_7cd40b5bd5.jpg">
<br><br>
It's not the actual break-up that gets me. It's the reminder that I'm not at all in control of my own destiny, at least not professionally. It's the knowledge that, like so many other relationships, this one failed miserably despite my best intentions and hard work. People always say that it doesn't matter if a relationship ends as long as you learned something in the process. So why do I feel like I just wasted a year of my life learning things I didn't really want to know anyway?
<br><br>
<a href="http://www.g-rad.org/cosmo/">Sally T.</a>, Unemployed
</div>]]></description>
            <link>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/dumped.html</link>
            <guid>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/dumped.html</guid>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Challenge 06</category>
            
            
            <pubDate>Sun, 07 Oct 2007 13:47:41 -0800</pubDate>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <title>Comfort Food</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<div style="width:500px;text-align:justify;">
<br>
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2253/1507445043_ca62189188.jpg">
<br><br>
In times of trouble, our broken spirits need to be tended to and restored. As we have already posted, music is one way of soul mending, another might be going for a walk or a drive, another might be motion pictures, but yet another means to restoration is one that we participate in constantly and universally, often taking its value for granted. Together, we eat. Let us eat in these times for comfort and hope and replenish the emptiness that can sometimes overtake us. Please use our menu as a model for your own time of bringing it to the table, and letting it all out. We have provided you a number of recipes to use in the preparation of some uber-comfort foods. Stickin' to your ribs style solace, folks! Our entirely <a href="http://www.g-rad.org/vegan/">vegan</a> menu for the evening is as follow:
<br><br>
SUSAN'S SEITAN CUTLETS
<br>
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2021/1508303292_bb31af1cab.jpg">
<br><br>
GARLIC MASHED POTATOES WITH "CHIK'N" GRAVY
<br><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2198/1508420878_9459f183b3.jpg">
<br><br>
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2249/1508419460_d7ea1b92ee.jpg">
<br><br>
SPICY MAC'N'CHEEZ BAKE
<br>
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2272/1508420380_588945e3c9.jpg?v=0">
<br><br>
OREO CUPCAKES / BANANA SPLIT CUPCAKES<br>
Adapted from <a href="http://vegancupcakes.wordpress.com/">Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World</a>. 
<br><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/194/1507445837_4eca4e579f.jpg">
<br><br>
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2249/1507561779_e7c711d68c.jpg">
<br><br>
BANANA PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE
<br>
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2324/1508418764_e6e9963f72.jpg">
<br><br>
While these can be great alone-time recipes when you are feeling low, they can also be great to share with friends. When you are ready to leave the house, try enjoying these recipes in the company of some friends potluck-style!  Sometimes good food and good friends can be just the ticket! 

</div>]]></description>
            <link>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/comfort-food.html</link>
            <guid>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/comfort-food.html</guid>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Challenge 06</category>
            
            
            <pubDate>Sun, 07 Oct 2007 12:44:45 -0800</pubDate>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <title>&quot;I&apos;m Home, But I&apos;m Losing You&quot;</title>
            <description><![CDATA[We have posted about the therapeutic power of making a mix tapes. Now, I (Cory) present to you the album, and story of my Summer 2004. When in order to get over my pain, and win back a girl, I made an album (okay, 5 songs, more like an ep).


S. American Agriculture - "I'm Home, But I'm Losing You"
<a href=http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/g-rad/mp3/1.mp3>1. I Wish</a>
<a href=http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/g-rad/mp3/2.mp3>2. I Will No Longer Act Like I Know</a>
<a href=http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/g-rad/mp3/3.mp3>3. What Did I Do?</a>
<a href=http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/g-rad/mp3/4.mp3>4. If I Could Change (Everything)</a>
<a href=http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/g-rad/mp3/5.mp3>5. Why Do I Think Anything?</a>


There have been only a few times I have just driven for the hell of it. During the Summer of 2004 is one of those times. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I drove the familiar roads of Saline Michigan, making sure not to make eye contact with any of the passing drivers, because no one wants to see an 18 year old boy crying his eyes out. That's awkward.


For two weeks I missed Karen. My friend Darin, and I had driven out west to attend What The Heck Fest in Anacortes, WA. While in retrospect the trip was incredible, during it, was another story. Karen and I had only been together four months, but we had grown into the couple who says "I love you", and buys each other promise rings. She was already working thirty minutes away at YMCA storer camp that summer, so I was really only able to see her twice a week as it was. Still, twice was all I needed. I feared what would happen without twice a week.]]></description>
            <link>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/im-home-but-im-losing-you.html</link>
            <guid>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/im-home-but-im-losing-you.html</guid>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">G-Rad</category>
            
            
            <pubDate>Sat, 06 Oct 2007 18:40:26 -0800</pubDate>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <title>Pain, Pain, Pain, Pain, Pain</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<div style="width:500px; text-align:justify;">
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2297/1494342850_735f16caea.jpg">
<br><br>
Don't you know, breaking up is hard to do. Well, we do and we are truly bummed out by the <a href="http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/2007/10/episode-06-problems.html">rift</a> that <a href="http://www.ultimateblogger3.com">Ultimate Blogger 3</a> ("UB3") seems to have caused in the relationship between our friends Michael and Steven. We are worried, and our collective shattering heart go es out to them. Apart from just being there to listen if they even need to talk (We are here for you guys!) we aren't really sure what to say to them, or what advice we can really offer other than to empathize and share our own methods of coping and catharsis. As our esteemed colleagues BodyCity have recently and wisely reminded us "<a href="http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/2007/10/episode-aokub3wtfpunk-p.html">sharing <em>is</em> caring</a>." There are many, many things that help one get over an emotional hurdle such as this. We might agree that music is one of the more important ones. Often when we get sad, we make tapes!
<br><br>
Without getting all "adult contemporary Disc Jockey" about this, we believe that the right song holds the ability to help to get us through our problems. Like magic healing crystals, perfect breakup songs hold some of the strongest therapeutic powers.  With this in mind, Team G-RAD has prepared this special break up tape for you guys. Listen to it, and find solace and comfort in the words and sounds of people who have been there. And, like Mr. R. Kelly himself, we will all <em>Rise Up</em> together in song. 
<br><br>
<img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2054/1493160409_ca5e41c049.jpg">
<br><br>
<strong>Directions</strong>:<br>
To make your own "official" <strong>Team G-RAD "Pain, Pain, Pain, Pain, Pain" Breakup Mixed Cassette</strong>, please: <br><br>
1) Download the following .MP3 files and record them onto a 90 minute cassette.<br>
2) Print out the cover, fold appropriately and insert into the cassette case.<br>
3) Play in a cassette player.<br>
4) Let it all out. it's "OK" to cry. it helps, really.<br>
<br><br>
<div style="float:left;">
<a href="http://ultimateblogger3.com/mp3/pain,%20pain,%20pain,%20pain,%20pain%20side%201.mp3"><img src="http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/05/mp3-icon.gif"></a><br>
<a href="http://ultimateblogger3.com/mp3/pain,%20pain,%20pain,%20pain,%20pain%20side%201.mp3">Side A</a> (.MP3, 55.4 Mb)
</div>
<div style="float:left;margin-left:20px;">
<a href="http://ultimateblogger3.com/mp3/pain,%20pain,%20pain,%20pain,%20pain%20side%202.mp3"><img src="http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/05/mp3-icon.gif"><br>
<a href="http://ultimateblogger3.com/mp3/pain,%20pain,%20pain,%20pain,%20pain%20side%202.mp3">Side B</a> (.MP3, 55.7 Mb)
</div>
<div style="clear:left;"></div>
<br>
<a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2314/1494493066_06ce62c5c8_o.jpg"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2314/1494493066_15acbe9398.jpg"></a><br>
(click for print-appropriate size)
<br><br>
<strong>The Ultimate Breakup</strong> 3:<br>
Like we mentioned before, sharing is, in fact, caring. And we want to see how much you care!  Please reply  to this post with a comment indicating your top three (3) breakup song suggestions so that we can collaboratively make the ULTIMATE masterpiece of a breakup mixed cassette together! Sometimes you just need a little help to get over that special someone, so lets to do this thing hand-in-hand, shoulder-to-shoulder, and cheek-by-jowl! But, please do it by <strong>3:00 AM EST (Midnight PST) Sunday morning</strong>. At that time we will dig though the suggestions and compile the ultimate breakup tape that we will ALL want to hear when our hearts have been trampled, our dignity shattered, and our hope whittled down to just barely enough fortitude to press play.
<br><br>
&hearts; Team G-RAD
</div>]]></description>
            <link>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/pain-pain-pain-pain-pain.html</link>
            <guid>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/pain-pain-pain-pain-pain.html</guid>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">G-Rad</category>
            
            
            <pubDate>Fri, 05 Oct 2007 23:17:28 -0800</pubDate>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <title>We CAN work it out.</title>
            <description><![CDATA[Dear Mike and Steve,
<b>
We see you've been having some problems and thought that we could help.  Here are 7 steps to creating a healthy relationship.
<b>
<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="300" data="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=330435&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;fullscreen=1&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=1&amp;color=00ADEF">	<param name="quality" value="best" />	<param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" />	<param name="scale" value="showAll" />	<param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=330435&amp;server=vimeo.com&amp;fullscreen=1&amp;show_title=1&amp;show_byline=1&amp;show_portrait=1&amp;color=00ADEF" /></object><br /><br />

<b>
Best wishes,
bodycity]]></description>
            <link>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/we-can-work-it-out.html</link>
            <guid>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/we-can-work-it-out.html</guid>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Challenge 06</category>
            
            
            <pubDate>Fri, 05 Oct 2007 01:38:17 -0800</pubDate>
        </item>
        
        <item>
            <title>Piracy</title>
            <description><![CDATA[<br>
<a href="http://www.g-rad.org/den"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1112/1479468098_9be4b0b8ee.jpg"></a>
<br>

Please find the clickable screenshot image above and click on it.

&hearts; TEAM G-RAD]]></description>
            <link>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/piracy.html</link>
            <guid>http://www.ultimateblogger3.com/den/2007/10/piracy.html</guid>
            
                <category domain="http://www.sixapart.com/ns/types#category">Challenge 05</category>
            
            
            <pubDate>Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:25:15 -0800</pubDate>
        </item>
        
    </channel>
</rss>
