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From WWR

I have been lurking around WWR since Fall of 2002 when I thought I might like to go to Alaska for a beer. I had never been to Alaska...actually, I never even thought about Alaska before my brother brought over pictures at my 49th birthday party of his summer trip to Sitka. The question asked that day was: "So you're going to be 50 next year. What are you going to do to celebrate?" To which I shrugged looking at the pictures and mumbled, "I don't know. Maybe I will go to Alaska for a beer."

With that, I recalled seeing a travel show on PBS - something about a little town at the foot of Denali that I thought looked interesting. It took some digging but I found that the name of the town was possibly Talkeetna and through the PBS website, I ordered the video to see if it was, indeed, what I had seen the year before. In the video, it showed a guy (Larry Zarella – though I didn't know his name then) playing a John Prine song in the Fairview Inn. I sat back in the chair, smiling upon viewing this. "Yes," I said to myself...."I'm going to go have a beer in that tavern in Talkeena". That was September 2002 - my 50th being 12 months away, I jumped online and Googled Talkeetna. Radio Free Talkeetna popped up and that was it. I had not even understood what a "chat room" was but I read what was posted there like it was my new religion. I was afraid to chat myself because I was sure I would get some sort of virus opening my computer up to that kind of thing. In October a more technical savvy pal of mine took me by the hand and led me into the chat room where my whole world blew open with his typing a comment to Esther about her installing her insulation in the cabin. The portal opened! I thought my heart would jump out of my chest!

Those beginning days were heady with the delight of the simplicity and the joy of a new and safe form of communication between strangers. By safe, I mean, there was an element of trust established between users and this provided a sanctuary that was maintained in a tribal manner of “honor’. Being a very small interest group and, at the same time, a way-out form of connecting with others there was time enough that allowed for a natural growth of friendship. Essentially it was the music, of course, that fixed everyone’s interest and kept the virtual 'flow'. We gathered around the music like folks in real time gather around the hearth. In this there has been a spiritual sense of comfort and communion.

I have a lot of personal reasons to worship Jim’s work at Whole Wheat Radio as he has opened up a world to me that invited me to pay attention and try to keep up so I could be involved. From the rants regarding the Music Industry to the sharing of all the incredible stories of love and faith to the over coming of obstacles in figuring out how to play music that was ‘free’ and ‘independent of corporate control’. I think I can speak for most everyone in the beginning that we were ALL blown away at learning how much incredible music was being made while we were asleep listening to mainstream radio! I thank Jim for bringing the joy of music back to me.

What a grand adventure it has been with Whole Wheat Radio over the years! Yes, I went to Talkeetna for that beer in September of 2003 and you could have lit a cigarette off my mojo at my 50th birthday as I sat in the Fairview listening to Esther perform “Gather Thee”. For after a year of making my new friends and taking that leap of faith from the virtual into the ‘real’ world, I was healed in ways that nothing short of a pilgrimage or a re-birth could produce. With that I must say that it is an honor and a privilege to be associated with such a gift as Jim and Esther and their love child, Whole Wheat Radio. Long may we run.

2008 update on User:Fine-line at Whole Wheat Radio

It has been a few years now since I have even TOUCHED this user page of mine! I’m feeling as though it is time, though, to give an update on my experience of Whole Wheat Radio. For one thing I have been a fair-weather friend of WWR over the last few years. I have fallen into a complacency of comfort and repose at the expense of others, so it has come to my attention of late. It was never my intension, of course, to take advantage but obviously, participation where it is needed is critical and I need to make some sort of decision whether I’m going to help or hinder. The importance of music in my life cannot be underscored or compromised in my heart in any way. WWR gave me back my enthusiasm for music from some dark hole where it lay dormant for years. There is no negotiating in me about my personal need to participate in getting independent music out and heard by people. The bottom line is my desire to help in this, I realized late last night, so the next consideration was how can I do this?

There has been a lot of “letting go” of the old ways of being at the station to make way for the new and it has caused a lot off heartache for many people. I’m always the last to realize that this means ME TOO! What it comes down to is this; my life is set up to only have a certain amount of time to give to WWR and if I want to participate at all I’m going to have to use my time here more efficiently. What I have to let go of is the social aspect of the site that I have enjoyed and even relied upon heavily during certain times of my life.

The main reason that I am adding this to my user page is so people will understand that I am not ignoring any shout-outs or phonegrams when they see me on the listener list – I just cannot play and do the work too. It has to be one or the other. Necessity has forced me into “the other”. I may pop in for some editing advice but I’ve really got to break myself of the socializing aspect of this site. It has been great fun and I truly cherish the love I’ve received here over the years. Peace Fine-line 13:09, January 26, 2008 (AKST)

...To see what the hell is going ON at Whole Wheat Radio and WHEN!!!

...To read Fine-line's sporadically posted blah

...To read Fine-line's library learning 2.0 blog NightMonkeyShines

...To see Fine-line's old MSN photo albums

...To see Fine-line's new Flickr Photo Albums

I'll be listening in when I can!I'm going to Wheatstalk 2008 0 items

I have been to WWR 12 items

I pooped in the WWR outhouse 7 items

User:Fine-line/sandbox

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Photo	Fine-line
Nickname (set in preferences)	Fine-line
Location	Bellingham, WA - USA
Songs ranked	4,199
Contributions	I have 250 edits under my belt

Today's horoscope for Virgo: Be encouraging and help others ride the wave of good energy that you're on, right now! It's easy for you to create good times for your people because you are feeling exceptionally generous and warm toward the people you care about most. You know all their favorite activities, so why not plan something that you know they'll love? Even if you just have a friend over to watch their favorite television show at your place, they will love being hosted in such a thoughtful way. Looks like a 4 wheatberry day for you dear Virgo.
Birthday	Saturday, September 19th
This year's birthday	26 days ago on a Friday
Zodiac sign	Virgo

Fine-line's Favorites

Request this show that Fine-line is sure to like! Here are songs Fine-line has rated 5 stars.

#	Song	Artist	Image	Album	Length	Played count	Last Played	Overall	You	Tags	Single Request
1	Enough	Annie Gallup		Half Of My Crime	4:39	13	Feb 21st, 2008	9 votes 5 stars=Jim / Esther / Theimann / Fine-line / sparx / Atuuschaaw	You have to login to give your opinion about songs.
2	Oh Hear The Wind	Jan Seides		Everyday People	5:13	30	Jul 28th, 2008	13 votes 5 stars=Esther / a1l3n / Fine-line / Hoonah	You have to login to give your opinion about songs.	Acappella
3	Take It Now	Wipers		Power In One	2:53	9	Jul 29th, 2008	2 votes 5 stars=Fine-line	You have to login to give your opinion about songs.	Rock
				Total Time	12:45

The current music queue contains 2 songs that will take 4 mins, 46 secs to play.
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50 most favorite artists

Favorite artists: 3 Blind Mice / Danny Schmidt / Sloan Wainwright / Radoslav Lorkovic / Dayna Kurtz / Eileen Hemphill-Haley / Esther Golton / Janis Ian / Doug Geeting / Peter Mulvey / Larry Zarella / Korby Lenker / Catie Curtis / Janet Klein And Her Parlor Boys / Ruthie Foster / Michael Chapdelaine / Big Head Todd And The Monsters / David Goodrich / Jane Eamon / Swil Kanim / Karrin Allyson / Sari / Dave Carter And Tracy Grammer / Greg Brown / Kris Delmhorst / Robin Hopper / Carbon Leaf / Muriel Anderson / Antje Duvekot / Kristina Olsen / Susan Tedeschi / Dana Cunningham / Renee Austin / Jack Williams / Sari Baker Trio / Faith Petric / The Clarridge Fiddlers And Friends / Guy Davis / Rachel Bissex / Cliff Eberhardt / Hazel Miller / Kulica / Emily Elbert / Tracy Nelson / Borrina Mapaka / Steve Durr / Mary Flower / Andru Bemis / Beppe Gambetta / Paul Kamm And Eleanore MacDonald

Requests Fine-line has made