Forwarded from artist Rufus Wainwright and his mother, Kate McGarrigle re blackoutsabbath, June 21, when we are all turning off our electronics and electricals:

Hey all! This will be the last reminder before the first annual Blackoutsabbath ritual takes place on Saturday, June 21st 2008 from noon to midnight all over the World. I'm assuming you folks out there haven't been bombarded with promo concerning the event: this is precisely my intention! I didn't want to push this project too hard and make it seem like some kind of media fad. Like the low grade fever that grips our planet, we need a low grade answer (not necessarily dramatic, but a CONSTANT reminder) to combat the marathon machinations we are about to experience, not to mention what we are experiencing right now! Don't get me wrong, the bigger the gesture the better. Still, any shift must last and in essence become a solid part of our lives. The other day I saw some guy on TV (wish I could remember his name) talking about how it is the simple organisms that survive on this planet, and that history is laced with examples of species dying out because they failed to cut back when their habitat required them to. On one hand it's frightening, but on the other it's possibly a testament to the greatness of humanity if we act on the fact that we as a species might actually have to de-evolve in a way in order to survive. IT'S REVOLUTIONARY, and has never been done in the whole history of the earth! Still, I would bargain to say that not only the earth but in fact the entire Universe has never witnessed such a thing as "human beings" and that even if they can get a bit screwy, our brains are still our greatest asset. So good luck with your day off, do what you can, but most of all, keep trying.

Love, Rufus

P.S. This message was pretty dry in terms of the comedy section, so below I attached [an e-mail] from my mom ... so you guys can chuckle a bit. Also, don't forget to visit the site blackoutsabbath.org to get the specifics. Adios!

Reminder From Kate McGarrigle:

blackoutsabbath:TUNE OUT!!!!! TURN OFF!!!!! DROP IN!!!!! TUNE OUT all Blackberrys, computers, cell phones etc..TURN OFF all lights and electrical appliances, host a blackoutsabbath DROP IN: preferably outdoors...just like the old celebration of the solstice - burning the fire from sundown to sun up in order to keep the day from dying and starting anew! In Quebec, we do the St. Jean which is an ancient Celtic (Breton) celebration...don't use anything ELECTRICAL or ELECTRONIC.....show your ELECTRONS some love: give them the DAY OFF! For advice on how to prepare, go to our very own RABBI SCHLOMO.....whose people have lots of experience (thousands of years) doing sabbath - how to prepare, what to eat etc...however since this has nothing to do with WORK, I suggest a hearty BBQ - fire is allowed, coals are allowed - fun is allowed! NO ELECTRONIC SOURCES OF SOUNDS - make your own music....beat a drum, strum a guitar, plink a piano, blow a horn!

   

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