The DVDs are finally here!

We can't believe it ourselves. Ralph Bronner bought 100 copies.

(Psst, an idea: might make good gift for the dirty or curious or spiritual or eco-minded people on your holiday list?)

Special thanks this weekend to Jesse Thorn for including Dr. B's Magic Soapbox on his Public Radio program,

The Sound of Young America.

Also, have I mentioned lately that DVDs will be available on our website in like, five minutes?

David Bronner, grandson of Dr. Bronner, was quoted yesterday in the Washington Post article about hemp and the DEA.

To summarize, however, I turn to another hemp activist from the article, David Hague, who is taking the DEA to court. The crux of the matter, which no one at the DEA seems to understand is, to quote Hague, "You could smoke a joint the size of a telephone pole, and [hemp] is not going to provide you with a high."

Which leads me to wonder the obvious: where would you get the paper to roll a joint the size of a telephone pole?

Check it out. A comic featuring Dr. Bronner's, and, they are plugging our movie, even. What nice, interesting, creative people.

Please friends, send any additional Dr. B art thisaway. I am a major collector.

People have asked me if Dr. Bronner really was a doctor. And the answer is that he had the equivalent of a doctorate in soapmaking--he studied chemistry and soapmaking in the guild system in Germany when he was young. But he was not an "official" doctor. He also took on the title of "rabbi"--again he felt there were valid reasons for the title, but never went to official rabbi school.

In that great tradition, and following Dr. B's lead, I am proud to say that I am an official ordained minister in The Universal Life Church . Please let me know if you need me for anything.

Today those of us at Magic Soapbox are sending out lots of love to everyone affected by the fires in Southern California. I have a call into Ralph regarding the safety of the soap plant, which is in Escondido, but I haven't heard back from him yet. Was especially sad to hear this morning on the radio that people are being evacuated from around the Mt. Palomar area. That was one of Dr. Bronner's favorite places--"We are at the Palomar planetarium, the greatest planetarium on God's Spaceship Earth!!!"

Helloooo out there (there there there)

Here's another song inspired by Dr. B. Cheers to Emily Herring.

Do you (dear reader) know of any others? If you do PLEASE send them to me, as I am starting a collection. Also, if you do not know of any, but you are a musician, why not write one? Maybe we can do a benefit album someday? What should it benefit? Dirty People?

Here is a note Ralph sent me the other day about his experience in Montreal, at Film Pop, an offshoot of the famous Montreal Pop Music Festival:

Just came back from 6 wonderful days with Gisela in Montreal -3 million people and most speak French.

Ezra, who we sent "Hemp for the Homeless" two years ago was the real key along with his wonderful girlfriend Alexandra. They were our guide, connection and friends EVERY DAY. Ezra does documentaries, organized the film part of the Montreal POP festival, plays music and works for the homeless.
The film reception with about 100 people wa s so grea t I had a line for hugs and soaps and they all sang Up In Wiscosin better than any other audience. Ezra had me on 3 radio interviews, including CBC. Because I mentioned my love for aucoustic music on the air, a great band, Lake of Stew, invited me to sing and talk at a wonderful Coffee House in Montreal for about 60 people. Ezra took us 60 miles North to his fathers beautiful summer home on a remote lake. His father is an architect who designed the beautiful home.....and he loved JOKES. He knew as many as I did.
The 3rd day Gisela and I left downtown Montreal and drove over 100 miles to see Heather Jenkins who lives in a remote area near the St Lawrence river in a small hut-home with an outhouse and 1 light bulb in upstate N.Y. with 4 beautiful children she home schools on 91 acres with beautiful goats, 2 horses and Miles the dog. She's the one that wrote that beautiful sentence we use at the convention. The family lived in a tent for 2 mo. as the Amish built their small home. Someday she hopes to have horses for special needs kids They love it.
Along the way I met lots of wonderful people who got the soap and story over the 6 days.

Love, Ralph My life is blessed because of all of you !

On Wednesday of this week I went to talk about the movie with Jesse Thorne, host of Public Radio's The Sound of Young America.

I tried my hardest to be charming and thoughtful, and then afterwards, as usual, I was worried that I stuttered and wasn't funny enough. I can be funny, mostly at home though.

I am so happy to announce that Dr. Bronner's Magic Soapbox will be included in an exhibition called "All Faiths Beautiful," at the American Visionary Museum in Baltimore, MD. From October 6 until August of 08, the museum will have a whole section dedicated to Dr. Bronner and his message. (and will also be selling DVDs of the movie--woo hoo shameless plug, sorry)

Here, incidentally, is how the museum defines "visionary art":

"Visionary art as defined for the purposes of the American Visionary Art Museum refers to art produced by self-taught individuals, usually without formal training, whose works arise from an innate personal vision that revels foremost in the creative act itself." In short, visionary art begins by listening to the inner voices of the soul, and often may not even be thought of as 'art' by its creator.

That, I would say, is a marvelous definition to stick in your visionary pipe and puff on all day.