Yesterday I got a call of condolence from our Reverend, aka Reverend Billy.  It's funny how I somehow, somewhat, crave that paradigm of spiritual guide in life, and how Billy somehow provides that when needed. He even married me in the ultimate Miracle upon miracles. Throughout it all we may appear to be consciously or subconsciously mocking the concept of our cloth-based relationship, yet somehow under that deep dark layer of mimicry, we must respect, crave, and need that familiar consumer-tested fulfillment and belief that we are either not getting, impossible to get, or too lost in hypocrisy for our intellects to make peace with elsewhere. Well, either way, the phone call from the Rev. was both reassuring and perhaps unknown to me, needed."You and Allie are heroes, you're doing it!" says the Rev as he consoles us regarding our recent failure to make our wildly exorbitant / modestly realistic goal.  It seems Billy got wind of the missed mark from our mutual friend Laura Newman, another hero friend of ours, who shot the "lovable redneck fella filling his kitchen sink with a giant fireball by holding a lighter to his tap water" shot seen around the world and in the Gasland doc. (somewhere between Jackass, Eco-terror, and shock rock, it was the shot that launched a thousand sink owners' questions.)  Laura may have been referring to our "famous for all the wrong reasons benefit party"-, but with the entire campaign coming to an end, it seemed a good time to recount the Rev's words.

The Rev called to say "It's a riddle," and "You'll get your film made!" as Billy proposed we do something together on the 10th anniversary of 9-11, this September on Union Square. He was thinking that if we showed our finished film ( or part of it more realistically ) as an illustration of some of the changes that have occurred over the last anti-shoe, pro TSA grope decade, we may be able to avoid what he seemed to fear was the "inevitable mass arrests" that are now possible due to the permit schemes that have been put in place.  Billy theorized that maybe we should consider calling the proposed Union Square event a movie screening, instead of a "protest" (  AKA gathering, disruption, unpleasantness for some, event, which it will really be either way, as currently defined by the powers that be. ) While I am sure Billy would prefer to try out some new terminology such as a radical gathering for listening,  revolutionary reflection, intellectual non-destruction, harmonic resurrection, social need-ia,  or something with 'alujah in it, I am glad his creative skills are in realistic and productive damage control mode, since I suspect he himself could be a bit beaten down and saddened by the thought of masking a gathering as anything other than what it is.  But, as a spirit'ual leader, knowing those who can't afford to risk arrest won't feel comfortable heading to the previously inviting park environment they all headed to with candles and chalk nearly 10 years ago, that time in shock and mourning of a different tragedy, not even considering a permit.  But today is about cheering me up, so he puts out a strong wave of assurance.

As Billy sings praises and reassurances for the future regarding this very real and actual promised land, I know the Rev worries what affect the recent real life image of he, as a daddy being yanked away from his little girl on a dark street by unidentified plainclothes karma police, far from the cameras or protests that he is supposedly being punished for, has on an impressionable young daughter's mind.  A horrible sight, that in many countries would likely signal the last time you ever saw that person again.  Still an unlikely fact here, and that makes me appreciative of the country we live in. We still rest fairly assured that a disappearing is not likely the case and said abductee will likely emerge from the aptly titled tombs in a day or so, not learning any new lesson other than in killing time and self doubt, but at the same time, I wonder if this recent successful effort to make non-public arrests such as Billy's (as he headed home from Lincoln Center after a Koch Brothers protest), are the intra-mural games for the Super Bowl to which we are headed if we have any legitimate chance at non-self destruction, both spiritually and ecologically. Who knows, I just wanted to ride my bike!

So, no matter what game are we all jumping rope for in the 80's montage of our minds, we are all shaping up and learning everyday!   Though i wonder what all the green covert'arino at grandma's peace bake sale really stretching their infiltrating muscles for?  Do brownies and bike chains signaling a future threat, or training ground, for either "side"? Are the spenders-that-be creating jobs by destroying faith, or just biding time before they cash in the last chips and retreat to rustic bunkers with laser guided alarms?  Are the extorted funds building Hoover Damns in our minds simply putting food on young agents tables, or crushing the appetite for thought in the minds of allegedly free peoples?  These are mysteries to ponder with your Reverend in the hope that the asking of questions can shape answers, and find faith. All the while hoping that the clicking noise on your phone is just a bad connection inadvertently slowing down the proliferation of brain cancer due thanks to impatience of two men who grew up with rotary dials, not the costly pension creating new agencies of poorly trained and utilized man and woman power trumping education in our tax spending priorities.

I am not sure, but i fell possessed ( help me Rev ) to mention that my earliest childhood memory was nearly choking to death on a lifesaver candy in a New York City church. Rescued  by my dad, who in pre-heimlich awareness dark ages I believe pounded my back until i had coughed up and revived after launching the cherry red ring high into the dusty stained glass illuminated Queens air, sailing in crimson glory past the gold adorned alter and its well protected tending goalie, seemingly unnoticed.  True story.  Either way, now I've got a digital Reverend who makes monitored house calls and wonders with everyone talking at once, is anybody listening?  I know the Rev's long been saying that we need to listen to what the Earth is saying to us, but this is the first time I've heard him ponder if any of us are listening to each other.

Well, for that moment, I'd have to say YES.

Thanks Rev,

Chris Ryan

-hope u enjoyed all the videos, manifestos, and made-up feuds with snobs!

I'm Back from Montana and gettin a real job, (currently Boardwalk Empire, other offers pending ) to get some flow.

^tho I'd like to say the Critical Mass doc would be the main priority starting this week, it sadly will not be... BUT, rest assured it will be worked on in all spare moments and Allie will be utilizing all the volunteer power we can harness and we are seeking to secure new office space!

And as a special thanks, to EVERY person who pledged ( and made it this far down the page ). We'd like to mail you a thank you gift - a DVD of Still We Ride, the updated DVD w/ the comic book and all new shorts etc. Whether we really received anything from you or not!

Just give us your mailing address!

C & A

PPS.

Many of you have asked if Y0U can still mail us your Pledge/Donations, to which we say HELL YES!

We will use all funds to get this doc closer to completion!!!! And hopefully in festivals in 2012

Make checks: to either Chris Ryan or Allie Ryan,

648 East 11th St., Unit #D1

New York, NY 10009

USA USA! USA!!!

Ltr

C/A

Today's Short (28 sec) = Christopher J. Ryan, the director, makes a final plea.... Pledge today! Spread the word!

Today's short (1.20 min): On a recent Critical Mass, a ticket was issued to one of the riders. Watch to find what happens next!