Robert Finkelstein Reporting

That's correct.  I am now standing at ground zero of what can only be described as the apotheosis of skullduggery and the epitome of a post-modern solypsis for Craftisans and Artisans alike.

Without further adieu, I bring you the Word from the mouth of Prometheus:

My fellow Craftisans, I come to you today not as a leader, a uniter or even a prophet as some have claimed.

But I see my brothers and sisters suffer under the unskilled hand of the Enemy.

I see their eyes weep and I hear their nashing of teeth.  And I say NO MORE.

NO longer shall the strong of skill suffer the weak.

NO longer shall the washcloth be stained while the canvas runs free.

NO longer shall we tolerate the aesthetic ignorance that threatens our way of life.

I say NO MORE.

So in the spirit of Kropotkin I call upon my brothers and sisters to rise up.

RISE and sing your praise.

RISE and sing the song of freedom.

RISE and throw aside the shackles money, fame and fortune.

RISE and embrace the future.

RISE and embrace your BRAND.

I call on you now to open your checkbooks and write yourself a check.  It could be a little, it could be a lot.  Sign your blank checks and send them...

A more moving performance I could not imagine.  As The Reverend wiped the torrent from his brow, His eyes glowed as neon in the Cave.  Shining the light of revelation upon the eager listener.  Once a broken man, I emerged born anew, awash with spirit, squinting in the rush hour traffic, blinded by vision.

I bear witness to the glory of Craft and the wickedness of artistic Conceit.

I imbue the life around me with the commitment of sympathy... currency.

I think I left my checkbook at the gas station.

-RFinkelstein-

Inception

Howdy all.

I began this project with high hopes. The infusion of politics with personal adornment and object-making seemed fertile ground for blogerific pontification.  Regardless, the best laid plans are but a gadfly away from chaos.  Have no fear, a solution for the future of this fickle jargon-packed dialogue has been reached.

Upon reflection, I realize that due to my decade-old extra-craftal affair, I cannot serve this system-of-tubes to my full potential.  As a compromised figurehead for radical aesthete-trust-busting, I cannot seem human.  Conversely, per request of the Leviathan, I shall stay on to consult my appointed replacement to properly represent the interests of the earnest viewers of this great network of tubes, metal, wood, glass and fiber.

Inspired by the DIC (Do It in China) movement, I am handing the reigns to my apprentice who is still recovering from SARS.  After losing his toy factory back home, Jon will have plenty of time on his hands to do this blog justice or more accurately justiblog.

Aloha.

Cut to Jon on camera one.