Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Kraftwerk's "Biggest" Fans: News Archive

My wife Jennifer manages her bookmarks by using an extraordinarily simple and trouble free process: she never creates bookmarks. This has saved her an immense amount of time and is quite efficient. I on the other hand have leveraged Google Bookmarks (now Chrome bookmarks) since the beginning and have 1000+ categories of bookmarks, some with subcategories. Occasionally the file is corrupted or duplicated and I then need to fix it, never an easy task. I really admire Jennifer, so carefree and unburdened. Despite my attempts at order, I can never seem to find the bookmark I thought I saved and that's especially true regarding our convoluted history as Kraftwerk fans. So here's every bookmark I could find on that subject, categorized and calendared.

This is both our history and justification for nominating Tampa as Düsseldorf's sister city. We've been championing this as a passion project to our friends on City Council here as well as our influential friends in Düsseldorf who are well placed to make this a reality - and we'd love to shepherd the process along. We're convinced Tampa is a good fit, with our vibrant arts and museum scene and more than a few world class breweries that this is an excellent twinning of cities. How many people are so committed to having a twin city that they make a muppet video to support their argument? 

I'll flesh this section out in the coming days with print newspaper scans and more media coverage.

Florida Man Changes Name To Kraftwerk

Rheinische Post: Gestatten, Mein Name Ist Kraftwerk 2016-07-30








Kraftwerk Wedding

Rheinische Post: Fan feiert verrückte Kraftwerk-Hochzeit (Fan celebrates crazy Kraftwerk wedding) 2017-02-03



Creative Loafing Florida Couple Has Full On Kraftwerk Nuptials 2017-01-05


8d Industries: Fun Fun Fun At The Weddingbahn 2017-01-08




Electronic Beats: This Is The Most Kraftwerk Wedding Ever 2017-01-06

World's Biggest Kraftwerk Fans

Rheinische Post: Neun-Stunden-Flug für ein Kraftwerk-Konzert (Nine Hour Flight For a Kraftwerk Concert) 2017-07-02

Westdeutsche Zeitung: Die größten Kraftwerk-Fans kehren zurück (The biggest Kraftwerk fans are returning) 2018-05-18

Düsseldorf Department of Tourism: The Legend of Kraftwerk 2018


Rheinische Post: Eine neue Freundschaft dank Kraftwerk 2018-05-18

Rheinische Post: The Kraftwerk fans enjoy the Côte d'Azur (Die Kraftwerk-Fans Genießen die Côte d'Azur) 2018-05-24




Bringing Florian Schneider's Beetle Home

Süddeutsche Zeitung: Fahr’n, fahr’n, fahr’n and also the Print Version 2022-01-04

Rheinische Post: „Kraftwerk“-Käfer geht nach Florida 2021-12-07

Rheinische Post: Dieser Käfer ist ein Kraftwerk 2021-12-08

Rheinische Post: Mit dem Kraftwerk-Käfer durch Düsseldorf 2021-12-10

Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance: 2023 Amelia Concours Brochure pg 26 2023-03

Hot VWs Magazine Rare Käfer and also The Print Version 2023-06

VIDEO: Just Buggin' Buying Florian Schneider's 1949 Beetle! 2024-04

Volksmania Magazine Florian Schneider Connection or the PDF 2024-09

Classic Motorsports Magazine How This Basic Beetle Made It To The Amelia 2024-09 

Our Kraftwerk Creations


Jennifer's Story About Our First Düsseldorf Adventure

Jennifer's Video Tour Of Düsseldorf Documentary June-July 2017





Our Kraftwerk Sky-Dancer Video





















Monday, December 16, 2024

FREEMAN: The Story of a Gay Rights Trailblazer by Director John Sutherlin

When dear friends from America's deep south rise above humble beginnings and do great things, I feel a rush of joy that our origins don't define us. Artists and thinkers like Truman Capote, The Reverend Fred Lane, William S Burroughs, Hakeem Oluseyi, Flannery O'Connor or groups like The Flaming Lips and The Butthole Surfers prove that the adversity of Southern origins can be a boost depending on how you look at it. Having graduated Louisiana Tech University, a small school in the rolling hills of North Louisiana, I can vouch for humble beginnings. It's from this perspective that I view the latest cinematic opus of my collegiate friend John Sutherlin: FREEMAN.

I hope to arrange a screening of his film in Tampa, so this post is primarily a vehicle to inform my film friends in the area about this opportunity. Feel free to reach out to me or directly to John Sutherlin to obtain rights to show it. Lucky audiences from La Jolla to New Orleans and from Durban, South Africa to Berlin Germany have seen FREEMAN at film festivals. I think it's time Tampa got on this list. 

If you landed on this blog entry from a Facebook posting other than David Sanborn's, I'd like to know about it! Email me if so.


Synopsis

Charles Freeman Stamper, aka Stephanny, was more than a Drag Queen, more than a rags-to-riches story, and certainly more than expectations others had of him. Freeman was a secretary, a decorated Veteran, an advisor to beauty pageants, an advocate for Gay rights, and an amazing square dancer! He defied the Supreme Court and made an impact on countless lives through his generosity and courage. This film captures a life worth living and worth discovering. His was an authentic life. And in the end...he gave it all away to help others. As Freeman said, "I'd give you the dress off my back!"


FREEMAN Trailer


Bio

John W. Sutherlin, PhD, was born in El Dorado, Arkansas, in 1968. He completed his graduate work in New Orleans and is a patented inventor, author, producer, and director of more than 26 films. He is a frequent speaker at international conferences. As a producer and director, his film crew is arguably the most diverse and competent of any team. They have worked together for more than 25 years! His films have received international awards and been translated into dozens of languages.


Interview with Dr. John Sutherlin