Liner Notes...
Atlantis is the name of a legendary island first mentioned in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias. In Plato's account, Atlantis, lying "beyond the Pillars of Heracles", was a naval power that conquered many parts of Western Europe and Africa 9,000 years before the time of Solon, or approximately 9500 BC. After a failed attempt to invade Athens, Atlantis sank into the ocean "in a single day and night of misfortune". As a story embedded in Plato's dialogues, Atlantis is generally seen as a myth created by Plato to illustrate his political theories. Although the function of the story of Atlantis seems clear to most scholars, they dispute whether and how much Plato's account was inspired by older traditions.
The possible existence of a genuine Atlantis was actively discussed throughout classical antiquity, but it was usually rejected and occasionally parodied by later authors. While little known during the Middle Ages, the story of Atlantis was rediscovered by Humanists in modern times. Plato's description inspired the utopian works of several Renaissance writers, like Francis Bacon's "New Atlantis". Atlantis inspires today's literature, from science fiction to comic books and films, its name having become a byword for any and all supposed prehistoric but advanced (and lost) civilizations.
The Atlantis Assignment is my life according Ashley Butler.
Most Rhett Butler supporters know well the story of my brother’s life long fight with cancer. In the first CD that was dedicated to Ashley, “The Kid from Kilkenny”, I told the story of how he influenced my development as a person and artist. This collection of music is my attempt to share a bit of his personality and to show how his “assignments” continue to inspire me.
Because of his impairments, Ashley relies on his family to help realize his life goals. These tasks most often fall to me as siblings are equals. The goals are broken down into small, never ending, manageable tasks that we call assignments. Examples include but are not limited to; take me to Barnes and Nobles, let’s get on the internet and shop for Transformers, pay for my dinner and then schedule a meeting for me and former
President Bill Clinton.
No matter how large or small the assignment is, it must be accomplished so the next one can take it’s place. He is relentless in his pursuits. It is a great pleasure and a great burden.
One of Ashley’s passions is ancient history. He is fascinated with the possibility of Plato’s story being based on a real civilization. It is a pursuit of the unknown and the possibly
unattainable. A Grail quest. Much like cancer treatments and the pursuit of his cure.
A few days after receiving news of Ashley’s newest tumor, a stranger approached me in a restaurant and asked how my brother was doing. This man recognized me from a performance that I gave in Dallas in 2007. He asked if I had heard of the new experimental treatment for cancer that uses radio waves and nanoparticles. Later, I discovered that the treatment was conceived by a patient at M. D. Anderson named John Kanzius. They are two years away from human trials but the results in the lab have been amazing.
www.KanziusCancerTherapy.com
www.KnockOutPediatricCancer.com
I am dedicating the next few years of my life to help this new modality enter into human trials. I think it will save thousands of lives. I want my brother to have another option for
treatment should his cancer return in the future. It’s an Atlantis Assignment.
All music written by Rhett Butler - except Before the Morning Watch, written by Sydney Price
Produced by Rhett Butler
Art Design by Rhett Butler
Photography by Tom Cane
Recorded at RBR Studios Dallas, TX
Rhett Butler - Guitar
Phil Bass - Percussion
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