http://247wallst.com/2009/04/10/government-wants-bank-stress-test-results-to-be-secret/
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-wells10-2009apr10,0,5846355.story
[headline: Wells Fargo projects record $3 billion 1Q profit]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2207669/posts
[headline: Wells Fargo Chair Slams TARP, calls Stress Tests "Asinine"]
Friday, April 10, 2009
Thirty years after a tornado hit Wichita Falls, TX, I'm still here.
Thirty years ago today, a giant tornado visited Wichita Falls, Texas--killing a number of people.
I was nineteen years old at the time. When the news broke that the tornado was traveling up Southwest Parkway (not far away from the French Quarter apartments where I lived), I ran into my apartment closet and shut the door tight.
For the next few minutes, I could hear and feel the wind battering the apartment building, plus occasional sounds of breaking glass.
When it was safe to come out, I saw that minimal damage had been done. One window had been broken in the bedroom and a panel had broken on the glass sliding door (leading to the tiny balcony) in the living room.
[A year earlier, I lived in the small apartment next door. The roof was completely removed. If I had been still living there, I wouldn't be writing this entry today. ]
Within a few minutes, someone from the Red Cross kicked in the apartment's front door. I walked downstairs and saw both my parents--crying and overjoyed that I survived.
http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2009/apr/10/survivors-find-home-online-to-share-stories/
http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2009/apr/10/day-terror/
http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2009/apr/10/gone-but-not-forgotten/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bKDQTPt22w
I was nineteen years old at the time. When the news broke that the tornado was traveling up Southwest Parkway (not far away from the French Quarter apartments where I lived), I ran into my apartment closet and shut the door tight.
For the next few minutes, I could hear and feel the wind battering the apartment building, plus occasional sounds of breaking glass.
When it was safe to come out, I saw that minimal damage had been done. One window had been broken in the bedroom and a panel had broken on the glass sliding door (leading to the tiny balcony) in the living room.
[A year earlier, I lived in the small apartment next door. The roof was completely removed. If I had been still living there, I wouldn't be writing this entry today. ]
Within a few minutes, someone from the Red Cross kicked in the apartment's front door. I walked downstairs and saw both my parents--crying and overjoyed that I survived.
http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2009/apr/10/survivors-find-home-online-to-share-stories/
http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2009/apr/10/day-terror/
http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2009/apr/10/gone-but-not-forgotten/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bKDQTPt22w
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Name Omitted and the underbelly of poetry.
A certain local poetry listserve has open (in the past, closed-but-to-members) archives, and this letter to me can now be safely shared with the public.
Some context should be established first:
1. The listserve, which had a period of poets-arguing-with-each-other from May of 2003 to August of 2006, generally contained members who didn't like arguing about or discussing the LA/OC scenes (or participating in the usual What Is Poetry? game or irritation over certain poets/writers who were then Big Sellers). They were more concerned with finding out what was going on with the proprietor's reading and news of other readings around the area.
2. Regarding the letter, the writer (his name will be omitted here) once was a prominent SoCal poet, plus a columnist for an alternapaper; I sent him a copy of my first chapbook. During a disagreement with Name Omitted (where I was called a "jerk" who discouraged serious discussion of poetry community problems), I reminded him of this and mentioned his nonresponse to my sending him the chapbook. And this is the response I received:
First off, I'm sorry I called you a jerk. I was out of line, and for that, I genuinely apologize. On the other hand, I'm not going to apologize for not paying more attention to you, and it's glaringly obvious that's what this little tantrum has been about. [prominent poet, now MIA from the scene] didn't pay attention to you. I didn't pay attention to you. Wah, wah, wah.Grow up, Terry. If you've got problems with the poetry scene, do something about it. Start your own readings, start a festival. Publish a journal or Web zine. Whatever, but stop acting like a baby because you don't get the attention you deserve and others do. You're right, it's not a level playing field, and you don't get points for just being there. You've actually got to do something well. Writing well would be a start. I DO remember your chapbook. I still have it, in the piles of several hundred that I dutifully carried with me cross-country when I moved. Terry, it was dull. Very dull. Not bad, but there was little of interest going on there. I don't recall if I had read it yet when I saw you in Redondo, but even if I had, I doubt I would have said much. What was I supposed to say? "Sorry, it bored me to tears." But as I recall, it took me awhile to get around to it, because, even now, I get a ton of chapbooks very month. I've not thrown one away, and I try to read them all, but no, I can't review them, and I really had nothing consequential to say about it, for good or bad. As to my "wisdom would be something of value," Whatever. I don't recall volunteering to be your mentor, and while I've taught poetry in high schools and colleges, I don't recall you being in any of my classes. The sad fact is, Terry, I thought you were a nice guy,and always tried to be friendly to you, but no, I didn't care much for your writing. Would you have preferred that I said that? I can't see what good that would have done. It's not like I walked out of the room when you were on the microphone. Maybe you've gotten better, I don't know.You can have whatever opinions you want, Terry, and you can have whatever opinions you want about me, but the fact is, you're not the one out there doing the work, and if you've made any serious effort to BE the one out there doing the work, I'm sorry, but I don't recall it. [name omitted].
For better or worse, Name Omitted's letter has been an impetus for me to carry on as a poet over the last half-decade. I've learned a few things since then (and have to learn a few more), but I hope I never sink to the depths of writing to someone else who sends me a book or poem with the condescending, dimissive tone of what Name Omitted dictated above.
Some context should be established first:
1. The listserve, which had a period of poets-arguing-with-each-other from May of 2003 to August of 2006, generally contained members who didn't like arguing about or discussing the LA/OC scenes (or participating in the usual What Is Poetry? game or irritation over certain poets/writers who were then Big Sellers). They were more concerned with finding out what was going on with the proprietor's reading and news of other readings around the area.
2. Regarding the letter, the writer (his name will be omitted here) once was a prominent SoCal poet, plus a columnist for an alternapaper; I sent him a copy of my first chapbook. During a disagreement with Name Omitted (where I was called a "jerk" who discouraged serious discussion of poetry community problems), I reminded him of this and mentioned his nonresponse to my sending him the chapbook. And this is the response I received:
First off, I'm sorry I called you a jerk. I was out of line, and for that, I genuinely apologize. On the other hand, I'm not going to apologize for not paying more attention to you, and it's glaringly obvious that's what this little tantrum has been about. [prominent poet, now MIA from the scene] didn't pay attention to you. I didn't pay attention to you. Wah, wah, wah.Grow up, Terry. If you've got problems with the poetry scene, do something about it. Start your own readings, start a festival. Publish a journal or Web zine. Whatever, but stop acting like a baby because you don't get the attention you deserve and others do. You're right, it's not a level playing field, and you don't get points for just being there. You've actually got to do something well. Writing well would be a start. I DO remember your chapbook. I still have it, in the piles of several hundred that I dutifully carried with me cross-country when I moved. Terry, it was dull. Very dull. Not bad, but there was little of interest going on there. I don't recall if I had read it yet when I saw you in Redondo, but even if I had, I doubt I would have said much. What was I supposed to say? "Sorry, it bored me to tears." But as I recall, it took me awhile to get around to it, because, even now, I get a ton of chapbooks very month. I've not thrown one away, and I try to read them all, but no, I can't review them, and I really had nothing consequential to say about it, for good or bad. As to my "wisdom would be something of value," Whatever. I don't recall volunteering to be your mentor, and while I've taught poetry in high schools and colleges, I don't recall you being in any of my classes. The sad fact is, Terry, I thought you were a nice guy,and always tried to be friendly to you, but no, I didn't care much for your writing. Would you have preferred that I said that? I can't see what good that would have done. It's not like I walked out of the room when you were on the microphone. Maybe you've gotten better, I don't know.You can have whatever opinions you want, Terry, and you can have whatever opinions you want about me, but the fact is, you're not the one out there doing the work, and if you've made any serious effort to BE the one out there doing the work, I'm sorry, but I don't recall it. [name omitted].
For better or worse, Name Omitted's letter has been an impetus for me to carry on as a poet over the last half-decade. I've learned a few things since then (and have to learn a few more), but I hope I never sink to the depths of writing to someone else who sends me a book or poem with the condescending, dimissive tone of what Name Omitted dictated above.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
SLATE.com on the comic book HOWARD THE DUCK--and the fowl movie made from it.
Some essential reading from Keith Phipps, who writes for THE ONION's AV Club section: http://www.slate.com/id/2214067/
The cinematic HOWARD THE DUCK, along with 1984's snide, sour, deservedly-forgotten BEST DEFENSE (which at least had a good David Rasche supporting performance), offers ample explanation as to why Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck (who deserve a positive place in film history for their work on the screenplay for George Lucas' AMERICAN GRAFFITI) won't be remembered for their on-their-own spasms of auteurism.
HOWARD THE DUCK should be remembered for waste and misuse of its human actors--such as Tim Robbins (who, as Phil Blumburtt, plays the Missing Link between Dan Aykroyd and Rainn Wilson), Lea Thompson and Jeffrey Jones.
Don't forget the hideous duck suit and the yuppie-izing of Howard's anarchic-in-comic-books character as well.
The cinematic HOWARD THE DUCK, along with 1984's snide, sour, deservedly-forgotten BEST DEFENSE (which at least had a good David Rasche supporting performance), offers ample explanation as to why Gloria Katz and Willard Huyck (who deserve a positive place in film history for their work on the screenplay for George Lucas' AMERICAN GRAFFITI) won't be remembered for their on-their-own spasms of auteurism.
HOWARD THE DUCK should be remembered for waste and misuse of its human actors--such as Tim Robbins (who, as Phil Blumburtt, plays the Missing Link between Dan Aykroyd and Rainn Wilson), Lea Thompson and Jeffrey Jones.
Don't forget the hideous duck suit and the yuppie-izing of Howard's anarchic-in-comic-books character as well.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Ethan Hawke's 20 favorite Kris Kristofferson songs.
Actor/filmmaker/novelist Ethan Hawke has a lengthy profile of country music legend/veteran actor Kris Kristofferson in the current issue of ROLLING STONE: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/27113898/the_last_outlaw_poet (worth reading for the opening passage regarding Kris arguing with a self-righteous Toby Keith--not named in the article--backstage at a Willie Nelson And Friends concert in 2003).
Some minor criticism on my part: Hawke omits a seminal early-70s Kristofferson film, Bill Norton's CISCO PIKE (with Kris as a fallen-on-hard-times musician dealing drugs and Gene Hackman as a corrupt cop) and solely attributes the slowdown in Kristofferson's film career circa-early-80s to the artistic and commercial depth charge of HEAVEN'S GATE (without mentioning the flop of the more mainstream ROLLOVER--intended as a sort of CHINA SYNDROME of the financial sector--with Jane Fonda).
Here's Ethan's 20 favorite Kristofferson songs: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/27207147/the_essential_kris_kristofferson
Some minor criticism on my part: Hawke omits a seminal early-70s Kristofferson film, Bill Norton's CISCO PIKE (with Kris as a fallen-on-hard-times musician dealing drugs and Gene Hackman as a corrupt cop) and solely attributes the slowdown in Kristofferson's film career circa-early-80s to the artistic and commercial depth charge of HEAVEN'S GATE (without mentioning the flop of the more mainstream ROLLOVER--intended as a sort of CHINA SYNDROME of the financial sector--with Jane Fonda).
Here's Ethan's 20 favorite Kristofferson songs: http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/27207147/the_essential_kris_kristofferson
Re the second Beatles reunion.
Here's Steve Marinucci's take on the recent Paul-and-Ringo-reunited-onstage happening at David Lynch's NYC benefit for the cause of TM ( a couple of years ago, I attended something similar at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood--consisting of Lynch conversing with Laura Dern--plus a Donovan concert with a surprise appearance by Beach Boy and TM practitioner Mike Love): http://www.examiner.com/x-2082-Beatles-Examiner~y2009m4d5-Lynch-concert-update-And-in-the-end-the-love-you-make?cid=examiner-email
As I alluded to in the header, the only other "Beatles reunion" involving a live audience took place about thirty years ago, when Paul, George and Ringo played at the wedding reception of Eric Clapton and Pattie Boyd Harrison.
Hopefully, the Lynch benefit show will either receive TV broadcast or DVD release for those of us unable to be there on the historic occasion.
[UPDATE 4/7/09: Here's a link to the press release announcing remastered reissues of The Beatles catalog in stereo and mono versions--on 9/9/09, the same date as The Fab Four-themed ROCK BAND game: http://www.examiner.com/x-2082-Beatles-Examiner~y2009m4d7-BREAKING-NEWS-EMI-announces-Beatles-remasters-to-be-released-in-September?cid=examiner-email]
As I alluded to in the header, the only other "Beatles reunion" involving a live audience took place about thirty years ago, when Paul, George and Ringo played at the wedding reception of Eric Clapton and Pattie Boyd Harrison.
Hopefully, the Lynch benefit show will either receive TV broadcast or DVD release for those of us unable to be there on the historic occasion.
[UPDATE 4/7/09: Here's a link to the press release announcing remastered reissues of The Beatles catalog in stereo and mono versions--on 9/9/09, the same date as The Fab Four-themed ROCK BAND game: http://www.examiner.com/x-2082-Beatles-Examiner~y2009m4d7-BREAKING-NEWS-EMI-announces-Beatles-remasters-to-be-released-in-September?cid=examiner-email]
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Tom Braden: RIP.
Veteran journalist Tom Braden passed away at 92 years of age: http://news.aol.com/article/crossfire-creator-tom-braden-dies-at-92/413953?icid=mainhtmlws-maindl1link5http%3A%2F%2Fnews.aol.com%2Farticle%2Fcrossfire-creator-tom-braden-dies-at-92%2F413953
Braden will be best known for the memoir EIGHT IS ENOUGH, which was turned into a 70s hour-long dramedy with Dick Van Patten playing a fictionalized version ("Tom Bradford")--plus being the liberal POV standard-bearer on CNN's CROSSFIRE (Patrick Buchanan was the conservative antagonist).
For better or worse, CROSSFIRE inaugurated the cable-news standard of hosts and interviewees talking over each other and posturing for the sake of "good television." But at least Braden (who had a Golden Age of Journalism sense of gravitas) and Buchanan's tenure wasn't as cartoonish as the show's later period with Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson. And the show's demise was allegedly triggered by Jon Stewart's public dressdown of Begala and Carlson: http://arstechnica.com/old/content/2005/01/4509.ars
Braden will be best known for the memoir EIGHT IS ENOUGH, which was turned into a 70s hour-long dramedy with Dick Van Patten playing a fictionalized version ("Tom Bradford")--plus being the liberal POV standard-bearer on CNN's CROSSFIRE (Patrick Buchanan was the conservative antagonist).
For better or worse, CROSSFIRE inaugurated the cable-news standard of hosts and interviewees talking over each other and posturing for the sake of "good television." But at least Braden (who had a Golden Age of Journalism sense of gravitas) and Buchanan's tenure wasn't as cartoonish as the show's later period with Paul Begala and Tucker Carlson. And the show's demise was allegedly triggered by Jon Stewart's public dressdown of Begala and Carlson: http://arstechnica.com/old/content/2005/01/4509.ars
Thursday, April 2, 2009
The inconvenient truth about AMERICAN IDOL.
Yes, the aging AMERICAN IDOL still gets ratings for Fox. But can you even count on one hand the number of winners/runner-ups that have the kind of mainstream success the show allegedly grooms contestants for (i.e. CD/download sales in the multimillions--plus not being dropped by his/her IDOL-arranged record label)?
Another irony: at least two successful ex-contestants who have done just fine by not following the Simon Cowell/Simon Fuller blueprint (i.e. Chris Daughtry and Jennifer Hudson).
I have my doubts that Megan Joy Corkery (of the seagull-wings imitation and last night's f--- you to Simon Cowell) will enter the latter category.
Another irony: at least two successful ex-contestants who have done just fine by not following the Simon Cowell/Simon Fuller blueprint (i.e. Chris Daughtry and Jennifer Hudson).
I have my doubts that Megan Joy Corkery (of the seagull-wings imitation and last night's f--- you to Simon Cowell) will enter the latter category.
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