forgive us because we didn’t think
didn’t want to find out why you did it
instead we went along with the crowd’s anger
over how dare you question infallibility
>
some of us (myself included) were such cowards
returned your albums to used music stores
didn’t want to be reminded of non-music discourse
not realizing disturbing peace was vital to you and your art
the 15-year-old boy with heightened emotions
now the 63-year-old man calmly seeing an oncologist
infused, injected, transplanted, revived
taking medication, getting sleepy, hoping for days outdoors
>
looking back at the girl I thought I loved at 15
lying to myself about how I could have been her ideal
imagining all sorts of happy alternate universes
in this one: didn’t listen, never gained her trust, never was a confidant
>
taught to fear, warned to avoid, harangued to PAY ATTENTION
in spite of this, eventually thought for myself,
and was blessed/burned by consequences
at 63, want more years before affairs must become ordered
Warner Bros. Discovery’s David Zaslav loves Turner Classic Movies (best known as TCM) so much that he’s making deep cuts in its key staff and re-appointing a previous head of the channel.
Here are some possible aftereffects:
1. No more TCM Film Festival. It’s a pricey annual diversion for a subset of the channel’s fanbase. But the festival, through its restoration premieres and star/director appearances, generates a lot of value and goodwill. Zaslav may consider it a waste of time and resources. And if the festival goes, expect huge and passionate pushback.
2. No more TCM Cruises. Repeat the above pricey annual diversion statement. But this likely wouldn’t spark outrage on the level of ending the film festival.
3. No more TCM branding—books, wines, etc.
4. Fewer hosts. Guessing Zaslav is bottom-line fixated enough to see Eddie Muller’s film noir showings and Jacqueline Stewart’s Sunday night silent films as nonessential programming to be discarded for more showings of familiar fare (Cary Grant, 1940s Humphrey Bogart, Doris Day, 1950s William Holden, Audrey Hepburn). The host rotation of Ben/Dave/Alicia should be safe.
5. Moving from cable to exclusive online app.
6. Moving from cable to expanded curation niche subset of Max.
Let’s find out (with trepidation) what Zaslav chooses to do next.
Trump goes low, they say nothing
better to watch slow crack of GOP ice
an erosion that could last until 2024
>
let the lies speed like stock trading
allow the primaries to be Trump-centric
easier than speaking truth right now
to malignant power
>
Trump goes lower and lower
and they foolishly think they’re going high
by saying nothing
1. An Innocent Man
2. Tell Me Why
3. The Ghost of Pat Robertson
4. Classified (I Don’t Think So)
5. Lawyers Guns and Money
6. You’ve Got To Hide Your Government Documents Away
7. Jail Doesn’t Suit My Lifestyle
8. Georgia On My Mind
Florida Ron wants you
actually he wants you not to think
just be comfortable with your bigotry
no reading about past and present injustice
no teaching your kids unpleasant history
no having to deal with non-Christians
no dealing with Christians who read the Bible wrong
no crossing the path of LGBTQ people
just let him wish everything you don’t like
into the magic cornfield where it disappears
and pray he’ll never turn on you
for a quick lunge at even more ignorant voters
Bruce sings My Love Will Not Let You Down
can’t say the same for the ticket prices
so I learn to live with what I can’t rise above
listening to live shows for a fraction of the cost
paid by celebrity guest singers and well-heeled fans
as the Jersey Man sings from a seldom-changing setlist
about aging, death and being the Last Man Standing
and I remember when I paid a ticket broker’s price
(cheaper than Dynamic Pricing today)
to sit in the now dead Los Angeles Sports Arena
and buy a T-shirt (since lost) with the saying
THIS IS NOT A DARK RIDE
this was a mere 35 years ago
people dressed to the tens enter Westminster Abbey
supporting the monarch who waited quite long for his chance
yes, he’s more forward-thinking than his parents tended to be
but one can’t forget the grim withholder who created human wreckage
