I. Poetry Slam, Inc. Two poetry slam-related things I never expected to see: 1. Taylor Mali is the new President of Poetry Slam. Inc. 2. This. The Taylor thing is actually an interesting wrinkle that could mean PSI becoming relevant again. People may not agree with Taylor's positions on a lot of things but there's no question that he'll bring a different approach to the organization and a fresh new energy. Of course, it could also be the final nail in the coffin as he unapologetically turns it into a competition that eschews any sense of community for purely cutthroat…

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Hit Urbana last night after the pleasantly unexpected distraction of 50%-off sushi. FRESH sushi! Yum. Got there in time for the slam which, to my surprise, I kind of enjoyed. Over the years, Cristin has become my favorite host on the scene, hands down. She knows her audience, has impeccable comedic skills and timing, and is cute as hell. Makes a night where someone like RAC loses to some Steve Colman-lite guy bearable. Speaking of RAC, I think she's officially become one of my favorite poets on the scene. Watching her last night was a breath of fresh air. Her…

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The feedback from louder than words has been great. Much of it overwhelmingly positive, and where there was critique, it was generally offered honestly and clearly. Eric, Helen, Diane and I met Tuesday night to digest it all and tweak the format in a way that puts more emphasis on - and sets aside more time for - the debate. One of the comments we received - or, more correctly, I received as it was all directed at me - took issue with some of the things I said in my introduction, challenging me on both facts and opinion. The…

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People I’m feeling right now

People I'm feeling right now: M.C. Siegel: mcpoet.blogspot.com The honest truth is that when I feel like I'm resisting this tendency I, for the life of me, cannot write. Emotional anguish and solitude are the perfect catalysts for my writing. Sadly enough, when I'm happy it's like being on soma, I have no ambition to commit my thoughts to paper. All I want to do is stay happy, kill time, and ignore the issues that make for the majority of my writing. It's just like drug-addiction...and it's the most normal thing in the world to do. The question I'm always…

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As it's pretty clear that louder than words will be getting an extended run - just confirmed: Friday, May 21st @ 8pm - I've created a new blog specifically for it at http://louderthanwords.blogspot.com. Click it, bookmark it, and link to it from your own site or blog! It's going to be a group effort, with Eric and Diane - and hopefully even Helen popping in as our Hawaii correspondent! - posting along with me, about the show, continuing some of the debates that are raised, baiting prospective guest features...you name it! I also added a post-by-post commenting feature so the…

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From: Bob Holman Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2004 12:22 AM To: 'Guy Lecharles-Gonzalez' Subject: WOW So much to say, but overall, UNBEFUCKINLIEVABLE Please forward to Eric, Helen, and crew. Let's talk. How about 8pm Friday May 14? BMore than any other feedback I've received on the show so far, this was the most gratifying, especially taken in tandem with his initial comment at the end of the show about it far exceeding his expectations. It exceeded even mine. I was an anxious wreck the couple of hours before the show started as we drove in from Westchester after dropping the…

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It's 4:30pm as I start to write this, 27.5 hours before louder than words premieres. I still can't believe that it all came together so quickly and am more than a little nervous about both the turnout and the response. The concept has received a lot of positive feedback but, like many of my favorite sports teams over the years, it's not about how things look on paper. It's about execution. So many variables in the mix, so much of it completely out of my hands... Ironic that one of the things that triggered the desire to do the show…

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