Guy LeCharles Gonzalez (aka glecharles) (aka loudpoet)

An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Been reading Esmerelda Santiago's When I Was Puerto Rican and Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals simultaneously over the past couple of weeks, and thoroughly enjoying them both. I was concerned that Santiago's book would turn out to be another semi-autobiographical disappointment along the lines of Edwidge Danticat's Breath, Eyes, Memory, with a Lifetime TV plot full of "exotic" archetypes and cliché. Fortunately, it's a cut above that, largely because her writing is much less forced. It reads more like a well-written memoir than a pretentious literary whitewash. One of her strengths, that Danticat shares, is her talent for painting vivid…

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An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

President Forever 2004

President Forever 2004 is the perfect computer sim for political junkies. I bought the full version last week (only $12, well worth it!) and have run through six campaigns so far with Dubya kicking my ass all but once. He beat Kerry twice, paired up with Edwards and then Gephardt, neither of whom helped carry their home states. He beat Kucinich twice, with Edwards and then Clark, again with neither VP delivering their home states. Kucinich's default setup is oddly to the right of the real deal. Not drastically, but subtly enough to illustrate the annoying nuances of politics that…

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An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

louder than words update

The t-shirts just arrived and they look mah-velous! They will be available this Saturday for $15. Cheap! Don't sleep. Met with Eric and Helen over lunch earlier today to hash out the format and came out with some great ideas as well as identifying some potential pitfalls to avoid. I've gone from nervous and excited to nervous and ecstatic. It's either going to be a home run or a foul tip off the big toe! Last night's Acentos 1st anniversary show was a new high as the Blue Ox was packed old-school Nuyorican-style, with people on the floor and packed…

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An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

What’s next?

Y-A-W-N!!!

Monday night out and a 3-hour meeting starting at 8am don’t mix.

Hit 13 for the first time in months (lost track but it’s at least six) and had an…ah, interesting night. Always good to see Maureen who kept my glass so full that I actually had to pace myself for once. Early morning meeting and all. Sad that the thing I miss most from there is the 13inis.

The vibe for the show was a bit off with a light and low-energy crowd, weird considering it was the last qualifying slam of the season. (The glow, she has officially worn off, methinks.) With a disproportionate amount of Acentos regulars “on staff” and on the open mic and Nuyoricans dominating the slam that was actually short one poet, there were surprisingly few familiar 13 faces in the mix.

Halfway through the first round of the slam, I remembered its appeal. By the end, I was bored as hell.

(more…)

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An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Pumpkin Seeds: 3/22/2004

1. 3-day weekends that become 4-day weekends due to nasty viruses suck. 2. Crazy Wilson is my new [South] American Idol. 3. I don't remember the circus being such a musical production. Other than the lions and horses (booooooorrrrrrring!), though, it was a pretty exciting show. Especially the daredevilly stuff. 4. Ringmaster Kevin Venardos quite possibly has the coolest job in the world. 5. My "Original Broadway Cast Recording" of Barnum arrived today. I'm listening to it now. Don't hate! 6. Old Navy owns my soul. 7. The NASDAQ is under 2000 and the Dow is flirting with dropping below…

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An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Puke-a-rama 2004: The Germans Strike Back!!! Ah yes, another sleepless night of random vomiting. The dark side of day care. India handed off the baton to Isaac around 2:30am and the fun continued til 6am. Isaac threw in an epilogue at 8am and it's been pretty quiet since. He's running a 101 fever, though. Limerick slam tonight is up in the air for me and will be a last-minute call. Decided to actually sign up for the slam and wrote 9 limericks for it. Apparently I'll need as many as 30 if I manage to advance to the Finals but…

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