Rant

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

The Buffalo Bills have been my second favorite NFL team ever since Jim Kelly came over from the USFL's Houston Gamblers in 1986, eventually leading them to four consecutive heartbreaking Super Bowls in the early 90's. WIth the Jets sucking for much of that time - from the latter years of the Joe Walton era through the horrible Rich Kotite fiasco - Buffalo was often my only chance to cheer for a playoff team I actually liked. In '91, when they lost the Super Bowl in the final seconds to the Giants, wide right, I was devastated, especially since for…

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

Charles Bukowski and I share a birthday. So does Madonna. Frank & Kathie Lee Gifford. Yes, both of them. Elvis died on my birthday. The roller coaster was patented on my birthday. Such seemingly random events occuring on August 16th explains a lot. I'm having trouble grasping the idea of being 34 years old, though. Not in some mid-life crisis kind of way; more along philosophical lines, trying to understand what being 34 means. Or should mean, at least. I'm married with two kids. I've achieved some modest success in my various pursuits. As I define it, anyway. I'm as…

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

Ever seen a shitstorm? Head on over to the poetry_slam listserve for a peek at one. Woah! I didn't start it for once but damn if I didn't throw a few tough ones to the body! I really hate that list because it brings out the worst in me. I'm admittedly contentious and have rarely come across a fight I didn't think I could win but shit, this can't be good for my mental health! It's like a mutually abusive relationship. I really have to consider stepping away from it completely because I certainly don't know how to keep my…

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

The National Poetry Slam is Dead

Crazy busy at work and home this week but, along with managing my GSL fantasy football draft, I've been surfing around for the scoop on Nationals. (LA won by the way; Nuyorican came in second and San Jose's Mike McGee won the indies.) Between Blogger and LiveJournal, I suspect the poetry_slam list will be rather light with the good stuff, but that's probably a good thing as people are being much more honest in their journals. Seems the biggest topic is Marc Smith's hosting of the Finals which is being roundly lambasted as an embarrasment to the community. Surprise! What…

Continue ReadingThe National Poetry Slam is Dead
An arm with a tattoo: "I was made for the library, not the classroom."

Balseros One of the most heartbreaking documentaries I've ever seen. The flip side of Buena Vista Social Club and a must-see for all you pseudo-revolutionaries out there that need a little dose of reality to flesh out your one-dimensional rants. Director Carles Bosch makes no judgments on the lives of the Cuban rafters he follows over seven years. You won't be able to help but come to some of your own judgements about your own life and what you take for granted. One of the things that stood out in my mind was the looming shadow of the fall of…

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

Couple of weeks ago, I think it was July 3rd, I got out of work early and decided to take a long walk uptown before hopping on the train home. Skirted Battery Park, past the evil DMV and headed towards the hole in the ground formerly known as the World Trade Center. I walked up Greenwich Street, past several closed up storefronts, "We're Open!" signs and a large office building covered in some sort of black shroud. About a block before you get to the construction site, the typically loud and vibrant energy of the city softens into something of…

Continue Reading
Newer Posts
Older Posts