Friday, September 02, 2011

SHALL WE TURN AWAY AND WEEP?












Last night I did a show in London . It went well, I believe, but left me a little shattered. But then, today, this dropped into the inbox, telling me that the shit is never going to end. I've been reading stories like this all my long life. And we'll keep readingb them unless we keep talking and resisting, even when the human race hardly seems to merit the effort. (Click image to enlarge the text.)

Click here for Jim

The secret word is Weary

But what ironic images do we follow this with?

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

TOMORROW KNOWS













Come along if you can to our a gallery opening and live performance tomorrow Thursday September 1st at SPACE, 129 – 131 MARE STREET, LONDON E8 3RH (020 8525 4330). I’ll be reading my poetry accompanied by master guitarist Andy Colquhoun and percussionist, Jaki Miles-Windmill.

Click here for a sample of what we do

The secret word is Returned

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

WHERE’S MY DOME, YOU BASTARDS?





















Back in the middle of the 20th century they promised us that we’d live in Bucky Fuller domes, that we’d vacation on Mars, and there would be a bloody great mysterious monolith orbiting Jupiter. Zero out of three is pathetic.

“It’s hard to believe that people once thought we’d all be living in domes by the year 2000, but this delightful retro article from Popular Science confirms that the future is a lot squarer than people in the 60s and 70s thought it would be. The geodesic dome was the brainchild of R. Buckminster Fuller, who felt that the simplicity of design and ease with which it could be built would catch on like wildfire across the country, and claimed rather ambitiously that it could replace all manner of traditional housing. However, Fuller hadn’t taken the cost of repairs into consideration, nor the problems that would be encountered bringing the dome up to code, and the awkward shape of the panels made replacing them a real pain, so the geodesic dome fad fell along the wayside, becoming nothing more than a vision of the future that was never meant to be. If you want to read more about the “dome of the future”, follow the link to PopSci, where you’ll find lots more info, and pages from past Popular Science articles detailing the rise and fall of the housing dome fad.” Click here for more.

Click here for Prince (formerly)

The secret word is Disappointed


THE FROZDICK FAMILY














Verity Frozdick saw no evil.

BAT-SAN

I have no information about this. I just find it visually cool. Much the same also applies to the next image as you scroll down. But click here first for The Who

Monday, August 29, 2011

THE FOOLS OF TEXAS ARE UPON YOU













As the USA succumbs to a creeping insanity, the state of Texas leads the field. A new state-mandated school curriculum officially called the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills is in fact a mess of arrant nonsense and extreme right fundamentalist claptrap that will pitchfork Texans into some anti-intellectual heart of darkness.

"Perhaps you have heard something about a labor movement in the 20th century? No longer will your children. The only reference to a 20th-century labor movement will come when learning about Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta. No mention of the Fair Labor Standards Act or the National Labor Relations Act. No mention of strikes or any labor dispute. The words "labor movement" were taken out of the TEKS. Perhaps there is not enough time because students must now "understand how the free enterprise system drives technological innovation ... such as cell phones, inexpensive personal computers and global positioning products." Students will learn about the contributions of Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority. Maybe the students will read Falwell's claim that feminists and homosexuals were partially responsible for the 9/11 attacks. Phyllis Schlafly, the Heritage Foundation and the NRA are all included. Students will also be required to "discuss the meaning of ‘In God We Trust.' History in Texas classrooms will be decidedly different from when we were students. I never learned "both the positive and negative impacts of ... country and western music" in my high school history class. Where would you rate Estée Lauder in terms of historical importance to our country? If you think she is one of the 68 most important historical figures, you agree with the board. Yes, the board included her in the state curriculum, but not George Washington.” Click here for more.

Click here for Korn

The secret word is Hopeless

TRON SCOOTER













This is actually a kid-sized Tron light cycle that small children can own, ride, and, I would imagine, look and feel extremely cool in the process. I am so goddamned jealous. Why didn’t we have stuff like that?

Sunday, August 28, 2011

SUNDAY BREAKFAST

No, my friends, I am not drinking Tang on the moon this Sunday, although, in some respects I’m fascinating close. If we extend the NASA metaphor, I guess you could say I was flat on my back, strapped down in the command module, as the countdown comes closer to ignition, lift-off, and that Atlas blast of acceleration to escape velocity. The band that constitutes The Deviants Last Stand is on the pad. We are seriously seeking selected shows all over this land. Meanwhile I have a reading next week, a poetry collection I need to get into print, and much more fact and fiction to keep me pounding at the keyboard. No to mention what’s laughing called civilization is clearly coming apart at the seams. As I write this NYC is in hiding from a hurricane. And while not wanting to actively talk about my private life, it seems to have a taken a turn for the totally who’d-have-though-it, and I’m no longer buying into the concept that I’m better equipped to write the good fight when fucked up and miserable. Like Jim said, “Summer’s almost gone.” It’s time to reap the mists and mellow fruitfulness of fall and take ownership of the night that will be drawing in. (For our younger readers, Tang – a powdered orange drink – was taken to the moon by NASA’s Apollo astronauts back when we still dreamed of infinity.)

Click here for Elvis (I mean, who else?)

The secret word is Rising

MARILYN SEZ...

“It’s like Bill Hicks told us – ‘It’s a choice between fear and love.’”