February 28, 2005
“Lichterman Nature Center? Never knew it existed!” That’s what you’ll hear frequently from tourists visiting Memphis as well as many of the local citizens. Though not very well advertised, Lichterman has been around since I was a kid and is a place I like to take friends who are visiting to just get away from the hustle and bustle. It’s a beautiful place, but it’s in trouble, folks. Apparently, city budget cuts are affecting all areas of the arts in Memphis. One of our great natural resources and protectives, Lichterman Nature Center, has had most of their funding chopped. I talked with a man who works for the city (who asked not to be named) and he told me the following: all the teaching teaching staff is part-time and they will all be laid off March 1st. The teaching staff at the center does animal and plant care in addition to teaching the many programs offered there. The handful of full-time people that are left will do everything — which means serious cutbacks in what Lichterman can offer. There is a good possibility that animals that are cared for will be sent elsewhere, and the center will be cancelling many of the resource programs that are offered. It seems that our mayor, in cadence with the city council, is cutting the budget dramatically and Lichterman is suffering. Citywide, as a result of budget cuts and a 28 million dollar deficit, there will be 200 full time and 1800 part time city employees getting laid off.
Why is Lichterman, a place that had brand new buildings costing 7 million dollars when built in 2000, being pushed aside? One side of the story appears to be that many of the buildings require major repairs. The center, which is operated by the Pink Palace, had no comment on the story.
As for the Sharpe Planetarium, the staff of the planetarium had been asking Pink Palace officials for a very long time to provide funding for new equipment, as much of the planetarium’s equipment is outdated. In response to the repeated requests for new equipment, the Pink Palace could not keep up with the operating budget needs and has instead closed the planetarium to the public.
What’s next on the agenda? Will we be closing the Memphis Zoo? The Brooks? These are questions that everyone in the arts in Memphis should be considering carefully. It’s pretty clear to me that the arts in Memphis is in dangerous territory here. The potential for losing major centers of culture in Memphis is very much a possibility. Because these are non-profits, donations can be made to these centers to keep them alive. If you value these places as much as I do, please do whatever you can do to raise awareness of the potential for what could prove devestating losses to the city’s cultural centers.
February 27, 2005
David Meinert has been a blessing in my life and the lives of countless other members of the semi-defunct Seattle music scene of the 1990′s. Without his encouragement, a great number of things that I hold personally dear to me would be lost. I have always seen David’s radical efforts towards change eventually pay off in one way or another. I have looked to him for both personal and professional advice over the years. To me, David is a picture of what the courage of your convictions can do if you don’t take no for an answer. What a great surprise it was to read this week’s issue of The Stranger, Seattle’s free alternative weekly paper, and see him shining in the proof of what great effort can achieve in a city where old ways are not necessarily best ways. If you fancy yourself part of the music community in your city in any way, as an artist, manager, producer, promoter, or just someone who is interested in the biz, I recommend you take a few minutes to read this story. The story highlights the travelogues of a man who went from fighting for change in the music industry as a total outsider just ten years ago to today organizing political benefits, being called “one of Seattle’s 25 most influential people” and becoming head of the Pacific Northwest chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS), also known as the people who put on the Grammies every year. It’s an incredible shift from booking little shows around town to being the force from which city ordinances are defeated and political figures are made.
David’s work ought to have value to even the most cynical among you. David, when I knew him, was a great cynic — but a cynic who could see the loophole and found a way to jump thru it and bring people with him. Something real is always within reach, and David is ironclad proof. My congratulations go out to him and to the many people back in my old neighborhood who, along with him, have stayed courageous through a lot of bullshit and fought tirelessly to make a real difference. We could all learn something from him.
Photo: Bootsy Holler
Download of the Day:
[Mary Timony - Return to Pirates][128kbps]
from the soon-to-be-released album Ex-Hex
According to MTV News, the Fred Durst sex tape did not come from a T-Mobile Sidekick. Apparently, he doesn’t even own one.
MTV Reports:
“Everyone, probably everyone in this building, has done something similar to what I did, and nobody cares about it,” he added during a break from recording the next Limp Bizkit album in Interscope Records’ studio. “But if you’re high-profile, or on someone’s radar … then it matters. What happens to me happens to me, and I have to live with it and go on.”
More to come, I’m sure.
February 25, 2005
Well, ABC News has revealed a surprise witness will be called in the Jackolestation case. According to the story, “ABC News has been told exclusively by sources in the case that the witness is a paralegal who worked for the attorney representing the accuser’s mother when their family sued J.C. Penney and won a $137,500 settlement in October 2001.” Apparently, she’s gonna lay the smack down on the accusers mama and prove she’s a scheming hoe out to get some cash by any means necessary. I’m sure there will be more on this story, keep close to your monitors. I’m sure it’s gonna slow down your weekend and all, having this crucial information at your fingertips.
Hard to admit it, but everybody wants to punk Fred Durst. He’s made enemies out of more friends than most of the friends I have. But, alas, I must once again say that he’s never done anything mean to me so far. In fact, he was one of the guys who was nice to work with back in ’98 at the MTV Sports & Music Festival 2 here. Maybe cuz I was all Seattle-tight with Nathan, the guy from the Real World Seattle that pitched Limp Bizkit to MTV for the festival? I dunno if it’s true, but that’s what he told me. Anyways, all love aside, Fred just got T-Mobile hacked.
According to Stereogum via Drudge,
“The hardcore video — with audio — shows Durst engaging in
unprotected sex with a female. The graphic ”T-MOBILE TERRORIST’
is seen throughout the clip. A site hosting the hack reads: ‘I’M
SORRY, U SELLOUT 
’ Law enforcement officials believe the video
comes from the same source who presented Paris’s Sidekick diary.”
Those of you who have always been a bit curious what it would be like to have sex with a big hairy rock star whose dick has bumps all over it will agree that the video (if you can find it) is a lovely glimpse into what that might be like. You are going to need the DivX codec in order to view this monstrosity, and if you have Windows, I recommend the hellninjacommando DefilerPak for all your codec needs. The correct codec will be installed as part of the bundle. Download the DefilerPak, install it, and you got everything ya need.
UPDATE: I’ve taken down the links to the mirrors to prevent any wrath. A close friend and business associate is working with Fred on several projects and I don’t want to create any further heat for him or for me. Fred is a Leo, so I imagine that he’s relishing in the attention, even if it’s not precisely what he signed on for. However, just in case (and so as not to appear to be on the hater bandwagon), I’d rather stay out of it altogether. Like I said, Fred has never been anything but nice to me. The link in this post should help you to find the video, though. Good luck.
Dirty, dirty, dirty. STRONG WARNING: NOT WORK OR KID SAFE!
If you’re wondering where you’ll find me and the Al-Chymical Rhyme Circus this weekend, there’s no question about it. This is one of the guaranteed locations at which the frequency will be set on my radio stations. I also plan on seeing Augustine at least once this weekend (if not twice?). Hope to see a bunch of you out this weekend!
February 24, 2005
Oh what a tangled web we weave, people. Peggy Phillip reported on Tuesday that Memphis’ own Andy Wise, reporter for News Channel 3, had gotten a prized interview with Mayor Herenton’s baby-momma. I didn’t see the story, so I’m going a bit blind here based on what I’ve read. Appears old Andy there took it upon himself to give the story a bit of a faith-oriented slant, seeing as how, according to him, it was by being “bold in our faith” that anyone could have gotten the extremely sought-after story. See, that would’ve been fine — had it not been for his very public letter to Darrell Phillips, a reporter for rival station WMC-TV 5, about how he snagged the scoop of the year. Darrell shared the letter on his blogspace, and now there is some trouble afoot for the Wise one. From varying sources, I have heard that Andy is on suspension either (a) for contacting Darrell about the story, or (b) because he has pissed off one too many decision makers.
I mean, you know…whatever. End of the day, the job is the job. Reporters are supposed to remain impartial with regards to personal matters when it comes to reporting, am I correct here? If it moves him to sing the praises of his beliefs, I say sing it from the highest mountaintop with the flock to back him up. But this is television news, not the frickin’ PTL Club. Maybe Andy thinks himself a modern day Jerry Landers instead of a modern day Jerry Tate. Whatever the case, you gotta be careful when you stick that buzz in your biz.
Apparently, Josh Homme has been sidelined due to the fact that he’s coughing up blood. Yummy. I guess if you do enough drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes for a long enough time (and rock hard enough, of course), you’ll start hurling plasma lungbunnies, too. When Josh gets off the respirator, I know he will be back serving the good people of the world with snacky treats from the new QOTSA record, Lullabies to Paralyze.
So you’re trying to look cool with your OLD iPod? Pshaw, sucka. Apple announced on Wednesday that they are updating their popular iPod line with some serious improvements. Things like improved batteries, improved battery life, and they’ve introduced both a 30GB and a 60GB model. So, just when you finally got all yer Free iPod referrals cashed in, along comes Apple to fuck up the program once again. But hey — that old one will make a nice doorstop when the battery dies on it finally.
February 23, 2005
