North of Center Wednesday, September 23, 2009 Free take home and read Volume I, Issue 10 Grade inflation at U. of Kentucky Board of Trustees easier “A” than Mayer’s ENG 101 class

By Danny Mayer Board of Trustees who voted him the harassed in the media for accepting his skyrocket tuition to be recognized bonus to begin with. According to the 2008 bonus, which of course makes his as a Top 20 university, I find CEO On Tuesday, September 15, the sentiments of trustee James Stuckert, current “generosity” come off less as Todd’s salary already inflated. Forget Lexington Herald Leader’s Karla Ward CEO Todd’s salary is, if anything, too sincere and more as (corporate) image the bonuses, I’d love to have a debate informed area readers that UK CEO small. Stuckert felt that a “CEO” of a control. He is, after all, a CEO. on how Todd merits his current base Lee Todd turned down a performance “$2.4 billion entity” should be making Now, before I go any further, let salary. bonus valued at $168,000.00. much, much more—not less. me here say that I don’t think CEO This base salary amounts to This news has drawn a number of Todd’s public comments have been Todd ought to have received the extra $350,000.00, a figure which includes responses, most confidently agreeing both tactful and whiny. On the one money, mostly because I think his a $50,000.00 paycheck for work with that yes, CEO Todd correctly refused hand, Todd has acknowledged that he base salary is also greatly inflated. the UK Athletic Association. That the money. In the words of the Herald is “simply not comfortable accepting Todd’s salary has spiked as he and the yearly income already places him in Leader, taking the bonus this year the performance award at a time when University have ratcheted up the pres- the top 2% of wage earners in the would be an “insensitive and disre- every department on campus is dealing sure to achieve “Top 20” status. Since United States. I imagine he’s in even spectful” act. About the only group in with severe budget restrictions.” On the I do not agree that the University of disagreement with the decision are the other, he has complained about getting Kentucky needs to bankrupt itself and continued on page 9 Sheehan visits Lex “We have to be as against the war as our leaders are for it.” By Beth Connors-Manke cause” her son had died. What ensued came to be called “Camp Casey”: for Unfortunately, as I followed anti- 26 days the media followed Sheehan war activist Cindy Sheehan around while she demanded an audience with Lexington last Saturday, I didn’t get President Bush, who refused to meet a chance to ask her my most burning with the Peace Mom. question: How often do she and George F. Not a just war Will agree? In the years since Camp Casey,

The question was pertinent because Sheehan has continued her cross- COURTESY REBECCA ANN GONCHAROFF Will, a conservative columnist for The country anti-war touring, founded Washington Post, had recently criticized the Gold Star Families for Peace, Cindy Sheehan responds cheerfully to an audience member’s question during a forum at American involvement in Afghanistan, given testimony during the investiga- Transylvania University. titling his September 1 missive, “Time tion of the Downing Street Minutes to Get Out of Afghanistan.” Painting a in 2005, written several books, and in paused, seeming to have lost the thread loss of her son. Her anti-war crusade bleak picture of the ability of the U.S. 2008 challenged Nancy Pelosi for her of her talk. “I hadn’t expected that,” really seems to be about caring about to win the offensive in Afghanistan, Congressional seat. she admitted. It was an honest moment people and a strong, unwavering moral Will suggested that if we continue with Sheehan’s beef with Pelosi? That showing how the reality of the war still opposition to U.S. policies that cheat ground troops, we will be squandering the Congresswoman had tabled the affects the seasoned activist. people of their lives through bombs the valor (i.e. the lives) of our soldiers. issue of impeaching then-President Despite how thoroughly political or exploitation. Noting the recently Will proposed that “instead, forces Bush. Sheehan’s activism is, it became clear growing number of attacks from the should be substantially reduced to Sheehan’s continued work in the during the course of her Lexington Left because she has dared to criticize serve a comprehensively revised policy: peace movement has led her to ques- visit that the Peace Mom’s involvement President Obama’s policies, Sheehan America should do only what can be tion some Democrats’ former anti- is still a personal one. And by personal, done from offshore, using intelligence, war sentiments. Disappointed by I do not just mean grounded in the continued on page 3 drones, cruise missiles, airstrikes and Democrats’ willingness to follow Bush- small, potent Special Forces units, con- era war policies as long as they have an centrating on the porous 1,500-mile Obama face on them, Sheehan believes Building a queer Lexington border with Pakistan, a nation that that the “Left anti-war movement has Queer Control Records showcase at Al’s Bar actually matters.” stepped down.” In her talks given at By Jack Cofer event—an invitation we were more That suggestion is where I’m guess- the Unitarian Universalist Church and than honored to accept. Between the ing Sheehan and Will would part ways Transylvania University over the week- As a non-native Lexingtonian, I overwhelming amount of sponsors again. If audience members got one end, Sheehan mused, “Did we have an have done what many others have done and businesses who contributed and message from Sheehan on Saturday, it anti-Bush movement rather than an over the years and settled in this small the overwhelming attendance, it was was that we needed to end the war in anti-war movement?” city hailing itself as the “Horse Capitol there that I realized the full potential Afghanistan, not extend it by hiding It would seem so. It would also of the World.” If you would have told of this specific community. And by behind our Predator Drones, dropping seem that some Obama support- me ten years ago that I would end up bringing out all walks of GLBTIQQA bombs from unmanned aircraft. ers campaigned under the illusion here, I would have told you to get your people, I was reminded just how many Sheehan, known to many as the that as president Obama would be a head checked. However, this small city different ways one can fit into the “Peace Mom,” gained notoriety as one peace president. What we now see has burrowed itself into my heart with “alphabet soup.” of the leading voices of the protest clearly is a White House that has been its hospitality and ever-growing prog- It is important to note that not all against U.S. involvement in Iraq and working to prepare the public and ress toward positive change. It’s easy to GLBTIQQA people are the same; the Afghanistan after her son Casey was Congress for more extensive involve- find your people here, and from what very length of the acronym illustrates killed in Iraq. Though it ranges much ment in Afghanistan. On September I’ve seen, people are organizing more this. Despite that reality, the heterosex- wider, Sheehan’s critique of the war is 15, Admiral Mike Mullen, chair- and more around the things they care ual community often makes sweeping rooted in the intimate pain of losing a man of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and about. generalizations about us, overlooking son to it. the nation’s top military officer, told For me, I have found there is a the divisions of race, gender, ethnicity In the spring of 2004, Sheehan’s Congress that the war in Afghanistan growing population of GLBTIQQA and especially class that are alive and eldest son Casey, a Specialist in the U.S. would need more troops and more (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, well within our—and every—commu- Army, died on a mission in Sadr City, time. While Mullen did not ask explic- Intersex, Queer, Questioning and nity. This is obvious to me whenever Iraq. Like other families who had lost itly for more troops, there have been Allied) individuals and, what’s more, I go to the popular gay bars and every a loved one to the war, Sheehan was not-so-quiet murmurs recently that the we’re uniting and working together face I see is white, or when fundraisers invited several months after Casey’s request is in the pipeline. on ways to improve where we live. Just for GLBTIQQA charities cost more to death to meet with then-president What would that mean to three years ago our annual PRIDE attend than I could ever afford, or by George W. Bush. The unsatisfactory Sheehan? More babies dying in our event was being held on a private farm, the fact that most of my lesbian friends meeting with Bush spurred Sheehan to attacks, more soldiers going to war. away from the city—and away from have a story about some gay guy flex- direct her energies toward ending the More lives lost all around. During potential discrimination. In 2008, ing his male privilege at her. war and holding our elected officials her talk at Transy, Sheehan asked the however, Lexington made history when While I loved seeing the success of accountable for their illegal actions in audience to give a show of hands. First the GLSO (Gay and Lesbian Service the PRIDE Festival, what I want to see invading Iraq and Afghanistan. she queried, “How many of you know Organization) not only put on their even more is a true community of queers The next summer, Sheehan fol- someone serving in Iraq?” Hands went first ever PRIDE Festival downtown in this city. What I mean is that, for all lowed Bush on one of his many vaca- up. “How many of you know someone at Cheapside Park, but also exceeded intents and purposes, Lexington doesn’t tions to his ranch in Crawford, Texas. serving in Afghanistan?” More hands their estimated attendance of 3,000 have an actual “queer” community: there In a ditch nearby, Sheehan set up camp went up. “How many of you know people. are a handful of people who identify as and asked to meet with the president. someone who has been killed in the As “out” local musicians, my She wanted to know for what “noble war?” Hands went up again. Sheehan partner and I were asked to play the continued on page 5

Contents In the next issue 2 — The Neighborhood 4 — Culure 6 — Sports 8 — Comics A report from the G-20 The basil economy Boomslang: everything Sports and patriotism Dewburger Strong Women opens you need to know Tebow almighty I’m Not From Here Mayer on music and community Duncan Park celebrations Other media at Boomslang 9 — Opinion Wall Street healthcare Reid on healthcare 2 North of Center The Neighborhood

North of Center is a periodi- Building a basil economy cal, a place, and a perspec- tive. Keep reading to find Grabbing rock and stacking stone out what that means. By Danny Mayer bluegrass region’s rock fences. When to transport the rock grabbed for his Editor & Publisher we first moved here, my wife and I public sidewalk garden located on Danny Mayer It’s hard to reckon the precise ton- would take long rides in the country, the corner of Hart and Ridgeway. nage of rock that I have gathered from both by ourselves and as part of those Commuting to Northern Kentucky Features the inner bluegrass region these past weekend tours we gave visiting family University where he has found adjunct Beth Connors-Manke four years. I have no scales, so instead and friends. work as a teacher of geography, Michael I tend to measure such things in minor As I have lived here longer, my grabbed rock off cutouts on the sixty Film & Media back aches and fall fires around rock fence experiences have become more mile stretch of I-75 he drove twice a Colleen Glenn fire-pits. tactile. I have scraped my boots and week. It took about fifteen minutes But irrespective of the precise Culture number, here’s what that tonnage has Nick Kidd built in Lexington: four small guer- rilla gardens atop drainage ditches and Sports, Layout astride fences in places like the Rupp Keith Halladay Arena parking lot (all of which are waiting to be re-inhabited); two sepa- Contributors rate rock walkways (approximately 40 Andrew Battista feet in length and partially adorned Michael Benton in creeping thyme); a rock fire-pit sur- Brian Connors-Manke rounded by rock patio that was built A.G. Greebs into a double terraced rock flower bed John P. Lackey (all this more or less a 120 square foot Troy Lyle thing that reaches a height of 3 feet); Trevor Tremaine a 40 foot section of a partially-raised- bed garden that backed up to a fence/

Please address correspon- property line; a terraced 200 square DANNY MAYER dence, including advertising foot garden built atop what was pre- inquiries and letters to the viously an unusable steep incline of Rock firepit in winter. editor, to: weeds behind my former house; a 30 foot long rock fence (as yet only par- jeans hopping an eighteenth century per excursion as he selected and then [email protected]. tially completed) at my current home; rock fence that divided land near the moved the chosen rocks to his trunk. and sundry other projects taken on Kentucky River that Daniel Boone All in all, this took Marchman less Unless otherwise noted, all alone and with friends. helped survey, and more recently I than a semester of 15-minute respites material copyright © 2009 The list could go on were I to have periodically helped re-stack an from his car to build a garden now in North of Center, LLC. include into my figures things built in only slightly newer fence in Keene, KY. its second year of harvest. Jessamine County, but I think you get I have now walked enough Kentucky On the collection side of things, the point. I like to collect and stack ground to know that my interest in there are other nuances I’ve learned. rock and do it quite frequently. rock fences lies mainly in the rock: Nearby rock outcroppings are easier My attraction to rock is both Limestone mostly, and shitloads of it, in both the arrival and the departure. Send submissions to Danny practical and aesthetic. Moving here all over the region, used in the con- I’d suggest to stay within twenty-five Mayer or Keith Halladay at in 2000 for school, I have been con- struction of beautiful fences, terraces, miles, mostly because it’s ridiculously [email protected]. tinually struck by the power—aesthetic, mills, bridge bases, houses, garden easy to do. Sunday mornings are historic, racial, economic—of the inner and flower beds, retaining walls, and good times to hunt rock since most culverts, to name a few rock creations of Lexington and its police force are old and new I’ve come across and mar- engaged in various religious activities. veled at. Home construction sites often result This last learned attraction,the in mounds of rock upturned from the historic multi-functionality of rock, is earth; rock mounds are preferable in also practical. I first experienced the that you can roll heavier rocks down practical use of stones when trying to them and into your truck bed rather figure out what to do about the dirt than heaving them into it. and mud path created by our two dogs If you are collecting rock from that stretched across the back yard ground torn up for active construc- of our former home. Grass seed did tion, stay out of the way of workers and not work, discipline and (later) plead- visit when you will not be in their way. ing did not work, and the pea gravel If you collect from other sites, make I paid to get dumped there to make a sure that your taking does not nega- walkway was messy and stuck in my tively impact the physical and cultural barefeet when I walked in it. environment in which it sits. Thank When friends in Carlisle offered us friends and acquaintances who offer the rocks strewn across their property their rocks. And finally, go travel the Strong Women at Newman Center that had been ripped up in the making road to Galilee: the ripped up stretch of their new home, I began gathering of Harrodsburg Road beginning past By Beth Connors-Manke TV—I like to tell them, for shock value, rocks for a walkway. By the time I fin- the great Christian megachurches and about the Lexington HSU for women. ished the firepit and terraced garden, I ending at the turnoff to Wilmore and Many people, I’m sure, are not Another way to glimpse the real realized that in addition to its utility as Asbury Seminary. I don’t know if it’s aware of the notoriety of the Lexington experiences of women in jail is to see walking surface, rocks can raise garden legal or not, but my hunch is that rock High Security Unit for women. Strong Women, a play developed from beds, separate areas of my yard, level gleaning is supported by at least some Opened in 1986, the HSU had a short poetry by women in the Cook County uneven land, provide a building beam part of Christian thought. life, closing in 1988 after inmates and Jail in Illinois. Presented October 1 at to perch my canoe upon, and other- On the stacking of stones, I’m human rights organizations took the 7:30 pm at the Newman Center (320 wise create an aesthetic “hardscape.” I more a practitioner than a craftsper- institution to court for prison condi- Rose Lane), the piece is a product of also learned that I didn’t need to go to son. But I have found that wider bases tions and treatment of inmates. the Persephone Project prison work- Carlisle to get it. As I began to look seem to make more sturdy structures. Designed to hold 16 women, the shops run by the Still Point Theater and see how much was available, gratis, So does stacking to avoid long running Lexington HSU was built beneath an Collective in Chicago. The Collective at ripped up construction sites, inter- vertical joints. This happens when existing correctional institution. The facilitates theatre workshops with state cutouts, water-main projects, and you put two ends together on one level multi-million dollar project was a women in three detention centers excavation sites in our own yards, I saw (making a joint) and then put two ends prison within a prison geared toward around the Chicago area, helping the economic and aesthetic practical- together at the same place for the next complete surveillance and psycho- incarcerated women explore their lives ity of choosing homegrown rock over set of rocks stacked on top. Vary the logical control of prisoners who had and express their fears, failings, and Lowes-bought faux-rock. joints, and make level stacks of rock. been placed there because of their hopes. As with most things, collecting Having level stacks gives you a much political activity. Clinical psycholo- Strong Women is presented as and stacking rock is both infinitely easier base to work your next layer gist Dr. Richard Korn reported to part of the Newman Foundation easy and gloriously nuanced—an activ- of rocks. Use small rocks as backfill the American Civil Liberties Union Distinguished Speakers Series and ity for both green beginners pulling for support or as shems. Rocks want that the purpose of the prison was the Franciscan Peace Center annual a one-off project and craft tradespeo- three stable points of contact to help “to reduce prisoners to a state of October FrancisFest. ple getting paid for their enhanced be steady and the backfill helps keep submission essential for their ideo- skills. Here’s the easy version, which is it in place. logical conversion. That failing, the Other events planned for the Francis- restrictive to the degree that it assumes These are some basics of collect- next objective is to reduce them to a Fest include: automobile access and physical ability ing and stacking, and they are from state of psychological incompetence to lift things weighing between five (5) someone who has not spent much time sufficient to neutralize them as effi- Pray the Devil Back to Hell, a documen- and one thousand (1000) pounds: Get learning the finer points of the craft. cient, self-directing antagonists. That tary, Friday, October 2, 7:00—9:00 pm in your vehicle and locate rocks acces- I collect and lay rock for a variety of failing, the only alternative is to Dances of Universal Peace, Saturday, sible to said vehicle. Load rocks. Drive reasons, so my things are not perfect. destroy them, preferably by making October 3, 1:30—3:30 pm home, unload product by stacking it. I am not an expert. I update, I fiddle, them desperate enough to destroy Francis of Assisi: Reluctant Saint, a film, Repeat as necessary. I repair, I move, I tend, I learn. I get themselves.” Saturday, October 3, 7:00 pm It gets more nuanced, of course. a little bit better and then the simple Susan Rosenberg, who was there Beyond Our Differences: Creating Spiritual First,trucks are better vehicles to use process gets a few new fun wrinkles for the duration of the Lexington Paths to Peace, a PBS documentary, than Cooper Minis, though I find thrown into it. “experiment,” described her time in Sunday, October 4, 2:00—5:30 pm it instructive to note that commu- But at its most democratic and the HSU as “being buried alive.” nity gardener Michael Marchman, simple, all you need to do to collect So when people claim that prison For more information, visit www. “Notable Neighbor” for the August and stack rock is this: Look and think. is a “free ride” for prisoners—meaning FranciscanVision.org, call 859.230.1986, issue of Chevy Chaser, used the trunk Drive. Act. Go home. Tailor as you can inmates get to eat free meals and watch or email [email protected]. of his stepfather’s Buick Park Avenue and need. North of Center 3

Beth on Sheehan (cont.)

continued from page 1 system pushes the U.S. into imperial- myth “America: Greatest Nation in the live the life of a prophet crying out in ism because the nature of capitalism is Universe!” (in case you didn’t catch it, the wilderness? feels that most of the country dislikes to grow until it must move across bor- the hyperbole is the use of “universe” After being introduced as “pro- her campaign. Yet, she is still steadfast ders to gain control of the resources of rather than simply “planet”), the phetic” at the Unitarian Universalist in her purpose. other nations and peoples. core truth of her message is accurate. Church, Sheehan responded with her “I’m here to save lives,” Sheehan Myth America: 10 Greatest Myths Americans do believe we are unsur- characteristic humor. said to the audience at the Unitarian of the Robber Class and the Case for passable in all ways, and we do initiate “Being prophetic about politicians Universalist Church. “We have to be Revolution, Sheehan’s latest writing unjust, high-cost wars with little defen- being crooked,” she said, “is like being as against the war as our leaders are for project, lays out the activist’s argu- sible justification. prophetic about the sun coming up. it.” ments about class in the U.S. and the For Sheehan, the only “just war” It’s not prophetic, it’s observation, it’s means by which the powerful continue definition she abides by is “one that history.” It’s not just this war to manipulate those of us lower down Sheehan’s political indictment the totem pole, the group she calls the of the War on Terror (what she calls “robbed class.” “The War of Terror”) has grown into In an introduction to Myth America a broader critique of American foreign on her blog “Cindy Sheehan’s Soapbox,” and domestic economic policies. Two the Peace Mom explains: “Since this of her fundamental tenets are that country was founded, it has been gov- class is the biggest divide in the U.S. erned, or controlled by the Robber and that our political and economic Class. Some people call our ‘Lords,’ problems are systemic rather than an the Ruling Class, the Oligarchy, the issue of party or personality. The Peace Kleptocracy, or Plutocracy. Some call Mom knows that young people from our system Cronyism, a Democratic strapped middle and working class Tyranny, Soft-core Fascist State, or if families are joining our “voluntary” you are a member of the Robber Class army for economic reasons, hoping or Blinded Robbed Class, you call it a

for the monetary incentives promised Democracy, or Republic.” COURTESY REBECCA ANN GONCHAROFF them by recruiters. She understands “Let me define the terms Robber this side of soldiering well: her son Class and Robbed Class for the pur- Audience members listen during Cindy Sheehan’s lecture at Transylvania University. Casey joined the military for the edu- poses of this Internet Booklet: The Robber Class consists of The Wealthy you would send your children to.” In that way, the work of dissent is Ones (not all wealthy people are rob- It’s that simple, that honest. And easy. But hard must be the disappoint- bers!) of our society who have earned when the Peace Mom says this, I don’t ment that change is probably not on this wealth off the hard labor of think she’s thinking about a war like the horizon unless a reinvigorated peace others: not by doing an honest days the one George Will proposes we movement appears and is willing to speak work or being fair and just with their now stage in Afghanistan: a war by truth to power to President Obama. talents or employees, but by stealing proxy, with pilots launching missiles Sheehan has met Obama, after the fruits of our labor through out- from Predator Drones from a base in “Camp Casey” and in the days before right theft or economic or violent Nevada. This type of war brings us he took over Bush’s chair in the White COURTESY REBECCA ANN GONCHAROFF exploitation.” even further from the reality of the House. Does she want to meet Obama Cindy Sheehan greets lecture attendees. The myths that Sheehan works to damage that we are inflicting on the again, now that he is president? At dispel begin with the American belief people of Afghanistan—and the dam- Transy, she told the audience, “I’d cational benefits. Not purely a pacifist, in its own Manifest Destiny and ends age that it does, in turn, to us. rather support another mother meet- Sheehan acknowledges the need for a with the illusions about September 11 ing Obama”—a mother who has lost standing army, but she sees that cur- that we have embraced over the last Easy Prophecy her son or daughter under the new rently “corporate colonialism is the eight years. As Sheehan candidly admit- The years of dissent have taken administration’s war policy. As badly purpose of our army.” ted at Transy, she “likes to illustrate their toll on Sheehan. Her fight is so as the war in Afghanistan seems to be When asked by an audience mem- with hyperbole.” Although her rheto- broad—it now includes health care (she going, that’s another thing that will be ber, “What would make democracy ric can sometimes be flip, sneering, supports a single payer system) and, easy: finding more grieving mothers. work better?” Sheehan didn’t mince and satirical, there’s a sense in which among other things, a trip to the G20— words. “End capitalism,” she said. the activist’s message isn’t hyperbolic. that there’s no conceivable end to the Additional reporting contributed by Danny According to Sheehan, our economic Even when Sheehan makes her first work. How long can one continue to Mayer. Swells Brass Band ride into Duncan Park Past Friday shows have been a hit NoC News Bureau down, another several hundred people says Clifford. “This is a way to [help] answered that question,” Clifford said showed up to listen and dance to the bring the diversity together.” It’s the after the second show in the series. On Friday September 25, you are music of the Shade Band. Because of logical endpoint to what Clifford says “Five hundred people the first invited to a community day at Duncan the park’s physical location at the top Stage One seeks to do. show [Tee Dee’s] and the next week a Park, located off Fifth Street between of a small rise as one moves north After Community Day, Clifford hundred people right here with another North Limestone and Martin Luther out of town, the sound rushes down hopes to meet with more members of six hundred at Roots and Heritage. So King Boulevard. The event will begin Limestone several blocks, reaching all the community to figure out oppor- music is going to work in this com- at 4:00 P.M. with a performance by the way to Gratz Park on the opening tunities for next spring. “These first munity. And that was one of the ques- the Capoeira Cultural Center and night. It’s like a musical gift bestowed four [shows] are experimental. We’re tions we wanted to ask in doing these then continue with performances by from up north. figuring out how we’re going to do it first four shows. Then we can use that an area marching band and the Swells This Friday’s gathering has been and how it’s going to work, and how information to do the programing for Brass Band. The evening will conclude expanded as part of Community Day, it’s going to interact with the com- next year.” (hopefully) with fire dancing from sort of a gathering of the tribes for all munity and that sort of thing—if it some members of Mecca who live in Northside communities and neighbor- was going to work at all, if the stage If you would like to offer your ideas or tal- the nearby neighborhood. hood groups. “We see North of Main was going to be something the com- ents to this community project, please con- The Friday night gathering will Street as a lot of different neighborhoods,” munity wanted. I think we already tact Marty Clifford at 859-389-9157 mark the last of four shows at Stage One, a new community stage tucked into a corner at Duncan Park. Stage One is a pretty simple stage structure that was constructed earlier this sum- mer primarily through a weekend of volunteer community help. The con- cept for the stage is also pretty straight forward: it hopes to use music as a way to bring different groups from the community into a common space to laugh and meet or re-meet each other. In the words of North Limestone Neighborhood Association member Marty Clifford, the hope is that “the music will help create more social bonds and [act as] a glue binding our sense of community.” Thus far the shows have been an immense success. Opening night with Tee Dee’s Band was enjoyed by nearly 500 folk who came from the Castlewood Park, the William Wells Brown, and the downtown and Gratz Park areas—all told one of the most densely packed areas of the city. The next week, the Sexual Disaster Quartet

played to nearly 100 people, while two GEOFF MADDOCK blocks away another 700 people took in the Roots and Heritage Festival. This Stage One at Duncan Park is a month-long series of free concerts in our neighborhood. These gatherings are a beautiful way to farewell the past week, as the Gallery Hop went summer and be reminded of the power of music to bring people together. 4 North of Center Culture Boomslang music preview, day by day Atlas Sound Lushlife Friday, October 9 Buster’s. 18+. Duncan Park. All ages. Atlas Sound is a one-man project Philadelphia-based MC and pro- Mission of Burma from Bradford Cox that intersperses ducer Lushlife has been added to Buster’s. 18+. electronic pop with drifting, ambi- WRFL’s Boomslang music festival, At one misbegotten gig in the ent nu gaze. Cox’s unique, icy-angelic bringing hip-hop flavor to the already Reagan era South, a little girl handed vocals command the tracks, making stacked line-up that includes nation- the band a note: “Could you please turn liberal usage of reverb and overdub- ally celebrated acts as well as local it down?” The last time I saw Mission bing, maximizing the sonic condi- favorites. of Burma, at Pitchfork Festival ’08, the tions, often burying his all too frail The unique blend of sonic spec- crowd was flush with young’ns, hip- voice in a thick cloud of haze, evok- trums displayed on Lushlife’s most sters in doodled sneaks and homemade ing the genuine expression, intro- recent endeavor, Cassette City, bring Fall t-shirts, brace-faced angels and spection, chanting, even chatter, one an air of nostalgia all while introduc- fannish boys who knew all the songs. might expect from a child who’d ing new sounds to both veteran and

Every dreamy screed, each battle hymn locked himself into his bedroom and rookie hip-hop heads. Lush’s razor ushlife of the erotic, every cubist mosh, each started singing about whatever came sharp rhymes paired with a cornuco- dyslexic love letter—the little boogers to mind. Which makes sense when pia of soundscapes and stellar guests ourtesy L knew them all. you learn that Cox started recording make Cassette City an aural buffet for C So let’s skip the history lesson. as Atlas Sound when he was in the the listener’s ears to feast on. Among Lushlife. Besides, “seminal” is kinda disgusting 6th grade, taking the moniker from a the guests featured on Cassette City once you think about it. This is not karaoke machine he recorded his first are legendary New York duo Camp that are almost imperceptible a la My a revival act. This is a working band, tapes on. Lo, Detroit rhyme craftsman Elzhi Bloody Valentine; the meandering but with a new album in the can, the third Atlas Sound as we know it seems, of Slum Village, and Greg Saunier of driving beats. It’s like walking on a since the ’02 comeback. The boys put in essence, the genuine extension of Deerhoof. Lush also pairs with Ariel beach that you’ve never been on before. Pink, who you may recall played at And it’s night. And maybe you’re on Al’s Bar in April of this year, and Ezra some type of inebriant. Before you Koenig of Vampire Weekend who also know it you find yourself in a swarm came through town to play at what was of lustrous noises and sounds, some then known as the Old Tarr Distillery, identifiable, some a mystery. Dreamy, now the new site of Buster’s. droney, and drippping in fuzzes, Lushlife will help kick off the wuzzes, and buzzes that sound like Boomslang festival at 5pm on Friday, they don’t want to be anywhere else. October 9 at Duncan Park, which Like Beach House if they took acid is located on the corner of North and became groovier. —Jaime Lazich Limestone and East 5th St. Also per- forming will be Lexington natives, Caboladies Kuntry Noiz and Just Me, while Miss Buster’s. 18+. Cass and Fidel Hasflow provide opti- It is possible to smear Caboladies cal stimulus with a live graffiti exhibit. releases all over one’s mind to allevi- For more information go to www. ate a sense of stress. It is also in the boomslangfest.com. —Landon Antonetti realm of reality to find oneself down in a deep, dark hole within seconds Peaking Lights of digesting a Caboladies effort. Most COURTESY MISSION OF BURMA Buster’s. 18+. around Lexington receive waves of Mission of Burma. Peaking Lights is composed of spirit, blood and light at Caboladies husband-wife duo Indra Dunis (of outings while others can’t seem to the “living” in “legend,” using their those childhood recordings, one that Numbers/Rah Dunes) and Aaron grasp such time-altering synthesizer- laurels as scrap paper for new lyrics, finds as much comfort in recreating Coyes (also of Rah Dunes) from based sound. new chords. The shows mix’n’match: lullabies forgotten as it does in insu- Madison, Wisconsin. Together they Utilizing an array of keys, pedals, a classic, “Red,” melts into a recent lating itself from everything misun- create beautiful, pulsing, hypnotic and effected vocals, Caboladies create a romper, “Zwice,” without a whisper of derstood. Some of the tracks aren’t too music. At once delicate, tranquil, and full bed of sound without driving the the years between them. “This Is Not far off from Cox’s better-known band soothing, the songs are also dissonant, masses to sleep. Aesthetically some- a Photograph,” this is not an exhibit Deerhunter, though Cox claims that cacophonous, and generally all over where between Black Dice, Tangerine in the rock & roll Hall of Fame, this is Atlas peddles in a sonic palette that the place. Dream and numerous players in the four guys doing it for the same reason he “can’t make work with a five-piece “Ambient noise” or “noise pop” contemporary/classic electronic avant you want to see it: kicks. rock band.” I recently read that Atlas are the genres typically applied to this garde underground, many twists Roger blows up his guitar real played a set using only guitar, har- kind of music, but those appellations and turns are expected at any given good, Clint twists your throbbing monica, and some backing tracks in are too narrow to encompass what Caboladies gig. Equal parts melody and heartstrings, Peter bashes skins and New York, which leaves me wondering Peaking Lights really sounds like. discordance take place within the elon- gives his tent revival beller, Bob wran- which direction he’s taking the Sound The harmony gently envelops and gated pieces, bringing to mind moody gles the sound into alien shapes because on the forthcoming album, Logos, due confuses you as you attempt to deci- 70’s Krautrock, creating a futuristic it’s fun. Because it rocks. Because that’s out October 20. What better time pher, “What instrument is that and soundtrack for the post noise/drone/ the mission. That’s Mission of Burma, and place to get a feel for what’s com- how is it making that sound?” There’s techno youth of today. my favorite band in the whole wide ing than at Boomslang right here in the psyched-out guitar work; the ambi- While the group spent many a world. —Bill Widener Lexington? -- Nick Kidd ent keys; the soft, murmuring vocals moon gracing Lexington and Louisville with their brand of soundtrack/LSD/ Rachel Grimes dream crack, Eric Lanham and Chris Second Presbyterian Church. All ages. Bush are now kicking around Chicago “Sounds like: moss; open wooden rubbing elbows with sharp wind and box; inhale” wider pastures. Too many releases A succinct description on to mention and too many shades to Rachel Grimes’ Myspace page that count in one sitting, Caboladies will be encapsulates the organic beauty of laying down analog cum digital mas- this Louisville legend’s solo piano tery for the out-there heads this year at work. Ethereal piano meet with field Boomslang. —Ma Turner recordings that are perfectly at home in a concert hall or a wooded, lichen- covered forest. Saturday, Oct. 10 Grimes hails from the critical acclaim of Louisville indie cham- The Black Angels ber pop group Rachel’s and has Buster’s, 18+. woven a rich history within the local Musically, The Black Angels scene. She has collaborated with sev- (Austin, TX) are like a bastardized amal- eral Louisville-based artists, mak- gamation of the Velvet Underground ing guest appearances on releases by (“Black Angel’s Death Song” provided The Frames, Tara Jane O’Neil, and the band with their name), The Doors, Shipping News, among others. and Spacemen 3. Their two albums and But September 22 will see the ver- one EP are full-on dark, droney, sinis- satile composer step out on her own ter, psychedelic rock in the same vein with the release of Book of Leaves, an as Brian Jonestown Massacre, Black album that Grimes calls “a collec- Mountain, Black Rebel Motorcycle tion of impressionist chapters woven Club, and probably a couple more of together with chordal themes and those “black” bands. field recordings inspired by interac- While bearing some semblance tions with the outdoors.” The album, to all these bands, The Black Angels released on Louisville-based Karate continue to remain in a category all Body Records, features 14 of Grimes’ their own. Viscerally, the experience compositions that blend her unique is something like suffering a panic indoor/outdoor approach to piano attack or having an agoraphobic epi- work. —Megan Neff sode in the middle of the desert and feeling totally ok about it. Because A U.S. tour will support the album release, you’re on peyote. (No, really, look including a stop at the Boomslang Festival. KRISTIN KLEIN at their art work). Live, you can feel Locals Sound/Vision will open the show, which starts at 5:30 P.M. Atlas Sound. continued on page 7 North of Center 5

Queer showcase (cont.) continued from page 1 within the queer community and work community, and hopefully unite the building stronger relationships on a to make all of us more visible. There GLBTIQQA community more. much larger scale. Lexington has so queer, but it isn’t very cohesive. With that was once a time where you had to really So, I contacted a queer, not for profit much to offer in the way of progress. said, it’s important to understand what I look find people like yourself. Now, record label in San Francisco who man- There are amazing groups in town mean by the term queer. with the internet and social network- ages two of my favorite bands and asked if doing incredible work. Organizations I, (as well as many others) use the ing sites like Myspace and Facebook, they would start sending these groups to such as AVOL, KFTC (Kentuckians term to describe a sexual orientation my fellow queers are only a click away. Lexington, since none of them had ever for the Commonwealth) and Kentucky and/or gender identity or gender that Just recently a blog was created specifi- played Kentucky. I received an e-mail the Fairness are just the tip of the iceberg. does not conform to heteronorma- cally for Lexingtonians called Gendered very next day from the founder of Queer What I want to create is a safe space tive society. Put plainly, we don›t fit Lexington. blog calls to all walks of gen- Control Records, Marlene Melendez, among Lexingtonians for queer youth in. We›re not interested in a house in der to submit their stories regarding who basically told me “If you build it, who come from all types of back- the ‘burbs with two kids, a dog and a their connections between their city we will come.” So that’s exactly what I grounds. What I want is to do my part picket fence. We don›t necessarily want and their identity. did. I raised $2,000 to fly the bands in. for the city I have come to love. to get married as many of us find the Personally, I have used my passion Then I thought, You know what would That being said, I am pleased to institution to be outdated and unneces- for music to bridge the gaps between make this even better? Let’s collect all announce the Queer Control Records sary. And for many of us, the personal my queer lifestyle and the culture I am is political. Our refusal to assimilate is surrounded by. First, I groomed myself a revolutionary act. into a strong singer songwriter play- You›ll normally find us among the ing weekly house shows and express- punks, the activists, the anarchists, and ing my own very personal feelings of the hipsters. It›s tough because there are intimacy and relationships, careful to so few of us queer identified folk in this never cloak the songs in heterosexual town that we integrate into these subcul- situations or hiding the gender of the tures. And still, for some of us, despite person I was singing about. Through our socio-political leanings, we›re still that I began making connections with afraid we›ll never find “our people.” For other queer youth and gained oppor- example, I have recently met a group of tunities to be a quasi-poster child for trans identified males who claimed they local “lesbian” music. From opening didn›t go out a lot because they didn›t for Bitch + The Exciting Conclusion know where they fit in. They expressed at The Dame to performing at PRIDE, the difficulty of just hanging out at a I learned new ways to network deeper. bar and feeling comfortable among Since then, I have reached out “regular” people. Thanks to places like to bands of all walks within the of the money from the door and give it Showcase taking place at Al’s Bar on the GLSO, a space was created for my GLBTIQQA community in other cit- to AVOL (Aids Volunteers , Inc.). At $5 October 3rd. It will include three bands new friends and now that we›re find- ies, bringing them to Lexington to play a pop, the cost is much more accessible from the label, local queer fronted ing each other, we›re creating additional to small groups of highly enthused then a $50 plate at a fancy gala. band Spooky Qs, and an opening act spaces amongst “regular” people. The music lovers. This has led me to real- And that’s just the point, isn’t it? of live local DJs and the Bluegrass Fire object is not to segregate ourselves, but ize I can create something bigger than I could sit around and complain that Dancers. All of this for only $5 and also to not totally blend in. It’s most just a house show. But not just bigger, Mia’s isn’t what it used to be, or that 100% of the door is going to the Aids important for us to simply be, and to rather something greater—an event the only gay activities in this town Volunteers of Lexington (AVOL). It occupy a space greater than just a safe that will benefit my small community cater to the older, white, male popula- was a labor of love to bring this event one. as well as the very city that nurtures it. tion. I could turn a blind eye to the together and raise the money for the With all that said, there isn›t My interest in bringing my two “isms” that separate me from the pop- flight costs, but giving something back necessarily anything wrong with great loves together (independent music ular majority of “out” individuals, or I to my community makes it worth it, wanting that big old gay wedding, even and queer activism) has blossomed to could buckle down and bridge the gap and just to see an act like this happen if it›s not for me. And the only way the point where I feel invincible. I between my city and what I believe my in Lexington is enough to convince for you to get it is if we set aside our know I can bring something great to city can be. By connecting with queer me to stay here and continue building. differences and work together to keep Lexington that will continue to make communities in other places (not just Maybe one day we won’t just be known ourselves honest about our differences us more visible to the heterosexual the more progressive ones), we are as the “Horse Capitol of the World.” 6 North of Center Sports The bond between sports and patriotism By Andrew Battista ability to critically evaluate the policies in any form because of their “un- Or, alternately, how do we respect the of their nation state. American” stance. experience of those who enjoy sports Two weeks ago I went north to Back to Paul Brown Stadium. As Again, this past weekend, another and athletics, but believe that God and watch the “Rumble in the River,” an I sat, one fan standing several rows incident has emerged. The sports blog nation should not be confused? People, anticlimactic, preseason-esque foot- above yelled at me—I’m presuming Field of Schemes reports that a minor like myself, who balk at singing patri- ball game in which the University of at me because I was the only person league baseball owner forcibly removed otic anthems at sporting events, do Kentucky pummeled Miami (OH) 42-0 sitting in my section—and said, “Hey three teens from a stadium this sum- so because of deep convictions about at Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium. hippie, why don’t you stand up? Do mer for refusing to stand during the the way God operates in earth and the The game itself was not memorable, you love our country, or are you anti- rendition of “God Bless America.” way that God’s followers should pos- but what happened to me before kick- American?” I share this story not to According to a write-up by the local ture themselves as they live amidst and off has lingered a while longer than the cast myself as a victim. Instead, it’s a New Jersey paper, Thomas Cetnar, a within earthly power structures. euphoria of UK’s convincing victory way to say that United States iconog- disgraced police officer and part owner People such as myself also like that afternoon. raphy, forced patriotism, and nation- of the Newark Bears, noticed the teens baseball, basketball, and football, but Like always, I remained seated alistic zeal have crept into our sport- sitting during the seventh inning rit- it’s becoming increasingly apparent to during the performance of “The Star ing venues and events in ways that are ual, approached them furiously, and me that the imperial nature of sports Spangled Banner.” Rather than par- damaging to all parties involved. ticipating in uncritical patriotism, What happened to me—getting which in this case meant comin- yelled at by a fan— is insignificant when gling zeal for sport and state, I chose compared to other recent instances of to use the minute or so that passes forced patriotism at sporting events. during the anthem-singing for pri- At the old Yankee Stadium a year ago, vate spiritual reflection. I cannot a man was harassed and eventually stand with thousands of fanatics and ejected from the stadium for attempt- endorse our nation’s paean to victory ing to leave his seat and use the rest- achieved through violence. Instead, room during the seventh inning stretch the anthems that preface the sporting singing of “God Bless America.” For events I attend so frequently and love the man, this treatment constituted so much are times for me to consider religious and political discrimination. political and moral questions that Yankee Stadium had been extreme for inform how I practice my religious Major League Baseball venues in that faith. What is our nation’s current its ushers chained off aisles to prevent relationship to violence? What atti- people from leaving their seats dur- tude toward the U.S. Empire should ing the song. However, since that law- I espouse as a Christian and member suit, which was settled when the city of God’s Empire? And, most impor- of New York agreed to pay $10,000 to tantly, why are organized sports so the aggrieved party, the Yankees have instructed security guards to escort and nation cannot be separated easily, often exploited as a vehicle of forced refrained from chaining aisles. (For them out of the park. “Nobody sits dur- despite my wishes. Of course, I don’t patriotism? the record, it’s still unclear why New ing the singing of ‘God Bless America’ expect everyone to hold my Anabaptist This is neither an original connec- York City taxpayers had to foot the bill in my stadium,” Cetnar yelled. “Now precepts about war, God, nation, and tion nor a unique form of protest. The to rectify something harmful done by get the (expletive) out of here.” peaceful protest, but I do hope that linguist Noam Chomsky has argued the New York Yankees). A year later, in Field of Schemes astutely points these recent stadium incidents and the that spectator sports elicit a fervor its new stadium, the franchise contin- out that Cetnar has nerve calling the subsequent lawsuits will open a new that governments can easily co-opt for ues to play “God Bless America” dur- Bears’ park “my stadium” when it in national conversation about that it the sake of encouraging national alle- ing every game, and even beyond the fact was purchased with tax dollars. means to be a citizen and a sports fan giance. According to Chomsky, profes- Yankees, forced patriotism in United And, to add an additional layer of in the United States. We’ll have plenty sional sports “occupies the population, States’ sports has not gone away. irony, Cetnar’s appeal to American of opportunities to think about what and keeps them from trying to get Late last fall, conservative talk loyalty is especially problematic given ideology is being peddled with sports involved with things that really mat- radio host Mike Gallagher cast the his prior improprieties as a defender of during football season this fall, basket- ter.” He suggests that sports franchises Mennonite Goshen College as a United States citizens (he embezzled ball season this winter, and baseball foster “a sense of irrational loyalty to national pariah because the school drug money). season this spring. Already, national a meaningless community [which, like refrained from playing the Star To some, standing during the media outlets, like Dave Zirin’s Edge Big Blue Nation] is training for subor- Spangled Banner at its home athletics national anthem and “God Bless of Sports Radio and Neil deMause’s dination to power, and for chauvin- events. The incensed Gallagher insisted America” is a “matter of etiquette,” as Field of Schemes, are working in ter- ism.” Following sports instills passiv- that neither Goshen nor the students the Star-Ledger’s Sharon Aldaro phrased ritory where sports and politics merge. ity, and when parlayed with patriotic who attend it should receive financial it when relaying this story. But what But we need more people to join rituals, that passivity cripples people’s assistance from the federal government if one doesn’t believe that God exists? them.

Florida quarterback: cultural imperialist By Keith Halladay this plane only to make us understand teaches us not to cuss.) The tempta- been done already. Nay, he shall be that we’re not nearly as righteous, car- tions are of the sort that no earthly a Jaguar, despite Weaver’s warning Of course I’m talking about Tim ing, or as effective in the red zone as man could resist them, yet our strong- against “false hope.” And she shall start Tebow, that foreskin-snipping, prom- he is, and to help us common folk by armed, strong-willed leader manages to four games into his rookie season. And ise-making, virginity-saving, generally giving us something to shoot for. do just that. This, kind souls, could be he shall win out. And he shall single- fantastic guy. You can’t miss him. You We believe all of this because of a accomplished only by one who walks handedly defeat the vile NFL blackout can’t even avoid him, thanks to the sequence of well-reported miracles: among us but not with us. Need further rule. And on the second day he shall sports media’s elevation of ol’ number 1. Tim Tebow saved brown people proof, Thomas? Google “tebow girl- watch film. 15 to a celestial place seated at the right through the miracle of circumcision. friend” and kneel before Tim’s great- Regional pride and dark forces hand of Christ himself, just down the Super-miraculous is the fact that he ness, as this fair lass undoubtedly has. engulfed me one day, several months line from the Lord Almighty, and in does not need to learn how to do cir- 3. “The Promise.” The stuff of leg- ago, and I contemplated approaching, fact one full slot in the divine pecking cumcisions prior to performing them, end. There is a plaque—a shrine. Make on the down low, a few of the UK order above the Holy Ghost, who runs thus conclusively proving his extra- the pilgrimage to Gainesville. defensive lineman to offer, I ashamed a 4.54 and reads defenses but tends to worldliness. Still more miraculous is 4. Tim Tebow will, next year, to say, a bounty on Tebow. Just small disappear in big games. the fact that nobody seems to have redeem Gomorrah, lately known as numbers, kid stuff, really: for every Our savior first came to my atten- much of a problem with the imposi- Jacksonville, Florida, by preventing the clean hit, I thought, a tenner. Sacks tion as a wide-eyed freshman in Urban tion of Western supernatural belief sys- demise or departure of its sole redeem- $50. Unnecessary roughness...I can’t Meyer’s new Gator administration, tems as barter for preventive medicine ing attribute, the NFL Jacksonville recall, but I didn’t go through with it. when he parlayed his brilliant smile among the impoverished. He is truly Jaguars. So sayeth Wayne Weaver, Because you know what? and hard-nosed attitude into credit for sent from Heaven. Jaguars jefe, noting that “the game is I wondered to myself, what would Chris Leak’s 2006-07 BCS National 2. Tim Tebow is a virgin. Yes he is. such an important part of this com- Tim Tebow do? Saved again. Championship. Yes, Leak. Remember This is a miracle, because Tebow’s ath- munity, and Tebow is such an iconic How, then, do the UK Wildcats him? You may not, since the Worldwide letic prowess and boyish face (or, as one figure that people would legitimately emerge as victors on the plains of C.M. Leader has already explained to you sports fan put it, “generic frat-boy teen- think, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if he was Newton this Saturday? that Tebow has always been at Florida, movie-villian looks”) attract teen suc- a Jaguar?’” It would; it would be even I have a vision...just came to me...glow- always will be at Florida, and exists on cubi like flies to...excrement. (Tebow greater if he became a Lion, but that’s ing letters..I think they read...FREE WILL. North of Center 7

Not just music: Boomslang embraces different types of media

We admit, music is pretty much show, host Katerina Stoykova, an editor I Have Known and Spit in the Ocean media-manipulators who have been front and center at WRFL. But this for international multimedia art journal #7: All About Ken Kesey. Other read- challenging the traditional sense of festival also pays tribute to some of the Public Republic, interviews a national or ers include Jan Isenhour, (Executive sound and art since 1980, by incor- facets of culture and creativity that have international guest; discusses local lit- Director of the Carnegie Center), porating original music and materi- not only nurtured WRFL all these years, erature and culture events; announces a Rebecca Gayle Howell, Colin Watkins, als with found media transmissions, but that have kept many Lexingtonians writing prompt and reads submissions Eric Sutherland, Donna Ison, Sherry images, clips and sound bites to create afloat and hanging on as well. from the previous week’s writing prompt. Chandler, Jim Lally, Letha Kendrick, albums, videos, “fine art,” books and Accents will help kick off David Musella, Katerina Stoykova and radio performances. Thursday, October 8 Boomslang a night early with a poetry James Vincent. The band, which took it’s own name Stars with Accents, presented by and prose reading at The Carnegie from a song by kraut-rock legends Neu!, Accents Radio Hour and Carnegie Center on Thursday, October 8. The Art Show at Hop Hop reception has been met with a number of chal- Center for Literacy and Learning event will feature open-mic perfor- Hop Hop. 7 P.M. lenges along their exploration of what Carnegie Center. 7 P.M. Free. mances as well as a stellar lineup of for- Laura Glen Holt and Allison Crowe, it means to be an independent artist From 2-3 P.M. each Friday, mer guests of Accents. Readers include former UK art students who master- in corporate America, including being WRFL broadcasts Accents: A Show for Ed McClanahan, famed Kentucky minded the Hide and Seek Art Show sued twice for copyright infringement, Literature, Art and Culture, recently author who once rode the bus with at the Miller House this past summer, most famously by U2. Their experience voted one of the Best Radio Shows in the Merry Pranksters and whose works along with Hannah LeGris, co-producer has ultimately shed light on a number Town by ACEWeekly readers. During the include The Natural Man, Famous People of the Lexington Film League, are curat- of questions, inconsistencies and satiri- ing a local multi-media Boomslang art cal observations surrounding artists’ Boomslang music preview (cont.) show at North Limestone mixed-use rights and intellectual property, many haven Hop Hop. The show features a col- of which will be addressed in Hosler’s continued from page 4 treads the psych-infested waters of folk lection of emerging artists and embraces 90-minute film/lecture “Adventures in pop, but mangles genres in its experi- an engaging variety of media, includ- Illegal Art.” every drumbeat, every lyric, every gui- mental leanings. Constant Hitmaker, ing two-dimensional work, video and According to Hosler, the presenta- tar lick as if each element was resid- released in 2008 on the Gulcher installation pieces. Art will be displayed tion “illustrates the many creative projects, ing in your own person. The immense label, paired Vile’s earlier lo-fi home through the weekend at Hop Hop. hoaxes, pranks and ‘culture jamming’ that loudness of their live performance recordings with later work, but didn’t The reception includes a viewing Negativland has been doing since 1980. The consumes every part of you, pulsing quite reach that pinnacle of “critical of the beautifully-crafted film cycle presentation covers issues of media-literacy, through you, making you feel infini- acclaim” until its reissue by Woodsist Rotating Mirror (approximately 8 P.M.). creative and humorous anti-corporate art/ tesimal because you surrendered your in 2009. Award-winning filmmaker Greg King activism, the role of advertising and corpo- body to the psychedelia-saturated Come spring and the addition (member of the acclaimed Louisville rate power in our lives, intellectual prop- sounds of The Black Angels. Don’t of The Violators to the Vile moniker, cult-avant-chamber group Rachel’s) car- erty issues, and the evolution of art, law miss it. —JL and the well-used bedroom (such an ried a Super 8 video camera around and resistance in a media saturated multi- invaluable metaphor) is left behind every day for a year, never planning national world… in favor of the arena. This is a smol- what he would shoot in advance but “Even if you’ve never heard of Sunday, Oct. 11 dering, reverb-heavy approach to clas- capturing footage in Louisville and Negativland, if you are interested in these sic rock that somehow functions as a New York City every day over that span issues you are sure to find this fun and Hair Police logical, seemingly natural outgrowth of time. The result is a visually—and inspiring presentation worth your time and Buster’s Secondary Stage. All ages. from Vile’s previous spaced-out audibly—stunning montage of sound attention. None of the short films shown A festival celebrating musical diver- meanderings. and image, featuring a soundtrack by will ever be seen on TV and much of it sity happening in Lexington wouldn’t The group released The Hunchback Rachel’s (including unreleased tracks), is visually in the same legal grey area that be worth two licks without the pres- EP earlier in the year, but with the solo music by Jason Noble (of Rachel’s Negativland has explored with sound for the ence of powerhouse Hair Police. A season’s turning comes a new full- and also of Shipping News, who were last 28 years.” group since 2001, the three members length from Mr. Vile, this time on the scheduled to play Boomslang but had In an age where corporate media met while DJ’ing at University of Matador imprint. Childish Prodigy, to cancel due to an unexpected and seri- and popular music alike are satu- Kentucky’s WRFL 88.1 fm. Practically up for release in early October, will ous health issue with Noble), as well as rated with found samples, the issues introducing over a hundred kids to be supported by a fall tour, the most solo music by Rachel Grimes (also of Negativland has confronted for almost the noise underground in Lexington important date of which is Sunday Rachel’s). According to King, who also 30 years remain relevant today. Hosler throughout the years, these mongers night at a Boomslang after-show at Al’s contributed music, the film intends will be on hand following the presenta- of darkness and cold introspect have Bar. Bedtime and Tight Leather will to cause the audience to “consider the tion to respond to audience questions gone on to provide total noise chaos to open the show, which is set to begin meaning of time and place on both about any of the topics covered. people all over the world. around midnight. Start your fall off cosmic and intimate scales…as well as Opening for Hosler will be off- Touring numerous times through- right. Don’t miss it. —MN the grid of contemporary life through thesky (the one-man “hypnotic and out the past eight years, Trevor a weave of urban and natural settings.” immersive” sound & video presentation Tremaine, Robert Beatty and Mike Os Mutantes by Lexingtonian turned Denverite Jason Connelly have shared the stage with Buster’s. 18+. Saturday, October 10 Corder). Using layered guitar, composed acts such as Sonic Youth, Prurient, To describe the spirit of mysteri- A Sonic Radio Experiment, with effects, and contact mics to trigger vari- Kites, Pere Ubu and more. Culling ous metamorphosis sung into the Everyone Lives Everyone Wins ous sounds, Corder will be creating a from influences such as power elec- world on the sounds of Os Mutantes Hop Hop Garage. 5 P.M. soundtrack to experimental wide format Lexington drone cult, Everyone Lives video projected on two screens. Everyone Wins, extend their multi-layered sonic crawl through space and time beyond Saturday & Sunday, Oct. 10-11 the reach of their amplifiers. An experimen- Boomslang Carnival tal ritual will be held in the studios of 88.1 Buster’s parking lot WRFL. The public service will be held con- Noonish – night. Free. currently at the Hop Hop. The freaks are coming out of the An altar, constructed specifically for woodwork, in masses. Boomslang worship via radio waves, has been erected in Carnival will feature a full sideshow honor of the Great Cosmic Nothing. The con- tent, a circus-themed fashion show, a

COURTESY OS MUTANTES verted and the curious are invited to partake local art bazaar, live music, free lessons, in the sensory-enveloping sonic evocation, fun games, medieval puppet theatre, Os Mutantes. experiencing a display of the group’s practice surprise performances, searing fire and of drone magic unlike any before. Those who gorgeous dancing ladies. tronics, free jazz, black metal, art carries the same elusiveness as catch- cannot attend are encouraged to worship Saturday, Noon ‘til dusk: The Backyard punk, library music, hardcore and ing a snake in the twisting limbs of the at home by gathering as many receivers as Bazaar, featuring locally made products more, Hair Police transcend anything foggy green jungle canopy. As soon as available and placing them in every corner by local artists for your viewing and that they hear on their stereos, creating you’ve grasped this or that sound or of his or her home altar. purchasing pleasure! This is not an art instead something entirely new and sight of it, the creature has slithered off Be assured that every individual expe- show, per se, but an art fair (hint: bring untouched. to find higher realms, enchanting your rience will be unique from all others, and your wallet and support local talent!). Boasting over 40 releases in their search all the more. the fullness thereof lies in the hands of the Afternoon Events: Free lessons and work- almost decade long existence, the three Much like the sneaky jungle viper— listener. shops, Lo-Fi Peoples Theatre presents: members are also deeply involved in the Boomslang—Os Mutantes sprung All are welcome. None are chosen. DUCK WALK (surrealist short play), other projects such as Wolf Eyes, Three in and out and all around the ener- EVERYONE lives. EVERYONE wins. various and sundry minor amusements Legged Race, ATTEMPT and more. Be getic revolution and voracious cultural Such was the event description (psychic chess, curios display). Evening sure to get there early for the HP boys cannibalism of the Tropicalia move- provided by local lords of the positive Events: Circus fashion show featuring on Sunday, because it isn’t unheard of ment. OM gobbled up the visual art, drone, Everyone Lives Everyone Wins. live music by the Ford Theatre Reunion for them to fill the place up within theatre, poetry, film and music styles ELEW is converting the garage in the and Klime, and locally designed fash- minutes. Highly recommended for of ALL cultures—from the ancient, Hop Hop parking lot (formerly used for ions by Sarah Estes, Soreyda Begley, those who demand human emotion/ indigenous and folk to the wild flares car repairs) into a sensory station. Two Jordan Cox, Lamin Swann, Betsy over the top energy in its rawest form. of psychedelic rock—in its homeland band members will perform live at the Hamilton, Sequoria Dobbins. Also, the —MT of Brazil. The band and its music pro- WRFL studio; a third will be on hand Punch and Judy show (medieval pup- vided a fearlessly colorful opposition at the garage to manipulate the sonic pet theatre). Night Events: Passionfire Kurt Vile and The Violators to the violently dark regimes of tradi- experience with a number of radio (fire-troupe), Girlie Girl Burlesque (old- Al’s Bar. All ages. tional authority, not only in Brazil but installations, each tuned to the frequen- timey burlesque show), The Burning I remember exactly the first time I around the world. cies surrounding 88.1. Live instrumen- House Sideshow (several performances heard Kurt Vile. It was fall of last year With its multi-dimensional tation, video and light manipulation throughout the night, including contact and I had the radio on, tuned (conve- approach to sound, from fashion shows will complete the sensory experience, juggling, mentalism, glass-walking, bed- niently enough) to WRFL. The simple and visual art happenings to endless which will be unlike anything you have of-nails stunts, fire eating, blockhead- yet perfect guitar refrain of the acoustic music all weekend, the Boomslang likely experienced before. ing, burlesque, rocket boy, and more!) version of “Freeway” began, cut in with Festival quite strikingly resembles Sunday: Sunday carnival-related a somewhat bored-sounding tenor that the very same vibrant environment Sunday, October 11 events will include more live music seemed to be made for singing melan- of 1960s Rio and the movement it Mark Hosler presents “Adventures in (Hair Police, Teeth Mountain, Bill choly folk songs. And so it happened spawned in the Tropicalia world of Os Illegal Art” Nace, Fuma and more!); March that fall of 2008 came to be distilled Mutantes. So, if you’re into all of that, Natasha’s Bistro. 4 P.M. Madness Marching Band, Rakadu and perfectly held within that song. don’t miss the Boomslang festival and Mark Hosler is a founding member Gypsy Dancers; Passionhoop dancers; As a solo artist, Kurt Vile’s work don’t miss Os Mutantes. —Ben Allen of Negativland, the infamous Bay-area and more. —Saraya Brewer 8 North of Center Comics

If you’re interested in advertising in North of Center, please contact Danny Mayer at [email protected].

Roots and Heritage parade, 2009. Corner of Fourth and Elm Tree. 3:00 P.M. Photo by Geoff Maddock. North of Center 9 Opinion A Wall Street solution to healthcare Securitize life insurance policies Investment traders, perhaps sick and poor former life insurance reach $500 billion dollars on the stock been much more expensive, they say encouraged by the direction of health- holders. He can take those policies and market, or about half the amount of (ignoring of course how securitizing care reform talks by our political lead- bundle them together so that he can money in mortgage securities at its subprime loans destroyed the entire ers, are starting to make bets against sell them as one “product” to investors peak. real estate market for millions upon our health. Literally. on Wall Streets. These investors then Rich financiers hope that securi- millions of Americans). But in the case A September 6 New York Times come to “own” the policies on those tizing life insurance will help solve the of securitizing life insurance payouts, article by Jenny Anderson, a short- lives. Now imagine this scenario play- economic inefficiency exposed during the effect right away will be higher pre- ened version of which appeared in ing out many times over—hundreds of the collapse of the AIDS death market. miums on new life insurance policies... the Lexington Herald Leader, noted that life settlement brokers, hundreds of By using “securitized life settlements,” meaning securitization won’t even pre- securitized “life settlements” are the policies bundled together, hundreds of the new emphasis is on spreading out tend to lower premiums, but rather hot new “product” Wall Street fatcats people buying and selling those poli- risk by mixing, say, luekemia patients will put life insurance out of more have concocted since their last prod- cies. This process is known as securi- with AIDS and emphsysema patients. Americans’ reach before destroying the uct, securitized mortgages, went belly tizing, and the product they create are The thinking is that, even if a single entire industry.” up a little more than a year ago. called securities. group lives beyond what financial ana- In effect, the innovative product To better understand “securitized Thus, a securitized life settlement lysts deem is the economically precise brings together two proud American life settlements” requires breaking the is a “product” that one buys and sells time that they should kick the bucket, traditions: fictitious money making term into two parts. First, “life settle- on the “free market.” It consists of enough of the other groups will die off and sick, malicious intent. It is, in ments” refer mostly to life insurance hundreds of people’s life insurance earlier and leave them reaping a profit. other words, the greatest show of sup- policies. Bottomfeeders known as “life policies bundled together into a “secu- The hardheaded financial gamble port for our current healthcare indus- settlement brokers” hit the pavement rity.” Investors make money when could even do more than just make try that Wall Street could ever hope to in search of people—primarily the policyholders die. If policyholders someone else rich off your premature make. As Ames put it in his Alternet severely ill and elderly—willing to sell excercise, eat right, get access to regular death. Some journalists and academics article, “Yep, this is what we spent tril- their life insurance policies. You might doctor’s visits, can afford their health- have noted how the new product will lions of dollars bailing out Wall Street have a one million dollar policy, for care, and somehow stay alive and lead to an increase in life insurance for: so that they can kill us for profit.” example, and sell it to a broker for four outlive their policy, then Wall Street costs. hundred thousand dollars to pay for investors lose. Put differently, we may “The most common defense of your outsized healthcare bills. When at some point be put in the position of securitization you hear from finance North of Center is always look- you die, the broker collects your pay- having to support unhealthy lifestyle apologists,” journalist Mark Ames ing for writers and photographers. ment. In effect, the broker is banking policies (Eat McDonalds! Don’t walk!) notes in an Alternet article on the sub- Please email Danny Mayer at on you dying soon enough so that because doing otherwise may hurt our ject, “is that securitization lowers the [email protected] if you’re they may collect the money from your financial investments—401 Ks, IRAs, price of borrowing—without securiti- interested in contributing. (unfortunate) death. The longer you municipal bonds, etc.—that need poor zation, home mortgages would have live, the less money brokers make. fat slobs to die, and quickly. Life settlements have existed for Anderson reported that, unsur- years as a niche market. Financial prisingly, many investment brokers see gurus reportedly lost bundles in the life settlement securitization as a wor- 80s when they bet against the increased thy replacement to mortgage securiti- life expectancy of AIDS patients, who zation, in which mortgages got pack- unfortunately for Wall Street began aged together and sold on the stock living longer as AIDS medications market. (Mortgage securitization was a improved. key ignition point for our current great The second part of the term “secu- recession.) ritized life settlements” refers to the Unlike the housing market, the way in which Wall Street investors market for death is, potentially, enor- package the life settlements together. mous. Anderson reported that there is Here’s a simple way it might work. The currently a $6 trillion dollar market life settlement broker may have a good for life insurance policies. The secu- day and swindle eight policies from rities racket for these policies could Grade inflation (cont.) continued from page 1 academic standards, and therefore as money than nearly all Kentuckians to The numbers show little evidence of rarer company here in Kentucky, a a quality control issue that needs to do that, so any failures to account for change for many of the categories state where median household income, be watched. When I was a graduate long-term viability of UK operation Todd’s Top 20 assault is supposed to as Todd often points out himself, is student in English at UK, grade infla- should fall mostly at his feet. You don’t change. significantly lower. And the bonus? tion was viewed as a vicious act that get to be CEO during pay weeks and a Based on these numbers, CEO This six figure number, $168,000.00, needed to be rooted out, violently if President on test days. Todd’s performance—however nice equates to a bit over 400 percent of necessary—the teacherly equivalent Here’s the story the evidence tells. a guy he may be—might merit some- median income for Kentuckians. In of student plagiarism. We spent time Since 2001, the last full school year thing closer to “average” than “excel- other words, Todd’s bonus amounted to every year helping to ensure that we before Todd’s arrival, tuition has more lent.” Under his watch, UK has become the median income of four Kentucky did not inflate grades: I recall debating than doubled, from $3400 to $7700 less affordable and given its students a families. Nationally, just receiving the different strategies of grading empha- for 2008. First-year retention rates have comparatively worse education,while at bonus itself would propel someone to sis and collectively reading and scoring remained flat. So have ACT scores the same time it has created a staff that the wealthiest top 10% of U.S. citi- identical essays so that we could “cali- (24.26 in 2000 to 24.40 in 2008) and increasingly feels disconnected from zens—with about $65,000.00 to spare. brate” our grades. I learned that an A new student High School GPAs (3.49 to the university’s mission. But irrespective of whether I agree should be reserved for truly “excellent” 3.52). Student/faculty ratios increased This is no small issue. At the tail in principal that such a thing as Todd’s work. Not merely for “above average”— from September 2005 to September end of a FAQ page, the UK Writing bonus might have merit, there is still a B—and certainly not for some aver- 2007, from 17:1 to 18:1. When it comes Program defines the value of fair and the question of how Todd scored that age schmuck who was a hard worker to staff concerns, a Work Study survey tough grading for its students—that high on his “test.” The UK CEO was (a C, C+ maybe). An “A” signified found that “fewer than half of all staff is, the value of resisting grade infla- eligible to receive the $168,000.00 “excellent.” respondents indicated satisfaction” tion. It reads, “If you are graded leni- bonus because the UK Board of Keeping in mind the University’s with their salaries. Fewer than half felt ently, your instructor is doing you a Trustees scored his performance a 96 inherent need to combat grade infla- that they had a “shared mission” with disservice because he/she is neither percent. In other words, the Trustees tion, it seems right to ask whether the university; fewer than half felt that giving you an accurate assessment gave Todd an “A” for the past school CEO Todd’s grade has been inflated. their “advancement opportunities” of your work nor encouraging you year. This wasn’t a case of Todd cram- I don’t want to quibble about whether were any good. Are these evidence to improve. By holding you to high ming for the finals in hopes of squeak- he should have refused the money, I of “excellence”? Might the numbers expectations, your instructor is show- ing things out with a good grade; the want to ask whether he deserved it in necessitate a downgrade to “above aver- ing that he/she is not willing to let 96 represented a strong “A,” four points the first place, or whether his score is age”—even, all things considered, just you get by with unsatisfactory work. from perfect. What’s more, Todd’s the product of an inflated value given plain average? Your instructor is demonstrating that score directly impacted the amount of to him by the Board. When compared to UK’s bench- he/she cares about providing the edu- his bonus. Todd’s 96 sanctioned him It seems only fair to judge Todd marks, Todd’s “success” is even more cation that you have come to the uni- receiving 96% of his total possible on his progress achieving Top 20 sta- questionable. The most recent Top 20 versity to receive.” What they mean bonus purse of $175,000.00. Had the tus for the University of Kentucky. update found on the school’s website, by this is that going easy on someone Regents scored him at above average, Though I personally do not agree released the year after the unveiling of does nobody any good in the long average, or (perish the thought) some- with this University goal, Todd has the Top 20 Business Plan, benchmarks run. To be fair in grading ultimately where below average, Todd’s bonus embraced the challenge and gone so even less success. While UK trustees requires strong standards. Losing check would have shrunk considerably. far as to draft a business plan that has suggested inflating Todd’s salary to these to appease the student does not The question I want to ponder is benchmarking systems in place. These reflect UK’s Top 20 goals—the ratio- help that student learn. whether this grade constitutes grade benchmarks were made to provide tan- nale being that we must pay for a Top What’s good for the student inflation on the part of the Board of gible evidence of UK’s achievement; 20 CEO—a glance at the updated plan should be good for the school CEO. Trustees—a group that for the most they should be able to provide similar show why Todd is paid relatively less We need a fair accounting of Todd’s part has no experience working at a evidence for the architect of that plan. than his peers: by its own measures, value. What is the value of that 96 rat- university. After all, while his performance is not UK is ranked below every single one ing? This is important because unlike Grade inflation occurs in the class- the sole factor in UK’s national rank- of its benchmark universities. The data any grade inflation that takes place room when students receive grades that ing, Todd’s CEO status should leave in the report note no movement in the in my first-year writing classes, Todd are higher than the level at which their no question as to where the buck stops school’s academic rank. It remained grade value transmits itself into cold work merits–B work getting scored an in terms of accountability. As CEO in the coveted thirty-fifth position. hard cash—nearly $170,000.00 dollars A; C students earning B’s; and such. he was hired to fundraise and lobby When it came to undergraduate edu- cash this year and who knows how The resulting grades thus “inflate” the and strategically plan for the univer- cation, the school lost ground, retreat- much next year—and it reinforces pub- value of less-valuable work. It is often sity’s future. He’s been here going on ing from 49th to 54th. Its faculty rank lic perceptions about what’s working, viewed as an easing or lessoning of eight years now, and he gets paid more slipped from 37th to 39th position. educationally speaking, in our state. 10 North of Center

Many thanks to the following Friends of Boomslang: Alltech Fortnight Festival (alltechfortnightfestival.com) • Buster’s Billiards and Backroom (bustersbb.com) • CD Central • Carnegie Center for Literacy and Learning • LexMark • Natasha’s Bistro and Bar • Al’s Bar • Hop Hop • North of Center • Gumbo Ya Ya • Bourbon ‘n’ Toulouse • Puccini’s Smiling Teeth • Smiley Pete Publishing • Highbridge Spring Water • Barrel House Distillery