North of Center Wednesday, MARCH 10, 2010 Free TAKE HOME AND READ NOCLEXINGTON.COM Volume II, Issue 5 Kent State at UK: a look 40 years later By Richard Becker

Editor’s note: This will be the first of a four-part story that looks back at the unfolding events of May 1970 at the University of Kentucky, when students and faculty voiced opposition to the destructive actions of their national and campus leaders. When all was said and done in Lexington, the National Guard had set up base on the university campus while, at the same time, students were banned from going on it; an aging former governor was made into a state folk hero for punching an unsuspecting student; and an unoccupied ROTC building was myste- riously burned to the ground.

This May will mark the fortieth anniversary of the killing by mem- bers of the U.S. National Guard of four students at Kent State University. On a local note, it will be the forti- eth anniversary of the University of Kentucky’s response to the events at

Kent State. For several days in the COURTESY UK SPECIAL COLLECTIONS spring of 1970, UK, a bastion of political conservatism and, at times, The Kentucky National Guard set up camp in front of UK’s Patterson Office Tower in May 1970. simple apathy, was effectively shut down by students and community local resident—must learn more about Singletary, in concert with Kentucky on the Vietnam War and the various members who were moved to dem- these events if we as a community are to Governor Louie Nunn, established a responses to it, a basic history is nec- onstrate against the United State’s take the appropriate lessons from this curfew on campus, enforced by armed essary. In the early 1960’s President illegal escalation of the Vietnam War chapter in our history. In the span of a National Guard troops and state Kennedy continued the policy of the into Cambodia and, later, the violent week in early May at the University of police, and called off final exams and Eisenhower Administration by send- response of the State to university Kentucky, the Air Force ROTC build- commencement events. ing military advisors to Indochina. demonstrators in Ohio who protested ing had been burned to the ground, To understand the events at UK Following Kennedy’s assassination the escalation. faculty and students had been arrested, in May of 1970, it is important to in 1963, Lyndon Johnson took power Most Lexingtonians know little and many more demonstrators and first establish the basic context—the and escalated the war to a level previ- about the events that took place at UK passers-by were temporarily debilitated Vietnam War—in which these events ously unseen. While his efforts were forty years ago, and yet anyone associ- by the authorities’ indiscriminate use took place. initially met with support from the ated with UK—whether they are a fac- of tear gas and pepper spray on cam- While it is impossible in this ulty member, a student, an alum, or a pus. Eventually, UK President Otis space to fully provide a background continued on page 3 Taking a little RNR East Enders march By Captain Commanokers follow the formula of kids experienc- Residents move on violence and drugs ing live music, experimenting with the I spent a lot of hours playing the instruments or just dancing to their By Andrew Battista Response Supervisor for the C.L.E.A.R. tennis racquet when I was a kid – not a heart’s content, while parents get the unit. “We’re not here to tell you that lot of tennis though. The racquet was all-too-rare opportunity to see music On Saturday, February 27, Greater we’re going to solve this issue as the my weapon of choice in trying to rep- they love with like-minded folks. Liberty Baptist Church on Chestnut police. This is your issue, your com- licate numerous Angus Young riffs as The next Lexington RNR is set Street hosted a program and protest munity, and you’re going to be the one I stomped about the garage in a mad for Saturday, March 20 at 1 P.M. at march in which some fifty people solving this. But I’m proud that you’re fury of exuberance that rock ‘n’ roll Al’s, with performances by Tula, The gathered to decry violence, gam- getting together as a group and saying, can provide a young set of ears. Swells and Snow Monster, a group led bling, and drug trade in the East End ‘we’re tired of this.’” A group of people in Lexington by 6-year-old songstress Mabel, last seen neighborhood. I found my way to the program and is trying to take that racquet and rocking the FreeKY Fest stage in 2008. Members of the William Wells march with the hope that Lexington’s replace it with some full-fledged, joy- The only RNR stipulation is that adults Brown Neighborhood Association and East End residents could catalyze a ous racket. need to be accompanied by a child to representatives from the Lexington renewed sense of obligation to our “It’s important for kids to see that get in, and vice versa. A suggested dona- Police Department C.L.E.A.R. Division community. Like many of the people music isn’t just a product but a means tion of $5 goes toward the artists. (Community Law Enforcement Action who attended last Saturday, I could not of expression,” said Neil Bell, one of The organizers feel an act like Snow Response) joined members of Greater forget a gunfight that took place early the board members of Lexington’s new Monster can go a long way toward Liberty Baptist Church to renounce on the morning of June 14, 2009. At Rock N’ Romp undertaking, which is inspiring other young audience mem- violence that threatens to diminish the least twelve shots, piercing and clear, a concert series that showcases local bers. “A lot of the time the only young quality of life in Lexington’s East End. woke me at about 4:00 A.M. I did go bands and musicians performing day- performers children get to see are either “The trustees were in a meet- back to sleep, but when I emerged the time shows to kids and parents. adults or Disney-fied musical acts that ing here at church one evening, and next morning and headed out to the Several other successful RNR’s are I was actually speaking to this very farmer’s market on my bicycle, I had established around the country that continued on page 2 issue when we heard three shots ring to navigate around a police blockade. out, right in front of the church, right Twenty-year-old Dwayne Johnson, across the street,” said John C. Lee, the who went by the nickname “Man church’s senior pastor. “They shot a Man,” had been shot to death that young man, and we went to his aid. night in front of the Pak-n-Save That incident was the first of a series Market, on the corner of Race Street of shootings and related crime in our and East Third. Over a month elapsed neighborhood.” before authorities announced that they In 2009, there were thirteen homi- had apprehended his killer. According cides in Lexington, and over half of to the U.S. Marshalls, Johnson was them (seven) took place in the 40508 murdered over a dispute in a game of zip code, the neighborhood in which craps. Greater Liberty is located. But homi- After an hour-long sequence, dur- cide is not the only manifestation of ing which a litany of clergy, law enforc- violence in the William Wells Brown ers, politicians, and community lead- neighborhood. Last year, 699 assaults, ers spoke, the congregation left and 173 robberies, and 34 rapes were walked around the East End. Singing reported, an inordinately high number spirituals, hymns, and songs that have when compared with Fayette County been integral to the civil rights move-

MATT JORDAN / YOUAINTNOPICASSO.COM as a whole. ment, we circled past Pack-n-Save, “We’re here to be a partner with Snow Monster rocks FreeKY Fest, 2008. you,” said Sgt. Brian Maynard, a continued on page 2

Contents In forthcoming issues 2 — The Neighborhood 5 — Music 6 — Sports 8 — Comics Benton on the cultural commons. Part 4 of “Civic Center.” Coralee at Charlie’s. Rollergirls return. I’m Not From Here Minter signs new book. Color: awesome. NCAA brackets strategy. Delmar von Lexington debut A guerilla gardening story. 4 — Film & Media The Frugal Fisherman. Two new movie reviews 7 — Opinion Who’s buying up all the damned ammo?. The Oscars in hindsight. Hotel Bauen remembered. 2 North of Center The Neighborhood

East Enders (cont.) North of Center is a periodical, a place, and a perspective. Keep continued from page 1 ethic that demands we seek justice in in a God that can save me and take reading to find out what that the places where we live. me to heaven but can’t clothe me on means. walked down Race Street, travelled “If you’re hungry, can I tell you this side, can’t put a roof on my head across South Martin Luther King, Jr. what salvation is? How about giv- on this side, can’t keep me safe on this Editor & Publisher Boulevard, and eventually returned to ing me some bread? If I’m naked, side.” Danny Mayer Greater Liberty. how about giving me some clothes. Lee, who seemed dismayed by the If I’m homeless, put a roof over my To hear an audio broadcast of this march, Features modest turnout at the march, suggested head,” said Lee. “I’m not interested visit noclexington.com. Beth Connors-Manke that many people had stayed home to watch the University of Kentucky Film & Media men’s basketball game, a contest that Colleen Glenn the Wildcats would go on to lose. People in the East End have to refine Music an ability to harbor righteous indigna- Nick Kidd tion, Lee suggested, and if the violence is to stop, the church has to spearhead Sports an ethic of peace and restitution. Troy Lyle “I think that when we study his- tory, we discover that the church was Design always more than a place of worship,” Keith Halladay said Lee. “It was the heart of the com- munity. It became the economic cen- Contributors ter, the school house. I believe that the Michael Benton time of the church being just a place Andrew Battista for worship on Sunday is over. We

A.G. Greebs must offer holistic ministry and attend ANDREW BATTISTA Kenn Minter to the needs of all humanity.” J.T. Dockery Lee explained that his fervor for Protesters walk down Race Street, near the convenience store where Dwayne Johnson was Brine Manley social justice is born out of a Christian shot on June 14. Captain Commanokers Amber Scott RNR (cont.) Please address correspon- continued from page 1 After seeing the music video “I’m A series a very local endeavor is also an dence, including advertising Little Airplane” by Jonathan Richman important factor for the members. inquiries and letters to the are so overproduced and driven by mar- and the Modern Lovers a few years ago “When we create events for local editor, to: ket trends, it becomes hard for kids to on the cable channel Noggin (now Nick kids and parents, hold them at local see that music is an act of creation – Jr.), Warnke was inspired. “The song businesses and spotlight local talent it [email protected]. that it’s a personal process,” Bell said. stuck in my head, and it occurred to me tells other members of our community “It doesn’t have to be perfect; it that someone should be playing songs (and communities nationwide) that Unless otherwise noted, all shouldn’t be. If all goes well, kids will like that for kids on the radio. Since people in Lexington care about fami- material copyright © 2010 walk away feeling empowered to go out then, my son (radio name: Kid-O) has lies,” said Warnke. North of Center, LLC. and create. Kids seeing other kids cre- been helping me do the show. He gets “It encourages families who live ate and perform music will hopefully on the air and says hello occasionally here to stay here, and families who show them they can do the same them- and often helps me make musical selec- don’t live here to move here. Working to selves,” he added. tions. It’s fun for both of us.” build a community friendly to children Another board member, Amberly The wave of events like RNR, and families will be a key in retaining Warnke, also emphasized the impor- which finds parents and children shar- those new residents as they grow into Live music at tance of Lexington’s RNR goal to ing musical experiences together in parenthood,” she added. Natasha’s Bistro include music of all age groups. “High a laid back and communal manner, Bell hopes that people who used school bands, 12-year-old singer song- seemed to take flight when founders to go out more often before nestling March 20, 9:00 writers, 8-year-old new wavers – our of college/alternative/indie rock bands into their homes after having kids will kids need to see someone their own matured and became parents. come back out with their kids to see all age doing something they love, and As they became parents, many Lexington has to offer. The City they need to be encouraged to express musicians put out kids’ albums while “We see it as an investment in the themselves while building self-esteem.” maintaining an adult career (Medeski future of Lexington’s creative scene,” To Benefit Warnke is also the driving force Martin & Wood, Robert Schneider of he began. “These young kids will start behind the radio show “Ages 3 and Up!” The Apples in Stereo, They Might Be bands, pursue art or at least appreci- which airs at 8 A.M. Saturday morn- Giants). Others began producing chil- ate creativity more as a result of being MiliTARY ing’s on 88.1 WRFL here in Lexington. dren’s music exclusively (Dan Zanes exposed to live music performed by A mom and former WRFL DJ in the of the DelFuegos, Sarah Shannon of people in their community.” MISSIONS 90s, she had the idea to get back on the Velocity Girl, Chris Ballew of The The air-racquet (or broom, or airwaves when her son was three. Presidents of the United States of other household objects) is an art form $8.00 at the door “There really was not much I con- America). “These musicians and their that will likely be preserved for future sidered appropriate for him to listen to fans wanted family entertainment- generations—“Rock Band” and “Guitar proceeds after on the radio. The lyrics of many ‘grown events they could attend and enjoy Hero” are testaments to that. RNR, expenses donated up’ songs, while not considered ‘explicit,’ with their children,” Warnke said. though, adds more to the mix, allow- directly to are sexually charged, and glorify vio- The same evolution has taken place ing Lexington families the ability to Military Missions lence. I fully support the artists’ rights here, as several members of Lexington’s share the irreplacable joy of experienc- to express themselves in that way, but it’s music community sit on the board for ing live music together. That’s a racket not what I want my kid to listen to.” RNR. A unified interest in keeping the we should all get behind. Civic Center (Lexington, Kentucky) A poem by Chris Green

This is the fourth of four parts; see issues of January 27, February 10 and February she saw the lights of stars in her mind’s eye 24 for previous parts. This poem originally appeared in Rushlight: Poems, pub- and caught them like snowflakes lished in November by Bottom Dog Press. Find it at Morris or elsewhere. that dissolved into images on her tongue.

XI. For Winburn’s Sixth Graders #1 Yes I heard your hands play harp words and sometimes you heard each other. First thing, a young woman proclaimed, “I hate poetry words!” But after a week, XII. For Winburn’s Sixth Graders #2 she let her heart speak and decided that she liked what it was she heard. Your poems converse, Pushing and joking, playing and flirting, beginning the world. When the first rhyme I saw young poets dare to play rose from a young man’s lips, with keeping time and trying rhyme, splitting words in the silence of the night, transforming pure energy into lines. thunder celebrated and split the air. He caught the tang on his tongue, I saw young ones bend their ears and for a moment spoke with a sun over the wall of time, drinking from in his mouth. their grandmothers’ sweet voices. And I saw a young man dare The way is long, to reach through steel bars but he is strong & starts off, and touch the heart of his father. singing to The Sky who replies, Mad at a teacher, another Tell me of your life; wove a net of words to hunt his anger: tell me of your strife. I heard the joyful song young sisters sing. Tell me of the heights Their hands picked up the ring from which your voice of the telephones that sounded inside, has called. penciling down the beat of heart-heard words. Tell me of swimming in the sea. At first, poetry seems no fun at all, but when a young woman tried, Now he has begun. North of Center 3

Kent State Minter signs new graphic novel continued from page 1 large supported Daley’s harsh, indis- On Saturday, March 20, Kenn (a gentle-natured, mechanical, furry criminate tactics against dissenting Minter will sign his new graphic giant), and Mr. Elaztik (the obliga- American people, within a few short citizens. Later that year, Humphrey novel “the Experts,” which was co- tory, rubber-bodied, shape-changing years, the war had intensified to such lost the presidential election to written with Clarence Pruitt and comic relief). Each member chosen a degree that public opinion began to Richard Nixon, and the stage was set recently published by Near Mint to fulfill certain demographic appeal shift against both the president and for both the war in Vietnam and the Pres. The signing, at Collectibles Etc. and more importantly for their will- the war effort. movement against it to escalate to a in Lexington, begins at 2:00 P.M. ingness to work cheap. new level. and concludes at 5:00 P.M. Ninja Witch soon takes center Students begin to activate nationally Gathered together by the aging stage as she and Free Mary are put On April 17, 1965, thousands Four dead in Ohio super-heroes Frost Queen and the through their paces on a mission of demonstrators converged on Scotsman, the Experts are a quirky preordained to failure -- and not just Washington, DC to voice their oppo- “Tin soldiers and Nixon’s comin’ group of adventurers out to toss due to their ineptness. While the sition to the war. The demonstration We’re finally on our own their hat in the super-hero ring. But mysterious Doctor Delta is haunted was the first event of its kind on a This summer I hear the drummin’ the founders of this new team are by memories of his past and the national scale. Among the organizers Four dead in Ohio” more interested in publicity, endorse- one fateful decision that has cast of the rally were the Students for a —Crosby, Stills, Nash ments, and marketing than actual its shadow over his entire life. The Democratic Society, an organization & Young, “Ohio” super-heroics. Experts quickly reach the brink of of student activists that had begun The new team combines three collapse as the unpredictable Ninja to spring up in chapters all across In the spring of 1970, President newcomers: Ninja Witch (a moody, Witch discovers that the team is America. Founded in the early 1960’s Nixon illegally and secretly expanded youthful witch-in-training), Free being exploited in more ways than in , the SDS later came to the war in Vietnam into the nations Mary (a spit-fire vixen), and Naked they ever realized. play a role in the demonstrations on of Cambodia and Laos. No American Man (a young, eager buck); with three Collectibles Etc. is located at 115 UK’s campus in 1970. reasonably educated on Richard adventure veterans: Doctor Delta (a North Locust Hill Drive. Call them Later in the year, the SDS called Nixon’s views on Communism could mystical apparition), the Emerald Yeti at (859) 269-6633. for a second rally—a March on have considered this to be a par- Washington—to follow their well- ticularly outrageous move, yet when attended first rally in April. In a leaf- uncovered it was met with some of the My Old Kentucky Home eventually became a vocal defender of let distributed nationally that fall, the most vociferous opposition to the war At the University of Kentucky, UK students during the coming crisis, SDS wrote that “in the name of free- yet seen in America. According to an unrest had already been brewing for and even put himself on the line, as dom, America is mutilating Vietnam,” official U.S. Air Force report declas- some time by the time of the shoot- he was arrested for his participation and that “America is burying its own sified by President Clinton in 2000, ing at Kent State. With the elec- in the demonstrations that followed dreams and suffocating its own poten- over 100,000 sites in Cambodia were tion in 1967 of Republican Louie his swearing-in. tial.” It was not long before the SDS hit, with 3,580 of those sites being Nunn as governor of Kentucky, state became an influential organization “unknown” targets, suggesting that schools like UK underwent a period A four-part harmony on the American left, organizing anti- civilians were killed at many of them. of rapid overhaul. Already serving As students at UK began to war activities across the country dur- College campuses nationwide as university president at the time express disgust with President Nixon, ing the 1960’s. erupted in protests—most of them of Nunn’s election, John W. Oswald the incursion of US military forces With many thousands of young peaceful—against what they saw as the had implemented a number of aca- into Laos and Cambodia, and the men being drafted into the armed escalation of the Vietnam war into demic reforms at UK during his time shooting at Kent State, the stage was forces—many of whom returned dead, the new territories of Cambodia and in office, including a refocus on aca- set for confrontation. maimed or mentally scarred by the Laos. One such campus, Kent State demics rather than athletic programs, This four-part series will explore war—and with vocal critiques to the University in Ohio, became the site of the construction of Patterson Office in more depth the events that took war starting to percolate through one of the more searing, violent acts of Tower and Whitehall Classroom place at the University of Kentucky different types of underground and repression by the State against peaceful Building, and an expansion of the in May of 1970. It will look into the establishment media, Americans demonstrators in recent U.S. history. school’s budget. burning of the old Air Force ROTC began to question their government’s On May 4, 1970, at a demonstra- But perhaps the most important building and the arrest of a young involvement in Indochina. tion against the war, National Guard facet of the Oswald administration female student for that burning. It Anti-war demonstrations picked troops called in to quell the protest- was Oswald’s vigorous support for will revisit the deployment of the up speed and the movement grew. ers fired sixty-seven rounds in a mat- campus free speech and the cre- National Guard and state police to In 1968, at the Democratic National ter of seconds, killing four students ation of a student code. In spite of campus to quell the protests, and it Convention in Chicago, demonstra- and wounding nine others. Several of these reforms (or perhaps because will examine some important actors tions turned violent when Chicago those killed and wounded were not of them), Oswald left the university in these events. Mayor Richard Daley granted secu- even participating in the demonstra- shortly after Nunn’s election as gov- I hope to discuss Pat White, rity and police forces the authority tion but were merely passing by or ernor. Oswald was replaced as univer- initially a politically moderate UK sity president by Albert Kirwan, who English professor whose arrest amidst served a short tenure as interim pres- the turmoil on campus is believed to ident. (Kirwan’s term in office was have later led to the university denying later described by student body presi- his tenure. White, who became radi- dent Steve Bright as an “unmitigated calized as a result of the heavy-handed disaster,” as professors and adminis- government response to the UK dem- trators began to leave the university onstrations, stayed in Lexington and in alarming numbers.) continued to teach frequently in the In 1968, Otis Singletary replaced decades following the 1970 protests. the interim Kirwan and became uni- He passed away last year. versity president, in part because I will talk with student govern- his views on student free speech ment president Steve Bright, who was and activism were more in line with thrust into the spotlight after he was Nunn’s thinking than Oswald’s. With sworn in as a Board of Trustees mem- Singletary’s ascent to the top of UK’s ber at the May 5th meeting. In addi- administration, UK became a breed- tion to Bright, I plan to cover several ing ground for anti-free speech activi- other student leaders whose voices ties and anti-administration activities may have been lost to the symphony

COURTESY UK SPECIAL COLLECTIONS in response. Perhaps more than any of history. other institutional event, Singletary’s The events at UK in 1970 have Students march past Blazer Hall in May 1970. rise to the presidency engendered the had dramatic repercussions for UK, traumatic events at UK that immedi- ranging from a re-landscaping of cam- to essentially take whatever measures watching the protest from afar. ately followed. pus to more stringent rules governing necessary to quell the protests. Taking Within hours, outrage over the The news of the Kent State shoot- campus speech. We would do well to to the streets during the convention, killing of the four Kent State students ing did not take long to spread to UK. be reminded of the unjust treatment of demonstrators were confronted with began to blaze on college campuses On May 5th, just one day after the students by the authorities at the time. one of the largest masses of police and across America—most of which had shootings, the UK Board of Trustees Furthermore, it is important not to National Guardsmen ever assembled already mobilized their own pro- met for their regularly scheduled forget the courageous individuals who for the purpose of domestic polic- tests against Nixon’s escalation into meeting. This particular meeting, fought against the administration and ing. Outnumbered more than two-to- Cambodia. In the week following however, was auspicious for two rea- the governor as they sought to quash one, the demonstrators were met with the shooting in Ohio, some four mil- sons: it was the first board meeting dissent at the University of Kentucky. violence from security forces almost lion students at over 450 institutions in the newly-minted Patterson Office The events of 1970 have implications immediately upon their arrival in the throughout the U.S. participated in Tower and it saw the swearing-in to for today, and student activists in 2010 streets outside the convention center. student strikes, resulting in the clo- the board of new student govern- can learn from the lessons of this tur- Television cameras alternated sure of most of these schools and, for ment president Steve Bright. Bright bulent time in UK history. throughout the night of August 28 some, the canceling of final exams between shots of the raucous celebra- and commencement activities. Taken tions of Democratic presidential can- together, it was the largest student didate Hubert Humphrey’s nomina- strike ever seen in this country. tion inside the convention hall and A week after the Kent State shoot- the escalating violence in the streets ing, an estimated 100,000 protestors just outside. Out in the streets, tear- converged on Washington, DC to gas and mace were sprayed indis- protest both the shooting and the criminately at demonstrators as well American incursion into Cambodia. as bystanders, to such a degree that The demonstrators were met with typ- guests at the Hilton Hotel, where ical indifference and chilliness from many of the convention delegates were the Nixon administration. Nixon staying, complained of irritation due agreed to meet with several anti-war to teargas that had wafted through leaders, but essentially rebuffed their the air and into the hotel. demands. The protest continued In the end, however, opinion unabated, and was the largest demon- polls showed that Americans by and stration in nearly two years. 4 North of Center Film & Media Review: Shutter Island Scorsese’s next step in his descent into the utterly obvious By Colleen Glenn For proof, one need only recall the comprehend the story he is telling. But his partner, Chuck Aule (Ruffalo), punch-in-the-gut ending to Taxi Driver Scorsese, it seems, has lost his faith in enter the guarded gates of the institu- Editor’s Note: spoiler alert. when we are left wondering whether us. tion, they are forced to surrender their the psychotic Travis truly has been Which brings me to Shutter firearms. Do you remember when watch- crowned hero for committing murder Island, Scorsese’s latest release from So begins the accelerated loss of ing a Martin Scorsese film was rivet- or if we are merely witnessing his delu- Paramount Pictures. Turning in super power for Daniels, as he finds his inves- ing? When you were transfixed by sions of glory. Or you might remember performances by Leonardo DiCaprio, tigation increasingly compromised by the intriguing plot and perhaps left the unbearable sadness at the conclu- Mark Ruffalo, and Ben Kingsley, the uncooperative staff and condescending stunned at the conclusion? To be clear, sion of The Age of Innocence, when, in film teases us with suspense and mys- doctors, who undermine his mission at I am not suggesting Scorsese is known the most crucial of moments, Archer tery only to unmask the truth with all every step. To make matters worse, the for surprise or “twist” endings. Rather, inexplicably chooses the flawlessness of the delicacy of a root canal. island is under siege by a severe hur- my point is that the Scorsese canon is ricane, making it impossible to leave. filled with narratives that epitomize Later, they will trade in their “civies” verisimilitude to such an extent that we for orderly uniforms after being caught are completely drawn into the world of in the storm, yet another step in the the narrative, temporarily casting aside transference of power from the mar- our own reality for the one he master- shals to the institution doctors. fully creates onscreen before our eyes. In addition to dealing with unex- Some have criticized Scorsese for pected obstacles in the investigation, being too concerned at creating (or Daniels is battling his own body, and re-creating) the world his characters losing. Even before arriving on the inhabit. It’s not unusual to hear crit- island, Daniels has been ill. Initially ics claim Scorsese is more concerned seasick on the boat, Daniels continues with costumes and set than plot, cin- to feel badly, suffering from blinding ematography or editing, but this accu- migraines and nausea. He begins to sation has always seemed unjust to hallucinate, seeing visions of his dead me. While it is true that he is notori- wife and suffering repeated flashbacks ous for elaborate, historically accurate to the liberation of Dachau. sets, costumes, and props, these items His memories of the concentra- are only part of the method Scorsese COURTESY PARAMOUNT PICTURES tion camp interrupt his thoughts, the uses to create unforgettable, life-like Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island is currently in wide release. gruesome images piling up in his head narratives. like the bodies of the prisoners at the So skillful is he at conjuring this of memory over the imperfection of Based on the 2003 novel by Dennis camp. His guilt—for being too late to sense of realness that the endings to his reality, forever forgoing his chance to Lehane, Shutter Island tells the story of save many people—and for shooting films often leave one breathless. When be with the love of his life. Both exam- U.S. marshal Teddy Daniels’ investiga- German prisoners—motivates Daniels the final credits run, the window to ples illustrate the grace and subtlety tion into the disappearance of a female to get to the bottom of the mystery on that alternate reality closes, and we are that exemplify Scorsese’s handling of inmate from Ashecliff Hospital, a Shutter Island. left with the somewhat disruptive feel- stories and, perhaps more to my point, mental asylum for the “criminally ing of waking from a vivid dream. his inherent trust in the audience to insane.” As Daniels (DiCaprio) and continued on page 7 The best of the year? By Edward Mason remains that the inequities of this year’s My complaint with Avatar win- made up of animated visuals. Why not awards need to be addressed. As men- ing for cinematography does not stem nominate other animated films for the Am I the only one that felt more tioned, The Hurt Locker was so pro-Iraq from any kind of ideological issue per award then? than a little disappointed in the Academy war that I cannot imagine how James se, but rather from the fact that it is This leads me to my next point. Awards this year? The Academy gave the Cameron could claim it could become essentially an animated film. To be Why not give the award to Fantastic Best Picture award to Kathryn Bigelow’s the Platoon of this generation. Oliver perfectly honest, I have not seen James Mr. Fox? Wes Anderson deserved to The Hurt Locker, a film that was tanta- Stone demonstrated the futility of war Cameron’s latest venture to spend all win something for this film, and we all mount to a two-hour army commercial, and all its horrors, whereas Bigelow of the world’s money, and I have no know that Best Animated film was ear- gave the award for cinematography to made a failed attempt at showcasing intention to. I believe that this explo- marked for Up since before the movie Avatar, a film that contained less live masculinity and heroism disguised as sion of CGI in films, in addition to was released. I understand that, despite action than Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, a soldier addicted to the rush of war. usually looking horrible, cheapens my distaste for CGI, Up was not by and totally snubbed Wes Anderson’s We are supposed to be in awe of the cinematic experience. There is no any means of the word bad, but the aptly named Fantastic Mr. Fox in favor the valor of Jeremy Renner’s charac- need to be original or creative anymore Academy should rename the category of whatever Disney/Pixar CG anima- ter and how well he serves his coun- because you can fake verisimilitude “Best Disney/Pixar Animation” if it tion put out this year. try; it truly would be the equivalent with computers. We would never have plans on giving the award to whatever This is not to say that there were of having John Rambo on screen as a seen astounding, imaginatively unique sentimental computer-generated movie not bright spots though, because there paradigm for freedom. Only, we like films like Clash of the Titans (1981) the studios put out every year. I can were, but I am not here to address Rambo because he’s fiction, and the or 2001: A Space Odyssey if they had already see the people working on Toy those. People often claim that the thought of adrenaline-fueled soldiers been sterilized by soulless computer- Story 3 making room for the Oscar Oscars are more about politics than who cannot shut out the war would enhanced effects. If Avatar would have they are going to win next year. anything else, and this may be true, honestly scare us. Bigelow is not being been made by Michel Gondry and ren- In all honesty, though, it wasn’t but let us not forget that this is the apolitical here; she has a clear agenda dered with painted cardboard cutouts a great year for film, really. The only awards ceremony that has chosen to drum up that old cliché of “support and stop motion animation, the world nominee for Best Picture that I even Slumdog Millionaire and No Country For the troops.” The film screams, “Look would have been a far better place. enjoyed was Inglourious Basterds, and Old Men in the past two years for Best at how intense these soldiers are!,” Cameron spent enough money that even then it was only pretty neat. So, Picture. Danny Boyle and the Cohen “Look at how brave they are!,” “Look they had to give the film some award, maybe we should cut the Academy a brothers, respectively, were more than at what they are willing to go to for though. So, in all honesty, my dissatis- little slack. But let’s recap what was deserving of the award. you!” Yet, that is the problem—the film faction is ideologically based, but even learned by this year’s Oscars: love I could go on about the quality never raises the questions that need to so, it seems a bit of an oversight to America and war; don’t be innovative; awards that have been given out in be asked about the war. It never posits give an award for achievement in cin- and Disney is your god. Important les- recent years, but I digress; the point that giant hypothetical “Why?” ematography to a film predominantly sons one and all. Life, art and Crazy Heart: a review By Ainsley Wagoner a past full of mistakes, and the plot bowling alley where he is scheduled if they are given the chance. Bad is starts to seem familiar. to play that night. I knew right away every man with a string of failed rela- The elements of what makes a By now everyone knows about the kind of honesty and private tionships and career endeavors that movie worth paying to see can be repli- Crazy Heart’s Oscar nominations, and relate-ability that this movie had in still has a recognizable spark of great cated fairly easily: celebrity producers, somewhere between my writing this store. These kinds of details fell into talent. When they meet, their charac- a couple of Hollywood heavy-hitters and press time a little golden statue place within the larger story, allowing ters are in two completely asymmetri- to share the spotlight, and an iconic, may indeed wind up on Bridges’ man- the work as a whole to move beyond cal places in life. He is burnt out, and biopic storyline. But just because you tle. So the point of this can hardly be cliché and into the realm of relevant: has stopped trying to achieve any goal have all the right ingredients doesn’t whether or not this movie is good. (It the sweat stains and worn elbows on but still clings to the system of play- mean the product is desirable. We is very good, if you are wondering.) Bad’s denim shirts and the way his ing show after show for a pittance, have all seen movies that should have The point is, rather, what is it that accent was at times indecipherably spending what little money he has been good, where the formula was set makes a movie formula succeed some- thick; Jean’s bra straps beneath cheap on whiskey. She has built a thick wall up correctly but the equation some- times, and fail at others? Or perhaps tank tops and her hand-me-down around herself to make a stable life how fails. Amelia, anyone? even that question is too large. What minivan. for her four-year-old son and works Crazy Heart’s set-up is noth- is it that makes this movie—despite Beyond the details, the characters hard to support them by writing at ing new; its framework is calculated staying well within the bounds of struck that brilliant chord of becom- the local paper. and practiced. Jeff Bridges as Bad what has been done in the cinematic ing impossibly familiar to the audi- The movie charts the beginning Blake and Maggie Gyllenhaal as Jean art form—so good? ence. Jean is every smart, cautious, of their relationship at that moment Craddock are hardly risky newcomers For me, it was immediately evi- protective mother who has ever taken when, against any rationale, it seems in the lead roles. Add Robert Duvall dent. The first shot of Bridges’ char- a chance on something she sees in a that who two people used to be will and Colin Farrell as supporting acter, Bad Blake, shows the aging for- man and then wished she hadn’t. She not matter. A new start really seems actors, paired with a straight-from-a- mer country star emptying a bottle is driven and strong but not immune novel biopic plot of a musician with of urine into the parking lot of the to believing that people can be better continued on page 7 North of Center 5 Music Awesome Color kicks out Tyvek, Babes, and CROSS also play Al’s By Nick Kidd It’s a convenient two-dimensional time any other major city in the North.” vibrancy Detroit possessed at the time. capsule one might expect to find in a Sure, rock and roll was kicking around Yet there were signs that the Motor I recently opened up Elektra’s 1991 reissue, one that boasts, “The cultural in the Motor City’s bowels, but Kiss City wasn’t the shining city on the hill CD reissue of the MC5’s debut album circumstances surrounding the cre- wouldn’t make “Detroit Rock City” that the NY Times editorialists had Kick Out the Jams. Its liner notes flip ation of this music will never again until ‘76. So how did Detroit get from once thought. out like a map, guiding my eyes to an occur.” Motown to Rock City? Riots and disorder were breaking abundance of American flags, a poem, In the early 60s, Detroit was seen Perhaps the most fascinating part out all across America throughout a handful of old concert posters, and a as a leader in liberal race relations, the of the Kick Out the Jams booklet is a the late ‘60s, hitting Detroit with the lengthy passage about how the album place that gave the world Motown and chart of the top 31 songs from Detroit Twelfth Street Riots in ’67. Such con- was recorded live on Halloween at cars, a city the New York Times edito- radio station WKNR for the week of ditions, according to the liner notes, Detroit’s Grande Ballroom in 1968. rialized had “more going for it than February 20, 1969. The chart is over- contributed to Kick Out the Jams’ cre- flowing with innocuous psychedelic ation: “This record has within it the pop songs (Classics IV’s “Traces,” Sir vision and the violence of a turbulent Douglas Quintet’s “Mendocino”), time in America. This music expresses Motown (The Foundations’ “Build the frustration and future shock of Me Up Buttercup,” David Ruffin’s the soul of the sixties. This is a por- “My Whole World Ended”), and bland trayal of the struggle to create a world commercial pop (Frankie Laine’s “You that was destined never to be.” The Gave Me a Mountain,” Tommy Roe’s Altamont Festival in 1969 marked the chart-topper “Dizzy”). Apart from de facto end of the hippie era, a free CCR and Steppenwolf, the chart has concert marred by one homicide and almost nothing today’s rock fans can three accidental deaths. The MC5 were sink their teeth into. The most notable slightly ahead of the times when they exception: “Kick Out the Jams” by the dropped Kick Out the Jams earlier MC5. that year, an album that sought “to I YouTubed (yeah, a verb) every make something more significant than song on that singles chart confident the mere product that dominated the I’d find something similar to the epic charts.” brutality of “Kick Out the Jams,” Another Detroit act helped bol- some obscure psych/ outfit ster the MC5’s evangelizing of raw, that history had forgotten. But noth- back-to-basics rock: . The ing even came close. I walked away Stooges were the MC5’s opening act, from the undertaking convinced that though history suggests that they were the MC5 exemplified a total rejection the more influential band. Regardless of hippie rock and commercial pop, of whose side you’re on, both bands genres growing dangerously close to shamelessly relied more on showman- one another (see: The Zombies). ship than actual chops. The Stooges The MC5 offered a counter coun- nightly unleashed Iggy Pop, the nut- ter-culture, one that found opportu- tiest front-man of all time, a bare- nity in chaos, indulgence, and excess chested freakshow who puked onstage instead of peace, love, and happiness. and even rolled around in piles of bro- That Detroit simultaneously churned ken glass. The MC5, like most sentient out this nihilistic message, a calling beings, weren’t quite as crazy as Iggy. later synonymous with punk, and the They riffed on political chicanery, seminally sleek sound of Motown is baffling; it’s a lasting testament to the continued on page 8 STEFANOGIOVANNINI STEFPIX.COM/

Awesome Color. Coralee and the Townies EP release By Sunny Montgomery organize a group. “It was just a matter of finding myself a band that was good The air was thick with expectancy enough to cover up the fact that I had as my classmates and I lined up at the no idea what I was doing,” she says. front of the classroom, dressed in our But Corey’s being modest. Between freshly starched choral costumes and her big voice—a smoky reminiscence fidgeting anxiously with our cummer- of Loretta Lynn—and her charismatic bunds. It was the annual sixth-grade stage presence, which Smith describes Southside Select Choir tryouts and one as “both friendly and ferocious,” it by one, Mrs. McVey was going to call seems the spotlight is just where Corey out our names and when she did, we belongs. would step up onto the small platform Presently, the Townies are finish- and sing the first few lines of our cho- ing up a five song EP comprised of sen song. Corey’s originals. Despite an obvi- The teacher called another name ous aptitude for performing, Corey and I eyed the small blonde girl who’d says she lives for songwriting. “The just taken stage. Her name was Corey common theme is undoubtedly love,” Wilson, though we didn’t know that she says of her songs. “I have loved, then—she was a new student. But by unloved, reloved and made love,” and the end of her audition, it was apparent it is these truths she has versified into that the Southside Choir had found its a kind of western swing collection superstar. due to drop mid March. “These songs Now, a decade later, Corey has are not just stories—they’re my stories taken the stage again as Lexington’s lat- and I just like to figure out ways to est musical darling and front-woman tell them that will make people want to Coralee and the Townies. She’s to listen.” And based upon the packed traded in her grade school choir garb dance floor at any particular Townie for a pair of cowboy boots and acous- show, indeed, we are listening. tic guitar, united with five of the most “She’s ambitious in what she wants respected musicians in town—Johnny to do and she puts a lot of thought Grossman (Get Down Watson), Smith into her music,” says drummer David Donaldson (Tall Boys), Scott Wilmoth White. “Playing with Coralee makes (Swells), David White (Big Maracas), me feel young. Younger,” he quickly and Fred Sexton (the Yonders)—and adds. But it seems it is this precise quickly amassed quite a following with sentiment that has contributed to her her sultry originals and honky-tonk popularity. Her spirit is contagious, interpretations of tunes by Tom Waits, and pretty girls with her kind of raw Kinks, Chuck Berry and various other talent cannot help but dazzle. After all, danceable musicians. even in the sixth grade she was a rock “It had always been my dream to star and I haven’t any doubt that rock- be a backup singer,” says Corey. “I love stardom will always follow Corey. to sing harmony and it’s very much against my nature to want to be in Coralee and the Townies will be perform- the spotlight.” After college, she did ing Friday, March 19 at Cosmic Charlie’s a bit of backing vocals for some local where they will also be releasing their self- JOSH SAXTON groups but decided, in time, that if she titled five song EP. The show starts at 10 wanted to keep singing, she’d have to P.M. Coralee at Cosmic Charlie’s last month. 6 North of Center Sports ROCK ready to roll Preseason practice for Lex roller derby By Troy Lyle flat track derby league formed in 2007. The skater owned and operated group Are you ready? You better be, is entering its third season here in because it’s time for jammers to get Lexington. whipped, for blockers to lay out the “I think we’re better prepared this lead, for hammering hip checks and year than in past seasons due to our snowplowing packs. And maybe, just longevity as a league,” said Smite. “We maybe, a grand slam or two. have more experienced skaters and It’s once again time for roller more consistent training, and a strong derby in the bluegrass. The Rollergirls batch of new recruits who keep us on of Central Kentucky (ROCK) are set to our toes.” begin their season this coming week- The new recruits also provide end against the Blue Ridge Rollergirls enough live bodies for the team to scrim- of Asheville, NC. The bout will be mage in full during practice sessions, held Saturday at the Asheville Civic which is “truly invaluable,” she said. JACK KING Center at 7 P.M.. ROCK finished last season with ROCK pumps it up for its 2009 bout with Radioactive City Rollergirls. “We didn’t play Blue Ridge last 4 wins and 5 losses. This year’s team season,” said Rainbow Smite, ROCK’s is expanding its schedule to 12 bouts, assistant captain. “This is our first which includes the East Coast Derby With more bouts and more prac- track derby tournaments, and local bout against them, and this is actually Extravaganza (ECE), a three day, large- tice under its belt, ROCK hopes to and national rankings. their 2010 season opener.” scale women’s flat track roller derby improve even more this season by play- “WFTDA is a long-term league Smite is one of more than 25 skat- competition featuring teams from ing more as a team and incorporating goal that we have our sights on, but ers who make up ROCK, an all-female across the US and Canada. new techniques and styles of play into we need to be cautious,” Rainbow said. their already solid format. “As the generally recognized organiz- “This team is made up of more ing structure for the sport, to become a skaters who work differently together,” member would give ROCK the oppor- Rollergirls of Central Kentucky said Smite. “In previous seasons, we’ve tunity to do things like play and be 2010 SCHEDULE not always understood the best way to ranked in national tournaments, and truly play as a team, and we’ve also receive the benefits and guidance of All doors open at 7:00 P.M.. Bouts begin at 8 P.M.. had few enough skaters that we were WFTDA. Still, it’s a goal we have to March 13 ROCK @ Blue Ridge Rollergirls (Asheville, NC) going into bouts with the same 8 or work on slowly since it requires let- 12 people who worked in familiar ways ters of support from current WFTDA March 27 ROCK @ Hard Knox (Knoxville, TN) together. This season has a lot of new leagues, an established league history faces, which means new plays, new and a record of philanthropy.” April 10 ROCK @ Lafayette Brawlin’ Dolls (Lafayette, IN) styles, new ways of kicking ass.” This year’s ROCK team includes: Smite said she thinks audience Abigator Death Roll, Autumn Hutt, May 8 ROCK @ ROSI (Evansville, IN) members will notice some of the same Bjoink, Blackeyed Pea, Bitty Bast’rd, June 5 ROCK @ Glass City (Toledo, OH) teamwork they saw in season’s past, but Boom Boom, Ellie Slay (captain), they’ll see it executed seamlessly and Icey Deadgirls, Jessie Maims, Junk June 19 ROCK vs. Vette City Vixens (Champs Skating Rink, Lex.) will begin to recognize signature plays Drawer, Kitty O’Doom, Mona Lisa that define ROCK as a league. Vile, PammDemic, Paralethal, Ragdoll June 25-27 ECE (Philadelphia, PA) Another goal of ROCK is join- Ruby, Rainbow Smite (asst. captain), July 10 ROCK vs. Derby City (Champs Skating Rink, Lexington) ing the Women’s Flat Track Derby Rebel Red, Ryder Die, Salem Slammah, Association (WFTDA) in the future. Sharon Moonshine, Shirley Psycho, July 24 ROCK @ BBRG (Florence, KY) WFTDA, which recently formed in Sissy Bug, Speedy Jenkins, Sugar Shock, 2004, is the governing association for SueTure, Two Keys Terror. Referees August 14 ROCK vs. Lafayette Brawlin’ Dolls (Champs, Lex.) all flat track derby play and provides include: Howie Swerve and Paco Chaos. leagues with the rules of the sport, as September 11 ROCK vs. Black n’ Bluegrass Roller girls (Champs, Lex.) well as roller derby tips and advice. In If you’d like to learn more about ROCK October 9 ROCK vs. TBA addition, WFTDA disseminates up-to- go to www.rocknrollergirls.com. For more date news and information about flat information on WFTDA visit wftda.com. Attacking the NCAA basketball tournament brackets: a regional strategy NoC Sports Desk Coast teams to project far in the tour- Tennessee exuberance factor (which Duke, in particular, was a big winner nanet. Our three-year analysis suggests itself could also be expressed through here--speaking strickly in terms of maz- It’s no secret that Kentucky will a 22% exuberance factor from the an over-abundance of SEC-heavy final imized bracket efficiency, of course. be one of this year’s bracket favorites. brackets of West Coast basketball fans four brackets.) In any case, the moral here is that They will in all likelihood be a num- for their regional biases. Here locally in the inner Bluegrass, you’ll have a much better chance of ber one seed. And having lost only two The same goes in the East (26% exu- we’ll take our chances with Kansas, winning each pool you enter if you tar- games all season, they will have a bet- berance factor), the SEC (38%) and even Syracuse, Purdue and West Virginia. get your picks to the region in which ter than average chance of reaching the here in Kentucky (74%). In sports as in Or maybe Ohio State, Duke, Kansas those picks will be played. You’ll be final four. politics and nationalisms, people tend to State and Villanova. For many years, getting more for your money. Will they win it all? Who knows pick what they know and see often. and, from the standpoint of maximiz- Having run a pool or two in the ing your bracket’s potential to emerge past, we can’t begin to count the num- victorious in your NCAA pools, who ber of local brackets that have had cares. Since the brackets have yet to be Kentucky winning it all. No matter announced, who could even wager a who the coach was or what year. If you winning guess at this point. But that factor in this year’s team with all of its shouldn’t stop any and all bracketolo- success...well, you have a better chance gists from at the very least forming a of winning the Powerball Lottery than plan of attack. picking a bracket in Lexington with You could fill out 50 brackets with Kentucky as the winner. any number of combinations of win- ners, final fours and upsets. And you The NoC Plan would have a great chance of winning Here’s what we plan to do. We’ll at least a pool or two with your picks. definitely be picking two, maybe three, But who has $500 to blow these days. brackets with UK winning it all. We’ll simply refuse to play those brackets in Game Planning Kentucky and, with few exceptions, on Here’s where game planning comes the east coast. Our Kentucky picks go in. At NoC, we usually play anywhere to San Francisco, Vancouver, Denver TROY LYLE from 10 to 15 brackets annually. A few and Las Cruces. at various workplaces, a few online, This year our one exception to the The only picture able to be retrieved from the Fisherman KY RIVER disc. and a few with friends living in states regional rule is Tennessee. With our across the country. contacts in the middle Tennessee vec- A note from the Frugal Fisherman Why send a handful of brackets all tor, we’ll place brackets that exhibit the way across the country? Because if initially a high SEC exuberance, Editor’s Note: With deadline day nearing “I had planned to regale you with you’re going to pick Kentucky to win but we will finish instead with a Big an end, the Frugal Fisherman frantically stories of largemouth bass and flat- it all, then your best shot of winning East-heavy Final Four followed by a appeared at NoC headquarters brandish- head catfish from this past weekend’s with that bracket is in a location where Kentucky national championship. ing a hastily scribbled note, several pictures fishing and camping trip. But alas I few people are likely to pick UK as the The thinking here is that the that were beaten up and still dripping mud, didn’t catch a thing on the nearly 20 winner. middle Tennessee area has many and a cd in a jewel case with the words miles of Kentucky River between Lock Think of it as regional economics. SEC fanatics, with the three main KY PICTURES scrawled on it. Before we 10 in Boonesborough and Lock 9 at Out West in places like San populations of fanbases comprising could open our mouths to query him, he Valley View. Francisco and Klamath Falls, brackets (in descending order) the Tennessee, had vanished. And when I say I didn‘t catch any- are full of Utahs, UCLAs, Gonzagas Vandy, and Kentucky sectors. Because We here pass on--unedited--the first, thing, I mean I didn’t even get a bite. and St. Mary’s. Maybe not as cham- both Vandy and Tennessee will be in coherent, portion of the Fisherman’s The river was cold and clear, a deadly pions, but as deep-runners, cinderella this year’s tournament, there is a good note, before it veered off into deranged combo for a rusty fisherman like stories, etc. It is a statistically prove- likelihood of the Kentucky national lunatic conspiracies about fish, fowl, myself. Good thing there’s this coming able fact that West coast basketball champion vote getting siphoned off early March water temperatures and weekend’s NCAA bracket announce- fans favor a higher percentage of West through an abnormally high Vandy/ NCAA Tournament brackets: ments to save the day....” North of Center 7 Opinion The week in labor history Hotel Bauen, marches, evictions and other happenings

NoC News bathrooms, and revived the ugly 70s has swept through Argentina since And like the workers at the interior design before finally accom- the mid-1990s, when pro-corporate reclaimed Hotel Bauen, the fruits of In this month in 2003, former modating guests--all while providing privatization policies were instituted these worker reclamations of shut- employees of the closed-down Hotel better wages and working conditions throughout the country (and enthusi- down industry continue to be chal- Bauen, located in the Argentinian astically supported lenged in court by the former own- city of Buenos Aires, reclaimed the by the U.S. govern- ers who cut town at the first sight of rundown building and began making ment). These auster- waning profits. In the Hotel Bauen’s repairs. The space is now run collec- ity policies resulted case, workers continue to struggle tively by its workers as a hotel, free in thousands of peo- to keep Iurkovich’s kin from claim- meeting space for labor groups, and ple getting laid off, ing the now-profitable hotel as their residence for (some) of its workers. sharp cuts in wages own. The story of Hotel Bauen dates and pensions for all back to the mid-70s, when capitalist workers, and slashed In other labor news this week: Marcelo Iurkovich secured easy gov- social services. (In On March 11 in 1930, Gandhi ernment loans to construct the four- other words, what began his Salt March to Delhi. star hotel in downtown Buenos Aires. we are in the process On March 12 in 1982, thee-hun- Iurkovich was looking to cash in on of experiencing here dred women workers staged a slow- the projected tourist influx that would in the United States.) down at Control Data in Seoul, South hit the Argentinian coastal city when The result in Korea, to protest the firing of their it hosted the 1978 World Cup. Sold in statistics? According union president. 1998 to some Chilean capitalists after to the writer Marina On March 14 in 1991, government Iurkovich sucked enough profit out of Sitrin, by 2001 workers from Brazil, who had been it to open two more hotels (though, industrial produc- unpaid since November, seized control curiously, not enough money to pay tion had fallen by of the governor’s palace. off his initial loans), the Bauen closed 25 percent; official On March 15 in 1877, Ben Fletcher in 2001, leaving a number of work- poverty grew to 44 was born. Fletcher was an organizer for ers jobless and forcing many into the percent (with the the International Workers of the World streets, in the midst of Argentina’s unofficial rate much (IWW) who organized longshoremen great economic collapse. higher), and the for- in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Two years later in 2003, some of merly docile middle Finally, on March 18 in 1937, New the hotel’s former workers took mat- class de-classed to York police evicted retail clerks who ters into their own hands when they the lower classes. were occupying a Woolworth’s and agi- illegally entered the dilapidated build- for the people running it. Currently Since 2001, unemployed workers tating for a 40-hour work week. ing, began to fix it up themselves and the worker-run hotel has 150 workers, movements in Argentina have responded started running it as a worker collective. a street-side cafe selling many prod- to the top-down corporate policies cham- Information comes from Industrial Workers As the writer/filmmaker Sammy Loren ucts produced by other worker-owned pioned by its own government (and its of the World (IWW) 2010 calendar. observed in 2005, without an owner to shops, and over 200 renovated hotel U.S. overseer). These groups have have Supplemental information came from Marina get in the way of progress and suck out rooms for happy guests. reclaimed a number of formerly closed- Sitrin’s Horizontalism: Voices of Popular all the profits for himself, the workers The worker-reclamation of the up workplaces, fixed them up and run Power in Argentina and Sammy Loren’s repaired all the broken and wrecked Hotel Bauen is but a small part of them collectively and profitably in a online article, “Argentina’s Worker-Run Hotel living areas, fixed the dysfunctional the larger story of worker power that manner similar to the Hotel Bauen. Bauren,” found at: upsidedownworld.org. Letters to the editor Crazy Heart (cont.) Stumbo’s values more while still leaving a 400 million continued from page 4 the kind of hopelessness that plays Recently I was reminded that we dollar shortfall. out offstage for a country musician live in a Republic, not a Democracy. With this letter I am asking possible and everything is full of whose songs speak to many but whose If I remember my 101 political sci- Senator Stumbo to return to his stated hope. There is a light in the bleak life is at an all-time low. ence class, the difference is that in a values and control his appetite to bal- landscape of Bad Blake’s late nights Second, it comments on the value Democracy the elected official votes ance the budget on the backs of the and hungover mornings. Everyone is of a lifetime of experience in music the will of the people, whereas in a states needs. holding their breath for a happily ever and art, and how those that adhere to Republic, an elected official votes in a after. But, like real life and any good their methods get left in the dust by way that reflects what they feel would Sincerely, story, things don’t go so smoothly. newer, trendier, sexier talent. be best for the state, based on their Jerry Moody Jean’s doubts and Bad’s substance Third, it asks whether we are own value system. Given this differ- abuse make fools out of them both defined by our previous actions or if ence a person running for office in a Surveillance at NoC for believing in a fresh start. Things there really is a possibility of revela- Republic must state his/her values but When I saw a front page with fall apart again, and both are back tion or even improvement. also hold true to those stated values a diatribe against corporate person- where they began. And lastly, and most importantly, once in office. hood; a reasoned, factual plea for the At that point the character devel- the film frames two completely real This is not the case for Speaker decriminalization of useful plants; and opment really begins and the movie’s characters in both their most unre- of the House Stumbo. Just last year accounts of freaky radio drama and namesake is revealed. The whole point markable and most capture-worthy Senator Stumbo stated, “I don’t have MTR struggle music I was concerned. of life is not that someone will save moments. an appetite to turn my back on the “I am being watched. Spied upon. . .” us, or that love will turn a new page Crazy Heart is a successful movie needs of our state.” Now in the cur- Please forgive this irrational and make us better people, but that because it bridges the gap between life rent budget debate Senator Stumbo impulse. I had no prior experience with love makes our hearts crazy enough and art. It does not focus primarily on seems to have developed an appetite a newspaper so connected with its people to keep trying, and to not give up. life influencing art or art influencing for cutting back on the state’s needs. and place that it wrote exclusively about And through the attempt, we may be life, but the inseparability of the two. Namely he advocates shorting the things of interest to people in that place. able to save ourselves. In the end, what makes a movie for- public school year by two days (and Keep up the good work, thank This movie isn’t good because it mula really work depends on whether thereby lowering teacher pay), cutting you, and give’em hell. contemplates love. It’s good because it the film has some sort of applicable funding for services like poison con- speaks on so many levels to the life value to our own life experience. And trol hotlines, and cutting community Your neighbor, experience. First, it looks at an artistic in the case of Crazy Heart, the proof is college funding by 2%. All this and Jonathan Hampton life fallen short of poetic glory, and in the pudding. Shutter Island (cont.) continued from page 4 that necessitated Daniels’ violence but as to think he was selected randomly how and why Daniels snapped, leav- rather his violent nature that drew him for the assignment. If he’s been asking ing no room for ambiguity or even a Set in 1954, Shutter Island becomes to war. questions, then it’s possible that he was raised eyebrow. a lens for contemplating and under- The movie, in its broadest sense, brought here…to be silenced. This decision—to erase any shred standing the trauma of war, and specif- grapples with the human attempt to The film, up to this point, and for of mystery to Shutter Island—is the cin- ically of WWII, a war that essentially reconcile memory with reality. Daniels’ a short while beyond it, is fascinating. ematic equivalent of the final shot of ended any semblance of innocence repeated visions, as well as the fears the The mistake the film makes, however, the rat scurrying across the railing at the world may have possessed. In inmates have concerning the rumors is when, at its climax, it shells out all the end of The Departed (with the gold addition to the murder of six million they’ve heard of the H-bombs, prove vestiges of mystery and intrigue to dome of the Boston capitol building in Jews at the hands of the Nazis, an that such a task—on an individual level, close the book—definitively—on the long shot). Just in case we missed the estimated 200,000 Japanese civilians as well as a global one—is impossible. heretofore captivating mystery. It’s an 151 minutes of corruption and dirty were killed during the U.S. bombings As Daniels begins to place more unfortunate choice because the narra- business endemic to the plot of The at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The sec- trust in his partner, he confides that he tive could easily have ended in a more Departed, Scorsese felt it was neces- ond statistic is particularly tenuous, as requested this assignment for personal restrained manner, an ending that sary to cast a rat as the final character many bodies were never found. They reasons. Ashecliff Hospital, Daniels would allow the audience to contem- onscreen to drive the narrative’s point simply incinerated into thin air. has reason to believe, is conducting plate the sanity and fate of its main home. It’s like the opposite of a rain- These facts, of course, do not heinous experiments on its patients, character. As it is, we learn that Teddy bow thanks, Marty. I wonder if he has begin to describe the full extent of the sort of atrocities the Nazis commit- Daniels is really an inmate at the asy- lost his confidence in his audience to the trauma of the war, including huge ted during the war. HUAC, the OSS, lum, and the events of the last two days grasp abstract concepts, to be comfort- death tolls around the world, with the CIA…the government is impli- have been merely a progressive form able with uncertainty, and to appreci- Russia topping them all at 20,000,000 cated at every level. Daniels plans to of therapy, a hopeful experiment that ate a movie that makes us think. casualties. Of relevance to this film is use this opportunity to gain proof of allowing him to play out his delusional The final shot of Shutter Island? that as a WWII vet, Daniels is not cel- his suspicions and “blow the lid wide fantasy might help him snap back into The lighthouse. Where Daniels will be ebrated, but suspect, as the doctors at open” on the scandalous and horrific reality. An interesting twist, but can lobotomized to remove any last traces Ashecliff (including an ex-Nazi played acts occurring on the island. Chuck’s we trust the reticent Dr. Cawley (Ben of original thought and intelligence, a by the incredible Max von Sydow) con- response is chilling as he asks incredu- Kingsley)? Well, as it turns out, yes. A process Scorsese began with his audi- tinually suggest that it is not the war lously how Daniels could be so naïve 20-minute flashback explains exactly ence in 2006. 8 North of Center Comics

Delmar von Lexington Dylan Blount

Awesome Color (cont.) continued from page 5 ever show up on the Top 40, and . Their set toward heavy metal, hard rock, experi- was a darkly euphoric, peppering their set with gimmicks like mental noise, and just about every- feedback-heavy, balls-to- toting around unloaded rifles and fak- thing outside the mainstream. There’s the-wall blues rock acid ing a sniper assassination of lead singer a direct link between them and much binge party. And it’s time Rob Tyner. of today’s alternative music. to trip again. The MC5’s manager John Sinclair, Today you can get on the inter- Recently, I picked who later formed the White Panther net and buy a house, a whole fucking up Awesome Color’s Party, became the face of the MC5 house you’d own, in Detroit for $500. first album and flipped and greatly shaped their politics and It might have boards for windows and through its liner notes, onstage antics, stoking the contro- be missing all traces of copper, but trying out my armchair versy that occasionally mired the hey, it’s yours. Needless to say, these anthropologist hat, com- band. Some of Sinclair’s central politi- are tough times for the Motor City: paring it with the Kick cal tenets: “Total assault on…culture nobody wants their motors. With the Out the Jams liner notes. by any means necessary, including jobs go the people too, making the Unlike the MC5’s reis- rock and roll, dope, and fucking in former “Detroit Rock City” one of the sued debut, Awesome the streets,” abolishment of currency, worst places to start up a band. Color’s liner notes offer no band back- forefathers? Or are they loyal purvey- and free health care for all. In other One trio of Michiganders left for story whatsoever. What it does have: ors of raw, underground Detroit rock, words, Sinclair and, by extension, the New York some years back, setting a trippy depiction of the band as psy- heirs to the legacy of the MC5 throne? MC5, were a group of militant liber- up camp there and bonding over a chedelic, anthropomorphic creatures; a Fortunately, the pleasure of expe- als with Libertarian ideals…a political mutual love for skateboarding, music photograph of the band; and a foldout riencing Awesome Color in concert movement that almost nobody took and art. They made it their expat mis- collage constructed of tiny paper sliv- transcends this argument because, seriously. (Then again, if people can’t sion to create and spread the barbaric ers surrounding a pink face. after all, it’s only rock n’ roll and it come together for rock and roll, dope, blend of hard rock and shambly blues The collage is the centerpiece of the isn’t the kind of thing anyone should and fucking in the streets, maybe we they grew up with, the sound that put liner notes and it’s made from pieces over-intellectualize. can’t come together for anything.) Detroit on the map. This trio would of old Batman and Superman comics Please, take this opportunity to Apart from their reputation for grow into Awesome Color and, like and various children’s books, magazine experience Awesome Color firsthand, putting on some of the most high- their Detroit forebears, they didn’t fit advertisements, and toy package flot- to bask in the revelry of some seriously energy concerts known to man, MC5 neatly into the musical landscape sur- sam. Closer inspection reveals a satel- ass-kicking rock, to decide for yourself and The Stooges are also cited as two rounding them. But they garnered a lite, a totem pole, a happy ghost, build- what their legend will be, long before of the first and most influential punk strong contingent of fans that fell in ings, and chopped-off pieces of words, historians and rock critics decide for bands ever. Together they challenged love with their messy, supercharged, all wrought in, well, awesome colors. I you. Experience one of the most bruis- the utopian optimism of the hippie 70s-inspired rock and epic live perfor- guessed that it functions as a metaphor ing, brutal takes on Detroit Rock in a movement as well as the norms of pop- mances. One of these fans was singer/ for consumer culture preying on youth, generation, a sound that learned a long ular rock, eschewing catchy melodies guitarist , who signed filtered through an enlightening—or time ago that peace and love aren’t and bright motifs in favor of harsh the group to his Ecstatic Peace! label terrifying—LSD experience. It could, in going to cure us, a sound built on disil- sounds and seditious themes. They and brought them on tour to open for fact, double as a doppelganger for the lusion and failure, and one that doesn’t made outsider music cool and, along his band Sonic Youth. Kick Out the Jams album cover, a mess offer answers so much as an alternative: with The Velvet Underground, practi- Awesome Color has played all of gruesome ambition pulsing with hor- to party. Experience Awesome Color cally invented punk. around the world in the four years and ror or ecstasy, depending on your per- and taste what it means to be alive. MC5 and The Stooges helped put two albums since signing to Ecstatic spective. Both images appear shattered, Detroit on the map as a hub for rock Peace!, including a handful of gigs right though, apparently, by different forces. Awesome Color will be playing at Al’s Bar n’ roll, a reputation bolstered by Alice here in Lexington. I caught them last Since there’s no story in the on Wednesday, March 24, with Tyvek, Cooper, Ted Nugent, Grand Funk year at The Void in one of the best shows Awesome Color liner notes, the art- Babes, and CROSS. $5, all ages. The Railroad, and, later, The White Stripes. Lexington hosted all year. I was imme- work serves to establish their charac- band’s third LP, Massa Hypnos, drops on Yet MC5 and The Stooges don’t fit diately sucked in by Awesome Color’s ter instead. But this central, abstract April 6th and it’s likely you’ll hear plenty comfortably alongside such household energy and sound, an amalgamation image leaves things decidedly open- of it at the show. Recommended listening to names. Rather, their music flowed out- of Zeppelin, Hendrix, and Sabbath ended: are Awesome Color a gimmicky prepare for the show: “Animal,” from their ward, away from anything that would with a flair for experimentation a la rock outfit ripping off their Detroit debut, self-titled album.