North of Center Wednesday, September 9, 2009 Free take home and read Volume I, Issue 9 Street theater at CentrePointe Something finally goes up on the block…and then the Webbs take it down

NoC News Desk citizens who’d just left: one carried a faces—presumably out of shame for the Keep on the lookout, Michael, and clipboard; one was dressed like a jani- heinous crime of hanging art on pub- heed the words of the street theater At 4:00 P.M. Friday, August 28, tor; one looked like a bellhop; and one lic property. troupe: no Facebook, no Myspace, no a group of roughly 20 Lexingtonians wore an orange polo and spoke uncer- Orange-shirt gave this reporter Twitter, no pretext for pre-meditated descended upon the empty down- tainly on his cell phone as he removed nothing substantive to report on the surveillance. Sometimes good old fash- town block euphemistically known as the signs. Webb Companies’ behalf, though the ioned Sixties ideas do work best. “The Future Home of CentrePointe.” Taking orange-shirt for the leader guess is they’d say that everything with They appeared in a flash, toting doz- of the group (the guy with the clipboard CentrePointe will be resolved “in the ens of colorful signs and ribbons to seemed to carry it for purely cosmetic next 60 to 90 days.” (That has been Manhattan Short attach to the northern section of fence reasons), this reporter approached and their go-to statement for the past year.) strangling the block and facing Main asked, “What’s going on here?” It’s likely the demonstrators/ Film Festival at Street. Their actions were part of a “You tell me,” he answered. litterers/street actors are hatching Kentucky Theatre new street theater troop in Lexington that combines art, politics, commu- By A.G. Greebs nity building, and just a whole mess of fun. This was their first performance, September 23 and 24 the a Reclamation Project that encour- Manhattan Short Film Festival returns aged YOUR participation by hanging to Lexington, giving residents the rare pretty bits of cloth and personalized chance to enjoy what is arguably the messages for the public and the Webb most enjoyable part of any film festi- Companies LLC to see. val – the shorts. And like any true film It turned out to be a tame though festival, this is an event as much as a uplifting—and above all else fun— screening. first performance. Most of the signs Every year the festival sends out attached to the fence had positive a call for the most compelling short

messages: “Read a Book,” “Recycle,” NICK KIDD films of the year. This year, ten films “Gardening Is Patriotic,” and “Ride a have been selected, culled from 436 Bike.” Others reflected the contempt Webb Companies LLC workers remove signs from the fences surrounding the “Future Home entries from 36 countries. many citizens have toward the Webb of CentrePointe.” Manhattan Shorts takes the con- Companies’ languishing CentrePointe cept of a traditional film-festival and project and its destructive effect “You’re taking down some signs,” another plan to descend upon the stands it on its ear. Rather than tying on the city block. These read “Tear the reporter observed. block again soon, perhaps thinking its identity to a specific city, this festi- Down This Fence,” “Build Something “Yeah, just taking some litter of more permanent ways of voicing val happens all over the world. In the Taxpayers Can Use,” “Reclaim,” and down,” he said as he removed the their dissatisfaction with what one course of one week, the same series of “As Inhabitants of This City We Have “Ride a Bike” sign. “Yep.” sign described as “The Pit.” If so, ten short films will screen across five A Right to Decide What Goes HERE.” He then told the questioning it would make at least one observer continents. Audience members then About twenty minutes after the reporter, who was merely doing his happy. As upstanding citizen Michael vote on which film should win highest street theater congregation left, four job, that if “your friends” wanted the Marchman, featured in this month’s honors, in what a previous finalist has Webb Companies LLC employees signs he and his cohorts were throwing “Notable Neighbors” section of Chevy called “the ultimate Audience Award.” arrived and removed all the signs and into trash bags, they were welcome to Chaser Magazine, observed, “It was The organizers of Manhattan ribbons from the fence. This quartet come and reclaim them. But the guilty great, even if for only 20 minutes, to Short are committed to making this embodied both a dramatic ideological litterers chose to watch the scene from re-appropriate the space. I hope this a truly global experience. There are and visual counterpoint to the playful a safe distance, preferring to hide their was just the start.” screenings in all fifty states, through- out most of Europe and the Soviet Bloc and extending into the south- ern hemisphere to countries such as Altering a bankrupt system Argentina and Australia. Next year the festival is adding venues in Africa. The Placing citizens at the heart of healthcare reform year after it’s moving to the ice stations of Antarctica. By Beth Connors-Manke of July, with red, white, and blue rib- The crowd was critical but not Like the venues, the shorts them- bons and bunting. Signs proclaiming crazed. The most contentious moment selves are drawn from a wide range of If you’ve been paying attention “Single Payer Because America Cares” came when a few audience members experience. An autobiography of an to coverage of the health care reform and “Everybody In, Nobody Out” questioned the financial viability of AIDS orphan in Mozambique is jux- debate since Congress went on its advertised the political agenda. The reforms that would cheapen cost to taposed with a French animated short August recess, you may have come scene reminded me of the auxiliary, patients by limiting payment to doc- about a man who is forced to live 91 to the conclusion that, taken to the but no less potent, issues surrounding tors and hospitals. Fortunately, it centimeters from himself after a col- streets and to town hall meetings, the health care reform: 1) how any changes wasn’t much of a Wild West that morn- lision with a meteor. An Australian issue has turned into a political Wild to economic structures in the U.S. gen- ing. Overall, the message presented at film of a woman who discovers she West. False tales of death panels and erally get made over by manipulators the forum was that government already can mold her face like plastic minutes murmurs of socialism have been circu- of public opinion into a litmus test for plays an important role in our lives before an all important first date con- lated, scaring seniors and raising the American patriotism and 2) our end- and can improve upon health care by trasts with American themes of border hackles of Cold War baby boomers lessly contentious struggles over the providing a single payer system. It was tensions. ready to defend their way of life from balance between the collective com- a message that stressed our collective Long term residents of Lexington an age-old enemy. mon good and individualism. interest in health care and ultimately understand that one of the prices we So, despite all the talk during The forum presented the platform in our national government. pay for living here is a dearth of any real the 2008 presidential primaries from of Kentuckians for Single Payer Health independent cinema. The Kentucky Democrat and Republican candidates Care via the PBS Frontline documen- America, the Private Theatre makes a real and valiant effort, about the dire necessity of health care tary Sick Around the World, comments The “America’s Hope: Healthcare and in them we’re better served then reform, despite all the anecdotes pre- by Richard Dawahare, and a panel for All” forum demonstrated one most towns our size. But the reality of sented during the election about aver- discussion. The organization describes type of pro-nation stance, one that the world we live in dictates that films age citizens saddled with monstrous itself as “a coalition of individuals and valued the role of our government. like The Hurt Locker (which starred medical debt, despite the inauguration organizations working to pass HR 676, Other versions of pro-nation senti- Guy Pierce and Ralf Fiennes, and was of the Democratic candidate, despite The United States National Health ments exist, of course. Another one directed by James Cameron’s ex-wife) a Democratic Congress, health care Care Act, legislation that will provide voiced in the current debate is sup- are considered independent, because reform may still go down the tubes. comprehensive, universal and afford- port for the private sector as the core they only got “limited release”. able coverage under a single payer, of the American way of life and its Which isn’t to say anything bad America, the Public nonprofit system.” HR 676, a bill also most treasured ideology. about Hurt Locker. I’m convinced that I wanted to see what kind of Wild called “The Expanded and Improved One interesting example of this it deserves every Academy Award it will West could happen here in Lexington, Medicare for All Act,” aims to reform type of pro-nation rhetoric can be doubtless receive. But the Manhattan so I decided to go the August 29 the health care system by implement- found in David Kirkpatrick’s August Short is a different breed altogether, “America’s Hope: Healthcare for ing a “publicly financed, privately 27 article “Some Catholic Bishops because short films, by their very All” forum sponsored by the Central delivered health care program that uses Assail Health Plan” in the New York nature, are what actual independent Kentucky Chapter of Kentuckians for the already existing Medicare program Times. The article reports on a group cinema is made of—individual, irrepro- Single Payer Health Care. by expanding and improving it to all of Catholic bishops who are encourag- ducible, and unmarketable on a large The forum started at 10 A.M., U.S. residents, for all Americans.” The ing their faithful to oppose any health scale. meaning it was the earliest I’d ever been legislation, sponsored by Congressman care reform that may, even inciden- If you’ve been looking for shorts to the Kentucky Theatre, where the John Conyers, also has the support of tally, fund elective abortions. in Lexington, welcome to Manhattan. program was being held. The decora- the Physicians for a National Health If you haven’t seen a screening of tion of the theatre suggested the Fourth Program. continued on page 3 shorts, viewing is mandatory.

Contents In the next issue 2 — The Neighborhood 4 — Film & Media 6 — Sports 7 — Opinion NoC talks with Cindy Sheehan The basil economy Thurman, Marksbury, Roller Derby in theory Bollocks to progressives Cindy Sheehan in town and Nolte and practice 8 — Comics Boomslang festival music previews Lackey: a celebration 5 — Culture Bike Polo at Worlds Dewburger Upcoming music…and snakes! I’m Not From Here Colleen Glenn reports from Telluride 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 Some definitions and precepts out what that means. By Danny Mayer Popov. Rather than increasing our reli- time to allow for a natural diversifica- Editor & Publisher ance on exchanging dollars for services tion of such needs into localized art, Danny Mayer Last year an article appearing in and everything else, Eisenstein calls shelter styles, etc.—things all communi- the New York Times, a shortened version for a return to a much older form of ties used to have and do. Features of which also appeared in our Herald economy, what he calls an “economy Beth Connors-Manke Leader, caught my attention. The head- of reciprocation and social exchange,” This means that a basil economy will… line read, “Russia makes return to the based in human contact and the estab- Film & Media barter system,” and was followed by lishment of social connections. For …flourish to the degree that we pro- Colleen Glenn the rather ominous subheading “Critic Eisenstein, what bartering does for us duce things. We must begin to think says it’s a step backward.” The article socially is something that gets left out of ourselves as producers once again, Culture noted that Russia’s local iteration of of our money transactions. makers of things, rather than consum- Nick Kidd the global downturn had resulted in a Money is, he notes, “an anony- ers. For the most part, what we make minor uptick in bartering for goods— mous form of energy.” Anyone can go need not be “perfect,” only “good” and Sports, Layout up to 3 or 4% of all sales, as reported into Wal Mart and buy a TV or food “committed.” (Perfect tends to mar- Keith Halladay by the Russian Economic Barometer. I with it, and we need not know how it ginalize interested parties and also to say minor because in the 1990s, when arrived there or who made it. In bar- increase value for products that many Contributors Russia embraced capitalist reforms and ter and social exchange, however, the cannot afford.) Currently, 70% of our Andrew Battista sent its economy (and people) into a emphasis is more intimate, on things GDP is based in consumption, which Michael Benton tailspin as the government transferred we make for and with each other. One means that our current solutions to our Brian Connors-Manke its wealth to well-heeled capitalists household makes cheese, another beer, economic moment lie in us purchasing A.G. Greebs who unsurprisingly grew richer at pub- another clothes from wool. Needs and more. This is a false answer and it makes John P. Lackey lic expense, the paper reported that transaction prices are determined pri- us poorer socially and economically in Troy Lyle “barter transactions…accounted for marily by a community rather than hock for the one thing we cannot pro- Trevor Tremaine an astonishing 50 percent of sales for anonymous people from afar who can- duce: money. When credit becomes our midsize enterprises and 75 percent for not or do not conceive of us. lifeblood, the answer is not to feed that Please address correspon- large ones.” I’ll not go any further into beast by generating more money to buy dence, including advertising The critic of bartering was Eisenstein’s ideas here, as I’m sure a dis- things, but to have us scale down to inquiries and letters to the Vladimir Popov, who teaches at the cussion of them will play into future need less money. editor, to: New Economic School in Moscow; I pieces, but needless to say that such am sure that he had good reasons for ideas are at the center of how I would In other words, a basil economy will… [email protected]. critiquing the barter system, which define a basil economy. The following seems to have arisen as a way to cope bulleted points make a stab at an open- …assume a scaling down of eco- Unless otherwise noted, all with massive inflation, but they did ing definition and guiding principles. nomic activity to something approach- material copyright © 2009 not appear in the article. Instead, ing a subsistence economy. As North of Center, LLC. the paper reported that Popov called A basil economy will… Americans, we have been perched at Russians “arrogant,” and claimed that the top of the economic world order. the minor uptick in barter meant they …take non-monetary transactions As we emerge out of our current eco- were “hiding [their] head in the sand.” seriously. This is not an argument for nomic moment, this will no longer be What the Russians needed to do, the the abolishment of money; rather, it is the case. We should recognize that and article implied, was to cut costs and a realization that money as a form of pare down our outsized and destruc- North of Center is cur- reduce inefficiency, normally euphe- economic exchange has usurped other tive expectations. rently seeking submissions misms for firing workers and mecha- useful modes and overcrowd our think- from artists and graphic nizing production. ing. In short, a basil economy seeks to It will mean a renewed focus on… designers for a nameplate The article stood out to me because put the exchange of money in its place logo. Please contact Danny at the time I had just finished reading as one among a number of possibilities. …seasonal and cyclical growth and Mayer or Keith Halladay an online essay by Charles Eisenstein Though your financial analyst may tell death rather than on the unnatural at [email protected] entitled “Economics of Fermentation.” you that you can “grow” your money, capitalist model of permanent accumu- for details and submission In his much more developed article, such growth is entirely unnatural and lation and permanent growth. Cancers instructions. which originally appeared in Wise mostly unearned: unlike basil, toma- grow exponentially; economies, like Traditions Magazine, Eisenstein essen- toes, wool, wood, or a host of other our earth, should experience periods tially makes the opposite argument of things we need, money does not grow of growth and decay, of work and rest, from the sun, the soil, or our water sup- of relative abundance and scarcity. By ply. We should figure out how to use focusing on these sort of growths, by better these living trinkets of exchange desiring them over continual 3, 4, 6, 8 that we ourselves might produce from percent returns, we will better prepare our own labor. ourselves to be resilient and commu- nally self-sufficient. …be based first and foremost in small, community-based transactions What I’m describing requires a lot centered on need: food, clothing, more work from us, from you, from water, shelter, pleasure, health, trans- me. It will mean that we necessarily portation, education. This is not an spend much less time watching tele- argument against the flow of needed vision and playing on the computer. outside goods or people into the com- These contraptions let us off the hook, munity; rather, it is a re-commitment make us fat and lazy, and waste a lot to ourselves as able producers. This of our time that could be better spent should help restrict the accumulation doing and making things, generating of too many things while at the same ideas and meeting people. Anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan travels to Lexington for talk, book signing NoC News Bureau northern-educated ivy-league city boy Within the year, Republicans lost recent U.S. president to embrace war who knows zero about ranching; the their majorities in both the House and over peace—while he vacationed there. This Saturday, September 12, anti-war ranch was bought as he launched his Senate; they would lose the presidency And for her actions protesting these activist Cindy Sheehan will be travel- presidential candidacy to burnish his a year later. Though many nameless Democrat politicians, she has become ing through Lexington to deliver sev- image as a rural southern good ol’ boy people played a role in those events, marginalized within the anti-war crowd, eral free talks, attend public potluck while running for office, which is why Sheehan’s personalization of the who too often have chosen to endorse meals, and sign books. all he did was “clear brush” on it, and wrongs of the war played a sizable part. Democrats in spite of their actions in For the unfamiliar, Sheehan gained why he now lives in a gated suburban For most, the story of Cindy support of the U.S. war machine. notoriety as one of the leading voices community outside Dallas.) Sheehan stops there, which is why So stop by the Unitarian of protest against U.S. involvement In a ditch nearby Bush’s play- you should attend one of the Sheehan Universalist Church for a potluck in Iraq and Afghanistan. Though it ranch, Sheehan set up camp and asked gatherings on tap this Saturday. More lunch and concert by George Ella ranges much wider, Sheehan’s critique to meet with the president. She wanted recently, Sheehan has muddied the and Steve Lyon, or Morris Book Shop of the war is based in the intimate pain to know for what “noble cause” her Republican/war and Democrat/peace for a signing of her latest book, Myth of losing a son to it. son had died. Eventually more peo- couplings, most notably by announc- America: 10 Greatest Myths of the Robber In the spring of 2004 Sheehan’s ple joined her at what became called ing a 2008 run for House Speaker—and Class and the Case for Revolution, or head eldest son Casey, a Specialist in the Camp Casey, and they asked the same Democrat—Nancy Pelosi’s seat on the on up to Transy for her public lecture. U.S. Army, died on a mission in Sadr thing. For moribund anti-war activists basis that Pelosi and Democrats have All events are free, and all promise to City, Iraq. Like other families who had who six-months earlier saw Bush take been complicit in the war’s continu- be an eye-opening experience. lost to the war a son or a daughter, the 2004 presidential election in part ance (and growth), and more recently or a husband or a wife, Sheehan was through brandishing his failed Iraq still by traveling to Martha’s Vineyard Look for a report on NoC’s upcoming chat invited several months after Casey’s War, Sheehan’s actions were like a shot to protest Barack Obama—the most with Sheehan in the next issue. death to the White House to meet of fair trade coffee. Clean, high grade, with then-president George Bush. caffeine. A mother of a dead Iraq vet, The unsatisfactory meeting with Bush sleeping in a tent in a ditch, had de- Cindy Sheehan in Lexington Saturday, September 12 spurred Sheehan to direct her energies pantsed the uber-masculine, ultra- to ending the war and holding our Texas, president. He was scared shitless 11:30: Potluck at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 3564 Clays Mill Road elected officials accountable for their to meet with her, never did meet with 12:30: Concert by George Ella and Steve Lyon, Unitarian Universalist Church illegal actions in invading Iraq and her, in fact. Suddenly, the emperor 1:00: Talk by Cindy Sheehan, Unitarian Universalist Church Afghanistan. In the summer of 2005, president had no clothes. 3:00-4:00: Book signing at Morris Book Shop, 408 Southland Drive Sheehan followed Bush on one of his The media loved it. All hell broke 7:00-9:00: Lecture by Cindy Sheehan, Cowgill Auditorium (102 Cowgill many vacations to his pseudo-ranch loose. Suddenly protesting the war Building), Transylvania University, across the street from Gratz Park in Crawford, Texas. (Bush is a rich, became journalistically OK to cover. North of Center 3

Healthcare reform (cont.)

continued from page 1 influence of most citizens. The proper “Tell them what they need to hear the ranks of the poor in the U.S. role of the government is to regulate from us: no health care reform is bet- The American Journal of Medicine According to Kirkpatrick’s arti- the private sector, in order to foster ter than the wrong sort of health care recently published a study on medical cle, despite the push over the last healthy competition and to curtail reform,” the bishop certainly sounds bankruptcy in the U.S. in 2007. The several decades by the United States abuses. Therefore any legislation that like a lot of conservatives—some of study by David Himmelstein, Deborah Conference of Catholic Bishops for undermines the viability of the private them in good faith, others not—who Thorne, Elizabeth Warren, and Steffie universal health insurance, particularly sector is suspect. Private, religious hos- fear and oppose change to the health Woodhandler found that “[u]sing a for the poor, there has been a recent pitals and nursing homes, in particu- care system. conservative definition, 62.1% of all resistance to the health care overhaul lar, should be protected, because these As we all know, people are wont bankruptcies in 2007 were medical; from some bishops. The sticking point, are the ones most vigorously offering to use sacred scriptures and theology 92% of these medical debtors had of course, is federal funding of elective actual health care to the poorest of the any which way they please. Liberal medical debts over $5000, or 10% of abortions—or at least that’s the first, poor.” Catholics are no less likely to bend pretax family income. The rest met cri- most characteristically Catholic stick- In essence, the bishop is assert- theology to their political hopes for teria for medical bankruptcy because ing point. The other criticisms voiced ing three things: 1) the Church can health care reform. What concerns they had lost significant income due by this subset of bishops sound as wholeheartedly support federal armies me about the use of Catholic pro-life to illness or mortgaged a home to pay much like Republican qualms as they for the common good, but not public beliefs against health care reform is medical bills. Most medical debtors do Catholic reservations. health care; 2) government involve- the way it leverages fetal life against were well educated, owned homes, and A pastoral letter published online ment in health care funding would an entire nation of citizens. As scholar had middle-class occupations. Three by Most Reverend R. Walker Nickless, create “such bureaucratic standards as Lauren Berlant observes, in the last sev- quarters had health insurance. Using Bishop of Sioux City, demonstrates the quotas and defined ‘best procedures,’” eral decades fetuses and children have identical definitions in 2001 and 2007, way theology is being made to support the implication being that private become the iconic citizen in the U.S., the share of bankruptcies attributable the status quo economic system. The health insurers are innocent of these the beings to which we are making our to medical problems rose by 49.6%.” letter begins with familiar Catholic things; 3) the private sector should be nation-state serve. I come from a big, Health care reform is neither about pro-life stances on abortion, euthana- protected above all else. Irish Catholic family that values chil- creating a more public America nor sia, embryonic stem-cell research and I could give you more from the dren, but I want a public sphere made about defending the private America care for the poor and the elderly. Then, letter, but it only gets worse when the for and run by adult citizens. so believed in by conservatives. We it moves on to the part that made me bishop implies that if people had more can’t let the reform debate devolve into involuntarily mutter, “Oh my God. Oh babies, there would be more workers Debt that Cripples Lives the all-too-typical arguments about the my God.” As you read, keep in mind to tax to pay for health care for the It’s not so much fetuses or chil- roles of government and the private that the letter is structured around the poor and old. (Hmm, but would those dren whose entire lives are being crip- sector. application of Catholic theology to a worker-babies be the ones on the doll?) pled by medical debt as it is the adults Instead, we need to strengthen the current political issue: Bishop Nickless is by no means who are caring for children, grandchil- idea that there’s another viable pro- “Third, in that category of pru- representative of all Catholics or even dren, parents, and themselves. The PBS nation sentiment: a patriotism and dential judgment, the Catholic Church all Catholic bishops. For instance, Frontline documentary Sick Around the political will grounded in the real does not teach that government should Network, a National Catholic Social World shown at the single payer health and immediate needs of citizens. When directly provide health care. Unlike Justice Lobby, does see health care care forum followed reporter T.S. health care reform had its strongest a prudential concern like national as a right of all citizens and a social Reid as he traveled to Britain, Japan, head of steam, it recognized that the defense, for which government monop- good. Network advocates for reform Germany, Taiwan, and Switzerland health care system has begun to crip- olization is objectively good—it both that includes affordability and access— to investigate their health care sys- ple us as private individuals and as a limits violence overall and prevents the even for immigrants—and “systemic tems. All of these capitalist democra- people. Reform is necessary because obvious abuses to which private armies cost controls for individuals, families, cies shared one characteristic: medical people’s lives are at stake. Now’s the are susceptible—health care should not businesses and government,” includ- bankruptcy is nonexistent in their time to take a stand for that type of be subject to federal monopolization. ing federal regulation of the insurance countries. patriotism. Preserving patient choice (through a industry to limit the cost of adminis- As a person who fears seeing all flourishing private sector) is the only tration. If federal regulation cannot of her meager savings swallowed up by For information on Kentuckians for Single way to prevent a health care monopoly solve the problem, then Network sup- a serious illness, a system that elimi- Payer Health Care, visit www.kyhealth- from denying care arbitrarily, as we ports a public option or an optional, nates the prospect of extensive and care.org. Bill HR 676 can be found at learned from HMOs in the recent past. expanded Medicare system. ultimately unpayable medical debt is www.thomas.loc.gov. Bishop Nickless’s While a government monopoly would While Bishop Nickless’s position certainly attractive. It also points to letter is published on www.scdiocese.org. not be motivated by profit, it would be is not typical of all Catholics, it does the part of the private sector Bishop Information on Network can be found at motivated by such bureaucratic stan- seem representative of another cross- Nickless so neglected: working adults networklobby.org. The American Journal dards as quotas and defined ‘best pro- section of the public: the political who need affordable health care. of Medicine article can be found on www. cedures,’ which are equally beyond the Right. When he closes his letter with Without it, many more of us will join amjmed.com. On community artist John Lackey Editors Note: If you’ve seen a Holler Poets streams come alive, each ornate and sugar and caffeine and who knows what When Dewburger appears before poster or looked at the back of this paper vibrant, displaying their wholeness as else, one with zero editing experience, me on those Monday nights, I abide. I on the comics section, you’ve no doubt something “other” subtly before the no time management skills, and two stop what I do, I open the file, I float come across the work of artist John Lackey. viewer’s eyes. It’s the wild spirit that bloated articles (always “thoughtpieces”) down the streams, I take shade beneath John’s given a lot of his time to contrib- calls out from each of us, though left to finish, cannot be overstated. It is a the trees. I stay awhile and look and lis- ute to these two community ventures, so often we choose to remain deaf. supremely calming moment. ten, a profoundly human thing to do. we wanted to give back. What follows are John has ans- two word pictures of John Lackey, drawn wered the call and by Lackey collaborators Eric Sutherland devoted his talents (Holler Poets Series) and Danny Mayer to art since walking (North of Center). Make sure to support his away from that 9 to 5, efforts by showing up during Gallery Hop something many cre- at Gallerie Soleil, where you can check out ative types never do. his other artwork—the amazing stuff that And like his creations, pays his bills. True to form, in this issue this is something wor- John has offered up a painting/gallery thy of our admiration. announcement for readers to hang up as a pullout section for this paper. Enjoy. A message from another galaxy Homegrown hero and good friend By Danny Mayer, By Eric Sutherland, poet and Editor of North founder of Holler Poets Series of Center

Homegrown hero and good Like a holo- friend, John Lackey is one of those gram shot out of the characters like Ed McClanahan or guts of R2D2, John Gatewood Galbraith, a free spirit with Lackey materializes a growing reputation for his out of the from my computer box approach to expressing himself. screen every other Generous as a spring that runs year Monday night, beck- round, he has donated his time and oning me into his creativity to many projects and causes, world of fat cats and festivals, and other events, always with cubist thoughts. I an inviting kindness that precedes a never know exactly universe of stories. when on Monday A gypsy at heart, he danced the night this will occur, highways of Amerika following the Dead of course, but at before finding a decent job in the world some point there he of time clocks and retirement plans. is, beaming through His creative passions proved too strong, the congealed haze though, and boldly he walked away from of deadlines, smoke, the safety of the guaranteed paycheck. coffee, donuts, pizza, Now he creates art exclusively, coke and gatorade, perched above Short Street in his stu- telling me not to dio, an old wise crow, his work reflect- worry, that it’s com- ing the landscapes he surveys. In his ing, things are com- drawings, paintings and woodcuts ing, and everything we catch a glimpse of the underlying will be all right. unity of the natural world, even in The importance of relation to the artificial constructions these sentiments to an of humanity. Scenes of trees, rocks and editor hopped up on 4 North of Center Film & Media Outsiders: Thurman and Marksbury Filmmakers discuss their past work and latest documentary, Nick Nolte: No Exit North of Center’s Colleen Glenn recently or so. I wrote my dissertation on Tom TT: He liked working with us for what- even edgier than anything I’d ever dare sat down with Lexington filmmakers Tom McGuane. I got to interview him ever reason—we’ll never know. And he to write. Thurman and Tom Marksbury to discuss because of his connection to Warren called me, and said, Tom, we should their latest documentary, their past work, Oates. So, it all splinters out into all do something together. After record- TT: And then it becomes a matter of and their future projects. Thurman, a pro- these areas that I’m really obsessive ing the voiceover narration [on the structuring it. What do you start off ducer and writer at KET, and Marksbury, about. It’s given me an entree to it Hunter S. Thompson film], we ended with? It doesn’t start off with Nick ask- a professor of film history at UK, have that’s been invaluable to me. I’ve got- up spending more time together. That ing himself where he was born. It starts made several documentaries on important ten to meet a lot of my heroes. One began the concoction of this idea. We off with Nick asking himself, “Do you actors, directors, and figures in American of the biggest stars we ever had was went out to Malibu more than once believe in God?” That was a way to culture, including directors John Ford and Charlton Heston, but it meant a lot and would spend these marathon six kick start the thing. Sam Peckinpah, actors Ben Johnson and more to me to meet Tom McGuane, or seven hour sessions with him at his Warren Oates, writer Hunter S. Thompson, Nick Tosches, and David Thomson. house essentially with him telling sto- TM: And we also introduced the idea and music producer Jerry Wexler. Their ries and us getting to know him. But of unreliability, the idea that he’s most recent film, No Exit, is a documen- TT: And also, there’s the all-impor- tary on actor Nick Nolte. The following is tant notion of budget. I’ve been able a transcript of the interview. to contact James Coburn or Charlton Heston or Tom Wolfe or any number CG: When did you two start working of other actors and writers and say, together? “I don’t have any or much money at all…Will you appear in the documen- TM: 1985. We were grad students at tary?” Whereas it’s going to be a really UK, in the English department. abbreviated conversation when I call up actors, screenwriters and directors, TT: We’re from the same county. He’s and say, “I want to make a feature film. from Shelbyville, the big, sophisticated Will you be in it without any money urban hub of Shelby County, and I’m involved?” from the country, from Christiansburg. CG: Do you think one of the reasons CG: What was the first project you col- that people like James Coburn and Tom laborated on together? Wolfe are willing to talk to you for little or no pay is simply because you are ask- TT: After I moved to New Orleans, and ing them to talk about somebody who COURTESY TOM MARKSBURY taught at the university of New Orleans, was significant in their life? Harry Dean Stanton has appeared in four Thurman/Marksbury documentaries. Here he I moved back in ‘91, and we then set embraces fellow Kentuckian Hunter S. Thompson. about to make a documentary on TM: That’s definitely what got it going Warren Oates. That was released in ‘92. with Warren. Everybody loved Warren more importantly, he felt comfortable an unreliable narrator. Nick Nolte so much they were willing to do any- with us to the extent that he would is pretty believable as an unreliable CG: Why do you make documenta- thing to advance his cause. trust us. If we hadn’t spent all that narrator. ries? What draws you to documentaries pre-production time with him at his in particular? TT: It’s not as if [these celebrities] are home, there’s no way this would have CG: How much time did you give like, “Yes, we know about your long happened. Nolte to digest questions ahead of TM: Well, Tom makes a lot of different and vast and respected body of work. time? kinds of documentaries. But as a film When do we show up and where?” TM: It was completely the opposite of freak, for me, [making documentaries searching for Warren Oates that we TM: He didn’t see the questions ahead on actors and directors] became a way TM: “I’ve always wanted to be in a made years and years after he died. of time, but he had all the time in the for me to get immediately involved in Tom Thurman movie…My call has Nolte was just so immersed in the world to work with it while we were an era of film that I was really inter- finally come.” whole project and so flexible and so shooting. But then he would forget the open. question that he had asked himself ear- lier, and it would be fresh. CG: In No Exit, Nolte both asks and answers the questions. He interviews TT: He plugged it on “The Tonight himself. How did you come up with Show.” And Jay Leno said, “Did you that idea? know the questions you were going to ask yourself?” [Leno] was being a TT: Initially, we were going to have smart aleck. And Nick said sincerely, a journalist or writer or film critic “No, I didn’t know what I was going to grilling Nolte. That was the first ask myself.” impulse that we had. And a col- laborator of sorts of ours, David TM: We shot the questions on one day, Thomson….I was exchanging emails and then the next morning he did the with him one day, and embedded in answers. He ended up putting a lot of one of his emails was the thought, time into this. wouldn’t it be interesting if Nick asked himself some questions? And TT: I think he pulled it off by open- of course, there’s a long way between ing himself up. He was honest, even

COURTESY TOM MARKSBURY a casual idea in an email and actually when he was talking about lying. He trying to figure out how to imple- approached it all with a really unique Nick Nolte, Tom Thurman, and Tom Marksbury on the set of No Exit. ment that throughout an entire film. blend of seriousness, but more impor- But the idea did come from David tantly, with humor. And without that, ested in and talk about it in a critical Arriving at No Exit and it spurred Tom and I to try to we would have been dead in the water. way that’s not academic. And hope- think, what if we did try to pull that fully in a creative way. TM: One thing that we really like off? And then it became a matter of TM: I think his template for it was about this new one [Nick Nolte: No convincing or running it by Nick to that he really hates those Actors Studio CG: What kind of people interest Exit] is that it gave us the chance to see if he would be game. interviews, how fawning they are. you? I notice a continuity in the kind break the mold because there was sort of subjects you choose. They’re often of a process [to the other documenta- CG: What was Nolte’s reaction? Was he CG: Where can people see No Exit? gritty, outlaw-type figures. ries]. But then suddenly you’ve got a game? Will it be shown at theatres?

TT: Well, with our first one, there TT: It will not be in theatres. It will not was the Kentucky connection. Warren be coming to a theatre near you. We Thurman and Marksbury Filmography: Oates was born in the state, so there was didn’t start this project with the plan the local anchor. He seemed to be pop- to screen it at theatres. And we were ping up in films of directors that we Warren Oates: Across the Border (1993) successful. Sundance Select has picked admired—not only Sam Peckinpah, but Ben Johnson: Third Cowboy on the Right (1996) it up. It will be screened on TV after also Monte Hellman. And he seemed Immaculate Funk (2000) it goes to Video on Demand and the to be this glue particularly for a period John Ford Goes to War (2002) Blockbuster chains. of filmmaking, particularly in the ‘70s Sam Peckinpah’s West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade (2004) that we were really interested in. Buy the Ticket, Take the Ride: Hunter S. Thompson on Film (2006) Challenges, Advantages, and What’s Nick Nolte: No Exit (2008) Ahead TT: There is some advantage to doing documentaries on people that the gen- CG: What are the biggest challenges eral public doesn’t already know every- you face as filmmakers? Are they thing about. And while people may subject that is not only alive but is will- TM: I think he was open to it from mainly financial? know The Wild Bunch, they may know ing to almost improvise his part of it. the word “go.” He was excited about it. not a whole lot about Sam Peckinpah. It’s just qualitatively a different kind of He likes creating and taking risks with TT: That’s one of the biggest problems, Or they might know The Last Picture documentary than all the others were. what he’s doing. So then it became budgetary issues. Sources of funding Show, but they might not know a really interesting to consider, how do vary widely for each project. Harry whole lot about Ben Johnson. There is TT: The Nick Nolte project emanated you write the questions? The questions Crews said, “Ideas are a writer’s cheap- a thread—many threads—that link our out of the Hunter S. Thompson project. become dialogue for Nick. My favorite est commodity. It’s the 200,000 words projects… We wanted someone to evoke Thompson question [in the documentary] is, “The you need to flesh it out.” [But] you in the narration. Nolte agreed to be Hulk, why?” They were all formulated have to be careful talking about money. TM: Not only in film culture but in the voiceover narrator for Hunter S. to push him in a way, and then he all of American culture from 1965-75 Thompson, and that was our opening. started coming up with stuff that was continued on page 9

6 North of Center North of Center 7 Culture Musical duo The Books open in Kentucky Monday, September 21 For the most part, the videos The The Books Books synch into their recordings and The Miller House Museum, 7 P.M. performances are one-of-a-kind VHS $15. tapes that the band picked up at vari- ous thrift stores on their tours of North Describing the sound of The America. The tapes, many of which were Books can be somewhat precarious unmarked when they bought them, and borderline ineffective. People have include outdated instructional videos, called it “folktronica,” sound collage, home movies, self-help tapes and videos experimental and aleotoric. (OK, so I advertising everything from cosmetics had to look that last one up—basically to strange religious ideas. it means that some element of the com- “We recently made a song out of an position is left up to chance). But none expletive-filled conversation between a of these terms really embody the New prepubescent brother and sister that England duo—and besides, describing we found on a home-recorded audio the sound of The Books, who will be tape at the Salvation Army,” the band making their first Kentucky appear- reported. “The video that goes with it ance on Monday, September 21, at was made from the best moments from Lexington’s Miller House Museum, is all of the 20 or so summercamp videos to paint an incomplete picture of what in our collection.” exactly it is that they do. Audiophiles The band, which has an upcom- COURTESY THE BOOKS know them for their signature mini- ing album in the works after a three- malist compositions, which consist of year recording hiatus, has been known Nick Zammuto and Paul de Jong, the human elements of The Books. sparse and lovely melodies spliced with to utilize everything from traditional found sounds and conversations from stringed instruments (guitar, cello, With its labyrinthine catwalks and created in part to preserve the Miller various videotapes. But the experience banjo) to a clavinet and a metal fil- interior terraces, glass panels, exposed House, which has been touted as one of listening to The Books’ recordings ing cabinet with a subwoofer installed. structure and overall avant garde feng of the last remaining marvels of mod- lacks an integral element of the band’s Blended with the found sounds and shui, the venue will undoubtedly pro- ern architecture in a number of inter- work. video, the result is as much a glimpse vide a unique, picturesque and inter- national journals. The show is also “Our shows are halfway between into the underbelly of modern active backdrop for the strange and sponsored by WRFL, You Ain’t No a film and a concert,” wrote Nick American culture as it is a neo-folk elegant sound/video experience of The Picasso and Ky Blueline. Zammuto and Paul de Jong (the avatar of the digital age. Books’ performance. Music and more information human elements of The Books) in This show presents an extraordi- Proceeds from the show, presented about The Books is available at the- a recent e-mail. “We make videos to nary chance to enjoy the setting of by Bullhorn (Lexington’s most with- booksmusic.com; for exact directions accompany all of our live tracks, and the Miller House Museum, which was it marketing & “etcetera” firm) will to The Miller House, which is visible they are synched up tightly, as if the originally built as a postmodern home benefit The Foundation for Advanced from Old Chilesburg Road, visit www. video is another member of the band.” for the late Bob Miller and his family. Architecture. The foundation was modernacommunity.com. —Riot Rose West Coast weirdo-rockers Caroliner Rainbow come to Al’s Bar Sept. 15 Tuesday, September 15 across the land, revealing ghastly inte- beamed across a forbidden wavelength ancient West, spending hours before Caroliner Rainbow Bluembiegh riors of all that is sacred and mundane, off a severely haunted wax cylinder. each gig painstakingly transforming Treason of the Abyss w/ Kraken all the while playing the hymnody of Caroliner belong to the same West the venue into a Dadaist picture show Fury and Eyes & Arms of Smoke the Singing Bull of the 1800s. They are Coast weirdo tradition as Smegma, Sun with wall-high, blacklight-enhanced sets Al’s Bar, 601 N. Limestone the Caroliner Rainbow, this time the City Girls, Thinking Fellers Union and frightening primitive robotics. The $5. All ages. Bluembiegh Treason of the Abyss. For over a quarter century, As if by the governance of some Caroliner have toiled tirelessly to make celestial order forever beyond our less and less sense of our national understanding, perhaps by its own dark heritage. With banjos, church organs, sentience, another moon rises. A moon wagon wheels, cow skulls, and miles of spectra less visible than psychic. of cardboard painted with their trade- It floods the land, ridge and prairie, mark Day-Glo arabesques of abstracted knob and hollow, with its dark torrents. viscera and American arcana, these And upon this occasion is reported the motley heathens come to terrorize us countenance of a strange legion upon with our own mythology. They incor- the lanes, not exactly conjurers or fools, porate mountain songs, church hymns, nor peddlers nor penitents, nor exactly Civil War tunes, early jazz, and carni- anything seen in this country before, val music with liberal doses of avant but who nonetheless plumb some deep, noise and something almost resembling Caroliner Rainbow. ancient humor of memory. Perhaps punk rock (well, at least, that turn-of- once, in a sleepwalk, we counted our- the-decade iconoclastic Bay Area punk Local 282, Anton LaVey, Amarillo result is your being dragged, plow-like, selves among their rolls. By some leg- of Flipper, Minimal Man, Nervous Records, and The Residents (with whose through the nightmare of the American erdemain they have harnessed the ran- Gender, The Screamers, Noh Mercy, et guarded ranks there have been alleged collective unconscious, only to discover cid light of this devil orb and painted al), yet despite these fetid descriptors ties, not to rumor monger…) harken- what a fertile place it is, what strange their frames with its lurid, hellish hues, arrive at something quite unidentifi- ing to a time when the underground fruit it bears. refracting it like a mocking beacon able, like some witching-hour cadenza was under the fucking ground: anonym- It’s refreshing, in an age where ity was a virtue, quarklike trends were underground music has become so spontaneously created and annihilated, tidily stratified and commoditized, to obscurity was the aim. Caroliner are see these stalwarts vigorously pursue iconic in this regard. They have changed such a willfully obscure aesthetic as if their name with every record (always it were the only thing they knew how prefixed by “Caroliner Rainbow,” i.e. to do. In the liner notes to their 1986 Caroliner Rainbow Stewed Angel Skins, LP I’m Armed With Quarts of Blood, they Caroliner Rainbow Scrambled Egg lament “people are still stuck in this Taken For a Wife) since 1983, packaging century instead of the 1800s.” The pio- their vinyl-only missives in pizza boxes neer spirit endures, yet reversed. And and diaper disposal bags decorated with it’s a rare fortune indeed that they elaborate and strange sketches, spray- should travel the highways of our land paint, handmade stickers, and nearly- to demonstrate their weird craft at so indecipherable lyric sheets inviting low a premium; you’d be a fool not you to sing along with “Fiddle With a to present yourself. Included in the Heart Stuck in It” and “20’ Tall Stacked admission fee are the demented cow- Skeleton Growling Flat Broke.” Live, boy songs of Kraken Fury, as well as Be on the lookout for snakes they hide behind garish papier-mâché the music of Eyes & Arms of Smoke, masks and paint-splattered prairie which I must recuse myself from dis- By Nick Kidd psych-rock of Austin’s The Black dresses like lurching golems from the cussing. —Trevor Tremaine Angels; the ethereal art-pop of Atlas A year and a half after the FreeKY Sound (AKA Bradford Cox, the lead Fest, Lexington finally gets another singer of Deerhunter); Philly psych- epic concert festival when WRFL folk/space rockers Bardo Pond; and a presents Boomslang this October. trio of Louisville acts integral to the Boomslang, named after an African development of mid-‘90s post-rock, snake, will be a three-day, multi-venue including The Shipping News, Papa music and art festival with a stellar M (AKA Dave Pajo, who’s played in lineup (heavy on psychedelic and Slint, Tortoise, and Zwan), and Rachel experimental bands) poised to draw Grimes (from The Rachels). thousands for a whole weekend of You can learn about these sonic feasting. bands and many others playing Some of the bands on the the Boomslang Festival (October 9 Boomslang lineup include: legendary through 11) at boomslangfest.com. Brazilian Tropicalia/ pop/ experi- North of Center will devote extensive mental rockers Os Mutantes; German coverage of the festival in future issues, prog & Kraut-rock godfathers Faust; but we’re eager to get the word out now the tremolo-drenched desert-scuzz so you can plan accordingly! 8 North of Center Sports ROCK rolls over Black and Bluegrass By Michael Dean Benton team worked together this night to effectively stymie the efforts of the “All sports should involve Black and Bluegrass Rollergirls, espe- laughing.” cially the fast paced Beka Rekanize Michael Marchman said this to and Honey Bunny, to come back from me as we stood cheering for the home a first half disadvantage of 62-34. team Rollergirls of Central Kentucky After the match, while discussing (ROCK: Lexington, KY) in their match Roller Derby with the ROCK’s Speedy against Black and Bluegrass (Florence, Jenkins, she mentioned that she has KY). Michael, Stephanie Simon, been with the team for two years now and I were attending our first Roller and that the sport’s “collective team- Derby match. The sentiment Michael work is a positive representation of expressed was not one of us laughing women athleticism.” I agree, I once at the athletes; instead all three of us again marveled at the fact that despite were bound up in the collective mer- the aggressive nature of the sport, there riment and good times of the sport of had been no fistfights, loud cursing, or roller derby. anyone thrown out of the game (there I grew up in Southern California were plenty of penalties and bruises). during the 1970s when women’s Roller Speedy continued to tell me how

Derby was a regular weekend broadcast JACK KING Ragdoll Ruby founded the team on the local TV stations. I remember and how they are always looking for as a kid cheering on the tough Bay Sissy Bug, #89, attempts to slow down the Black and Blugrass jammer. women who would like to train with City Bombers and their take-no-pris- them. She stated that you do not have oners attitude. They were fierce, sexy, The jammers are the point scorers Champs eating area. A bonus for fans to be an experienced skater. The aver- and strong, and they provided for me for their respective teams. There is one who attend the bout, afterward there is age training is 3 months before they a counter to the 1970s popular stereo- per team and they are identified by the an open rink where they can skate for allow you to step on a rink in a match type of weak femininity. It was one of star on their helmets. They are lined free (there is a rental price for skates and you have to go through a qualifi- the most popular sports in the state, up further behind the pack and start a and/or socks). Fans can also meet their cation exercise to prove that you have but suddenly, it just disappeared. few seconds later after the pack. Now, favorite players after the game. the necessary skills to compete. Recently, in Lexington, I started here is the key of the competition. The Each team brings refs to the match. The Rollergirls of Central noticing posters hanging downtown two jammers, in combination with Referees in Roller Derby skate just as Kentucky are currently working toward advertising a local roller derby team. their pack members, are competing to much as the players because they have to being accepted into the Women’s Flat Then, one day, while eating at Alfalfa’s be the first to break away in front of pace the jammers and the pack; however, Track Derby Association (WFTDA). restaurant, the waitress handed me the pack. Once a jammer has success- a flyer promoting the schedule of fully pulled in front of the pack they upcoming roller derby events. Soon become “lead jammer” for the rest of after I came across the documentary the jam. The lead jammer can call off Hell on Wheels (Bob Ray, 2007) and saw the 2 minute jam at any point by wav- a trailer for Drew Barrymore’s feature ing their hands in the hip area. The film directorial debut Whip It (2009) teams score points when their jammer starring Ellen Page. laps the pack. This, of course, is a piv- Sensing the cultural momentum otal moment for audience excitement of the renewed sport I decided to check as the fast paced skating is combined out a bout. I headed over to Champs with defensive blocking, collaborative on a Sunday night. The doors opened whips and daring leaps. The position at 7pm and already devoted fans were of jammer, because of the intensive gathering to get choice seats for the skating in which the jammer must lap bout. I was struck by the range of the other players in a jam, often switches crowd. There were college age couples, between team members each jam. parents with their children, and senior The athleticism of the skaters is citizens. There were girls looking as if very impressive. The sport is easily one

they were attending a ball, rockers in of the more intense I have seen. The JACK KING search of a jam, straight-laced business players risk injuries due to the rough men drinking beer, and the requisite nature of the sport. Players are con- Ragdoll Ruby, #42, takes the lead jammer position ahead of Beka Rekanize, #859, while devotees with signs/face paint. stantly being knocked about and fall- referee Patriarchy looks on. In order to learn about the game ing down. Near the end of the match beforehand, I grabbed a beer and there was a scary moment when Sugar they generally avoid the body blows. Once again the communal nature ambled over to talk to Jack King, the Shock (ROCK) took the lead jammer Interesting for anyone considering the of the sport was driven home when ROCK’s official photographer, and position and as the teams jostled for traditional gender roles in sports, the ref- I learned about how applicants for Pacos Chaos, a referee. Jack and Paco position a brutal pile up left Irish erees, except for one, were male. membership go through an apprentice- The standout moments for me ship period in which they are matched in this match were the teamwork of with an established WFTDA member ROCK’s Ellie Slay and Rainbow Smite. team who acts as the apprentice team’s It was thrilling to see them work mentor through the process of being through the pack, the one working as accepted into the league. the blocker would slingshot the other One of the requirements for in the position of jammer past the ROCK’s acceptance is that they build opposing team. They did this many an established fan base. I would encour- times that night and they seemed to age you to take the time to check out be working at times as one. Rebel Red this new local sport’s team and help also had multiple key blocks, including them to establish themselves in the a body blow on Honey Bunny, taking WFTDA. You can find more informa- her out just when she was beginning tion about the team at http://www. to pile up points as the lead jammer rockandrollergirls.com. for Black and Bluegrass. Ragdoll Ruby, as lead jammer, and Black Eyed Pea, NoC thanks ROCK’s photographer Jack as blocker, worked effectively together King, who generously supplied us with pho- helped me to grasp the finer points Iris (Black and Bluegrass) face down, to score points in multiple jams during tographs. Check the ROCK website for more of the game. The team members line writhing in pain. Both teams immedi- the second period. The entire ROCK of his great pictures. up on the track in two stages for the ately stopped skating and knelt while beginning of a jam. First in line is the she was attended to by the refs and “pack” headed by the “pivots,” com- coaches. She was soon up and the game ROCK vs. Black and Bluegrass monly described as the “brains” of the continued. Sunday, August 30 — Champs Skate Center operation (think middle linebacker or This is an aspect of the bout that Final Score: 98-90 (ROCK) quarterback). The pivots (one for each left the deepest impression upon me; team) are identified by the stripe on the professionalism of the skaters Top Scorer ROCK: their helmets and their job is to block on both teams. The bout was full of Ellie Slay while controlling the speed of the pack. intense moments and fierce block- Lined up behind the pivots in the ing. Although there were spills galore Top Scorer Black-n-Bluegrass: pack are the “blockers.” Each team has and bruised bodies, the players never Shelter Skelter three blockers who have the dual roles slipped into mindless aggressiveness. of defending against the opponent’s They remained disciplined teams Most Penalties ROCK: “jammer” and working together to working together. After the game, most Ryder Die (4 majors, 5 minors) assist their team’s “jammer.” of the players dined together in the Most Penalties Black-n-Bluegrass: Irish Iris (1 major, 12 minors) Lexington Bike Polo falls at Worlds NoC Sports Desk Tripple Lexxx, second place finish- MVP ROCK: ers here at the Bluegrass State Games, Ellie Slay Though official word has yet to were once again forced to shuffle their make it to the Sports Desk, word on lineup, as Brad Flowers was sidelined MVP Black-n-Bluegrass: the street is that no Lexington team with what some say is a chronic case Red Emma placed at this year’s Bike Polo World of athlete’s foot. As of press time, there

Championships, held September 5 and was no word from the Flowers camp to Next Game: Sept 20 (Home) vs. Gem City Rollergirls Derby Roller 6 in Philadelphia. verify the reports. North of Center 9 Opinion An open letter to progressives Ten points to ponder from someone who wants your help Dear Progressives, more and more people have lost their die or escalate a war), but he’s no sav- doing it and doing it well. We need you jobs… I feel like you’ve been silent. You ior. He’s just the president. If you’re and we’ll be happy to have you. The I’ve been thinking a lot lately certainly haven’t mobilized against not there fighting every step of the first step is simple. You start with your about our relationship. And I think it’s Obama’s massive policy failures in the way, then corporate elites will win. friends and family and say: “Friends, time we had a talk and set some things way that you mobilized against Bush. I They are winning. healthcare reform will not solve our straight. hope you can understand why I would 7. If, however, you’ve decided that problems. The problem is white- think of this as a deal with the devil. the mainstream political process will supremacist-capitalist-patriarchy. It is a 1. I’m not mad at you. Really, I’m 4. But, as I said, I’m not mad at you. not work, this is not time for imma- system of oppression, abuse, and domi- not. I’m just disappointed. I’m just disappointed. ture cynicism. Seriously, the world can’t nation. That people would die when we 2. As far as I understand things, we 5. What disappoints me is that you afford it. You’re bright, talented, edu- have the means to save them, that they have two major differences. First, you are not out on the streets with that cated people with a lot to offer. Do not would suffer when we have the means think that we can provide for social amazing grassroots effort that won squander that on some desk job! Do not to alleviate their pain, that they would justice and equality through gradual starve in this land of abundance, that reforms. Second, you think that these they would go without work or pay reforms can be accomplished through when so many people need so many the mainstream political process—par- things, that they would be imprisoned ties, voting, legislation, etc. I, on the because they are black, that they would other hand, believe that a more funda- be denied because they’re from another mental change is required of our soci- country, that they would be beaten ety and that the only way to achieve because they are women, that we would it is through direct confrontation with all break our backs and distort our ruling powers. As far as I can discern, minds for a few dollars… all this must positive social change has only ever end. We, together, can end it.” If you occurred because people demanded it are foolhardy enough to say something and refused to accept anything else. In like this, then you’re on the right track. many respects, our vision of social jus- Plan actions, make shit happen. Start tice and equality is the same, but I feel small, but think BIG. like you’re unwilling to take the steps 9. Again, I’m not mad at you. I’m just to make it happen. disappointed. 3. Recently, you made what I regard 10. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said as a devil’s bargain. Based on your that an injustice to one is an injustice fantasy that racial equality could be this presidency. Shit, as far as I can squander that in front of some televi- to all. To sit quietly by in the face of achieved through symbolic shifts and tell, you aren’t even on the phones. You sion! If this administration leaves you injustice is to be a coward. Our time your justified need to find real hope certainly aren’t going door-to-door in feeling hopeless, it’s because you never calls for courage and boldness; there’s in a seemingly hopeless world, you every state. What could have possibly really had hope in the first place. Real little room for cowardice. Personally, agreed to support a centrist Democrat led you to believe that your job was hope is the kind of shit that doesn’t fit I don’t think that the deep injustice for the presidency. Not only this, you done when Obama took office? Nope, neatly into political slogans. It explodes of our society can be fixed by reform won against all odds. I honestly believe that was only the beginning. out onto streets and works its ass off through the mainstream political pro- that it was your grassroots organizing 6. Here’s the deal: If you still believe to change the world. It simply doesn’t cess. But, maybe you’re right. Maybe that made the difference in the elec- that change is really possible through accept things as they are. It dares to it can. I am certain, however, that the tion. But as time has gone on and as the mainstream political process, you expand the realm of the possible. And only way that change will happen is if the War in Afghanistan has escalated need to get up off your ass and make really, if we’re being honest, this is what people like you make yourself a part and as Guantanamo Bay has been that change happen. Period. Take this you’re afraid of. This unabashed exuber- of it. It’s only going to happen if you allowed to hold prisoners without trial administration and every other level ance and riskiness, this willingness to stop dropping out and start plugging and as universal healthcare has been of government in this nation over and put your heart on the line, scares the in. It’s only going to happen if you abandoned as a real possibility and as start making the changes that we both shit out of you. It’s like asking someone forego many of the comforts of con- troops have remained in Iraq and as a know are necessary. Hit the streets. to marry you or to go to the prom… sumerism and “middle class” life. You coup by corporate elites in Honduras Knock on doors. Run for office. Do “What if the world says no?” have to roll up your sleeves and make has yet to be officially described as a whatever it takes. Obama seems like 8. If you decide to be a little crazy the change. “coup” and as they have “bailed out” a nice enough guy (for someone who and take this leap with me, then this the rich in the US and as they have would order drone executions in the is the program: educate, organize, and Yours with respect, foreclosed on the poor in the US and as knowledge that innocent people would agitate. There are already a lot of people brandon. Marksbury and Thurman (cont.) continued from page 4 LA and New York that when someone or wishes, it would be that we could TT: For archival purposes, the inter- comes to them from Kentucky, there’s do more with music. And particu- views are all transcribed, so there’s a Robert Rodriguez made a $7,000 nar- a kind of perverse curiosity factor larly more with writers, like Faulkner. wonderful written document. And rative feature film [El Mariachi], and it that might work to our advantage. I think an epic big documentary on then you have the master tapes. was really good, and then the studio And then, particularly with the more William Faulkner would be my fan- gave him five million dollars, and he recent films, people actually have an tasy. There’s just not the financing [for [A favorite moment was when]Tom basically re-made the film [Desperado], opportunity to look up what we’ve projects like that]. Film lends itself so and I were showing the Warren Oates and it’s not very good. So it’s certainly done in the past, and they see some- much better to financing. documentary to one of our favorite not all about money. Ideas are a film- thing on Warren Oates, Ben Johnson, directors, Monte Hellman. And you makers’ cheapest commodity….it’s the Sam Peckinpah and John Ford, and CG: Why do you think this partner- could tell that he was moved by it. 200,000 dollars you need to flesh it out. maybe, just maybe, they think there’s ship has worked so well? a chance that we know what we’re talk- Ben Johnson died before we were able TM: We’ve gotten a lot out of a little. ing about. That we have some kind of TT: That begs the question: has it to finish the documentary on him. That’s the flip side. You can write a taste, anyway. worked that well? We’ve spent long But a film festival in Italy wanted to novel, and all you’re putting in is your periods of time apart and intense peri- screen a 30-minute cut and invited life and time. With film, money is just CG: How do you handle unflattering ods of time together working. And we Ben and Dobe, Harry Carey Jr. and so much a part of the raw material. remarks about the subjects that come both enjoy similar authors, films, and myself to the film festival in Italy. up in interviews? Because I know that genres. We’ve been friends for 25 years, And I sat behind Ben. I didn’t want TT: If you want to make a film, and you have a lot of affection for your and we know how to avoid each oth- to sit next to him; I sat behind him. you’re meeting with people about subjects. er’s weaknesses and fill in each other’s And after the thing screened, he ideas, the room will fill up. But then gaps. stood up and looked for me, picked when you talk about money, the room TM: We love these people, or we up his cowboy hat and tipped it to empties, real fast. wouldn’t have started to begin with. TM: And this is a way to do some- me. And then later at a party, he put But on the one hand, you don’t want thing creative socially. I always wanted his arm around me. He was like 6’4”, CG: What is it like going back and to make a hagiography, a sort of “no to write, and Tom’s always had a talent so he dwarfed me, and he said, “You forth, immersing yourself in LA/ warts” love letter. That doesn’t serve for visual art. But this is something know, Tom, it’s a lot better than I Hollywood culture for a few days and anybody, particularly the subject. On where we can come together and work thought it would be.” Great compli- then returning to Kentucky? Or, let the other hand, you don’t want a warts together—most art forms don’t allow ment. Things like that do make it me ask that another way. How do you and all, celebrity-drag out. You try to for that. worthwhile. think being from Kentucky influences be fair. A lot of times there’s certainly your work and makes it different than two sides to the story. But I think that’s TT: I think one thing we’re really proud We’ve got Harry Dean Stanton refus- work produced by LA filmmakers? a judgment call moment by moment. of is the body of work we’ve assembled. ing to answer our questions over an You get so caught up in single projects 18-year period on 4 different occa- TM: You know, you start calling your- CG: So, what’s the next project? and finishing them and getting them sions. He’s talking, he’s singing, he’s self an outsider, and you almost sound shown sometimes you forget to step putting drinks on our tab at the like a politician, but not being from TT: Promoting this project [No Exit] is back and think about what you’ve bar….He’s remembering lyrics to Kris LA has definitely added a lot. the new project. It’s so difficult after accumulated over the years. We’ve Kristofferson songs that Kris has you finish a project to think about got 10,000 minutes worth of an oral forgotten. Actors like Luke Wilson CG: Is it because your perspective is anything other than promoting what history archive that stretches from will sneak into the interview site and different? Or do you think it’s that the you’ve done. You want people to see it. Warren Oates in 1992 to Nick Nolte in watch Harry Dean and Kris play songs people with whom you’re working, the That’s a question for 2010. 2008. All of it is our own material that together. [Wilson] came up to Tom actors and such, might respond to you we’ve generated. and I and said, “Nothing this cool differently? CG: What is your dream project? ever happens in Hollywood, man.” TM: You might only get to use a min- That was the only thing he said, and TT: I think one thing is that actors TT: One that’s paid for. ute or two of somebody’s interview [in he disappeared. and actresses and directors and pro- a documentary], but a lot of them are ducers get interview requests from TM: As valuable as all the movie work just really wonderful, and they go on TM: That was a good moment for people who are so clearly anchored in has been to me, if I had dream projects for 90 minutes. Shelby County. 10 North of Center Comics

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