Weekly Rochester Events #379: Boyle's Under Pressure

Thursday, April 13, 2006

I'm really disheartened to learn that America is going to use nuclear weapons to destroy Iran.

Some still believe it's not a forgone conclusion, but I remember a few years ago insisting that we wait a while to let the UN weapons inspectors do their job in Iraq, and hoped that we could have a peacful resolution. At that time I just wanted a few more months to be sure. This time I don't want the blood of a nation on my hands.

Arguing it is purely academic as it's clear our President has made up his mind. Destroying Iran is inevitable.

I'm already of heavy heart about it. I believe that unlike, say, a colony of fire ants living under your porch that needs to be exterminated completely, that Iran is actually full of human beings — many of whom are not terrorists and who, if they were allowed to live their whole lives, would not try to attack America. So when we obliterate their population, I'll be sad for all the lives that are never lived — for all the people who wanted to make art and to raise families and to share bread. For me it will be like watching a bus full of children burn to death, even if some of them might have grown up to be murderers.

In the mean time, across America — especially in the Christian churches — the majority of the population will celebrate our decisive victory against evil. They view the entirety of the Middle East as a breeding ground for terrorists. There are no peacful, good people in the entire region, so kill them all. They'll never doubt they were right.

It's all a matter of belief and faith, I guess.

Anyhow, last Thursday I headed out to The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) and got to see Worm Quartet once again along with Gaybot — both of whom played at UofR last weekend. The band I hadn't seen was Gay Beast who were great: they played this structured, disonant cacophony with drums, synth, and guitar.

On Friday I went to The Dryden to see The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Unfortunately, hair and makeup artist Dorothy J. Pearl couldn't be there. Anyway, it was a really great movie — still suspenseful after all these years. As the grand-daddy of "based-on-a-true-story" horror films, it really shines as being extremely troubling to watch.

After that I headed to Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.). I had caught wind of the joke earlier but let it slide: rumor has it that at some point in Gaylord's stint as a band, they changed their name to Greylord for some reason, so they all showed up in disguises and played as the world's only Gaylord cover band. They then followed themselves as Gaylord. I always have a tough time describing their sound, often sticking with something like "attention-deficit jazzy rock" because, at least to my ear, it sounds like they play several songs in one, switching between as they go.

I ran into Lon from Sulaco gave me his old StarTac and I took the top half of his and connected it to the bottom of mine and got it working again. Hooray ... I guess.

On Saturday I went to The Little (240 East Ave.) to see a movie. Everything that's out is something I wanted to see, but I settled on Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story as that had the next showtime. The movie was ... well ... weird. It was kind of a movie in which you got to see it being made. The lines between layers of reality were seriously blurred, and I generally liked it. It felt like it had quite a bit to say but conveyed that information in a subtle way for it wasn't about the movie itself, really, at all. Like I say, weird.

Monday I spent most of the day doing taxes. I gave up on the computer software a few years ago, instead favoring the simplicity of the forms you can fill in using Acrobat Reader. The Federal forms went easy enough but the New York State forms were a nightmare. Acrobat Reader kept crashing when I tried to enter the data, and the forms have document protection to prevent them from being saved, so you have to enter everything in one shot then print it. After three go-arounds with different versions of the software, I finally gave up, printed the forms out blank, and typed them up on my 1960's Underwood manual typewriter. The nearly-50-year-old machine never crashed and did not randomly erase the data in my forms. Thank goodness for progress.

I also recently cancelled my Equifax credit monitoring. I called earlier in the week to ask about why they went from charging me $9.95 a month to $99.95 this past month but their computers were down and they couldn't do anything — but, "[was] there anything else [they] could do for [me] today?" Idiots. It turned out they decided to change their automatic billing, so people who had elected to have a month-by-month fee assessed would automatically be switched to the cheaper annual fee — of course without asking or anything. It's really quite scary that this is one of the three companies that can completely destroy your ability to do anything substantial financially and that they run their ship so damn loose.

That night I went to The Drama House at The University of Rochester (Fraternity Rd. at Alumni Rd., east corner of the Fraternity Quad, details on River Campus Map) to see the Geva Comedy Improv show FIASCO! Season 2: The Hospital. I was really impressed that it was both funny and that the continuity of characters and situations was maintained between scenes (and apparently between shows) given that it is all improvised on-the-spot.

I also had a chance to see Thank You For Smoking at The Little (240 East Ave.) which was great. The previews are pretty accurate — it's rather implausible, but maintains its dignity and humor throughout. It's the story of a big tobacco lobbyist trying to reconcile his life and how it relates to his son. Kind of ... it's really an exercise in explaining the relationship between debate, influence, argument, and being right. It's strangely compelling and uplifting considering that it ends up painting a pretty chipper picture of cigarette companies.

In other news, I decided to start an experiment to try and spend less money. I figured out that I really only need hot water to bathe (no word yet on the effectiveness of the dishwasher) and tried a time-tested solution of bringing a bucket of hot water to the bathtub and washing with a cloth. The experiment is to completely shut off the hot water heater (since I really have no willpower to not take long showers.) I want to see how many of those few-hundred-dollars I spend on gas each month I can save.

Tuesday morning I got out of bed around 5:15 a.m. — partly because I didn't sleep well. I was pondering the various states my brain goes through during my regular late-night anxieties:

• 3 a.m. — I'm panicked that somebody is outside and trying to break in, or that there's already somebody inside. I try to remember the noise that woke me but can't. I hear every creak in the house. I eventually drift back to a light sleep.
• 3:30 a.m. — I ponder running for President and touring the country. I do it on no money and just go from household to household, meeting the real people of the world. I'm surprisingly popular.
• 4 a.m. — The dream changes to me as a drifter, having sold my house and personal belongings to just travel around the country. I'm really free. I would typically hop freight trains and work odd jobs, getting to know people as people. But my ATM card is stolen and I can't get a replacement because I have no identification, so access to money disappears. I'm trapped in a world of modern constructs and systems that I can't escape — I can't simply live as a human being, but as a long list of account numbers and database entries.
• 4:30 a.m. — Now I'm speaking to a religious group about philosophy. My lecture is laid out in three parts. I describe studies where monkeys are put in situations where they are powerless and frustrated, and note how they lash out by attacking their weaker peers. I talk about our universal frustration with the state of the world — all the systems and governments we have that now own us. I make the analogy that through this frustration, we lash out and attack our weaker peers — the poor, homosexuals, the under-educated — rather than seeing and fixing the real problems.

I crack open the window to listen to the city waking up. I like the soft din of Rochester in the morning. There's a low rushing sound that builds with the dawn — maybe it's airplanes waking up or the highway pulsing — but it eventually blends into its daily crescendo. I went for a walk at sunrise.

T H U R S D A Y

This afternoon at 5:30 p.m. at The Memorial Art Gallery (500 University Ave., near Goodman St.) writer and artist Pamela Blanpied will discuss Mary Eberle's bronze from 1910, Windy Doorstep. [source: Memorial Art Gallery calendar] [all ages] This evening at 6:30 p.m. in the Curtis Theatre at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) is a lecture by photographer Sally Gall titled Why I Photograph. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] This evening at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium at The Memorial Art Gallery (500 University Ave., near Goodman St.) is artist Pepsy Kettavong discussing his statue, Let's Have Tea located near Susan B. Anthony House (17 Madison St.) [source: Memorial Art Gallery calendar] [all ages] At 8 p.m. tonight in Kilbourn Hall at Eastman Theatre (60 Gibbs St.) is another show by Ossia New Music featuring Sofia Gubaidulina's Introitus, Ching-Mei Lin's Prism, and Alfred Schnittke's Concerto for Piano and Strings. [source: Ossia New Music calendar] [all ages] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing The Thing from Another World starting at 8 p.m. In the original classic sci-fi film, Arctic researchers are attacked by the pilot of a flying saucer. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Jazzy chaos with rhythm and melody on both drums and guitar and saxophone harmony from Deadly Pillowfight Accident, and chaotic experimental music from Foot and Mouth Disease will be at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+] Dinosaur Bar-B-Que (99 Court St.) will be hosting rocking rockabilly from Krypton 88 starting around 10 p.m. [source: Dinosaur Bar-B-Que calendar] Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) will be hosting Spinning Zoo, and Porthos starting around 10:30 p.m. [source: Rochester Music Coalition calendar] [21+] Richmond's (21 Richmond St.) will be hosting Scott Bravo starting around 10:30 p.m. [source: Freetime] [21+] Pure Kona Poetry Open Mic Night is at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) tonight starting at 7:30. [source: Daily Perks calendar] [all ages] Drinking Liberally meets at 8 p.m. tonight at Monty's Korner (355 East Ave.) [source: RocWiki calendar]

F R I D A Y

Poop for Peace Day This afternoon at 1 p.m in the Gowen Room at The Wilson Commons at The University of Rochester (Library Road, details on River Campus Map) is a screening of Living the Hiplife: Reggie Rockstone & Stories of Ghanaian Hip Hop about Reggie Rockstone. [source: University of Rochester Events Calendar] This evening from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Rochester Visual Studies Workshop (31 Prince St.) is a Masters of Fine Art Thesis Exhibition from Jessica Jane Julius titled Static Synapse. [source: Visual Studies Workshop calendar] [all ages] Tonight in Hoyt Hall at The University of Rochester (Elmwood Ave. at Intercampus Dr., details on River Campus Map), The University of Rochester Cinema Group will be showing King Kong at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. [source: RocWiki] Amos Rosenstein will be at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) starting around 8 p.m. [source: Daily Perks calendar] [all ages] Is it Easter already? The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Il vangelo secondo matteo (The Gospel According To Saint Matthew) starting at 8 p.m. This caught my attention because it's a rather sparse film (as opposed to more typical humungous faith epics) documenting the ideas of Jesus Christ according to St. Matthew. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Burning Daylight, The Corrections, and Jesse Sprinkle will be at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10:30 p.m. [source: WITR calendar] [21+] This evening at 6 p.m. at The Montage Live (50 Chestnut St., formerly the Montage Grille) is Foxy Moon Baby and Echo Society and then at 10 p.m. it's Catch 22. [source: Montage calendar]

S A T U R D A Y

Tax Day Joey Ramone died, 2001 O'Bagelo's, 165 State Street, noon. Over at Abundance Cooperative Market (62 Marshall St.) starting around 1 p.m. is Kyle Veenema. [source: Abundance Co-op calendar] [all ages] Tonight at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) starting early in the afternoon around 4 p.m. is Aemofest with The Rockin' Red & Billy Joe Trio, Irish-slanted fun punk band Tom Foolery and the Shannanighans (not Shenanigans), very good metal from Sulaco, and Old Boy. [source: Freetime] [21+] Tonight in Hoyt Hall at The University of Rochester (Elmwood Ave. at Intercampus Dr., details on River Campus Map), The University of Rochester Cinema Group will be showing Capote at 7 p.m., 9:15 p.m., and 11:30 p.m. [source: RocWiki] This evening at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) probably starting around 7 p.m. is an art opening for works by Dagwood McFadden with music by Rob Falgiano. [source: Boulder Coffee MySpace site] [all ages] Over at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) starting around 8 p.m. is The Orange Barrels. [source: Daily Perks calendar] [all ages] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Mouchette starting at 8 p.m. about a neglected teenager living a tough life — according to the Eastman House calendar, Time magazine listed it in a 2005 survey as "One of the all-time 100 Best Movies." [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Tonight at Starry Nites Café (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) is Chris Squire starting around 9 p.m. [source: Starry Nites calendar] [all ages] Tonight at A|V Art Sound Space (N. Union St. at Trinidad St., #8 in the Public Market, formerly the All-Purpose Room) is Marine Corpse, The Prophet Doomlicker |l-l|, Ju-Jajuba, and City Harvest Black starting around 9 p.m. [source: A|V Space website] Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10 p.m. is We're All Devo: An All-Star Tribute To DEVO! featuring The QUiTTERS, The VEiNS, The UV Rays, The Grinders, The Blastoffs, The Lobster Quadrille, The Grievants, The Transonics, and Grime Time. [source: Bug Jar calendar] Over at The Club at Water Street (204 N. Water St.) starting around 10 p.m. is high-energy classic synth-rock band The Charms, and energetic but disjoint rock with a little ska from The Sweet Action. [source: Water Street calendar] [all ages] Over at Richmond's (21 Richmond St.) starting around 10:30 p.m. is The WMDs. [source: JamBase calendar for Rochester] [21+] The Montage Live (50 Chestnut St., formerly the Montage Grille) will be hosting Setiva, Fallguy, A Day Without Rain, Ruination, and Falling Forward starting around 11:30 p.m. [source: Montage calendar] Tonight's another Betty's Sing-a-Long at Betty Meyer's Bullwinkle Café (622 Lake Ave.) starting around 10.

S U N D A Y

The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing E.T. The Extra Terrestrial starting at 7 p.m. Now I've only ever seen this outdoors, so I might not be permitted to go. Of course, this is a rare opportunity to see the original release where the army guys are holding guns instead of lollipops like they are in the re-release. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Tonight at Spot Coffee (200 East Ave.) is young but pretty well seasoned folk singer Brad Yoder starting around 8 p.m. [source: band e-mail] [all ages] The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) will be hosting The Gris Gris, Brian Glaze, solid, tight rock-and-roll from Tiger Cried Beef, and awesome power-pop/hip-hop band with a nerdy math theme The Mathematicians starting around 9 p.m. (doors at 8.) I personally can't miss the Mathematicians. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+] Starry Nites Café (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) is hosting their weekly Open Mike Poetry tonight at 7 p.m. [source: Starry Nites calendar] [all ages]

M O N D A Y

Patriot's Day The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Dark Passage this afternoon starting at 1:30 p.m. It's a slick, unnerving film-noir-ish movie. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Her Name Is June, down-tempo, percussion-heavy rock band with bass, guitar, keyboards, drums, and a fill-in freeform drumer A Wonderful, The Looking Glass Self, and The Masquerade will be at A|V Art Sound Space (N. Union St. at Trinidad St., #8 in the Public Market, formerly the All-Purpose Room) starting around 7 p.m. [source: A|V Space website] Geva Comedy Improv will be hosting FIASCO! Season 2: The Hospital, an improvised soap opera performed at The Drama House at The University of Rochester (Fraternity Rd. at Alumni Rd., east corner of the Fraternity Quad, details on River Campus Map) tonight at 8 p.m. [source: Geva Comedy Improv e-mail] There's also Open Mic Poetry at Java's (16 Gibbs St.) starting around 9 p.m. [source: Java's calendar] [all ages] Bored? Why not check out 1980's DJ night at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 11 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar]

T U E S D A Y

This morning at 7:30 a.m. in the cafeteria overlooking the arboretum in Bausch and Lomb (140 Stone St.) is the Artists Breakfast Group meeting ... anyone interested in art or creativity is invited. As part of the 50th Anniversary of Books Sandwiched-In, Bob Marcotte will discuss his own book Birds of the Genesee and the Stories of Those Who Watch Them from 12:12 p.m. to 12:52 p.m. in Gleason Auditorium at The Rochester Public Library (115 South Ave.) [source: Friends of the Public Library e-mail] [all ages] Tonight at 8 p.m. at The Montage Live (50 Chestnut St., formerly the Montage Grille) is another Words of Wisdom Talent Showcase — essentially a hip-hop/spoken-word open mic night. [source: Montage calendar] This evening at 8 p.m. at The Bop Shop (274 N. Goodman St., in Village Gate Square) is a performance by The Ab Baars Quartet. [source: Bop Shop calendar] [all ages] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing My Dinner With André starting at 8 p.m. Another Louis Malle film that I've been meaning to see for quite a while now. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is Kickback, Unholy, Borrowed Time, and Dawn of War starting around 9:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+] Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) is hosting an Acoustic Open Mic from 8 to 10. [source: Daily Perks calendar] [all ages]

W E D N E S D A Y

Something for the kids this afternoon at 2 at the Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) They will be showing The Witches about a American boy in an English hotel turned into a mouse by some witches. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] This afternoon from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., Professor Thomas Kelly of Princeton University (1 University Pl., Princeton, NJ) will be hosting a philosophy discussion titled Confidence and Belief Revision in the Stackel Room in The Wilson Commons at The University of Rochester (Library Road, details on River Campus Map)(I had to read the title a couple times to get it.) [source: University of Rochester Events Calendar] Poor People United meets tonight and every Wednesday at 7 at St. Joseph's House of Hospitality (402 South Ave.) [source: the proverbial grapevine] There's an Open Mic for Acoustic Music at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) tonight around 8. [source: the proverbial grapevine]

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