Weekly Rochester Events #419: Toulouse or Not To Lose

Thursday, January 18, 2007

I guess I'm turning into a real movie junkie ... it was movies all last week. Starting on Thursday, I headed to George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) to catch Black Moon. I was drawn to it as a strange Alice-in-Wonderland tale ... with a unicorn. Well, I couldn't make any sense of it. I guess something about the confusion of coming to adulthood told as a strange fantasy — nearly abstract or surrealist at times. It's like someone tells you they made this perfect picture of adolescence and show you a bunch of a jigsaw puzzle pieces with a big proud grin.

Friday same thing: I went back to see Fanfan La Tulipe. This one was much more traditional ... a whimsical adventure tale of a wide-eyed, flirtatious swashbuckler. It so well predicted the modern action movie that it even lost steam about two-thirds of the way through to set up the fantastic conclusion. Afterward I headed to Solera Wine Bar (647 South Ave) and Lux Lounge (666 South Ave.) and ran into some old friends, met some new friends, drank too much, and got in really really late.

Saturday I'd be meeting Ali later and, since she's not a sushi fan, I thought I'd take the opportunity to sneak in a little at California Rollin' at Village Gate Square (274 N. Goodman St.) I got out of there easy, having a moderate collection of rolls and some sake for just over $20. I met up with her and her friend Stacie at Lux Lounge (666 South Ave.) Earlier in the day I bought a dog puppet at the The Vietnam Veteran's of America (VVA) Thrift Store (1199 E. Main St.) I had worried it closed a few months ago but they were just resetting the store so the entrance is on the side. Anyway, I brought the puppet along and we dubbed it Watson. We ended up meeting these guys Rich and Boris who decided to challenge "puppet-versus-man" and Boris sent Rich and I to go meet new people — Rich by himself and me with Watson. Man-and-puppet gets off to a great start but you've got to get out quick. I talked with this couple (and probably seeded a weird post-bar conversation) where the guy admitted a slight puppet fetish and the girl a slight puppet phobia. Joke-telling went about as well.

Sunday I was once again heading to the Dryden Theatre this time to see La Moustache. It really disturbed me because I try to make sense of the movie and end up falling into the same traps as the character, Marc, who's also trying to make sense of it. Basically, nobody notices when he shaves off his moustache but then they deny he ever had one. And this despite photographic evidence to the contrary. In the end, I theorized that maybe his whole life was a fantasy and it was unraveling day-by-day. As the film goes on, events gradually become less plausible but because the process is so gentle, I failed to notice it's probably more likely delusional.

So Monday everything slowed to a crawl as someone sprayed ice all over everything. I was frustrated at it — the first real winter-weather event of the season — because I was supposed to meet with Ali as she had the day off. I guess we're lucky to not be attempting to drive back from visiting her brother in Pennsylvania that day as would have happened if we followed our plans from several weeks back. Nonetheless, it set me off in a foul mood all day. Sondra has this theory about the universe that if one gives in to its whims, one can experience a flow of life and a certain security ... not unlike certain religious beliefs. On days like this I wonder what it is that I'm doing so incredibly incorrectly to deserve such needling. I even slept a lot in the afternoon, having some really weird dreams — several that involved cars being used threateningly as weapons against people.

That evening I watched American Beauty once again. I think I really got the aspect that Sondra had pointed out in 1999 when we saw it for the first time: that it's the way an artist looks at the world. It's a way to look at the world in terms of "is" rather than being good or bad; worthwhile or worthless. Everything in the world just "is." It's there to be seen, and in the process of seeing it that way, it's intricate, perfect, and beautiful. All of it. I guess that's why I thought of Ali after I watched it.

On Tuesday it was movie night at her place. We watched Lost in Translation over dinner with her friend Stacie (who owns the film.) I remember reading about it and thinking I might like it and I did. I was a bit distracted watching it, and through that I thought it was a very sweet movie. Very melancholic — what with time, age, and wisdom driving a wedge between two people who could have been together otherwise — but also very true.

On Wednesday morning I got up really early and once again got to WITR 89.7 FM at RIT (One Lomb Memorial Dr., campus map) to participate in the radio show The Coalition of the Shrill. I had been thinking about our "producer" and engineer Geoff's offer: to take over for him when he moves away in March for [paying] work [in his field]. I was rather flustered over it in my 4:30 a.m. anxiety attack — if I wake up around then, I just know it's coming. This time I was considering taking over but decided I couldn't be party to censorship.

Ok, so consider this. You want to create censorship in the popular media so how do you do it? If you set up a censorship board that approves content would blatantly violate the Bill of Rights. So what do you have to work with?: a consumer-driven society where every member is afraid of losing their job, a society where lawbreakers are considered part of "them" even if everyone is breaking some law, and The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) whose charter includes the ability to impose fines for presenting content that violates the vaguely defined "community standards of decency." That last part, by the way, means that complaints from a vocal minority constitutes a violation — at the discretion of a ruling body. From there it's just a matter of a few trials and censorship takes care of itself.

Stations like WITR cannot afford to be sued for a "decency" violation, and they would simply be shut down. The station manager would have responsibility to ensure this doesn't happen — and therefore they would be in the firing line of an expensive fine, so they pass the buck to the on-air DJ who's now responsible for all content going on the air. There is an electronic 10-second delay between what's heard in the studio and what goes on the air so, in a case where someone says something that might cause a "decency" investigation, they hit the "dump" button and the on-air broadcast simply skips over the "indecent" outburst. Corporate stations have the same kinds of policies, even if they could afford the lawsuits — it's simply the most efficient way to ensure what goes on the air is free from potentially fineable offenses.

What you have is systemic censorship. I mean, let's say there's a "decency" violation about someone saying they think the President is stupid. All of a sudden you will hear nothing of the sort. Every paid DJ is barely making a living, and anyone volunteering doesn't have enough money to cover a several hundred-thousand dollar fine, so they tell people they can't say that on the air. In-studio or call-in guests may cry censorship, but against whom? What is the policy that causes this to exist? What law should change to be in compliance with the Bill of Rights?

The guts of the matter is that idea of "decency." Taken at face value, we're talking about sounds emanating from a radio speaker. Under these sounds are words and under them ideas. But what is "indecent" in speech or ideas? I mean, if you can't deal with uncomfortable concepts, you're ill-equipped to handle reality. This is the basis for the argument about children and, what?: things that parents are embarrassed to explain? If you can't deal with explaining the world to a child — and by that all of it, including sex, violence, and death — that you are ill-equipped to be a parent, and I don't think even qualify as an adult.

Thus, I told Geoff about it and said I would simply never hit the "dump" button out of principle. That's where the anxiety stuff started early in the day: what would happen? I'd lose the gig, get fined, be in way over my head, lose everything, end up on the street, and probably just die out there.

But then Geoff said that I couldn't work for the station if I refused to hit the "dump" button so I guess things will be okay for a while.

T H U R S D A Y

This evening at 5 p.m. at the Interfaith Chapel at The University of Rochester (Elmwood Ave. at Intercampus Dr., details on River Campus Map) is the opening of The F Word: Images of Forgiveness which is on display through January 31. [source: City Newspaper] This afternoon from 5:15 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Gleason Auditorium at The Rochester Public Library (115 South Ave.) is another Thursday Thinkers. This time, Frank Cost will discuss Digital Printing: The End of the Book? [source: Rochester Public Library calendar] [all ages] Later, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Gleason Auditorium at The Rochester Public Library (115 South Ave.) is another meeting of The Inventor's Society of Western New York. [source: Rochester Public Library calendar] [all ages] Today at 7 p.m. at The Asbury First United Methodist Church (1050 East Ave.) is the monthly meeting of The Rochester Genealogical Society. Tonight's short program is The "Adoption" of Baby Edith by Dr. Marian S. Henry — (from the abstract) "Edith Newell was born in 1860 in Marlboro, NH. By the age of eight she was with the David Woodward family in Worcester, MA. Why? Why so far from home at such a tender age? Why this particular family?" The feature program is Peeling the Onion — The Search for Sadie's History by Barry Hartley concerning the famous Denver resident, Sadie Likens and her peculiar path to get there. [source: Rochester Genealogical Society website] [all ages] Tonight at The Montage Live Music Hall (50 Chestnut St., formerly the Montage Grille) is A 9/11 Truth Now Concert featuring The Artful Dodge, Electric Organic, modern acoustic-rock/groove-rock from Cole Blair, beatbox acoustic soloist Shawnee Boyeee, Mooch, a perfection of clean, crisp rock-and-roll from Tiger Cried Beef, DJ Jhim, and The Nate Coffey Band of Heroes starting around 7 p.m. [source: Freetime] The Little Theatre Café (240 East Ave.) will be hosting Bazaha-Lala starting around 7:30 p.m. [source: Rochester Cajun Zydeco calendar] Over at Starry Nites Café (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) starting around 8 p.m. is Jeff Sherner. [source: Starry Nites calendar] [all ages] Zach Chasman will be at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) starting around 8 p.m. [source: Boulder Coffee website] [all ages] Tonight at Kilbourn Hall at Eastman Theatre (60 Gibbs St.), Father Sean Duggan will be performing a Guest Piano Recital at 8 p.m. [source: Eastman School of Music calendar] [all ages] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Crimes and Misdemeanors starting at 8 p.m. Critics agree this is one of Woody Allen's best works ... a hilarious tragedy. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] John Sinclair, Dorothy Goodman, and beatnic poet band Dream Engine will be at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) starting around 8 p.m. [source: Freetime] [all ages] The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) will be hosting A Televised Reality, and Tin Sphinx starting around 9:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+] Tonight at 8 p.m. at Bodhi's Cafe & Lounge (274 Goodman St. N., in Village Gate) is an Open Mic. [source: the proverbial grapevine] Drinking Liberally meets at 8 p.m. tonight at Monty's Korner (355 East Ave.) [source: RocWiki calendar]

F R I D A Y

MEETinROCHESTER will be hosting a Happy Hour at Tapas One Seventy Seven (177 Saint Paul St.) this afternoon from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. [source: RocWiki calendar] Tonight from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Community Darkroom at The Genesee Center for the Arts (713 Monroe Ave.) is the opening reception for Inner Eye-Outer World featuring works by Kitty Hubbard, James Cavanaugh, Michael Parks, Andy Olenick, and Annette Lein. The show runs through April 1. [source: Genesee Center for the Arts calendar] At 7:30 p.m. this evening at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) is Nicole Christian and then at 9 p.m. it's Sammy Naquin. [source: Daily Perks calendar] [all ages] Jazz-rock band (with sprinkles of East Indian, African, South American and maybe even a little Klezmer) Margaret Explosion will be at Starry Nites Café (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) starting around 8 p.m. [source: Starry Nites calendar] [all ages] Tonight at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) is Thread starting around 8 p.m. [source: Boulder Coffee website] [all ages] Tonight at 8 p.m. is the first performance of the musical Tick, Tick ... Boom! at Blackfriars Theatre (28 Lawn St.) The show runs through February 8. [source: Blackfriars Theatre website] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Jesus Camp starting at 8 p.m. (and also on Saturday and Sunday at 5 p.m.) It's a documentary about children being taught to take up leadership roles to turn the world Christian. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] John Sinclair, Dorothy Goodman, Joe Fornieri, and The Railsplitters will be at The Ritskeller (One Lomb Memorial Dr., on RIT campus) starting around 8:30 p.m. [source: Freetime] The Flat Iron Café (561 State St.) will be hosting a 70's Disco Party tonight at 9 p.m. [source: Flat Iron Cafe webstie] Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is Black August starting around 10:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [21+] Over at Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10:30 p.m. is Chris Labella ... although Freetime Magazine lists The Dead Catholics which agrees with the band's MySpace page. [source: Monty's Krown MySpace page] [21+]

S A T U R D A Y

Today at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) all day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. is the opening of the exhibitions titled Witness: Know War/No Genocide on display through April 22. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Today at 10:15 a.m. at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) is the Behind-the-Scenes Tour for Eastman House members only. [source: Eastman House mailing] [all ages] The Bop Shop (274 N. Goodman St., in Village Gate Square) will be hosting RedLine Zydeco, and Willis Prudhomme starting around 2 p.m. [source: Bop Shop calendar] [all ages] This evening from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at The Oxford Gallery (267 Oxford St.) is the opening reception for the works of Karl Heerdt, and Christine Barney which will be on display through February 24. [source: Oxford Gallery website] This evening at The Baobab Cultural Center (728 University Ave., formerly on Gregory St.) is the opening reception for The Rebus World of Dunstan Luke: The Representation of Words with Pictures starting at 7 p.m. The show is on display through January 31. [source: City Newspaper] Tonight at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) is witty and accomplished acoustic soloist Brian Coughlin, Alan Whitney, and charismatic and stylistically-varied soloist Scott Regan starting around 8 p.m. [source: Daily Perks calendar] [all ages] Tonight at Starry Nites Café (696 University Ave., formerly Moonbeans) is The Jazz Dawgs starting around 8 p.m. [source: Starry Nites calendar] [all ages] Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) will be hosting The Deep Blue Dream starting around 8 p.m. [source: Boulder Coffee website] [all ages] Today from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. at The Memorial Art Gallery (500 University Ave., near Goodman St.) is Anxious Objects: Willie Cole's Favorite Brands Exhibition Party. [source: Memorial Art Gallery calendar] [all ages] At 8 p.m. tonight at Downstairs Cabaret (172 West Main St.) is a performance of St. Nicholas, the tale of a theatre critic obsessed with a young actress. [source: Downstairs Cabaret calendar] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Spellbound starting at 8 p.m. Alfred Hitchcock craftily reveals suspicions about the new head of a mental institution. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Over at A|V Art Sound Space (N. Union St. at Trinidad St., #8 in the Public Market, formerly the All-Purpose Room) starting around 9 p.m. is Power Pill Fist, Discuss, and disorienting spoken word/electronic effects band Gaybot. [source: A|V Space website] Lords of the Highway, The Whiskey Daredevils, and somewhat boring instrumental surf-rock from The Mofos will be at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 10:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [21+] Tonight's another Betty's Sing-a-Long at Betty Meyer's Bullwinkle Café (622 Lake Ave., a.k.a. "Bullwinkle's") starting around 10.

S U N D A Y

It's a busy day at The Memorial Art Gallery (500 University Ave., near Goodman St.) today. There will be performances on the the Italian Baroque organ at 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. as well as tours of the new Anxious Objects exhibit and capping things off at 2 p.m. is a lecture by featured artist Willie Cole. [source: Memorial Art Gallery calendar] [all ages] This afternoon at 4:30 p.m. is a Candlelight Vigil starting at The Asbury First United Methodist Church (1050 East Ave.) and ending at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) to see the new exhibition Darfur/Darfur. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Delicious starting at 7 p.m., the fun story of an immigrant woman separated from her sweetheart on a voyage to New York. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] This evening at 9 p.m. is an Open Mic with very good bluegrass band The String Theory Bluegrass Band at Monty's Korner (355 East Ave.) [source: Freetime] Tonight and every Sunday at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) is a Comedy Open Mic with Matt Rohr at 7:30 p.m. [source: the proverbial grapevine] [all ages]

M O N D A Y

Today at 7 p.m. in the Interfaith Chapel at The University of Rochester (Elmwood Ave. at Intercampus Dr., details on River Campus Map) is a lecture by Ben W. Ebenhack titled Linked Fate: Energy Equity in Our Global Society. [source: University of Rochester website] This evening at Verb Café at Writers and Books (740 University Ave.) is the staged reading of Two Pages/Two Voices at 8 p.m. featuring two-page, two-character plays. [source: Writers and Books calendar] [all ages] John Akers will be at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que (99 Court St.) starting around 10 p.m. [source: Dinosaur Bar-B-Que calendar] 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. There will be another reading of 25 & Under tonight at 7 p.m. at Verb Café at Writers and Books (740 University Ave.) to feature writers 25-years-and-under. [source: Writers and Books calendar] [all ages] This evening at 8 p.m. at The Flat Iron Café (561 State St.) is a Salsa Dance Class. [source: Flat Iron Cafe webstie] Tonight at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que (99 Court St.) is Big Leg Emma starting around 10 p.m. [source: Dinosaur Bar-B-Que calendar] This evening at 8 p.m. in Hoyt Auditorium at The University of Rochester (Elmwood Ave. at Intercampus Dr., details on River Campus Map) is a discussion by actor B. D. Wong. [source: Gay Alliance website] Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) is hosting an Acoustic Open Mic from 8 to 10. [source: Daily Perks calendar] This evening around 9 p.m. at Café Underground Railroad (480 W. Main St.) is an Open Mic with Art Delgudico and friends. [source: the proverbial grapevine]

W E D N E S D A Y

Over at Java's (16 Gibbs St.) starting around 9 p.m. is The Jeremy Siskind Trio. [source: Java's calendar] [all ages] Dub (reggae) band Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad will be at The Dub Land Underground (315 Alexander St., formerly Whiskey) starting around 9:30 p.m. [source: Freetime] 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] Tonight at Café Underground Railroad (480 W. Main St.) is a Spoken Word/Poetry night starting around 9 p.m. [source: the proverbial grapevine]

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