Weekly Rochester Events #436: Keeping Kepler Spinning

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Last Wednesday I got to see Ali play ball once again. She caught a couple flyballs and tagged someone out at 3rd — her coach said he was really impressed. Afterward we met up with some friends at The Thirsty Turtle Sports Bar (7422 State Route 96, Victor).

On Thursday I had my regularly scheduled anxieties — society crumbling and all. But this time I had a bit of an epiphany. I was thinking of the United States and/or New York and/or Rochester with its overzealous police action, disrespect for small businesses, and rampant taxation to support non-workers — and realized that it is hopeless to try and fix. But it's not pointless to do maintenance. See, it's like my house: I can do maintenance where necessary to ensure it stays in good condition and at the same time know it will crumble under its own weight someday. George Eastman House has a huge bureaucracy to keep it running, yet even it won't last forever. It's all going to turn to dust someday, but hopefully nobody will be living in it when it does.

I also got some shopping done in an attempt to avoid the Saturday traffic nightmare traveling near The Lilac Festival. I headed to Abundance Cooperative Market (62 Marshall St.) and realized that one of the reasons I like shopping there is that it tends to encourage me to eat better. Their selection is much smaller than a general supermarket, but everything there is marketed for the wholesomeness of ingredients. Compare that to a spashy endcap hawking Doritos, and you realize the latter is as content-free as the product it sells. In other words, contemporary marketing is focused solely on attracting the most consumers, and the easiest way to do that is to adjust superficial traits to accomplish that goal. Abundance caters to consumers more interested in content than packaging, and good processes are the easiest way to attract those consumers to a product.

I also went to the bank and closed my last money market account. I decided to do so because I wanted to improve America.

See, one of my issues with this country is the focus of corporations on ever increasing profits. Even Kodak is really doing pretty well — it's that they are not growing fast enough that infuriates shareholders. And who are these shareholders who demand maximum growth?: the same ones whose goals are purely profit. And what's the biggest group after pure profit?: money market funds. [Disclaimer: I don't know if that's actually true, but I am sure those funds represent a significant portion of investors in the stock market.] So what do I get from the pillaging of the corporate world?: an extra couple-hundred bucks a year.

It's just not worth it to me: I'd rather see corporations focus on a happier workforce, products with a longer life-cycle, and higher quality overall. Yet to grow quickly, it's easiest to use a minimally-compensated workforce to create a necessary, disposable product that needs to be frequently-but-not-too-frequently replaced.

That night I went to Monty's Korner (355 East Ave.) to join the Drinking Liberally folks. I chatted there for quite a while before heading to a surprisingly empty Lux Lounge (666 South Ave.) before finishing off at an all-too-commonly empty Black Pearl Cafe (791 Meigs St., formerly Dicky's) At least I got to talk for a while about Burning Man.

Friday I took another barefoot walk — the balls of my feet are toughening up and I'm getting more natural at the style of walking that's considerably different than when shod. That afternoon was the start of The Lilac Festival so Ali and I went there to catch Mike Doughty. Unfortunately we saw very little of the performance as it was quite popular, and we were both more interested in getting something to eat. Ali headed back home and I went out to The Keg (315 Gregory St., behind German House where Rohrbach's used to be) later. I got to talk with JoAnn Vaccaro whom I haven't seen in a long time. She had finished up but played again later — still with that daring style I so enjoy. The other performer that night was Kevin MacConkey who did some jam-acoustic rock. He has a good, strong gritty voice for it.

Saturday I headed to Canandaigua and went with Ali to lunch at El Pacifico (1680 Rochester Rd., Farmington). They have excellent food, great margaritas, and tasty sopapillas. That night we headed to a wedding and reception, getting back pretty late.

Monday was a sad day. We took Ali's cat Whiskers to the vet to have him euthanized. He was a good, loyal cat — he'd even come when called — but between his diabetes (which was under control with twice-daily insulin) and a cancerous tumor in his mouth, his quality-of-life had been gradually dropping, and it dramatically deteriorated over the weekend. He had even started hiding in unusual places around the house — definitely not a good sign.

This was the first time I had seen a pet put down before, and for that matter, the first time I'd watched something die. The procedure was stunningly fast — an overdose of general anesthetic didn't take more than two seconds. We took him to Ali's parents' house to be buried. I had made a coffin for him on Sunday and it was fortunately just the right size for him and the snuggly cat-bed he slept in. It's still rough for the both of us — obviously more so for Ali — but day-by-day things are getting easier.

I talked with my friend Sondra about it. She noted that the way people deal with death in the country is different from the city. In the country, death and life are all around and it's treated more as a natural cycle. Ask a farmer about his livestock and he really won't understand why you shouldn't eat something that has a name. But someone from the city will experience a death in their family and naively wonder "how it could have possibly happened" or that they are being punished for something.

Curiously, we are really the first generation who has had to deal with the proliferation of video. Celebrities aside, we can playback portions of the lives of one who is no longer so. We seem to deal with static representations well — photographs, letters, and the like — but video adds a whole new dimension to it all. Even reviewing footage of ourselves in our youth is somehow bizarre and unnatural.

But, you know, at least we can blog about it.

T H U R S D A Y

Once again in the Rundel Auditorium at The Rochester Public Library (115 South Ave.) is a meeting of The Inventor's Society of Western New York starting at 6:30 p.m. [source: Rochester Public Library calendar] [all ages] Today at 7 p.m. at The Asbury First United Methodist Church (1050 East Ave.) is a meeting of The Rochester Genealogical Society featuring Russ Cooper discussing Pre-Programming Research For Successes followed by a Stump the Experts panel question-answer session. [source: Rochester Genealogical Society website] [all ages] This evening at 7 p.m. at The Baobab Cultural Center (728 University Ave., formerly on Gregory St.) is (what I believe to be) a video screening of a lecture titled Race Matters by Cornel West. [source: Baobab website] Tonight at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) is D'Amicnar, Julia Nunes, Kirk Stevens, and Dan Gocek starting around 8 p.m. [source: band calendar] [all ages] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Nebo zovyot (The Heavens Call) starting at 8 p.m. A visually stunning tale of Russian science fiction that follows the crew of an aborted Mars expedition. Note that this is not the Americanized chop-job, Battle Beyond the Sun, based on footage from the film screened tonight. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Over at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) starting around 9:30 p.m. is beatboxing acoustic soloist Shawnee Boyeee and friends. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+] Tonight at High Fidelity (170 East Ave., formerly Milestones) is excellent pure instrumental funk band The Filthy Funk starting around 10 p.m. — according to Freetime, their final show. [source: Freetime] Pure Kona Poetry Open Mic Night is at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) tonight starting at 7:30. [source: Daily Perks calendar] 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

Today is International Museum Day so The Memorial Art Gallery (500 University Ave., near Goodman St.) will have free admission all day. [source: Memorial Art Gallery calendar] [all ages] Tonight at 5 p.m. at The Distillery (1142 Mount Hope Ave.) is the monthly happy-hour meeting for MEETinROCHESTER. [source: MEETinROCHESTER calendar] At The Baobab Cultural Center (728 University Ave., formerly on Gregory St.) at 6 p.m. is a Mother's Day Art Auction featuring the works of Kofi Kayiga, Ikahl Beckford, and Linda Howland. [source: Baobab website] Today at The Lilac Festival you can check out some local bands including good hippie groove-rock band Sim Redmond at 5:30 p.m. and favorite cover-band Uncle Plum at 7 p.m. [source: Lilac Festival website] [all ages] Tonight at The Flat Iron Café (561 State St.) is Debbie Kendrick and The Mo' Mo' Betta Bluez Band starting around 7 p.m. [source: Flat Iron Cafe webstie] Today at 7 p.m. at The Storefront Anti-War Crisis Center (658 Monroe Ave.) is a Poetry Open Mic featuring John Roche. [source: Rochester Against War website] Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) will be hosting talented and varied acoustic soloist Kinloch Nelson, and Greg Walker starting around 8 p.m. [source: Daily Perks calendar] [all ages] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Vertigo starting at 8 p.m. One of Alfred Hitchcock's best stories ... the Eastman House Calendar vomits forth, "Not just a great movie, it's one of the 20th century's most significant works of art." [source: Eastman House 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 Walri, and all-around talented musician Ian Downey is Famous starting around 9 p.m. [source: A|V Space e-mail] Monty's Krown (875 Monroe Ave.) will be hosting Cavalcade, and The Nearbys starting around 10:30 p.m. [source: Freetime] [21+] In case you miss them at the Lilac Festival, Sim Redmond will be at The Club at Water Street (204 N. Water St.) starting around 11 p.m. — a free show, even. [source: Water Street calendar] [18+]

S A T U R D A Y

Armed Forces Day Today at 12 p.m. at The Storefront Anti-War Crisis Center (658 Monroe Ave.) is a meeting of Rochester Against War (RAW). [source: Rochester Against War website] Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) will be hosting The Simple Pleasure starting around 7 p.m. [source: Boulder Coffee MySpace site] [all ages] Over at Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) starting around 8 p.m. is subtly exotic rock/smooth-jazz band Margaret Explosion. [source: Daily Perks calendar] [all ages] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing The Pervert's Guide To Cinema starting at 8 p.m. — a documentary about, well, movies. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] This evening at 7 p.m. at A|V Art Sound Space (N. Union St. at Trinidad St., #8 in the Public Market, formerly the All-Purpose Room) is the opening of We're Getting the Band Back Together with works from Daniel Danger, and Justin Myer Staller; and a good goulash of mis-matched tempos and melodies from Hue of 2 and others. [source: A|V Space e-mail] The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) will be hosting excellent punk-rock from The Blastoffs, Jason Bennett and The Resistance, and good, Irish-slanted fun punk band Tom Foolery and the Shannanighans (not Shenanigans) starting around 10:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [21+] Over at Richmond's (21 Richmond St.) starting around 10:30 p.m. is tight cello-and-drums rock band Break of Reality although it's tough to tell if the show is on or not (it's not listed on their website, but they are in town.) [source: Freetime] [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

Lilac Festival ends today. Today at The Lilac Festival is a bunch of bands you might want to check out. Among others ... at 11:30 a.m. is tight, fun modern-rock and cover-band The Meddling Kids then at 2:30 p.m. it's The Matt Valerio Band, and at 5:30 p.m. it's good, fun bar-rock and cover-band Blue Jimmy. [source: Lilac Festival website] [all ages] Today at 3 p.m. at The Center at High Falls Fine Art Gallery (60 Browns Race) is the opening of the "Big!" Invitational and Dancing with Color by Pam Davis. [source: City Newspaper] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Stalker starting at 7 p.m. From the Eastman House calendar: "In an apocalyptic wasteland of the future, stories spread of a mysterious Zone containing a room that grants wishes." [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] 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 The Memorial Art Gallery (500 University Ave., near Goodman St.) at 7 p.m. Geva Comedy Improv will be performing Geva on the Lawn [or "Geva in the Ballroom" in case of rain] for free. [source: Memorial Art Gallery calendar] [all ages] Over at Boulder Coffee Co. (100 Alexander St.) starting around 8 p.m. is Trio Schema. [source: Boulder Coffee MySpace site] [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. The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing the double-feature Terror in a Texas Town and Blood on the Moon starting at 7 p.m. (note the early start time). In the first, a Swede avenges the death of his father with a harpoon, and in the second, a drifter hired to extort landowners lets his conscience get the best of him. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Tonight around 9:30 p.m., The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) plans to have some bands but they haven't announced anything yet. At least not as far as I've heard. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+] Daily Perks (389 Gregory St.) is hosting an Acoustic Open Mic from 8 to 10. [source: Daily Perks calendar]

W E D N E S D A Y

Tonight at A|V Art Sound Space (N. Union St. at Trinidad St., #8 in the Public Market, formerly the All-Purpose Room) is a noise show featuring Dennis Tyfus, The Sixers, Deathroes, The Hardline Elephants, and Pengo starting around 8 p.m. [source: A|V Space website] The Dryden Theater at George Eastman House (900 East Ave.) will be showing Suddenly, Last Summer starting at 8 p.m. A doctor "unravels a shocking family history" about a woman and her daughter. [source: Eastman House calendar] [all ages] Tonight at The Bug Jar (219 Monroe Ave.) is Thee More Shallows, and a perfection of clean, crisp rock-and-roll from Tiger Cried Beef starting around 9:30 p.m. [source: Bug Jar calendar] [18+] 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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