On and Off the Town
Austin Dispatches |
No. 160 |
Jan. 8, 2013 |
Away from stores, I noted even fewer lights and less Christmas music played than
last year. After the
bemused anticipation of the winter solstice,
everyone apparently settled down to a long winter’s nap.[1]
“Melanie Ordones Welker” and other salseras bestowed hugs and kisses
after New Year’s Day, when the
quotidian returned. Of course, my perspective on the end-of-year holidays could
be skewed.
Christmas morning,
I attended the earliest showing of “Django Unchained” before the temperature
dropped.[2]
The controversy surrounding the movie just proves too many people lack a sense
of humor.[3]
They likely haven’t seen as many movies as Quentin Tarantino.[4]
Otherwise, they’d’ve noted the influence of “Blazing Saddles” and other ‘70s
Western and black comedies.[5]
The racially mixed audience in the theater was audibly entertained. So there,
Spike Lee.
As with last year, on New Year’s Eve several clubs offered
a chance to relive the ‘80s – this time, 1984.[6]
It’s an entertainment trend that I can comment upon from a distance – in
multiple meanings.
Those clubs’ option sort of reversed the premise of “The
Philadelphia Experiment,” released that year: A secret U.S. Navy experiment
jolts a couple of sailors into the then present, mostly so the producers could
limit period costume and set design expenses.[7]
It was grist for quips at a friend’s birthday party during our freshman year of
high school. Regardless, my top two favorite films of all time were also 1984
theater releases.[8]
It was a great, even momentous year. Things happened the
way they should’ve. After 10 minutes, I decided I was enjoying waxing indignant
in my dry, warm home about the prospect of paying to witness these … these kids
botch recreating my youth more than I would negotiating the cold, rain, traffic
and cost for the possibility of a good time.[9]
In fairness, these young hipsters could botch that easily,
since my 1984 was an idiosyncratic combination of the stock teenage experience
everybody thinks of, the mainstream adult world’s 1984, and various extant art
movements and subcultures that I assimilated to my style. Never mind an
idealized recreation, which would still be
esthetically close to reality.
Tentacles of Empire
The real 1984 was more about “pink neon and purple hair”
than Orwell’s totalitarian dystopia, but too many people have tried to make up
for lost time.[10] The
Austin Independent School District is using electronic monitoring on truant
students. It’s a voluntary program – for now.[11]
In other words, a compulsory government indoctrination center is partnering with
unscrupulous business to technologically surveil its inmates, probably
uneducable anyway.[12]
Austin Death Watch
The Chronicle finally laments a section of Austin’s
revamping, in this case the South Lamar Plaza, in its Dec. 28 issue. The article
contains no mention of government involvement in replacing low-slung ‘50s-era
buildings into a contemporary mixed-use development – maybe that’s the source of
the lament. Normally the Chronicle urges the demolition of existing, sustainable
mixed residential and commercial thoroughfares in town with government
manipulation – Airport and
North Lamar boulevards come to mind. The
real story is that influential people among Austin’s power elite have tired of
funky, retro esthetics and are using their clout to destroy established
neighborhoods where regular people live and do business and replace the look
with something more trendy from bigger cities, while justifying their esthetic
caprices under a lot of buzzwords to signal status striving and to keep from
acknowledging they’re no better than the rapacious Republican developers they
routinely decry.[13]
Austin's police chief frets that traffic citations are
down.[14]
The new downtown post office opened Jan. 2 with fewer parking spaces than its
predecessor. Downtown customers, many influential Austinites, complained to the
Statesman about the consequences of the City’s anti-downtown parking policy.[15]
Where have I heard that before?[16]
Similarly, an annual “locals-only SXSW” mini-festival in early January offers a
chance to see local bands in downtown clubs sans cover charge – but what about
parking?[17]
Publishing Picks of
2012
- Abrams, David. Fobbit. New York City: Black
Cat.
- Arellano, Gustavo. Taco
USA: How Mexican Food Conquered
America.
New York City:
Scribner.
- The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on
Media Law, 46th rev. ed. Ed. Darrell Christian, Sally A. Jacobsen, and
David Minthorn. New York City: Associated Press.
- Avishai, Bernard. Promiscuous: Portnoy’s
Complaint and Our Doomed Pursuit of Happiness. New Haven, Conn.:
Yale UP.
- Bacon, Jono. The Art of Community, rev. ed. Sebastopol, Calif.:
O’Reilly Media.
- Bawer, Bruce. The Victims’ Revolution: The Rise of
Identity Studies and the Closing of the Liberal Mind. New York City:
Broadside Books.
- Beinart, Peter. The Crisis of Zionism. New York
City: Times Books/Henry Holt and Co.
- Bergen, Peter. Manhunt: The Ten-Year Search for Bin
Laden From 9/11 to Abbottabad. New York City: Crown Publishers.
- Chick, Jack T. Born Wild! Ontario, Calif.:
Chick Publications.
- Chick, Jack T. Camel’s in the Tent. Ontario,
Calif.: Chick Publications.
- “Christopher, Ben” [Lawrence Block]. Strange
Embrace, rev. ed. Burton, Mich.: Hard Case Crime/Subterranean Press.
- Conway, Gerry et al. The Amazing Spider-Man,
Vol. XIV. Ed. Cory Seidelmeier.
New York City:
Marvel Enterprises.
- Conway, Gerry et al. The Fantastic Four, Vol.
XIV. Ed. Cory Seidelmeier. New York City: Marvel
Enterprises.
- The Data Journalism Handbook. Ed. Jonathan
Gray, Liliana Bounegru, and Lucy Chambers.
Sebastopol,
Calif.: O’Reilly &
Associates.
- Dempsy, Luke. Monty Python’s Flying Circus: All the
Bits: Complete and Annotated. New York City: Black Dog & Leventhal.
- DiLorenzo, Thomas J. Organized Crime: The
Unvarnished Truth About Government. Auburn, Ala.: Ludwig von Mises
Institute.
- Doherty, Brian. Ron Paul’s Revolution: The Man and
the Movement He Inspired.
New York City:
Broadside Books.
- Erickson, Steve. These Dreams of You.
New York City: Europa Editions.
- Fulsom, Don. Nixon’s Darkest Secrets: The Inside
Story of America’s Most Troubled President.
New York City: Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press.
- Gilder, George F. Wealth and Poverty: A New Edition
for the Twenty-First Century, 2nd rev. ed. Washington, D.C.: Regnery
Publishing.
- Gun Digest 2013, 66th rev. ed. Ed.
Jerry Lee. Iola, Wis.: Gun Digest Books.
- Guy, Buddy [George Guy], and David Ritz. When I
Left Home: My Story. New York City: Da
Capo Press.
- Hagar, Sammy, and Joel Selvin. Red: My Uncensored
Life in Rock, rev. ed. New York City: It
Books.
- Huerta
de Soto,
Jesús. Money, Bank Credit, and Economic Cycles, 3rd rev. ed. Trans.
Melinda A. Stroup. Auburn,
Ala.: Ludwig von Mises
Institute.
- Hyperinflation 2012. San Francisco: American
Business Analytics & Research.
- Jodidio, Philip. Tadao Ando: Complete Works,
2nd rev. ed. Cologne, Germany: Taschen.
- Kantor, Jodi. The Obamas.
New York City: Little, Brown & Co.
- Katz, Ephraim, and Ronald Dean Nolen. The Film
Encyclopedia, 6th rev. ed.
New York City: Collins Reference.
- Kersey, Paul. Escape From Detroit: The Collapse of
America’s Black Metropolis. Lexington, Ky.: Stuff Black People Don’t
Like.
- Kirby, David, and Emily Ekins. Libertarian Roots of
the Tea Party (Policy Analysis No. 705). Washington, D.C.: Cato
Institute.
- Klaidman, Daniel. Kill or Capture: The War on
Terror and the Soul of the Obama Presidency. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
Harcourt.
- Klein, Edward. The Amateur: Barack Obama in the
White House. Washington, D.C.: Regnery Publishing.
- Knauer, Kelly et al. Time Almanac 2013: Powered by
Encyclopedia Britannica. New York City: Time Home Entertainment.
- Lee, Stan [Stan Lieber] et al. The Amazing
Spider-Man Omnibus, Vol. II. New York City: Marvel Enterprises.
- Lee, Stan et al. The Avengers Omnibus, Vol. I.
New York City: Marvel Worldwide.
- Lee, Stan et al. Captain
America, Vol. VI.
New York City: Marvel Enterprises.
- Lewis, Michael. Boomerang: Travels in the New Third
World, rev. ed. New York City: W.W. Norton & Co.
- “Lord, Sheldon” [Lawrence Block]. 69 Barrow Street,
rev. ed. Burton, Mich.: Hard Case Crime/Subterranean Press.
- Luna, J.J. How to Be Invisible: The Essential Guide
to Protecting Your Personal Privacy, Your Assets, and Your Life, 2nd
rev. ed. New York City: Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press.
- The Mad Archives, Vol. III-IV. New York City:
DC Comics.
- Malkiel,
Burton G. A Random Walk Down Wall Street:
The Time-Tested Strategy for Successful Investing, 9th rev.
ed. New York City:
W.W. Norton & Co.
- Mallon, Thomas.
Watergate: A Novel.
New York City: Pantheon Books.
- Maraniss, David.
Barack Obama: The
Story. New York City: Simon & Schuster.
- Marks, Craig, and Rob Tannenbaum. I Want My MTV:
The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution, rev. ed. New York
City: Plume.
- Max, Tucker. Hilarity Ensues.
Austin,
Texas: Blue Heeler Books.
- McClure, Stewart, Joel Scambray, and George Kurtz.
Hacking Exposed 7: Network Security Secrets & Solutions. New York City:
McGraw-Hill.
- Microsoft Manual of Style, 3rd rev.
ed. Redmond, Wash.:
Microsoft Corp.
- Mid-Century Ads: Advertising From the Mad Men
Era, Vol. II: The Sixties. Ed. Jim Heimann. Cologne, Germany: Taschen.
- Mort Drucker: Five Decades of His Finest Works.
Philadelphia: Running Press.
- Norquist, Grover G., and John R. Lott Jr. Debacle:
Obama's War on Jobs and Growth and What We Can Do Now to Regain Our Future. Hoboken, N.J.:
John Wiley & Sons.
- North, Gary. An Economic Commentary on the Bible,
Vol. I: Sovereignty and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Genesis, 2nd
rev. ed. Dallas, Ga.:
Point Five Press.
- North, Gary. An Economic Commentary on the Bible,
Vol. II: Sovereignty and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Genesis, Vol.
II: Appendixes. Dallas, Ga.:
Point Five Press.
- North, Gary. An Economic Commentary on the Bible,
Vol. III: Authority and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Exodus, Vol. I:
Representation and Dominion.
Dallas, Ga.: Point Five Press.
- North, Gary. An Economic Commentary on the Bible,
Vol. IV: Authority and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Exodus, Vol. II:
Decalogue and Dominion, rev. ed.
Dallas, Ga.: Point Five Press.
- North, Gary. An Economic Commentary on the Bible,
Vol. V-VI: Authority and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Exodus, Vol.
III-IV: Tools of Dominion, rev. ed.
Dallas, Ga.: Point Five Press.
- North, Gary. An Economic Commentary on the Bible,
Vol. VII-VIIII: Authority and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Exodus,
Vol. V-VI: Appendixes, rev. ed.
Dallas, Ga.: Point Five Press.
- North, Gary. An Economic Commentary on the Bible,
Vol.IX-XII: Boundaries and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Leviticus,
Vol. I-IV, 4th rev. ed.
Dallas, Ga.: Point Five Press.
- North, Gary. An Economic Commentary on the Bible,
Vol. Vol. XIII: Sanctions and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Numbers,
rev. ed. Dallas, Ga.:
Point Five Press.
- North, Gary. An Economic Commentary on the Bible,
Vol. XIV-XVII: Inheritance & Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Deuteronomy,
Vol. I-IV, 3rd rev. ed.
Dallas, Ga.: Point Five Press.
- North, Gary. An Economic Commentary on the Bible,
Vol. XVIII: Disobediance and Defeat: An Economic Commentary on the
Historical Books. Dallas, Ga.:
Point Five Press.
- North, Gary. An Economic Commentary on the Bible,
Vol. XIX: Predictability and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Job.
Dallas,
Ga.:
Point Five Press.
- North, Gary. An Economic Commentary on the Bible,
Vol. XX: Confidence and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Psalms. Dallas, Ga.:
Point Five Press.
- North, Gary. An Economic Commentary on the Bible,
Vol. XXI: Wisdom and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Proverbs, rev.
ed. Dallas, Ga.:
Point Five Press.
- North, Gary. An Economic Commentary on the Bible,
Vol. XXIII: Autonomy and Stagnation: An Economic Commentary on Ecclesiastes. Dallas, Ga.:
Point Five Press.
- North, Gary. An Economic Commentary on the Bible,
Vol. XXIII: Restoration and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on The Prophets. Dallas, Ga.:
Point Five Press.
- North, Gary. An Economic Commentary on the Bible,
Vol. XXIV: Priorities and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Matthew, 3rd
rev. ed. Dallas, Ga.:
Point Five Press.
- North, Gary. An Economic Commentary on the Bible,
Vol. XXV: Treasure and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Luke, 3rd
rev. ed. Dallas, Ga.:
Point Five Press.
- North, Gary. An Economic Commentary on the Bible,
Vol. XXVI: Sacrifice and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on Acts, 3rd
rev. ed. Dallas, Ga.:
Point Five Press.
- North, Gary. An Economic Commentary on the Bible,
Vol. XXVII: Cooperation and Dominion: An Economic Commetary on Romans,
2nd rev. ed. Dallas, Ga.:
Point Five Press.
- North, Gary. An Economic Commentary on the Bible,
Vol. XXVIII: Judgment and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on First
Corinthians, 3rd rev. ed. Dallas, Ga.:
Point Five Press.
- North, Gary. An Economic Commentary on the Bible,
Vol. XXIX: Hierarchy and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on First Timothy,
3rd rev. ed. Dallas, Ga.: Point Five Press.
- North, Gary. An Economic Commentary on the Bible,
Vol. XXX: Ethics and Dominion: An Economic Commentary on the Epistles.
Dallas, Ga.: Point Five Press.
- Ozersky, Josh. Colonel Sanders and the American
Dream. Austin,
Texas: University of Texas
Press.
- Paglia, Camille. Glittering Images: A Journey
Through Art From Egypt to Star Wars. New York City: Pantheon Books.
- Paris: Portrait of a City. Ed. Jean-Claude
Gautrand. Cologne, Germany: Taschen.
- Pavone, Chris. The Expats. New York City: Crown
Publishers.
- Rader, Peter. Mike Wallace: A Life. New York
City: Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press.
- Raico, Ralph. Classical Liberalism and the Austrian
School. Auburn, Ala.: Ludwig von Mises Institute.
- Rand-Hendriksen, Morten. Sams Teach Yourself
Microsoft Expression Web 4 in 24 Hours, rev. ed. Indianapolis: Sams.
- Schiff, Peter D. The Real Crash: America’s Coming Bankruptcy –
How to Save Yourself and Your Country. New York City:
St. Martin’s Press.
- Schulz, Charles M. The Complete Peanuts 1983-1986
Box Set. Seattle: Fantagraphics
Books.
- Scott-Heron, Gil. The Last Holiday: A Memoir.
New York City: Grove Press.
- Scranton, Laird. The Velikovsky Heresies: Worlds in
Collision and Ancient Catastrophes Revisited. Rochester, Vt.: Bear & Co.
- Shaffer, Butler. The Wizards of Ozymandias:
Reflections on the Decline and Fall. Auburn, Ala.: Mises Institute.
- Shelly, Gary B., and Misty E. Vermaat. Microsoft
Word 2010: Comprehensive. Boston: Course Technology/Cengage Learning.
- Shelly, Gary B. et al. Microsoft Excel 2010:
Comprehensive. Boston: Course Technology/Cengage Learning.
- Slate, John H. Lost Austin. Charleston, S.C.:
Arcadia Publishing.
- Smith, Greg. Why I Left Goldman Sachs: A Wall
Street Story. New York City: Grand Central.
- Sowell, Thomas. Intellectuals and Society, rev.
ed. New York City: Basic Books.
- Stephenson, Neal. Some Remarks: Essays and Other
Writing. New York City: William Morrow.
- Talbot, David. Season of the Witch: Enchantment,
Terror, and Deliverance in the City of Love. New York City: Free Press.
- Thomas, Roy et al. Man-Thing Omnibus. New York
City: Marvel Enterprises.
- Updike, John. Always Looking: Essays on Art.
Ed. Christopher Carduff. New York
City: Alfred A. Knopf.
- Vance, Laurence M. The War on Drugs Is a War on
Freedom. Pensacola, Fla.: Vance Publications.
- Vermes, Geza. Complete Dead Sea Scrolls in English,
6th rev. ed. London: Penguin Classics.
- Wein, Len et al. The Defenders, Vol. III. Ed.
Cory Sedlmeier. New York City: Marvel.
- Wein, Len et al. Marvel Team-Up, Vol. II. Ed.
Cory Sedlmeier. New York City:
Marvel.
- Weiner, Tim. Enemies: A History of the FBI. New
York City: Random House.
- West, Bing. The Wrong War: Grit, Strategy, and the
Way Out of Afghanistan,
rev. ed. New York City:
Random House Trade Paperbacks.
- Wolfe, Tom. Back to Blood. New York City:
Little, Brown and Co.
- Woodward, Bob. The Price of Politics. New York
City: Simon & Schuster.
During the year, I also read 78
computer books and
about 250 other books I can recommend. There’s some overlap among the three
categories.
Media Indigest
The University of Texas’ National Public Radio affiliate
has split its programming by frequency. The original KUT-FM focuses news and
public affairs, while the new KUTX focuses on music.[18]
It’s a pleasure not to hear NPR’s smug yuppie
pinkos when I press a preset button on my radios in search of tunes. Too bad
they can’t all contract chronic laryngitis.[19]
The Jan. 3 Onion contains two jabs at Millennials.[20]
They’re the latest I’ve seen in what seems to be a rising number of attacks on
that generation in periodicals and on the Internet. Just a few years ago,
Boomers were constantly praising them and comparing them favorably to those evil
13ers.[21] Of
course, Boomers have been beating on us since we were in the womb.[22]
I’ve pointed out to my Millennial acquaintances that the
Boomers’ praise was just a divide-and-conquer
tactic so they could cling to power.
Should D’Oh
Acquaintance Be Forgot
I found a Web site that hosts animated cartoons, including
the seasons of “The Simpsons” I hadn’t seen, between the time I got rid of my
television (the end of season 10) and the series began appearing on Hulu.com
(season 20).[23] Friends
and bloggers ascribed to a widespread view that “The Simpsons” had declined
during this interim.[24]
But now I’ve seen the episodes and I just haven’t found evidence of decline. I
think the show’s shift in emphasis from family dysfunction in the earliest
seasons to social satire ever since has helped sustain its quality.[25]
The source material for social satire is almost inexhaustible and allows for
episodes focused on supporting characters so the writers don’t have to overuse
the titular family.
NOTES
[1] AD No. 88n1
(Dec. 23, 2005).
[2] Mashood,
Farzad, and Jazmine Ulloa. “Cold, Snow on Tap for Texas.” AAS 24 Dec. 2012:
B1.
[3] Ryzik,
Melena. “Spike Lee Dismisses ‘Django Unchained.’ ” NYT 25 Dec. 2012: 3;
Samuels, Allison. “Tarantino Lets Loose.” Newsweek 17 Dec. 2012:
48-49; Scott, A.O. “The Black, the White and the Angry.” NYT 25 Dec. 2012:
1; Vineyard, Jennifer. “Pride and Profanity.” New York 31 Dec. 2012:
76.
[4] AD No. 157n13
(Nov. 3, 2012).
[5] Adiós
Amigo. Po’ Boy Productions, 1976; Blazing Saddles. Warner Bros.
Pictures/Crossbow Productions, 1974; Boss Nigger. Dimension Pictures,
1975; Darktown Strutters (a.k.a., Get Down and Boogie). New World
Pictures, 1975; The Legend of Nigger Charley. Paramount Pictures,
1972.
[6] “New
Year’s Events.” AC 28 Dec. 2012: 49.
[7] The
Philadelphia Experiment. Cinema Group Ventures/New Pictures, 1984.
[8] EAD No. 9n8
(Oct. 23, 1999); Repo Man. Edge City, 1984.
[9] Pricer,
Asher, and Ulloa. “Two Fatal Crashes Follow Light End-of-Year Rainfall.” AAS
1 Jan. 2013: B1.
[10] Elliot,
Bruce. “1984.” Retro Hell, 143.
[11] Taboada,
Melissa B. “GPS Prompts Class Attendance.” AAS 2 Jan. 2013: B1.
[12] Albrecht,
Katherine, and Liz McIntyre. Spychips: How Major Corporations and
Government Plan to Track Your Every Move With RFID. Nashville, Tenn.:
Nelson Current, 2005: 173-176; Doherty, Brian. Radicals for Capitalism: A
Freewheeling History of the Modern American Libertarian Movement. New
York City: PublicAffairs, 2007: 55; Gatto, John Taylor. Weapons of Mass
Instruction: A Schoolteacher’s Journey Through the Dark World of Compulsory
Schooling. Gabriola Island, B.C.: New Society Publishers, 2009;
Rothbard. Education: Free and Compulsory. 1972. Rpt. Auburn, Ala.:
Ludwig von Mises Institute, 1999.
[13]
Whittaker, Richard. “Southern Exposure.” AC 28 Dec. 2012: 20-21.
[14] Harmon,
Dave, and Tony Plohetski. “Traffic Tickets Plunge in Austin, Other Cities.”
AAS 2 Jan. 2013: A1+.
[15] Beach,
Patrick. 3 Jan. 2012: B1.
[16] AD No.
155n24 (Aug. 18, 2012).
[17]
Hernandez, Raoul. “Free Weekend.” AC 4 Jan. 2013: 60; Mongillo, Peter.
“Austin Sampler….” Mongillo, Peter. “Austin Sampler….” Austin 360 3
Jan. 2013: 6-7+.
[18]
“Headlines.” AC 4 Jan. 2013: 9.
[19] AD No.
127n22 (Sep. 21, 2009).
[20] Gillette,
Amelie. “The Tolerability Index.” The Onion 3 Jan. 2013: 12; “Study
Finds Millennial Generation Stays On Phone With Parents Throughout Entire
Day.” Idem., 1+.
[21] Strauss,
William, and Neil Howe. The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy. New
York City: Broadway Books, 1997: 233-251.
[22] AD No.
140n47 (May 4, 2011).
[23] Groening,
Matt. Simpsons World: The Ultimate Episode Guide, Seasons 1-20. Ed.
Ray Richmond et al. New York City: Harper, 2010.
[24] Coupland,
Douglas. “Forward.” Turner, Chris. Planet Simpson: How a Cartoon
Masterpiece Defined a Generation, 1st ed. 2004. Rpt. New York
City: Da Capo Press, 2005: x-xi.
[25] Owen,
Rob. Gen X TV: The Brady Bunch to Melrose Place. Syracuse, N.Y.:
Syracuse UP, 1997: 65-66.