Alycia Lane, Art Garfunkel Reads More Than You Do, Jill Sobule and The Metro

By on Jan 24, 2008 in Daily Distractions | 10 Comments

Alycia Lane

6′9″ with The Afro: When Art Garfunkel isn’t making music, which seems to be about 99% of his time, he is reading. A lot. And he wants you to know each and every book he has read since 1968.

Be warned, Art-Funk is a tad snooty, no Dean Koontz, Grisham or silly Oprah books for this crazy-ass-looking bibliophile:

“He also doesn’t read postmodern fiction—the Garfunkel Library contains no Pynchon or Barthelme. ‘I tried ‘Gravity’s Rainbow,’ and I thought it was fraudulent,’ he said” {via The New Yorker}

I’m Not a Man Of My Word: After reading the worst softball interview ever about some local thugs, I vowed to never read Philly Mag again. Sorry kids, I caved, I’m about to read: The Very Public Self-Destruction of Alycia Lane. (I’m reading it online for free, so I don’t feel as bad.)

All The News That Fit to Search: Might Google Buy the New York Times?

Two Friends Fight to the Death: Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Season 2 Finale Teaser {video}

Wanted: Your Money: I like Jill Sobule (“I Kissed A Girl”), she’s goofy, writes fun songs and supports a lot of good causes, but I don’t know if I like her enough to do this.

Light Reading: Here’s an interesting piece in the latest Philly Weekly on the Metro. You know, the colorful pamphlet you read cover to cover on your 20-minute train commute every day? The one that makes USA Today look like the Economist? Yes, that Metro.

Sorry Dr. King, It’s Still All About Us: Hey Hollywood writers, way to appropriate the recognition of a great man for your own cause. No matter how you spin it, it’s not exactly what he was fighting for, you pompous twits. Grrrrr.

  • http://myspace.com/vincentblack...myspace.com/vincentblackwood Vincent Blackwood

    Jill Sobule

    Jill Sobule is indeed goofy, writes fun songs and supports a lot of good causes. Jeff, you know more than most. But is she enough of an artist that you’ll wish to become her Medici?

    I think so, but you need to be convince — or just want a free hour and a half concert from Jill — go to;
    http://www.jillsobule.com/showandtell.html

    Honestly, it is the most charming, witty and moving concert you’ll have heard in years.

    The best article I’ve read on why Jill is so worthy is at;

    http://city-of-dis.livejournal.com/515837.html

    I particularly like “I suspect Jill has been somewhat maligned due to her insistence on calling the powers that be out on their bullsh*t…”

    Give a listen and a read — and than go support the arts.

    http://www.jillsnextrecord.com/

  • http://myspace.com/vincentblack...myspace.com/vincentblackwood Vincent Blackwood

    Jill Sobule

    Jill Sobule is indeed goofy, writes fun songs and supports a lot of good causes. Jeff, you know more than most. But is she enough of an artist that you’ll wish to become her Medici?

    I think so, but you need to be convince — or just want a free hour and a half concert from Jill — go to;
    http://www.jillsobule.com/showandtell.html

    Honestly, it is the most charming, witty and moving concert you’ll have heard in years.

    The best article I’ve read on why Jill is so worthy is at;

    http://city-of-dis.livejournal.com/515837.html

    I particularly like “I suspect Jill has been somewhat maligned due to her insistence on calling the powers that be out on their bullsh*t…”

    Give a listen and a read — and than go support the arts.

    http://www.jillsnextrecord.com/

  • Paula

    Well, actually, Dr. King was in Memphis where he was shot (40 years ago this year) SUPPORTING A STRIKE.

    The sanitation workers in Memphis had been working under grueling and unsafe conditions, and went on strike in Feb. 1968, demanding recognition of their union, a wage increase, and improved safety conditions. When MLK visited in March 68, a march in support of the strikers turned violent, and he was urged to abandon the strike, but he refused and returned to Memphis where he was assassinated on April 4, 1968.

    Who’s the “pompous twit?” Methinks it’s the person who knows so little about labor history that he can’t see the obvious parallels.

  • Paula

    Well, actually, Dr. King was in Memphis where he was shot (40 years ago this year) SUPPORTING A STRIKE.

    The sanitation workers in Memphis had been working under grueling and unsafe conditions, and went on strike in Feb. 1968, demanding recognition of their union, a wage increase, and improved safety conditions. When MLK visited in March 68, a march in support of the strikers turned violent, and he was urged to abandon the strike, but he refused and returned to Memphis where he was assassinated on April 4, 1968.

    Who’s the “pompous twit?” Methinks it’s the person who knows so little about labor history that he can’t see the obvious parallels.

  • Jeff Lyons

    Paula,

    I wish I could make the connection, but I cannot. What Dr. King did in the labor movement and the strikes he organized and worked on were monumental in scope and importance and I have a hard time accepting other unions latching on to its legacy. I don’t want his work and image to end up like a Che Guevara tee shirt.

    When the main focus of a union strike is working conditions, Saftey, healthcare, a LIVING WAGE, etc. for the common working man…. it is MUCH different than the demands of the Hollywood writers. It is a whole different situation.

    Trust me, I know a thing or two about unions, activism and the history behind them and I would never have the self-importance or audacity to equate my struggles with that of a man like Dr. King.

    I have no problem with the writers striking, I hope they get what they want. But, please Paula, these are not “parallels” and are in no way obvious. Thanks for reading.

  • Jeff Lyons

    Paula,

    I wish I could make the connection, but I cannot. What Dr. King did in the labor movement and the strikes he organized and worked on were monumental in scope and importance and I have a hard time accepting other unions latching on to its legacy. I don’t want his work and image to end up like a Che Guevara tee shirt.

    When the main focus of a union strike is working conditions, Saftey, healthcare, a LIVING WAGE, etc. for the common working man…. it is MUCH different than the demands of the Hollywood writers. It is a whole different situation.

    Trust me, I know a thing or two about unions, activism and the history behind them and I would never have the self-importance or audacity to equate my struggles with that of a man like Dr. King.

    I have no problem with the writers striking, I hope they get what they want. But, please Paula, these are not “parallels” and are in no way obvious. Thanks for reading.

  • Paula

    >>But, please Paula, these are not “parallels” and are in no way obvious.

    Thanks for the condescending lecture. I simply disagree with your categorical statement, but that makes me no more or no less wrong — or right — than you.

    Weakening one union and one set of workers weakens them all. There are so many people who delight when unions — any unions — are forced to accede to employer demands that the next time, they won’t be paying attention to whether the workers are “common working [people]” (not just men) when the next strike comes along.

    Working conditions have improved considerably for most workers from King’s time, but I don’t think any of us can conclude which strikes he would or wouldn’t have supported. Given how many strikes he DID support, the word “pomposity” remains appropriate to describe those who would substitute nothing but sheer personal speculation for that of the deceased Dr. King.

  • Paula

    >>But, please Paula, these are not “parallels” and are in no way obvious.

    Thanks for the condescending lecture. I simply disagree with your categorical statement, but that makes me no more or no less wrong — or right — than you.

    Weakening one union and one set of workers weakens them all. There are so many people who delight when unions — any unions — are forced to accede to employer demands that the next time, they won’t be paying attention to whether the workers are “common working [people]” (not just men) when the next strike comes along.

    Working conditions have improved considerably for most workers from King’s time, but I don’t think any of us can conclude which strikes he would or wouldn’t have supported. Given how many strikes he DID support, the word “pomposity” remains appropriate to describe those who would substitute nothing but sheer personal speculation for that of the deceased Dr. King.

  • Jeff Lyons

    Sorry if my tone was condescending, not meant to be. We just see things differently. I don’t believe all unions should be treated the same: some are bad, some are good.

    By mentioning Dr. King in a press release to promote their cause, whether intended or not, gives the perception their strike is just as important and warrants the same attention.

    I don’t believe this to be true and the outcome will not effect those other (less powerful, less publicized) unions (www.ciw-online.org) who, I believe, do have the right to mention the civil rights leader in the same context.

    Again, don’t mean to be a prick about it, I’m just irritated.

  • Jeff Lyons

    Sorry if my tone was condescending, not meant to be. We just see things differently. I don’t believe all unions should be treated the same: some are bad, some are good.

    By mentioning Dr. King in a press release to promote their cause, whether intended or not, gives the perception their strike is just as important and warrants the same attention.

    I don’t believe this to be true and the outcome will not effect those other (less powerful, less publicized) unions (www.ciw-online.org) who, I believe, do have the right to mention the civil rights leader in the same context.

    Again, don’t mean to be a prick about it, I’m just irritated.