Notes and More

TOP TEN PRESIDENTIAL NICKNAMES OR THINGS
TO CALL YOUR SWEETIE ON VALENTINE’S DAY

Tippy Canoe
Hairy S.
Honest (B) Abe
The Gipper
The Gripper
(Tie) Ike/Poopsie
Rough Rider (with or without a Teddie)
Old Hickory
Old Scratch ‘n’ Sniff
Tricky Dick

Who would have thought that during the same week the King of Pop, Michael Jackson and the owner of the Cincinnati Reds, Marge Schott, would champion the same cause?

Like forty two million other Americans (you’re not alone David) I watched the Oprah interview with Michael. The reason he gave for granting the interview was he wanted to set the record straight, to put an end to all the lies and "stupid" stories currently circulating about him. He certainly didn’t have much else to say that deserved the attention of forty two million Americans and Dave.

Michael blamed the press on repeating the rumors (his buying the bones of the Elephant Man, sleeping in an oxygen tent, bleaching his skin, the plastic surgery…) often enough where people actually began to believe all they heard.

The following night Marge Schott gave an equally pointed interview. Among her pearls of wisdom: "Racism is created by the press… It isn’t really there."

Indeed, Jackson and Schott do make strange allies (resisting the cliché about bedfellows) attacking the press for the "myths" they feel surround them. It isn’t exactly a scoop to say that the things we learn about the events around us are filtered through the eyes of the icons of mass culture (I think I saw that on TV somewhere). Media bashing is a rather populated area these days.

Jackson an to a lesser extent Schott, are right in their claims of what passes for news, the issues the media focuses on, often times has little value or importance to the public. But this is a "celebrity" driven culture and the popularity of those "tabloids" ("…stop buying them," Michael pleaded) shows the press is only giving the public what it wants.

The double standard that exists though more often than not lies on the side of the celebrity. Michael Jackson has used the press to his advantage, creating an image of intrigue that only furthers the value of his entertainment worth. By acting in eccentric (mysterious) ways he has created the need for attention (such as a live prime time interview). His behavior is attention grabbing (insert your own joke here) enough that he can use the media as a vehicle for his own needs. Or in the other case, by saying something outrageous and "newsworthy" Marge Schott has created a bigger market for her own celebrity status.

The newsletter gives a thumbs up after the expert tour we were given of the Schlampp building. We were impressed enough to use one of our "ugghh" words: "potential". It will be interesting to see what happens over the next year, how the building will shape up. There were lots of room(s), mirrors, proper sized ceilings for your (sub)average Japanese, a fumeagator(sp?), a safe, secret passages, leftover bits of fur (did they hit the proverbial fan?), a decorative stairway (I was tempted to do the final balcony scene from "Romeo and Juliet" or "Cyrano"), and a killer front view of the Uptown area. In fact, the only downside we left with was, what a bummer it’s located in that city rather than our own lovable little Capital City. But all in all, pretty damned impressive. Following the tour, one newsletter staff member was even heard to utter his standard word, "cool" several times.

Couple ‘o’ comments: This is being written with a severe career fork in the road sticking straight in my gullet. I’m faced with taking a job I might actually enjoy, for a company which has been so good to me, opposed to staying in the one I’m at which pays twice as much. But how much is stress worth? I never thought I’d find myself doing something solely (souly?) for the money yet that is what I think my current standing is. Have I sold my soul (sole?) for comfort and luxury? The other choice is running off to complete the last great Japanese American novel. With all due apologies to Melodye, this "confessional" does directly affect this week’s issue.

Speaking of which the newsletter staff and the weekend Landfill crew wish to wish Melodye the happiest of birthdays. Party on Maam, we hope you have a good one. The greeting on page nine comes from your gruff but lovable St. Paul store. I personally plan to take Monday off in honor of the occasion or is that Martin Luther King Day? I forget…

A note to Mark L.: I am glad to see the decision being made on our classical CD’s. My sister was in town from LA (you should have stayed man) and her comment upon shopping at Applause was how high priced our classical CD’s were. I told her about your proposal to drop the MPR discount and lower the everyday prices of the "product" and damn if she wasn’t going to make a special trip out just to drop off her approval in our customer suggestion box…

To Daryl: Having just read your contribution this week, I for one, am a little disappointed in your decision to discontinue your weekly efforts; they have been greatly enjoyed and appreciated. We need more like you. You realize your decision means for one thin, more articles printed in the newsletter by small furry animals… I’ll give you the title of "co-editor" if you change your mind!

To Mike N.: Thanks to you, I am currently typing with great pleasure to Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds. Jammin man. Thanks for the review. I recently heard Dan Baird’s song, "I Love You Period" which had to be the wittiest thing since Phil Collins’ "Sususudio". I recommend you give it a listen next time your Izzy disc concludes.

From Lex the Lemer, newsletter consumer watchdog: A couple of retail health tips- 1) Remember "denial" isn’t just a river in Egypt. 2) If you are shoveling snow, don’t over do it. 3) "January grass I spy; lock the granary, and worry about July."