So, I have a reading this coming weekend at the UAG for a small press
gathering with some other folks. We are going to be talking about small
press, publishing poetry, and the arts in the area. Then we will have some
poets get up and read some of their work. I am going to be one of the poets
representing Albany Poets (along with Engelhardt). The whole things starts
at 2 in the afternoon. There really is no excuse for anyone not to swing in
and check it out for a little bit.
Here is the whole information:
SMALL PRESS POETRY @ UAG
Saturday, January 17th
UAG Gallery
247 Lark Street
2-5pm
The January show "New Beginnings" continues at the Upstate Artists Guild
(UAG) Gallery with a POETRY READING presenting poets of the Albany Small
Press.
w/ featured readers: Pierre Joris, Rebecca Wolff, Anthony Bernini, Eric
Gelsinger, Colie Collen, Thom Francis, and more.
Across poetics, aesthetics, and institutional status, contributing presses
include: Flim Forum Press, Fence Books, A.P.D. Press, Anchorite Press, and
Albany Poets.
Come celebrate independent reading, writing, and publishing in Albany!
Should be a good time. Now all I have to do is come up with something to
read. Not certain if I want to do some new stuff or go back and do some
classics. I do have a couple new pieces in process that may be able to make
an appearance this weekend. We will see.
I was listening to the radio this morning.well, closer to this afternoon.and
the talking head host was asking if customers are always right.
I have worked in the retail and restaurant worlds over the years and have
had that saying hammered into my head with each new job. Usually on the
first day of a new retail job, you are told that "the customer is always
right" and that there is nothing you can do about. Especially argue with
them or call them out on such a stupid idea.
I remember one time I was working at a restaurant and a customer was a
little upset over something with her food. Instead of talking to her waiter
or a manager about the situation and getting it worked out in a mature
manner, she simply picked the plate up swung her arm around and dropped it
right on the floor.
In that case, the customer was certainly not right. But of course, the
manager ran over and kissed her ass and comped the bill. This is why people
act the way they do. There is little to no accountability anymore. When
you are told that you are always right, you do whatever you want knowing
that no one will dare take you to task.
After reading tech blogs for the better part of the past two hours, particularly articles about social networks, Twitter, blogging, and all of the networks that we are logging into every day, I began to wonder when enough is going to be enough.
A lot of the people that I deal with on a regular basis have multiple accounts all over the place. I know that I have too many accounts out there that I should either get rid of or update. Getting rid of unused accounts would probably be a better idea. When was the last time anyone logged into Friendster?
Some good does come from all of these accounts and networks: applications and services to connect them together. When I update Twitter, my Facebook status changes. The IM client that I use plugs into Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Twitter...oh and the instant messaging networks like MSN, Yahoo, AIM, Google Talk, ICQ, and Jabber. I think that I can get email notifications too, but more on that another time.
Just a thought...
It looks like the time has come. The writers and talent have teased it for a while and the fans have been clamoring to see it happen for almost six months....
Finally....the Thom is ready for his heel turn!
This is the only warning you will get, so I do not want to hear anyone whining when they realize that they do not get the memo. This is your memo.
Now go about your day as if nothing has happened...
Who was the last person you offended?
Submitted by May.
The last person that I offended was my ex-wife last week on the phone. I will not go into the details of what I said to offend her, but it was satisfying that I was able to do it...twice within a couple of days.
Another year down.
Coming off another fantastic Word Fest weekend. First off, I want to thank everyone for all of their help putting this show together. UAG for the space, Dale for the chairs, Mary for being Mary, Keith for the sound, Leann for making the flyer table look so nice (and symmetrical), Don for not falling asleep, and everyone else for either stepping up to the mic to perform or sit in the audience and take it all in. Thank you. We could not have done it without all of you.
Be on the lookout for information on the 2009 Albany Word Fest. Yeah, we may be a little crazy to think about it now, but we have big plans...
For my team, get ready for a meeting real soon.
