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Playing with knives, we were cut close to home
What the fuck, Arlington?
(We saw on Friday when we went out to meet my godmother for dinner at Tom Yum Koong II. I used to walk by that mural on a near-daily basis. I remember when it was painted. There was no need to destroy it—and then leave just enough of the ruin in place to show what might have once been.)
What the fuck, CBS?
(I watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with my grandparents every year they were alive. And after my grandmother died and my grandfather left Portland and we could not watch the fireworks over Casco Bay anymore, we watched the Boston Pops for the Fourth of July—a combination of the national broadcast and the view from the roof of my grandfather's girlfriend's building next to the Symphony, then later from the Esplanade with my cousins and my now-fiancé. But my parents watched at home. I don't like being forced to choose between traditions, but Macy's already had one holiday, thank you. I am quite seriously considering a letter to CBS explaining that I will not watch their coverage of the New York fireworks this year, and more to the point, I won't buy a thing from Macy's. They have burnt their Miracle on 34th Street credit with me. And seriously, in the wake of high-profile damage to one Boston tradition, can't another one catch a break?)
Oh, good. This was about to be a "What the fuck, New York Times?" for telling me about an author I hadn't heard of, after which I'd find the book had been out of print since the '50's. But that's why we have NYRB Classics, and so I imagine a library will be able to accommodate me.
The afternoon was fine.
(We saw on Friday when we went out to meet my godmother for dinner at Tom Yum Koong II. I used to walk by that mural on a near-daily basis. I remember when it was painted. There was no need to destroy it—and then leave just enough of the ruin in place to show what might have once been.)
What the fuck, CBS?
(I watched the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade with my grandparents every year they were alive. And after my grandmother died and my grandfather left Portland and we could not watch the fireworks over Casco Bay anymore, we watched the Boston Pops for the Fourth of July—a combination of the national broadcast and the view from the roof of my grandfather's girlfriend's building next to the Symphony, then later from the Esplanade with my cousins and my now-fiancé. But my parents watched at home. I don't like being forced to choose between traditions, but Macy's already had one holiday, thank you. I am quite seriously considering a letter to CBS explaining that I will not watch their coverage of the New York fireworks this year, and more to the point, I won't buy a thing from Macy's. They have burnt their Miracle on 34th Street credit with me. And seriously, in the wake of high-profile damage to one Boston tradition, can't another one catch a break?)
Oh, good. This was about to be a "What the fuck, New York Times?" for telling me about an author I hadn't heard of, after which I'd find the book had been out of print since the '50's. But that's why we have NYRB Classics, and so I imagine a library will be able to accommodate me.
The afternoon was fine.
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Before it was on CBS, it was on a the obscure and low-key A&E (Arts & Entertainment) cable network, which did not muck with our traditions the way CBS did.
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I agree that the delay of the fireworks until convenient for West Coast broadcast was irritating. I believe I complained about it at the time. (Even if it allowed my aunt in California to watch and call my grandfather afterward.) On the other hand, I don't think national prominence is an automatic sellout, and I truly don't see that Macy's needs to corner the market on Americana. I would feel different, I think, if the Pops itself had chosen to move back to a local channel.
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Sorry for the WTFery by CBS and the misbehaviour of Macy's.
I'm glad for the NYRB Classics reprint, and I hope the library will be helpful to you. I might look into that book, myself--it's not my usual sort of reading, but the evocation of a time and place sounds interesting.
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Not even notifying the artist. Not even discussing what was to be done with the art. Just one day, smash and sandblasting. I hadn't been out to the end of the 77 in several months; this was the first chance I had to see it. Not happy. Either of us. And we don't even live in Arlington!
Sorry for the WTFery by CBS and the misbehaviour of Macy's.
Gimbels doesn't even exist anymore! I can't even shop there in protest!
I might look into that book, myself--it's not my usual sort of reading, but the evocation of a time and place sounds interesting.
I am much better versed in British/European war fiction than I am in American. I know how this happened, but it still makes me feel like a cultural ignoramus.
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And poor Burns: "He drank himself to death in Florence while still in his thirties."
Nine
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It was a community effort. The primary contributors were a bunch of kids. The artist whose name appears in Rob's comment coordinated it.
"He drank himself to death in Florence while still in his thirties."
It's a hell of a bio.
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God damn it. Worse and worse.
Nine
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The whole thing was kind of amazingly crummy!
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I hope you enjoy the Burns novel.
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Agreed on all counts. (Oh, jeez, there's even more asshattery than the last time I looked.) Ladies and gentlemen, bureaucracy and the internet.
I hope you enjoy the Burns novel.
I have to find it first, but I'll tell you when I do!