Rust, Sick, White, Movies
RUST
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The Rust Belt was great! The crowds after Friday night didn't compare, but the shows were extremely hot. I really didn't expect us to win going into this event because some of the cities were bringing INCREDIBLE teams, but I was very fluid with the poet order and we manipulated the depth of our sideboards really well. We read the crowds pretty good too. Some cats got hamstrung on the first night because they didn't come funny (or couldn't) and everyone else was able to pick up on that. In the end, it came down to us, Chicago and Kalamazoo. That we won is a great testament. A lot of times you can see how a team from the shoting city could get over, but we really earned our place. I mean, come on: we've made it to the RB finals every year, so maybe it isn't just us on our own stank.
This was also the first year I didn't make it to Indie finals, but I'm kind of glad about that: I wasn't going to beat that competition and by the time we got to Finals, I was pretty wiped out. Trying to compete AND organize is just...wooo. It'd be different if I was the type of cat who didn't mind cutting a corner here and there, but I don't. We aren't hostig it next year, so, assuming we send a team, it'll be nice to try out for it and just chill out. It's in Cleveland, so I'm looking forward to seeing it there in any event. They've got a real peculiar audience pool. Hard to read. Makes for some pretty interesting slams.
SICK
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Been sick all week. Getting over the worst of it, but haven't been able to do shit.
I've really got to start taking better care of myself. All night house remodelings and such aren't smart.
WHITE
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Been catching a lot of grief this week on the poetry_slam listserve because I don't feel the need to actively incoporate or court ethnic diversity in PSI at this time. Won't rehash all the details here sine the emails can be had by anyone who joins the Yahoo Group "poetry_slam", but have pretty much decided to stay off the topic at this point. The people who claim to care about it so much will either do something about it or they won't. The issue is compounded by the fact that I'm on the EC, but I've always spoken my mind and being on the EC has little to do with how I feel about the issue. However, I'd be lying if those instances in which someone blasted THE EC as being one bad thing or another didn't rub me the wrong way. I've had a lot of time now to see how the thing runs and there's a whole lot of people who won't step to the plate when it counts. I also have to find some solace in the fact that, to date, the dialogue has taken place between about, what, 10 people total? Out of a list of over 300 people? Eh. If they want to step to the plate, I'ma ll for it. They act like the EC wouldn't listen to their concerns if they took the time to deliver them in a studied, cohesive form (as opposed to a rant in an email knowing that more than half the EC isn't on said list). This simply isn't true. You just better have your shit lined up right. We have to when we bring something to the table, so why shouldn't you?
Anyhow.
MOVIES
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Looking forward to seeing LXG today, but don't know if I'll be well enough by this evening to go. I think they've likely messed the movie up a bit, but I can't NOT go.
Pirates looks great too, and all the reviews htat I pay attention to have been giving it the good shots, so I'l be seeing hat before the weekend's oput as well. Who knows? If I get some DayQuil in me and it works out okay, maybe I'll catch them both.
HA!
----
The Rust Belt was great! The crowds after Friday night didn't compare, but the shows were extremely hot. I really didn't expect us to win going into this event because some of the cities were bringing INCREDIBLE teams, but I was very fluid with the poet order and we manipulated the depth of our sideboards really well. We read the crowds pretty good too. Some cats got hamstrung on the first night because they didn't come funny (or couldn't) and everyone else was able to pick up on that. In the end, it came down to us, Chicago and Kalamazoo. That we won is a great testament. A lot of times you can see how a team from the shoting city could get over, but we really earned our place. I mean, come on: we've made it to the RB finals every year, so maybe it isn't just us on our own stank.
This was also the first year I didn't make it to Indie finals, but I'm kind of glad about that: I wasn't going to beat that competition and by the time we got to Finals, I was pretty wiped out. Trying to compete AND organize is just...wooo. It'd be different if I was the type of cat who didn't mind cutting a corner here and there, but I don't. We aren't hostig it next year, so, assuming we send a team, it'll be nice to try out for it and just chill out. It's in Cleveland, so I'm looking forward to seeing it there in any event. They've got a real peculiar audience pool. Hard to read. Makes for some pretty interesting slams.
SICK
----
Been sick all week. Getting over the worst of it, but haven't been able to do shit.
I've really got to start taking better care of myself. All night house remodelings and such aren't smart.
WHITE
-----
Been catching a lot of grief this week on the poetry_slam listserve because I don't feel the need to actively incoporate or court ethnic diversity in PSI at this time. Won't rehash all the details here sine the emails can be had by anyone who joins the Yahoo Group "poetry_slam", but have pretty much decided to stay off the topic at this point. The people who claim to care about it so much will either do something about it or they won't. The issue is compounded by the fact that I'm on the EC, but I've always spoken my mind and being on the EC has little to do with how I feel about the issue. However, I'd be lying if those instances in which someone blasted THE EC as being one bad thing or another didn't rub me the wrong way. I've had a lot of time now to see how the thing runs and there's a whole lot of people who won't step to the plate when it counts. I also have to find some solace in the fact that, to date, the dialogue has taken place between about, what, 10 people total? Out of a list of over 300 people? Eh. If they want to step to the plate, I'ma ll for it. They act like the EC wouldn't listen to their concerns if they took the time to deliver them in a studied, cohesive form (as opposed to a rant in an email knowing that more than half the EC isn't on said list). This simply isn't true. You just better have your shit lined up right. We have to when we bring something to the table, so why shouldn't you?
Anyhow.
MOVIES
------
Looking forward to seeing LXG today, but don't know if I'll be well enough by this evening to go. I think they've likely messed the movie up a bit, but I can't NOT go.
Pirates looks great too, and all the reviews htat I pay attention to have been giving it the good shots, so I'l be seeing hat before the weekend's oput as well. Who knows? If I get some DayQuil in me and it works out okay, maybe I'll catch them both.
HA!