Okay, I made a mistake. I assumed that because I'm selective about who can see my livejournal, that everyone was to be trusted. I assumed names were safe, and that we're all friends here. Again, my mistake ( Read more... )

I usually have a starkly unsentimental view of death. But the passing of Shannon has made me sadder than any death in recent memory. I only saw her once, in Vancouver, when she had me literally banging on the balcony railing from the shock of her words. I remember thinking how much Laura would have loved her. We talk a lot about women in poetry ( Read more... )

1. The default British look is one of blue-collar cynicism. It's a little bit like a gangster movie from the forties; everyone is sneering in a way that could turn, in an instant, to aloof bemusement. I am very good at this look ( Read more... )

I want a blow-by-blow.

Last night's Berkeley Finals was a thrilla. I'll let someone else do the full recap, but let me say this: I couldn't be happier with this year's team. Last year's Team Gorgeous had that sort of Rat Pack savoir faire, but this year we've got actual diversity. Two long-time veterans, a rising star, and two rookies who work their asses off. Men, women ( Read more... )

Announcement ( Read more... )

What's funny to me is that most poetry slam folk are city folk, but Slam itself, especially in the internet age, functions as a really small town ( Read more... )

Around the country, tis the season for pre-finals mission statements. Since semi-finals are harder than finals in Berkeley anyway, I'll give you my pre-semis mission statement ( Read more... )

1. The new job I got, I already lost. I was supposed to start today. I told them I had some trips planned this upcoming week that I couldn't get out of, and was doing my best to integrate their schedule with my set schedule at the Aquarium, and have been working tirelessly to rearrange it. On Monday, I even canceled my trip to Slammasters to make ( Read more... )

Hey! All you slam trolls patrolling other people's friendslists looking for insight into what's none of your business! Take a peek behind-the-scenes in the goings-on of the Bay Area slam scene, as interpreted by a totally biased and unreliable narrator!

( Berkeley has one qualifier left. Do you know where your children are? )