Keeping It Weird

The LEO Weekly Fake Issue (June 24) was WONDERFUL! Creative, funny, clever, thought-provoking … I can’t praise you enough! As a longtime TV station tech, I howled at the snow machine plan (truer than you know). And I plan to make a bumper sticker with our new state motto, maybe flanked by another one saying: “LEO: Keeping Louisville Weird 100%”

Great work, guys!

Virginia Taylor, Cherokee Triangle

Fake Gigs

My generation is dying. Tim Krekel locally, and Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson not so locally. It’s sorta depressing to catch yourself attempting to divert your own mind from thinking: Who’s next?

In contrast, your Fake Issue was a bright spot in my week, gave me some real laughs. In light of that, I have two suggestions and one question. First, would you consider making the Fake Issue an annual release? I think it would fly. The question is: What’s a “pwn”? As in [from page 9], “We keep getting pwnd by these other places when we’re the ones who should be doing the pwning.” What?

I was about halfway through my initial browse of the issue when I thought, “Ooh, I’ve got to go to the back pages and see [no, not the risqué ads on p. 47, but the] Gig Bag. I was hoping that since it’s a fake issue that the Gig Bag might have actual gigs needing actual musicians who can actually read a lead chart. Come to think of it, hasn’t the Gig Bag actually been an ongoing precursor to the Fake Issue all along? Was it ever really a real advertisement? Well, OK, yeah, when the recording studio advertises, yes. So, anyway, here’s my final suggestion: If you do another Fake Issue, why not let the Gig Bag take up a whole page?

P.S.: As a member of the Louisville Jazz Society, I must say I loved that the Fake Issue reviewed a large and enthusiastic [and young] crowd enjoying Dave Holland. What a hoot!

Dave Tench, South End

 

Editor’s Note: “Pwn” is a term derived from Internet gaming that suggests control, ownership or domination, as in, “You just got pwned by that reference!”

Free Art … and Tibet

I am appalled at the shockingly bad journalism displayed in a recent issue of Leo (Fake Issue, June 24). I, for one, will not be lied to. A few corrections for your staff:

In the art review of the six-day “Nature” exhibit, the artist God was referred to as “she.” God, a woman? Who are you kidding, Leo staff?

The second upsetting review was the theater review of “Metro 26” that admittedly I didn’t read because once I saw it was listed as having “free admission,” I assumed the rest of the article would also be lie-literature. Art, no matter how mediocre, is never free.

And finally, the review of the jazz show forgot to mention Louisville’s familiarity with jazz music in the numerous elevators, doctors’ offices and Panera Breads that blast out the tuneless wonders of brass improvisation. I would, however, like an introduction to jazz enthusiast Jared Flatts, who is totally correct that “chicks dig guys into jazz.” I would love to hear his factual tidbits on these Monks he mentioned. I’m super-interested in Tibet.

Shame on you, LEO.

Jessica Ruhlin, Cherokee Triangle

Wack Levels

In your June 24 edition, you ran a story doubting the veracity of rappers and MCs who claim to “take it to the next level.” Any careful observer of the rap game will quickly conclude that it is a self-regulated culture of excellence and continuous learning and improvement — somewhat like the world of science. Scientists are constantly striving to learn more about the natural universe through a rigorous, peer-reviewed system of experimentation and delivery of results to “the community.” Likewise, rappers constantly seek new ways to push through the boundaries of their craft. And when they do, they rightfully make claims of taking rap to the next level. However, if they do claim to take it to the next level, when in reality they are simply faking the funk, they will be called out as the punk-ass whack MCs they is by their peers.

T-Dawg, Highlands

Mitchey Rich

Regarding the July 1 LEO Weekly cover: I sure hope John Yarmuth’s basketball uniform has deep pockets. I understand that’s the only way to get Mitch to play ball.

Charlie Baker, Highlands

 

Righting Anarchy

I thought I would offer my perspective on the article about the Zeitgeist Movement (LEO Weekly, June 10). First and foremost, I think it would behoove the author to do some research on anarchism before she calls people “anarchists.” God knows there’s enough misinformation about anarchists and anarchism in itself.

As someone who identifies as an anarchist, I find it insulting to be associated with the nonsensical Zeitgeist Movement. The Zeitgeist Movement represents utopian daydreams; it’s essentially science fiction coupled with social engineer/entrepreneur (yes, this “movement” involves people trying to get rich) Jaque Fresco’s pyramid scheme known as the Venus Project.

Historically, anarchists have prefigured a world without domination and oppression like capitalism, the state, the church, patriarchy, homophobia, racism, environmental degradation, etc., in theory and practice. What anarchists typically do not take part in is developing blueprints for technocratic city-states that will never come to fruition. Anarchism represents an international spontaneous revolution in which the majority decides that they’ve had it with the status quo. We don’t rely on a bunch of techies to tell us what to do from the top down. Where the Zeitgeist Movement has roots in ultra-rightwing conspiracy theory — e.g. the Jews rule the world, and 9/11 was an inside job (see the first ridiculous Zeitgeist film) — anarchism is a grounded social theory that is opposed to all arbitrary hierarchy, domination and authoritarianism.

I would advise anyone who wants to learn something about anarchism to look elsewhere than the Zeitgeist Movement and its middle-class pipedream.

Alex Bradshaw, Highlands

Hoosier Driver?

I have an observation I would like to share with your readers — or maybe a challenge. The next time some bonehead cuts you off in traffic, take a second and eye their license plate. If it is from Indiana, note if it is an “In God We Trust” plate. In the past two years, I have found a nearly 1:1 correlation between bad Indiana drivers and those license plates. Now, I realize correlations do not denote causation. However, when I see a Hoosier on the road sporting this telltale insignia, I tend to anticipate them doing something really stupid. Maybe they should let their co-pilot drive.

Michael R. Coburn, Speed, Ind.