4 Snouts Up for NYC
I can attest that New York has still got it. While everyone else in the world was in Boston this week, Bill and I were in Manhattan. Among many other diversions, we saw two plays: Bug and Caroline, or Change.

(:)(:)(:)(:) 4 Snouts up for Bug
Very dark twisted minds created this stunningly well-acted and well-written play set entirely in a rundown residential hotel on the outskirts of Oklahoma City. Bug "off-Broadway" at the Barrow Street Theater in the west village is for you if you love a good paranoid schizophrenic naked violent comedy. If you're tired of that genre, go see Cats for the 3rd time, see if I care.

(:)(:)(:)(; 3 and a half Snouts up for Caroline, or Change
Still far from the Cats set but squarely on Broadway (well, the Eugene O'Neal on 49th, but who's counting) is the new Tony Kushner play Caroline, or Change.

This one is a musical set in 1963 Louisiana centered around a black maid working for a white Jewish family. Tony Kushner's story and Jeanine Tesori's music are fabulous, compelling, perfectly and unpretentiously staged and acted. I absolutely love Tony Kushner's writing in the two-part critically acclaimed Angels in America (which, if you haven't seen the made for HBO movie of, you must).

The only weakness, and for me, it is a biggy, is that so far I sense no particular talent in Kushner as a lyricist, and he wrote all the lyrics. The lyrics tell the story well and vaguely go with the music, but that's the end of it. Now I'm not lookin' for Cole Porter here; I know that era is sadly long gone. No. I'd settle for Webber or Rice (whichever one does the lyrics)--despite the great story, bouncy enjoyable early 60's rock 'n' roll and R&B score, there is not a single memorable song in the show. I hummed nothin'. And that says to me, why bother? Stick to the straight show, Tony.

President Kerry!
Hey, I'm trying to say this before every blogger and pundit in the nation does: Kerry's nomination acceptance speech tonight at the Democratic Convention was masterful in content and delivery (and he only used the word values  375 times!)

How did he do it?  I am blown away by what he accomplished.  Somehow he was simultaneously presidential, measured, serious, bold and inspiring.   Some pundits are already trying to define this speech as centrist.   I disagree.  True.  It has phenomenal centrist appeal.  But it is far from typical tweedle dum/tweedle dee DLC fodder. 

The typical Clinton era "new Democrat" speech takes Republican policies and softens them for Democrats and the mushy middle.  This speech did the opposite.  It took hardcore liberal Democratic policies and goals--FDR and LBJ's Democratic party--and cloaked them in the rhetoric and value-laden language that the Republicans have previously owned.

This speech was a George Lakoff wet dream--Kerry took all the advice this Berkeley professor and his team have been turning out for the past two years and put it to good use.  Example: "instead of talking about family values, let's talk about what we're going to do to value families." 

This simple turn-of-phrase (which would be dubbed a "charlie the tuna" in the advertising world--Starkist doesn't want tunas with good taste, Starkist wants tunas that taste good) plants a seed of doubt in the minds of every idiot swing voter (hey, I'm not promoting Slimfast, I can be as hatefest as I want) who has salivated over Bush's family values--what do they really mean? it asks.  Do they value families?  Are they telling the truth?  What if they're not?

And that's not all!
Bill Magavern of the Sierra Club thinks that this is probably the earliest that the environment has ever appeared in a Democratic nominee's acceptance speech (within the first 5 minutes, in case you weren't timing it at home).   Kerry hit all the key issues: the economy, Iraq, health care, dependence on foreign oil, fair trade and good jobs, ending racism, education--plenty of red meat for the party faithful.  But instead of pandering to the crowd or giving a traditional partisan speech, he did something brilliant, he took our issues and spoke about them in a new way, so that they were everybody's issues.

And he did it with passion, sincerity, and conviction as if he were already President.  And so it is.

New Progressive Action Group formed in Sacramento
I am pleased to announce the formation of People United for a Better Sacramento (no website yet), a grassroots membership-based issue advocacy and political action group working to enact progressive policies in the Sacramento area.  Brought together in the wake of a successful push to elect City Councilmember Dave Jones as the Democratic candidate for Sacramento's state Assembly seat, the group is the first explicitly progressive cross-cutting issue-advocacy organization working to bring real change to the Sacramento region. 

The board (of which Dave Jones is President and I am Vice-President) reflects a diverse cross-section of activists coming out of various communities: environmental, civil rights, labor, youth and student, senior, neighborhoods, disability rights, housing and other grassroots groups.

Our first action is to oppose taxpayer funding for a new sports arena in Sacramento.  But, last week's City Council meeting brought a referendum on that matter that much closer.  The Sacramento Bee reports that the (Sacramento Kings-owning) Maloofs are seeking a referendum in a special election (even more expensive!) in March.  That article also contains the first (as far as I know) news clipping reference to the new group we've founded--shorthand, "People United," please, not "PUBS." 

Meanwhile, back in Sacramento...
Well, I'm not back in Sacramento, but other people seem to be and the Democratic Party is hard at work capitalizing (sic) on Scharzenegger's most recent gaff.  Go to sacramentogirliemen.com to buy the actually really cute eponymous t-shirts--all proceeds go to the Democratic Party.  

(Get this straight: this is a t-shirt making fun of a governor who was making fun of the Democrats by making fun of an ancient Saturday Night Live skit that was making fun of him before he was governor.)

Dateline Buffalo
Just got in from seeing the Psychedelic Furs play at the Continental Club on Franklin near Chippewa in downtown Buffalo, NY.  The highlight of the opening act was a band called Kristofferson Airplane playing a cover of "Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch Cherry Bomb" a tiny hit from the early 80's, which gives you an idea of what caliber acts typically play the Continental.

The mix was bad and the acoustics terrible, but the Furs show was great--high energy, lots of fun.  Chippewa street was hopping on a warm Wednesday night in Buffalo.  Some 20 years ago when I lived in Buffalo, Chippewa never hopped.   Chippewa might have sold you drugs at 4am when the bars closed.  It might have put its highheeled foot on your car and straightened its fishnets.  But it never hopped.

Buffalo is kind of dichotomous these days.  On the one hand certain strips in the urban core are alive with independent restaurants, bookstores, coffee shops and throngs of customers.  Property values have risen steeply in the gorgeous huge old homes on quiet tree-shaded residential streets spoking out from these hubs.  Yet the City of Buffalo is financially unviable.  Soon voters will consider a referendum, supported by the mayor and the county executive, to merge the city into the county government, because the city can't run itself on its tax base anymore.

Despite repeatedly grilling my father-in-law, probably the foremost expert in the region on state and local government and fiscal issues, I still don't fully understand how both these things are true at the same time.

But I take it as instructive for Sacramento now that we're fighting a big push for a taxpayer-funded sports arena in the city.   Even the most exciting, thriving retail environment can't take the place of real jobs, it just gives the rich people somewhere to spend their money while the city dies.

Nip/Tuck on F/X is Fun/Vile
3 Snouts Up (:)(:)(:)
Have you seen this tv show?  It combines soft porn with graphic surgery--what could be more enticing?  Brought to you on basic cable: two men in a plastic surgery partnership in Miami--one cute, sweet and ethical, the other gorgeous, slutty and unprincipled.  The scenes cut abruptly (sometimes literally) between slightly more than Sex-in-the-City level "love" scenes and vacuuming out "cottage cheese" during a lipo-suction (dieting tip: just try and eat your late night cereal in front of this show).
 
Somehow it's hard to resist--it's reasonably cleverly written and conceived and so disturbingly edgy that you're drawn to it without wanting to be.  It doesn't hurt that Vanessa Redgrave's daughter plays the good doctor's wife and Vanessa Redgrave plays her witchy know-it-all psychotherapist mother obsessed with her own looks.  At one point Redgrave senior gets it on with the unscrupulous 40 year old son-in-law's partner and then gloats about it to her daughter--nasty, vile and irresistible.  But resist if you can, this is one show which signals the end of civilization is at hand (and do we need reminding?).  Tuesdays at 10pm.
 
 

Mandatory Reading
Bill Moyer's recent amazingly important speech.

There is no blog
Thus far, I've proven an unreliable summer blogger. One week in Yosemite, no computer, no phone, no blog.  But then one week back, computer, phone, only one entry.
 
In my defense, I was readying the entire house for repainting and recarpeting--a job only slightly short of what's required for moving.  And only slightly less irritating to the people around me, it turns out.
 
Everyone's heard the stories of marriages gone bad from remodelling a kitchen.  Months without end of washing dishes in a bathtub take their toll on even the serenest souls.

But who has ever heard of 1 month's worth of prepping for painting and carpeting driving a family insane?  Well, actually, just driving me insane, I think.  My husband and children never complained.

But after about the 5th dinner conversation where Bill introduced some interesting topic from his day, worthy of say, an entire blog, like the inside scoop on Schwarzenegger's shenanigans on the budget in the California legislature and I responded with something as fascinating as "yes, but have you looked at the sample Sedona Sunrise streaks I painted on the wall?," I was boring myself, yet I couldn't stop.  I had to have him see the Sedona Sunrise, I had to.
 
Okay, it's behind us.  It's in the painter's hands.
 
So, now we're here in Buffalo, New York for two weeks.  It's cool and rainy and everything is fabulous.  After months of unrelenting Sacramento sunshine, it is delightful to sit on a porch swing and read while the afternoon thunderstorm pours down around us.
 
I'm hopeful that I'll write something more interesting tomorrow, but at the instance of the Rev. Julie Interrante, I'm reading No death, no fear by Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh.  As such, I've learned that there is no death and no birth.  By extension, I think I can easily surmise, there is no blog.

Don't Blog About Nader
Bill Magavern tells me not to blog about Nader any more, but then we watch Ralph interviewed on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (hosted by Stephen Colbert, not Jon Stewart!) and Bill raises some interesting questions:

[full disclosure: both participants in the interview are former employees and current devotees of Public Citizen, an organization founded by Ralph Nader, and Magavern is a former employee and current fan of U.S. Public Interest Research Group, which is an idea Ralph had in the shower that now is a huge national network with branches in several states. Magavern has, in the past, travelled with Ralph several times and Ralph asks about our children when he sees us. Magavern currently works as senior legislative advocate for Sierra Club California.]

Nichols: You seem outraged at the lack of thoroughness of this Daily Show interview, Bill. Why?

Magavern: Well, if the substitute host for a fake news show won't ask the tough questions, who will?

Nichols: Yes. But what exactly are the tough questions? I mean, he asked him about the spoiler thing...

Magavern: Look, with Edwards added to the ticket just that day, the question to ask was, obviously, isn't it true that Kerry and Edwards have been consistent allies of yours in fighting corporate power?

And isn't true that you in fact advised Kerry to have Edwards as his running mate? And given this fact shouldn't you support this ticket and stop hiding behind the canard...

Nichols: Hold it. Can you hide behind a canard ?

Magavern: Well now you're applying a standard to the quality of writing in your blog which frankly...

Nichols: Okay. Okay. Stop hiding behind the canard...

Magavern: ...that there is a unified Democratic position that's soft on corporate power, when in fact Kerry and Edwards, if elected, will lead the Democratic party and it will be what they want to be which is not soft on corporate power.

Nichols: Well, you make some good points, but what about the free trade thing? Isn't one of Nader's strongest anti-corporate positions against trade uber alles and aren't Kerry and Edwards free traders?

Magavern: No. Kerry is. Edwards isn't and hasn't been and Kerry's reconsidering his position on trade...

Nichols: Since he's been running for President?

Magavern: Well, yes.

Nichols: What about the Iraq issue? Ralph is out there raising important questions about the war and Kerry voted for the war powers. Isn't that a legitimate difference between the candidates?

Magavern: Ralph can raise the issues without being a candidate for President. Can I check my email now?

Nichols: Sure, honey.

Magavern: Don't forget to tell them that Ralph scooped everyone when he announced that Jon Stewart was absent because his wife just had a baby. That was the best part...

Nichols: I won't, honey.

Back from Paradise
So, yes, I've been on vacation for nearly a week. Out of cell phone and email range for the most part in Yosemite--truly awesome, in more of a 19th than 20th century way.

I spent more time contemplating subjects such as the pursuit of excellence, and how all people are essentially good, than I did politics per se, or other favorite topics (gee, are there any?). Midweek, when turned back from a hike to Dog Lake at Tuolomne Meadows due to a not yet recovered son (waaah!), I stopped in at the Tuolomne General Store for a soda and some cashews.

When asked if they had the newspaper, the young man behind the counter said, "yeah, maybe, we have some newspapers, but I don't know if they're today's." I walked over to it and chose between the Fresno Bee and USA Today--a tough one: I chose USA Today, first time buying it in years without knowing that I was quoted in a story (okay, gratuitous reminder that I once was quoted with frequency--now, if you Google me, you get some 19 year old soccer playing Sara Nichols and a question I asked of a cohousing list serve 8 years ago).

And then I read the headline as I walk back to the counter to pay for it--"Oh my God!" I scream. "Have you even looked at these? We have a Vice-President--it's Edwards!"

"Whaaaa...?" said the rocket surgeon behind the cash register. "Lemme see that," he glances at the headline.

"Whatever," he pronounces.

"Whatever indeed," I cleverly admonish, paying him a dollar for the paper.

Fortunately our son is more excited than the cashier about the selection. "Joe [his best friend] loves Edwards even more than Kerry. He shook his hand when he came to Sacramento."

Sure he shook Edwards hand. Who didn't? But did he talk his way into the $1,000 donor circle room upstairs along with 40 other people and shake his hand under false pretenses like me? I didn't think so.

I like Edwards for VP. As the Republicans will remind us daily: we've got the first most liberal and the 4th most liberal vote in the US Senate (by one credible study, truth be told, although Bill and I both think first place should've gone to Boxer--whose nightshirt I'm wearing as I compose)--woo hoo, what a team!

Today's Ruminations on Kerry
Everytime I think I'm too slavishly defensive of Kerry, I get a boost from an Arianna Huffington column; this latest column looks at Kerry vs. Clinton as candidates(Political Real Estate: John Kerry's Room with a View)--read it and tell me what you think.

I tend to agree with her on this (and many things). While Kerry isn't half the candidate Clinton is, he'll be twice the President (and hey, that's saying a lot, Clinton is looking pretty damn good right now--well, he always looked good, it was just--slap!--down girl, I've always had a little thing for Clinton, but it's purely physical not political, back on task...) and isn't that the main thing?

Fortunately, this is the best election year for a not-so-great candidate in decades: with only a pulse, a different last name than Bush and a (D) after his name, most of his voters would work their rear ends off for anyone to beat the chimp. The secret, and I wish it weren't one, is that this year we've got someone as our standard bearer who has the makings of a great President. I think he's going to win and I think it's going to be a different experience than any of us in my generation have ever had.