▼ ASTOUNDING. Among the innovations brought to IVC a couple of weeks ago for the "Astounding Inventions" kiddie event were some extreme modifications of the plumbing in at least two buildings. Those scamps!
Gosh, that reminds me of my youth, when one of my 8th grade colleagues attempted to clear the pipes of a toilet at Cerro Villa Junior High by flushing a lit cherry bomb. "Boom," it said.
As I recall, the colleague was the rat bastard son of a high-profile Villa Park doctor, namely, Dr. R, the official medical advisor of the California Angels (we were terribly impressed), and, according to rumor, Dr. R showed up with a wad of green to make the whole thing go away, and it did.
My school days were filled with such glamour. The principal of the junior high was one C.B. Courson. Years earlier, he was the principle of Villa Park Elementary, where I spent my first two or three years of school (c. 1961-2). I recall he had occasion to drive me home once when I missed the bus. (He seemed nice enough.) When the new elementary school was built (Serrano), I was among its students, and C.B. Courson became its principal! And—get this!—when I went from Serrano to Cerro Villa (7th grade), so did CB! It was an amazing coincidence. Naturally, it had no meaning whatsoever.
As it turns out, CB Courson was the father of Jim Morrison's girlfriend. (I think she was played by Meg Ryan in the movie.) I don't know the details, but I do know that, by about 1970, Courson went Hollywood bigtime. I recall his mod suits and hair and gold chains. Wadda asshole. Years later, when I checked out a copy of that posthumous album of Morrison's poetry, I was amazed to discover that the name of the producer on the album's cover was none other than--C.B. Courson, Mr. hair and suit--Mr. Executor of dead daughter's estate. Wadda creep.
Anyway, my sources tell me that the restrooms still haven't been fixed. In the meantime, the Amazing Wayne has been scarce of late and he seems to too preoccupied to make life hell for his employees as per usual. Or so I'm told.
What does it all mean? Dunno.
▼ BOARD MEETING MONDAY. Don't forget: meeting of the SOCCCD Board of Trustees, Monday! For the agenda, go to AGENDA.
▼ "IT'S HIP!": BROUGHT TO YOU BY STUDENTS--AND THE DEPARTMENT OF WOMEN STUDIES! Sheesh, check out this wacky story (see Inside Higher Ed) about, um, the "deconstruction" of our "assumptions" about "sex workers" (it's all very academic, you understand) at the venerable College of William & Mary: Show draws crowd:
...Sparkling nipple adornments, feather boas, bare bottoms, erotic dances, striptease music and sex toys entertained a crowd of more than 400 who were packed into the auditorium of the University Center. Another 300 were turned away. The show attempted to empower the actors by portraying the realities of their careers.▼
…"It's just so out there and expressive," said Josh Campbell, a member of Lamba Alliance, one of six student groups to sponsor the event. "It's hip, it's in your face, and it's exciting."
In addition to curiosity, the show also aroused some opposition.
Ken Petzinger, a physics professor, was outraged to learn that the college had permitted such an event. He found out about it last Friday, too late to stop it.
"I think it's a totally inappropriate use of student funds," Petzinger said. "It's in conflict with other values the college has."
President Gene Nichol issued a statement Tuesday afternoon, perhaps hoping to preempt inevitable criticism tied to the Wren cross.
"I don't like this kind of show and I don't like having it here," he said. "But it's not the practice and province of universities to censor or cancel performances because they are controversial."
Most of the money for the event, which cost about $1,800, comes out of student fees. The Office of Student Activities helps disperse the money for all kinds of campus-wide events. The Department of Women Studies donated $200 to help pay for the show.
…Senior Sean Barker, a black studies major, … felt it important to bring back such a unique perspective to college students…Barker felt the provocative performances and crass anecdotes don't encourage promiscuity or promote sexual activity.
"It serves to deconstruct some of the assumptions we may have about sex workers," he said. "It's just exposure to a different world."
The event is part of a month-long national tour, which included a stop at Virginia Commonwealth University on Sunday. It serves to give sex workers an opportunity to explain how they view their own work. They don't sugarcoat the details.
…A 75-year-old man, who wouldn't give his name, was in attendance with a group of people accompanied by a faculty member. He was bothered by what he saw.
"It's shocking they had this type of event for impressionable young people," the man said.
▼ NEVER MIND ALL THAT. Here's something good. I remember this recording (with Lester on piano, unlike in this live performance, evidently) from my childhood. Just love it.
(No doubt Principal Courson and I listened to it in his little sports car.)
Absolutely for my SP in F!
