“I’m a person of integrity,” says Quisling Boy

I guess the OC Reg’s Jennifer Muir was waiting around all day to see who would get their papers in by 5:00 p.m. to run for OC Treasurer, now that Chriss “corrupt pal of Tom Fuentes” Street has decided not to run for reelection—what with that nasty court case going against him and all. She just reported that four poor souls have made it to the starting line: Four join race to replace county treasurer

Naturally, one of ‘em is our own Dave “pal o’ Fuentes and Quisling too” Lang:

South Orange County Community College District Trustee Dave Lang, 56, is a CPA and shareholder in a small public accounting firm in Irvine. He is just beginning to drum up support, and he admits he'll have to make time to campaign since he's "a CPA during tax season."

"I think I'm very well qualified," Lang said Wednesday. "I'm a person of integrity, which the office needs."

Well, that tears it. Obviously, Dave, a guy who's been known to invoke the Lord in his role as community college trustee, doesn’t believe in God, cuz, if he did, he would surely believe that some serious fire and brimstone is headed his way saying something as absurd as, “I’m a person of integrity.”

(THE SAGA OF INTEGRITY BOY: Starting in 1996, David Lang was strongly supported by a group of faculty especially at Irvine Valley College. He was a strong and consistent voice of opposition to the "board majority's" Brown Act violations, its occasional disastrous misjudgments (e.g., supporting' Frogue's "Warren Commission" forum, despite warnings), and, especially, its support of Raghu Mathur (first as IVC President; later as district Chancellor). Five years ago, he suddenly changed tack, allying himself with Wagner, Fuentes (Mathur's most ardent supporter), and Williams, becoming the swing vote for Mathur's contract renewal. Since then, Lang (that "changer of men") has been a steadfast supporter of the hated Mathur, even as Mathur's boners and outrages piled up. Back in '05, there was a tense meeting in Laguna Beach in which many of Lang's longstanding faculty supporters asked him to explain himself. He offered no coherent explanation. Soon, the notion surfaced that Lang had political ambitions: he sought to become the Orange County Treasurer, and he had made some adjustments in order to eventually secure that office. —And now, of course, he is a candidate for OC Treasurer.)

(Apparently, DtB’s 1st reference to the rumored Fuentes/Lang “Treasurer” pact occurred in March of 2006, here)

She likes her job

JUST GOT BACK from my deposition—by the opposing side—for the “prayer” lawsuit. As expected, it was pretty grueling, but, if the peevitude of the Bad Guys' attorney is any indication, it went well.

Evidently, the maximum amount of time for deposing a plaintiff is seven hours, and they did use up all of those hours in my case. Whew!

And guess what! These dang district lawyers seem to spend all of their time reading Dissent the Blog! Most of the questions were about blog posts.

"Did you write this blog post?"

"Yep."

"Do you see paragraph 2, where you say such-and-such?"

"Yep."

"What did you mean by that?"

That's pretty much how the thing went. But who knew it would be all about this blog?

SOMETIMES, the depo was downright thrilling, like a Perry Mason episode. The lawyers would menace each other, spitting forth such remarks as, “I don’t care what you think, counselor!” and “if you do this I will bring you up for sanctions!”

Golly! During a break, I asked my attorney whether this kind of banter is unusual. “Nope,” he said. "Not with this case."

During one exchange of these pleasantries, I couldn’t help but break into a huge smile, watchin' 'em go at it. I looked over at the court reporter, who, I assumed, was also marveling at the fine display of venomous spewage, but she seemed utterly oblivious to it. Later, I asked her if she liked her job. “Yes,” she chirped. Then I asked, “Does part of your brain actually listen to this stuff as you write it down?”

“No!” she said.

Ha!

Man, these big, fancy law firms that the district hires are sittin’ in clover. The depo was done in a gorgeous office space on the eighth (and, I think, seventh) floor of a magnificent office tower very near the Mother’s Market in Irvine (near Jamboree and the 405).

The view was spectacular. I kept gawking at it, which seemed to annoy the opposing attorney, who seemed beyond appreciating such things and who wore jeans and had the bearing and civility of, say, a Mafioso.

Well, that’s how I spent my Wednesday. Pretty cool, eh?

Images for a warm Tuesday evening

Got some images here for you.

Irvine Valley College's theater people (aka "the thespians") have displayed the same dang photos in their box display at the center of building A200 for--well, I figure it's been at least 15 years. The Reb insists this stuff has been hanging around for a lot longer that that.

It's like these two-dimensional performers—and IVC's neglectful theater people—are stuck in a time warp.

The Reb asserts that the children of these performers are now attending the college. Could be.

(We're pretty sure that nobody in the Theater area reads this blog. So we're not too worried about offending them here or alerting them to our machinations.)

A few days ago, at the Reb’s prompting, a few of us were examining the display. We stood back as though we were patrons of an art museum. We marveled at its antiquery, its ridiculosity, not to mention its abject cheesery (what is this, freakin' "Guys and Dolls"?).

While we were jawing, I grabbed my key ring and looked for a key that might open the display (see the two locks?). I found a tiny, silvery key. Don't remember where I got it. Something told me to try it. I stuck it in the lock, and—what do you know?—it turned!

We swung open the door and then marveled at these faded artifacts, seen unobstructed for the first time in, um, decades or something. We sniffed the stale air, noted the dust.

Everybody started staring at my mystery key. "Where'd you get that!" they barked.

"Um, I was the chair of the School of Humanities and Languages once," I offered.

"Yeah, for like five minutes," said a peevish Rebel Girl.

Well, we left word with the dean—about this absurd display, about my key, about what use might be made of this nifty display box—and then disappeared into Spring Break.

* * * * *
Late last week, we started finding these very attractive fliers (see below) around campus. As you know, Saddleback College's Santander, Spain, "study abroad" program is now legendary, owing to the brutal demagoguery of a certain mean-spirited trustee—and the vigilance (and camcorder ownership) of two Dissenters.

Before that absurd/terrible/wonderful moment (about five years ago), the Saddleback program was merely "highly-regarded and very popular."

Now, it's mythic.

Nice flier. OK, I made one tiny change. Just couldn't leave it alone.

A picture of some oaks down the hill from my place, taken a week or so ago

“I was used,” he said

Supervisors strip Street’s investment authority

OC Reg “Watchdog” reporter Jennifer Muir reports that

County supervisors [today] unanimously voted to revoke Orange Countys Treasurer-Tax Collector Chriss Street’s authority to invest county funds.
. . .
Supervisors said … that while Street has done a good job as treasurer, the move was needed to prevent the public and investors from losing confidence in the county’s investment pool….

“It’s a sad day,” Supervisor Bill Campbell said.

Street recommended last week that the board temporarily remove his ability to invest county funds, but he suggested handing over that authority to the county’s elected Auditor-Controller David Sundstrom. The board rejected Street’s plan and instead gave investing authority to the county’s Chief Financial Officer Robert Franz. Street was not at the supervisor’s meeting.

Street was the court-appointed trustee for the End of the Road Trust, successor to the bankrupt Fruehauf Trailer Corp., from 1998 until creditors forced him out in July 2005. Supervisor John Moorlach hired him as the county’s assistant treasurer in January 2006, in effect making Street his designated heir in the June 2006 election.
. . .
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Richard M. Neiter ruled that Street wasted millions of dollars trying to create a truck-trailer manufacturing business that he could run, rather than liquidating assets as he was hired to do. And he found that Street used trust money to pay for everything from fancy dinners to parking tickets.
. . .

And the judge dismissed Street’s sworn explanations for his conduct as “absurd”, “inconceivable” and “incredulous.” He wrote that Street’s conduct as trustee “amounts to gross negligence and willful misconduct.”

Moorlach said he’s known Street since 1994, when he ran against Robert Citron for the treasurer. Citron’s risky investments later drove the county into bankruptcy, and Street, Moorlach said, was one of the few people who knew what Citron was doing.

But Moorlach says that when Street expressed interest in running for treasurer, he never told Moorlach about his issues with Fruehauf.

“I was not informed properly. I was used.” Moorlach reiterated Tuesday. “Fruehafuf [sic] was not a fly on the wall in a room. It was a Doberman Pinscher.”
. . .
Supervisors Bill Campbell and Moorlach called for Street’s resignation after the ruling. Street declined, and he’ll remain in office until the beginning of 2011. He has decided not to run for reelection, and the filing deadline to fill his open seat closes Wednesday.

Big ticket items

Lately, I’ve been looking at district/college expenditure information, which is routinely provided on board meeting agendas (available here). The amounts can be stunning. Unavoidably, I guess, there are some legal, architectural, construction, or technological support firms that routinely get huge checks from the SOCCCD, i.e., from the taxpayer. No doubt some of these firms do a good job and don’t soak us. Yeah.

I thought it might be interesting to highlight some of these bills. I perused the November, December, and January agendas. Below, I’ve assembled some of the “big ticket” items—plus other items that struck me as interesting for one reason or another. Please remember that all of this information is readily available to YOU at the district website (here).

NOVEMBER 2009 agenda:

0085912 • 10/08/09 • KEENAN & ASSOCIATES • $174,166.00 • PROTECTED INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR SCHOOLS 09/10

Founded in 1972, Keenan has grown to the 17th largest insurance broker in the United States. With a network of offices located throughout California and a staff of more than 600 insurance specialists, Keenan continuously provides unparalleled service and customized solutions to our clients.

Keenan is a full service broker, dedicated to providing superior insurance products and services. Our exceptional growth is directly related to our concentration on meeting the risk management, employee benefits, workers' compensation and property & liability consulting and brokerage objectives of public entities, health care systems and high-tech firms. (Insurance jobs)

0086042 • 10/13/09 • DELL MARKETING L.P. • $167,904.60 • BSTC COMPUTERS

0086043 • 10/13/09 • DELL MARKETING L.P. • $18,802.93 • BSTC COMPUTERS

0086153 • 10/14/09 • ACSIG/EDGE • $126,934.20 • DELTA DENTAL FY 09/10 FUND 01

0086159 • 10/14/09 • SISC III HEALTH BENEFITS • $1,034,409.00 • SISC (PPO) BENEFITS FY 2009/10 FUND O1

0086164 • 10/14/09 • SISC III HEALTH BENEFITS • $212,652.00 • BLUE SHIELD (RETIREE) BENEFITS FY 2009/10

0086209 • 10/15/09 • CLASS LEASING, INC. • $-489,945.00 • VILLAGE EXPANSION PROJECT & PORTABLE BLDG PURCHASE

0086215 • 10/15/09 • LAVEY ROOFING SERVICES, INC. • $183,100.50 • SSC BUILDING ROOFING SYSTEM

0086218 • 10/15/09 • PCN3, INC. • $246,972.18 • BID 296 B200 SCIENCE LAB ANNEX AND B239 CONVERSIO[sic]

PCN3, INC. was founded by Harry Abghari in 1999 in state of California. Ever
since, it has been involved in various public projects as Prime-contractor.
Over the years, it has performed variety of projects some of which are as
follows:
- LAX-soundproofing
- Santa Ana Housing Development
- School Modernization
- Public Park Renovation

0086266 • 10/19/09 • DELL MARKETING, L.P. • $58,623.62 • BSTC COMPUTERS

0086326 • 10/20/09 • EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT DEPT. • $81,992.23 • UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE QUARTERLY P/R TAXES

0086358 • 10/21/09 • DELL MARKETING L.P. • $130,775.10 • BSTIC TABLETS

0086393 • 10/22/09 • CLASS LEASING, INC. • $440,950.50 • VILLAGE EXPANSION PROJECT & PORTABLE BLDG PURCHASE

0086397 • 10/22/09 • NEUDESIC, LLC • $124,003.00 • SOFTWARE ENGINEERING DATA WAREHOUSE DEVELOPMENT

Neudesic is a Microsoft Gold Certified and Managed Partner with a proven track record of providing reliable, effective solutions based on Microsoft's technology platform. Neudesic's technical and industry expertise empowers enterprises to leverage technology to respond to business opportunities with a greater level of efficiency. (About N)

0086566 • 10/27/09 • RGP PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT • $45,987.23 • ATEP PROJECT

RGP is a specialist in the design and entitlement of community college campuses including master plan development, facilities design, and environmental documentation pertaining to CEQA and regulatory requirements. ¶ Pictorially represented to the left is the new Advanced Technology & Education Park (ATEP) at the decommissioned US Marine Corps Air Station in Tustin. This campus, the third of the South Orance County Community College district, is focused to educate students for careers in the fields of photonics, product modeling, "behind the camera" film and entertainment skills such as set design, costume and make-up, catering, set construction, audio, digital arts and related industry skills. RGP has also completed work on the Victor Valley Community College District Master Plan and the Glendale Community College Expansion Program…. (RGP case study)

DECEMBER 2009 agenda:

0086831 • 11/04/09 • MJ CONTRACTORS, INC. • $81,810.00 • VILLAGE EXPANSION SITE IMPROVEMENT

0086854 • 11/05/09 • IRVINE VALLEY COLLEGE • $115,572.71 • PURCHASE TEXTBOOKS

0086858 • 11/05/09 • KEENAN & ASSOCIATES • $139,333.00 • PROTECTED INSURANCE PROGRAM FOR SCHOOLS 09/10

0086958 • 11/06/09 • HCTD, LLC • $30,000.00 • ATEP PROJECT

[HCTD, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hudson Capital, LLC] Hudson Capital, LLC is a Los Angeles-based private real estate investment firm founded by Victor Coleman and Howard Stern. Hudson Capital seeks to invest primarily in assets focused in the Southern California markets. With over 50 years of combined real estate experience, the founding principals have successfully applied their real estate market knowledge, development and operations expertise in the entertainment real estate market. (Hudson)

0086996 • 11/09/09 • NEUDESIC, LLC • $149,183.00 • STUDENT INFORMATION SYSTEM YEAR 4

0086997 • 11/09/09 • NEXUS IS, INC. • $137,228.60 • BSTIC LP PHONES

Nexus IS, Inc. provides voice, video, data, and convergence networking solutions in the United States. It offers plan phase services, such as IP communications readiness assessments, IPCC design review and assessment, security architecture assessment, security vulnerability assessment, operations readiness assessment, operations detailed requirements plan, deployment project management, and detailed requirements plans…. (Nexux IS)

0087050 • 11/11/09 • QUALITY OFFICE FURNISHINGS • $51,106.74 • EXECUTIVE ASST. OFFICE IN STUDENT SERVICES

0087066 • 11/11/09 • gkkworks • $46,264.00 • CM SERVICES FOR VILLAGE EXPANSION

gkkworks is one of the fastest growing architecture firms in California. Our belief in the "master builder" concept is supported by inhouse construction professionals. We have offices in Irvine, Pasadena, Riverside and northern California. (gkkworks)

0087131 • 11/12/09 • DELL MARKETING L.P. • $30,902.48 • BSTC COMPUTERS

0087133 • 11/12/09 • ACSIG/EDGE • $127,225.00 • DELTA DENTAL FY 09/10 FUND 01

0087134 • 11/12/09 • ACSIG/EDGE • $42,605.92 • VISION SERVICES FY 09/10 FUND 01

0087140 • 11/12/09 • SISC III HEALTH BENEFITS • $1,036,091.00 • SISC (PPO) BENEFITS FY 2009/10 FUND 01

0087145 • 11/12/09 • SISC III HEALTH BENEFITS • $214,413.00 • BLUE SHIELD (RETIREE) BENEFITS FY 2009/10



JANUARY 2010 agenda:

087274 • 11/20/2009 • JACKSON, DE MARCO, TIDUS, & PECKENPAUGH • 51,130.85

At Jackson DeMarco Tidus Peckenpaugh, we provide practical legal advice and representation in a wide range of legal practice areas, encompassing business and corporate law, employment law, immigration, intellectual property, litigation, real estate, common interest subdivision, land use and environmental regulation, construction law, and tax and estate planning.

087278 • 11/20/09 • PCN3, INC. • 187,908.98

087343 • 12/01/2009 • NADEAU ENTERPRISES, INC. C/O CLIENT TRUST MCCLUNG & DAVIS • 36,581.13

We are dedicated to our families, our faith, our town, our state and our country. It is a time for paying attention to our hearts and forgiving those who threaten us. Our only refuge is ourselves. May each of us find peace right now. (McClung & Davis, lawyers)

087361 • 12/01/2009 • NEUDESIC, LLC • 300,950.00

087405 • 12/01/2009 • DOUGHERTY + DOUGHERTY ARCHITECTS LLP • 81,441.56

Dougherty + Dougherty Architects LLP specializes in the design of innovative environments for community and institutional clients. Dougherty + Dougherty is dedicated to designing facilities that meet functional demands, provide for future flexibility, enhance emerging technologies, respond to energy conservation and sustainability goals, and inspire and lift the human spirit…

087407 • 12/01/2009 • gkkworks • 48,149.71

087461 • 12/02/2009 • MJ CONTRACTORS, INC. • 97,335.00

087512 • 12/07/2009 • LLEWELLYN AND SPANN ATTORNEYS AT LAW • 19,046.19

David Llewellyn is a legal advocate, civil rights lawyer and law professor now practicing in Sacramento, California. He has a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of California at Los Angeles, the diplome from the International Institute for Human Rights, Strasbourg, France, a Master of Arts in English literature from the University of Tennessee, a B.A. from William Jennings Bryan College and has done graduate study at Dallas Theological Seminary. He is a member of the faculty of the Chapman University School of Law, where he has taught Constitutional Law and the First Amendment and currently serves as a law professor and legal counsel with the Center for Constitutional Jurisprudence. He was formerly Dean and Professor of Law at Trinity Law School, Trinity International University, teaching constitutional law, international human rights, jurisprudence and legal advocacy. Previous to that he was a founder, President and senior legal counsel for the Western Center for Law and Religious Freedom, a public interest law firm….

087582 • 12/07/2009 • THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, N.A. • 98,637.44

087583 • 12/07/2009 • CALIFORNIA POWER PARTNERS, INC. • 127,882.26

Calpwr is an industry innovator with a proven track record of delivering powerful independent energy solutions, faster payback, and superior maintenance to manufacturing facilities, corporate & academic campuses, commercial buildings, hotels & resorts, municipalities, and mid- to large-scale service organizations.

087654 • 12/10/2009 • KEENAN & ASSOCIATES ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE • 139,333.00

087675 • 12/11/2009 • gkkworks • 46,264.00

087677 • 12/11/2009 • HCTD, LLC C/O HUDSON CAPITAL, LLC • 30,000.00

087678 • 12/11/2009 • JACKSON, DE MARCO, TIDUS, & PECKENPAUGH • 49,230.10

087681 • 12/11/2009 • PCN3, INC • 89,707.14

087684 • 12/11/2009 • ACSIG/EDGE • 128,097.40

087685 • 12/11/2009 • ACSIG/EDGE • 42,899.08

087690 • 12/11/2009 • SISC III HEALTH BENEFITS ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE • 1,043,206.00

087695 • 12/11/2009 • SISC III HEALTH BENEFITS ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE • 211,274

087753 • 12/14/2009 • ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUUD & ROMO • 17,018.36

Over the last two decades, Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud & Romo has earned a strong reputation as one of California's most widely respected law firms. Our uncompromising approach to high quality legal work enables us to provide consistently practical management solutions in the areas of employment, labor, construction, education, real estate, general business and business litigation, corporate, taxation, bankruptcy, and immigration.

087767 • 12/14/2009 • DELL MARKETING L.P. C/O DELL USA L.P. • 25,943.45

087780 • 12/14/2009 • NEXUS IS, INC. • 268,630.67

088008 • 12/18/2009 • AUDIO VISUAL INTEGRATION SYSTEMS, INC. • 75,178.88

088010 • 12/18/2009 • DOUGHERTY + DOUGHERTY ARCHITECTS LLP • 81,023.25

088011 • 12/18/2009 • gkkworks • 17,049.07

088223 • 01/05/2010 • ATKINSON, ANDELSON, LOYA, RUDD & ROMO • 12,808.54

Hydras can regenerate their heads and feet—and that's good, somehow

UC Irvine finishes [sequencing] genome vital to improving people’s health (Gary Robbins; OC Reg’s ScienceDude)

An international team of researchers led by UC Irvine is today publishing the genome of the Hydra, a primitive organism that’s been important in medical research since the 1740s, when Abraham Trembley discovered that the freshwater polyp could regenerate its head and feet.

Researchers found that the Hydra, which is less than a half-inch tall, has roughly as many genes as humans (about 24,000) and that some of its genes are linked to two of the most dreaded illnesses in humans — Huntington’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

The genome is being published online today in Nature, one of the world’s most influential scientific journals.

“This could potentially open up Hydra as a model system for Irvine researchers,” said Rob Steele, chairman of biological chemistry at Irvine and one of the leaders of UCI’s first major sequencing effort….(Continued)

The always-fabulous OC Reg readership has already commented on the news. For instance, "BoogerBoy" says:

Yay for science! Old timer’s disease just weirds me out....

Good Lord. It's too bad BB can't regenerate his head. —Oh yeah. It would be the same head, wouldn't it? Never mind.

SOCCCD HEAD REGENERATION:

I haven't heard anything new about the SOCCCD's efforts to regenerate, or replace, its Chancellor. [See 2nd comment below.] Now, if a professional consultant does the hiring, then there's no need for a search committee, right? One of the reasons that one might be assured that everything's on the up and up is that the right (honest) people are on the search committee. And groups can hold each other in check.

I'm not sure what stays and what goes now that we're taking the consultant route. [See below.] But can Don Wagner continue with his assurances that the process will be transparent and honest, etc., if it's being done by some professional organization?

Do you have any ideas on the matter? [See first comment below.]

UPDATE:

Board Policy 4011.6 ("employment procedure for chancellor”) can be found here at the district website (a pdf file) or HERE on this blogsite (as a blog post).

The term “consultant” is mentioned only once in the policy, in the section concerning “recruitment”:

SECTION II: RECRUITMENT
. . .
2. The Board of Trustees may consider employment of a professional consultant to assist with the Chancellor search process.
. . .

It seems to me that the policy is not explicit about the consultant’s relationship to the rest of the process defined by 4011.6. I suppose that the policy implies that the consultant would assist during the recruitment process only since consultants are mentioned only in the "recruitment" section and since the rest of the policy outlines a formal process involving such entities as the search committee, etc., that mentions no role, or possible role, for a consultant. <END UPDATE>

Comments:

Anonymous‬ said...
Roy, you've provided links to the chancellor hire policy. Read it. The consultant helps with the job description and recruiting, and brings objectivity to the process. But the policy is clear that the committee does the screening once the search is completed and the board does the hiring. The consultant doesn't do any hiring.
12:36 AM, March 15, 2010

Anonymous said...
Apparently the *special* meeting last week was quite the heated affair, with Fuentes coming down hard on Padberg at every turn. He is not a happy camper at the moment.
8:06 AM

Anonymous said...
The hiring policy remains intact and will be implemented under the oversight of a consultant who will be charged with keeping Raghu out of manipulating or stalling the process. The hiring of a consultant is an excellent move and happens routinely in hiring college presidents in single college districts as well as chancellors in mutlicollege districts.
9:23 AM

Anonymous said...
Consultants are routinely hired to oversee important search processes such as the hiring of a chancellor. This is a GOOD thing. The consultant will oversee the entire process ensuring that the entire policy is implemented in a fair and objective manner. These are companies that specialize in implementing hiring procedures across the state. Go online and google these companies for a clearer picture of what they do. This is a sign that the board majority wants to ensure a fair and open process. Without a consultant, Raghu and Fuentes would make sure that no one is hired. Fuentes has made it public and clear that he is going to bring Mathur back the minute the board changes. If there is no permenant chancellor in place when the board changes, Fuentes will bring Mathur back. The board majority is doing everything they can to make sure there is a permenant chancellor in place, hired through a fair and open process. This is the first great thing that has happened in the district for a long time. Let's get on board.
3:37 PM

Anonymous said...
Baron: Did they film the Special Meeting for our entertainment?
4:16 PM

B. von Traven said...
The special meeting was, I fear, a closed session. Hence there will be no record, aside from the memories of those who attended. And those are feeble. Feel free to put on puppet shows of what likely occurred. Fuentes is the ugly puppet in the corner.
10:53 PM

Anonymous said...
The meeting was public and recorded. It'll be on the district's web site. And well worth the watching.
11:04 PM

B. von Traven said...
If video will be made available, it will appear here. Usually, it takes 4 or 5 days (the meeting was 4 days ago).
12:15 AM, March 16, 2010

The last of the White Stripes

Seven or eight years ago I got to know this cute--and smart--girl who was the part-time secretary for another school. Her office was just down the hall. She had ambitions. And ambivalence.

One day we were talking about music and, the next day, she handed me a CD she had burned, something called "Elephant." "You'll love this," she said.

Well, she was right. Blew me away.

Jack and Meg don't seem to be together anymore. I think their little band--somehow that seems like the wrong word--is no more. But already it seems clear that Jack needs to play with Meg, needs that simple drumming, her peculiar presence, and her shy charms.

Was some kinda muse, I think. With her, he seemed always hungry, desperate, bizarre. Now, he's just a musician. Well, maybe he's more. But that old magic can be no more, I think. Strikes once, if you're lucky. Then no more. May as well go home and watch TV.