Sissy Bounce

On the fifth anniversary on Hurricane Katrina doubts remain about the Army Corps of Engineers “improvements” made on the levies protecting New Orleans. One thing for sure: “The Big Easy” is still rocking. According to a July issue of New York Times Magazine, at a gay and transgender club (at least after midnight) called Sports Vue, when “sissy bounce” rapper Big Freedia performs, women come on stage to join the six foot, two inch transvestite and gyrate, according to author Jonathan Dee, “in the most sexualized way imaginable, usually with their backs to her, bent over sharply at the waist, and bouncing their hips up and down as fast as humanly possible, if not slightly faster. Others assumed more of a push-up position, with their hands on the floor, in a signature dance whose name is sometimes helpfully shortened to ‘p-popping.’” There is also a song by Ludacris by that name, with the “p” short for pussy.

After an investigation The Post-Tribune reported on Tax Increment Financing (TIF), a gimmick that has helped refurbish blighted areas in Gary and other Region cities. When property values rise in a designated area, such as the Small Farms neighborhood on Gary’s west side, the tax revenue goes into a fund used to generate new investment. The program is lucrative for favored developers and has financed worthwhile projects, but it deprives city governments of tax revenues. Like with charter schools, which in the short term can be beneficial but reduce funds for existing schools and undercut teachers unions, the jury is still out on whether the long-term verdict will be favorable. IUN’s Chancellor Lowe and Mayor Clay should work to make Glen Park a TIF location.

Locally: Willie Burnett, a 62 year-old Vietnam vet, was bludgeoned to death walking home from a party shortly after dark – another black eye for Gary, the city I love and often mourn for. IU Northwest is beginning the Fall semester with a record number of students, yet the perception still exists among timid souls that the place is unsafe. Some parts of the Glen Park neighborhood are but not the campus. Poet John Sheehan wrote in “Leaving Gary”: “I came to identify so much with this ill conceived steel mill mismatched city; this scapegoat of our confused society . . . this enchanted place where 1906 and after have not completely destroyed the woods and swamps and dunes of centuries . . . O Gary, heart of our mixed up country, I love you now and forever.” I second that emotion as Smokey Robinson crooned.

In NY Times Magazine former addict Margaret Woodruff describes visiting the spot where the body of country singer Hank Williams was found in 1953 after he overdosed – Burdette’s Gas Station in Oak Hill, West Virginia. Bob Dylan cites old Hank (Hank Williams, Jr., achieved some renown in his own right) as a major influence. Norah Jones covered “Cold Cold Heart” and “Don’t Know Why” on a CD that Jojo Robinson played on the way to French Lick between Megadeth albums.

A former student, working in an Ennis Montana, nursing home, has so many aches and pains at the end of a day that he’s looking into getting a medical marijuana card. Indiana will probably be the last state to allow such a thing. Hoosiers still can’t buy alcohol on Sunday. California appears ready to legalize and tax its lucrative cannabis crop. Right on! Prohibition didn’t work 90 years ago either.

Two replacements for the downed trees from the July storm finally arrived. The landscapers apparently didn’t dig the holes deep enough or take out the old roots. Hopefully I can delegate this problem to others on the condo board. After all, I’m no tree expert. I continued to press Marva to succeed me as Court One director should I be elected board secretary.

Using FACET interview excerpts, Aaron Pigors finished putting together the rough draft of a CD entitled “Indiana University: Dedicated to Excellence in Teaching and Learning.” The intro will incorporate action footage Phil took of sessions in French Lick. Approximately 30 minutes long, it could go on the FACET website and be shown at the 2011 retreat along with one paying tribute to founder Eileen Bender. Should David Malik step down as director, we might produce a third one on him.

Recovering alcoholic Glenn Beck’s “Restore America” Lincoln Memorial rally on the anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech was a cop-out. All the unbalanced FOX talking head talked about was religion (he’s a Mormon who claims divine inspiration) and honoring our troops. He cautioned attendees against having placards accusing Obama of being a socialist, Nazi or Muslim – in other words, revealing their true colors. Samuel Love on Facebook called the rally “vague, moist, and undirected – the Waterworld of white self-pity.” Now Beck admits he was mistaken to call Obama a racist. As one commentator noted, he’s playing the role of wolf in sheep’s clothing. A recent poll revealed that one out of five Americans believe the President to be a Muslim. Prejudice trumps intelligence every time.

After losing four straight at home to Houston (one in 16 innings after Jimmy Rollins tied the score in the ninth with a two-out, two-strike HR, Philadelphia swept the Padres in San Diego over the weekend. Brad Lidge balked in the tying run in the ninth on Friday, but they won in 12. The end of Saturday’s game was on ESPN since the Twins 1-0 victory was over so quickly, and I saw Lidge get the save with Dave, over for gaming. Sunday the Hagelbergs hosted a cookout and bridge.

Laura Kittle, who works in Marketing and Development and is married to former White Sox and Wirt High School slugger Ron Kittle, sent me a copy of a 2006 publication entitled “Miller Memories,” edited by Don Carlson. The late, great local sports legend Wally McCormick contributed a touching introduction. Recalling old haunts, including Miller School, Marquette Park, Carr’s Beach, and Miller Bakery, where sweet rolls cost 25 cents a dozen, Wally concluded: “The community of Miller will never leave the hearts of those of us who grew up in a spot that seemed close to heaven. And as we moved in the adult world, the closeness and yes, the love for the life we lived, proved once again that Jimmy Stewart was right. Wasn’t it a wonderful life!” I’ve never met a sweeter man than Wally. The best referee in Northwest Indiana at all levels, whether it be sandlot softball, middle school basketball or high school football, he could de-fuse any situation with a quip. Wally had me on his TV show a half dozen times and mentioned me in the acknowledgements.

Received emails from old softball teammate Ivan Jasper (who in July tried to pull off a surprise visit but found the Maple Place homestead deserted) and this request from Rebecca Zorach: “I am a collaborator of Sam Barnett's on AREA Chicago (actually, I edited his interview with you for the last issue!) and I have a question for you. Have you ever had anyone in your oral history interviews discuss the construction of the "Chicago Picasso" sculpture? I understand it was done at US Steel in Gary. I'd be interested to know if there were any reactions to it among the workers, and also what the racial composition of the workforce would have been (in 1967). Any suggestions for people to talk to would be much appreciated! Thanks for any help you can give.” We have material about the statue in the Archives, so I told her to contact Steve McShane.

Told Ray and Trish Arredondo that I nominated Maria for the Lake County tourist bureau’s Wall of Fame and sent a copy of “Maria’s Journey” to Jerry Davich. They want to show me press releases at lunch Wednesday when we have a marketing brainstorming session at the Patio.

Broke my computer glasses frames and got an estimate of $189 to replace them from Vision Point. Found an optician in Highland, Bill Johnson, who fixed me up for thirty bucks.

Among the flurry of Facebook messages concerning Upper Dublin’s upcoming fiftieth reunion: Wendy Henry may attend for the first time ever. Phil Arnold is iffy because wife Bev might need another operation. Just learned that Judy Otto died. We had fun at the 2000 reunion and traded Christmas cards ever since. Sometimes she’d sign them “Crazy Otto,” the title of a Fifties song. We’ll also miss Molly Schade, a beauty who did not have a conceited bone in her body. Younger sister Nancy, whom everyone called Sissy, was part of our gang. It would be nice to open the reunion to friends from other classes, such as my buddy Terry Jenkins. What I’d give to see Sissy again.

All combat troops are out of Iraq. In a televised speech the President acknowledged his disagreements with Bush but added that nobody doubted his predecessor’s support for our troops nor his concern for America’s security. Republicans were less charitable, carping that Obama didn’t give enough credit to the so-called surge. What temporarily improved the situation at the time of the surge were diplomatic maneuvers (essentially bribing Sunni leaders to abandon terror tactics), but the internal situation in Baghdad has deteriorated in recent months.