The Return of Marisa Melrose

Thanks to Mirko at the Marisa Mell blog for sharing one of our photos with their readers today.

You can see the entry here.

Walter Wager Talks With Josh Alan Friedman

Later on, a whole genre of stories developed in which Allied pilots or spies, in various parts of the world, were hidden by the underground in secret headquarters, which were always brothels, cathouses. Bruce said they were doing so well, let’s do another. I said, “For God's sake, Bruce, we’ve done everything except an underwater cathouse.” He said, “I love it, do that.”

"Magazine Management (Part VII): Walter Wager" by Josh Alan Friedman.

Click here to read it at Black Cracker Online.

John Bowers Talks Men's Adventure With Josh Alan Friedman

"We’d make up a battle in World War II where they had a counter-attack on roller skates against a giant tank armada. Readers who I met said what they liked about the magazines was they were real, factual."

"Magazine Management (Part VI): John Bowers" at Black Cracker Online.

Click here to read it.

Josh Alan Friedman: Mel Shestack Lives!

"The best one of all was a job where you make $50,000 marrying hookers to save them, through a foundation out West that I made up."

from "Magazine Management (Part V): Mel Shestack Lives!" by Josh Alan Friedman

Click here to read it at Black Cracker Online.

This series just gets better and better...

The Citizen's Orchestra For Bill Dixon I-III

For Bill Dixon I



For Bill Dixon II



For Bill Dixon III

First of all, a thank you to forbesgraham for getting these sound clouds together.

The Citizen's Orchestra has been given dialectic here, at Stephen Haynes' blog and elsewhere.

But just so you know, here's the musicians:

Laurence Cook - Drums
Kevin Frenette - Guitar
Forbes Graham - Trumpet
Stephen Haynes - Trumpet
Jim Hobbes - Alto Saxophone
Christopher Kottke - Trumpet
Glynis Lomon - Cello
Nick Skrowaczewski - Keyboard
Jacob William - Bass
Stanley Jason Zappa - Alto Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone
Eric Zinman - Euphonium, Piano

Now you can hear it for yourself!

Pass it along! Feel free to share and share freely!


copyright © 2010 Stanley Jason Zappa, The Citizen's Orchestra

An inspiration.

(Howard University Press, c. 1952)

Now Hold On One Minute

So what you're saying is tuition is a little high and that maybe some of the highest compensated in the education business (because it is a business, after all) should get a bit of a pay cut instead raising tuitions even further? Why that's pure communist jibberish! Why do you hate learning?

Should the whole world be home schooled (pardon me, "distance educated") and should everyone just stay inside always except to go shopping?


You mean we can't just keep doubling tuitions?

You mean students aren't totally grateful for the opportunity to learn, regardless of price, regardless of their new "earning potential" upon graduation? I mean, you go to college, you learn stuff, and then you get a job in the field of your study that enables you to pay back your loan and live a dignified life in our present, late capital economy doing what you "love"--am I missing something?

Hey, it's great to know that even community colleges are raising their tuition so as not to be left out of the fun.

Hey, woah everyone, keep these comments within the accepted content-neutral always-friendly twaddle tolerances--you're coming awful close to teasing out some issues!

Or maybe the question should be posed like this: "without affordable and accessible jazz education, does jazz even have a future?" (that might be a trick question...)

No really, it's a good idea, no, really, and really we promise that this great idea will increase "equity." Maybe even "fairness." No really, we mean it, really. Honest.

"College has become so expensive that paying back such loans--particularly if a student goes on to grad school--can become a decades-long commitment." Yes, but you knew that going it to it--you knew you'd "have to hustle"--and since you are doing it for the "love" of your chosen area of interest, then really what's a couple few tens of thousands of dollars you'll spend the next two decades paying back?

PHEW! Thank dog this is just an isolated incident in a small and insignificant place with no implications for the rest of the country or any relation to anything that "we" have been slap-partying about, and that all is well in the wonderful world of higher education elsewhere, now and forever.


copyright © 2010 Stanley Jason Zappa

Lou Reed, as Josh Alan Friedman Knew Him

In commemoration of Lou Reed's 68th birthday today, why not take a trip down memory lane with cub reporter Josh Alan Friedman, c. 1978. Street Hassle has just been released, the fettuccine is served, and Mr. Reed is in an expansive mood:

“You oughta fuckin’ kiss the ground that you’re walking on that I’m even talking to you. I’ll chew you up on any level you want to get to."

Read "Lou Reed: Ugly People Got No Reason to Live" at Black Cracker Online here.

Josh Alan Friedman Interviews Mario Puzo

"I wrote 'A Bridge Too Far,' that story of the Arnhem invasion. After you got through reading my story, you thought the Allies won the battle, not the Germans."

Mario Puzo in conversation with Josh Alan Friedman.

Click here to read "Magazine Management (Part IV): Mario Puzo" at Black Cracker Online.