The Boston Phoenix January 25-31, 2002: Vol 31 Iss 4

117 Pages·116.8 MB·English

=< (ee Health and wellness
—~
JANUARY 25-31, 2002
THE BOSTON(S) five'secnons tree
BOSTON’
: KS vA
WRITERS ON WRITERS
JANET MALCOLM,
V.S. NAIPAUL, and
ANORUROTRRAGIRE,E ReR.
Willic
PHILIP ROTH
BOOKS
DON'T QUOTE ME
NSE
Enwrong
The punditocracy agrees
| Stays true that Enron isn’t a partisan
political scandal. Actually,
to his muse it's much worse than that.
BY DAN KENNEDY
HE CONVENTIONAL wisdom that has
coagulated, Jell-O-like (i.e., soft and
squishy), around the Enron story is that this
is above all else a business scandal, not a po-
litical scandal.
To listen to. detenders of the Bush adminis-
tration, the system worked. For all the political
HO tELLOLL contributions
Enron lavished
Kid Rock
on George W. SHAME OF THE SYSTEM
Bush, members
of Congress, and Enron is
both political business as
parties over the
_ IN ARTS
years, when push usual
came to shove,
the Bushies didn’t See ‘Editorial,’ page 4
BOOKS ILLUSTRATION BY THOM PARSONS; HEALTH AND WELLNESS ILLUSTRATION BY COREY SMIGLIAN!
hesitate to push
MAKEOVERS Enron chair
Kenneth “Kenny Boy” Lay right off the cliff.
Secretary of the Treasury Paul O’ Neill —
who was apparently among those refusing to
Tom Birmingham: The new
help break Enron’s fall — memorably put it
this way: “Companies come and go. It’s part
of the genius of capitalism.”
image versus the old pol
The conventional wisdom, as is often the
case, is all wrong. If you just walked in for
the last 15 minutes of this movie, well, yes, it
Can the Senate president follow Nixon, Dukakis, and Clinton in crafting looks like our elected officials were ad-
mirably resolute in the face of pressure from
a new look, or will his office drag him down? high-profile political allies. But if you roll the
film back to the opening credits and watch
BY SETH GITELL from the beginning, you'll see that this was a
business scandal created by politics.
NEW FIGURE surfaced in Mass- Chelsea. As a teen, he studied inthe —_ should have respect for their workers Houston-based Enron’s incomprehensible
achusetts politics a little more back room of a rented apartment ina — something that astounded all business of buying and selling energy, broad-
than two weeks ago and declared his _ three-decker overlooking the Mystic _ present. As a high-school senior, band capacity, even “weather derivatives”
candidacy for governor. Raised in a River, his work interrupted only by when he got the envelope from Har-
(“whatever those are,” conceded financial re-
blue-collar community, he was re- the sound of cars racing across the vard — its large size signaling ac- porter Allan Sloan in Newsweek last week)
laxed, personable, and loyal. He Tobin Bridge. He worked in a factory ceptance before he even opened it —
never would have been possible were it not for
spoke in simple but passionate terms —_ while in high school and, according he whooped with joy, knowing that it dangerously foolish deregulatory decisions
about the economic pain of recession __ to his mother, told supervisors they represented a ticket to another life.
going back to the early 1990s — including a
and how improving education helps Compare that with the old Birming- key decision by former regulatory official
teens. His name? Tom Birmingham. vnk ham, who generally refrained from Wendy Gramm, wife of US Senator Phil
The new Birmingham has a com- Ron Popeil S$ hot! discussing his personal background.
Gramm, both of whom have found the Enron
pelling personal story — the kind In 2000, he caused something of a stir connection to be a lucrative one over the years.
that makes political consultants sali- See ‘Out There’ page 12 at the Young Democrats Convention
The entire notion of deregulating the energy
vate. He grew up on Essex Street in See BIRMINGHAM, page 22
See QUOTE, page 16
AVALON OQ \V/T\G 'e en
- 15 LANSDOWNE STREET, BOSTON
r \ |
ES
SaturDAY Marcu 9 6pu.p00
ON SALE SATURDAY 10AM
Tickets available at the Orpheum Theatre Box Office without a service charge, by calling
(617) 423-NEXT, at the Paradise Box Office Mon-Fri 12pm-6pm, Sat 3pm-6pm and select
Strawberries locations. Tickets available at Avalon box office night of show only.
ORPHEUM THEATRE
ONE HAMILTON PLACE += BOSTON
PAT METHENY GROUP
SPEAKING OF NOW TOUR
Pat Metheny (g)
SPM DOORS - 9PM SHOW - ALL AGES Lyle Mays (p, kb)
Steve Rodby (b)
Richard Bona (pce, v)
Cuong Vu (t, v)
Antonio Sanchez (d)
APRIL 24 77306 sHow - 184
ON SALE SATURDAY 10AM
Tickets available by calling (61 7) 228-6000, at the Orpheum Theatre Box Office,
all eexermasrer locations or online at ticketmaster.com. For American Express Gold
Card Events call 800-786-GOLD
Please note that all date(s), act(s) and time(s) are subject to change without notice. Ticket prices may include or be
subject to restoration and/or facility maintenance fees and/or charitable donation Surcharges. A service charge
will be added to the price of each ticket. Produced by Clear Channel Entertainment
| OS hear PrtYecensr !t bsuYcceask!sm , Yeyso!r 'F ocarn juhsatv e Over
wit= h " :' aN Lie 5 é& Try " .
A i ‘ ,
a we ; N : omic,
C& iT l wveesA »few N\\ C| U [7b - . . F "Heaigh e> o r ~B_on elPelsesas uBruef fwailtoh Wir gs.
FRIDAY - NARCH 1 . '\ Yoyuo'ul'll loe bew a8n0ut r Sat1to1 i7ss fmiteoadkp se,
NpE e
6PM DOORS - 7PM SHOW « ALL AGES \ a cigarette afterward,
Tickets available at the Orpheum Theatre Box Office, Paradise Box Office (Mon-Fri 12pm-6pm, Sat 3pm-6em) and
select Strawberries locations. Call (617) 423-NEXT, Tickets available at Avalon box office night of show only.
The SUNSET GRILL & TAF
Get Tiekets At = Please note that ali date(s), act(s) and time(s) are subject to change without notice. Ticket prices may include
or be subject to restoration and/or facility maintenance fees and/or charitable donation surcharges. A Corner of Harvard Ave. and Brighton Ave
service charge will be added to the price of each ticket. Produced by Clear Channel Entertainment
JANUARY 25, 2002 NEWS AND FEATURESTH E BOSTON PHOENIX 3
“There was a kind of — this is not my term — CEO pornography in the late '90s, the epicenter of
which was Silicon Valley. The media coverage of Silicon Valley was extremely uncritical, extremely cel-
ee eee ) ebratory.... There were red flags in the late '90s that were just missed.”
— Mark Leibovich, This Just In, page 6
THE BOSTON PHOENIX C nuary
A 30SF1o unDdne dP HCi n 196-6 on en Ss Ja 25,
news and features
next week In Arts, another side of fashion photography at the ICA.
DON’T QUOTE ME: Enwrong »y Dan Kennedy 1
Enron handed out campaign contributions like candy — to Republicans and Democrats
8 days a week alike. But the political causes of this scandal go much deeper than mere partisan power-
swapping, and it’s time the media woke up to the real story .
Our “Pick of the Week” is the exhibition “Refugees Even After TALKING POLITICS: Tom Birmingham: The new image
Death: Photographs of Exhumations of Clandestine versus the old pol py seth Gite! 1
Cemeteries in Guatemala,” at the Cambridge Multicultural Arts
The Chelsea native has unveiled a new, more personable self to take along on the
Center; in “State of the Art,”
gubernatorial campaign trail. Trouble is, as Senate president, he must still contend with his
Susannah Mandel talks to comic-
image as a Beacon Hill pol.
CLUB LISTINGS 6 book theorist Scott McCloud; in “Next
CONCERTS 10 Weekend,” Carly Carioli prepares us Geoghan: Convicted at last by Kristen Lombard 24
EVENTS 12 for the “Down from the Mountain”
The first trial of more than 80 lawsuits against pedophilic former priest John Geoghan was
ART LISTINGS 14 concert; Garrick Ohlsson plays with
surprisingly bland and only marginally convincing, but the jury still handed down a guilty
DINING LISTINGS 16 the BSO; the Flamenco Festival hits verdict. All that just whetted the press’s appetite for the far more damning trials scheduled
the Emerson Majestic Theatre; the to begin next month.
Hissyfits play the Middle East; actress
Sarah Polley introduces “Rewind/Fast Forward: 20+ Years of Popeye: A love story »y Nine Wilcor 28
Work by Women in Film & Video/New England” festival; and in Fred Grandinetti vows to keep the cartoon drear alive.
“Future Perfect,” the elusive Frank and Malachy McCourt, uh,
“perform” in a benefit at the Seaport Hotel. Relative radio »y tamara Wieder 30
Every week, the Satellite Sisters hold a family reunion on the airwaves
Dining: In “Dining Out,” Robert Nadeau finds wicked-good ribs
in Eastie; in “On the Cheap,” Kate Cohen enjoys tradition and
innovation by the slice; and in “Noshing,” David Valdes
Greenwood likes his fruit feistier with chocolate. Feeling a little under the weather? Don't have your usual oomph? Come let us walk you
Frank McCourt, 8 Days a Week p. 4 through just a few of the gyms, spas, alternative-health-care venues, and nutrition boosters
arts TT ARERR available in our fair city.
Willie Nelson has been one of the great crossover stars of country music for more than 40 years. Now departments
he’s got a new album with “guest stars” like Kid Rock and Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20, along with a new
book, and he comes to the Orpheum Theatre on January 25. Ted
Drozdowski talked to Willie about the album, EDITORIAL 4 URBAN BUY
the book, whiskey, and smoking pot. Enron is a political scandal of deep by Suzanne Kammiott 10
FILM 3 historical proportions. When it comes to phones, who says
Also: Jon Garelick reads three new hefty THEATER 7 LETTERS 4 smaller is better?
little books about writing by Janet Maicolm, BOOKS 13 BU blows it, and more. MOON SIGNS
beesa igrlea rns ondthea bestyo fe a tahe Naewbauryy aStrsee t MUSIC 14 TJi rs) astrology by Symboline Dai
galdlearirese; in e“ Cellars by Starlight,” ‘ Seayn HFIOLTM DLOITSTSI NG2S1 22 Our very own imperialists, and Ground OUT THERE bbyy KriKsri s FrieFrsiweiswcitck
; s Zero reflections. Plus, Ta/k-ed out Love! Passion! Infomercials!
Richardson gives us the skinny on Boston FILM STRIPS 23 ove! Passion! Infomercials
bands Cancer Conspiracy and PHOENIX FLASHBACKS 8
, THE STRAIGHT DOPE
Rea eben Cuitter; Peter Keough celebrates the PERSONALS 29 Trading politics for whiskey, when Yusuf ia Const Atta
ae ere Seo Human Rights Watch Film Festival Islam was Cat Stevens, and other odds
and the exciting new Chinese film Platform, Carolyn Clay and ends from the Phoenix's past HELP WANTED
watches Queen Elizabeth and pirate Grace O'Malley go at it in Short-Haired Grace; and Lloyd Schwartz Plus, David Sipress’s “Reality Check.’ CLASSIFIEDS
listens to guitarist David Starobin and to conductor Bernard Haitink’s BSO performance of Mozart's
Requiem.
Think small.
think SIMMONS.
"Transfer to Choose from more than 40 Simmons graduates are To Find Out More
areas of study, including: authors, educators, executives,
Simmons College - arts administration filmmakers, lawyers, and > 617.521.2700
a Boston and - biology legislators. And the list goes > [email protected]
thrive in a small * COMBED sctence on and on. Simmons educates
* communications > Simmons College
women’s college : education women for leadership through 800 The Fenwa
environment with + management a liberal arts curriculum ia pe
the advantages of a , na combined with professional , MA
large univ: ersit: y. *- pasnydc nmoalnoygy more prreepp aration.
SIMMONS COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
4 JANUARY 25, 2002 NEWS AND FEATURES THE BOSTON PHOENIX
EDITORIAL
Why Enron is business as usual
BOSTON * PROVIDENCE * PORTLAND
VOL. XXXI, NO. 4
PusBusHER & CHAIRMAN: Shame of the system
Stephen M. Mindich
Presipent & CHieF OPERATING OFFICER:
H. Barry Morris
Eprror:
Peter Kadzis
BOSTON
Sewior Manacine Eorror/PHoenx Newspaper Group: Clit Garboden, Desian
Dinector: Kristen Goodfnend; Semon Eprronia: Desianer: Kelly Davidson
Eorroma. Desianer: Jenna Talbott; News Eorror: Susan Ryan-Volimar HERE IS A SIMPLE way to begin resolv- Rosenberg, writing in Salon several days ago in robber baron. In addition to the $5.7 million his
Features Eorror: Tamara Wieder: Arts Eorror: Jeffrey Gantz; Assocure
Arts Eorror: Jon Garelick,; Ants Eorrors: Carolyn Clay (theater), Peter ing the Enron scandal. Every federal, state, a similar vein, feared that “Enron’s dismal story company spent in direct campaign contribu-
Keough (film), Matt Ashare (music), Carly Carioli (events); Starr Eorrors: and local official who has ever worked (di- simply doesn’t meet the high bar of triviality the tions to Congress, Enron spent another
Suzanne Bashoff, Catherine Tumber; Stare Warrers: Seth Gitell, Kristen
Lombardi, Nina Willdorf, Chris Wright; Listas Coorpmaror: Brian Gosiow rectly or indirectly) for Enron, or taken cam- press today demands. The sums of money are $3.45 million in 1999 and 2000 to lobby for the
ASSISTANT TO THE Eorror: Mike Miliard paign contributions from the company or any of too great; the flaws it exposes in our political deregulation of energy-futures trading, among
CowrrisuTine Eorror: Lioyd Schwartz (classical); Contrisutiwc Warrers:
Amy Finch, Michael Freedberg, Kris Frieswick, Dan Kennedy, Brett Milano, its executives, or cast a vote or made a regulato- system are too vast. It’s just too real to qualify.” other goals. Enron, it must be understood,
Christopher Millis, Robert Nadeau, Geraid Peary, Alicia Potter, Marcia B
Siegel, Harvey Silvergiate, Robert David Sullivan, Gary Susman, Charles ry decision favorable to the corrupt and now- Let's hope he’s wrong. So far the New York moved out of the business of actually creating
Taylor, Steve Vineberg, Stephanie Zacharek,; Cantoonst: David Sipress bankrupt company should issue an apology — Times and the Washington Post are tracking the energy and into the business of packaging it
Astrovocer: Symboline Dai
Eorror At Lance: Nancy Gaines to the nation (for helping to story with a vengeance. and marketing it as a commodity.
Saves Director: A. William Risteen screw up an already shaky econ- But broadcast makes the In effect, Enron bought a climate of opinion
Trarric Manacer: Jennifer Price, Trarric Cooromarors: Alessandra Roversi omy); to Enron shareholders difference. And as the conducive to its needs and schemes. Investiga-
Sosa, Darcy Scanior; CLassmep DispLay Account Executives: Kelly Monty, Al
Wilson; Cuassieiep Lines Sates Manacer: Jessica Zeigler, CLassimep Lines (for robbing them of their story gets more compli- tions by state and federal officials concluded
Assistant Manacer: Maryellen Shields, CLassirtep Lines Account Executives: money); and to rank-and-file cated and arcane, will that power generators and power marketers,
Robin Laskey, Jonathan Risteen, Meredith Swart; Corporate Music Saves
Manacen: Michael Aliberte; Retan. Saves Manaaer: Eric Meth: EnTeRTaiInMeNT employees (for costing them the lowest-common-de- emboldened by the absence of oversight, inten-
SEalitzeasb etAh ccEorunna;t SEexweocurt ivAecsc: ounAts hlEexye cutStirvieglse:; CAacrrcioeu nMte adeC,o orHpoiwnaarTdo r-TCeimukeisn their jobs and retirement money, nominator values of tele- tionally withheld electricity, creating artificial
Retaa Account Executives: Paul Bessette, Dan Healy, Rob Klimeczko; Courier and ruining their lives). vision news be up to the shortages to increase the cost of power. That's
Buster Garvins
NaTionac SALES It’s hard to say who should go challenge? how Enron and others sparked the California
Director oF Nanionar Saves: Everett Finkelstein, Nanona: Saces Account first. After all, three-quarters of Corrupt business prac- energy crisis.
Executives: Dave Garland, Jason Hayes, PJ Solomon; Nariona, Account
Executive: Erin Moore the US Senate and half of the tices rooted in political According to Ralph Nader’s Critical Mass
Human RESOURCES House of Representatives took connivance and public Energy and Environmental Program, “Enron
Dinector of Human Resources: Barry S. Ahern: Human Resources
Manacer: Ryan Thibodeau; Emp.covment Speciaust: Kate Lenehan Enron campaign contributions. lassitude are nothing took advantage of lax oversight following dereg-
Execute Assistant: Deborah Koppelman; Recernonisr: Elizabeth Randall Republicans garnered an ele- new. Of the great rail- ulation and formed a complicated web of more
Director oF MarKeTina: Mike Bornhorst phantine share of the loot, with road scandals that rocked than 2800 subsidiaries — more than 30 per-
Coprwarrrer: Kevin Griffin: Sra. Personwa.s MarKeTina Associate: Mary Lynn
Bramucci $4.1 million, but with $1.6 million on their the nation in the years following the Civil War, cent (874) of which were located in officially
DinecTor OF INTERNET Prooucts: Sanford Wilk books, the donkeys among the Democrats are Brahmin investor and political reformer designated offshore tax and bank havens.”
Onune Eorrorn: Camille Dodero; Wes Deverorer: Joe Cummings; Wes hardly clean. And that’s just at the national Charles Francis Adams wrote: “It was some- Once in office, George W. Bush, who re-
Desianer: Kathieen Gary: Onuine Content Cooroinator: Kate Cohen
level. The Texas attorney general, for example, thing new to see a knot of adventurers, men of ceived $1.14 million in campaign contributions
Manaaine Eoiror, Maazines anOo PESRpAecTiIaO: NSP usucations: Christopher Young has had to distance himself from the company’s broken fortune, without character and without from Enron, scrapped plans formulated by the
Propuction Manacer: Jim Jarnot,; Aovertisina Art Director: Dave investigation because he has received $158,000. credit, possess themselves of an artery of com- Clinton administration that would have limited
Fennema; Senior Grapwic Artist: Paul Sanborn, Grapwic Arnists: Melanie
Belanger, Susana Montesinos; Network Manacer: Chuck Julian; Desktop As a rule, our political dislocations — be they merce ... and make levies upon it, not only for the effectiveness of these offshore havens as
Support Manacer: Brian Gowdey; PC/Mac Systems Tecumicians: Christopher gross misjudgments, treasonous conspiracies, their own emolument, but, through it, upon high-class money-laundering operations. This
Kelly, Thomas Price; Fiwancia. Systems Aomiistrator: Brian Hayward
Facies Manaaer: John Nunziato or reckless carnal interludes — can be laid the whole business of a nation. ... No people came at the height of the California energy cri-
CIRCULATION squarely at the feet of an individual (usually the can afford to glance at these things in the sis. It doesn’t stretch the imagination to suggest
CimcucaTion Manacer: Maureen Roberts, Ciacucarion Anacyst: Jackie president), supported by a cast of indicted or columns of the daily press, and then dismiss that Enron siphoned billions of dollars into
Mackenzie
unindicted co-conspirators. There was John- them from memory,” these offshore accounts.
Director of Corporate Finance: Charles A. Walter
Conrroiter: David Coppola; MercHanoise Aoministrator: Alan Orlove. son’s war in Vietnam, Nixon’s Watergate, Rea- But here in the United States of Amnesia, we But who will investigate? Enron may not
MTorlaiperee ; OrArciccoeu ntMiannca ceMra:n aceKarrsy:! RLaanlgpihll , DraTgroanneett i, CooGrrpegw atPoerre:i ra; SuSzeanninoer gan’s Iran-contra debacle, Clinton’s Lewinsky quickly forget. The railroad scandals of the 19th have bought and paid for Congress, the White
Accountant: Jessica Berry; Stare Accountants: Nataliya Dzyuba caper. But Enron is different. Before it’s over, century may be the stuff of ancient history. And House, and federal regulatory apparatus. But it
Elmirane Sylvain; Corporate Crevoit Manacer: Ed Davol
Creorr/Co.Lecnions Representative: Don Murphy this episode will demonstrate how fundamental- the stock-market swindles that came to light at did rent them. And that’s just as bad. With any
PROVIDENCE ly compromised and deeply corrupt the entire the dawn of the Great Depression may be fad- luck, Enron’s corporate bigwigs, its lawyers,
American political system is. ing memories to our grandparents and great- and its accountants will do jail time. But the po-
Associate PusuisHer: Stephen L. Brown The word out of Washington is that Enron is grandparents. One would think the pillage and litical enablers who allowed this to happen will
Manaainc Eprror: Lou Papineau
News Eortor: lan Donnis; Contrisutine Eprror: Jim Macnie, David Andrew a business scandal, not a political scandal. collapse of the savings-and-loan industry, which still be in power. The more things change, the
SPthoilllleirp;e &C onJorrrgies, utBiinlle RoWdarrirgeurezs,: JAonhan etCtaeb reRroad,r iguReuzd,y PCahme ekSst,e ageBro, b StGeulvlean Don’t believe it. AsD an Kennedy observes in cost US taxpayers more than $315 billion in the more they stay the same. &
Stycos, Chip Young; ContrisuTinc ILLustrators: Steve Brosnihan, Elizabeth one of our front-page stories (see “Enwrong,” late 1980s, would have taught the politicians —
Rock; Contriputinc PHorocrapHers: Peter Goldberg, Richard McCaffrey
Director oF Naniowa: Saves: Everett Finkelstein; Account Executes: News and Features, page one) this week, Enron if not the public — something. But it didn’t. What do you think? Send an e-mail to
Bruce Allen, Courtney Church, Keith Curtin, Laura Foss, Allison Gagnon is a “business scandal created by politics.” Scott Enron chair Kenneth Lay is a modern-day [email protected].
Ginny Hall, Andrea Lyn Mark, Mary Ann Reese; Nanonat Account
Executive: Erin Moore; Fimance Manacer: Raiph Dragonetti; Prooucnon
Manacer: Phil Maigret; Trarric Cooromaror: Stacy Huggins, Grapnic
Arnsts: Patrick Beyer, Stacy Congdon; Creorr Manaaer: Anita Anderson ILLUSTRATION BY JENNA TALBOTT
Recerrionist/ApminstraTor: Jennifer Dyson. Wor.o Wwe Wes Sie
http//www.providencephoenix.corny
LETTERS
PORTLAND
Saves Director/Operanions Manacer: Marc Shepard
Manaainc Eprror: Sam Pteifle We welcome responses from our readers. Let- room and asked me to leave while they talked to gone through almost four years at BU with the
Listiwes Coorpinator: Joshua Rogers; Starr Warren: Jessica Kilby
ContriguTinc Writers: Theresa Flaherty, Tony Giampetruzzi, Pete Hodgin ters should be typed (double-spaced), ifp ossible, my roommate. They bullied her into going to the conviction that if 1 ever believed I had been
Doug Hubley, Mark Klimek, Joan Lang, Tim O'Sullivan, Robert von Stein
Redick, Jenna Russell, Lance Tapley, June Vail; Director of Naniona. SALEs: and must include the writer’s name, address, and hospital to get a rape test even though it had taped, | would hesitate to bring it to the attention
Everett Finkelstein; Sewor Account Executive: Kelly Collins; Account a telephone number where he or she can be been a few days, and therefore a few showers, of the university. I have severe doubts about
Executes: Rob Jenkins, Alien Lowe, Elizabeth Rafuse; AccounTinc
Manacer: Ralph Dragonetti; Prooucnon Manacer: Mark Sayer, GraPnic reached during business hours for verification. after the alleged rape. From that point on, the re- whether the university has any concern for my
Arnsts: Nacona Feirro, Matt Robbins; Trarric/Crepr Cooromaror: Sonya The writer’s name and position or town will be sponse of the university staff was neither sup- mental well-being.
Tomlinson
OFFICES published, but these may be withheld for good portive nor sympathetic. Instead, they pressured Christina Chen
reason. her to reveal the name of her attacker, and later, Boston
Boston: 126 BroAodkvleirntei siAnveg. , deBopsatornt, meMnAft a 0x2:2 51356;- 1T4e6l:3 [phone] Letters may be mailed to the Boston Phoenix, once they had learned of her emotional instabili-
Editorial department fax [phone] Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215; faxed ty, they encouraged her to seek counseling and SOILED SALE
Cvassimieps: 328 Newbury St., Boston, MA 02115
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone] to [phone]; or e-mailed to disregarded her claim that she was raped. In the One important point that you neglected to
Provence: 150 Chestnut St., Providence, Ri 02903; [email protected] or to staff writers’ e-mail ad- course of an interview with the BUPD, I learned mention regarding the fishy sale of the Red Sox
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]
Portiano: 482 Congress Street, Suite 501, Portland, ME 04101 dresses (e-mailed letters must include a telephone that the case was dropped due to a belief that she {“Reform Baseball,” Editorial, January 18] is
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone] number for verification and a hometown). All let- was unstable and had accused the student of Major League Baseball commissioner Bud
Narionar Saves Orrice: 150 Chestnut St. Providence, Ril 02903
Tel: [phone] x232; Fax: [phone] ters are subject to editing for considerations of rape because she was unhappy and regretted Selig’s status as owner of the Milwaukee Brew-
Wor.o Wipe Wes site: http./www.bostonphoenix.com space, fairness, and clarity. sleeping with him. Later, when she tried to com- ers, a small-market team. This is by no means in-
INFORMATION mit suicide, it was treated as a bid for attention significant. Regardless of how impartial Selig
Manuscripts: Manuscripts should be addressed to Senior Editor, Boston CRY FOR HELP rather than a real cry for help. - professes to be, I can’t help but wonder if con-
Phoenix, 126 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215. We assume no responsibility for I'm writing in response to “Dealing with Rape I understand that because | was the alleged traction and salary caps would be non-issues if
returning manuscripts not accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope
Lerrers To THe Eorror: Send to 126 Brookline Ave.. Boston, MA 02215, fax to on Campus” [News and Features, January 18]. victim’s roommate, | am familiar only with her they weren’t so near and dear to his wallet. Selig
(t6e1l7e)p ho8n5e9 -8n2u0m1b,e r orf or e-vmeraiifli cattio on /[email protected]. Please include a daytime Boston University associate dean of students version of events. However, I do know that our stands to benefit greatly if his two pet projects
Susscripnons: Bulk rate $45/6 months, $80/1 year: first-class rate $1106 Herbert Ross is quoted as saying, “If we let dorm staff supported neither her nor those of her proceeded as planned. Friends in positions of
months, $200/1 year. Bulk-rate postage paid, Boston, MA; allow 10 days for
delivery Send name and address with check and money order to: Subscription someone down, we'd like to know about it. We friends who were directly affected by the events power can help Selig greatly, and I’m sure that
Department, Boston Phoenix, 126 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215 care how our staff interacts with students.” My surrounding her short stint at BU. I personally he won’t let John Henry forget who helped him
Copyvaicut: © 2001 by the Boston Phoenix, inc. All rights reserved
Reproduction without permission, by any method whatsoever, is prohibited own experience with how BU deals with rape felt that the staff didn’t know how to handle this get the Sox.
Printeo By: MAuabsusr n.W ebM A Pr0i1n5ti0n1g C» o.(, 508in)c. ; 83321-45 3W1a7s hington St victims has stayed with me throughout my years particular circumstance and couldn't help me 1 am shocked that almost everyone has been
at BU. cope with the stress of having a roommate who mum about Selig’s outright sketchiness. If he
CoTmHmeu nPiucoaetwixo ns Gtraofu p During my freshman year at Boston Universi- was going through severe emotional trauma. manages to get away with it, he may be putting a
ty, in the fall of 1998, my roommate believed that BU needs to change its policy. The procedure curse on the Sox that not even the Babe can
Crainman Stephen M. Mindich PresiH.p Baerryn Mtorr is
Eorror Peter Kadzis Director oF Corporate Finance Charies A. she had been raped by another BU student. on how to deal with such circumstances needs to match.
Walter Director of Newspaper Group Saves A. William Risteen Somehow it was reported to the school. One change, and perhaps staff in dormitories need Melissa Bartman
Tre Proennx FNX Raoio NetwoMrasxs ,We s
Province, Sturr @ NicHT, Group, InstaTRac day, two police officers appeared at my dorm more training in dealing with such situations. I’ve Brighton
AVALON BALRQOM|
)
“BRUCE
mma tA’
WIhi
the process of belief tour
hot water music ff meee JANUARY2 5
6PM DOORS « 7PM SHOW @ 16+
Bad Religion "Process of Belief" OUT NOW £
-~ i. af - Cer" 3 . : B4
% mm z
2 vg : ; ree on: " fies ~ % > . . .
15 LANSDOWNE STREET, BOSTON «SPM DOORS « 6:30PM SHOW « ALL AGES
ON SALE SATURDAY AT 10AM
Tickets available by calling (617) 423-NEXT or at the Orpheum Theatre Box Office, Paradise Box Office M-F (Noon-
6pm, 3-6pm on Sat), select Strawberries locations and at Avalon box office night of show only or get tickets at CC.com
Please note that all date(s), act(s) and time(s) are subject to change without notice. A service charge will be added to the price of each ticket. Prices may
include or be subject to restoration and/or facility maintenance fees and/or charitable donation surcharges. A Clear Channel Event
RUFUS
pe
PT TEDDYT HOMPSON
FRI. FEBRUARY 8 5.07!,20°"5,.
Tickets available at the Orpheum Theatre Box Office, Paradise Box Office (Mon-Fri
12pm-Gem, Sat 3em-Gem) and select Strawberries locations. Call (617) 423-NEXT,
Tickets available at Avalon box office night of show only.
phe)
967 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston
ON SALE TOD
MARCH 11 7PM DOOR+S8 P M SHOW
Tickets available by calling (617) 423-NEXT, at the Paradise Box Office
(Mon-Fri 12pm-6pm, Sat 3pm-6pm), select Strawberries locations or get tickets at cc.com
302 NEWBURY STREET, BOSTON ch ae 617 266 1079
PRICES
@ JANUARY 25, 2002 NEWS AND FEATURES THE BOSTON PHOENIX
this just in
ONE RICH NERD AFTER ANOTHER REEL WORLD
Mark Leibovich on the ‘New Imperialists’ Celluloid action
It wasn’t too long ago that think separates the New You probably recognize Sarah Polley films — there’s
people such as Microsoft’s Bill Economy success stories from from Go, the fast-paced, drug-hazed really an exciting
Gates, Amazon.com’s Jeff Bezos, the losers? 1999 film in which she bug-eyes her mix for
and other technology visionaries A: If you look back at how way across the screen as a waifish, self- everybody,”
were hailed as Masters of the all of these men started, possessed vixen who hunts down, explains Geller.
Universe, the creators of a New except for Larry Ellison, they does, and sells a variety of substances. “It’s a celebration
Economy that promised endless all came from very rich In real life, the young Canadian actress of the history of
prosperity. families. To be a successful ditched high school for good at 14 to women’s cinema.
The dot-com collapse of 2000 entrepreneur you need to be become a social activist, fighting for The idea came
and the terrorist attacks of a risk-taker, and to be a risk- equal access to health care and an end out of the need to
September 11 have awakened us taker you need to know to homelessness. Now, Polley has show [works]
from that dream. But the dream- where your next meal is added a new cause to her agenda: which really
BILL GATES
weavers themselves — and the coming from no matter what giving a boost to New England’s haven’t been
companies they created -— happens. This is very women filmmakers. screened in over a
POLLEY comes to rouse
haven’t gone away. much a contrast to the At the Canadian Film Center, where decade here in
Boston’s rabble.
A couple of years ago, Washington Post traditional Industrial she’s currently a student, Polley shot Boston and bring
technology reporter Mark Leibovich set Age titans like her directorial debut, a 37-minute these filmmakers
out to profile five leading figures of the Carnegie and work focusing on the wrenching nature of lost back; some of their best work is early stuff.”
New Economy: Gates, Bezos, Oracle’s Rockefeller, who came love. Titled J Shout Love, the short will kick One such film is Joyce Chopra’s 1986
Larry Ellison, AOL Time Warner’s Steve from searing poverty. off ab enefit for “Rewind/Fast Forward: 20+ feature Smooth Talk, an adaptation of a short
Case;and Cisco’s John Chambers. Those Jeff Bezos, because Years of Work,” a week-long festival story by Joyce Carol Oates that stars a very
profiles have now been expanded and he was indulged with promoting local women auteurs, sponsored by young Laura Dern. Also of note is Nancy
updated into a book, The New millions of dollars, Women in Film & Video/New England Porter’s 1975 A Woman’s Place Is in the
Imperialists: How Five Restless Kids was able to build a (WIFV/NE). Following the screening of her House, a documentary tribute to Elaine
Grew Up To Virtually Rule Your World great service, a very own film and a few others, the actress-cum- Noble, the first open lesbian elected to the
(Prentice Hall, 244 pages, $25). successful company. director-cum-rabble-rouser will open the floor Massachusetts State Legislature. Geller says
Leibovich, who began his career as a JEFF BEZOS Amazon is still around for any and all questions. ; Noble may attend the screening of Porter’s
staff writer for the Boston Phoenix, today, and eToys is WIFV/NE’s freshman president, Amy film.
discussed his book in a telephone not still around today [note: Geller, tempted the indie star to cross the The festival will also include a variety of
interview, excerpted here. eToys is back online after border after meeting her at a festival in talks and programs. Information on ticket
having been acquired by the Toronto, “She’s kind of an idol of mine,” prices, venues, and screening times can be
Q: How did these newspaper KB toy-store chain}, Geller says in a verbal swoon. “I saw her found on WIFV/NE’s Web site at
profiles grow into a book? because Bezos could give a across the room, and I knew I needed to talk www.wifvne.org.
A: I’d come back from an flying fuck about profits. He to her. I was very nervous. But she was really “An Evening with Sarah Polley” will take
nterview with Larry Ellison or Bill just raised money and nice, really down-to-earth, a wonderful place Monday, January 28, at 7 p.m., at the
Gates, and I realized that the expanded and expanded person. I told her about this film festival, and Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle Street, Cambridge.
stories | was telling my colleagues and expanded, because he she said she was very interested in coming.” Tickets are $12 ($10 for members) and can
were sometimes far more could. It looks like he Post-Polley, the festival, which runs through be purchased at the Brattle Theatre box
interesting than what I was writing bought himself the time and February 2, will showcase the early work of office. Call [phone] for more
in the newspaper. Things like Bill space to dominate. 16 local female filmmakers. “There are lesbian information.
>.
Gates’s telling me that he had read JOHN CHAMBERS films, there are films of people of color, Jewish
30 books on vacation, that he’d Q: Do you think we'll
made notes in the margins of all of ever again care
them, and that he’d written to the authors about business
asking them to elaborate. Which I guess executives the way PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY
you can do if you’re Bill Gates. we did in the
Join the caucus
1990s?
Q: Some pretty important people got left A: I certainly hope
out — for instance, Steve Jobs of Apple, not. There was a kind Which candidates get on the Democratic they live in at http://www.secstate.isaka.net
John Warnock of Adobe, and Scott of — this is not my ballot for governor will be determined in large /magov/search_form.php or by calling the
McNealy of Sun. How did you decide term — CEO part at the state Democratic caucuses, which clerk’s office of their city or town. Here is a
who'd make the cut and who wouldn't? pornography in the are being held early next month. At the list of a few of the caucus locations in our
A: My standard was that they had to be late "90s, the caucuses, six Democratic candidates for area. Make sure to check the Web site — or
monopolists in the non-legal sense — that epicenter of which governor — Senate president Tom call the Democratic Party at [phone]
is, they had to have an utter stranglehold was Silicon Valley. Birmingham, Secretary of State William — if you don’t see your location listed.
on their business. These are people who LARRY ELLISON The media coverage Galvin, former Democratic National
just made a business imperative out of of Silicon Valley was Committee chair Steve Grossman, Treasurer Boston
expansion and manifest destiny extremely uncritical, Shannon O’Brien, former secretary of labor South End/Fenway (Ward 4) — South End
and taking over the world. Steve extremely celebratory. Look no Robert Reich, and former state senator
Branch Library, February 2, 10:30 a.m.
Jobs talked about that a lot, but at further than the fact that so Warren Tolman — will vie for almost 4000
the end of the day he’s just a niche many journalists went to work delegates and 2792 alternates. Does this seem Back Bay/Beacon Hill (Ward 5) —
player. for dot-coms. Now we’re to you like an obscure, esoteric ritual, open Community Church of Boston, February 2,
hearing all about the only to political initiates? No need: here are 2 p.m.
Q: What has changed about the complicity of Wall Street four W’s on how to get involved. Jamaica Plain (Ward 10) — Parks
way we think about these people analysts and supposedly WHO can participate? The Democratic Community Building, February 2, 10 a.m.
— not just since the bursting of the independent auditors in caucuses are open to any registered Allston-Brighton (Ward 21) — District 14
dot-com bubble, but since creating these train wrecks. Democrat. Voters can switch party affiliation Police Station, February 2, time unknown.
September 11 as well? Do they There were red flags in the late — or go from unenrolled to enrolled — as Brookline — Devotion School Cafeteria,
somehow seem less important than ’90s that were just missed. It late as February 1, at the clerk’s office of their February 2, 2 p.m.
they did in, say, January 2000? wasn’t the gestalt of the times, city or town. Newly registered Democrats
A: Yes and no. Unintentionally STEVE CASE and that’s reflected in the should be sure to bring proof of their party Cambridge
and maybe fortuitously these media. affiliation — usually a photocopy of their Ward 3 — Cambridge Youth Center,
people, because of their reckless My own personal registration form — to the site of the caucus.
February 2, 2 p.m.
ambition, do speak in some ways to the disclaimer is that I was a tech reporter in WHAT will be happening? Democratic
September 11 question of why does the rest the late 90s. Did I write some critical activists gather to elect a slate of delegates to Ward 7 — Agassiz School Auditorium,
of the world hate us so much. stories? Yes. Do I wish I had written more? attend the state convention, which takes place February 2, 2 p.m.
I never thought the gee-whiz of new Absolutely. CEOs have always played a May 31 through June 1. Voters can run as Ward 8 — Peabody School, February 2,
technology or the voyeurism of special,role in the American mythology, but delegates themselves, or they can go to 2 p.m.
preposterous new wealth was all that in the late ’90s it really became a kind of support the candidacies of friends. They can WHY? Remember, in Massachusetts the
relevant. I think what they’ve done frivolous rock-star treatment that really even arrive en masse without ever having rule is that candidates need the support of 15
culturally — in changing the way we live served the American public and participated in party activities previously — percent of delegates at their party’s
and in imposing their view of software stockholders badly. so long as their friends live in the same ward nominating convention to be listed on the
architecture or changing the way we work Mark Leibovich will read from The New and are registered Democrats. ballot for the primary. Without that 15
or the way we shop — is transforming in a Imperialists on Wednesday, January 30, at WHERE? The caucuses are held at percent, voters won’t have the opportunity to
way that is undeniable. 7 p.m., on the third level at the Harvard locations throughout the state. The vote for a given candidate — no matter how
Coop, in Harvard Square. For more Massachusetts Democratic Party provides a high his or her popularity ratings or how
Q: You did a good job of picking winners: information, go to www.bkstore.com/ list of caucus locations updated nightly at much money he or she has raised. Whoever
even amid the economic carnage, these five harvard/fun.cgi http://www.massdems.org/body/ said that voter participation doesn’t count?
teeieiliie
people are all still doing well. What do you — Dan Kennedy Caucus 1.htm. Voters can find out which ward
NEW IMPERIALISTS PHOTOS COURTESY OF PRENTICE HALL PRESS
JANUARY 25, 2002 MEWS AND FEATURES THE BOSTON PHOENIX 7
HEAD CASES
SULTRINESS whining/purring “The Siamese Cat Song”
Peggy Lee: 1920-2002 BBA’s reform road map
on the soundtrack of Disney's Lady and
the Tramp: “We are Siamee-eese if you
plee-ease,/We are Siamese if you don't
Ever since 1999, when state officials warned that demand for
| first heard the late Peggy Lee on the radio when | please.” Even kids got the joke
psychiatric beds for youth under 18 with acute mental illness had
was a kid — she was probably singing her big 1948 hit, | saw her a lot on television, but in
reached “near-crisis proportions,” the state's collapsing system of
“Majfiana,” which she wrote with her then-husband, Dave person only once, at the Round Table in
children’s mental-health services has made banner headlines (see
Barbour (nine weeks at #1). | suppose it’s politically New York, in the '70s. Her face had
“Disorderly Conduct,” News and Features, July 7, 2000). Yet despite
incorrect — she even sang it with a slightly Spanish hardened into a mask, and she hardly
media attention, the state’s fractious, multilevel mental-health system
accent (“The window she is broken/And the rain is moved a muscle of it — hardly moved at remains plagued by an urgent need for beds and a host of other
coming in,/If someone doesn't fix it/I’ll be soaking to my all. She was an American Nefertiti. But problems.
skin./But if we wait a day or two/The rain may go LEE: you knew that she everything worked for her because she Now, the Boston Bar Association (BBA) is throwing its weight
away./And we don’t need a window/On such a sunny knew you knew. was also a real musician. In the behind the cause. Last week, the BBA released a 16-page report
day”). But was that ethnic stereotyping or just playing introduction to the section of her lyrics in outlining the sorry state of mental-health services for Massachusetts
with an ethnic stereotype — because, after all, doesn't Robert Gottlieb & Robert Kimball's children and offering five practical steps to address the system's
everyone at some time feel that “mafana is soon enough for Reading Lyrics, the editors call her “by far the most successful” of persistent problems. The study lays out a road map for making small,
me”? Lee was one of the few singers who could be absolutely the pop singers who also wrote songs — several of which have feasible improvements within the next 12 months.
sincere and ironic at the same time. You knew she was pulling become standards, like “| Don’t Know Enough About You” (1940) Boston attorney Michael Blau, who heads the 64-person task force
your leg, and you knew that she knew you knew. And with that and “It's a Good Day” (1946), both with Barbour. She also wrote of lawyers, state administrators, legislators, and advocates that
droll, whispery voice, she was irresistible. songs with Duke Ellington, Cy Coleman, and Harold Arien. If authored the report, considers the issue of children’s mental-health
Her image of deadpan sultriness had begun earlier in the ‘40s, you're going to rush out for a Peggy Lee disc, see whether you care “one of the most socially worthy.” The BBA, he explains, decided
when she was singing with Benny Goodman. | think my all-time can find Love Held Lightly: Rare Songs by Harold Arlen (Angel, to examine the matter in 1999 mainly because the systemic problems
favorite song of hers is still the pouty “Why Don't You Do Right?” 1993), which shows her remarkable variety — and musicality — have persisted for so long.
(“Get out of here, and get me some money, too”), which she sings even with the little voice she had left. Right now | think I'll put on “These were truly intractable issues,” Blau adds, “and they're
with Goodman in the 1943 film Stagedoor Canteen (in 1955, she the delicious “Buds Won't Bud,” the softly swinging “Happy with having a profound effect on families.” Blau and his fellow attorneys
got an Oscar nomination for her dramatic performance in Pete the Blues” (with her own lyric), and “My Shining Hour,” which also saw the opportunity to advocate for what he calls a “vulnerable
Kelly's Blues). Her most famous recording, “Fever” (1958), is still was never sung more poignantly. | can’t think of a better way to constituency.” Mentally ill kids don't have much of a political voice on
hot because it’s so hot and so cool at the same time. She was a honor her memory. Beacon Hill. “By the BBA wading into the fray,” he says, “it’s given
pussycat’s pussycat, and that’s why she's so effective singing/ — Loyd Schwartz added visibility and importance to this situation.”
Of the report's five recommendations, one in particular cuts to the
crux of the matter. Right now a plethora of state agencies — from the
Department of Mental Health to the Department of Youth Services
APPLES AND ORANGES
and the Department of Social Services — provides programs for
mentally ill children. Yet they don’t collaborate effectively, if at all.
Sun rises; Talk falls
“It's ad hoc and scattershot,” says Joshua Greenberg, a BBA task-
force co-chair and director of the Boston-based advocacy group
Health Care for All. Each agency has its own separate jurisdiction;
Much ado has been made of Talk magazine’s
there’s no centralized case manager helping a child. The BBA report
shuttering last week. The magazine that was always
calls for state departments to develop protocols defining who is
talked about more than it was read went out — as BROWN
responsible for what services. The policies, Greenberg says, “would
it had launched — in a flame of chatter. Following
create a more coherent system of care for kids.”
a 5 p.m. announcement Friday, January 18, of the Great Barrington Great Britain
Another recommendation that would offer direct benefits to
sudden muzzling of the mag, the New York Times
children and families involves the creation of a guide to children’s
ran two cover stories on Jalk’s demise. Meanwhile, SO VERY: 1940s 1990s mental-health services. The how-to book would be designed as a
the New York Observer, the New York Post, and the reference tool for parents, pediatricians, school officials, and
Wall Street Journal jumped into the ring with juicy “We need scoops,” “We need buzz.” emergency-room physicians — in short, anyone who might deal with
tidbits and overheard, in-house disses. a mentally ill child.
A little less energetically — though amidst no KNOWN FOR WEARING: fedoras furs The final three recommendations — to develop measures to hold
less speculation — the Sun was rising. The soon- the system accountable; to study how to connect mental-health
to-launch skeletal daily newspaper couldn’t be bare-bones bare-shoulders services to pediatric clinics; and to draft legislation for collecting
more perfectly scripted to take the helm of the New annual data — aren't likely to have an immediate effect. But they are
York media world, where counting pennies is the Conrad Black Cathy Black crucial first steps toward revamping the system. Notes Greenberg,
’02 equivalent of the 90s notion of blowing wads. “We tried to frame achievable goals that can be acted upon in_the
Since it’s so unfair to compare a daily with a 6000 600,000 short term. An awful lot of time has been spent discussing the
monthly, a broadsheet with a glossy ... here goes: problems. These steps are ways to move forward.”
editors Seth Lipsky of the Sun and Tina Brown of Michael Ledeen Madonna Even if the task force implements its five steps this year, as it
Talk, face off. expects to do, the problems afflicting mental-health care for children
PUBLICATION POSITION: Right-leaning Horizontal won't magically disappear. After all, the task force can’t overhaul the
entire state mental-health system overnight. Says Blau, “It will take a
sustained effort to make any progress. We expect to be there.”
A full copy of the BBA Children’s Mental Health Task Force report is
LETTER FROM NEW YORK
merit. Around the site, scores of of people bundle from the back of the available on the BBA Web site at www.bostonbar.org/gr/adhoc/
Site fleeing sidewalk vendors hawk NYPD and line to the front, causing those of us cmhreport2002p.d f
FDNY hats. People walk about who were at the front to look on with — Kristen Lombardi
wearing Ground Zero attire. Parents resentment. Finally, we are ushered
Ground Zero is not a popular topic tell their grinning kids to stand beside up a wooden ramp toward the
in New York. “No interest in it,” says the barriers so they can have their platform. I don’t want to use the word
SOUTHIE BOYS
Davey, tucking into a plate of pictures taken. Say cheese! Adding to “stampede,” but it’s all a little chaotic.
plantains at the Café Habana. Vikki, the carnival atmosphere is the line for You’ve never seen so many people Flynn for Wallace
when asked if she’s visited the site, the viewing platform — two blocks jostling and craning to get a look at
says, “No, I have not,” adding, “And | long, three or four people deep. nothing.
don’t intend to.” The talk quickly It’s a bright and bitterly cold It’s hard to imagine this blank Former Boston mayor Raymond Flynn showed up to support
turns to whether George Clooney is a afternoon. On Broadway, the neo- space as the site of the World Trade candidate Brian Wallace at an Anthony's Pier 4 fundraiser last week.
bigger hunk than Russell Crowe. Gothic buildings take on a tangerine Center, or even the World Trade Wallace wants to be the new state representative from South Boston,
There’s a rule in New York: if you glow, while plumes of steam blossom Center disaster. Most of the debris a job held by Flynn from 1970 to 1978 (the current representative,
live there, you do not do touristy into the blue sky. You’d hardly know has been cleared; in essence, all that’s Jack Hart, is on his way to becoming the new state senator, replacing
things. Locals would sooner admit to this had been the scene of such left is a construction site. Stephen Lynch, who is now a congressman). “There's nobody in the
having had sexual relations with a devastation if it weren’t for the faint Occasionally, a worker will gaze up town that has given more time and energy to other people than Brian
squirrel than having visited the Statue smell of burning plastic in the air and at us gazing down at him, and those Wallace,” says Flynn, who rarely involves himself in local politics
anymore, in an interview. “I generally don’t go out on a limb with these
of Liberty. And, since the city opened the masses of T-shirts, caps, poems, feelings of shame will return. For me,
kinds of things unless it’s special and important.”
a viewing platform in late December, flags, candles, and flowers lining the there is no closure, no catharsis, just
Wallace's popularity cuts across the board in South Boston — he
Ground Zero has become the biggest sidewalk. Every available space is filled the back of the head of the guy in
attracts new and old residents alike. An organizer of the local Pop
attraction in town, drawing tens of with scrawled messages: WE LOVE YOU, front and the numbing wind. Fifteen
Warner football team and many other communal activities, Wallace
thousands of visitors, many of them NEW YORK; GOD BLESS AMERICA; R.I.P. minutes later, the next batch of
has already raised $25,000 for his campaign. He has also begun to
toting video cams and fold-out maps. Still, standing in this line it’s hard to visitors comes thundering up the win fame as a writer — he’s the author of Final Confession: The
And yet New Yorkers’ reluctance to shake a sense of guilt — or at least ramp. Time to go. Unsolved Crimes of Phil Cresta (Northeastern University Press,
visit Ground Zero seems to run a lot embarrassment. After an hour or so, On the journey home, the traffic is 2000), the Hollywood movie rights for which have already been
deeper than the fear of looking like however, these emotions give way to diabolical. At the end of one jam, we purchased. Nonetheless, he wants to represent South Boston on
dorky out-of-towners. The fact is, feelings of chilliness, which in turn come upon a carnival of flashing blue Beacon Hill. “It’s kind of humbling,” says Wallace of the support he’s
there are many who cringe at the idea give way to feelings of impatience. lights. A truck and a couple of cars received so far. “We've had some great leadership over here from
of turning the world’s largest mass Every now and then, a stout woman stand cockeyed by the side of the Johnny Powers to Joe Moakley to Bill Bulger to Ray Flynn. | want to
grave into a tourist attraction (tickets will come out and holler things like, road. “Rubberneckers,” I say, and the fit into that.”
are required). “People with tickets for 3:30 come to word seems to stick in my throat. — Seth Gitell
These concerns are not without the front of the line!” At this, a crowd — Chris Wright
& JANUARY 25, 2002 NEWS AND FEATURES THE BOSTON PHOENIX Phoenix flashbacks _
ORPHEUM THEATRE |
ONIN E HAAW Te
Friday, The Boston Phoenix has been cover- worst fears of the city’s business elite.
February 22 ing the trends and events that shape our “But the neighborhoods that saw
times since 1966. The following selec- Ray Flynn as the antithesis of, Kevin
SPM tions, culled from our back files, were White have been waiting for three years
compiled by Mike Miliard now to see the improvements Flynn re-
peatedly promised.”
Pay list
Old folks at home
years ago:
January 24, 1997 2 years ago:
Associate arts editor Jon Garelick in- January 26, 1982
dicted the music industry, wondering Doug Simmons profiled the Duplex
“what happens when it’s all biz and no Planet, azine that compiled David
d music?” Greenberger’s quirky conversations with
“Given all the current handwringing the residents of the Duplex Nursing CLINT EASTWOOD: the anti-
about the state of the music business, it’s Home, in Jamaica Plain. gringo.
hard to resist the temptation to say, ‘The “One of my favorite characters in the
music business deserves to die.’ In fact, early Duplexes was the cigar-chomping
Rescheduled date, all tickets honored. Tickets available by calling [phone], at the the current shakeout may ultimately do Arthur Wallace, one of Greenberger’s as Yusuf Islam, a spin.
Orpheum Theatre Box Office, all #@@triae#ter locations or online at ticketmaster.com the music business some good. It may all liveliest subjects. ... [W]hen he died on “The idea that artists who are inter-
be a matter of waiting for ‘the next big March 14, 1980, at 86, I was sad- esting and innovative now may not have
thing,’ as Time magazine suggested. Or dened. He had, for me and other read- started out that way is hardly a very
it may be a matter of trying expressly to ers, become a celebrity. Greenberger startling one, so it’s a shame London
make that thing happen — which would marked the occasion ... by running a records had to go out of its way to prove
require a degree of patience that the small exchange. the point in the case of Cat Stevens.
record industry, by its nature, never “DG: Arthur, how're you doing? These 10 songs, mostly vintage 1967-
seems to have. Maybe, if the music just Arthur: /t’s very puzzling. DG: ’68, are nothing for Cat to be proud of,
sucks right now, the industry's partly to What's puzzling? Arthur: This ex- and odds are good that he’s both angry
blame — it always has been.” istence. The way we live. and embarrassed to find them suddenly
“But Greenberger didn’t leave his released in 1972. But Cat’s name, cou-
Blue-light special obituary at that.... [He] noted some- pled with a cleverly Cat-like cover,
1 years ago: thing Wallace had said a little more ought to sell this thing, and nobody will
January 24, 1992 than a month before he died: ‘Hey! be disappointed until they get it home.
it Staff writer Sean Flynn reported on Hey! Don’t be worrying about god- Caveat emptor, for sure.”
pir
a disturbing law-enforcement practice. damn international politics! Go down
New sheriff in town
“As part of a program designed to lock and tell Mary I want some whiskey.’ ”
‘all you wanted" and "“everywhere' up dangerous career criminals, under- 3 years ago:
in stores now cover agents are selling guns to young Jah 101 January 25, 1967
blacks and Hispanics and then charging 25 years ago: Charles Ellison loved Clint East-
them with federal firearms violations that January 25, 1977 wood’s A Fistful of Dollars.
can carry minimum sentences of up to With reggae music suddenly big busi- “Hot sun, dry earth. Into the small
15 years in prison, according to court ness, former Island records employee Mexican town rides the tanned, griz-
and police records, defense attorneys, Gary Kenton provided a Rasta primer. zled Gringo in the serape. He is a sol-
and law-enforcement officials. “Historically, Rastafarianism’s origins dier of fortune, a samurai....
“The gun sales — ‘reverse conspira- are clear enough. Jamaican evangelist “That’s the opening of A Fistful of
cies,’ in cop jargon — are part of a Marcus Garvey (who was deported from Dollars, now playing at the Music Hall.
broader federal crackdown on crime in the US in 1927 after sowing the seeds, in This is an excellent Western of the ‘adult’
Roxbury and Dorchester that critics Harlem and South Chicago, of what sort: a violent story, classically stark, de-
say is little more than an abuse of anti- would, four decades later, be called Black void of moralizing, but morally satisfy-
gun laws aimed at pumping up arrest Power) called on blacks, the lost tribe of ing. It has the radical simplicity which
and conviction statistics.” Judah, to carry on their African-rooted the world — especially the Japanese —
traditions and actually to return to their have taken from the American West and
homeland, where they would be ruled by from Ernest Hemingway. And it is per-
a black king. But the movement which fectly executed, the unpretentious prod-
FRIDTiA Y - MAR| CwHe 1 Garvey founded bears little resemblance uct of great technical expertise. The pho-
to the marijuana-befogged rhetoric spew- tography is unobtrusively excellent, the
JPM DOORS + BPM sHOW - 18+
* ON SALE FRIDAY 10AMI! ing forth today under Rasta’s rubric. pace is swift, the logic inexorable.”
Now, 36 years after Garvey’s death, any
Tickets available by calling (617) 423-NEXT, at the Paradise Box Office reggae artist worth his salt can be a Rasta Where are they now?
Mon-Fri 12pm-6pm, Sat 3pm-6pm and select Strawberries locations. Tickets
available at Avalon box office night of show only. merely by including five key catch phras- Jon Garelick is associate arts editor
Get MeketsM M = Please note that all date(s), actis) and time(s) are subject to change without notice es in every song: 1) Jah [God]; 2) Zion; of the Boston Phoenix. Sean Flynn is
fTeiecske ta npdr/iocre s chmaaryi taibnlcel uddeo naotr iobne ssuubrjcechta rgetso . restAo rsaetrivoicne ancdh/aorrg e fwaiclill ibtey amdadiendt etno anthcee 3) Rastamon; 4) Babylon; 5) Dread.” the author of Boston D.A. (TV Books,
price of each ticket. Produced by Clear Channel Entertainment
2000). Francis J. Connolly is an associ-
Kitten ate at Kiley and Company, a Boston
30)": ago: political-consulting firm. Scott Lehigh
RAY FLYNN: not the man he used January 25, 1972 is a columnist for the Boston Globe.
to be. Janet Maslin gave Cat Stevens: Very Doug Simmons is managing editor of
BOSTON NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK
Young and Early Songs, a collection of the Village Voice. Janet Maslin is critic
Boston Neighborhood Network early tracks from the man now known at large for the New York Times.
Ex-Ray
cablecasts 24 hours of continuous
1 years ago:
diverse programming on Cable
January 27, 1987
Channel 23 in Boston featuring Francis J. Connolly and Scott Lehigh
BNN trained local access looked back on the first three years of
Ray Flynn’s mayorship. The verdict:
producers and programs from
“Ray, it ain’t so.”
other public access organizations “Four years ago, Ray Flynn, the can-
in Greater Boston and beyond. didate of the neighborhoods, all but won
the mayoralty of Boston when he stood
eye to eye with frontrunner David
Channel 9 is our news and
Finnegan and angrily denied Finnegan’s
information channel where 40 charge that he was a political
non-profit and public agencies ‘chameleon.’
“Four years later, Ray Flynn, now
produce daily, live, interactive,
seeking re-election as mayor of Boston,
talk show progams for Boston
has indeed transformed himself. The
cable viewers. Channel 9 features candidate of the neighborhoods has be-
BNN’s Neighborhood Network come the mayor of downtown: having
ridden into office on a wave of liberal
News with daily news reports
urban populism — despite a backwash
about Boston at 5:30, 9 and of business suspicion — Ray Flynn is
11p.m. and in the morning at finishing up a first term in which his sig-
3a.m., 7a.m. and ga.m., all nal accomplishments have been the bal-
ancing of the city’s books, the creation of
Monday through Friday. a budget surplus, and the regulation of a StPRESS
downtown business boom by such mod- “In my opinion, only an idiot could like that movie. How did you feel about it?”
nh 7
erate means that he has calmed the
BOSTON NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK
FLYNN PHOTO BY JOHN NORDELL
AVALON 2K QQ SEE 17 FinsT/Buy 17 Fins’ SLCLIVECLOM
Paradise
13 sdowne St.
Boston, 262°2437
FRIDAY, FEB 1ST
AN EXCLUSIVE
DJ SET BOSTON'S LEGENDARY ROCK CLUB
DR. ALEX
PATERSON OF
THE ORB O Positive Reunion Show!
with special guests Between Dreams
a +
cele Mm= 18/ 1," @/ 0/6)
a4 Friday, January 25
Gruvis Malt cp Release Party
6PM DOORS, 7P™ SHOW with special quests Kabir & Tarmac
FRIDAY, FEB 15™
SICK OF JANUARY 300 comsiow- au Saturday, January 26
8PM SHOW « ALL AGES
oe.)&
Tickets available by calting (617) 423-NEXT or at the Orpheum Box Office,-Paradise Charlatans U.K.
SUICIDE Box Office Mon-Fri 12pm-6pm, Sat 3pm-6pm and select Strawberries locations. Tickets with special guests Starsailor
available at Avaion box office night of show only
MACHINES y, January 28
ORPHEUM THEATRE
6PM DOORS, 6:30PM SHOW
ALL AGES ONE HAMILTON PLACE + BOSTON Deep Banana Blackout
SATURDAY, FEB 23° Friday, February 8
THE 2
DICTATORS The Sheila Divine
6PM DOORS, 7P™M SHOW J with special quests Texas Governor
ALL AGES Friday, 15
TUESDAY, FEB 26TH Saturday, February 16
UNWRITTEN LA
Michelle Branch
Tuesday, February 19
om John Scofield Band
Friday, February 22
\ nth with special guest Club D’E/f
2 Saturday, February 23
WITMHE STS,P ECSIUAGL ARCGUUELSTT S FEBRUARY 14 7:30em with special guest Miracle Orchestra
6:30PM DOORS, 7:30P™ SHOW
ALL AGES Tickets available by calling [phone], at the Orpheum Theatre Box Office, all Special Acoustic Evening with
eweRStMaster \ocations or online at ticketmaster.com Edwin McCain
TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE ORPHEUM THEATRE
BOX OFFICE, SELECT STRAWBERRIES LOCA with special guests
TIONS, WWW.NEXTTICKETING.COM, OR CHARGE
BY CALLING 617-423-NEXT. TICKETS AVAILABLE Chuck Carrier Of Marathon
AT AXIS THE NIGHT OF THE SHOW ONLY. Thursday, February 28
Indi.k h Gir CD Pre’ view Party
Vickeets on sale Saturday
January 26 @ 10a
Max Creek
with special guests
Psychedelic Breakfast
Saturday, March 2
Reverend Horton Heat
with special guests Nashville Pussy,
Street Walkin’ Cheetahs
Thursday, March 7
The Samples
with special guests Mary Prankster
Frida 'Y- 8
Cracker
Saturday, March 9
The Calling
Monday, March 11
=, V3
HyBrasil ,
Saturday, March 16
Upcoming Shows in the Front Room
Friday, January 25th - Freelance Bishops
Friday, February 1st - Dequelo, Devour, A Cold Reality
Thursday, February 7th & 28th- The Fela Project, Spm doors
Friday, February 8th- Curbfeeler, Crown Victoria, Hood
Saturday, February 9th- Freezepop CD Release Party with Lifestyle, Ipm doors
Thursday, February 14th and 21st- Knockout, 9pm doors
Saturday, February 16th - The trresponisbles, 9pm doors
Friday, February 22nd - Hazie Maze
Saturday, February 23rd - Speed Devils, 9pm doors
Doors at 10pm for the Front Room (unless otherwise noted), 18+ event.
Tickets available at the door.
The Paradise is Located at 967 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston.
All Shows On Sale Now. All Main Room Shows 7pm doors 8pm show Sunday - Wedinesday,
TOUR OF AMERICA 8pm doors, 9pm show Thursday- Saturday, 18+ unless otherwise noted.
Check out www.diclive.com for select upcoming shows on sale through web site only.
Tickets available at select Strawberries locations, all NEXT Ticketi ations, NEXT
Get rickets at O.COM Buy It Now! (www. nextticketing.com), or charge by calling 617- 423 ne xT
SATURDA}«-RENCH 2nd sie ated chet ecw. Ad Ste ton
O FleetCenter SUNDAY, MARCH 3rd -7 :30PM
ICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE FLEETCENTER BOX OFFICE AND FROM t#CKetmaster at thepheenix
Get Tickets At [phone], [phone] or TICKETMASTER.COM OR GET TICKETS FROM CC.COM
Please note that ali date(s), act(s) and twne(s) are subject to change without notice. A service charge will be
added to the price of each ticket. Ticket prices may include or be subyect to restoration and/or facility mamte-
nance fees and/or charitable donation surcharges. A Clear Channel Event.
TolesFt- )n mmMe ipi-hmee(-o18n-iJ1x(e ] 1 mat
THE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT AUTHORITY
TICKET CITY
10 JANUARY 25, 2002 NEWS AND FEATURES THE BOSTON PHOENIX
moon signs
urban buy
BY SYMBOLINE DAI
IS MIGHT BE a good time to remind you that the
moon comes an hour later every night. So if your ani-
mals (cats are especially sensitive to lunar glow) are getting
increasingly rowdy late into the night as the full moon ap-
proaches — well, don't say | didn't warn you.
Thursday, January 24
Waxing moon in Gemini. A wonderful day for visiting sib-
lings or peers,-but keep it light. Also excellent for writing,
grading, or assessing quality. Gemini needs to be the center of atten-
tion. That's why you're making outrageous comments. Libra is hard to
pin down, yet irritable, especially around benevolent males. Can you
channel ire into competition? Aries (especially March 30—April 2
rams), don't expect others to “know” where you're at. Tell them.
Friday, January 25 |
Waxing moon in Gemini. Spontaneity is more satisfying ]
than plans, especially in activities that emphasize wit and |
style. Gemini, it's a good day for experiments, especially in relation to
short trips. Just watch out for banana peels (badum-dum). Sagittar-
ius may need to brood — don't think you have to be entertaining
while you wrestle with better angels. Aquarius, love is on your side,
just stop thinking about how much more you do, okay? VOC
2:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. tomorrow.
Saturday, January 26
Waxing moon in Cancer. A classic stay-at-home-and-
bake day. Or put up some preserves. The spirit of domes- )
ticity is screaming for attention and waving environmentally gentle
materials (baking soda and vinegar for counterparts, y’know?). Can-
cer — don't spend yourself on others today; treat yourself. Leos are
torn between obligation and throwing up their hands, but lions born
July 27-31 must be frank about motives, especially if they detect un-
ease from others. Scorpio, it's a good day for detective work, and —
aha — what a surprise! You'll want some attention for it.
Sunday, January 27
Waxing moon in Cancer. Grudges could take hold,
though you'll be sympathetic toward those who are strug-
gling with social unease. Loyalty for all is deeply satisfying, though
some (fire and air folks) can't concentrate. Cancer (especially July
1-10 crabs), if you're feeling raw, maybe you've just molted again.
(Crabs do have very offbeat molting schedules, and Cancer is al-
ways surprised to lose a skin.) Capricorn, you've got a point, but no
perspective (there's a really vague geometry joke in there, isn’t
there?). Taurus, you want others to be competent and mindful, but
are you giving them a choice?
Monday, January 28
When it comes to the size of your telephone, Full moon in Leo. The Oto tribe called this moon “The Lit-
tle Young Bear Comes Down the Tree.” But we must ask,
who Says less is more? what will s/he find, and how tasty are shrews and acorns? Dearest
Leo, love may seem difficult. But that’s okay. Maybe you don't have
the time. Maybe you don't think it’s important. Do understand that
AY YOU'VE GOT some from now through the new moon, big planets are obstructing your
news, some really big Where to get it: journey. Virgo, start asking for attention, or asking for help. On some
subconscious level, you're over-stimulated. But mind your arrogance
news, like, “I’m getting * Circuit City Express,
when you ask.
hitched!” or, conversely, various locations, www
“Honey, we need to talk ...” .circuitcity.com. Tuesday, January 29
Waning moon in Leo. Now we're cooking with gas — this
Are you going to trust a crucial ¢ Dapy, Prudential Center,
is an excellent time to ask for attention or commit acts of
communiqué to a rinky-dink 800 Boylston Street, Boston, foolish bravery, especially Sag and Aries types, who may feel extra-
wireless device the size of a [phone]. defensive about children. Passionate feelings about trendy apparel
suppository? Hello?! You need * Museum Shop, Prudential needn't be voiced. Leo (especially August 16-18), expect the unex-
a substantial phone, one that Center, 800 Boylston Street, pected in health matters. Libra, it’s a good day for friendship, espe-
says, “Hey, I’m talking here!” So Boston, [phone]. cially with fire-sign folks who inspire you or who give your spinning
no more ring-around-the-Nokia; ¢ RadioShack, various loca- compass needie some direction. Excitement rules, particularly in the
Aquarius world. VOC 6 p.m. to 4 a.m.
here are unique party lines that Alexander Graham tions, www.radioshack.com.
Bell never thought of. * POSH, 557 Tremont Street, Wednesday, January 30
Calling all princesses! Borrowing a decorating clue Boston, [phone]. urban adventurer or Hemingway enthusiast. And Waning moon in Virgo. Analytical abilities could over-
from the movie Legally Blonde, POSH offers a here’s yet another one for the guys: the golf-bag whelm you, especially if there are too many choices. Go
marabou-covered French boudoir blower ($79) that phone ($29.97), complete with leather trim, golf binary — everything is zero or one. Virgo, you may feel that if you
don't do anything, nothing will get done. That's true in the larger
simply screams girlie girl. This femme fatale model has yellow-gold tee, and putters, available at RadioShack. sense, but those of you born September 8 and 9 really do have too
ornate stylings and a lavish trim of whisper-soft feathers — just You're clearly part of the MTV generation if a ring or two just much responsibility right now. Not your fault, but maybe you're figur-
right for dialing up a perm for your poodle or registering a complaint won't do. You need bells and whistles, dogs and ponies — and, ing out the next occupational endeavor (fire-sign folks are a big help
against the bitch behind the Chanel counter. Available in lilac, red, when you can get it, hard-core animation. Coca-Cola’s polar-bear right now). For Pisces, love is a matter of indifference or tedium. Are
pink, and white, dahhling. phone ($52.49) — available at Circuit City Express — has you afraid of getting hurt, or are you just happier spacing out? iy
“It's the only phone | can ever find,” says enough arcade-like features to keep you
John Cowhig of the Museum Company. He’s amused and incommunicado for ages. Key to Moon Signs
got to be right, because there's no misplac- When the candy-apple-red handset rings,
This horoscope traces the passage of the moon, not the sun. Simply
ing the Sultan Phone, a handsome 1920s the translucent-iceberg cradle lights up, read from day to day to watch the moon's influence as it moves
replica crafted in a rich cherry-wood finish and two adorable baby polar bears start through the signs oft he zodiac.
When the moon is in your sun sign, you are beginnai nenw g28 -
and spiffed up with brass hardware ($89). skating around the pale blue pond, day emotional cycle, and you can expect increased insight and
But unlike real '20s phones, this one features quaffing Cokes as papa polar bear looks emotionality. When the moon moves into the sun sign opposite yours
a push-button keypad and redial capacity. on. (Mercifully, the touch of a button shuts (see below), expect toh ave difficulties dealing with the opposite sex,
Se re es et Re
Another retro model is the Telephone off the sound, lights, and action.) The nov-
Mark | ($54.99), from the mucho masculine elty phone has all the standard features, When the moon is in Aries, ito pposes Libra, and vice versa. Other
oppositions are Gemini/Sagittarius, Cancer/
Spirit of St. Louis line of communication ac- such as tone/pulse selectability, volume Capricorn, Leo/Aquarius, and Virgo/Pisces. The moon stays in each
cessories, available at Dapy. Boasting control, and last-number redial, plus hear- Sigh approxitwom aand tah eallf dyay s.
brushed steel, metal handgrips, and a boat- ing-aid compatibility. Even if no one’s call- As the moon moves between signs, it will sometimes become
“void of course,” making no major angles to planets. Consider this
load of buttons, levels, and switches all bolt- ing, you can always push the demo button a null time and try to avoid making or implementing decisions if
ed to a polished, light wood frame, this gen- to fire up the action. you can
— Suzanne Kammiott (utS mee Datss usp horostonee anda ie can pe
uine battlefield reissue is perfect for the our Web site atw ww.bostonphoenix.com,
Symboline Dai can be reached ats [email protected].
°HOTOS BY JASON HOMLER