The Fix Is In

Between questionable red cards, bullshit suspensions and manufactured publication credits, it's been a strange few days, indeed. Fellow Shark, Ben Fong, tried to buy two Radiohead tickets last night & thought he had, in fact, purchased them. Then today, TicketsNow.com called him to say that the tickets, which the night before he had paid an absurd amount to have, did not exist. Not only did they not have the tickets he bought, but they were sold out of all tickets for both shows, even ones they had listed last night a $900 a piece (face value: $42.50). He got a refund, sure, and a $25 gift certificate for their website (thanks), but what the fuck?!! So no one out there use TicketsNow.com. In fact, if you know anyone who works for them or any other ticket brokerage, beat their ass. Set them on fire. Whatever. It's like Bill Hicks said about people who work in advertising: "You have no soul, there is no excuse for what you do, you are Satan's little helper. Kill yourself, kill yourself, kill yourself now."

& don't you think it's highly amusing that when a magazine you worked on, for which you and one other person did all the bitch work (solicitations, submission log, editorial meetings, rejections, acceptance letters, etc) that when the magazine is released, not only are you not notified, but that there are several other names on the same line as yours, some of whom did little or nothing at all, and that there's a "managing editor" credit for someone who, until you saw the magazine, you had no idea they had anything to do with the production of the magazine last summer. I guess you shouldn't be surprised to have been screwed out of financial compensation then, should you? All another day in the Land of Careerism. Hopefully, our bold & beloved Machinist is receiving better CORK than I, you or various sporting interests have been lately. I will, however, being seeing Radiohead tomorrow night, and that lifts my soul just a touch, despite the fact the theater is caddy-corner from CCC. How long, O Lord, how long?

ALERT: If anyone out there knows of poets we should be talking to for an interview or publishing a couple of their poems, PLEASE let us know. We want what you want & hopefully that is high-end writing. We want the new voices, people. Help us find them, and if you think you are one, help us find you. This site has gone collaborative & it's getting goddamned lonely around here. But I suppose there are plenty among us who know exactly how lonely hell can be. You know who you are, don't you?

A quote to end on. Something for referees on the take, scalping scum and careerist poets to take to heart: "We are all the custodians of our innocence, and we let it die at our peril." Consider yourself reminded. & warned.

Make That Change, RC