No You C_nt

The Chicago Tribune scambled yesterday to pull the pre-printed WomensNews section after the article "You c_nt say that", which discusses a certain slang for a woman's anatomy, was determined be editor Ann Marie Lipinski to be inappropriate. While many copies were caught before being distributed, several hundred copies were sent to subscribers. Today's Trib included an apology.

You mean they're chicks?!?

The current issue of FEM has an article posted about my three most-favorite DJs at KCRW: Anne Litt, Liza Richardson and Tricia Halloran. Not much more to say beyond read it. These three women, along with the late, great Deirdre O'Donahue have continually renewed my faith in new music and "beautiful noise". God bless them all.

Goodbye Mr. Avedon

This is a belated remembrance of Richard Avedon, who died last week while on assignment. He was 81.

I remember seeing an exhibit at Art Center shortly after The Family was published. The issue of Rolling Stone which ran the photographs was the only time I bought two copies of the rag. As I recall, I cut the pages out of one copy and hung them up. The other copy may still be hidden away in a cardboard box someplace. The show was incredible, with 8 foot tall portraits of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, along with other notable and forgetable people.

I also remember the only time I traveled to see an art show. It was traveling by train from Los Angeles to Berkeley (I think that was in 1980) to see the Avedon show at the University. As always it was fantastic, life affirming, and memorable in so many ways.

It's perhaps ironic that I don't remember Richard Avedon as the fashion photographer, which of course is the role which made him famous. But it was as a portrait photographer that he most impacted me, personally, creatively, and (for a while) professionally. It was through his camera's gaze where I first realized the power of vérité. Others have done this, but he was the one who showed it to me.

Thank you Mr. Avedon. Your next photograph will forever be missed.

Next Time, Sell Marshmallows

Back in June of last year, Yuolanda Taylor's cable bill was high. Too high, and she needed some extra cash. So she decided to sell rocks to rioters in Benton Harbor ($1 for small, $5 for big). Business was going well until she got beaned by a rock herself, whereupon she decided to abandon her new career path. But it was too late. Yuolanda got busted and has now pled no-contest to the charges, which means she faces up to 10 years in prison when she comes up for sentencing on Nov. 15.

Israelis to Treat PTSD with Pot

According to this story Israeli soldiers suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in the future may be treated with marijuana, or rather Delta-9 tetrohydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient found in pot, dissolved in olive oil. An experimental program is underway where 15 soliders will be treated over the next several months. "It helps them sleep better, for one thing" says Raphael Mechoulam of Jerusalem's Hebrew University, the chief researcher behind a project.