http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/ en Copyright 2012 Sat, 07 Jan 2012 03:52:19 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Slide Into Destiny reveals America's past time as a literal cut throat business. Separating Sara is a wicked look at a man's best laid plans gone wrong.. 99 you better be careful, brothers you're walkin' a very thin line you messin' around with #1 and you just a 99 the PO-lice got to protect and serve they just gotta' spray that mace gotta' swing those big ole' nightsticks gotta smash that bloody face you messin' round where you don't belong you screwing with the Wall if it falls down like the last one man, God help us all who's gonna take care of us po' folk when the money machine goes away when the Limo drivers are out of work and the servants don't get paid when they close down the restaurants that serve rich and 'elite all the illegals will be out of work where's the rich folk gonna eat all you youngin's out there marchin' what the hell you marching for all you Silver Spoon Babies ain't never worked before you watched as they killed the soldiers and didn't do a thing but now it's time to find a job and things ain't like they seem 16 years of learning been schoolin' your life away now you want your slice of the pie but can't find that big payday I don't care why you're out there you're here now and that's just fine just remember to tell your kids one day about the days of 99 Kenneth Sibbett (posted courtesy of author) For more of Sibbett's writing, please visit www.horriblerealityland.com/story-land ]]> http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2012/01/kenneth_sibbett.html http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2012/01/kenneth_sibbett.html Sat, 07 Jan 2012 03:52:19 +0000 Mysterious Stranger figures prominently), the emotions of teenage romance, and his place in the world. And what's a Texas based book without its occasional Bubba or Darnell character? They're included here as well, but Whittington makes them interesting and charming - not stereotypical. I love the musical references Whittington infuses the novel with. As a kind of soundtrack to Mark Cloud's life, references as diverse as old time Americana artist Doc Watson, ZZ Top, Neil Young, and even the soundtrack from Dr. Zhivago get namechecked for great effect. At times there is a bit of a Mayberry feel to the novel but that gives way to the reality that sometimes bad things happen to good people, relationships are complicated, forgiveness and redemption are complicated if not mysterious, and solutions to problems are found in God's good time - not in the time frame of a tv sitcom. In that regard, Whittington's writing reminds me of the great Kentucky writer Wendell Berry.whose characters often find their sustenance in a place they once scorned - their own small town community. The novel ends with a family vacation to the land of the counter culture - California. Mark Cloud envisions a hipness there that the residents of Fred, Texas could not or would not understand. What he actually finds is not "hipness", but a deeper and more meaningful understanding of himself and family connectedness. Welcome To Fred is the first of the Fred trilogy. The other two Fred books being Living With Fred and Escape From Fred. Welcome to Fred, stay a while. I know you'll enjoy it.]]> http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2011/11/welcome_to_fred_brad_whittingt.html http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2011/11/welcome_to_fred_brad_whittingt.html Sat, 19 Nov 2011 03:23:09 +0000 Gray, a contributing editor at New York Magazine, crafts an engrossing tale of intrigue, mystery, and obsession. The book chronicles his efforts at solving the 1971 skyjacking of Northwest Orient Flight 305. With a suspect and a Pulitzer prize in mind, Gray set out on his journey optimistic and full of hope that he could achieve his objectives relatively quickly. He soon found out it wouldn't be that easy uncovering the hijacker named Dan Cooper (erroneously reported as D.B. Cooper soon after the hijacking). Gray delves into the life histories of several suspects including airline employee Kenneth Christiansen, career criminal Duane Weber, Bobby Dayton who later became Barbara Dayton, and former Green Beret and Mormon Sunday school teacher Richard Floyd McCoy. These strange and bizarre characters warrant a book of their own. Ultimately, Gray descends into a near madness that some describe as the Cooper curse. He does keep it together enough to detail his dealings with FBI agents, amateur sleuths, and assorted Cooper conspiracists. Come along for this thrilling plane ride, but be warned - bring a parachute.]]> http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2011/10/skyjack_the_hunt_for_db_cooper.html http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2011/10/skyjack_the_hunt_for_db_cooper.html Mon, 24 Oct 2011 03:39:21 +0000 When reading Knock In The Night(www.lulu.com), one is prone to forget the celebrated artist that Balazs Szabo is and discover that he is every bit the talented writer as he is painter. But Szabo's book is not a work of fiction, but a raw, revealing, riveting childhood memoir of a life lived under Soviet domination and occupation in 1950's Hungary. And while some might like to dismiss the book as some old Cold War relic, Szabo's memoir is as relevant today as ever. Sure, the old Soviet empire doesn't exist anymore but ruthless dictators, tyrants, Islamic fundamentalists, and yes still some hardline communist regimes (North Korea, Burma) flourish while tightly controlling all aspects of their subject's lives. Extremely well written, the book contains historical narrative interwoven with Szabo's remarkable story. The book begins with a frenzied, harrowing escape into neighboring Austria on the heels of the Hungarian uprising in 1956. The book ends the same way. In between are chapters detailing family life, the failures of the "perfect" society, coming of age foibles, and of course the yearning to be free. Balazs (pronounced Balage) is the son of prominent Hungarian stage and screen star Sandor Szabo. He along with his equally talented actress wife Kati as well as Balazs's maternal grandparents figure prominently in his memoir. And while the day to day existence was dreary and at times unbearable, Szabo adds some levity with that great Hungarian sense of humor he possesses. One story in the book involves a pet pig, his grandfather, and the farmer's daughter. Other hilarious hijinks ensue but one could never get too comfortable in a closed society that was 1950's Hungary. One feared the knock in the night when the Hungarian secret police hauled you in for torture or worse - forced labor in a Soviet gulag over real or perceived threats to the state. Of course the Hungarian rebellion was dealt with swiftly and severely but you do get the feeling from reading the book that the fates of the Hungarian people would have turned out much differently if the U.S. would have dared intervened in that conflict. Others insist that would have caused a much wider conflict. I'll leave it to historians to judge that. But that is another reason the book is so relevent. We are asking the same kinds of questions today with the involvement or lack thereof in Libya, Syria, and any number of Middle Eastern countries. Remember the Arab spring which has turned into the Arab summer? Szabo and his family's remarkable journey would eventually take them to America where he has enjoyed a long career as an artist (www.balazsart.com). It would only seem fitting for a young artist steeped in communist ideology would someday find his freedom in America and paint the portrait of Capitalism's ultimate successes - Ray Croc, he of McDonald's fame. Some have compared the memoir to that of The Diary Of Anne Frank for its candid portrayal of life lived under a terrorist regime. It gained the attention and endorsement of former titan of the auto industry Lee Iacocca. It's a must read for anyone who values free expression, and the democratic ideals of a free society. ]]> http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2011/06/knock_in_the_night_-_balazs_sz.html http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2011/06/knock_in_the_night_-_balazs_sz.html Mon, 13 Jun 2011 03:20:09 +0000 Washington Post definitely has a reporter's eye when it comes to detail and meticulous research. Just the facts. yes but Wilber delivers a spell binding, humanizing tale of those involved in that eventful day. From secret service agents to hospital staff, everyone kept their cool and professionalism for the most part. Wilber relates a story about one of the operating room nurses who after Reagan's surgery was complete, extended a middle finger to one of the secret service agents who doggedly watched her every move during the ordeal. The agent laughed, which certainly help to break the tension. Even John Hinckley comes across as one of the most calm, composed suspects seasoned FBI agents and DC police ever came across. The one person who came away from this ordeal with a tarnished reputation was then Secretary of State "I'm in charge here" Al Haig. A man who should know better erroneously put himself ahead in the constitutionally designated pecking order. Of course Reagan never transferred authority to the one who would be in charge if he ever were capacitated - George Bush. Bush was travelling back from a trip to Texas when he received news of the assassination attempt. The full extent of Reagan's injuries weren't revealed at the time. Wilber surmises that if a quick decision wasn't made to go to the George Washington Hospital instaed of the White House, Reagan wouldn't have survived. There was some hand wringing by doctors on whether to even take the bullet out. But leaving it in would produce unintenional political consequences. It was taken out. The title of the book refers to Reagan's secret service code name Rawhide. His presidential limousine named Stagecoach. In his account of that day, Wilber confirms some long held beliefs about the former president. His days were heavily scripted as he wanted it. He left day to day details about running the govenment to underlings. But Reagan had a superior memory and wit. When he needed to, Reagan could trot out old movie lines at just the right moment. His famous line about hoping the hospital staff were "all Republicans" was actually said twice before it caught on. The staff marvelled at how physically fit he was and also fascinated by his "unnatuarally dark hair". One must remember that two others were shot that day as well - agent Tim Mccarthy and press secretary Jim Brady. McCarthy recovered quickly from his wounds but Brady was shot in the head and at first was pronounced dead. Brady of course would go on to live but suffer a catastophic brain injury. It is he whose name appears on the gun control legislation known as The Brady Bill. ]]> http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2011/05/rawhide_down_the_near_assassin.html http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2011/05/rawhide_down_the_near_assassin.html Thu, 05 May 2011 17:32:10 +0000 I've tried to capture the current mood of the nation with these song lyrics dealing with oil spills, immigration, Afghanistan, and general disillusionment. It's Tough All Over (c) Les Marcott 2010 There's oil gushing into the deep blue sea It's washed up on shore just a mile from me The shrimp boats won't be going out The tourists won't be coming in There's nobody brave enough to take a swim It's tough all over In the cities and the towns It's tough all over C'mon and kick me when I'm down I worked with this guy on a landscaping crew He was a hard working fellow He bled red, white, and blue But before you knew it They took him back home on a bus All the while I was thinking he was one of us It's tough all over In the cities and the towns It's tough all over C'mon and kick me when I'm down I had a brother who served in Afghanistan He was shot out of the sky Looking for a safe place to land There would be no homecoming There would be no parade Just wave Old Glory And pretend it's all ok And it's tough all over In the cities and the towns It's tough all over C'mon and kick me when I'm down You can stick your pins and needles Into your voodoo doll You can nail your seven curses Next to my picture on the wall You can raise your fist in anger But it will not change a thing You're as helpless as a bird with a broken wing It's tough all over In the cities and the towns It's tough all over C'mon and kick me when I'm down It's tough all over For them who haven't got It's tough all over I think I heard another shot http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2010/12/a_song_for_the_times.html http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2010/12/a_song_for_the_times.html Fri, 24 Dec 2010 03:54:31 +0000 Rolling Stone (he wasn't Chicano). In the 70's he helped spark a music scene in Austin, Texas that would generate fans worldwide. His name? Doug Sahm of course. Now we have a long overdue biography which explores the incredible life of this music trailblazer. Written by veteran Texas writer Jan Reid with assistance from Doug's musically talented son Shawn, we get a view into the life of one of this state's musical treasures. Though Reid focuses on the man's immense talents as a musician, he doesn't gloss over Sahm's failings (artistically and otherwise) which leads to a fuller picture of the man. Though Sahm's songs were not as lyrical as say a Dylan, they were no less memorable. Play the songs She's About A Mover and Mendocino and I swear they'll stay in your head for hours. Reid also takes note of Sahm's influence on the lives and careers of Freddy Fender, Flaco Jimenez, Roky Erickson, and Stevie Ray Vaughn. Toward the end of his career, Sahm started the Tex-Mex supergroup the Texas Tornados which featured Fender, Jimenez, and Augie Meyers. Many came to know Sahm and his music due to the formation of this group but unfortunately the writing is a little skimpy on this chapter of his life. Sahm died in 1999 due to a heart attack, but thanks to Reid his memory and his music live on.]]> http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2010/09/texas_tornado_the_times_music.html http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2010/09/texas_tornado_the_times_music.html Fri, 17 Sep 2010 02:09:38 +0000 Manhunt by James L. Swanson lays out the cast of characters who assisted John Wilkes Booth in his dirty deed. Ventura decries the fact that this conspiracy is not taught in schools and textbooks. But the problem probably lies in the complexity of those times and the ability of young minds to grasp it all. Ventura also examines 911 and the fall of the twin towers. Again, he makes some interesting points about the highjackers and alleged CIA contacts but goes off track when he alleges the towers were brought down by explosives instead of an aircraft. Ventura is not the first to suggest this, but here is the problem with that accusation. Where are the witnesses to this massive undertaking of bringing such a huge amount of tnt into the World Trade Center. As busy as that place was, no one saw anything remotely suspicious over the months and weeks leading up to 911? Tons of explosives would have to brought in and hidden. No one noticed? Ventura makes his strongest case for conspiraciy when it comes to the possible hijacking of elections in this country. He shows how voting machines can be tampered with remotely and that the companies who contract with counties to provide these machines and associated services are big contributors to Republican candidates. Scary indeed. His research on cult leader Jim Jones and the events surrounding Watergate may ultimately lead somewhere. More work needs to be done. Of course getting to the truth of the matter of a lot of these events is forever difficult due to the government's lack of transparency. Important documents are conveniently "lost" or "stolen" or simply held back due to "national security" concerns. And while we always need to keep an open mind, we also need to follow the preponderance of the evidence. So what we have here with this book is a mixed bag. A much needed look into some of these great controversies of American history but a controversy doesn't always equal a conspiracy, But if you want to write another book Jesse, I will definitely read it.]]> http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2010/08/american_conspiracies_jesse_ve.html http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2010/08/american_conspiracies_jesse_ve.html Thu, 26 Aug 2010 04:21:33 +0000 SNL in its infancy and flirted briefly with having a television show of his own. Beside his Late Show duties, Shaffer is in great demand as a session musician and musical director of such ceremonies as the annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. At times, Shaffer seems like one of those guys on facebook who brags about the number of friends he has and the postings of photos of himself taken with various celebrities. But Paul can be forgiven for all of that. After all, he possesses real talent and has played behind nearly every music superstar of the last quarter century. He even has an obligatory Bob Dylan chapter which leads the book. Shaffer simply loves show bizness and all it entails. (You'll love reading about his long running spoof of the James Brown cape routine.) He also loves his Orthodox Jewish faith and his family that help keep him anchored which is made abundantly clear in the book. A standup guy and an excellent storyteller. Showbiz could use a few more Paul Shaffers. ]]> http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2010/02/well_be_here_for_the_rest_of_o.html http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2010/02/well_be_here_for_the_rest_of_o.html Fri, 12 Feb 2010 02:11:26 +0000 Always Been There, Michael Streissguth attempts a part bio, part exploration of Rosanne Cash's latest recording project, and part analysis of the current state of the recording industry itself. Streissguth is no stranger to the Cash family as he has written an excellent bio of Johnny Cash. The List stems from essential country songs Cash thought his daughter should know as she began her own performing career. Written down and long tucked away, Rosanne has finally come to terms with that canon of classic songs and ready to pass them on to the next generation. The problem is that the actual list is never found. Rosanne has had to rely on memory and her own intuition as to what songs should be recorded. Much agonizing and hand wringing over the list and what it should and shouldn't contain bog the book down at times. This worry also makes its way into the actual recording studio where Cash's husband John Leventhal produces. Undoubtedly the most talented of the Cash/Carter clan, Rosanne has none the less gone to great lengths to get out of the huge shadow of her iconic father. Her emotions and feelings, which Streissguth is all too willing to showcase also weigh the book down. So much so that Rosanne and the book are prime subjects for an Oprah episode. Nothing wrong with Oprah, but I would prefer a little less of her and a lot more about the spirit of southern music. Unfortunately, there are instances in the book in which Cash comes across as a diva. Maybe not the author's intent but the impression lingers. In the end, list or no list the finished project is marvelous. It is perhaps one of the best recordings of last year and one her father would proudly welcome. And if you have the rare chance to see her and Leventhal perform, you will witness magic onstage and observe the greatness of Rosanne Cash and forget the character flaws displayed in the book. With The List, Rosanne has finally come to terms with her father's legacy. Hopefully she can come to terms with her own. ]]> http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2010/01/always_been_there_rosanne_cash.html http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2010/01/always_been_there_rosanne_cash.html Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:48:26 +0000 Woodstock (Three Days That Rocked The World) It's one of those big coffee table books jam packed with photos, But unlike most coffee table books, it's filled with plenty of text detailing the history, chronology of the days events, and insightful commentary from the actual performers. It's interesting to know that Neil Young abhorred it. He didn't even want to be filmed with his bandmates Crosby, Stills, and Nash. Pete Townshend of The Who also disdained it. He found himself in an onstage altercation with Abbie Hoffman. Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead relates the experience of almost being electrocuted on stage due to the rain and thunderstorms which enveloped the festival. On the other hand, performers like Townshend's bandmate Roger Daltrey, Richie Havens (whose improvised Freedom set the mood for the festival) and John Sebastion of the Loving Spoonfull all have fond memories of their experience at Woodstock. The social and political upheaval leading up to Woodstock and it's aftermath are also chronicled. There's also a foreward by a guy you might have heard of - Martin Scorsese. It turns out he was there as one of the film editors. ]]> http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2009/12/woodstock_three_days_that_rock.html http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2009/12/woodstock_three_days_that_rock.html Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:29:56 +0000 Doctor Dolittle. I don't. A book that would have been sensational in the 40's and 50's is merely a tired gimmick in 2009. What's next? The long lost diaries of Mr. Ed? ]]> http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2009/05/me_cheeta.html http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2009/05/me_cheeta.html Wed, 20 May 2009 04:01:23 +0000 The Wrestler . Writer Thomas Hackett delivers an entertaining and sometime heartbreaking look into the world of professional wrestling leaving no stone unturned. What makes fans of professional wrestling tick? The wrestlers themselves? And if everyone is aware that moves are choreographed and outcomes predetermined, why does wrestling's popularity linger in today's culture? Hackett delves into such matters reminding us that spectacle as it relates to modern day wrestling is nothing new. What is new is the extreme lengths wrestlers and fans go to in their quests to fulfill fantasies that often have very little to do with wrestling. Hackett interviews the rabid fans as well as wrestlers with names like Asshole Andy Armageddon, The Hardcore Homo, and the Sandman. He also interviewed the biggest of the big - Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson after he left wrestling for Hollywood. The character of Randy "The Ram" Robinson permeates the book. But these are real people with real fears and anxieties that revolve around a sport that's fake. That's the sad part of the book. The young men whose hopes and dreams of becoming professional wrestlers will never be realized and the men like "The Ram" who have stayed too long. ]]> http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2009/05/slap_happy_pride_prejudice_and.html http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2009/05/slap_happy_pride_prejudice_and.html Wed, 20 May 2009 03:40:19 +0000 An audacious title about an audacious man and a tumultuous time by Boston writer James Sullivan. In fact the title was so compelling, I felt the need to read it almost immediately. But it only took a few pages for me to get bogged down in the minutiae that was 1968 Boston race relations and politics. The book attempts to focus on Brown's Boston Garden concert the day after Dr. Martin Luther King was murdered. Along the way we're treated to a meandering bio of the godfather of soul. Nothing wrong with that, but again Sullivan seemingly namechecks every single member of Brown's considerably large and constantly changing retinue along with all the folks who influenced him over the course of his career. I greatly admire Sullivan's knowledge and enthusiasm for his subject but if you read the book don't be surprised if your eyes start to glaze over. While James Brown's dedication and committment to the African-American community is beyond question, he was first and foremost a "capitalist". Everything else was secondary. Even the celebrated '68 Boston Garden concert almost didn't take place because of monetary and contractual concerns. (The concert would be televised live in an effort to keep potential rioters off the streets.) Brown would later be called a sell-out due to his ardent support of Richard Nixon. And Brown's efforts at reaching out to disaffected black youth meant little more than releasing sloganeering preachy songs. That having been said, he will always be remembered as one of the best entertainers of his generation. And his music did help bring the races together. Did James Brown save the soul of America? No, but like countless others he helped to mend it. Unlike Brown's over the top theatrical cape routine which left the audience wanting more, this book unfortunately will not do the same. The hardest working man? Yes. A great entertainer? Yes. The godfather of soul? You bet. However, Sullivan's attempt to transform Brown into this great civil rights icon that he never was creates a disservice not only to the readers but to the godfather himself. http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2009/03/the_hardest_working_man_how_ja.html http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2009/03/the_hardest_working_man_how_ja.html Fri, 13 Mar 2009 03:20:21 +0000 1960 LBJ vs. JFK vs. Nixon (The epic campaign that forged three Presidencies). At times scholarly, at times journalistic (harking back to a time when serious journalism was treated seriously), and at times tabloid style; Pietrusza weaves a narrative that concludes with the election of JFK. An otherwise fine book is marred at times with innuendo, gossip, and rumors. For example, Pietrusza uses as one of his sources Frank Sinatra's valet/personal assistant. What did Frank supposedly do? He was used as a courier by the mob to deliver large sums of cash to the Kennedy campaign. Of course we know from a number of reputable sources that this campaign was probably not run cleanly especially when you add Joseph P. Kennedy and his millions into the mix. But Pietrusza's Sinatra allegation is never definitively proven along with other assertions he makes based on dubious sources. Pietrusza is far more successful in analyzing broader political themes such as twice defeated presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson's hold on the democratic party as late as 1960 and the sobering warnings from without and within the Republican party concerning a Richard Nixon presidency. Also the Nixon/Kennedy debates are examined in detail. Everyone remembers the first debate. But what about the other three? Pietrusza fills us in. LBJ is often depicted as a helpless despondent bystander in this great campaign. Pietrusza's final chapter summarizes the fate of each man in spectacular prose which makes me want to forgive him for his previous lapses. ]]> http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2009/03/1960_lbj_vs_jfk_vs_nixon.html http://www.scene4.com/lesmarcott/2009/03/1960_lbj_vs_jfk_vs_nixon.html Thu, 05 Mar 2009 02:02:37 +0000