2004-10 Vital Source Mag – October 2004
John Jeske is He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Interviewed.
By John Jeske & the Scribe Cleverness, thy sin is Ego! Any writer with even the slightest tendency towards thinking their own ideas are great can fall for this one. The staff of Vital was planning the October issue, when someone threw out the idea of interviewing a Witch for Vital Lives. It didn’t catch on at first, but the seed of a thought had been planted… what if, instead of interviewing a plain old Pagan about a simple Harvest holiday, we spoke with a real Warlock who openly practices Magick? Wouldn’t that be much more interesting? For some reason, this sounded like a good idea at the time. We even instantly concurred on the perfect Warlock. One person said “Who could we talk to?” Immediately, another shot back “John Jeske.” It seemed perfect. I contacted Jeske the next day and we met at the agreed-upon time a few days later. There was only one problem. The man cannot be interviewed. An elder statesman of Milwaukee’s poetry scene and artistic and political undergrounds, Jeske is by turns brilliant, charming, angry, wistful and vaguely disoriented. He read my cards, told me the meaning of my name and examined my palm. If lines don’t lie, I have a long life to look forward to. We had a deeply fascinating conversation. Unfortunately, it wasn’t linear in any sort of narrative way. I tried to pin the man down on facts, but was left with impressions, bits of past-life history, some of the duties and responsibilities of persons of his Order. Not being an expert on the subject, it wasn’t much to go on. And it’s not like the facts are posted anywhere in plain sight. At least not where I could find them in regards to his specific affiliation. When I contacted Jeske again and told him I needed more tangible information, he informed me that he didn’t care to be interviewed, per se, but he would be happy to share some thoughts with me in writing, which he did. So after much wringing of hands, I’m taking the easy way out, just sharing his words as they were shared with me. John writes: Somewhere in this messy, ever-changing world of mine, is a stack of journals, a few feet high, that records all of my magickal adventures. You see, a sorcerer keeps meticulous records of all the fantastic happenings in its life. Without your journals, your magickal career is worth exactly the value of the air you blow over your teeth as you proclaim yourself Magus, master of Magick, minerval, man of earth, king, queen – and why not? I don’t know, sorcerers don’t give or get medals and usually; when too many of them are in one place, there is, well, change. I ask: How did you discover Magick? John replies: When I was 17, my first performance at the Avant Guard [2111 N. Prospect] was watched by a 35 year-old woman who was as powerful as she was beautiful. There […]
Oct 1st, 2004 by Vital Archives
October 2004
Dear Readers, An oft-discussed but little understood theory of Albert Einstein’s is that of length contraction, in which a decrease in length is experienced by objects traveling at a substantial fraction of the speed of light (at least 10� but only in the direction in which the object is traveling. Extended, this theory applies to time itself. Simply stated (and possibly somewhat misstated, so I’ll ask advance forgiveness from mathematicians and physicists here): if something is moving fast enough in a certain direction, it actually moves faster than time. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately because, like almost everyone I know, I am overwhelmed by how quickly time passes. It truly does feel like the more we’re in motion, the faster time moves. The more we try to do, the more we are faced with decisions we must make that affect both our present and our future, the less time we seem to have to think about what we’re doing. Even though the physics of this phenomenon are beyond my understanding, I can identify with the thought that the faster we move, the faster time does indeed pass. I wish there was a scientific way to physically measure the speed of change as it pertains to both personal and global events and situations. If that were possible, we might find that we are indeed hurtling along at 1/10 the speed of light, the point at which time does indeed start to contract, and things are really happening more and more quickly. The next step would be to see if there was any way at all to slow the world down a bit, to give each of us more time to consider the implications of our decisions and actions. In practical terms, we could more thoroughly evaluate how our two major parties have switched identities in twenty short years. Mysteriously, the Republican party claims banner rights as guardian and gatekeeper of corporate interests and the moral well-being of all Americans, while the Democrats represent balanced budgets, global relations, smaller government and, most interestingly to me, personal choice and autonomy. Does anyone yet remember that the Republican party was founded 150 years ago, right here in Ripon, Wisconsin, by socialists pissed off at ineffectual Democrats and Whigs, both of which had become parties of complacent conservatism, content with the enslavement of blacks and the congenital economic and social structure slavery fostered? Abraham Lincoln was their leader. Trust buster Teddy Roosevelt was a Republican, too. My, how times have changed. And so quickly! Think about that on your way to the polls. Something else to think about this election season is the considerable influence of third parties on our two party political system. When we think about third parties, we think of their most colorful characters – Ross Perot, Jesse Ventura, Ralph Nader. But while no independent party has yet succeeded in gaining legal and financial status that would make it competitive with either the Democrats or the Republicans, some of […]
Oct 1st, 2004 by Jon Anne Willow
Some Sage Advice for John Kerry
By Donald Kaul Let’s face it, fellow liberals: Commander Kerry’s swift boat isn’t looking too swift these days. The shore is lined with people shouting advice to him: “Be tougher! Be more positive! Defend yourself faster! Don’t defend, attack! Don’t talk about so many issues! Broaden your agenda!” Good advice all, but easier to give than to follow. So I thought I’d try my hand at it. I figure if he uses it and it works, I might get a job in the new administration; something that comes with a big office and not many duties will do. Here are just a few things I would tell John Kerry if I had his ear: Do not use the word “nuance.” Don’t use it in a campaign speech, in private conversation or in your sleep. Your Secretary of State can use the word. So can your ambassador to the United Nations. In an emergency, your press secretary can use it (although I wouldn’t recommend it). You cannot. People running for president do not say “nuance” unless, of course, they’re running for president of France. In the first place, a good number of the people you’re trying to get to vote for you don’t know what it means. In the second place, it not only sounds like a French word, it is a French word and, for better or for worse, France is not the favorite country of the American people right now. (Hey, I’m like you, I love the place. Great food, beautiful cities and towns, stylish women. What’s not to like? But you’ve got my vote already, you know? You might try reaching out to those with less sophisticated palates.) Stop saying that you’ll fight a “more sensitive” war against terrorism. It’s okay to be more sensitive, but you don’t want to talk about it. It sounds like you want to get Osama bin Laden on a couch and have him tell you his life story. I know that’s not what you mean, but it leaves you open to that kind of misinterpretation (and, as we know, if the Republicans didn’t have misinterpretation, they wouldn’t have any interpretation at all). You’re not teaching English Lit 101, John. You’re running for president. Act like it. Talk about fighting a “smarter” war on terrorism. Smart is good; smart plays in Peoria. Never say you would still vote to authorize the president to attack Iraq even if you knew then what you know now. Never, ever. Don’t tell me you didn’t really say that. It sounded as though you said it, and that’s good enough for the Electoral College. When you said whatever it was you said, you could hear the air begin to escape the Kerry balloon. You picked a hell of a time to be nuanced on an issue. All those Dean and Kucinich voters who were stirred by the passion of their candidates suddenly became aware that you really weren’t one of them and they sagged. George Bush spends a […]
Oct 1st, 2004 by Vital Archives
October 2004
Families on the edge? Having read your article “Brave New Family” in your September issue, I can’t help but think you are missing out on one important aspect in the work-family-money triad. Authors Willow and Tomaszek spoke of the difficult choices parents need to make when it comes to working and raising families, and of the sacrifices some are making financially in order to have more time with their kids. Nowhere do they mention what is necessary to get ahead. Those interviewed seemed extremely focused on the present without mention of what it takes to earn enough for retirement, future college education for children, or for emergency situations. They describe families truly living on the edge, as when they described Becca and Joe’s only car being stolen. I don’t disagree with the picture that they paint. These are tough times and we all have difficult decisions to make about work and family time. Throw into that mix a need to think about future financial drain and the issue becomes even more complex. Denise Lubotsky Riverwest (Milwaukee) Kudos for Cosby Dear Ms. Willow, I am writing to comment and thank your writer, Frizell Bailey. I admired his comments about Bill Cosby. [“Cosby’s Clarion Call,” August 2004] Written with such clarity and to the point, I wish it could be reprinted and discussed in many publishing and other media venues. Sincerely, R.A. Holzhauer Milwaukee Love that new look – rrrowwrr! You almost had me fooled. Earlier this month [September 04], I went around on my customary hunt for a copy of Vital, but couldn’t find it anywhere. I was sad, thinking you had finally been gobbled up by some media giant or otherwise closed up shop. But then I noticed this magazine I’d never seen before. I picked it up and there you were – Vital Source MAGAZINE. Way to go! Jeff Reitzer Milwaukee Just picked up the new Vital Source from Ray’s in Wauwatosa. The new size is great, very nice use of color, too. I also thought the new layout was more logical and easy to follow. Keep up the good work. Jessica Wertzke Wauwatosa Props to the SCP Dear Lucky, Thank you for your piece on the difficulty of finding school clothes for children that are cute, but not “cool.” [“Slightly Crunchy Parent” September 2004] Anyone with kids, especially girls, faces this battle. But it was nice to see you treat it with a mixture of firmness and humor. I loved your “fashion code” for your kids! It was funny and too true at the same time. Thanks again, Lisa Maryland (by email)
Oct 1st, 2004 by Jon Anne Willow
The Marlboro Man Ponies Up to Both Parties
By Adrian Zupp Tobacco giant Philip Morris/Altria put on its political party clothes recently, but it may soon be dressing for a wake. Under fire from the Department of Justice and facing the imminent implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), the folks who gave the world the Marlboro Man and all the litigable deception and misery that rode with him, are working overtime to curry favor with the decision-makers in Washington, D.C. And they’re not too fussy about which side of the street they work. At the recent Republican and Democratic conventions, Philip Morris, under the smokescreen of its strategically adopted parent company name Altria, threw a hundred grand in the kitty of each host committee. For partying’s sake. And for good measure, the “generous” people from PM/Altria helped grease the wheels of true democracy as the ancient Greeks intended it by throwing lavish parties of their own for some key political types. Philip Morris/Altria spokesperson Dawn Schneider, quoted in the “Chicago Tribune,” explained how such events get into the corporation’s playbook. “The convention is really, practically speaking, an extension of our commitment to the political process,” she said. Looking beyond the cutting-edge hors d’oeuvres and magnums of bubbly, one finds some illuminating possible motives for PM/Altria’s festive mood. The tobacco giant is facing a triad of industry-changing events. One point of attack comes from the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the world’s first public health and corporate accountability treaty. Forty countries need to ratify the treaty to bring it into force and, in turn, completely change the way the tobacco industry can do business in those countries that ratify now or in the future. At the time of writing, 30 nations have ratified and the number is rising steadily. Also wracking the nerves of Philip Morris execs is the Department of Justice’s $280 billion civil Racketeering and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) lawsuit that opens this month. The Justice Department is holding six major tobacco corporations liable for 50 years of industry attempts to cover up the true harmfulness of its products. The government is also contending that the whole time the industry was giving its scout’s honor that there was no proof that cigarettes cause cancer, it was actually sitting on a pile of its own evidence relating to carcinogens in cigarettes. Which brings us to the third head of the hydra: a bill currently in Congress would give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory authority over tobacco. But this one comes with a twist. Unlike its smoky brethren, Philip Morris says it’s all in favor of this. After years of fighting FDA regulation, Philip Morris/Altria has reversed its position, presumably seeking to avoid liability for its deadly products and to secure government support for its marketing of a so-called “safe cigarette.” Health advocates remain skeptical and will be keeping an eye on developments. Nevertheless, it all adds up to a time of serious reckoning for the world’s number-one cigarette maker. And one thing seems […]
Oct 1st, 2004 by Vital Archives
Buddy Miller
New West www.buddyandjulie.com Nashville might not be what it used to be, but the city must have something to recommend it still, because Buddy Miller lives there. Perhaps he serves as a reminder—like better-known friends Steve Earle and Emmylou Harris—of precisely what Nashville used to be: a place where a man like Miller, who ordinarily wouldn’t get noticed walking down the street, could create magic from little more than his throat and his hands. Earle occasionally has credited himself with big balls (the phrase is his) simply for standing on the same stage with Miller. For his part, Miller, on Universal House of Prayer, displays considerable cojones by taking ownership of both the Louvin Brothers’ “There’s a Higher Power” and Bob Dylan’s “With God On Our Side.” In those two songs alone—the first a bluegrass-brushed gospel number, the second a spark that builds to an all-consuming wildfire in little over nine minutes—Miller encapsulates the best of American faith: its constant questioning doubt, its constant steadfast renewal. Miller runs through that cycle repeatedly on this album, through the songs of others and through those he writes (with Victoria Williams, Jim Lauderdale, and his wife Julie). Whether pondering his travels on “Wide River to Cross” or considering fate on “Fire and Water,” Miller always seeks redemption, even salvation. His music, which bears the sheen of modern country without the burden of its pandering, lights the way. His voice, which contains the power of experience and the wisdom of the country, carries him home. On October 23, Buddy Miller plays with Emmylou Harris at Lund Auditorium in River Forest (Chicago area), 7900 W. Division St.
Oct 1st, 2004 by Jon Gilbertson
Technology For All of Us
By Lightburn Designs In 1998, Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura was elected Governor of Minnesota, in one of the biggest political upsets of the late twentieth century. At the beginning of the race, Ventura had star power (as a long-time WWF mainstay), a simple, powerful anti-establishment rallying cry – No More Politics As Usual! – which appealed squarely to college students and Minnesota’s healthy base of Independents, a strong military record and two weak opponents. But it’s what he didn’t have— money (the big one), a physical campaign headquarters, limited staff, endorsements from established interest groups, an existing network of help and political experience—that left “political experts” scratching their heads as the dust settled and Jesse moved into the Governor’s mansion. Even though Ventura did not win a second term, his race shook up the political process forever, as the former Navy Seal discovered politics’ new “secret sauce” – mobilization of one’s base via the Internet. There, Ventura was able to disseminate his message at a low cost, collect campaign donations from average citizens, and build momentum for his campaign with his constant presence. For that alone, he has a place in the pantheon of pioneering political leaders in America. The steady growth of the Internet and its proven ability to strengthen grassroots political efforts has made possible the raising of millions of dollars for politicians of all parties and has created myriad networks of activists and campaigners. As the current Presidential race has shown, if you’re a politician with Washington in your sights, you better have a clear plan for using the Internet to your advantage or you might just fail. Dr. Dean’s Internet machine.In the Democratic primary race, we all witnessed the “Howard Dean Phenomenon,” as he rose from relative obscurity to viable Democratic Presidential hopeful through his savvy leveraging of the Internet. Dean’s campaign existed largely, at the beginning, on the Dean For America website. There, he was able to set his agenda and goals down clearly (shaping the debate for the rest of the pack), mobilize a vast slice of people who don’t normally vote and, most importantly, raise over $25 million, much of it in smaller increments over the Web. To put it in perspective, the average contribution to his campaign was only about $74. He didn’t win the nomination. But he did change the way politics in America gets done. Howard Dean opened up campaign donation to anyone who had a computer and a little extra money. While most of the candidates got the majority of their campaign funding from individuals giving at least $1000, Dean was able to get much smaller donations, but from many more people. On the other hand, President Bush has received 69 percent of his funds from those giving the maximum contribution of $2,000, while Dean got less than 10 percent of his cash from such large donors. Now, both Kerry and Bush are reaping the benefits of Dean’s efforts. The Kerry campaign puts their online donation total at $75 […]
Oct 1st, 2004 by Vital Archives
Teaching Tolerance
By Lucky Tomaszek Children begin noticing differences in people at a very early age, just as they notice different colors of crayons, or a goat from a lamb at the petting zoo. Often they make “judgments” like “I like the red one better.” Sometimes they merely repeat something they have heard like “goats are so ugly.” But when these judgments are extended to people, it is difficult and often shocking to parents who strive to teach their children to respect others. I work very hard to teach my children tolerance. I know I’m not alone in this. My sisters and close friends are doing the same thing and it’s inspiring to see us all work toward the same goals. There are times, though, when I realize that teaching tolerance is not a one-time only lesson. This became painfully obvious to me this summer. My best friend and I took all six of our kids to Menomonie for a family vacation. We have dear friends who live there, a lesbian couple and their ten kids, six of whom are teenagers. Our friends Melissa and Mandy lead the local GLBT teen group in the area, so the house is typically full of lots of teenagers. Kids say the darndest things… gulp! A house full of gay, lesbian, and bisexual teenagers tested my children’s ability to accept people who are different than those in their immediate family. My kids got to see their first Mohawk up close, hear different kinds of music, and learn some interesting slang terms. Multiple, visible body piercings were also a source of endless intrigue for my little ones. Then there were the less visible, but more profound differences. My friends’ home represents a refuge for these adolescents, a place where they can be themselves and hold hands with their same-sex partners without recrimination. It’s not uncommon to stumble across a pair of them in a warm welcoming embrace or sneaking a good-bye kiss behind the garage. For all six of our little kids, this was new. My best friend and I have both been active with the Human Right Coalition and their work to grant same-sex marriage rights in our country, so our children know a little about homosexuality and the GBLT community. But seeing it was very different. One evening, our friends’ 15-year-old daughter was saying goodnight to her girlfriend. They had ducked into a hallway for a moment of quiet and a quick g’night kiss when one of our little ones came out of the bathroom and saw them. She stood there stunned and said, “Did you just KISS her?” The couple smiled and nodded. The little girl looked amazed and said, “That is so GAY!” Fortunately, all of the big kids at Melissa and Mandy’s house are good-natured and were happy to spend a few minutes talking to our little kids about the fact that it’s okay to be gay. And that it’s important to be whatever you really are inside. Our children asked some […]
Oct 1st, 2004 by Lucky Tomaszek
True Artists
By Tom Smith Vera Deirdre has been lurking around Milwaukee for the last two years, dreaming up sonic reliefs of slow sad redemption with the deep, mournful clarinets of Daniel Fischer setting up the soaring catharsis of Rebecca Schoenecker’s sweet, melodic vocals. It’s a moving contrast. What’s special about this group is that they are true artists in many mediums, and they use this talent and taste to produce truly original works using words, sounds, paint or film. Rebecca is, in fact, preparing to open a show of her paintings and mixed media art at the Wailing Banshee Boo-tique on the corner of Astor and Brady. I met her there and was taken by her series of Memory Boxes. Rather uninviting paintings on the lids open to fragments of clearly disturbing prose and sketches inside. Says Rebecca “They’re from a time in my life that I had to look at, get past, and put a lid on.” This boutique not being a conventional gallery by any stretch of artistic license, I was curious to find out how she chose her venue. “In art school” she said, “they try to tell you that you have to show your work in galleries, where people who can appreciate it are, but I want to show where real people can see it, wonder about it, and maybe even buy it.” The band has tracked their upcoming release with the venerable Bill Curtis of Curtis Technologies. Busy guy, I’d say. They’ve added a banjo, manned by Eric Holiday of Decibully, to stretch the arrangements. Unfortunately, they’ve been held up by technical and personnel problems during post-production, but hope has arrived in the form of Bill Cicerelli of WMSE, who has agreed to tackle the mixdown. There is still no word on a possible release date. If you want to get a feel for what it will be like, be at the Wailing Banshee October 15th, where they will be performing live for the official opening of Rebecca’s show. There’s even word that drummer Kenneth Zanowski may show his short film Going Home. Has anyone else ever felt this way? Going to most “folk” shows, I’m left with the impression that Dave Matthews and Radiohead have conspired to destroy the genre. Most of it is either absent-mindedly meandering and pointless, or absolutely mindless and frantic. It’s like my dad used to scream at me from the back of the club, “Play something we can all sing along with!” I was about to lose hope when I received an invitation to see Old Man Oak at Linneman’s Riverwest Inn. The title might lead one to expect a band (as I did), but Old Man Oak is just one man; John Williams, a troubadour from the old school. His songs have everything you could hope for; a message, melody and hooks that really hook you. There is an ease about him that could be called the mark of the real deal. His songs are confessional, accusatory, and above […]
Oct 1st, 2004 by Vital Archives
Tenuta’s a Hit in Bay View
By Catherine McGarry Miller “It was either the job or get married. I chose the job,” says Tenuta chef Frank Alia who picked a culinary career over wedded bliss. To do both would lead to divorce, he admits, and cooking is a zeal bred from his Southern Calabrese Italian heritage. After a short stint as dishwasher in one of his uncle’s Kenosha restaurants, Alia began cooking in earnest at just 16 years-old. His pride is in doing the job right. “Anyone can follow a recipe but [the outcome] depends upon the kind of passion you put into a dish – I love making a product that people really enjoy,” he says with great delight. Alia honed his skills with lots of practice. “I listened to a lot of good chefs, went to school [Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago (CHIC)], and wasn’t really afraid to make mistakes.” And as all young chefs, mistakes he made. Once, he made a real doozy, ordering his staff to cook raviolis for forty people, only to realize halfway through the painstaking process that the party was the next evening. “It made a nice employee meal, but I don’t make too many mistakes now,” he says grinning. Alia’s cooking philosophy is true to his Italian heritage. He seasons his dishes with a simple palette of salt, pepper and oregano, roasted garlic and vegetables and vinegars of all kinds. “I use Balsamic vinegar as a base and infuse it with various flavors: raspberry, lemon and sometimes honey like an Italian sweet sour.” The house vinaigrette is so good a bottle of it sits on each table for bread dipping as well as for dressing salads. For Alia, the key to gastronomic success is to start with the freshest ingredients available. Gnocchi all’ Fungi is Alia’s specialty and a dish he loves to recommend. “The gnocchis are made by hand made fresh. The Alfredo sauce is light and creamy, not pasty or heavy. It’s velvety on the tongue.” Alia himself prepares the daily specials and makes the foccacia bread. All specials, pizzas and sauces are made-to-order. Italian loaves are purchased from Canfora Bakery. “We use as many local purveyors as we can – it’s good for business,” Another local business, Battaglia, makes Italian sausage for the restaurant using Tenuta’s own recipe. Desserts, including the popular Tiramisu and Chocolate Godiva Cheesecake are made from scratch. As with any job, there are occupational obstacles to overcome. For Tenuta’s, it is a snug cooking area. “I’m afraid to measure the kitchen, it’s so small,” Alia says with a smile. No more that 25’ by 18,’ equipment is packed in cheek to jowl. The chefs must perform a nightly ballet choreographed between several small prep areas and the ovens, broaster, fryer, steam table and six-burner stove. With all the coolers and freezers in the basement, Alia estimates that he makes a hundred trips a day, which keep him slender enough to navigate his tight quarters. The Bay View Tenuta’s is the […]
Oct 1st, 2004 by Cate Miller
Sally Timms
By Erin Wolf Touch and Gowww.tgrec.com Those familiar with Sally Timms’ work with the Mekons know her as an artist of creativity and charm, with a voice as sireny and sweet as a lullaby. Influenced by the Mekons’ drift into alt-country or “cow-punk,” Timms offers a genuineness to her solo efforts that is often lost in the Nashville scene. Her first solo country album, Cowboy Sally’s Twilight Laments for Lost Buckaroos (1999), included covers by Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash, offering up a bright, inoffensive take on typical sentimental material. Her latest effort, In the World of Him, finds Timms once again dipping into the pot of country influences, but meandering in a different direction with heavier, more thought-provoking lyrics and tones provided by a myriad of artists. This “theme album,” recorded with Johnny Dowd and his band, arranges songs penned by Mark Eitzel, Ryan Adams, Jon Langford and the Mekons into unique and evocative soundscapes surrounding Timms’ soft and emotive voice. In the World of Him explores, in a post-feminist sense, the perspective of men on subjects such as commitment, communication, love and war. Although a departure from her previous material, Timms, along with Dowd, manages to confidently create an album that is beautifully strange in its diversity of style and seriousness of subject. Beautiful in its blatant take on humanity’s natural tendency to despair—“Lord, Lord, can you hear me? Are your angels just children laughing insane at the fools we are as men?”—the album’s lyrics are dark and striking. Take it or leave it, this is an album that will leave the listener deep in thought. On November 21, Sally Timms and Johnny Dowd play Bremen Café, 901 E. Clarke St.
Oct 1st, 2004 by Vital Archives
