The Way We (Fleetingly) Were
I enjoyed the article on the Maryland Parkway scene '90-'95 [in last week's Weekly]. It brought back many memories for me. I lived in the Cobblestone Creek apartments on Flamingo and Paradise. Spent many nights cutting through the UNLV campus to the Sports Pub. It was a wonderful time. On my second date with my future wife, we saw Mojo Nixon at Favorites. The Shakin' Dominoes opened for them, and when a fight broke out by the pool tables they stopped playing and starting chanting "drinking and f--king is better than fighting!" It was beautiful.
Vegas was a unique scene and it's sad it's changed. Along with the demise of KUNV's Rock Avenue, I blame 103.5 The Edge, followed by the monstrosity of X-treme Radio 107.5 for finally sucking the last of the blood from the scene. Corporate rock bastards.
I also loved the Huntridge Tavern before a show there. Fugazi, Tool opening for Porno for Pyros, Helmet, Ice-T and Body Count, Henry Rollins, all awesome shows. What ever happened to a three-piece band, Scrubs? I loved those guys. Yeeeee, it was a lot cooler back then. Anybody remember the meat puppets at the Palladium on Spring Mountain and Industrial? That was cool. Anyway, I am rambling. Keep up the good work.
Are You Sure It Wasn't the R-J Editorial Board?
Psst! I've got a secret to tell you.
All of those people who wrote in with their insightful viewpoints about the "Alien Nation" article you wrote days/months/years ago? Well, I've seen them all pigging out with their obese significant others at that Chinese buffet on Unoware Street in the Notgontellu part of town. Burping, farting, belching, wheezing, with bratty kids and horrible table manners—all in all, sheer elegance in its purest form!
The slightly stressed-out busgirl told me, "So long as they pay, who am I to complain? I don't have to sleep with them!"
Indeed!
It only seems like years ago that "Alien Nation" ran. In fact, it was December 8.
A Few Notes on Alcoholics Anonymous
As a longtime member of Alcoholics Anonymous and a person familiar with the players in your January 12 article "Making Amends," I'd like to make two distinctions.
First, the statement that AA's Step 2 "demands" belief in a Higher Power is inaccurate. AA's steps don't demand anything. They're suggestions. If you want them, great. If not, that's OK, too.
Second, the verbiage in Step 9 (as you point out) suggests that an alcoholic make amends "except when to do so would injure them or others." Clearly, the potential for harm was great in this case. The fact Mr. Beebe chose to place himself and his victim in harm's way is regrettable, but in no way reflects the principles of AA. He could just as easily have made a donation to a rape-crisis clinic. The book Alcoholics Anonymous specifically says, "We are not to be the hasty and foolish martyr who would needlessly sacrifice others to save (ourselves)."
I might add, there's nothing in AA that encourages members to avoid formal legal advice. In fact, just the opposite is true. That same book recommends we consult others before making our decision, and that includes lawyers. If Mr. Beebe accepted contrary advice in AA, he might do well to reread the Big Book. From the looks of things he'll have plenty of time to do so.
The Passion of the Critic
Nice piece on Tony Macklin. I had him for film class at Dayton for a few years and still keep in touch. He is very passionate about film and was a fantastic (if very demanding) professor.