Wow, the only thing you left out was the Golden State Killer prowling the neighborhoods looking for victims. Similar history (Kingswood, Skycrest, Will Rogers Junior High), we diverge in that I went to Jesuit High School and Sacramento State (Philosophy major). I went to graduate school but that was out of CA. I am a year ahead of you (52 years old). By the way, I saw Cornell West sometime in the early 1990's give a lecture at Sac State. He mentioned that his mom graduated from Sac State, and that he was grateful for that. Also, he played the Michael Jackson video, "Man in the Mirror" and spoke how it deeply affected him. I am a Harper's subscriber so looking forward to the Generation X article.
Aug 18, 2023·edited Aug 18, 2023Liked by Justin Smith-Ruiu
Your own use of the brilliant "Desultorily, my mother protested..." among several quotes suggests JD is far from (recently) dead, but likely eternal, I'd say.
Echoes between The Dunnes of the '80s and The Baumbachs of this decade are certainly TBD, though there's hardly a worthy comparison to be found when putting the likes of Julia Phillips against any Scott Rudin clone-of-the-moment.
Wow, the only thing you left out was the Golden State Killer prowling the neighborhoods looking for victims. Similar history (Kingswood, Skycrest, Will Rogers Junior High), we diverge in that I went to Jesuit High School and Sacramento State (Philosophy major). I went to graduate school but that was out of CA. I am a year ahead of you (52 years old). By the way, I saw Cornell West sometime in the early 1990's give a lecture at Sac State. He mentioned that his mom graduated from Sac State, and that he was grateful for that. Also, he played the Michael Jackson video, "Man in the Mirror" and spoke how it deeply affected him. I am a Harper's subscriber so looking forward to the Generation X article.
Your own use of the brilliant "Desultorily, my mother protested..." among several quotes suggests JD is far from (recently) dead, but likely eternal, I'd say.
Echoes between The Dunnes of the '80s and The Baumbachs of this decade are certainly TBD, though there's hardly a worthy comparison to be found when putting the likes of Julia Phillips against any Scott Rudin clone-of-the-moment.
Was Navin's actually worth the trip?
🍿
May I offer, as another Sacramentan of note, the late (and by many lamented) Scott Miller of the bands Game Theory and Loud Family? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott_Miller_(pop_musician)
I've Tried Subtlety (from the album "The Big Shot Chronicles")
All the kids from 916 came down
And were misdirected trying to find the grounds
The Regency Hotel
Prom royals eyeing adult-life means to excel
Down into the city-planning flats
Near Victoria Park a block they gathered at
Old masters on the door
Re-styled to stand for some political reform
Under-civilized time, older-sibling-ized crime
And my car got stripped to the frame
And well it feels about the same
Lots of distance gone in vain
And darlings this one is for you
I've tried subtlety before but I will not anymore
For some looking down surveillance vans
M.I.T. grad alley cats with time on their hands
Oh sergeant, I'm sorry
In my line of work they don't teach no courtesy
Gifted children link your arms in rhyme
Better make this world while still it gives you time
Oh will you look so vain
Left to the purging jets like garbage in the rain
Wish I could with someone what I do alone
Should I just stay at home?
Should I just make the whole thing up as I go?
But what do I really know?
Lots of quickness now turned slow
And darlings this one is for you
I've tried subtlety before but I will not anymore