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Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Cyclical History
It all started a week or so ago when I read in the newspaper that Bush's approval ratings were the lowest since Nixon's
shortly before his resignation in the summer of '74.
I got to thinking how many historical parallels there were between Nixon's second term and Bush's current second
term: an unpopular war, soaring energy costs, and a presidential administration that seemed to rule by divine right
(or Right, as the case may be).
I wasn't really thinking about that when I walked into the library last Saturday, but it came back in a rush
when I saw a book displayed on the New Non-fiction shelf. I hastily picked up Andreas Killen's 1973 Nervous
Breakdown, and damn if I didn't read it straight through that afternoon and evening.
Without getting too carried away (I just want to recommend the book here) Killen feels that 1973 was, historically-speaking,
the beginning of the seventies, and that the seventies haven't even begun to be mined for their historical significance.
His hugely enjoyable overview of the state of the USA, circa the early seventies, doesn't draw lines from 1973 to 2006, but
anyone who hasn't been comatose for the past four months can see the similarities.
I turned twelve in 1973, and although I wasn't paying any more attention to national concerns than the average twelve-year-old
(I was too busy learning all the words to "Crocodile Rock" and "You're So Vain"), I remember the villification of President
Nixon, and the general mood of disgust in the air.
What surprises me, I guess, is even though I'm beginning to hear a stronger chorus of dissent in the land these days,
it doesn't seem to come close to the volume I remember from 1973-1974. The Bush administration, the Right, the Republicans,
et al have had the country so cowed into silence these past few years that people are only now beginning to speak out, and
the voices are tentative, perhaps even rusty from non-use.
I can only hope that more and more people will begin to see that the Bush adminstration's definition of patriotism is
NOT the same as our forefathers', and that speaking critically of our government isn't just a privilege, but a necessity.
As for those who continue to swear complete allegiance to the Bush administration and constantly tell the rest of us to shut
our un-patriotic, commie mouths, I can only suggest that their blind faith might be better focused on the god of
their choice, as opposed to a bunch of greedy, self-interested politicians.
Hmmm. I got a bit off track there. Sorry. I've been wanting to say that for some time, and a blog is
a good a place as any. The point I wanted to make is that history is indeed, as many have postulated, cyclical.
We survived the fallout of the Nixon years, and we'll probably survive the scorched earth legacy of the Bush years.
I can only hope his downfall is as spectacular as Nixon's though. I'm totally paying attention this time, and I plan
to be properly gleeful.
In the meantime, get ahold of 1973 Nervous Breakdown by Andreas Killen. It gives you a lot to think about
historically and sociologically, and may give you a few points of reference the next time you're stuck in conversation with
a Bush groupie.
Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Note to John in Texas
Hey John,
I enjoyed the email you sent me last month. I tried to reply several times, but neither of the email addresses
you provided would work. If you still have some questions for me regarding public appearances in May, please send me
another email here, and please make sure the address is valid!
Thanks,
Nick P
Monday, May 1, 2006
Nick in the 21st Century
For someone who has fought technology every step of the way, I'm amazed at how much I've come to depend upon it.
In the past year more than one person has heard me remark, "I wouldn't have a career without computers and the internet."
It's true. I wouldn't. I've been able to see my first novel published, and I've been able to promote it in ways
I would have never dreamed of even a few years ago.
So now I'm doing something else I never gave much thought to until the past year -- creating a web space for myself.
It still seems weird.
I'm a true-blue Hoosier in the respect that I approach change warily and with a certain amount of stubbornness. For example,
this is the first spring in 35 years Indiana has gone on Daylight Savings Time. People across the state are still complaining
bitterly about having to adjust their clocks, and supposedly altering their lifestyles. It doesn't bother me, but I
know how they feel. Change can be scary and a big pain in the ass.
The thing is, if I hadn't of opened my mind to new ideas and new technology, The Handyman's Dream probably would
have been written on a beat-up Royal electric typewriter, and would probably be nothing more than a stack of paper in one
of my desk drawers. I have to remember that as the changes keep comin' -- fast and furious.
For the son of a woman who never could learn how to program a VCR, I've come a long way.
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When I'm Not Writing...
UPDATE: If you are on Facebook I hope you'll join the NICK POFF Author of
the HANDYMAN series group for discussions, updates, and more.
The sad but honest truth is that most writers need to supplement their income with something other than writing.
I've worked in the radio industry since the tender age of sixteen, and for the same two radio stations for the past fourteen
years. We call it The Hotel California -- you can check out but you can never leave! It's amazing how people go,
but then seem to come back at some time, including me. Radio has been good to me, and although there are still times
I regret not sticking with the writing thing at an earlier age, it's been an interesting ride.
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Things I'm Enjoying....
In The Handyman's Dream Ed and Rick spend time at a cabin on a small lake in southern Michigan.
In a weird fiction-meets-non-fiction kind of way, John Sellers writes about just such a place in his latest
book, The Old Man and the Swamp. It is a must-read for anyone who, like me, has been intrigued by that strange part
of the world at the borders of Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio; fears and respects snakes, and has enitrely too much
memory space dedicated to the 70's & 80's.
I enjoyed Joyce Maynard's latest, The Good Daughters.
I still can't believe All My Children is leaving ABC this September. I was a SLAVE to this
soap opera for 27 years. Even though I stopped watching every day back in '01, I've checked in occasionally, and talked with
co-workers about what was going on in Pine Valley. I mean......a world without Erica Kane? That, to me, is scarier
than facing the end of the Mayan calendar! I have, of course, read Susan Lucci's recent memoir, All My Life.
It's a nice, breezy read, but for diehard AMC fans only. Still...Ms. Lucci is on my list of people I hope to meet someday,
if only to say "THANKS!"
The wonderful thing about "All My Children" is that it was, for many years, more than "just a soap
opera." It was a second family of sorts to its most loyal fans. We can thank the amazing Agnes Nixon, the show's creator for
that, but I also think thanks must be given to the entire production staff, and those incredible actors who made those characters
so special to us. Did I learn some basic facts about life from watching this daytime drama? Yes. Did I learn how to write
a good story from watching "All My Children?" You betcha. Anyone who reads and enjoys the HANDYMAN books can be grateful
for the hours I spent in front of the TV, absorbing the finest writing in daytime television.
Just below is the link to the YouTube video from the intro of the 20th
Anniversary special from 1990. It contains some brief clips from the first 20 years of the show. Although AMC soared wonderfully
into the 21st Century, I gotta admit the best stories were from the first 20 years.
This show ain't dead yet, but it will be in September. Yeah, I'll probably be watching those
final episodes. In the meantime, I want to celebrate some of the best creative writing classes I ever attended. Thanks,
"All My Children!"
And I'm truly finding a great deal of joy in producing and broadcasting my little internet radio
show on www.live365.com. I hope you'll tune in some Wednesday evening for some wonderful old music and chat.
It's all RETRO here at the House of Nick. I also love the occasional old game show clip on YouTube.
I'm all about the retro fun stuff. I'd like to think it reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously in the here
and now. I celebrate old pop music on my internet radio show, NICK POFF RADIO 45.
As most writers do, I love word games, so I always enjoyed the game shows dealing with words. I loved the
$10,000 Pyramid (and the $20,000 and the $25,000 Pyramid, etc.). For those with a short attention span, here's Billy Crystal's
record-breaking trip to the top.
"I can't even watch The New Treasure Hunt anymore because you give me so much shit about it!"
(The above line of dialogue was deleted from the final draft of The Handyman's Dream. Ed's enjoyment
of game shows and Rick's dislike of them would continue to be a source of irritation.)
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Meet two potential victims of global warming.
If you want to save the bears as much as I do, vote wisely in each and every election, and check out the link
on my Favorite Links page.
Nick Poff
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