Just listened to a...

very interesting radio program on NPR from an hour that came from Birmingham Alabama. Discussions with conservatives re the Comey revelations---with a democratic member of the House of Representatives from Alabama, but most meaningful of all, an interview with three laid off steel workers from the recently closed US STeel plant in a suburb of Birmingham. Heart wrenching stories---not great opportunity to get new jobs, or jobs that payed anything closes to what they were getting at US Steel. All three seemed like good, serious people, people who would accept one as a new friend easily and make him or her feel at home. And yet, they all voted for Trump. Why? They felt that the Democrats had essentially turned their backs on them. So, there you go. And, as the Representative pointed out, the proposed budget hurts those people even more, but still, the Democrats have got to shake off their elitism and become advocates for these people.
  Last night, with some hesitation, headed to JACK to see my friend Amina's play. Glad that I did---this was a remarkable production of a very solid play. A large step forward from Amina's last play, also presented at JACK, which had funny moments but which seemed kind of scattered. There was nothing scattered about Ducklings, a play about four black woman competing for an online dance contest in Pittsburgh. Lots of self delusion---Amina has invented four women in very strong detail. I found them totally believable as characters--and the four actresses who played them---four young black actresses who came to the play with not a lot of experience---were completely lifelike. Great direction and choreographer---Amina really chose her collaborators well. I left JACK quite astounded---but where was I to go after that? Looked at the bar around the corner---a bar that always looks sort of inviting---but decided not to go in. Then I walked west on Fulton towards the BAM area---God, how that street is now full of restaurants, and amazingly enough, all of them seemed full---seven years ago, the Fulton area off BAM may have had only one restaurant. Where do all those people come from? But every bar with a tv was packed, all were watching the basketball final, so finally I decided to just take the train back to Manhattan and keep my money low. Arrived at 72nd street with a sugar need, and rather than get a beer at a bar near by (there is not really one that I like) I got a rich Chocolate cone at the neighborhood Hagen-Daas. Fell asleep quickly---woke up with a little anger---perhaps I should have risked hanging out---but the essence of things seems better now.
     Today the plan is to meet my friend Mike at the FUREE office on Atlantic around 3--then probably return to the city and head to Abrons for the play that my friend Ben has directed---called Raw Bacon from Poland. It got two very diverse reviews last week---the Voice found it pretentious, while Brantley gushed all over it (nothing new here). Would like to wait a week to see it, but these performances exist in a totally compressed time. My friend Julia has what looks like a fun project at Ars Nova tonight, but I have a feeling it will be repeated so I guess I will choose the play at Abrons, even if I am sure I will know a lot of people at Julia's event. Also would love to see a movie--the Human Rights watch films or showing now---always very important---and Metrograph has a documentary about Bed-Stuy that looks interesting, but of courses, they are all at the same time as the play. Oh well, one thing at a time, cityboy, right?
    Tomorrow afternoon, the first Sojourner play---interested to see what it is, if I like it may try to see the second one, a few hours later, but only if the price is within my budget.
Stay tuned for more information.