Genevieve Speaks

Drowning Site Has History of Problems

2007-07-17T10:56:00.000-07:00

Dears Sirs and Madams,

In response to Ms. Molly Blooms’s story, “Drowning Site Has History of Problems,” I would like the offer a few humble observations.

I would like to recommend to the good people of New Braunfels, Texas that they nominate the Gruene Bridge to UNESCO. According to web encyclopedia, Wikipedia, “UNESCO aims to catalogue, name, and conserve sites of outstanding cultural or natural importance to the common heritage of mankind.”

The Gruene Bridge could join such storied bridges as Spain’s Viscaya Bridge or China’s Zhaozhou Bridge. The Viscaya, as everyone knows, survived a dynamite attack during the Spanish Civil War and continues to connect two towns without impeding maritime traffic. The Zhaozhou Bridge, also known as the “Safe Crossing Bridge” was completed in 605AD. Aside from a few minor repairs to the ornamental railings every few hundred years, the Zhaozhou has allowed people to make it from one side of the river to the other without incident for 1,400 years.

Zhaozhou Bridge

Gruene Bridge

Surely a bridge as infamous as the Gruene Bridge deserves such a special designation. Any bridge that inspires towns’ people to “go down there and take their chairs…to watch people have accidents,” fits UNESCO’s special mission to preserve the world’s greatest natural and man-made treasures.

Seriously, build a new bridge. It’s dangerous and ugly.

Yours truly,

Genevieve Van Cleve

Gay Bombs!

2007-06-13T13:12:00.000-07:00

Pentagon Confirms It Sought To Build A 'Gay Bomb'

Yes, it's true Harold Planke of the CBS affiliate in San Fran has broken the whacky news that our government was actually thinking of building a 'Gay Bomb' No, no not a bomb that distributes a sexy, but non-lethal dose of the illicit drugs, Meth and Disco...but a bomb that makes the enemy want to get it on. And once they've all become Friends of Dorthy (WINK WINK) they will be sooo imasculated that their fightin' days will be OVAH!

Don't believe me? Here's an excerpt from the story:

"The Ohio Air Force lab proposed that a bomb be developed that contained a chemical that would cause enemy soldiers to become gay, and to have their units break down because all their soldiers became irresistably attractive to one another," Hammond said after reviewing the documents.

The documents show the Air Force lab asked for $7.5 million to develop such a chemical weapon.

Only a group of heterosexual guys would come up with something so completely insane!

I guess the Airforce has never heard of Alexander the Great...I mean FABULOUS! Not only did he take over the known world a couple of times, he also kept the Greeks in line, and conquered Anatolia, Syria, Egypt, and Judea just to name a few. He got as far as the Punjab, y'all!

This is a ridiculous story.

Here's what's not ridiculous, the US military continues to fire fully qualified, Arabic translators because they happen to be gay. Even Alexander the Great appreciated the value of understanding the cultures he conquered!

Wonderful Austin Weekend

2007-06-02T22:58:00.000-07:00

So far, a fabulous weekend. Pete and I haven't spent any time together in ages.

Last night we walked around downtown looking at all the bikers and whatnot. While the picture below isn't exactly what we saw...ALTHOUGH there were lots of chicks in chaps.

We saw the most disgusting t-shirt of all times. You ready:

"55,000 Battered Women a Year...And I've been eatin' mine plain."

Good God!!!! Are people disgusting or what??

Tonight we walked downtown and heard Grahm Reynolds and the Golden Arm Trio at their CD release party.

Sometimes I love living in Austin...SOMETIMES!!

Fancy Online Video of National Poets...Including ME!

2007-05-31T16:17:00.000-07:00

Famecast.com is a site that features up and coming talent. They're having a contest right now...AND there's a 10,000 prize for the winner. More importantly, there's a lot of major, national spoken word talent to check out for FREE.

You can listen to, contact, and vote for:

Tony Jackson
Big Poppa E
Paulie Lipman
Genevieve Van Cleve
Taylor Mahli
Minister of Sin
Corbet Dean
Buddy Wakefield
Mike Whelan
Xenogia Spoken Word Collective
Da'Shade Moonbeam (Jeff is his poet name)

I'm sure I've missed a few names that are familiar to you. This is a really fun and validating contest for our art form.

Here's what you gotta do to check out your favorite poet:

copy past this link in your url:
http://www.famecast.com/contest/stage.php?stage_id=15&round_id=73

OR (if the link doesn't work.)
go to www.famecast.com click on stages go to stage 9

You'll have to create an account in order to vote and comment.

The Austin Poetry Slam Needs You!

2007-05-31T15:33:00.000-07:00

Austin Poetry Slam

Hey Slam Poetry Lovers, genvc (Genevieve Van Cleve) here!

The National Poetry Slam is coming to Austin, Texas again this year. 400 poets will descend on our town like a bunch of fire breathing, beret-wearing dragons.

We can’t put on this show without you. Lend us your ears and give us your cash. We need you.

We’re looking for your help. -A small donation. 5 bucks. One fancy beer, the “M” in your next “MOM” tattoo. 5 bucks. We need you!

We’re counting not only on your donation, but for you to tell your friends, who’ll tell their friends, and so on and so on… It will look like this:

We’re passing the hat. Donations can be made via the Austin Slam website.

Let’s do this thing together.

Yours truly,

The Austin Slam Family

Cindy Sheehan Steps Aside

2007-05-31T11:19:00.000-07:00

Good Riddance Attention Whore- The title of Cindy Sheehan's letter.

Cindy Sheehan has stepped aside. She's returning to her private life. I'm glad. She'd become tired, weird, had come to believe her own press.

Cindy Sheehan was not a hero. She was a normal person in extra-ordinary circumstances. She did what no one in the public arena was willing to do two years ago. She called the President's bluff. She shared with us the real human cost of war. She lost her son, as have so many others during this horrible, ill-advised war. She also reminded us that the tragedy and violence of war is not limited to our allies. She mourned for the people of Iraq. The women, children, and men who've lost their lives in this conflict.

She was not an easy woman to listen to. Her message was bigger and more complex than most Americans, of either political stripe, could digest.

We love our celebrities. We love to watch them flourish as much as we love to watch them fall apart. Cindy Sheehan fit the bill. She was singled out to the exclusion of other Gold Star Families and peace activists, and she didn't say, "No".

In her letter, Cindy thanked no one. Her exit was not strategic or gracious. Then again, I guess that's not her job. She revealed herself us. In the end, that's not enough to sustain a movement.

Ann Wright was a steadfast supporter of Cindy. A career Army officer that resigned her commission over this war. She is a leader, not a celebrity. I hope that Ann Wright takes up the mantle that Cindy has set aside. I hope that everyone accepts that foreign policy and the peace movement are more important than one woman's journey through the meat grinder of fame.

On a personal note, I got married at Camp Casey. Cindy Sheehan was my "maid of honor". Peter and I felt that our marriage was not only a political statement, but a hopeful act-an act of love in the face of great ignorance and misunderstanding. Love trumps everything. Love heals.

I hope Cindy finds some healing, and that we can let her go. There is so much work to be done. Cindy opened our hearts and minds to the reality of this war. That's enough to ask of one citizen.