FatLip

Fiber artist Valerie White is the next LVAA “Food for Thought” speaker

Posted: July 3, 2009 – 3:35 pm

Fiber artist Valerie White is the speaker on July 14^th “Food for Thought.” 12 p.m., Louisville Visual Art Association, 3005 River Rd., 896-2146 ext. 100. LVAA members $20, non-members $30. Reservation deadline is Monday, July 13, at noon.

By jtriplett | Tags: art | Comments (0)

Obligatory Fourth of July A/V Timewasters

Posted: July 3, 2009 – 12:09 pm

Forget for a moment that our country is still fucked and watch these videos, you patriotic hunk of American exceptionalism you!

By jmeador | Tags: comedy | Tagged 'Merica, Fourth of July, sadness | Comments (0)

More Lawson-Related Skullduggery

Posted: July 3, 2009 – 10:49 am

The Courier-Journal has a neat little story out toda y about the latest development in the Leonard Lawson bid-rigging scandal. In it, former Transportation Cabinet hack Jim Rummage has a couple of recorded conversations that Lawson’s defense attorney’s attest have no incriminating value yet nonetheless insist on blocking their inclusion into the legal proceedings against the corrupt asphalt magnate. Genius, guys.

Prosecutors called these tapes “a window into the conspiracy” and said that “Nighbert is on tape in real time talking about obtaining engineer estimates and rehearsing a cover story with Rummage.”

Rummage’s lawyer, Marc Murphy of Louisville, said he did not believe Rummage recorded the conversations with the intent of going to authorities.

“I think it was a much more generalized sense of, ‘Okay, I’m not an idiot. I read books, I see movies, I see where this could be heading. And I’m going to make sure I do what I can to protect myself,’ ” Murphy said. [C-J]

And what books might those have been? Machiavelli’s “The Prince”? Donald Trump’s “The Art of the Deal”? The Necronomicon?

By jmeador | Tags: Crime and punishment | Tagged corruption, Kentucky, Leonard lawson | Comments (0)

‘Tea Party’ Hoopla Set For July 4th

Posted: July 2, 2009 – 5:58 pm

Ahem: In case you didn’t already know, Kentucky’s finest Libertards will eschew the traditional American rituals of spending the Fourth of July with friends, family, fireworks and a possible trip to the drunk tank in lieu of standing on the steps of the state capitol to angrily wave bags of Earl Grey at The Man. (How elitist!)

So should you find yourself with absolutely nothing at all to do this Saturday, we recommend doing else… but, if you insist: The festivities will kick off at noon and run until two o’clock. Bring a bagged lunch, a chair, a flag (preferably ours) and whatever residual anger you have about that Barack Obama beating up on that old man and his lady friend. There will be speakers and (gasp!) an appearance by Frank “Doctor” Simon.

The best part? They’ll be having an open mic for anyone who wishes to deliver an incoherent 60-second speech. See you there (and by “there” I mean “nowhere close”)!

By jmeador | Tags: comedy | Tagged Fourth of July, freedom, other words you don't often find in the same sentence, Tea bagging | Comments (0)

Obama Talks, AP Listens

Posted: July 2, 2009 – 3:10 pm

In a wide-ranging interview that manages to cover everything from Russian relations, Iran nukes, white firefighters, and Guantanamo Bay to Michael Jackson, pastries and something called “The Economy” (which is not going to be around for very long, apparently), Yr. President proves that he is, if nothing else, a fantastic conversationalist.

The president spoke enthusiastically of the White House pastry chef. “Whatever kind of pie you want, he will make it,” Obama said, adding ruefully that that was a problem for him and wife Michelle in regard to their weight. [AP via HuffPost]

Ruefully? Really? Careful he doesn’t bake a Freedom Razor in your next arugula muffin!

By jmeador | Tags: Obama | Tagged baked goods, other important stuff, President Obama | Comments (0)

Old Louisville Holiday House Tour tickets reduced

Posted: July 1, 2009 – 8:31 pm

The 33nd Annual Old Louisville Holiday House Tour is selling tickets in July. Regular price is $25; on July 11 & 12, the tickets are $15. Purchase at the Conrad-Caldwell House Museum in St. James Ct. from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 718-2764 for more information.

By jtriplett | Tags: architecture, historic preservation | Comments (0)

Yarmuth vs. McConnell on health care

Posted: July 1, 2009 – 2:19 pm

This week I wrote a cover story about the emergence of two Kentucky leaders in the national debate over reforming health care. U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky., is the communications adviser for the House Democrats, who two weeks ago foisted a draft plan that includes the so-called public option, a government-run health care plan that would, in theory, force private insurers to lower premium costs and/or increase services for consumers by providing a low-cost alternative. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has given daily floor speeches for three consecutive weeks railing against the public option, is leading the opposition.

Here’s a clip of Yarmuth referenced in my story:

As well, a recent Yarmuth appearance on Fox Business Channel defending the public option can be found here.

By sgeorge | Tags: Mitch McConnell, Yarmuth, health care | Comments (0)

YouthBuild Receives Grant, Hope

Posted: July 1, 2009 – 2:17 pm

The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded a nearly $700,000 grant to YouthBuild Louisville, an organization that aids unemployed, undereducated and generally disadvantaged teens and twenty-somethings in the River City.

The grant will allow the organization, which provides job training and high school education to disadvantaged 16- to 24-year-olds, to operate for another two years.

YouthBuild Louisville is due to receive an additional $400,000 from the labor department when funding is available, the organization said in a news release.

… The Department of Labor last month set aside $114 million for 183 community groups to provide education and training programs to young adults. About $47 million of the funding, which was approved under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, was earmarked for YouthBuild programs, according to the release.

More than 97 percent of incoming YouthBuild Louisville participants live below poverty level. Graduates of the program are prepared for post-secondary education, job or apprenticeship placement or military service, according to the release. [Business First]

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s website, “more than $485 million in grants have been awarded since the program’s inception in 1993 enabling over 47,000 young people to construct or rehabilitate more than 13,000 affordable housing units in their communities,” via YouthBuild programs.

That’s one down, and eleventy-billion non-profits to go…

By jmeador | Tags: Stimulus | Tagged economy, Louisville, non-profits, Stimulus, YouthBuild | Comments (0)

Art Attack!

Posted: June 30, 2009 – 8:58 pm

Artists are invited to the next Artist Meeting at Louisville Visual Art Association on Wednesday, July 8 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Snacks and refreshments will be available. Discussion points include: Photography day for artists and the specifics related to photographing your work; Artebella Daily - new electronic program featuring Louisville artists; AMP (Art Marketing Project) - discuss and select subjects for future AMP meetings; Microloan Program; Exhibition Opportunities - Water Tower Regional; Centennial Book; Louisville Visual Arts Festival. Please RSVP if you plan to attend at 896-2146.

Terry Tapp is offering classes in his studio at 815 E. Market, #3. He has children’s summer classes on weekdays from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. He also has adult classes in painting, drawing and cartooning.

The Weber Gallery, part of the Council for Mental Retardation, 1151 S. 4th St., 584-1239, has opened an Art Bank for art purchases. After giving a down payment of 10% or 25%, you then make equal payments over 6 or 12 months. The art is available for pick up after the exhibition is over (the current show is photography by Keith Auerbach).

Louisville native Anne Peabody has been selected to have her work included in the 53rd Venice Biennale, one of the most prestigious contemporary art exhibitions in the world.

The Louisville Clock by the late Barney Bright is running again, thanks to Adam Burckle and his foundation’s volunteers. Location still to be determined.

A feasibility study is under way for a new art school to open in Louisville. If it comes to fruition, the Kentucky School of Contemporary Art (KySCA) will be an accredited 4-year college. Stay tuned.