Miscellaneous Wednesday: Charlie, Frances, Rick, Bill

While Parisians form queues to purchase “Charlie Hebdo,” the cartoon magazine remains largely absent, thankfully, from American newsstands, books stores, and other purveyors of prurient political satire. The depiction on the right is strictly forbidden by the faithful. If one mocks the gods, expect to see the business end of a Kalashnikov, not seductive virgins waiting at the end of your days.

Plato argues in the Republic, though the case also applies to America, that an orderly society wherein the poets (the makers) who imitate appearances, not truth, corrupt the youth and incite passions, appealing merely to emotions that feed unruly desires. Like the poets, the popular cartoonist sets a negative example and diverts the search for happiness and virtue to the base appetites.

The cartoonists, who induced a violent response from Muslim suburbanites, remind us of Fox Television’s “24” wherein the protagonist Jack Bauer served as a false prophet for the likes of Cheney, Bush, and Rumsfeld. The executive team, inspired by Jack Bauer, knowingly or unknowingly, ordered the CIA et al to engage in the arts of torture, while expecting similar results.

Thanks to the prophets of propaganda, American citizens today consume magic edibles, engage in wish fulfillment, and fantasies of enduring manhood: Rocky Mountain Magic, new cars and craft beer, and Viagra! Don’t assign moral responsibility to the sovereign individual for the crime: blame the messenger.

Literary Doings

Though the literary movement has taken years and could be dangerous, these pesky writers in Taos continue to build a “world of words” tonight in a SOMOS event at the Harwood, featuring Cecil Dawkins & Sallie Bingham. The jollies begin at 7:00. Ms. Dawkins’s book about Frances Martin, called Frances Minerva Nunnery: A Woman of the Century, Frances Minnerva Nunnery (1898-1997) is a helluva story about a great Taos character.

Unfortunately I don’t have the book in front of me but the image of Frances in her beret, tall and forbidding in pants, quick to laugh, and generous despite her demeanor, reminds me of  one of Taos’s most iconic figures. A former sheriff, Frances had as much impact in life as her “cousin” Agnes did in the picture-making business.

Frances developed some of the first subdivisions, sold and financed property for those with no credit, including hippies, and helped put deals together for entrepreneurs at Taos Ski Valley. She generally kept company with Janis Mars, who was responsible for bringing Marlon Brando to town.

Brando bought a vehicle from Frances but he didn’t complete the title transaction. So when the FBI discovered that the errant vehicle played a role in an alleged crime by AIM (?) Indians, they traced the outlaw doings back to Frances. She had an office two buildings south of the U.S. Bank where there’s a clothing store today.

Upon arrival in Taos, the first time in the twenties, Frances drove one of those Model A or Model T Fords and gave locals, fascinated by the horseless carriage, rides round the Plaza practically the whole day. Cecil’s book is a page-turner and gives the reader insight not only into a unique character but also into the times of 20th Century New Mexico.

Last week at the SOMOS offices Kika Vargas gave a bilingual reading and performance of her “work in progress” that created a stir and stimulated unanimous applause for the dynamo (originally) from Canon. Viva Kika and Viva SOMOS for presenting local authors and authors of interest. And here’s a special thanks to Rebecca Lenzini of Nighthawk Press, who is publishing local authors.

Caveat: The Bad Gringo’s book, Gringo Lessons: Twenty Years of Terror in Taos is proofed, paginated, and almost ready for the printer. Once it is on the shelves, the Gringo plans to write an indecorous expose about Taos—a la Charlie Hebdo—so Taosenos will have a reason to run him out of town.

Town of Taos

Town Manager Rick Bellis might get run out of Town Hall. The Three Disenchanted Ones (Fred, Judi, Andy) have called for a “special meeting” to take up the issue of the Town manager’s employment. We don’t know how Mr. Rick sinned and whether he ignored or offended the “Three.” But there is “blood” in the water and the sharks are swimming round the bobbing body. Taosenos need a firm hand at the helm to keep the ship on course and off the rocky shores. If Colonel Cordova has returned from his sabbatical to the Buddhist Monastery, it might be time to send out a smoke signal: Slick Gus made the trains run on time.

Baron Haunts Town Hall

As if to emphasize their sense of humor, the Town of Taos and Taos Arts Council, and Taos News are presenting the best cartoons of Mr. Bill Baron. The reception Friday, Jan. 16 from 5 to 7, the show goes from Jan. 16 to April 11, 2015.

From Michael McCormick:

Dear Bill,

Hi again! From the # 1 (ish) Gallery in New Mexico! (McCormick Gallery)

The Most Amazing Jen Weddle will be premiering her newest works of “mystic” Jewelry this weekend, Saturday January 17th, 4-8 pm. Her work has been taking our clients by Storm! You need to see this, be there or at least order something on line! She will be accompanied by the Absolutely Amazing James (Jimmy, Crash) Stadler. Live! Live! Live! Delicious Refreshments will be catered by the # 1 People’s Best Award, Pizanos North! With a mysterious guest appearance by psychic Madame M!

This is a Show you don’t want to miss! Happy New Year! Best, from all of us; Michael, Jamie, Yumiko, Bunny, Ryoma, Ryobun, Yessenia, and Meownet!