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Forum index » Archive » Archive: Perplex City » PXC: General/Updates

[UPDATE]Sentinel Sept. 15th

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Atrophied
Entrenched

Joined: 29 Aug 2004
Posts: 1133
Location: 53742E 4A6F686E27732C 4E4C00

[UPDATE]Sentinel Sept. 15th

Iona Rodie wrote:

Iona Interviews...
Keenan Thoreau
By IONA RODIE

Keenan Thoreau, the reclusive bassist for hot rock band Roll for Damage, seems like a much more ordinary fellow than one would expect from a rock star. Thoreau himself has the mussed hair and muzzy eyes of someone recently woken, despite the mid-afternoon sun streaming in. His Artist's Quarter home is modest in scale, and he welcomes me in personally, then brings me into his kitchen and offers to prepare me a cup of tea. The kitchen is a masterpiece of warm understatement, with its unfinished brick walls and pale wood cabinets. A line of well-used copper-bottomed pans hangs under the cabinets, a far cry from the nickel and leather one might expect.

"Ripley doesn't like the rock-star life," Thoreau says, with a hint of a smile, referring to his partner of 12 years, whom he has successfully sheltered from media attention even as RFD's popularity has spiralled ever higher. Roll for Damage has eight albums and countless lecks to their name, now, and their newest release, Take Initiative, seems to be only the latest in a string of successes. A darker side, of course, is hinted at with rumours of heavy drug use and the recent revelation that the revered KT, as fans call him, is a member of the radical Cubist group, the Reconstructionists. Has the public outing of his religious beliefs injured Thoreau's standing, or hurt RFD's sales?

Thoreau shakes his head, grinning broadly. "Sales have definitely been good," he says. He pauses to reflect for a moment, then continues: "I think that this is finally giving me a chance to open up to the fans, to the public, about who I really am. The thing that came out of this is the song 'Wisdom,' and I think that's a pretty -- it's a powerful message. I'm proud of who I am."

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Indeed, he has taken activism for his now-public faith into his two hands, going so far as to rally for religious tolerance in defence of Reconstructionists everywhere. He spoke out when Aiko Entrescore was arrested, and he stood alongside Ryan Klein to demand Klein's job back, after Klein was removed from his position as advertising director at the Sentinel allegedly due to his religious beliefs. "It's been something of a relief," Thoreau says. "It makes me wonder what I was waiting for all this time. ... As a celebrity, I have a power to influence public opinion, for right or wrong. I only agreed to talk to you," he reminds me, "because the Sentinel reinstated Ryan Klein."

Of course, accusations fly now that the Reconstructionists are taking advantage of Thoreau for his celebrity status. Thoreau's opinion does hold a disproportionate weight in the public arena, particularly among RFD's devoted fans. Doesn't he feel that the Reconstructionists are using his popularity to further their own agenda? And how does he feel about being publicly affiliated with an organisation broadly under suspicion for orchestrating the theft of the Receda Cube?

"Of course they're using me," Thoreau answers, visibly annoyed. "I am a tool fit to work only the will of Gyvann. Being used that way is the highest calling a human being can hope for." As for the Cube: "The Cube is better off now, I think. The Academicians never deserved it," he says with a sly wink.

In 264, Thoreau and bandmate Echo West were arrested on drug charges and sentenced to undergo treatment. The two had allegedly turned to a wide spectrum of recreational and cognitive pharmaceuticals to help meet their demanding schedule of performances, until bandmate Alejo Jackson turned them in because their creative output had begun to suffer. Although the two were pronounced clean, rumours have been spreading over the last year that they have both relapsed into their habits. What does Thoreau have to say about these accusations that he is an addict?

"No truth to it," he snaps. "We do sometimes use mild enhancers, but it's all legal stuff. ... Who doesn't want to be a little sharper sometimes? But no, I totally respect that this is the only body I've got, and I have to treat it with respect."

This is contrary to reports from fans, media and concert staff, all of whom claim that Thoreau and West are abusing again in ever-increasing quantitites in order to keep up with Jackson's relentless standards. It would only be natural, of course, to harbour some bitterness toward Alejo. Does he?

Thoreau shrugs uncomfortably. "Alejo sacrifices everything for his music," he says. "He forgets that not everybody has his kind of stamina. ... Anyway, A.J.'s got his own problems." Thoreau refers, undoubtedly, to Jackson's dishy personal life: A string of broken-hearted ex-girlfriends, plus highly public speculation that Jackson is the father of singer Joya's baby. Does Thoreau have any information on that to share with the public, by chance?

Thoreau shakes his head. "Alejo is my man, he's like family. I could never give away his confidence like that." He twists a ring around his finger, smiles ruefully, and adds: "Besides, I don't know any more than you do."

Kate Brewster wrote:

Zingiber Transcends Ergonomic Furniture
By KATE BREWSTER

Zingiber Interiors today unveiled a new line of ultra-ergonomic furniture that the company claims "obliterates previous benchmarks for effortless comfort." The new line, called Responsa, features embedded sensors that can detect muscle state and gradually change the conformity of the seat to reduce tension. Zingiber spokesman Tore Zingiber touted the line as "surpassing mere biometric key synchronisation."

This is a first from the consumer furniture industry, who is borrowing some of the technology used for hospital beds for long-term care. "We've long been working on ways to make our products more comfortable," Zingiber said. "With our new network of Responsa sensors, you'll be so perfectly comfortable that you should never even need to shift your weight."

The line will feature the same sleek, unfussy styling that has made Zingiber a resounding success in the last ten years. In fact, Zingiber revealed an agreement with the Ha Gallery to display some of the new pieces, which gallery owner John Ha called "a testament to functionality married with clean design."

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Analysts are withholding judgement on the line, with some saying that the furniture market is already saturated with models that conform to the user's body. "I don't know if the need is really out there for this additional level of sensor," said prominent interior designer Kari Woolsey. "I think removing the need to sometimes shift your weight could feel downright intrusive. ... There's already a backlash of people looking for simpler furnishings, who want to feel more in touch with our animal bodies," she added.

Zingiber insisted that the city is always ready for the next great innovation in design. "We're a very design-forward culture," he said. "Our philosophy at the company is that great design and perfect comfort are never our of style."

View from Earth:

Cookster wrote:

View from Earth: Teaching War
By COOKSTER

War. Touchy subject. But surely one that would benefit from open and frank discussion in the public arena, in order that we learn from our mistakes and allow victims to come to terms with their grief? On earth, at least in the part where I reside, we have the luxury of a free press where the opinionated bastions of free-speech will openly criticize governments for their stances and decision-making in times of civil unrest. Whole museums are dedicated to the annals of war, and our television schedules are packed with documentaries and dramas chronicling the battles of both past and present.

Our grandparents were caught up in the most destructive war in Earth's history, yet they did not choose to bottle up their memories and shield us from the horrors they faced. Instead they helped us learn from history's mistakes and gave us stories of heroism and courage -- tales that we can all draw inspiration from and understand how nations pull together in times of trouble. The memories of those tragic events are ingrained in us all and our dead war heroes are honoured on an annual basis through the symbolic wearing of a poppy.

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It surprises me that the subject of your war raises so many eyebrows. It concerns me more so that an academic scholar could be forced into retirement and shunned from public life for merely trying to catalogue its events. I believe that it is paramount for the growth of a healthy society to come to terms with the errors of the past and I dearly hope that your progressive new Academy Museum curator, Anja Marlowe, does not suffer the same fate at Roger Portson should she dare to broach the subject.

Has not enough time passed for you to come to terms with the war? What on earth do you teach your children in schools? Shying away from an uncomfortable period in your history will not make it go away. Indeed, centuries of pent up feeling without an outlet could at some day lead to an explosive outpouring of physical violence, and the people of your city may experience the horrors of war first-hand.

On Earth, the recent war in Iraq may have strongly divided opinion, but at least we are able to have healthy debate on the rights and wrongs of what went on. Journalists can criticise global leaders to their face; satirists can openly mock the strategy and be celebrated for it. The idea of being chastised for speaking openly about something as seismic and wide-reaching as war seems peculiar. Isn't it about time you all opened up?

Letters:

Quote:

LEARNING HISTORY
Recent letters from Lucia Hanover and Emilio Chen have given me pause for thought. I and many others on Earth fully support the full documentation and analysis of history, be it good, bad, or difficult to face. An Earth philosopher named George Santayana once said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." It's an important lesson that Perplex City would do well to learn.

SteveC, Earth
---------------
OLD TOWN, OLD TACTICS
For all that this Raoul Valentin thinks that he is breathing new life into the Old Town, I'll have you know that the Lighting of the Way celebration has been a tradition here for as long as I can remember. Valentin comes along, throws a few more lecks into the candle budget, gets the Council to cut support for festivities in other parts of the city, and we're supposed to call that 'urban renewal'?

If the city is truly serious about bringing new residents into the Old Town, they'll have to do a lot better than this. We need more than deceptive repackaging of our own traditions to help us. We need funds for public works projects and infrastructure improvement, and we need tax cuts for area entrepreneurs. When are we going to get real and meaningful change, Mr Valentin?

Bowen Fuller
---------------
PCAG POTAGE
I am worn to bits over the tiresome coverage of alleged 'drugs controversy' in the PCAG. I think we all know that this is almost entirely a media-driven issue. There is no compelling evidence that drug use among our athletes is as pervasive as the Sentinel and other news outlets are making it appear -- why, no athlete has been even suspected of actual drug usage since Nuru was ejected, months ago! It's time to let go of this dead subject and move on to more pressing news coverage.

Petya Park
---------------
I'm very concerned about the fate of young Myra Champaign. Her parents are doing her a woeful disservice by allowing her to be exposed to public scrutiny so early in life. It doesn't matter if she's 'enhanced' or not, or whether her gifts are given to her by nature or by science. The poor child is simply not mature enough to handle the hostility she receives from drug purists. I think her parents should pull her from PCAG competition for her own good.

Sun Vedat

News in brief:

Quote:

Levenays Battle Over Licensing
In a new chapter of the seemingly never-ending Levenay family drama, scion Amadora Levenay is challenging the family directorate to replace her brother, Oscar Levenay, as the company's CEO. In an open letter to the directorate, she said that "our mother would be ashamed of the cavalier way Oscar is handling the company's resources and reputation." The falling-out reportedly began over a disagreement in whether the company should permit some other manufacturers to license the family name. (Full text)

More news in brief:

Quote:

War Exhibit Protested
A handful of protesters gathered at the Academy Museum on Tuesday afternoon to protest rumoured plans of a war exhibit. These rumours have sparked after the Academy's new curator, Anja Marlowe, refused to rule out the possibility in interviews. (Full text)
---------------
Joya Leaves Seclusion
Pop singer Joya has finally left the seclusion she entered after leaving former producer and fiance Horace Shockley mere moments before they were to wed. Joya is visibly pregnant, and though she refuses to answer questions regarding paternity, she has said that the baby is due in late December. (Full text)

More Headlines:

Quote:

#Storytellers Convene
#Ribbons Opens Strong
#Costa Can't Stop

_________________
"It will be happened; it shall be going to happening; it will be was an event that could will have been taken place in the future." -- Time travel, as explained by Arnold J. Rimmer

"The Future's bright, the Future's Cuboid" - Juxta

Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2005 12:50 pm

cassandra
Entrenched

Joined: 25 Mar 2005
Posts: 831

Ha. I knew KT was a cleric.

Razz

Posted: Thu Sep 15, 2005 4:52 pm

RobDixon
Boot

Joined: 23 Nov 2004
Posts: 41
Location: San Rafael, California

Quote:

The new line, called Responsa, features embedded sensors that can detect muscle state and gradually change the conformity of the seat to reduce tension.

Of course that means it could be abused to increase tension too.

Coming soon: Death by Lounge Chair! Twisted Evil

Posted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 12:22 am

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