The Life
January 2007
01/29/07Steven Lowe RememberedBy Janice KleinschmidtSteven Lowe had been working on The Beat Hotel for a couple of years when I met him. At the time (February 2004), I was editor of The Public Record and writing about his soon-to-open hotel. My immediate impression of Steven — an impression that never dissipated — was that he was extremely intelligent, fascinating, and passionate. As he spoke about his former days as a friend and collaborator of William Burroughs and other Beat Generation icons, about the research he had undertaken to create the Desert Hot Springs [Lautner] Motel and Beat Hotel, about his visions for attracting and inspiring architecture and literary buffs, I began to realize how fortunate this community was to have Steven in its midst. I also enjoyed his humor and his fearlessness at... |
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01/05/07Palm Springs International Film Festival: Film PreviewsCan Mr. Smith Get to Washington Anymore? WHAT IT'S ABOUT This documentary follows the 2004 Missouri Democratic primary to replace retiring 28-year veteran Dick Gephardt. It is told from inside the campaign of Jeff Smith, a 29-year old part-time political science instructor running against state Rep. Russ Carnahan, whose name in Missouri equates to the Kennedy name in Massachusetts. Trailing by 40 points in the polls, Smith mobilizes a grassroots insurgency. While no one needs to tell us that candidates with access to power and money have advantages regardless of their abilities, this film asks if it is still possible for American voters excited by a person's ideas and ability to sway the political process. WHY I WON'T MISS IT As much as I find the political process... |