Mike in the News

By now everyone has heard about, witnesssed, watched, and commented on Michael Richards' raging lambast of two black hecklers in a comedy club audience.

Richards, best known for his role as the wirey-haired Cosmo Kramer on the long-lived sitcom Seinfeld, microphone in hand, used the "n-word" with the -er ending, lending it expletive status.

The Mike Committee hopes that the negative press generated by this Mike's angry response doesn't reflect poorly on Mikes, Michels, Michaels, Mitches, Mickeys, Micks, Miguels, Mikels, Michelles, Micheles, et al...

On the other hand, Richards has handled this with class, as much as is possible. Black community leaders like the Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, usually quick to levy heavily publicized criticism, have responded fairly and reasonably, save a ridiculous Jackson-instigated boycott of last week's Seinfeld DVD release.

Richards' sincere apology and willingness to take responsibility seems to have opened a dialogue about the uses of the word...... Just yesterday, African-American comedians and leaders held a press conference in which they asked musicians, movie studios, and actors to stop using the derogatory term...with both the "er" and "a" endings.

A Pause for Thanksgiving

We on the Mike Committee took a Thanksgiving respite from our harried committee work to enjoy the comforts of food, family and frantic prepartions for Christmas, which is just glorious four weeks away. As Mikes, we have much to be grateful for:

1) Our namesake who slayed Satan, or depending on which account you read or piece of artwork you view, the dragon, or Satan manifest as the dragon. Without him taking out the bad guys, it'd be a whole lot hotter, OJ would never get his book past the front door of a publishing house, and socialism would reign.

2) The Beatles--without them and the tune Michelle that my mother first heard on the radio in December 1965 and decided to brand me with, I and 1 gagillion other females would never BE Mikes, since the song resulted in a boom of little "Ma Belles."

3) Life cereal stopped running those commercials about 15 years ago, "He likes it; Hey, Mikey!"

4) Other Mikes on the committee--add the things you are thankful for here...

Michaels of Minor Renown

While this blog is really filling up with famous and important Michaels, it also has a little room for some of those of medium importance, hasn't it?

This nominee has the most unusual designation as a "tub-thumper" which I will let you figure out by visiting the website: http://thumpingthetub.blogspot.com/ This Michael is from Scotland, so his words must be imagined with a Scottish burrrr.

In the meantime, we are open to nominations for the minor division of notable Michaels.

Mike's Knockers

It is always good to read about a Michael who is accomplished in some special area. Thanks to the website Michelle posted below, I was able to identify the Michael with the best knockers. I think you will appreciate them also. Contact him at: http://www.architecturaldepot.com/c/door-knockers/Door+Knockers.htm

You will be pleased with this Michael's talents.

The Mike Committee: Arts and Crafts Movement

The Mike Committee: Arts and Crafts Movementhttp://www.micheals.com

Arts and Crafts Movement

This seems like the time of year to choose a patron retail store. Only 9 more days to the biggest shopping day of the year. What color Xmas tree will Michaels feature this year?
I can think of no other organization which has honored our name as prominently. We must all agree to meet there soon.

Musical Mike...er....Mick?

Mike proposes that we award our next Mike of Note award to a poet. I opened up the memory vaults and can't recall a noteable poet by the name of Mike, nor an "un"noteable poet by the name of Mike, for that matter. I then flipped through every page of every book of poetry I own--nada. I searched the Internet...specifically poets.org, and found a few Mikes, read a few poems which really didn't move me in any way.

So, I turn to music, and name Mick Jagger as "Mike of Note." Enjoy the poetry of
MONKEY MAN I'm a fleabit peanut monkey All my friends are junkies That's not really true
I'm a cold Italian pizza I could use a lemon squeezer What you do?
But I've been bit and I've been tossed around By every she-rat in this town Have you, babe?
Well, I am just a monkey man I'm glad you are a monkey woman too
I was bitten by a boar I was gouged and I was gored But I pulled on through
Yes, I'm a sack of broken eggs I always have an unmade bed Don't you?
Well, I hope we're not too messianic Or a trifle too satanic We love to play the blues
Well I am just a monkey man I'm glad you are a monkey, monkey womanMonkey woman too, babe!
I'm a monkey! I'm a monkey! I'm a monkey man! I'm a monkey man! I'm a monkey! I'm a monkey! I'm a monkey! I'm a monkey!Monkey! monkey! monkey!.......

OPEN MIKE?

The missing thing in this blog seems to be the poetry medium. But I'm afraid poetry in our times seems to be that new thing the "open mic" poetry-thon. Is it really poetry if it is spontaneously pronounced on the spot just like those TV shows where the teams compete by talking trash?

I think we need to make a call here for poets--especially Mike poets--if you can find them. But published poets only please.

Who will be the Michael Poet Laureate?