[Newspoetry] Re: Thanks to everyone for everything.

[Kurt Heintz]

Scott Rettberg wrote:

> Thanks everyone, sincerely. I think that last night was the beginning
> of what will be a great year for electronic literature. Next stop?
> Cook County Jail? The Bronx? Seattle?
> (serious about the Cook County Jail--spoke with the organizer of a
> literacy program operating out of there last night)
	Who was that? I'm speaking to someone in a similar situation.
The possibilities of reaching this space by v-phone are interesting
to say the least -- the ability to see and hear someone behind bars.
The medium, as metaphor, says a lot. Even a cross-town video link-up
would be meaningful, from the jail to a local gallery. 
	Should this develop, we should speak with Luis Rodriguez, who
has worked with many such at-risk people (the homeless, the incar-
cerated, youth in gangs). His book, "Always Running", should be a 
guide for us. A good read. Recommended!
	Further, I think our goals there would be very much in line
with his own. Luis recently sketched to me how he'd like to use more 
new media in such situations for young people, particularly for 
minorities, to help build writing, media, and leadership skills. 
What's great about this work is that it sustains threads of social 
conscience, something we saw at GIG in great supply, too. I see 
great potential in this, with ways to relate our practice and theory 
to help people in need, right in our own city.

> I've got about five favorite moments from last night. each one a
> classic. can't wait to see the video (hey Kurt how hard would it
> be to burn quicktime on a cd?)
	I haven't reviewed the video tapes yet, but I'm confident that
they came out OK. If not, you will be the first to get the news. Making
QuickTime of these bits shouldn't be a big deal. Although I could 
really use a video capture station for making QuickTime video, I am
100% okey-dokey with making compressed QuickTime audio. Scott, let's
get together and review the videos, make some QuickTime, and transfer
some files. For all my toys you guys saw at Deadtech, I don't own a 
CD-ROM burner. <sigh>
	To further Scott's gratitude (and to share with those people
who are not on the e-poets.net listserv), I've been getting very 
positive feedback from our Seattle and New York partners. Both Martha
Cinader and Paul Nelson have e-mailed with good things to say about
bringing them into the GIG. We were a hit with our friends afield. 

my head's still swimmin' from it all -
- Kurt Heintz
  e-poets.net, Chicago