pimblr.com

See, I never thought much whenever a known poet took interest in a lesser known, up-and-coming poet. Not until I met Chase Berggrun, a 17-year-old poet who lives in Yarmouth and goes to the Sturgis Charter Public School on Main Street, Hyannis. Watching this young man move up amongst the ranks of the poets is a phenomenal event to eyewitness. It is as moving as meeting Gwen Brooks was, for different reasons. I despise the word “protégé,” but must admit having a young poet around to offer advice to certainly elevates my spirit.
Chase is a funny kid. He had been threatening to show up at The Black Spot poetry open mic (the last Thursday of the month) for some time. His mother Susan Russell, a friend of mine, had been calling me, asking that I encourage her son to pursue his writing. She gave me his cell phone number, and I stopped by the house a couple of times to talk with him. Chase had been writing poems for four years, and finally showed up at The Black Spot this past January. Everyone loved him.
The poetry that Chase writes is short, refreshing in a day and age when Slam poetry and Hip-hop, with a leaning toward performance, spout poems as long as songs on the radio. But Chase’s poems work on the page, and are easily remembered. There is something to be said for brevity, and Chase Berggrun has it down to a science.
After that first open mic, Chase used the resources available to him at Sturgis to print up his first chapbook. At his second open mic, he had a table with a book display going on. Sweet. Every artist should take a course in business, except Chase. He’s done quit well in figuring out how to turn poetry into a 100 percent margin of profit, and that’s unheard of.

barnstablepatriot.com

Stand-up comedian Pauly Shore will soon be in Huntington for rowdy routines of entertainment March 28 - 30.
Shore will create laughter at the Funny Bone Comedy Club with a weekend filled with his laugh-out-loud jokes and crazed talent.
Troy Winter, general manager at the Funny Bone, said the comedy club received great reactions from everyone and are excited for Shore’s performances.
“The pre-sale of tickets has been better than anyone we’ve ever had by a whole lot,” Winter said.
Winter said they normally do not sell out of every show, but the pre-sale indicates most of Shore’s shows will be sold out and some are already closed.
“When I first heard about this show, I started calling all of my friends and my girlfriend to get everyone I know excited about seeing it,” said Nathan Amos, senior business major from Columbus, Ohio. “If I could afford it, I would honestly go to all five of his performances next week.”
Winter said they approached Shore after the comedy club’s online poll showed people wanted to see him come to the Huntington area.
Shore also signed a contract with the Funny Bone for his recent tour to include performances at all 22 club locations throughout the country.
“Having shows like this give many Marshall students a chance to do something fun and different from their normal weekend routine,” Amos said. “I expect there to be a fun vibe at the shows.”
“We should have a good time,” Winter said. “He’s actually a very nice guy, very personable. Even though he’s a big star, he’ll hang out after the show and talk with people.”
Shore’s comedy career began with his hit MTV show “Totally Pauly” in 1990.
Soon after, Shore’s television and movie roles quickly fell into place, according to his Web site.

marshallparthenon.com

SHILLONG, India (AFP) — When politician Adolf Lu Hitler-Marak stands for election in an Indian hill state next month, even he may have a tough time standing out in a field of the most unusually named candidates.
Politician and school teacher Frankenstein Momin is also hoping not to scare away the voters in Meghalaya, especially when faced with competition from more benign-sounding candidates such as Hilarious Pochen and Billykid Sangma.
The state in India’s remote northeast goes to the polls on March 3, with more than 331 candidates jostling for around 60 seats in the assembly in the state capital Shillong.
Looking for re-election in his seat is Zenith Sangma, and also trying to outshine their rivals are Celestine Lyngdoh, Starfing Jove Langpen Pdahkasiej, Edstar Lyngdoh Nongbri and Moonlight Pariat.
Romeo Phira Rani and Darling Wavel Lamare are also busy trying to seduce the electorate, while Bison Paslen is locking horns with his rivals in Sutgna Shangpung constituency.
Forward Lyngdoh Mawlong is leading the charge in his constituency, while Admiral K Sangma is also setting sail for battle — as are H. Britainwar Dan and Bombersingh.
Meghalaya is one of three northeastern Indian states voting over the next fortnight.
With a population of 2.3 million, the state is a predominantly Christian area with Khasi as the main language.
English is spoken, but not very fluently — so people often name their children after words and famous people they have little familiarity with or understanding about.
“Often they don’t know the background of the names. They get attracted to exquisite names,” said the conservatively named David Reid Syiemlieh, a professor of history at the North Eastern Hill University in Shillong.
Hitler-Marak — a stocky, balding and moustached figure — said his parents probably had no idea the name was a big no-no.
“Maybe my parents liked the name. But I am not a dictator,” he once told AFP. “My parents did not know who Hitler was.”
In any case, the voters do not seem to mind — Hitler-Marak has been elected to public office before and has served as a state forestry minister, while Frankenstein Momin is a former state education minister.
“It doesn’t matter to us,” said local journalist Geoffrey Kharkongor.
“Parents may christen their children funny names, but as long as the candidates perform their duties, we have no problem.”
And there is a serious side to all this because the elections in Meghalaya and the other two northeastern states will be closely watched as an indicator of national trends.
India’s federal ruling Congress party currently leads the coalition government in Meghalaya — which means the “home of the clouds.”
The results are expected there on March 7.

afp.google.com