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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 16, 1993)
Friday, April 16, 1993 Akts^Entertainment Man and myth Counterculture poet to give UNL reading Allen Ginsberg is, tor many, more myth than man. Part beat saint of the clan of Burroughs and Kerouac, part living ambassador of beatific vision from outer space, he has influenced and shaped generations of writers since the shatter ing publication of “‘Howl’ and Other Poems” in 1956. “Howl” was considered obscene by many, but was vind icated in the courts and has gone on to become part of required reading in most modem poetry classes. Ginsberg’s biography reads like a novel. He has wandered the world, has been elected King of May in Prague, and was forcibly ejected from there soon thereafter. He’s run with the beatniks, and later the hippies, the yippies, the countercultures of three generations. Twenty-five years ago he passed through Lincoln and was impressed with the city for naming Its main street"Zero Street” (O Street). He mentions It in a poem; you can find it in the library. He’s hung out with rock stars, poets, artists, drug fiends and religious leaders. He is on record against war and mean spirited regimes, has been hassled and arrested by the police of several continents and is a member of the American Institute of Arts and Letters. He is a poet, a musician, a photographer, an activist and a Buddhist practitioner. Twenty-five years ago he passed through Lincoln and was impressed with the city for naming its main street “Zero Street” (O Street). He mentions it in a poem; you can find it in the library. And he’s passing through again this week end. He’ll be reading (performing might be a better word) Saturday at 8 p.m. in Kimball Hall. The cost to students is S5, and the proceeds go to Jewel Heart, a Buddhist society, to aid the Nyare Khantsan monks, displaced by the Com munist Chinese from their homes in Tibet. Gelek Rinpoche of the international Jewel Heart organization will also speak at the YWCA, 1432 N St., Friday at 7 p.m. — Mark Baldridge Courtesy of Myles Aronowitz Allen Ginsberg, world wanderer, beatnik saint and poet, will officially bless Lincoln with his presence Saturday. Tax time increases PMS cases My friend stared down at his 1040EZ tax form. He couldn’t figure it out. Oh, it’s easy, I said. You put this numbei here... and you put this number here... then you subtract, (Hit this number here and call it solved. “Jan, you’re some kind of genius,” he said. And you’re owing me $5,1 said. Although this friend was my only tax client, he gave me significant insight into the world ol paying taxes. There are three things that upset taxpayers: the form, the way taxes are collected and the way the money is spent. Some people don't have too much trouble doing the one homework assignment they get from the government each year. f My friend’s form, for instance*, the 1040EZ, is basically for a single person who doesn’t have itemized deductions and all the fancy stuff. It really isn’t that hard. But take a look at the 1040 and 1040A. It’s not like you have to do calculus or anything, just addition and subtraction. Trouble is, there’s a lot of addition and subtraction — enough to make people think having H&R Block do their taxes for them is worth coughing up half their tax refunds in fees. (Of course, people who really want can have the IRS do their taxes for them. But then, the IRS would probably be more strict about busi ness trips to Tahiti than H&R Block.) But doing taxes can be fun. At least I think it would be fun to have all my friends come over, order a pizza and do our taxes together. It would be a lot more fun than Pictionary. . But I digress: The second thing that upsets Americans about taxes is how they are col lected. Look at your pay stub. So much of it is withheld for taxes. Legislators are lucky In that respect: Imagine If tax day was the same day as Election Day. Fonn ; ; j _ That is nicer, admittedly, than having to wait in line to sec a tax collector; I can have my company pay my taxes for me. On the downside, though, I think I’d feel better if only I had someone to yell at, like a tax collector I could wait in line for. The third upselling thing about paying taxes is where the money goes. Government is not run like a business. A business has to make a profit or it goes down the toilet. A government can’t go down the toilet, or we’d have more than 500 former legislators looking to do nothing elsewhere. A government can spend its heart out, and I don’t mean paying $100 for a screwdriver or spending $100,000 trying to grow mohawks on bald eagles. Thanks to all these factors, April 15 was the one day this year when all Americans, except the ones who already filed, had PMS (Paying the Miserly Scum). So once again, we have to listen to talk about how we ought to oust our legislators come Election Day — and then hear that talk cool down by next week. ’ Legislators are lucky in that respect: Imag ine if tax day was the same day as Election Day. Fortunately, I already paid my taxes and received my refund. Then again, if the IRS reads this column, it may audit me. If it does, it may give me hell about that tax client of mine. They didn’t know I was self-employed, they’ll say. Didn’t I mention I was just kidding about the S5? V. jan Calingcr is a freshman news-ed itorial major and in arts and entertainment columnist. Courtesy of Milestone Management Sonny Rollins Jazz innovator to play at Lied A man who has often been called the greatest living tenor saxophonist will share his talent with the Lied Center audience tonight. Sonny Rollins, jazz musician, is famous for his inventive improvisations. His dy namic style ranges from romantic balladry to hard bop. From his parents, who immi grated from the Virgin Islands, he developed an affinity for the Caribbean rhythms that have inspired his later jazz-calypso experi ments. Rollins,63, worked frequently with trum peter Miles Davis in his early 20s. “Falling in Love with Jazz” is Rollins’ most recent recording. “Over the past 40 years, Sonny Rollins has been making and remaking jazz history, day by day...”— Rolling Stone. Tickets are still available for the 8 p.m. performance at the Lied Center. — Staff Reports Courtesy of Fleming Tamulevich Aurelio Font of the Flirtations A cappella group to play Carson jI V f i The openly gay, politically active, multi cultural a cappel la singing group The Flirta tions will perform two shows Sunday night . at Carson Theater. Not only are The Flirtations known for their singing talent, the group addresses the AIDS crisis and issues of homophobia in a ht. . discussion on AIDS-related is sues will be held with the group at 4 p.m. Sunday in the Lied Center’s Steinhart Room. Reservations for the 7 and 10 p.m. perfor mances are strongly suggested. S ludents can buy tickets at half-price. Tickets can also be purchased an hour before the performance at ~^lhe Carson box office. — Staff Reports