June 8, 2005
Worked more on the John Ringo Classic Gunfight with himself. It's quite amazing to me that someone who was a stumbling drunk and whose life was a complete failure could end up to be a celebrated Western icon. I guess, in some perverse way, it helps explain Glenn Ford.

Went to lunch with my two ex-roommates, Carole and Kathy at Saba's (Greek food) up in Carefree (Carole bought in honor of Kathy's birthday). I guess technically only one of those women could be classified as an Ex-roommate.

Had a meeting with our new Style Editor Jane Bishoff after lunch. She came in with Arizona's Official Balladeer Dolan Ellis. He said he is moving up to our neck of the woods. He had a folk reserve music ranch deal down by Sierra Vista. Although I never got down there, it always sounded like a sweet deal. He mentioned a divorce three years ago, so I didn’t go into it with him. Anyway, Jane is a dynamo with an eagle eye for style. Made big plans. And you know what they say about that: if you make big plans, expect big surprises along the way.

One of my oldest friends, who hates reading his name in here, agrees completely with Mark Boardman on the "Desperado" vs. "I Fought the Law" controversy. When I corrected Charlie, I mean, this person, that "Desperado" is not a cowboy song, it’s an outlaw song, this person gave me the following snippy reply:

"Outlaw, cowboy, whatever. The song still sucks, mi amigo."

And here's the preeminent Emma Bull weighing in. I’ll bet she has something positive and succinct to say about the controversy:
"Boardman's right, you know, about 'I Fought the Law.' And even in the category of Ultimate Ballad of Old Has-Been Outlaw, Townes Van Zandt's 'Pancho and Lefty' has 'Desperado' beat all to heck. (Outlaw Willy's flossy version can't disguise its utter perfection, and the fact that it is one of the greatest storytelling songs ever written, ever). But then, my favorite Mojo Nixon song was and always will be ‘Don Henley Must Die.’"

Bitch.

I got this parting shot from Johnny Boggs this morning:
"Man, did i see a bad western last night. MEAN AS HELL, a little indy shot around here a couple years back. inspired by wild bill hickok and sam peckinpah. gives b movies a bad name. off to wwa in spokane. back around june 21-22."

Johnny’s little diatribe inspired me to do a feature in the magazine on How to make Good Westerns. Thanks Johnny!

"Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them."
—Ralph Waldo Emerson