Michael Perry's Blog, page 43

Hometown Robotics

Hey New Auburn School District robotics crew, thank you for the T-shirt! Thanks to Mr. Rayburn for taking the idea and runnin’ with it, thanks to the folks from Pablo Center at the Confluence who put the time in, but most of all and above all, thank you to the students who took it from an idea to a robotic reality. Follow this link to see what they were up to.

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Michael Perry: Not even ‘Breakfast of Champions’ could take the spring from my step

Every week the Wisconsin State Journal runs “Roughneck Grace,” a weekly column written by Mike (often adapted as Mike’s Tent Show Radio monologues). This week’s column ‘Michael Perry: Not even ‘Breakfast of Champions’ could take the spring from my step‘ can be see online here.

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This Week’s Tent Show Radio: Cloud Cult and Charlie Parr

Check out Mike (Twitter: @SneezingCow) hosting Tent Show Radio (Twitter: @tentshowradio). This week on Tent Show Radio, enjoy the distinctive artistry of Minnesota songwriters and musicians Cloud Cult (Twitter: @CloudCult) and Charlie Parr (Twitter: @theCharlieParr).

Known for incorporating live painting into their performances, Cloud Cult’s experimental style, philosophical lyrics, and alternative-orchestral-folk-rock sound has been lauded by critics and has garnered a dedicated following.

With a sound deeply tied to the blues and folk traditions of an earlier era, Charlie Parr’s boundary-pushing roots music showcases novelistic, multi-layered stories that shine a kaleidoscopic light on defiant, unseen characters living in the shadows around us.

This episode of Tent Show Radio features recordings from Cloud Cult’s 2015 performance and Charlie Parr’s 2018 performance under the Big Top tent. Don’t miss these two acts live at Big Top Chautauqua September 17! Tickets are on sale now at www.bigtop.org.

Michael Perry shares his humor and stories throughout as you enjoy another great musical experience on the Big Top stage (Twitter: @BigBlueTent). If you prefer to watch this and previous episodes, follow this link for all the available viewing options.

Michael Perry hosts episode 22-20.

Stream it here along with Tent Show Radio episodes.

Tent show Radio is broadcast each week on these fine independent stations.  Some stations offer “Live Air” streams which you can find more information on their websites listed below.

ALASKAKodiakKMXT | online 88.9 FMoccasionalILLINOISElginWEPS | online88.9 FMSaturday7:00 PMMICHIGANIronwoodWXPR | online100.9 FMSaturday10:00 PMMINNESOTAAlbert LeaKMSU | online91.9 FMSunday6:00 PMGrand MaraisWTIP | online90.7 FMSaturday6:00 PMDuluthKUMD | online103.3 FMSunday8:00 AMFairmontKMSU | online91.9 FMSunday6:00 PMMankatoKMSU | online89.7 FMSunday6:00 PMThief River FallsKSRQ | online90.1 FMSunday10:00 AMNEW MEXICOFarmingtonKSJE | online90.9 FMSaturday6:00 PMWISCONSINAburndale/Stevens PointWLBL | online930 AMSaturday7:00 PMAdamsWHAA | online89.1 FMSaturday7:00 PMAshlandWUWS l online90.9 FMSaturday7:00 PMCentral WIW300BM | online107.9 FMSaturday7:00 PMDelafield/MilwaukeeWHAD | online90.7FMSaturday11:00 PMGreen BayWHID | online88.1 FMSaturday7:00 PMHighland/DodgevilleWHHI | online91.3 FMSaturday7:00 PMLa CrosseWHLA | online90.3 FMSaturday7:00 PMLa CrosseWLSU | online88.9 FMSunday4:00 PMMadisonWHA-AM | online970AMSaturday7:00 PMMadison/MiddletonW215AQ | online90.9FMSaturday7:00 PMMenomonie/Eau ClaireWHWC | online88.3 FMSaturday7:00 PMRhinelanderWHSF | online89.9 FMSaturday7:00 PMSheboyganWSHS | online91.7 FMSaturday7:00 PMSister Bay/Door CountyWHDI | online91.9 FMSaturday7:00 PMSuperiorKUWS | online91.3 FMSaturday7:00 PMRhinelanderWXPR | online91.7 FMSaturday10:00 PMRhinelanderWXPR2 | onlineDigitalSaturday10:00 PMWausauWXPR | online91.9Saturday10:00 PMAmeryWPCA | online97.7 FMSaturday4:00 PMHaywardWOJB | online88.9 FMWednesday11:00 PM

 

The post This Week’s Tent Show Radio: Cloud Cult and Charlie Parr appeared first on SneezingCow.com.

Trucking exit strategies, ‘The Great Resignation’ and a ‘Face of the Road’ with author Michael Perry

Howdy folks:

A while back when the air was not as it is now (everything humid was frozen), Michael sat down with Long Haul Paul from Overdrive magazine, who, along with his lovely bride, interviewed Mike while overlooking the frozen Chippewa river. Paul, as he has done thousands of times in his 18-wheeler, adeptly steered as Mike rambled, and a lovely chat ensued about life on the farm, making a living as a freelancer, and other tales. You can listen on YouTube or find other options here.

From Paul, himself:

“So once again, I shamelessly parlayed the platform lent to me by Overdrive to speak with someone I admire — someone who may be able to point me in the right direction. This week’s victim is bestselling author, playwright, humorist, radio show host, singer-songwriter, newspaper columnist, and intermittent pig farmer Michael Perry. If anyone could tell me how to possibly cut out a livelihood on part-time trucking and potentially other income streams, it might just be him.

Raised in a family of farmers, loggers and truckers, Perry left a good-paying job in the medical field to chronicle the lives of working people as a freelance writer…hosting the nationally syndicated public radio program “Tent Show Radio,” which has featured acts in its tenure like Merle Haggard, Kathy Mattea and John Prine.

In many ways, Perry embodies the creative equivalent of a small farmer or independent trucker, working the gigs that work for him, shedding the ones that don’t. Not bad for a guy who got his start writing for a trucking publication.”

 

 

 

 

 

The post Trucking exit strategies, ‘The Great Resignation’ and a ‘Face of the Road’ with author Michael Perry appeared first on SneezingCow.com.

Michael Perry: A new guitar launches you 8 miles high and falling fast

Every week the Wisconsin State Journal runs “Roughneck Grace,” a weekly column written by Mike (often adapted as Mike’s Tent Show Radio monologues). This week’s column ‘Michael Perry: A new guitar launches you 8 miles high and falling fast‘ can be see online here.

The post Michael Perry: A new guitar launches you 8 miles high and falling fast appeared first on SneezingCow.com.

This Week’s Tent Show Radio: Gaelic Storm

Check out Mike (Twitter: @SneezingCow) hosting Tent Show Radio (Twitter: @tentshowradio). This week on Tent Show Radio, enjoy an electric episode from the archives featuring multi-national Celtic juggernaut, Gaelic Storm (Twitter: @GaelicStorm).

Michael Perry shares his humor and stories throughout as you enjoy another great musical experience on the Big Top stage (Twitter: @BigBlueTent). If you prefer to watch this and previous episodes, follow this link for all the available viewing options.

Michael Perry hosts episode 22-19.

Stream it here along with Tent Show Radio episodes.

Tent show Radio is broadcast each week on these fine independent stations.  Some stations offer “Live Air” streams which you can find more information on their websites listed below.

ALASKAKodiakKMXT | online 88.9 FMoccasionalILLINOISElginWEPS | online88.9 FMSaturday7:00 PMMICHIGANIronwoodWXPR | online100.9 FMSaturday10:00 PMMINNESOTAAlbert LeaKMSU | online91.9 FMSunday6:00 PMGrand MaraisWTIP | online90.7 FMSaturday6:00 PMDuluthKUMD | online103.3 FMSunday8:00 AMFairmontKMSU | online91.9 FMSunday6:00 PMMankatoKMSU | online89.7 FMSunday6:00 PMThief River FallsKSRQ | online90.1 FMSunday10:00 AMNEW MEXICOFarmingtonKSJE | online90.9 FMSaturday6:00 PMWISCONSINAburndale/Stevens PointWLBL | online930 AMSaturday7:00 PMAdamsWHAA | online89.1 FMSaturday7:00 PMAshlandWUWS l online90.9 FMSaturday7:00 PMCentral WIW300BM | online107.9 FMSaturday7:00 PMDelafield/MilwaukeeWHAD | online90.7FMSaturday11:00 PMGreen BayWHID | online88.1 FMSaturday7:00 PMHighland/DodgevilleWHHI | online91.3 FMSaturday7:00 PMLa CrosseWHLA | online90.3 FMSaturday7:00 PMLa CrosseWLSU | online88.9 FMSunday4:00 PMMadisonWHA-AM | online970AMSaturday7:00 PMMadison/MiddletonW215AQ | online90.9FMSaturday7:00 PMMenomonie/Eau ClaireWHWC | online88.3 FMSaturday7:00 PMRhinelanderWHSF | online89.9 FMSaturday7:00 PMSheboyganWSHS | online91.7 FMSaturday7:00 PMSister Bay/Door CountyWHDI | online91.9 FMSaturday7:00 PMSuperiorKUWS | online91.3 FMSaturday7:00 PMRhinelanderWXPR | online91.7 FMSaturday10:00 PMRhinelanderWXPR2 | onlineDigitalSaturday10:00 PMWausauWXPR | online91.9Saturday10:00 PMAmeryWPCA | online97.7 FMSaturday4:00 PMHaywardWOJB | online88.9 FMWednesday11:00 PM

 

The post This Week’s Tent Show Radio: Gaelic Storm appeared first on SneezingCow.com.

“Non-Spill” Fuel Nozzles

We live in a fractious time, but after performing the “non-spill” fuel nozzle bit live again the other night I was reminded as folks roared along that never have I written a piece that has more effectively united all “aspects” of my audience.

The simple phone video version above is from the “Little Writing Room Above the Garage” series recorded during the early days of the dang pandemic. Below is the relevant text (from my book Montaigne in Barn Boots):

[Before “non-spill” nozzles,] here’s how you formerly filled your fuel tank:

1. Remove cap from nozzle.

2. Pour fuel into tank.

Here’s how it goes with a “non-spill” nozzle:

1. Grunting like a Russian kettlebell instructor, hoist full fuel container to a point higher than the tank and then invert it, as it will not pour until . . .

2. downward pressure is applied against a spring-loaded valve, which will not occur until. . .

3. the full weight of the full container is directed against a plastic tab the size of a gopher tooth, which happens only after . . .

4. the tab catches on the lip of the fuel tank and . . .

5. you simultaneously twist an enigmatically unresponsive plastic locking device (also spring-loaded), while . . .

6. fine-tuning the angle of the approach by thrusting your pelvis at the fuel can in the manner of a spasmodic pole dancer because your hands are both occupied, but . . .

7. it’s OK because finally the fuel is flowing—no, wait, it’s not OK because . . .

8. the gopher tooth just gave way, the nozzle plunged into the fuel tank, the weight of the full can snapped the nozzle at its base, and now there’s raw fuel running everywhere.

excerpted from “Montaigne in Barn Boots,” c. 2017 by Michael Perry (HarperCollins)

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Michael Perry: Tale as old as time can start to get a bit winded

Every week the Wisconsin State Journal runs “Roughneck Grace,” a weekly column written by Mike (often adapted as Mike’s Tent Show Radio monologues). This week’s column ‘Michael Perry: Tale as old as time can start to get a bit winded‘ can be see online here.

The post Michael Perry: Tale as old as time can start to get a bit winded appeared first on SneezingCow.com.

This Week’s Tent Show Radio: Steve Earle & The Dukes

Check out Mike hosting Tent Show Radio (Twitter: @tentshowradio). This week on Tent Show Radio, enjoy a high-voltage hour featuring the rough-neck poetics of troubadour Steve Earle and The Dukes (Twitter: @SteveEarle). This episode of Tent Show Radio features recordings from Steve Earle & The Dukes 2021 performance under the Big Top tent.

Michael Perry shares his humor and stories throughout as you enjoy another great musical experience on the Big Top stage (Twitter: @BigBlueTent). If you prefer to watch this and previous episodes, follow this link for all the available viewing options.

Michael Perry hosts episode 22-18.

Stream it here along with Tent Show Radio episodes.

Tent show Radio is broadcast each week on these fine independent stations.  Some stations offer “Live Air” streams which you can find more information on their websites listed below.

ALASKAKodiakKMXT | online 88.9 FMoccasionalILLINOISElginWEPS | online88.9 FMSaturday7:00 PMMICHIGANIronwoodWXPR | online100.9 FMSaturday10:00 PMMINNESOTAAlbert LeaKMSU | online91.9 FMSunday6:00 PMGrand MaraisWTIP | online90.7 FMSaturday6:00 PMDuluthKUMD | online103.3 FMSunday8:00 AMFairmontKMSU | online91.9 FMSunday6:00 PMMankatoKMSU | online89.7 FMSunday6:00 PMThief River FallsKSRQ | online90.1 FMSunday10:00 AMNEW MEXICOFarmingtonKSJE | online90.9 FMSaturday6:00 PMWISCONSINAburndale/Stevens PointWLBL | online930 AMSaturday7:00 PMAdamsWHAA | online89.1 FMSaturday7:00 PMAshlandWUWS l online90.9 FMSaturday7:00 PMCentral WIW300BM | online107.9 FMSaturday7:00 PMDelafield/MilwaukeeWHAD | online90.7FMSaturday11:00 PMGreen BayWHID | online88.1 FMSaturday7:00 PMHighland/DodgevilleWHHI | online91.3 FMSaturday7:00 PMLa CrosseWHLA | online90.3 FMSaturday7:00 PMLa CrosseWLSU | online88.9 FMSunday4:00 PMMadisonWHA-AM | online970AMSaturday7:00 PMMadison/MiddletonW215AQ | online90.9FMSaturday7:00 PMMenomonie/Eau ClaireWHWC | online88.3 FMSaturday7:00 PMRhinelanderWHSF | online89.9 FMSaturday7:00 PMSheboyganWSHS | online91.7 FMSaturday7:00 PMSister Bay/Door CountyWHDI | online91.9 FMSaturday7:00 PMSuperiorKUWS | online91.3 FMSaturday7:00 PMRhinelanderWXPR | online91.7 FMSaturday10:00 PMRhinelanderWXPR2 | onlineDigitalSaturday10:00 PMWausauWXPR | online91.9Saturday10:00 PMAmeryWPCA | online97.7 FMSaturday4:00 PMHaywardWOJB | online88.9 FMWednesday11:00 PM

 

The post This Week’s Tent Show Radio: Steve Earle & The Dukes appeared first on SneezingCow.com.

Backstory to the Backstory

Subtitle’s a tad hyperbolic.

If you arrived here because of the free Substack “Voice Mail” post, thank you. If not, click here for context.

The best way I can explain the book in the photo is to quote myself from a half-finished, maybe-never-finished, book about writing I’m working nearly three decades later:

In 1995 I wrote a book called Handbook for Freelance Writing. It’s still floating around out there. You ought to be able to pick up a copy pretty cheaply. It is not selfish of me to recommend you do, as I don’t get a single sad penny for any copy sold, new or used. I signed a dumb one-off contract for the thing. A work-for-hire deal. Got paid somewhere around $2,500. Big money for me at the time. Still big money except now I know better than to accept it under those terms. Zero royalties. Never netted another nickel, even when they reprinted it again in 1998.

I wasn’t completely stupid. I had done my research and read up on rights and royalties. Upon receiving the publisher’s contract, I made a counter-offer. Wrote it up in a letter, all official-like. Told them I would accept a smaller advance in trade for royalties on the back end.

Nope, they said. We don’t do royalties. The deal as printed, take it or leave it.

Freelance writing rule Number One: You can read all the self-empowering Writers Digest articles you want, but when the publisher has a checkbook and you have rent due, you take the gig, and you take it on the publisher’s terms.

I signed on the dotted line and wrote the book. I remember finishing the final chapter against deadline using a ten-pound sheet cake of a monochromatic laptop amidst a chaff pile of notes and drafts in the middle of my bunk while on ambulance duty. Sometime after midnight my partner and I were paged out to transport a woman having a miscarriage. I remember us conversing softly within the lit cube of the rig, I remember helping her from the stretcher to the emergency room gurney, I remember returning to my bunk and my notes and writing ’til dawn. That’s a real non-sequitur of a memory, but it sure does calibrate your royalty gripes.

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