Jim Hicks
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Articles by Jim Hicks
A Winter's Tale¹
Reviewing Joshua Colangelo-Bryan’s Through the Gates of Hell. American Injustice at Guantanamo Bay (Humanitas Media, 2025), 224 pp. I. Buddies When you pick up a book written by a lawyer for Guantanamo detainees, knowing that it will contain an account of his work representing those clients, the last thing you expect to find is a love story. And yet, when a movie version of this book is made, the bromance between Joshua Colangelo-Bryan and Jaber Muhammed will surely be highlighted².
Massachusetts Review
Table of Contents Introduction “WHAT’S PAST IS PROLOGUE,” an essay by Jim Hicks THE REGIME OF TRUTH and SHAMEPROOF, poems by Carolann Caviglia Madden ELEGY AT AN IMMINENT END, a poem by Mark Spero WOOL GATHERING, a poem by John Sibley Williams ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA, a poem by Anna Leahy DREAM A HIGHWAY BACK, a hybrid piece by Arro Mandell GRANDPA’S DETROIT #2, a poem by Raphael Jenkins YOU KNOW YOU CAN’T HELP IT, WHO YOU ARE, an essay by Sejal Shah MAGA HAT, V., a poem by Sandra Meek CAN...
Hey J.D., Thought You Might Like This!
September 24, 2024 The Honorable James David Vance, United States Senate 288 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 September 19, 2024 Dear Senator Vance, I have to admit it. When I first came across that sound-bite moment from your recent interview with Dana Bash, I thought it was a hoot. “If I have to create stories [. . .], then that’s what I’m going to do!” Really?
The Jim Foley Story
August 19, 2024 Today is the tenth anniversary of the murder of the journalist, educator, and humanitarian James W. Foley.
From Below the Earth and Across the Sea: The Chthonic Choreography of Emma Cianchi
August 15, 2024 Editor’s note: As will be clear, the following conversation with the Massachusetts Review’s Executive Editor, Jim Hicks, and the co-editor of our “Mediterraneans” issue, Anna Botta, was conducted just hours before the première of the choreographer Emma Cianchi and ArtGarageDanceCompany’s new performance, The Sea that Unites Us. After the dance that evening, the choreographer told the audience more about her inspiration.
James Baldwin's Presence
August 2, 2024 Many are the privileges and rewards that come from being an editor. All the more true when you’ve been called into service for a magazine with a storied and lengthy history like the Massachusetts Review. Despite fifteen years in the trenches, I only recently became aware of a conference that had taken place at UMass on April 22-23, 1988, the spring after James Baldwin had passed.
#BeingRevolutionary | Mass Review
July 26, 2024 On February 25, 2024, Aaron Bushnell, a member of the US Air Force, set himself on fire in front of the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C. to protest the U.S. committing genocide in Gaza. A recent essay by Nan Levinson in TomDispatch examines the media reaction to this extreme act, with a focus on how quickly the press discussion swerved away from the political justification that Bushnell himself offered towards amateur psychoanalysis and a focus on the airman’s upbringing.
What's in a Name
May 7, 2024 “Palestinians are one of the final reminders that a future without colonialism is possible.” – Devin Atallah and Sarah Ihmoud, “A World without Palestinians” In the time since we posted the call for our special issue, “The View from Gaza,” which will be guest-edited by Michel Moushabeck, we’ve received a number of queries, and criticism as well as support. Rather than reply individually, I thought it might be helpful to outline publicly my own reasons for supporting this project.
PETP, or, Unintended Consequences
November 17, 2023 (Illustration by Rose M. Spielman; Psychology: OpenStax, p. 519, Fig 14.22 “There is a crack, a crack in everything, That's how the light gets in.” Since the October War on Gaza began, I’m told, we’ve been killing a thousand children a week. For an instant, when Joe Biden said, don’t repeat our mistakes, there was a flash, a glimmer, a mirage maybe, but there was something. After all, sometimes we do learn, sometimes we know the history, sometimes we’re not doomed to repeat it.
Haunting. . . | Mass Review
November 3, 2023 At long last, I’m finally sitting down to write a piece that I promised ages ago. This will be an admittedly partisan review, responding to the latest book by Tabish Khair, who is both a friend and on the MR masthead. Yet, given that it’s Hallowe’en today, on several levels it does seem the perfect moment to tell everyone why they should read Namaste Trump & Other Stories (Interlink Books, 2023).
Partisan Review: Of Dreams and Hallucinations
May 14, 2024 It must be awful to be a Republican these days. So many reasons to be terrified: immigrants flooding across our borders, gender subversion from within, swarthy people rising from below, and so few of “our nation’s core principles” left unassailed. Even Sean Hannity, culture warrior supreme, can’t seem to keep up. How on earth to fight so many foes at once?
Open Letter to President Magill
September 28, 2023 26 September 2023 Dear President M. Elizabeth Magill: My wife Anna Botta and I have many wonderful memories from our days as graduate students in Comparative Literature at Penn in the late eighties and early nineties. One in particular will serve to frame and reflect our complex experience this past weekend, when we attended the Palestine Writes literary festival in Irvine Auditorium on the University of Pennsylvania campus.
The Legacy of Jules Chametzky
October 28, 2022 - By Jim Hicks In this full-day event, the morning session focused on collective commemoration of the life of Jules Chametzky--the teacher, mentor, scholar, family man, and activist. The proceedings open with a poem written for the occasion, read by its author, Martín Espada. Memories from family members follow, and then those of friends. The morning concludes with a talk on "Black Reparations, Present and Future," by William A. Darity--a subject that Jules spoke about often.
Opinion: Missoula’s Safe Outdoor Space: Changing the “T” from “Temporary” to “Transitional”
Opinion: Missoula’s Safe Outdoor Space: Changing the “T” from “Temporary” to “Transitional” A young man who aged out of foster care, who now has a full-time job and is applying for housing. A grandmother whose car was wrecked by a hit-and-run driver, who lost first her job and then her housing. A couple who recently obtained IDs and birth certificates, and are now working full time and saving money to find housing.
RCS Sports
THIS WKND: FRESHMEN FALL CHAMPIONSHIP! Details The annual Freshmen Fall Championship takes place this Saturday (October 10th) @ Atascocita HS. Families have paid enough for entrance into Fall Ball events. Therefore, ALL SPECTATORS ADMITTED FREE on Saturday. However, we are asking everyone to bring at least 1 pair of NEW socks (white or black), and drop into one of the bins located at the front entrance of the gym. Here is the BRACKET SCHEDULE .
Conversation Theory
November 1, 2020 Hello, Michiganders. It’s been almost four years now since I last checked in, though I’ve often wondered how you’re doing. I do come back for visits, once in a blue moon, but that’s no excuse for not calling or writing. Given everything that’s happened this year, and with the election just days away, I suspect that most of you aren’t sleeping all that well. I know I’m not. The way I see it, it could still go either way, and I’m not talking about the election.
Sequoia Grove produces a nice Cab in the 2012 Napa Valley version
Napa Valley produces classy Cabernet Sauvignon wines. A fact and the competition to be among the best is always a challenge for the winemakers in the area. One of the best available is the Sequoia Grove 2012 Napa Valley Cab. The wine is classic dark red and the aromas on the nose blend blackberry, dark cherries, coffee and a hint of vanilla. The palate experiences a fruity experience, followed by blackberries and cherries.
Four for the summer from Barefoot Cellars
It is a Barefoot kind of day in Southern California, one which calls out for a refreshing afternoon beverage. And with Barefoot Wines available, there are several outstanding choices from which to make a selection. As a starting point, if you are looking for a rich white, with overtones of vanilla, green apple and pineapple, look toward the Barefoot cellars California Chardonnay. This white, with a crisp beginning and a very smooth finish came from grapes selection from California’s Central Valley.
Edna Valley Winery creates three new Chardonnays for 2014
When speaking of Central Coast Wines, one immediately jumps to Paso Robles and the surrounding regions. It is almost as if the mind sends a message to “Go North”. In many cases, this can be a good idea, but it is important to keep in mind the great growing areas immediately south of the Paso area AVA’s. As a starting point, and particularly if you are driving up the coast from the Los Angeles regions, you will be passing through an outstanding growing area: the Edna Valley AVA.
Martin Codax reflects the best of the Rias Baixas growers
When one thinks of Spanish wines, it’s difficult not to go immediately to the Rias Baixas region of northwest Spain. And in the area, one of the most respected wineries is the Martin Codax cooperative. The co-op, formed by over 50 farmers in the beginning, now reflects the products of over 550 family farmers producing grapes which go directly to the Martin Codax winery. The farms are typically small, with total grape production coming in at just over 1400 acres under co-op cultivation.
Dark Horse 2015 Sauvignon Blanc rivals New Zealand's better whites
The heat is on in Southern California, and these hot 110 degree days call out for a cool refreshing white wine. The choice for the afternoon is the Dark Horse Sauvignon Blanc; the 2015 vintage. This Dark Horse offering is nearly perfect for the sweltering heat of the Coachella Valley. The 2015 Sauvignon Blanc is aromatic. The traditional grapefruit aromas fill the room as the wine is open and begins to breathe.
Coast Products introduces the FL series of headlamps
Coast Products from Portland, Oregon is considered to be one of the top producers of a number of practical outdoor related products. These include flashlights, headlamps, hunting gear, knives and lanterns. Each of their products is extremely high quality and all are backed up by a serious guarantee. Pricing for Coast Products is competitive and their quality and price make a good match.
Columbia Valley 2013 Chardonnay is a classic Washington white
Visitors to Seattle are not normally driven by wine tours and tastings. And yet the opportunity to taste some of Washington’s best wines are just a 30 minute drive from downtown; close enough to make the trip worth the time. One of the can’t miss wineries in this close radius is the Columbia Winery, located in the town of Woodinville. Columbia Winery, presently with winemaker Sean Hails at the helm, has been producing high quality reds and whites for more than 50 years.
DaVinci Chianti reflects quality Italian winemaking
If you are looking for a true Italian Chianti, one with taste and character, look no further than the Italian Chianti from Da Vinci. The 2014 Da Vinci Chianti comes from the estates south facing hillside vineyards in the central section of the Chianti region. Recently many of the wine growers in the region have come together and formed “Cantine Leonardo da Vinci”. This cooperative, now with over 200 members, is dedicated to producing authentic Tuscan wines.
William Hill Napa 2013 Chardonnay is mild on oak and high on taste
William Hill’s 2013 Napa Chardonnay is a nice example of a fruity blend which will be loved by those who do not seek an oakey Chard. It is pleasant from the initial opening to the end of the bottle, and unlike some on the current market, can be appreciated immediately after opening. There is no need for a lengthy “breathing” period and the wine sits well from beginning to end. William Hill produces two Chardonnay wines; one from the Napa area and the second from their coastal plantings.
Vin Vault is rapidly becoming the leader in boxed wine
Technology surrounds us, is increasingly prevalent and can help resolve issues which historically have been daunting. This is particularly true in the wine industry, and we see amazing results from technological advances almost daily. As we all know, wine can enhance flavors by getting to breathe (i.e., have oxygen exposed to the wine itself after opening). At the same time, a wine can become less desirable when it sets open and is is over-exposed to the surrounding air.
2013 Pinot Noir from MacMurray continues the MacMurray tradition
MacMurray Ranch produces a variety of fine wines, with grapes grown locally on the Sonoma County Ranch and from grapes sourced from some of the best vineyards in Central California. The 2013 MacMurray Ranch Central Coast Pinot Noir is reflective of one of their Estate wines from their Central California holdings. Actor Fred MacMurray purchased the original and namesake ranch from the Porter family back in 1941.
Winemaker Sean Hails scores with the 2013 Columbia Valley Merlot
Columbia Winery continues to produce high quality, reasonably priced wines. The most recent tasted was the 2103 Columbia Valley Merlot. Columbia vineyards benefit from the unique conditions of the Columbia Valley. With its sub-Ava’s, the area can give a variety of tastes and aromas which can interest almost any wine lover.
Two California classics for spring afternoons
With the temperatures starting to rise and the days officially “longer”, now is the time to try a white and a red which may be new to you. The red, Apothic Dark California Blend, strikes a nice cord for enthusiasts of blended red wines. The white, Mirassou’s Pinot Grigio, will make you wish for longer summer afternoons. Apothic Dark, unlike many of the contemporary red blends, is a vintage wine.
Fred Hall Show kicks off on March 2
The Fred Hall Show, one of the largest Fishing Shows in the world kicks off this Wednesday at the Long Beach Convention Center. Bart Hall, son of Founder Fred Hall and current producer of the show proudly states ““My father didn’t foresee the difficulty pf coming up with something new each year, but that was his goal and part of his successful business plan.
ETNZ on top overall as LandRover BAR powers through the Oman America's Cup World
In a day of tight racing, light winds, over the line penalties and a shuffle on the podium, it appears that the only constant is that ETNZ is still in the overall lead. The just finished Sunday event in Oman showed that the competition in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series is stronger than ever. Race 4 (the first on Sunday morning) went to ETNZ, who won handily in the race. However, in Race 5 and race e6, ETNZ fell into a hole and never got to climb back to the podium.
Day 1 racing in Oman concludes with Ainslie BAR leading
Louis Vuitton World Series Day 1 in Oman is over and the results are in. Land Rover BAR, skippered by Ben Ainslie, won two of the three races on Saturday. In the first race, Land Rover BAR was over the line at the start and was penalized. As part of the infraction, BAR was also involved in a minor collision with Groupama Team France. However, after the start and penalty, they were fairly far back in the fleet.
AC 45 sailing in 2015 Louis Vuitton Series
Jim Hicks is a longtime boater living in Long Beach, California. With over 50 years of boating experiences, Jim has an extensive knowledge of local Southern California boating and of boating, cruising and passage making around the world. Jim is a licensed US Coast Guard 100 Ton Master. Jim is also rated as a Junior Navigator through the United States Power Squadron and regularly teaches Boating Safety Courses. Contact Jim at jimhicks_iii@hotmail.com.
Happenings in the world of wine
News from the world of vines… The Hilton Head Island Wine and Food Festival recently announced its award winning wines. These were announced in conjunction with the International Wine Judging for 2016. A California wine from Foley Family Wines “Chalk Hill Chardonnay” was awarded Best in Show for White Wines. The Festival, featuring hundreds of wines from around the world, has a judging panel of Master Sommeliers. This panel is tasked with selecting the best of the best from the entries received.
Los Angeles Boat Show
Jim Hicks is a longtime boater living in Long Beach, California. With over 50 years of boating experiences, Jim has an extensive knowledge of local Southern California boating and of boating, cruising and passage making around the world. Jim is a licensed US Coast Guard 100 Ton Master. Jim is also rated as a Junior Navigator through the United States Power Squadron and regularly teaches Boating Safety Courses. Contact Jim at jimhicks_iii@hotmail.com.
Alamos' 2014 Chardonnay is full of flavor
Location, location, location. It’s always about the location. And few things are truer than when you discuss location and the growth of outstanding wine grapes. Aalamos, The Wines of Catena, one of Argentina’s premier winemakers, knows this as well as anyone in the world. The location for Alamos’ vineyards, nestled along the base of Argentina’s Andes, provides great sun, clear and pure mountain water, cool evenings and near perfect temperatures for the growth of a variety of grapes.
Balletto's 2013 Pinot Noir focuses on quality and sustainability
Balletto’s 2013 Pinot Noir, is one the better Pinot's from the Russian River Valley. Blended from seven different Russian River vineyards, it exemplifies the taste and characteristics of a classic Northern California Pinot. It’s earthy, it’s dark, it’s verges on being mysterious without hiding its base concept. With a touch of bright red fruit added to its silkiness on the finish, it is a wine which makes you want to sample more.
Los Angeles Boat Show opens February 25 at the Convention Center
It’s iconic and 4 days long. It’s held in two separate Los Angeles locations (with free transportation between the two). It draws tens of thousands of visitors and is considered one of the best boat shows in the country. It’s the 2016 Progressive Insurance Los Angeles Boat Show, featuring hundreds of boats and the most modern of outdoor and boating accessories on the West Coast. The land portion of the show is held in downtown Los Angeles at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Alamos' 2014 Cab shines with rich flavors
Sometimes all the elements just fall into place and a good wine is created. Alamos (The wines of Catena) has done that with their 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon. This very nice red reflects all the positives of the Mendoza region (Argentina’s most famous and most productive) and has earned a place as one of the better Argentinian Cabs from the 2014 crop. The elements for 2014 were fairly simple.
An Edna Valley producer brings forth a dry
Edna Valley, that quirky little valley just south of Paso Robles, is no stranger to travelers heading up to a Paso weekend. And yet, it is often by-passed, as the tasters want to “get to Paso” for all the fine wines there. Frankly, skipping Edna Valley is a mistake, a large mistake. The valley, running perpendicular rather than parallel to the coast, gets a totally different weather pattern and naturally, a totally different type of wine can be produced there.
Alamos sets a good example for contemporary red blends
Taking a tour along a supermarket aisle looking at red wines quickly brings one to the conclusion that the Red Blend market is one of the fastest growing aspects of the wine industry. Where there were but a few wines marketed as blends several years ago, today they take up a copious amount of valuable shelving in the red section. One which is highly recommended as a quality Red Blend is the Alamos (The Wines of Catena) 2014 Red Blend.
Volvo Ocean Race Museum draws record crowds
lVisitors to the Valencia region of Spain this year should stop at the new nautical museum in Alicante. The museum, celebrating the Volvo Ocean Races and the home port of the race, has turned into a huge draw for the city. Kurt Frostad, outgoing CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race, stated yesterday “This year the results of the museum have been exceptional.
Sydney Hobart taking its toll on the fleet
Just how tough is the 2016 edition of the Sydney Hobart Race? Not as tough as the 1998 Race, but the toughest in the years since then. As of early Monday, approximately 20% of the starting 118 boats had dropped out of the race. And, in addition to the drop-outs, many boats have suffered damage to the vessel. Perhaps the most visible of the drop-outs is Wild Oats XI, eight time line honors winner from past races.
Two for the New Year's Eve party
Party planners looking for the best bang-for-the buck sparkling wines for New Year’s Eve need look no further than the offerings from Barefoot Bubbly. Barefoot, with thirteen separate offerings of sparkling wines, provides a beverage for nearly every adult taste. The variety, combined with Barefoot’s extremely reasonable pricing policies for their wines, makes them an ideal selection for the New Year’s eve activities. One of the most popular in the Barefoot line is the Barefoot Extra Dry.
Two for the holidays from the Frank Family Vineyards
In our continuing search for Holiday wines, we were reminded again of the quality and the strength of the Frank Family Vineyard label. Two wines stand out for Christmas pleasure and Holiday sharing. Each will appeal to fans of the Frank Family Vineyards, and each can be the center of a holiday beverage selection. The first Frank Family Vineyard wine to consider is the 2012 Zinfandel.
Toulon France added as America's Cup World Series location
More racing news from the Louis Vuitton Cup! The Commissioner of the America’s Cup, Harvey Schiller announced today that Toulon, France will be the location of the fifth in the Louis Vuitton Series for 2016. The French city, located between Marseille and St Topez, will be hosting the September 2016 qualifying event for the America’s Cup World series.
Louis M. Martini Alexander Valley 2012 Cab rates 91 points
From casual acceptance to major respect… This is what has happened to the brand of Louis M Martini over the past 15 years. The changes and acceptance to the Louis M. Martini name over the past few years have brought the label back to the forefront of wines to seek out for dining and entertaining. Quality in grape selection and quality in production at the winery have changed significantly the way the average consumer now views the brand.
Sequoia Grove 2012 Cab a contender for Christmas dinner
Every once in a while you get to taste a wine that reminds you why you really enjoy tasting good wines. Having just done that, and with Christmas almost here, it’s worth considering the purchase of a case of the 2012 Sequoia Grove from Napa Valley. The Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon is an outstanding wine, and is available at a price point which will not break the bank.
J Winery provides a classic Pinot Noir for the holidays
The holiday celebrations regularly feature fine wines, wines which frequently have been saved for a special holiday occasion. One of wines many favor for the holiday season is a quality Pinot Noir, and one of the better choices for 2015 is the 2013 J Vineyards & Winery Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. For those not familiar with J Vineyards, it is well known among many as a winery which can produce high quality sparkling and high quality varietals.
MacMurray Central Coast 2013 Pinot worth purchasing for future tastings
For Pinot Noir fans it has been a very good season for releases. The 2013 vintages are hitting the market and there are a variety of good to outstanding wine values now on the shelves. One of the ones to search out is the MacMurray Estate Vineyards 2013 Central Coast Pinot Noir. It’s available at markets and wine stores throughout the west. MacMurray selected the grapes for the 2013 from the Santa Lucia Highlands AVA.
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