Daily Reads
alec longstreth
bearded miracles
combustication
common dreams
dabble-rouser
dooce
fireballs & tsunami
hot out herre
isa's ppk blog
jess rocker
joe willie/uh
low culture
mill whistle
screenhead
sb news
soft communication
subinev
syphen
ten fifteen
tremble
yankee pot roast
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Hooray For the Gays!
Today, Spain joined Belgium, the Netherlands, and Canada in proving that there are counties whose governments, unlike out own, make an effort to support basic human rights for all of their citizens. They did so, of course, by legalizing same-sex marriage.
According to Spain's new law, "Marriage will have the same requirements and results when the two people entering into the contract are of the same sex or of different sexes."
Take a moment and try to name mainstream American politicians, from any party, who actually support same-sex marriage ("domestic partnership" DOES NOT COUNT, as it doesn't provide for complete equality). If you can come up with more than five, I will buy you a candy bar...or a copy of On Our Backs. Whichever.
Imagine if we lived in a country where there was any chance for our president to say, "We are not legislating, ladies and gentlemen, for remote unknown people - we are expanding opportunities for the happiness of our neighbours, our work colleagues, our friends, our relatives."
...
Today, Spain joined Belgium, the Netherlands, and Canada in proving that there are counties whose governments, unlike out own, make an effort to support basic human rights for all of their citizens. They did so, of course, by legalizing same-sex marriage.
According to Spain's new law, "Marriage will have the same requirements and results when the two people entering into the contract are of the same sex or of different sexes."
Take a moment and try to name mainstream American politicians, from any party, who actually support same-sex marriage ("domestic partnership" DOES NOT COUNT, as it doesn't provide for complete equality). If you can come up with more than five, I will buy you a candy bar...or a copy of On Our Backs. Whichever.
Imagine if we lived in a country where there was any chance for our president to say, "We are not legislating, ladies and gentlemen, for remote unknown people - we are expanding opportunities for the happiness of our neighbours, our work colleagues, our friends, our relatives."
...
Hang the DJ
My show at East Village Radio went pretty well last night. There was precious little dead air, and in the course of two hours I only managed to let a few cuss words get on air (from the songs, not the DJ). You can listen to all two hours of it here [M3U file]. My bit doens't actually start until about 5 minutes in. Just listen for the DnTEL. Eventually there should be a full playlist up on the Out of Range page.
After the show, and back in Brooklyn, Tina and I biked over to the Pavillion to see War of the Worlds - on opening night, no less. This is the second big-budget apocalyptic movie we've seen this week (after Land of the Dead), and two be honest, I think Speilburg did a pretty good job of giving the audience a feeling of hopelessness in the face of mass destruction.* This isn't a result of the lame Robbins-Cruise dialogue ("This isn't a war, it's an extermination!" Sheesh...wait a minute, is this a Holocaust reference?), but rather the pacing of the plot, combined, admittedly, with the pretty great special effects. Good use was made of forboding, yet non-specific news reports that the audience sees, but the characters ignore (though I don't think this gimmick will ever be implemented as well as it was in Shaun of the Dead). Anyway, with the sense of inevitable doom built up so expertly, the deus ex machina ending was even more disappointing. How can you explain away the near-annihilation of humankind with a voice-over? We were lemmings, driven over a sheer cliff-face of clumsy denouement. With that said, see this movie in the theater if you plan to see it at all. On the small screen, there will be no point.
I do, however, have an unreserved recommendation that I've been meaning to make. It's for bikes. Bikes are your ticket to two-wheeled adventure this summer. Bike shops. Bike routes. Bike politics. Bike blog. Do it.
That is all.
*This is yet another movie - along with Land of the Dead, and supposedly Star Wars III - to make not so subtle references to the WAR ON TERROR. Considering the ending of War of the Worlds, however, you have to wonder exactly what kind of statement Spielburg thought he was making here.
...
Tuesday, June 28, 2005My show at East Village Radio went pretty well last night. There was precious little dead air, and in the course of two hours I only managed to let a few cuss words get on air (from the songs, not the DJ). You can listen to all two hours of it here [M3U file]. My bit doens't actually start until about 5 minutes in. Just listen for the DnTEL. Eventually there should be a full playlist up on the Out of Range page.
After the show, and back in Brooklyn, Tina and I biked over to the Pavillion to see War of the Worlds - on opening night, no less. This is the second big-budget apocalyptic movie we've seen this week (after Land of the Dead), and two be honest, I think Speilburg did a pretty good job of giving the audience a feeling of hopelessness in the face of mass destruction.* This isn't a result of the lame Robbins-Cruise dialogue ("This isn't a war, it's an extermination!" Sheesh...wait a minute, is this a Holocaust reference?), but rather the pacing of the plot, combined, admittedly, with the pretty great special effects. Good use was made of forboding, yet non-specific news reports that the audience sees, but the characters ignore (though I don't think this gimmick will ever be implemented as well as it was in Shaun of the Dead). Anyway, with the sense of inevitable doom built up so expertly, the deus ex machina ending was even more disappointing. How can you explain away the near-annihilation of humankind with a voice-over? We were lemmings, driven over a sheer cliff-face of clumsy denouement. With that said, see this movie in the theater if you plan to see it at all. On the small screen, there will be no point.
I do, however, have an unreserved recommendation that I've been meaning to make. It's for bikes. Bikes are your ticket to two-wheeled adventure this summer. Bike shops. Bike routes. Bike politics. Bike blog. Do it.
That is all.
*This is yet another movie - along with Land of the Dead, and supposedly Star Wars III - to make not so subtle references to the WAR ON TERROR. Considering the ending of War of the Worlds, however, you have to wonder exactly what kind of statement Spielburg thought he was making here.
...
Somebody's Popular
I was trying to figure out a way to denote, in text, the properly obnoxious sing-song tone for that post title, with the valley accent and what not. In any case, what you're looking for is the person second from right - the shaggy, loveable ARoss. Featured here in OK Go's most recent (?) video - the song is called "A Million Ways to be Cruel."
Watch them bust a move via this post from Screenhead.
Here's a couple extra screenshots for folks without video access at work:
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On The Airwaves
In a surprise step up from the LPR "podcast", I'm going to be guest DJing an actual radio show tomorrow. Despite an obvious derth of experience, I'm going to be filling in for DJ Ladies Please on his East Village Radio show, Out of Range.
It seems like I get to play pretty much whatever I want, so be sure to tune in for two solid hours of mixing madness.
Out of Range
w/ guest DJ Beastmaster Romance
Wednesday, 4-6pm
live stream available here.
And if you miss the show, it seems like it'll be available for download for a week on the show's page.
...
Monday, June 27, 2005In a surprise step up from the LPR "podcast", I'm going to be guest DJing an actual radio show tomorrow. Despite an obvious derth of experience, I'm going to be filling in for DJ Ladies Please on his East Village Radio show, Out of Range.
It seems like I get to play pretty much whatever I want, so be sure to tune in for two solid hours of mixing madness.
Out of Range
w/ guest DJ Beastmaster Romance
Wednesday, 4-6pm
live stream available here.
And if you miss the show, it seems like it'll be available for download for a week on the show's page.
...
DAMMIT!
You probably don't need me to tell you how much Nike sucks, but you might not have known about this shit. Attention Phil Knight: You are a bloated, craggy, monster who closes his eyes to the human rights abuses in his factories while raking in his personal fortune. You cannot fucking have Minor Threat, you fucking swine.
[UPDATE: You can go here to see Nike Skateboarding's lame apology. They claim that their advertising team didn't make the image; that it was a grassroots skateboarder idea. They have nothing but the highest respect for Dischord and Minor Threat. In fact, Nike Skateboarding is about as anti-establishment as it gets. You can tell by their x-treme ollies.]
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Friday, June 24, 2005You probably don't need me to tell you how much Nike sucks, but you might not have known about this shit. Attention Phil Knight: You are a bloated, craggy, monster who closes his eyes to the human rights abuses in his factories while raking in his personal fortune. You cannot fucking have Minor Threat, you fucking swine.
[UPDATE: You can go here to see Nike Skateboarding's lame apology. They claim that their advertising team didn't make the image; that it was a grassroots skateboarder idea. They have nothing but the highest respect for Dischord and Minor Threat. In fact, Nike Skateboarding is about as anti-establishment as it gets. You can tell by their x-treme ollies.]
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Once Bitten
I was excited when I saw the preview, and now reading Manohla Dargis' review of Romero's Land of the Dead...yeah, this movie is gonna be rad.
The one thing I'd mention about the review is that Dargis' argument about the zombies' transition, over the course of the four films, into more human creatures, coupled with human society's devolution into brutality, would have been much stronger if she had discussed (or perhaps seen) Day of the Dead. While the shooting of Ben at the end of Night of the Living Dead could be read as the first instance of that theme, I always understood as being a simpler statement on racism. The behavior of the military unit in Day of the Dead (similar to that of the British soldiers in 28 Days Later), as well as the sympathetic zombie Bub, make that move a much clearer illustration of Romero's cross-fading of human and zombie humanity.
Today is the opening day - who's with me to go see it this weekend? Sunday night, maybe?
...
Thursday, June 23, 2005I was excited when I saw the preview, and now reading Manohla Dargis' review of Romero's Land of the Dead...yeah, this movie is gonna be rad.
The one thing I'd mention about the review is that Dargis' argument about the zombies' transition, over the course of the four films, into more human creatures, coupled with human society's devolution into brutality, would have been much stronger if she had discussed (or perhaps seen) Day of the Dead. While the shooting of Ben at the end of Night of the Living Dead could be read as the first instance of that theme, I always understood as being a simpler statement on racism. The behavior of the military unit in Day of the Dead (similar to that of the British soldiers in 28 Days Later), as well as the sympathetic zombie Bub, make that move a much clearer illustration of Romero's cross-fading of human and zombie humanity.
Today is the opening day - who's with me to go see it this weekend? Sunday night, maybe?
...
Videodrome
This morning, I would like to draw your attention to a very fine blog called Crooks and Liars, which provides a smorgasboard of muckraking text and video on a range of political topics. One of the best features of C&L is the regular posting of footage from the Daily Show, allowing those of us without cable to catch a little Stewart now and then.
And if you're looking for some lighter video fare, check out the five short episodes of Gemberling - hilarious low-budget sci-fi satire - available at The Cowboy and John's site.
...
Wednesday, June 22, 2005This morning, I would like to draw your attention to a very fine blog called Crooks and Liars, which provides a smorgasboard of muckraking text and video on a range of political topics. One of the best features of C&L is the regular posting of footage from the Daily Show, allowing those of us without cable to catch a little Stewart now and then.
And if you're looking for some lighter video fare, check out the five short episodes of Gemberling - hilarious low-budget sci-fi satire - available at The Cowboy and John's site.
...
Smells Like Victory
On the train there was an open magazine on the floor, mostly covering what appeared the be a half-dried puddle of yellow vomit (scrambled eggs?). The familiar subway pageant ensued, where at each stop a person gets on the train, sees a miraculouly empty seat, goes to take it, and then notices the puke at the last minute. Then they move to another spot in the car, joining everybody else in silently placing personal bets on whether or not the next person will be so lucky.
A guy rushes onto the train at Canal Street and sits down without looking and opens his newspaper. Maybe he senses people glancing at him out of the corner of their eyes, because he starts to look around - at the seat next to him, to the people sitting across from him, and finally at the floor - and sees his shoes planted firmly within the puke radius. He remains seated, defiantly, clomps his feet down outside the puddle, and goes back to his paper.
...
Tuesday, June 21, 2005On the train there was an open magazine on the floor, mostly covering what appeared the be a half-dried puddle of yellow vomit (scrambled eggs?). The familiar subway pageant ensued, where at each stop a person gets on the train, sees a miraculouly empty seat, goes to take it, and then notices the puke at the last minute. Then they move to another spot in the car, joining everybody else in silently placing personal bets on whether or not the next person will be so lucky.
A guy rushes onto the train at Canal Street and sits down without looking and opens his newspaper. Maybe he senses people glancing at him out of the corner of their eyes, because he starts to look around - at the seat next to him, to the people sitting across from him, and finally at the floor - and sees his shoes planted firmly within the puke radius. He remains seated, defiantly, clomps his feet down outside the puddle, and goes back to his paper.
...
That's Totally Him
Man in Gray played a fine set last night at Gothamist's Moveable Hype show. As has been duly noted, there was a special covert appearance by none other than David Bowie, who was apparently there specifically to see Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. D threatened to go harass him, but I don't think she worked up the nerve.
For a beautiful, yet tragically-not-Friday Tuesday morning:
The BBC on novelty toast, in case you needed to find the least appetizing image possible to burn into your breakfast.
A semi-autobiographical post from me over at Soft Communication.
...
Monday, June 20, 2005Man in Gray played a fine set last night at Gothamist's Moveable Hype show. As has been duly noted, there was a special covert appearance by none other than David Bowie, who was apparently there specifically to see Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. D threatened to go harass him, but I don't think she worked up the nerve.
For a beautiful, yet tragically-not-Friday Tuesday morning:
The BBC on novelty toast, in case you needed to find the least appetizing image possible to burn into your breakfast.
A semi-autobiographical post from me over at Soft Communication.
...
At 8pm tonight, Man in Gray is playing the Gothamist's Moveable Hype show at the Knitting Factory. You should totally come.
Check out the MiG interview on Gothamist.
Also on the bill: Ghostland Observatory, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, The Fame, DJ Catchdubs.
SERIUS NEGOTIUM TRIUMPHARAT
...
Where There's Smoke
Some pictures from the Serious Business BBQ on Saturday.
Some beerce.
Reclining on our lush, verdant lawn.
And...more beerce.
We got ourselves a private performance by the Two Man Gentlemen Band (plus special guest Dr. Ben, aka The Stranger), much to the delight of ourselves and everybody in the surrounding yards who listened in from their own BBQs and fire escapes and took semi-surreptitious pictures over their fences. Thanks to the gents, we've now got the most talked about backyard on the block.
Tina's homemade ice-cream cake was eaten with enthusiasm.
Travis, Tina and I then headed out to Pete's Candy Store to get ourselves a double dose of Two Man Gentlemen action. I ended up on stage for the Two Man Dance, and we all got free kazoos.
...
Friday, June 17, 2005Some pictures from the Serious Business BBQ on Saturday.
Some beerce.
Reclining on our lush, verdant lawn.
And...more beerce.
We got ourselves a private performance by the Two Man Gentlemen Band (plus special guest Dr. Ben, aka The Stranger), much to the delight of ourselves and everybody in the surrounding yards who listened in from their own BBQs and fire escapes and took semi-surreptitious pictures over their fences. Thanks to the gents, we've now got the most talked about backyard on the block.
Tina's homemade ice-cream cake was eaten with enthusiasm.
Travis, Tina and I then headed out to Pete's Candy Store to get ourselves a double dose of Two Man Gentlemen action. I ended up on stage for the Two Man Dance, and we all got free kazoos.
...
Speaking of C***
In general, I really don't like Jimmy Kimmel. In my opinion, The Man Show was a fucking abomination of ignorant PC backlash.
I would be remiss, however, if I were to deny that this clip is one of the funniest things I have ever seen. I mean, it's absolute comic genius.
...
In general, I really don't like Jimmy Kimmel. In my opinion, The Man Show was a fucking abomination of ignorant PC backlash.
I would be remiss, however, if I were to deny that this clip is one of the funniest things I have ever seen. I mean, it's absolute comic genius.
...
Begging for the Dooce-Slip
I spen the better part of yesterday morning in a mandatory Harassment and Discrimination seminar. I'd been dreading this meeting for weeks, mainly because I assumed that the left-wing indoctrination I experienced at college had developed my race/class/gender/sexuality consciousness to a point where Lackluster, Fiestaware & Spumoni LLP's "Don't Talk About Your Co-workers' Boobs" lecture would probably not rock my world. But as I took the elevator up to the conference room, I figured, hey, maybe I'll be surprised. Maybe there are fine points of my company's descrimination policy that I hadn't considered.
Nope.
The main point of the long, rambling presentation was "harassment and discrimination are bad becasue they can get your company in a lot of financial trouble," rather than something more like "harassment and discrimination are bad because they are unethical practices that exploit and victimize your co-workers." And even with that kind of outlook, you'd think that somebody giving a presentation on these issues without making a series of insensitive and/or idiotic comments such as:
*Relaying an anecdote about pictures of fornicating snowmen you received in an e-mail forward.
*Warnings the staff of a Jewish non-profit about getting too familiar at the office Christmas party.
*Responding to a question by our organization's cheif council (a woman of non-American origin) by saying, "First of all, I like your accent."
*Introducing an anecdote about trans-gender discrimination with the words "On a lighter note."
*Closing with a quote about how "everybody has an axe to grind."
The saving grace was the fact that I was sitting next to a colleague from the other office who, being an individual of sound mind, was just as flabbergasted as I was. I think we'll be in the running for Synchronized Jaw-Dropping speed trials in 2012.
...
Thursday, June 16, 2005I spen the better part of yesterday morning in a mandatory Harassment and Discrimination seminar. I'd been dreading this meeting for weeks, mainly because I assumed that the left-wing indoctrination I experienced at college had developed my race/class/gender/sexuality consciousness to a point where Lackluster, Fiestaware & Spumoni LLP's "Don't Talk About Your Co-workers' Boobs" lecture would probably not rock my world. But as I took the elevator up to the conference room, I figured, hey, maybe I'll be surprised. Maybe there are fine points of my company's descrimination policy that I hadn't considered.
Nope.
The main point of the long, rambling presentation was "harassment and discrimination are bad becasue they can get your company in a lot of financial trouble," rather than something more like "harassment and discrimination are bad because they are unethical practices that exploit and victimize your co-workers." And even with that kind of outlook, you'd think that somebody giving a presentation on these issues without making a series of insensitive and/or idiotic comments such as:
*Relaying an anecdote about pictures of fornicating snowmen you received in an e-mail forward.
*Warnings the staff of a Jewish non-profit about getting too familiar at the office Christmas party.
*Responding to a question by our organization's cheif council (a woman of non-American origin) by saying, "First of all, I like your accent."
*Introducing an anecdote about trans-gender discrimination with the words "On a lighter note."
*Closing with a quote about how "everybody has an axe to grind."
The saving grace was the fact that I was sitting next to a colleague from the other office who, being an individual of sound mind, was just as flabbergasted as I was. I think we'll be in the running for Synchronized Jaw-Dropping speed trials in 2012.
...
Arts and Entertainment
ITEM: I found out yesterday that drawings of both me and my dad are featured in Alec Longstreth's new mini-comic, People, Places, Things #1. [In fact, as I write this, a copy has been delivered into my hands]
ITEM: Rumor has it that today's Gothamist interview will feature a band we know. It doesn't seem to be posted yet, but check back later and you should be able to find it.
ITEM: A few scant months after the conservative coup d'etat over at PBS and what do you have? An investigation into financial impropriety revolving around undisclosed payments to Republican lobbyists by Kenneth Tomlinson.
LATE EDITION: I also wrote a little piece about MC Paul Barman over at Soft Communication, if you'd care to check it out.
...
Wednesday, June 15, 2005ITEM: I found out yesterday that drawings of both me and my dad are featured in Alec Longstreth's new mini-comic, People, Places, Things #1. [In fact, as I write this, a copy has been delivered into my hands]
ITEM: Rumor has it that today's Gothamist interview will feature a band we know. It doesn't seem to be posted yet, but check back later and you should be able to find it.
ITEM: A few scant months after the conservative coup d'etat over at PBS and what do you have? An investigation into financial impropriety revolving around undisclosed payments to Republican lobbyists by Kenneth Tomlinson.
LATE EDITION: I also wrote a little piece about MC Paul Barman over at Soft Communication, if you'd care to check it out.
...
Don't Call It A Comeback
Though in actuality, I did just come back from St. Louis.*
As you might have read on his blog, Tina and I met up with Mike Appelstein while we were in town. For us, as for him, this was the first time we had met somebody in person who we had formerly alredy known on blogs. That seems like it might hold some kind of significance...[sound of crickets]**
Evidence.
So we went out for brunch with Mike, his wife Callie, and what seemed to me like the most well-behaved baby in the world. But maybe that's because I mostly notice babies when they're screaming.
Esther Miriam, placemat afficianado.
Of course, the main reason for the trip was cousin Lauren's wedding. I'm still working with the pics from that, but here are a couple samples:
Mom and Dad cut a rug.
Compare this pic to the one of me above, taken at more or less the same angle. You like how in this one my hair has a boner?
Nick, my new cousin-in-law.
Those are my dad's parents, Harriet and Gene, in the middle.
*Read the post title in an LL Cool J voice and then the next line in an Elliot Gould voice and it almost works like a funny joke.
** I'm borrowing the text-sound-effect think from D. In all fairness, that's her style.
...
Friday, June 10, 2005Though in actuality, I did just come back from St. Louis.*
As you might have read on his blog, Tina and I met up with Mike Appelstein while we were in town. For us, as for him, this was the first time we had met somebody in person who we had formerly alredy known on blogs. That seems like it might hold some kind of significance...[sound of crickets]**
Evidence.
So we went out for brunch with Mike, his wife Callie, and what seemed to me like the most well-behaved baby in the world. But maybe that's because I mostly notice babies when they're screaming.
Esther Miriam, placemat afficianado.
Of course, the main reason for the trip was cousin Lauren's wedding. I'm still working with the pics from that, but here are a couple samples:
Mom and Dad cut a rug.
Compare this pic to the one of me above, taken at more or less the same angle. You like how in this one my hair has a boner?
Nick, my new cousin-in-law.
Those are my dad's parents, Harriet and Gene, in the middle.
*Read the post title in an LL Cool J voice and then the next line in an Elliot Gould voice and it almost works like a funny joke.
** I'm borrowing the text-sound-effect think from D. In all fairness, that's her style.
...
StL, MiG in B'Bg
Tina and I are off to St. Louis this afternoon for my cousin's wedding. As an added bonus, we'll get to visit with Mike, of Automat and Caught in Flux fame, among other things.
I'll leave you with some pictures from Man in Gray 's Wednesday show at North Six, as well as a suggestion to go check out the Unsacred Hearts and the Two Man Gentlemen Band at Bar 169 tomorrow night.
The pix:
D told me not to post this picture, so here it is.
...
Wednesday, June 08, 2005Tina and I are off to St. Louis this afternoon for my cousin's wedding. As an added bonus, we'll get to visit with Mike, of Automat and Caught in Flux fame, among other things.
I'll leave you with some pictures from Man in Gray 's Wednesday show at North Six, as well as a suggestion to go check out the Unsacred Hearts and the Two Man Gentlemen Band at Bar 169 tomorrow night.
The pix:
D told me not to post this picture, so here it is.
...
Calling It Like It Is
Howard Dean: "The pope is pretty much a Catholic."
Ken Melhman: "We gotta get ourselves beyond this point where when we disagree about religion and call the other guy names."
Joe Biden: ""A lot of things Dean says, I agree with, but on this topic, he has views that are slightly different than mine. The rhetoric is counterproductive."
See CNN's coverage of this debate, as well as the issue of whether bears shit in the woods, here. But don't show it to Harry Frankfurt - he might have an aneurysm.
...
Howard Dean: "The pope is pretty much a Catholic."
Ken Melhman: "We gotta get ourselves beyond this point where when we disagree about religion and call the other guy names."
Joe Biden: ""A lot of things Dean says, I agree with, but on this topic, he has views that are slightly different than mine. The rhetoric is counterproductive."
See CNN's coverage of this debate, as well as the issue of whether bears shit in the woods, here. But don't show it to Harry Frankfurt - he might have an aneurysm.
...
Carpe Diem Ante
Let me let you in on a secret. You know how Thursday night has become more or less incorporated into the weekend? It's the new Friday. Or it was.
Now, word that Wednesday is actually the new Friday and Thursday is the new Saturday. Saturday, while still firmly part of the weekend, will take on a status more akin to Sunday. Sunday will be spent, in its entirely, complaining about having to go to work on monday. An idea ahead of it's time? Literally, yes. But I'm telling you, soon NOBODY will be going out on Friday or Saturday night - all the action will be on Wednesday and Thursday nights. And since I know you all want to be ahead of the curve, let me suggest something for you to do TONIGHT:
MAN IN GRAY plays NORTH 6 in B'Burg
Doors @ 8, MiG @ 9
This is apparently a Lookout Records show - the main act is Troubled Hubble.
I have it on good authority that somebody in MiG will take off their shirt during the show, so you should really come.
SERIUS NEGOTIUM TRIUMPHARAT!
...
Tuesday, June 07, 2005Let me let you in on a secret. You know how Thursday night has become more or less incorporated into the weekend? It's the new Friday. Or it was.
Now, word that Wednesday is actually the new Friday and Thursday is the new Saturday. Saturday, while still firmly part of the weekend, will take on a status more akin to Sunday. Sunday will be spent, in its entirely, complaining about having to go to work on monday. An idea ahead of it's time? Literally, yes. But I'm telling you, soon NOBODY will be going out on Friday or Saturday night - all the action will be on Wednesday and Thursday nights. And since I know you all want to be ahead of the curve, let me suggest something for you to do TONIGHT:
MAN IN GRAY plays NORTH 6 in B'Burg
Doors @ 8, MiG @ 9
This is apparently a Lookout Records show - the main act is Troubled Hubble.
I have it on good authority that somebody in MiG will take off their shirt during the show, so you should really come.
SERIUS NEGOTIUM TRIUMPHARAT!
...
Sketchy
I try so hard to ignore every single piece of news related to the Michael Jackson trial, but sometimes it sneaks up on you. Like today, I was reading the BBC, and all of a sudden, there's this article about the courtroon sketch artist who will be the first person to capture Jackson's reaction. Apparently this guys is sketch artist to the legally embattled stars - still, there's no way this deserves to be front page news.
But it got me thinking - why is it that the tradition of the courtroom sketch has persisted? Doesn't it seem totally anachronistic? In the case of police sketch artists, the reason is clear - you don't have the suspect there to photograph. But in a court, why not have a designated photographer or something if you need to have a single visual record of the trial?
A brief google search didn't turn up much apart from this bizarre church skit and the web site of a British court artist who has to do her work from memory, as drawing in British courts is illegal. I'm stumped.
...
I try so hard to ignore every single piece of news related to the Michael Jackson trial, but sometimes it sneaks up on you. Like today, I was reading the BBC, and all of a sudden, there's this article about the courtroon sketch artist who will be the first person to capture Jackson's reaction. Apparently this guys is sketch artist to the legally embattled stars - still, there's no way this deserves to be front page news.
But it got me thinking - why is it that the tradition of the courtroom sketch has persisted? Doesn't it seem totally anachronistic? In the case of police sketch artists, the reason is clear - you don't have the suspect there to photograph. But in a court, why not have a designated photographer or something if you need to have a single visual record of the trial?
A brief google search didn't turn up much apart from this bizarre church skit and the web site of a British court artist who has to do her work from memory, as drawing in British courts is illegal. I'm stumped.
...
American Tehran
With the evisceration of PBS' journalistic integrity on the altar of conservativism well underway, it's nice to know that you can at least rely on Ira Glass to take a hard look at how Christian fundamentalism is boring its way into a wide range of public policy issues.
Listen (free, in RealAudio) to the recent episode of This American Life, entitled "Godless America" for a really frightening look at the movement to utterly eradicate the line between church and state. Get through this hour of radio (and read this article from Harper's to boot), and you'll be left wondering - rightfully - whether we're not looking down the barrel of a fundamentalist theocratic state.
To find some better Christian viewpoints, check out the Progressive Christian Blogger Network, the Sojourners, Christians for Peace, or read up on liberation theology.
P.S. Before I forget: Michael Bloomburg, the NY Jets, and NYC2012 can all officially eat it! We owe you one, Sheldon.
...
Monday, June 06, 2005With the evisceration of PBS' journalistic integrity on the altar of conservativism well underway, it's nice to know that you can at least rely on Ira Glass to take a hard look at how Christian fundamentalism is boring its way into a wide range of public policy issues.
Listen (free, in RealAudio) to the recent episode of This American Life, entitled "Godless America" for a really frightening look at the movement to utterly eradicate the line between church and state. Get through this hour of radio (and read this article from Harper's to boot), and you'll be left wondering - rightfully - whether we're not looking down the barrel of a fundamentalist theocratic state.
To find some better Christian viewpoints, check out the Progressive Christian Blogger Network, the Sojourners, Christians for Peace, or read up on liberation theology.
P.S. Before I forget: Michael Bloomburg, the NY Jets, and NYC2012 can all officially eat it! We owe you one, Sheldon.
...
Ladies Ladies Everywhere
For the comic book fans out there, I highly recommend reading Vertigo's Y: The Last Man. To get an idea of the story, I recommend watching the video interview with author Brian Vaughan on the above-linked site (really interesting!), but in a nutshell, it's the story of a plague, or something, that wipes out all male creatures on Earth, except one twenty-something guy named Yorick and his pet monkey (also male) named Ampersand. It's the kind of post-apocalyptic story-line that I can really get into, and it approaches various political issues (feminism, militarism, etc.) in a progressive way, but without being too ham-handed.
I just bought and quickly devoured the first four collections (which are each comprised of four or five individual issues). You can preview the first issue via PDF on the book's website.
...
For the comic book fans out there, I highly recommend reading Vertigo's Y: The Last Man. To get an idea of the story, I recommend watching the video interview with author Brian Vaughan on the above-linked site (really interesting!), but in a nutshell, it's the story of a plague, or something, that wipes out all male creatures on Earth, except one twenty-something guy named Yorick and his pet monkey (also male) named Ampersand. It's the kind of post-apocalyptic story-line that I can really get into, and it approaches various political issues (feminism, militarism, etc.) in a progressive way, but without being too ham-handed.
I just bought and quickly devoured the first four collections (which are each comprised of four or five individual issues). You can preview the first issue via PDF on the book's website.
...
Up In Smoke
Observe how the title of this post applies magnificently to all three items discussed. You're gonna be wowed.
First of all, Bloomberg and Co.'s Olympic bid for NYC may be little more than a pipe dream after the IOC issued reports that were far more enthusiastic about Paris and London as potential sites for the 2012 games. This is sure to come as welcome news to many New Yorkers, especially all of those restauranteurs and shop-owners who are still so busy counting all of the money they made during the RNC that they probably couldn't deal with the the stress of an equally profitable experience with the Olympics. For lots more information regarding a critical evaluation of NYC2012, check out NewYorkGames.org.
Moving from asinine economic schemes to profoundly stupid military policies, Vietnam-era defense secretary and raving pacifist Robert McNamara has come out in opposition to British and American nuclear policy, calling it "immoral, illegal and militarily unnecessary." Forget Cronkite, if Robert Strange McNamara says your bombs are too big, you've got a problem. Of course, if any American news outlets bothered to cover the story (which they haven't) the Bush administration could always discredit McNamara as a Democratic partisan hack. After all, look at the company he's been keeping lately.
There was one story, however, that has received wide media attention in the US - it managed to push Russell Crowe lower in the headline ranks over at CNN (top billing is still reserved for continuing coverage of non-existant developments in the Michael Jackson trial) - the Supreme Court has ruled that patients who use medical marijuana at the suggestion of their doctors can be prosecuted under federal law. And thank the good lord for that. If cancer and AIDS patients, as well as various other sufferers of chronic pain or nausea, were able find some temporary relief through medicinal marijana, there's no telling what kind of reefer-fuled anarchy might ensue. For a detailed pro-medicinal marijuana argument, check out this brief from the Marijuna Policy Project. When you've got Milton Friedman and Montel Williams on the same side of an issue, you know you're on to something.
...
Thursday, June 02, 2005Observe how the title of this post applies magnificently to all three items discussed. You're gonna be wowed.
First of all, Bloomberg and Co.'s Olympic bid for NYC may be little more than a pipe dream after the IOC issued reports that were far more enthusiastic about Paris and London as potential sites for the 2012 games. This is sure to come as welcome news to many New Yorkers, especially all of those restauranteurs and shop-owners who are still so busy counting all of the money they made during the RNC that they probably couldn't deal with the the stress of an equally profitable experience with the Olympics. For lots more information regarding a critical evaluation of NYC2012, check out NewYorkGames.org.
Moving from asinine economic schemes to profoundly stupid military policies, Vietnam-era defense secretary and raving pacifist Robert McNamara has come out in opposition to British and American nuclear policy, calling it "immoral, illegal and militarily unnecessary." Forget Cronkite, if Robert Strange McNamara says your bombs are too big, you've got a problem. Of course, if any American news outlets bothered to cover the story (which they haven't) the Bush administration could always discredit McNamara as a Democratic partisan hack. After all, look at the company he's been keeping lately.
There was one story, however, that has received wide media attention in the US - it managed to push Russell Crowe lower in the headline ranks over at CNN (top billing is still reserved for continuing coverage of non-existant developments in the Michael Jackson trial) - the Supreme Court has ruled that patients who use medical marijuana at the suggestion of their doctors can be prosecuted under federal law. And thank the good lord for that. If cancer and AIDS patients, as well as various other sufferers of chronic pain or nausea, were able find some temporary relief through medicinal marijana, there's no telling what kind of reefer-fuled anarchy might ensue. For a detailed pro-medicinal marijuana argument, check out this brief from the Marijuna Policy Project. When you've got Milton Friedman and Montel Williams on the same side of an issue, you know you're on to something.
...
Blood Fornicated with Earth
Please feel obligated to read this piece by Todd Levin and Bob Powers. It's an exchange of letters between two guys at weight-loss camp and a corporate retreat, respectively, and I'll be DAMNED if it's not one of the funniest things I've seen in a good long while.
...
Wednesday, June 01, 2005Please feel obligated to read this piece by Todd Levin and Bob Powers. It's an exchange of letters between two guys at weight-loss camp and a corporate retreat, respectively, and I'll be DAMNED if it's not one of the funniest things I've seen in a good long while.
...
Round on the Ends, High in the Middle
Some pictures from my Oberlin reunion/my sister's Oberlin graduation.
First of all, we had a little rural crime adventure. After a BBQ on Saturday, Gabe decided he wanted to climb the big willow tree behind Hall Auditorium (like I said, Ohio).
From the top of the tree, he witnessed some young hoodlums participating in some bizarre vandalism. It seems like they had a sneaker, pehaps soaked in lighter fluid or something, which they set on fire and threw on top of the roof of Hall. We were going to call the fire department, but somebody inside the nearby Oberlin Inn had already called the cops and I had to quickly hide my open container.
Here is the OFD, putting out the fire.
Nipple exposure inside the Feve.
There were some shows. This is one of the bands that played at one show, opening for Oberlin punk institution, Bippy.
Gabe and I explored the halls of Kettering science center, which has now been entombed within the new Oberlin Science Center.
A performance of dirty country songs. Dave (formerly of the Teeth) is on the left.
The moment of truth.
...
Some pictures from my Oberlin reunion/my sister's Oberlin graduation.
First of all, we had a little rural crime adventure. After a BBQ on Saturday, Gabe decided he wanted to climb the big willow tree behind Hall Auditorium (like I said, Ohio).
From the top of the tree, he witnessed some young hoodlums participating in some bizarre vandalism. It seems like they had a sneaker, pehaps soaked in lighter fluid or something, which they set on fire and threw on top of the roof of Hall. We were going to call the fire department, but somebody inside the nearby Oberlin Inn had already called the cops and I had to quickly hide my open container.
Here is the OFD, putting out the fire.
Nipple exposure inside the Feve.
There were some shows. This is one of the bands that played at one show, opening for Oberlin punk institution, Bippy.
Gabe and I explored the halls of Kettering science center, which has now been entombed within the new Oberlin Science Center.
A performance of dirty country songs. Dave (formerly of the Teeth) is on the left.
The moment of truth.
...
I am listening to:
LAME PUNK RADIO #2
MP3: here.
LPR Disclaimer: here.
LPR Archives: here.
We Vs. The Shark
Ruin Everything
Aleuchatistas
The Same and the Other
Smart Went Crazy
Con Art
v/a
Guitarmy
Screamin' Jay Hawkins
Greatest Hits
Mixel Pixel
Contact Kid
I am watching:
C.H.U.D.
The Serpent and the Rainbow
The Seventh Sign
I am reading:
Orality and Literacy
Walter Ong
Almanac of the Dead
Leslie Marmon Silko
02.2004
03.2004
04.2004
05.2004
06.2004
07.2004
08.2004
09.2004
10.2004
11.2004
12.2004
01.2005
02.2005
03.2005
04.2005
05.2005
06.2005
07.2005
08.2005
09.2005
10.2005
11.2005
--Abraham Joshua Heschel
