Monday, October 30, 2006
Geography
Amy just told me a great Overheard in DC, but it's a little risque, so I can't print it. Instead, I'll just print one of her favorite Overheards of all time.
Here goes:
Blond Tourist Bimbo: I've never even heard of the G Train.
Blond Local Bimbo: Yeah, it's a ghetto train.
Blond Tourist Bimbo: Where does it go?
Blond Local Bimbo: Nowhere.
Black eight-year-old boy: Except my home, bitch.
--G train Hoyt/Schermerhorn station
Here goes:
Blond Tourist Bimbo: I've never even heard of the G Train.
Blond Local Bimbo: Yeah, it's a ghetto train.
Blond Tourist Bimbo: Where does it go?
Blond Local Bimbo: Nowhere.
Black eight-year-old boy: Except my home, bitch.
--G train Hoyt/Schermerhorn station
Monday, October 23, 2006
Politics
Rummaging through old photos, I found a few that I took while I was covering the National Conventions for WIDR in Kalamazoo in 2004. I picked out two that seemed to summarize the experience of both for me. 
The First Lady sits on a screen with me in the foreground. Look at the idealistic look in her eyes. It's just adorable!
In contrast, notice the look in my eyes. So elated, so overwhelmed at even the illusion of proximity. And yet with the slightest tinge of sly cynicism. Appropriately so; this photo was taken moments before I was escorted out of the Republican National Convention in a case of mistaken identity (here's the story) that foreshadowed my now well-documented and career-ending split with the GOP. I remember this night even more because I can't seem to find that awesome shirt I'm wearing in the photo.
This is a photo from the Democratic National Convention in Boston that I took right before the nomination of John Kerry. This gentleman's placard pretty much sums it up for me.
The First Lady sits on a screen with me in the foreground. Look at the idealistic look in her eyes. It's just adorable!
In contrast, notice the look in my eyes. So elated, so overwhelmed at even the illusion of proximity. And yet with the slightest tinge of sly cynicism. Appropriately so; this photo was taken moments before I was escorted out of the Republican National Convention in a case of mistaken identity (here's the story) that foreshadowed my now well-documented and career-ending split with the GOP. I remember this night even more because I can't seem to find that awesome shirt I'm wearing in the photo.
This is a photo from the Democratic National Convention in Boston that I took right before the nomination of John Kerry. This gentleman's placard pretty much sums it up for me.
If you need me to explain it you'll never understand.
Friday, October 20, 2006
The Best Film You'll Never See This Year
You know how gmail has those little ads above your emails? It's called Web Clips, and Google has this way of reading into your messages for keywords and assuming something you may be interested in, then finding a link with a partner organization who you will hopefully click on and give them money. But every now and then Google gets it just right for me. They've had this link that's been showing up on my gmail for WEEKS that keeps saying, "Rotten Tomatoes: Mutual Appreciation, 100%" which, for those in the know, is moviespeak for "here's a movie that has never gotten a bad review." This is extremely rare for any movie, and even more rare for fiction films since critics usually don't have the same groupthink mentality for narratives as they do for documentaries. And for a film whose trailer gives you the oddly compelling feeling you are going to see a 1980s NYU student film - it is shot in black and white 16mm; it features hipsters wearing ill-fitting sweaters engaged in discussion of life's ironies - Mutual
Appreciation has pulled off an impressive coup of sorts with the critical attention
it has gotten.
Though its ambitious five-print self-distribution means Appreciation will most likely not reach your eyes, it will be on Amazon and Netflix early next year so check it out. Beware of who you watch it with though, because it can result in narcolepsy for the those who prefer more action in their black-and-white films. They might prefer this.
Appreciation has pulled off an impressive coup of sorts with the critical attention
it has gotten.
The Mutual Appreciation website pointed me to Dupont Circle's AMC 5 this weekend for a screening (still Washington, DC's gayest theater after three decades; Brokeback Mountain took
up all five screens when it opened!). If I was a bit skeptical when I came in, between the time the trailers ended and the first three minutes of the movie I was completely taken in. The plot for Appreciation is very simple - relationships, careers, success, y'know, all of that. It reads like an episode of My So-Called Life - The College Years. A young musician named Alan (a tight-jeaned, floppy haired hipster who looks like he is going to audition for a biopic of the Strokes) plops down in New York City looking to build a music career. As we go along Alan has an accidental relationship with a cute Asian college radio DJ, but decides it just isn't going to work. And then we find out that he and his gracious househost's longterm girlfriend have an inexplicable crush on one another, and what they are going to do about it is the very lean meat upon which the remainder of the film feeds.
Though its ambitious five-print self-distribution means Appreciation will most likely not reach your eyes, it will be on Amazon and Netflix early next year so check it out. Beware of who you watch it with though, because it can result in narcolepsy for the those who prefer more action in their black-and-white films. They might prefer this.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
The End of Civilization
I found this poster on the internet the other day. If human beings were to revert to a primalistic state or go extinct completely it would take over 200,000 years for all traces of human civilization to disappear. (It would take over two million years for nuclear waste to lose its potency, but everything else would take about 200,000 years.) That just makes me so impressed and proud of our species. No matter what happens to us as creatures the world will have no choice but to remember us for eons. And that's not to mention the satellites we have in space that are safe from degredation in the embrace of a vacuum! Here's the poster:
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Privacy
Against our cats' wishes I am posting these pictures of them toilet training naked on the internet. When you've been training a cat to use the toilet for, say, six months, you become very philosophical about the whole toilet thing. From whence did this instrument evolve? Where does our stuff go? Why such a special room in the home for it? And why do we treat
it as such a private event, rather than something to be enjoyed and celebrated publicly?
Anyang, pictured left, is very willing to share his experience with the group. He yowls before he does it, and then expects treats afterward. He was very proud to have his photo taken.
Moesha on the other hand is very shy about it. Whenever I hear her making even the vaguest announcements of impending relief I rush to the bathroom to ascertain the event.
And then she poops on the floor.
I don't quite know what we were expecting starting them on this regimen. I think we read a book from Amazon that said we could get it done in 20 days. But now they are six months in and still not completely getting it.
See the green bowl? That used to be our popcorn bowl. Now it's the place where they potty train. Maybe they're so used to seeing popcorn in the bowl that they get confused. "You want me to pee in the bowl you eat popcorn out of?" Now they'll probably be like, "Well, okay..." and whenever they see a popcorn bowl they will pee in it.
I wonder if they've done that already....Artificial butter flavoring...?
it as such a private event, rather than something to be enjoyed and celebrated publicly?
Anyang, pictured left, is very willing to share his experience with the group. He yowls before he does it, and then expects treats afterward. He was very proud to have his photo taken.
Moesha on the other hand is very shy about it. Whenever I hear her making even the vaguest announcements of impending relief I rush to the bathroom to ascertain the event.
This is the face she gives me.
And then she poops on the floor.
I don't quite know what we were expecting starting them on this regimen. I think we read a book from Amazon that said we could get it done in 20 days. But now they are six months in and still not completely getting it.
See the green bowl? That used to be our popcorn bowl. Now it's the place where they potty train. Maybe they're so used to seeing popcorn in the bowl that they get confused. "You want me to pee in the bowl you eat popcorn out of?" Now they'll probably be like, "Well, okay..." and whenever they see a popcorn bowl they will pee in it.
I wonder if they've done that already....Artificial butter flavoring...?
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Best Quote Ever
Dumb teen: Hey, look at this! It says "Train for jobs in biotch."
Smarter teen: Fool! That word is biotech. Why you gotta be ignorant all your life?
--1 train
Amy will tell you that if I am ever sitting at my computer and laughing hysterically, it is either because I am listening to Kevin Federline's album on repeat, or I am reading this site. The site needs no introduction, but here's a link to it so you can laugh even more.
Smarter teen: Fool! That word is biotech. Why you gotta be ignorant all your life?
--1 train
Amy will tell you that if I am ever sitting at my computer and laughing hysterically, it is either because I am listening to Kevin Federline's album on repeat, or I am reading this site. The site needs no introduction, but here's a link to it so you can laugh even more.
Labels: federline, kevin, overheard in new york
Friday, October 13, 2006
Pay for knowledge no longer
This week I've been thrilled discover Project Gutenberg. This project has put tens of thousands of out of print or copyright expired books on the net. Along with Google, this is one of the most ambitious efforts to preserve and provide easy access to knowledge. Check it out! I already downloaded the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and a book called "The Social Emergency," which "warns boys against horrible effects of masturbation" by explaining how it diminishes virility.
This project is useful now, but unfortunately we have to wait another seventy years before classics, like Cherie Bennet's Sunset series, go out of copyright.
This project is useful now, but unfortunately we have to wait another seventy years before classics, like Cherie Bennet's Sunset series, go out of copyright.
Monday, October 9, 2006
Hello Fro
Just wanted to post this message that my friend Ricky from Guam left for me. I spent a semester at the University of Guam in fall of 2003 trying to study Coral Reef Ecology. Instead, I became friends with Ricky, a native Guamanian who spent years in the states doing theater, but now spends his days hanging out with Micro-nauts. This voice message is an incredibly accurate documentation of the accent of the nearby island of Chuuk, for those who I have tried to explain it to, and those who are just interested.
Brand Loyalty Gone Wild
Read this article in today's Times about consumer control of marketing, and now I'm freaked out. This participatory media was great when it meant that fans could cheaply make spinoffs of their favorite show, re-splice a trailer, or create and distribute a music video. But allowing fans to make ADS for companies? Some of these brand loyalty nuts are even dressing their BMWs for Halloween! Are we turning into Japan??
On the one hand, it's allowing consumers to control the marketing could have a lot of benefits - it could lower the internalized costs of products. It could even force manufacturers to conform to the ideals consumers espouse for them, rather than the other way around. On the other hand, I'm going to miss the good old days when an ad would tell me what to buy and what to think and I could feel justified in doing the exact opposite.
On the one hand, it's allowing consumers to control the marketing could have a lot of benefits - it could lower the internalized costs of products. It could even force manufacturers to conform to the ideals consumers espouse for them, rather than the other way around. On the other hand, I'm going to miss the good old days when an ad would tell me what to buy and what to think and I could feel justified in doing the exact opposite.
Sunday, October 8, 2006
Music videos
In the old days music artists could produce without ever having to be seen. But now, no matter
what kind of artist you are, you HAVE to have a music video to accompany your album. That's great for people like me who are looking to do video professionally. I can expect steady work if I want to make music videos - it's an industry that doesn't necessarily take much thought and can result in pretty decent money. But what does it mean for the future of aesthetic quality? Case in point, the video below. There is no doubt that Leonard Cohen is one of the great musical poets of our time, and that he has had a long and distinguished career.
He's not without his apologists who have to interpret his odd and deeply woven lyrics, my father being one of them. But look at this video for the non-single from his Dear Heather album, "Because of..."
See what I mean? I mean, what the heck! This guy has forty some years of producing and recording behind him and this is the best they can do? A couple of 13 year olds jumping on his bed while he sits on a roof and moans? (It's actually kind of funny. When he's walking around with the glass of wine I feel like I'm watching that "The Continental" character from Saturday Night Live.) On the other hand a legion of independent producers are creating some pretty creative stuff. Check out this one from a high school student. I was a supervisor for a high school video production class and only a few times did they make me laugh as hard as this video did.
what kind of artist you are, you HAVE to have a music video to accompany your album. That's great for people like me who are looking to do video professionally. I can expect steady work if I want to make music videos - it's an industry that doesn't necessarily take much thought and can result in pretty decent money. But what does it mean for the future of aesthetic quality? Case in point, the video below. There is no doubt that Leonard Cohen is one of the great musical poets of our time, and that he has had a long and distinguished career.
He's not without his apologists who have to interpret his odd and deeply woven lyrics, my father being one of them. But look at this video for the non-single from his Dear Heather album, "Because of..."
See what I mean? I mean, what the heck! This guy has forty some years of producing and recording behind him and this is the best they can do? A couple of 13 year olds jumping on his bed while he sits on a roof and moans? (It's actually kind of funny. When he's walking around with the glass of wine I feel like I'm watching that "The Continental" character from Saturday Night Live.) On the other hand a legion of independent producers are creating some pretty creative stuff. Check out this one from a high school student. I was a supervisor for a high school video production class and only a few times did they make me laugh as hard as this video did.
Labels: bananas, Cohen, Leonard, music, video
Friday, October 6, 2006
Cheese of the week
For today's cheese day we are sampling Yancy's Bergenost w/ Peppadew. First, let's admire the cheese. What does the cheese consist of? It is a triple-cream Norwegian butter cheese, and created very soft and sweet, explaining why it is preserved in green wax. It is speckled conservatively throughout with peppadew, a pepper discovered and propagated by a South African farmer named Johan Steenkamp in 1994; they have been called "the next big thing" in fruit and have a flavor and texture very reminiscent of an olive pimento.This cheese was produced by Yancey's Fancy company who produce cheeses sold all over the country. The cheese received a gold medal at the 1999 New York State Fair Cheese Contest. Yancy's skyrocketed to success on the the great Limburger Craze in the early to middle part of the last century. But they are currently famous for their four varieties of cheddar cheese curds, "a delicious and nutritious cheese snack for kids and adults."
If you're lucky, these folks will be making your cheese...
The cheese cuts smoothly, which seems to indicate that it would be tailor-made for grilled cheese. The bouquet is faint, however, leaving one to wonder what delights, or horrors might await the tongue.
Biting into the bergenost is like biting into a sugarless marshmallow or an unsalted chip: what you expect in the arrival of the cheese, a rush of rich flavor, is the opposite of what you get. In the face of blandness, the peppadew could be expected to add some personality to the otherwise low-key bergenost. However, like pair of agoraphobics their shyness in the company of one another clashes. This may have something to do with its being South African, but I cannot be sure.
In spite of its immaturity of flavor, I am going to give the cheese a rating of 'so-so.' A cheese, like a child, cannot be blamed for not being able to meet one's heightened expectations. In this case, with the word "peppadew" and the description of "triple-cream" (and the reputation of the Yancey Fancy company) I was expecting something to blow me away with a tremendous blast of flavor. Thus, also like a child, I was possibly ignoring the subtlety, which is in fact what makes a cheese, or a child unique and worth keeping alive.
Why not decide for yourself?
Labels: bergenost, cheese, fancy, pepadew, yancy's
Thursday, October 5, 2006
Great Photos
Where is the year going? I love the fall, but it feels like only weeks ago it was still 2005. Anyway, here's the aforementioned head shot, and next to that the picture they chose to print with the article. Look at my mouth in the second one. For real.
Am I retarded?
I might just be. This morning I decided it would be a fun idea to completely erase the external hard drive that houses my entire portfolio. So now I'm sitting here frustrated hoping that Disc Rescue will recover it all. That's not to say it wasn't fun - just that I should use someone else's hard drive when I'm in the mood to erase.
Am I retarded?
I might just be. This morning I decided it would be a fun idea to completely erase the external hard drive that houses my entire portfolio. So now I'm sitting here frustrated hoping that Disc Rescue will recover it all. That's not to say it wasn't fun - just that I should use someone else's hard drive when I'm in the mood to erase.
Monday, October 2, 2006
My Headshots
I just had this completely uninteresting email exchange a few minutes ago:
A few weeks ago I found out that I needed headshots for a project, and have been completely at a loss to find someone to take them for me. So when I found out this little school paper was going to do an article on me and take photos I asked them if I could see the pics when they were done. Now I don't know if it is ethical to use someone else's photos for this purpose and not tell them, but I figure it is so rare that I get a decent picture taken of me that I had better use it. As soon as I get the photo I will show it to you and you can tell me whether it is worth getting sued over.
A few weeks ago I found out that I needed headshots for a project, and have been completely at a loss to find someone to take them for me. So when I found out this little school paper was going to do an article on me and take photos I asked them if I could see the pics when they were done. Now I don't know if it is ethical to use someone else's photos for this purpose and not tell them, but I figure it is so rare that I get a decent picture taken of me that I had better use it. As soon as I get the photo I will show it to you and you can tell me whether it is worth getting sued over.
Labels: headshots
