Everything Ecstatic

On the Decks

2008-05-13T16:25:00.002-04:00

'78 [China Forbes]
Drive [Crystal Method]
Ghost Games [Apes]
The Last Tycoon [Peter Moren]
Saturdays = Youth [M83]
Original Hits [Sylvester]

And my current obssession: Black Moth Super Rainbow. The music lured me in, but this video set the hook.

I'm Totally Gay for America

2008-02-16T14:54:00.001-05:00

But who isn't?

The Bridge

2008-02-04T23:33:00.000-05:00

Tonight, the IFC cable channel rebroadcast The Bridge, an astonishing, heartbreaking, and brutally honest documentary about people who committed suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. The filmmakers secretly staked out the bridge throughout 2004 with multiple cameras, and ended up actually photographing 19 of the 24 people who took their lives by going over the railing. This shockingly unshocking footing is interspersed with interviews with loved ones, and stunning shots of the bridge itself.

But it's much more than that. This movie exists in a place almost beyond documentation, possessing the same weird combination of empathy and detachment seen in Gus Van Sandt's fictional Elephant.

Some have claimed the film is exploitive, but I think they're missing the point: The only way to approach the topic of suicide is with clear eyes and the understanding that you'll never understand it. That is, the more you see, the less you know. And that's the point where The Bridge stops being a movie and becomes something else entirely.

Or as one interviewee says:

I don't have any answers. Just a bunch of observations....

Oh, Snap!

2008-01-31T13:49:00.000-05:00

From Josh Levin's review of Meet the Spartans in Slate:

Friedberg and Seltzer do not practice the same craft as P.T. Anderson, David Cronenberg, Michael Bay, Kevin Costner, the Zucker Brothers, the Wayans Brothers, Uwe Boll, any dad who takes shaky home movies on a camping trip, or a bear who turns on a video camera by accident while trying to eat it.

I have to disagree. Three minutes of the inside of a bear's disgestive system might be worse than Meet the Spartans. But worse than one of Michael Bay's craptastic blockbusters? Doubt it.

If You Get Hungry

2008-01-31T13:35:00.000-05:00

It's cheeseburger in a can--and for only 4 Euros!

Puts the "um" in "yum".

New Year, Getting Older by the Day

2008-01-27T18:43:00.000-05:00

New year resolutions have always seemed a little weird to me--like kissing under mistletoe. I mean, why wait for that specific situation? On the other hand, I'm a very plan-y person. Even buying new blue jeans requires thoughtful consideration and a checklist. Why not take advantage of a cultural imperative to indulge in my own personal obsessions?

So here it is. My resolution for 2008. Late, but not out of date.

Have fun.

Simple and to the point, as all goals should be. I should be able to remember this. And if you're reading this, and you know me, and you see that I'm not having fun on purpose, you have my permission to slap-fight me.

Up, Up and Away

2007-12-07T17:27:00.000-05:00

While in Turkey, the husband and tried to take advantage of every opportunity for fun and adventure. For example, we woke up at 4 AM to take a hot air balloon ride over the desolate moonscape of Cappadocia. The baskets were packed tight with chilly tourists. The balloons flew over 2,000 over the rocky terrain. And yet, the ride was still not as scary as the standard Turkish truckstop buffet.

Duh.

(Forgive the crummy resolution and color timing. I took these shots using my digital camera and put it together with MS Movie Magic. Oh, the music is "Dungeoneering" by Tim Hecker. He's awesome!)

I'm Opening My Eyes Again

2007-11-30T12:24:00.001-05:00

I bought a new camera for my trip to Turkey (more on that to come). It's a point and shoot that has both greater resolution and manaul features than my crummy phone cam. Not that I'm complaining.

I've fired up DC Observed again, of course. And I take this little cam with me everywhere I go. The only downside is that it has no GPS recorder. That means all my image mapping is strictly guesswork at this point.

Oh, to have all the cameras in the world.

Jazz Thursdays: Ben Webster's A Night in Tunisia

2007-11-29T14:54:00.000-05:00

I've been away for a few weeks in Asia Minor, so the blog's languished. But I'm back. Here's a swinging groove from around 1964 to scrape the gloom out of this infernal day.

Jazz Thursdays: Did You Evah

2007-10-18T00:48:00.000-04:00

Two punk icons take Cole Porter's high society shimmer and drag it through a few punk cliches. Not jazz, not punk, all fun. Special mention goes to Rodan, as the party crasher, and Debbie's "la la la la" cresendo: a single moment without irony.

Secret, Secret

2007-10-17T23:40:00.000-04:00

Although I love PostSecret.org, I never thought I'd ever want to send a secret in. Why? Because I have a big mouth and had not secrets to share. Or so I thought. I spent some time this weekend thinking about it, and came up with at least a dozen secrets--some barely a secret at all, some I wouldn't share with anyone.

So I sent my first card in on Monday. I have another waiting for next week. Several more are lurking in the wings. (I'm saving the juicier stuff for later).

If any of my cards are posted, I'll mention it here. I won't tell you which card is mine. You'll have to guess that on your own. But it will probably have a shirtless man on it.

Just saying.

Down the Rabbit Hole

2007-10-17T23:21:00.000-04:00

Some see online interaction as a way to engage each other, spread influence, change minds.

Perhaps.

And if that's what you think, I encourage you to hop on over to Salon and check out this discussion of atheism. There were 234 comments the last time I looked. Only two of which have been highlighted by the editors as noteworthy.

Let that be your first warning.

Best Comic Book Convention...Ever

2007-10-14T11:16:00.000-04:00

Tony and I spent Saturday morning trolling the booths at the SPX, the small press expo, somewhere in the hinterlands of Maryland. I've never thought of myself as a "comic book guy." Shameless fanboy, perhaps. But comic books--while I understood how cool they could be--never really created any passion in me. This show changed my mind.

The floor was small but crowded. Almost every booth had a pile of objects to look through. Many were handmade or one-of-a-kind. Styles ranged from exquisite hand painted abstracts, to postmodern pen-and-ink cartoons. The artists were super friendly and everyone had a great story. (And by "great" I mean funny, weird, inspirational, and/or insane.)

I bought an autobiographical book called Shirtlifter from a supremely hot bear artist named Steve MacIsaac. He said it was more "artistic-y than pornographic-y." Having cruised through it last night, I guess he's correct. But it still plenty pornographic-y for me. I'm not sure I get the point of the whole thing, but I think that's commonplace among the small press people: Hold a magnifying glass up to the most arcane, commonplace, or otherwise invisible speck of reality (or surreality) and let it speak for itself.

On the way out, I bought a silkscreen of 16 little line drawings of the same dumpy little man in various states of dress.

I'll let that speak for itself, too.

PostSecret

2007-10-14T11:04:00.000-04:00

PostSecret.org has been one of my favorite website/art installations for years. We had a chance to see Frank Warren, the artist behind the project, speak at a local bookstore. He's a very earnest, thoughtful, and apparently kind man, but I have to say his description of the project dimishes it a bit--just as one would expect any great work of art to eclipse its creator. There wasn't a lot of insight to be had, but we did get to see and hold a few actual secrets in our hands. That alone was worth the trip. There's surprising power in those little cards.

He Might Be an Evil Genius and All...

2007-10-12T11:25:00.000-04:00

Went with the usual suspects to see Merrily We Roll Along at Signature last night. A few things:

When I turned the corner, I thought for one second I was in a retirement home. I haven't seen that much grey hair since the DC Eagle circa 1990.

I still hate musicals. Maybe not hate. Maybe...don't get. But I still hate wasting my time.

My friends and family are funny people. And by funny, I mean random and vulgar.

Lamb vindaloo is so hot, my saliva becomes poison.

Stephen Sondheim may be an evil genius and all, but cliche is cliche. There, I said it.

Jazz Thursdays: The Jazz Messengers - A Night in Tunisia

2007-10-11T17:20:00.000-04:00

Serious jamming from all-stars from the 1960s: drummer Art Blakey, Lee Morgan, and I think that's a young Wayne Shorter.

Home Sweet Homo.

2007-10-11T16:58:00.000-04:00

I've returned from the Twin Cities. The week-long work conference was exceptionally busy. Work, what a drag. Sheesh.

Although most of my time was spent in the conference center, I did get to see a bit of both St. Paul and Minneapolis.

One of my co-workers used to live in the Minneapolis, so he took us on a night tour. Very cool city. Small enough to live in, big enough not to be bored. And it's on the Mississippi--who knew!

I also found a quaint little gay bar near my hotel. That came in handy when the boys from work stood me up one night. That's OK. I know how gay men of a certain age are. I had a Plan B already in mind. (No. Not that Plan B. Gross.)

All in all, it's nice to be back.

Roxy Music: Jealous Guy

2007-10-10T15:14:00.000-04:00

Less elemental (and more truly full of regret) than John Lennon's orginal, you definitely get the feeling Bryan Ferry is singing directly to Lennon after his murder. It's not a love song. It's a eulogy, from one giant to another.

On the Road: Which Is the Evil Twin?

2007-10-01T22:01:00.000-04:00

I'm here in Minneapolis-St. Paul for a week-long work conference. I can't say that this trip has has an auspicious beginning. One of the first things I saw from the window of my cab was an old man vomiting violenting on the side of the street. Then giggling and tiptoeing away. I also found out that a man came into my hotel last week, grabbed one of the domesticated ducks that swim in the interior decorative pond, and bit its head off.

Ahem.

Still, the cities themselves have a groovy, post-industrial feel. The buildings are pleasingly square. And the streets are walkable.

I have six more days for some drunk to gnaw my head off.

Jazz Thursdays: Chet Baker's Let's Get Lost

2007-09-20T01:24:00.000-04:00

Not a video, but a slideshow of Chet's publicity stills, under one of the most romantic songs (and performances) of all time. Let's get lost, indeed.

Insult of the Day

2007-09-20T01:03:00.000-04:00

This feature has been gone from EE for too long. Perhaps, it's been waiting for this:

Realistically the competition is now between Hung and Casey. Both Brian, who makes no sense, and Dale, who makes no sauce, are both plainly outclassed and they know it. You kind of feel bad for Brian, whose years on Ritalin have left him a glassy-eyed surfer strewn on the beach of life with no board.

I love Top Chef. There, I said it. But Gawker's gentle assassinations run a close second.

Same Same, but Different

2007-09-07T09:51:00.000-04:00

In August, I was away for a couple of weeks traveling through Cambodia with the husband and one of my friends from highschool. There is too much to say about this excursion right here, right now. The short version: Great food, terrible weather, awesome people, durian stinks, silk is cheap, ruins are big. I'll get around to more detail eventually.

Until then, enjoy the image above: Me, doing my best to make sure Angkor Wat stays a ruin.

Friday Fun: The Polyphonic Spree's Running Away

2007-09-07T01:44:00.000-04:00

Cynicism and optimism are not mutually exclusive.

It's like running away/ With the wind in our face/ It's like flying/ And you and I are open wide.

DC Observed

2007-09-06T18:09:00.000-04:00

I started the DC Observed photography project on May 18 this year. The original goal was to post a photo that was taken in DC every day for one year. I've come pretty damned close to achieving that goal. Vacations, work, and illness have kept me away now and then. But I'm not giving up. If I can do it at least 90% for the whole year, then I'll consider it a success and try for something bigger and better next year.

Fingers are crossed.

Jazz Thursdays: Bill Evan's Quartet

2007-09-06T13:19:00.000-04:00

The Bill Evans Quartet sessions at the Village Vanguard are unbelievably cool and exciting performances. This video is a little low-tech, but the brilliance still shines through.

It's Time for You to Lose Your Excitement

2007-09-05T16:56:00.001-04:00

This Larry Craig folderol has me asking the question: Are straight people ever going to get their shit together when it comes to sex? I''m being serious here. Straights may be the dominant culture, but it's obvious that--when it comes to the Big Nasty--they are as clueless as children.

It was nothing short of embarrassing watching the smirking, giggling newsreaders on cable try to get their arms around the reality that a man could marry a woman and still have sex with men. I mean, they seriously didn't know this happened? Has happened for all of history? Is happening? Sheesh.

I've personally known many married men who also fuck around with guys, and each of their situations was different. Some were cheating from deep inside the closet. Some claimed to be straight. Some were gay, but married because they wanted a "normal" public life. Some had arrangements with their wives. And while I certainly have opinions about their choices, I never made fun of them or even judge them harshly. Why? Because their lives, like my own, were messy and real.

And how about the serious--or at least professed--puzzlement about a fetishes such as anonymous sex or tearoom trade? I find it hard to believe that people in show buisness are more square and more naive than I. Seriously, the only thing that outpaced the ignorance was the squeamishness.

Embarrassing. Unbelievable.

To be clear, I have nothing but disdain for Larry Craig the politician and the immoral, hateful, and unrealistic policies that he and his party supports. But Larry Craig the man gets my sympathy. The snickering jackdaws that have made his life a living hell over the last few weeks have done nothing to illuminate the situation.

And no one has asked the most obvious question: Why are we behaving like immature assholes? Answer that, and you may know why a 60-somethinig Midwestern politician had to go into a men's room to get a blow job.

All my life, people have asked me if I'd ever wanted to be straight. My answer has always and emphatically been "no." There are many reasons. The last two weeks has highlighted one: Gay men understand sex. We know how it fits into life. We get that it's simultaneously important and frivolous. We embrace--however reluctantly--its messiness, its complications, its contradictions.

We are adults about it.

Finally, before you call me a bigot, I realize I'm making some generalizations. I mean, some of my best friends are straight.

How Soon Is Now?

2007-09-04T17:51:00.000-04:00

I just finished a presentation on the state of Web 2.0 to a group of historians/educators in Atlanta. They were awesome, but I'm whipped. Up at 4:30 AM and won't get home until whenever.

Zzzzzzzz.

The Beginning of the End

2007-09-01T11:23:00.000-04:00

I've been collecting compact disks from the beginning and now have thousands of them. I began to rip them to MP3 a couple of years ago, but just as I was reaching the end of the stack, my external hard drive died. Tens of thousands of songs and hours of my precious time just vanished. So sad.

I bought a new hard disk--with a backup--and began the process all over again in January 2007. And once again, I'm nearing the end of the stack. I may even finish up this weekend.

Then I will weep with joy.

Update 09.05.2007: I'm done! Now all I have to do it get the new external HDs ready, clean up the files list, configure the backup software, and we're off.

Tucker Carlson: Blowhard or Gay Basher?

2007-08-30T01:05:00.000-04:00

Let me rephrase that as "and Gay Basher," since Tucker's been blowing hard for decades. If you've missed this ongoing story, here goes.

In an MSNBC Live interview, Tucker, in a lame-assed attempt to demonstrate his manliness, claimed to have "bashed" a gay man in a men's room for coming on to him. Transcript below.

ABRAMS: Tucker, what did you do, by the way? What did you do when he did
that? We got to know.
CARLSON: I went back with someone I knew and grabbed the guy by the -- you
know, and grabbed him, and -- and --
ABRAMS: And did what?
CARLSON: Hit him against the stall with his head, actually!
[laughter]
CARLSON: And then the cops came and arrested him. But let me say that I'm
the least anti-gay right-winger you'll ever meet --

Note the laughter--not just from Tucker, but from Dan Abrams and Joe Scarborough, as well.

Verdict: Tucker's either 1) laying it on thick to increase his frat boy credentials; or 2) a criminal. Just to be safe, I'd go with 3) an asshat without a shred of credibility.

And if you want to see another conservative go down in flames, here's the video:

Jazz Thursday: Jimmy Witherspoon - Outskirts Of Town

2007-08-30T00:43:00.000-04:00

Deep blues vocal, with Vince Guaraldi on piano.

Back of the Bin: Rattlesnakes

2007-08-29T15:48:00.000-04:00

From the great and greatly under appreciated Lloyd Cole: "She looks like Eve Marie Saint in On the Waterfront."

Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken?

2007-08-27T17:16:00.000-04:00

I've been away for a while: getting ready to travel, travelling, and recovering from travelling. But I'm back now, full of beans, and ready to take this show on the road.

More tomorrow.

World of Wonder: A Thrilla' in Manilla

2007-07-24T08:14:00.000-04:00

This is freaking amazing: Approximately 1,500 Filipino prisoners in orange jump suits re-enact the zombie dance from Michael Jackson's Thriller video. Points for not stabbing each other during rehearsals. Bonus points for the balding tranny as the "girlfriend in jeopardy."

Hat tip: Defamer.

Photoshoplifting

2007-07-20T22:49:00.000-04:00

Another Photoshop scandal in the works. And another reason not to believe anything you see. Hat tip: BuzzFeed.

You Are What You Eat (Dumplings)

2007-07-20T02:04:00.000-04:00

Last night I watched one of the most disgusting and stomach churning movie I've ever seen. Dumplings, one of the so-called "Asia Extreme" movies that have been getting a lot of recent attention here in the States, is stunning to look at and has an enjoyably campy and operatic plot.

But director Fruit Chan really doesn't know when to stop. The plot? From IMDB.com:

To remain beautiful and young, a woman embarks in a sick and disgusting [quest] for a repugnant menu.

Unlike recent "torture porn" flicks that also push the boundaries of violence and gore, Dumplings doesn't implicate the viewer in the action--fortunately. You might lose your lunch anyway.

Beer + Rugby = Something Totally NSFW

2007-07-20T01:39:00.000-04:00

Here are some clips from a documentary on British ruggers getting drunk, stripping in pubs, and clearly defining the term homoerotic.

While the action itself is quite nice and nothing I'd complain about, the truly amazing part of the video is the end, where the young men--now sober--watch a tape of themselves, um, performing. They seem to be neither embarrassed nor ashamed. If anything, they seem happy about it. Even celebratory.

Makes me want to play a little ball, myself.

Hat tip: Daily Dish.

TGIF: Let's Stay Together

2007-07-20T01:33:00.000-04:00

The great Rev. Al Greene opens his heart.

College Republicans: The Future of Ambivalent Sexuality

2007-07-19T02:14:00.000-04:00

Max Blumenthal has a not-necessarily-enlightening video on HuffingtonPost detailing his infiltration of a College Republican conference in DC. The kids, of course, hang themselves on their own blind idiocy. Blumenthal, of course, makes a scene and gets thrown out. And crimes against logic rule the day.

However, there are three moments of sheer lunacy so utterly amazing and downright ~~sad~~ ~~scary~~ hilarious that it's worth sitting through the rest of the Michael Moore-isms.

In the first, old standby Tom Delay hits two liberal birds with one sharp conservative stone:

I content [abortion] affects you in immigration. If we had those 40 million children that were killed over the last 40 years we wouldn't need illegal immigrants to fill those jobs...Think about it.

In second, some poor misguided kid says the he wouldn't enlist because he might become "like a really good speaker and stuff like that." (Too many jokes. Brain about to explode.)

Finally, the same really good public speaker discusses conservatives' ongoing problems with gays--by first grudgingly admitting that we are citizens, and then by going off on a wild, probably unintential aside:

Everybody in their life has had [pause] inclinations [long pause] toward the [very long pause] um, same sex.

You can almost hear the disco in his panicked, twitchy speech. And it only gets worse. And my worse, I mean excellent.

Is This the World's Shortest Concert?

2007-07-19T01:37:00.000-04:00

The White Stripes demonstrate that punk isn't dead, it just has something else to do.

My First Time

2007-07-19T01:30:00.000-04:00

Earlier this week, for the first time ever, I threw a book in the trash.

I was standing on the platform at the Mt. Vernon Square Metro station, reading Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers. I'd been reading it for the last four days, and for those four days, the book had been pissing me off. But when I got to the point where Dubois, Heinlein's stand-in, began to deride the decadencies of twentieth century democracy--for more than 10 pages--I gave up.

Turns out, I could take the endless philosophical debates. I could take the fascistic utopia crap. And I could (barely) stomach the straw men arguments he used to prop up his militaristic house of cards. But all three? C'mon. I'm 44 years old. I don't have time to waste.

Besides, I've never had the patience for the brittle libertarianism common among the most devoted SF fans.

Survey says: Mean, boring, and wrong. Verdict: Compost.

Insult of the Day

2007-07-19T01:20:00.000-04:00

A twofer for the advertising campaign for a movie--I think--about a sheep, a daughter, and a lawyer. Hey, that's what the poster says.

From Variety:

It looks like it was designed by a Bollywood crack-addict.

And from Defamer:

the work of a criminally insane graphic designing hopeful who procrastinated too log before getting started on the final project for his prison's occupational Potoshop-therapy class, but, really, that would be splitting hairs.

Take your pick.

Don't Believe Anything You See

2007-07-18T01:21:00.000-04:00

For the low, low price of $10,000, Jezebel.com was able to get hold of an un-retouched photograph of Faith Hill that was--not surprisingly--modified before it appeared on the July Redbook cover. What was surprising: How heavily and needlessly extravagant the Photoshopping was.

Everyone knows about line smoothing and eye brightening. But moving hands, reducing an arm's width by half, reshaping someone's entire head?

Jezebel gets to the heart of the matter. And hilariously, too. Key quote:

3. THOSE CHEEKS: What exactly do you think she's hoarding in there? Snacks to get her through Ramadan? And boy could bitch take a little time out on that deviated septum...

Back of the Bin: Homosapien

2007-07-18T01:09:00.000-04:00

I'm the shy boy/You're the coy boy/And you know we're/Homosapien, too.

How Did I Miss This: The Tolerability Index

2007-07-17T02:46:00.000-04:00

From The AV Club, a "guide to what we're barely putting up with this week." Best entry? The Oprah Store, for sure:

Likely inventory: Angel pins, O mugs, Secret keychains, "good" sweatpants, and anything else middle-aged depression would sell if it were a store.

Ooooooh. Snap!

Discarded

2007-07-17T02:18:00.000-04:00

Discarded is a series of photographs of a streetscape art project from the Australian blog City Traces. According to the author:

This work will explore the idea that the marks on the pavement and the minutiae found in the streets can tell you where you are and provide clues for deciphering the narratives of the cultural terrain.

So very cool.

100% Guaranteed Overheard: Rumors

2007-07-17T02:09:00.000-04:00

At the Dupont Circle CVS, as "You Make Loving Fun" plays on the PA system.

Old Clerk: What is it? This Juice Newton, or something?

Young Clerk: [shrugs]

Me: It's Fleetwood Mac

Old Clerk: This isn't Stevie Nicks.

Me: It's Christine McVie.

Old Clerk: They have two singers?

Me: Three singers. Lindsey Buckingham is the other one.

Old Clerk: Ohhhh.

Young Clerk: [smirking] He told you!

For more eavesdropping fun, check out Overheard in New York.

Top Ten Japanese Gay Salaryman Porn Titles

2007-07-16T01:38:00.000-04:00

These were taken from a Japanese gay "salaryman" porn video site, and are 100% guaranteed true.

I was laughing so hard I could barely finish my order.

10. Nonconsultation Day
09. One Night Standing
08. Bald & Dauntless
07. Uncontrolled Fruits
06. Spout ! Business Man
05. Triangular Sex Struggle
04. Pork Buns
03. Miserable Chubby Guy
02. Hankering for Cock

And the #1 Japanese gay salaryman porn video title is ... Full of Ass

All My Friends

2007-07-16T01:16:00.000-04:00

Check out this article on Slate about LCD Soundsystem's song "All My Friends." The song--like every song on Sound of Silver--is fantastic. Like Talking Heads channeling the best drum & bass around. And I have a special place in my heart for anyone who can so devastatingly capture the melancholy of the aging cool guy. (For the serious fans, Franz Ferdinand has released a cover of the song that really does take the piss from New Order.)

Fanboy Ecstasy

2007-07-16T00:49:00.000-04:00

J.J. Abrams Cloverfield phenomenon has mushroomed out of control. It's everywhere, even on VH1--the channel for shortbus hipsters to lazy too actually be cool. If you haven't seen the trailer, it's here. And don't forget the weird/dumb movie website with the moveable photos. Do a Google search if you want to see theories, fake websites, predictions, parodies, et al. Survey says: Fanboy wet dream.

David Duchoveny claims there is a second X-Files movie in the works. Please, let it be so. And please, let it not suck.

Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! was broadcast on the TCM cable channel last week. Outstanding. Even better was the post-movie chat between Robert Osborne and Tod Oldham. Hilarious--especially Osborne's face when Oldham compared the Russ Meyer gem to Citizen Kane with nary a whisper of irony.

Back of the Bin: Oblivious

2007-07-13T05:35:00.000-04:00

"They call us lonely, when we're really just alone."

I'm Back

2007-07-13T01:00:00.000-04:00

What I learned while I was away:

One can actually spend four hours playing with a cell phone.
Some modern pop music truly is the sound of hope dying.
Some babies don't like fireworks; other babies HATE fireworks.
South Carolina is full of freaky, freaky people.
I have a knack for picking and selling antiques.

The Fanboys (and Girls)

2007-07-13T00:26:00.000-04:00

Photographer Robbie Cooper matches gamers with their online avatars in this weird and provocative slideshow. Yes, it's been linked everywhere for weeks. But it fascinates me and I keep coming back to it. Color me jealous.

Bon Voyage

2007-07-03T17:41:00.000-04:00

I will be on travel for a few days, riding the rails to go visit the old lady. This here little ol' blog may get a few cobwebs on it, if I can't figure out a way to get to Blogger from Myrtle Beach.

But I'll be back eventually.

Stay tuned.

Chim Chim's Revenge

2007-07-03T11:13:00.000-04:00

Defamer is always funny, but every single line in today's report of a chimpanzee attack on the set of Speed Racer had me clutching the pearls. In a good way. Key quote:

The 15 milligrams of injectable "rest" administered to the ornery chimp proved so successful, producers ultimately decided to give the newly docile actor a second chance. It's a decision they may wind up regretting, should horrified crew members find themselves fishing Spritle's mangled body from the Mach Five's trunk, only to discover a blood-drench Chim-Chim emerging from the shadows a moment later, delivering a dead-eyed stare that all but gloats, "The bite was your warning, humans. Spritle didn't have to die."

Insult of the Day

2007-07-03T07:23:00.000-04:00

From Bob Cesca's Huffington Post column on Scooter Libby's pardon backdoor exit:

"...the same set of googly-eyed Cotton Mathers wanted President Clinton at least impeached and, at most, castrated after he was caught lying to a grand jury about oral sex."

Cotton Mather...an obscure but accurate blast from the past, elevated by "googly-eyed" into the stratosphere. One can almost imagine James Dobson in his modest black wool carrying a torch to the pyre.

3 stars out of 5.

The Social Network Tango

2007-07-03T06:14:00.000-04:00

I'm not much of joiner. I don't belong to any clubs. I don't do organized volunteering. I've only rarely been involved in any kind of professionial organization. I never even liked the chatrooms when I subscribed to AOL. So this social networking gig is like pulling hair.

But I'm forcing myself to do it, both as research for work and, frankly, because it's not healthy to be a hermit. I've signed up for Facebook already. This weekend, I joined Linked In. I hope to find a few others to jump into--such as Change.org.

Already I've noticed a few interesting things about these spaces. The relationships these sites foster really are different. Specifically, they spend enormous energy to support, encourage, maintain, and grow very tenuous connections. These are the "friends of my mom's boss" kind of connections.

In the old days, we'd relegated those people to our contacts file or Christmas card list. Now they can be right in front of your face, all the time, any time. Just like real friends. Only this is a new kind of friendship. Perhaps a better description would be "deep acquaintances" or "close contacts."

I'm not the first to notice this. But it's new to me. And like new boots, it's gonna take some time to get use to it before I can kick ass.

Interestingly enough, when I search for old friends or school friends on these networks, I find none. Birds of a feather, guess...

Reflected Glory

2007-07-02T18:39:00.000-04:00

This is me, walking back from lunch today, captured in the shiny finished of a parked car. Why can't everyday be as bright and clean and blue as today?

Insult of the Day

2007-07-02T01:30:00.000-04:00

From Gawker Stalker, about a sighting of Average Joe Adam Mesh and his two female companions.

"[I] told him he "wasn't average to me" and he said "thanks." Was hanging out with two girls, one of whom had a discount nosejob but an expensive bag.

Nose job snobbery + hot bag envy = loving it (divided by a itsy bitsy bit of loathing).

3 stars out of 5.

A Pic, A Tick, and a Flick

2007-07-01T14:41:00.000-04:00

Went to Tony's yesterday for a no-brainer Saturday: take a few photos, grab some dinner, then play Wii-version of Resident Evil 4 until we passed out from video-game-induced stress. After a late start (thank you so much, nap fairies!) we tooled around Sterling, Virginia, looking for inspiration. That didn't work out so well, so we just pulled into a parking lot near a field to capture the low sun. It was perfect. Except for the fat, black tick I found on my leg. Cue phobia!

We hightailed it to dinner, where Tony captured the lovely photo above, among others that may see the light of blog sometime. Or maybe not. Junk food and camera phones turned out to be more fun than expected.

Back at his place we fired up the Wii after David, the third leg of our tripod of destruction, showed up. The game was awesomely fun. In fact, zombies + Wii = fun. And what did we learn from this educational experience? If a friend says "Don't jump out the window!", jump anyway. And if the online guide says "Shoot the old woman!", just don't.

Extra Virgin After Two Cocktails

2007-06-30T13:43:00.000-04:00

Facebook

2007-06-30T13:34:00.001-04:00

So I've signed up for FaceBook and spent a fair amount of time exploring. To quote a co-worker: I'm still not sure why this is fun. Maybe one day, I'll have a FaceBook epiphany. Until then, it's in the "research for work" category.

If you want to find me and manage to do so, give me a poke.

Update: Masters of Horror

2007-06-29T01:57:00.000-04:00

A few days ago, I provided a tepid review of the Masters of Horror television series on Showtime. I stand by that post. However, I just watched Joe Dante's second season entry, "The Screwfly Solution", and must say it bordered on genius. In fact, I'd say it was fantastic until the surprise ending, which--though cool and appropriate for the genre--sort of demoted the movie into just another SF narrative. For most episodes, that would be step up. But Dante is showing that maybe the limitations of the small screen are just what he needs. His first season show "Homecoming" is still the best so far.

His latest episode did include the single creepiest image in the entire series: A billboard of a woman in a bathing suit vandalized to look like she's wearing a burka. In the context of the plot, it was shocking in that it's not entirely unbelievable for our red state brothers.

Finally, if the masters are too scary for you, check this: The Amateurs of Horror and their tale of Douglas the Zombie.

Last Night

2007-06-29T01:32:00.000-04:00

The usual suspects and I went into deepest Virginia to see The Witches of Eastwick at Signature Theatre. I'm no expert, but this seemed like just another mediocre musical to me. The songs were well sung, but unmemorable. And our front-row seats let us see all the cracks and seams in the productions. Surprising for the usually top-notch Signature. At least it had corny effects (like flying) and multiple crotch grabs.

Dinner at Xtra Virgin was also just OK, and only elevated to great heights by our unstable waiter who performed tricks, such as blaming others for his mistakes and trying to pour a martini from one glass to another--very, very badly. The saving grace: A live girl singer performing Pink Floyd's "Breathe" on acoustic guitar. The coup de grâce: A dense and warm chocolate and almond cake that was so comforting and delicious I want furniture made out of it.

Insult of the Day

2007-06-29T01:26:00.000-04:00

From Defamer's story about Robin William's antics on the Today Show and his complete lack of blow in his blood:

"It's a vivid reminder that one needn't partake in drugs and alcohol to make a prolific amount of comedy--though they do tend to help immensely in making it seem funny."

Sooooo mean, making fun of someone's addiction.

Four stars out of five.

Back of the Bin: Prefab Sprout's "Looking for Atlantis"

2007-06-29T01:16:00.000-04:00

"If you're looking for Atlantis, you should cast your eye on me." Produced by the estimable Thomas Dolby in 1990, this helped me get through my last semester of college.

PostSecret Asshole

2007-06-29T00:27:00.000-04:00

I've read a lot of sad, creepy, and heartbreakings posts on PostSecret, but this is the only one that's made me physically sick.

Someone seriously needs to have his or her ass whipped.

Why the iPhone Matters

2007-06-28T03:14:00.000-04:00

I'm already a fan. Farhad Manjoo explains why you should be, too.

"We all have phones and iPods, but the portable Internet is a fairy tale every tech company has been laboring to realize for a long while. So far, we've got nothing very great. The best portable Internet app is e-mail on a BlackBerry, and it feels stunted compared with what you get on a full machine.

Apple says the iPhone will give us the Internet on the go -- and because Apple has a vaunted history of making good on big claims about consumer technology, it's wise to take it seriously."

Update: Check out a video blog of the iPhone line in Manhattan. The feed stopped at 10:39 AM, so we don't, in fact, get to see any hipsters trampled in the bumrush for the door.

A Long Time Ago, Indeed

2007-06-28T01:56:00.000-04:00

Marvel to the wonderful musical stylings of The Borden Family, a swell gang of Canadians whose 1980 album Good Times sounds like the Charlie's Angels band playing drunk at the airport Holiday Inn. And that a good thing. From the liner notes:

"GOOD TIMES...with a variety of good music (from Polkas & Waltzes to Rock & Roll) have been the key to the success of the "BORDENS", a versatile family dance band..."

Here's their version of the Theme From Star Wars. Where's my mai tai? Gotta light?

Hat tip: Boing Boing.

Insult of the Day

2007-06-28T01:39:00.000-04:00

From HuffPo blogger Steve Young, in a letter ostensibly written by Satan, himself:

"But I guess there comes a time for everyone to dig deep, take a good long look at their body of work and examine its value. So it is that I need to apologize for the existence of Ann Coulter. Quite frankly, I don't know what I was thinking."

Subtle, in a college composition class kind of way. (Later, he compares her to a turd, in more of a junior high school bong hit kind of way.)

Three stars out of five.

Jazz Thursday: Do I Love You?

2007-06-28T01:26:00.000-04:00

From the great, great Cole Porter, as sung by Aztec Camera.

Under Your Spell

2007-06-28T01:05:00.000-04:00

How excited am I? The Avalon Theatre is hosting an audience sing-a-long for the one, the only, the Buffy musical on July 20 and 21.

For those of you who don't know, "Once More With Feeling," the musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, is possibly one of the best hours of television ever broadcast in America. To be able to see it again, with a crowd of BTVS nerds will be--what is the word?--H-E-A-V-E-N.

But I'm not wearing a costume. Probably.

Hat tip: DCist.

A Photo or Two

2007-06-27T02:18:00.000-04:00

My friend Tony is an accomplished photographer who's been moving from traditional landscapes and portraits into more "abstract" territory recently. (I had to use quotes because my photography instructor said that a photograph, because it's a representation of the real world, can never be truly abstract. Oh, whatever.)

Call them what you will, these pics are awesome.

Insult of the Day

2007-06-27T01:50:00.000-04:00

OK. This is complicated. From KarenUhOh via Gawker about The New Republic publisher Marty Peretz. Peretz apparently promised that the new biweekly version of TNR would be 80 pages, but only delivered 56. And blah, blah, Zzzzzzz...

"Marty Peretz? I wouldn't know the man if he was in the stall next to me. My guess is he's about a 40-page douchebag."

Hmmmmm. Perhaps this one probably wasn't worth even the Ctrl-C. But the phrase "40-page douchebag" is one for the ages. Whatever it means.

Two stars out of five.

Back of the Bin: Red Guitar

2007-06-27T01:44:00.000-04:00

Here's former Japan frontman, David Sylvian, with his New Wave jazz gem Red Guitar. In this beautifully angular song we can hear Sylvian moving away from the pop glam stylings of Japan and catch hints of his high-art ambitions. Songs such as Red Guitar may sound self-conscious to some. You say self-conscious, I say deliberate.

Speaking of which, the video, by filmaker Anton Corbijn, references the images and techniques of highly influential surrealist photographer Angus McBean, who also has an appearance in the film. Historical footnote: McBean, like so many men of his generation, was imprisioned for several years in England for admirable crime of homosexuality.

Zombie Apocalypse Update

2007-06-27T01:24:00.000-04:00

Tony shared the zombie quiz with his office mates and all--ALL--have a better chance of surviving than I. True, they own guns and are ruthless in the way only computer programmers can be. But I am a zombie movie freak. Certifiable. You'd think all those hours spent in the dark watching the living dead would give me at least one leg up. Maybe two.

Why Bladerunner FX Still Rock

2007-06-26T12:04:00.000-04:00

Mythbuster Adam Savage explains why the special effects in the 25-year-old Bladerunner are still unsurpassed. Key quote:

But they did all of these effects in camera, which even back then was a much more complex way to execute them. The key to this is a motion-control camera — a smart robot, basically — that moves through the city on the same track, over and over again. It's accurate to within a couple thousandths of an inch. They did separate passes, rewinding the film each time and then re-exposing it to add each new element. So they did one pass for the lights on a building, another for the video projection, then a pass for the rain lighting and so on — as many as 16 passes in some cases.

I think part of what Savage is getting at in this article isn't that Bladerunner's FX are perfect. They aren't. But that these non-CGI effects capture something perfect that makes the movie better. That is, their very nature creates a mood; the medium helps the message.

Modern CGI effects approach and often attain complete photorealism. But they really only work when they are completely invisible or retain some kind of Hollywood dreaminess--for example, the Lord of the Rings. But when the fantastical is reduced to mere reality--the latest Star Wars trilogy, the Harry Potter movies, the new Transformers--the most expensive effects in the world become not so very special after all.

Could You Survive a Zombie Apocalypse?

2007-06-26T05:50:00.000-04:00

39%
Clearly, I'd have difficulty. Discover your own chances of survival here.

(BTW, this link takes you to Mingle2.com, an online dating site. Which may be scarier than having a zombie eat your face off. Just saying.)

Time Capsule Tuesdays: Schoolhouse Rocks

2007-06-26T05:31:00.000-04:00

Schoolhouse Rocks is pretty much played out nowadays, thanks to all you lame hipsters out there. But when I was young, these cartoons really resonated. I remember sitting at my grandmother's house and at school watching and singing these songs. That's how ubiquitous they were. And while singing never helped my multiplication tables, the segment explaining how a bill becomes a law actually taught me something useful. Take that, Sunday School!

I'm posting Three Is a Magic Number for no other reason than the line "A man and a woman had a little baby. They had three in the family." My parents were divorced by this time, I had two brothers, and even then was super gay. So this song became one of my first clues that 1) the media lies, and 2) the expressed culture doesn't always reflect the actual culture. Fuckers.

Insult of the Day

2007-06-26T00:58:00.000-04:00

Matt Taibbi in Rolling Stone:

Bush was really not much of a Republican at all – more like a retarded Christian AA version of Woodrow Wilson.

He's not really trying very hard here, but we like where he's going with this.

Three stars out of five.

Hat tip: Daily Dish.

Superstar

2007-06-25T16:04:00.000-04:00

Since we seem to be in a 70's kind of mood today, here's Sonic Youth's cover of Superstar, the Carpenters weepie from '71. This particular meeting of the minds creates some exquisite dislocation, and bumps the Carpenters' ever-present creepiness to the forefront. SY thankfully drains the original's sappiness, only to reprocess it into yummy pop syrup!

Vice-President for Torture

2007-06-25T15:27:00.000-04:00

I'm a big Andrew Sullivan fan. Even when he's wrong. His persistent defense of our country's moral obligation not to torture--yes, that's right, we shouldn't torture--is only one of many reasons this man should be read everyday by every thinking American.

A fine example:

...it is a doctrine completely toxic to democratic self-government and to the entire principle of a president obedient to the rule of law. It is tyranny - enabled by lawyers. It is really stunning in retrospect how adamant Cheney is on this, and how utterly contemptuous of public and world opinion he is. It is almost as if torture is his primary weapon in the war. You get the distinct sense that, in wartime, he finds democracy itself repugnant. The feeling, Mr Vice-president, is mutual.

Blog Update

2007-06-25T15:10:00.000-04:00

My ongoing feature Insult of the Week has become Insult of the Day. The first post in this new format is below.

Q: Why the change?

A: Visitors like this feature.

Q: Why do people like it?

A: Because they are mean.

And If You Need More Beards

2007-06-25T09:36:00.000-04:00

You can go to Beards.org, your online guide to everything--and I mean everything--beardy. Topics include how-to's, photo galleries, and even videos. Yes, videos. Of beards.

I found the beard style guide particularly handy, because I like to change up my whiskers often. Currently, I sport an "extended goatee." Wonder how a "chin curtain" would look?

Beardy Goodness

2007-06-25T02:39:00.000-04:00

Just finished watching one of VH1's catalog shows. This one listed the best/worst softrock songs of all time. Now, I could write for hours about the dumb irony of "so bad it's good" hipsterism, or the emptiness of creating any kind of dichotomy between "high" and "low" art. But what completely captivated me was all the hairy, bearded, groovy guys this show highlighted. Whether it was the guys from Orleans (Still the One, indeed) or Rupert Holmes (remember the Pina Colado Song?), it pulled me right back into the 70s, at the exact moment when my brain was ready to be imprinted with the concept of Hot Guy. All I need now is a Camero, a fu manchu stache, and tight flares. Grrrrrr.

BTW, one of the commenters for this particular VH1 show was JD Ryznar, one of the writers/actors on Acceptable TV. He and several of his peers on Acceptable TV are equally beardy and slobby, in that almost-trying-too-hard hipster way. The show is just passable. The men are hairy nerds. Again, grrrr.

Insult of the Week Day

2007-06-25T02:26:00.000-04:00

From the Guardian's "Sgt. Pepper Must Die!," a series of interviews with rock celebrities slamming the most overrated albums ever. Here's Billy Childish, "prime mover of British garage rock," dishing Sgt. Pepper.

It sounds like it took six months to shit out. The Beatles were the victims of their success. This is middle-of-the-road rock music for plumbers. Or people who drive round in Citroens - the sort of corporate hippies who ruined rock music.

Me-OUCH! Of course, it would have more bite if anyone knew who the fuck Billy Childish is.
Two stars our of five.

The Cuddly Menace

2007-06-24T11:47:00.000-04:00

While reviewing old IE bookmarks and letting fate take me where it will, I found this: A remix of a kids' book--My Little Golden Book About God--with a Scientology-worthy tale of invasion and control. Or as the author tells it

...a primer for the parasitic offspring of an invisible invasion! For the safety of our race (if any still remain) I have translated this book in the hopes that a resistance may arise. Read the baby powder scented Final Solution of our enemies from beyond...

Party Down

2007-06-23T23:22:00.001-04:00

The husband and I went to a swell neighborhood cookout tonight. The weather could not have been nicer. We met some great guys and gals. Ate a million little brownies--thank you, Costco! Had one margarita. Got one mosquito bite. And only had to walk across the street to get some. Survey says: Perfection!

Over 90 Online Photography Tools and Resources

2007-06-23T14:36:00.000-04:00

This amazing list includes online photo editors, how-to blogs, image storage sites, and lots more. Some of the sites are well known--any one heard of Picassa? But others, like the mobile device sharing sites, are news to me. I guess I know what I'm going to be spending my Sunday doing.

Hat tip: Mashable.com.

What's in a New Name?

2007-06-23T10:34:00.000-04:00

People have trouble with the name of this site. That was semi-intentional on my part. But after spelling "ecstatic" for the 300th time, I'm wondering if I took a wrong turn somewhere in URLville.

A co-worker, who's a much better writer than I, suggested that I call this blog GayCatsOnTV.com. Accurate and has a nice, generic ring to it, likes Snakes on a Plane. When I typed "gay" and "cat" into domain name generator NameBoy.com, it delivered some other ideas--such as HomoCat (so angry), GotGay (very aspirational), and GayestCat (too conceited).

Perhaps I should just stick to the devil I know. (Now, that's a great name for a blog!)

This Never Gets Old

2007-06-22T20:59:00.001-04:00

If Microsoft designed the iPod. Be sure the sound is turned on, for full snark.

The Storker Project

2007-06-22T20:52:00.001-04:00

Artist Mark Jenkins shows off his tape babies in DC, etc. Funny, creepy, and sad--at the same time.

Photography Banned in Rockville, Maryland

2007-06-22T20:39:00.000-04:00

Still not convinced that creeping corporatism is a cancer? Read this. Then visit and take a picture.

Last Night, Just Before the Rain

2007-06-22T13:41:00.001-04:00

Masters of Horror

2007-06-22T12:55:00.000-04:00

I've been a fan of horror movies since I crept downstairs to watch Fantastic Voyage on my family's new color TV at the age of six. From that time on, I would watch anything, as long it was supposed to be scary or weird or gross. It's been a habit that's hard to break.

Showtime's Master of Horror series would seem to be right up my ally: A-list horror directors allowed to direct whatever they wanted with no restrictions. Except most aren't A-list directors. And there are restrictions. And most were only OK. So what went wrong?

Most of these guys are--unfortunately--past their prime. It happens to everyone. But those who work in the horror genre get hit especially hard. The empathy that comes with age really fucks with one's ability to be transgressive. For example, how many adults hit frogs with baseball bats? Why it that? Now you know why Land of the Dead lacks the bite of Dawn of the Dead.

Most of these guys need restrictions--of time, of budget, of talent--to be creative. Their best work lives in the cracks and subtext of their material. When you can do and show any and every thing, the mystery evaporates.

It is virtually impossible to be scary in one hour. Horror requires rhythm. Establishing rhythm in a hour takes a level of narrative skill these guys just don't have.

Still, some of these master still have the horror in them. Joe Dante's zombie satire Homecoming transcends as both a movie and political rant. Dario Argento heads into psychosexual territory, but ultimately pulls his punches in Jenifer. And Don Coscarelli of Phantasm fame almost hits a homerun with Incident on and off and Mountain Road--but monster design sinks this one fast.

The six-year-old in me hasn't given up. The 44-year-old, on the other hand, is keeping one finger on the remote.

BTW, one thing Masters of Horror does extremely well is start each episode with this inventive and creepy intro.

Architecture Porn

2007-06-21T13:05:00.001-04:00

I can't get enough of this website. If only I lived in Italy. And had a $billion. Sigh.

Jazz Thursday: Django Reinhardt, King of Gypsy Jazz

2007-06-21T10:48:00.000-04:00

Engineering Animated Model of 9/11 Attack

2007-06-21T10:42:00.000-04:00

This generates a weird mix of sadness and scientific curiosity. They don't sit together very comfortably.

Pet Peeves: Commuting

2007-06-21T05:33:00.000-04:00

DC is home to one of the world's best subway systems. Metro is clean, safe, accessible, and relatively affordable. It's also a simmering hellhole of billious pet peeves. Let me count the ways.

Left over body heat on seats and handrails. Unfortunately also often accompanied by leftover body grease.

Slow people, lost people, rude people. There's a theme developing.

People who stop moving at the end of the escalator. I've read books on crowd control! I know what can happen!

Chatty tourist kids. We're going into a tunnel. I know. I KNOW!

Sarcastic riders. Whatever.

Luke, I Am Your Father. Now Eat Your Peas.

2007-06-21T05:27:00.000-04:00

See a baby stroller turned into an Imperial death machine. Hat tip: Boing Boing.

DC Is Still Being Observed

2007-06-21T01:10:00.000-04:00

I promised to upload one image per day on my photoblog DC Observed. Unfortunately, work got in the way of that for a while. But I just caught up, adding the pics to the days I forsook. Thank you, amazing time machine!