Army Sgt. Conrad Alvarez, 22, of Big Spring, Texas; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.; died Feb. 20 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device on Feb. 19. Also killed were Cpl. Albert Bitton and Spc. Micheal B. Matlock Jr.
“Texas Soldier Among Three Killed In Iraq”
DALLAS — A West Texas soldier was one of three killed in Iraq from injuries suffered in an explosion this week, the Pentagon said.
Sgt. Conrad Alvarez, 22, of Big Spring, Texas, died Feb. 20, a day after being injured when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device in Baghdad.
His colleagues, Cpl. Albert Bitton, 20, of Chicago, and Spc. Micheal B. Matlock Jr., 21, of Glen Burniem, Md., also died.
All three were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.
Alvarez entered the Army in March 2005 and arrived at Fort Campbell in August 2005
He is survived by his wife, Maria, of Oak Grove, Ky.; daughters Celeste and Alyssa, of Sweetwater; his mother, Belinda Alcala, of Big Spring and his father, Arthur.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
What I'm Watching #139
"Fun Down There" is the story of a young gay man who runs away from home to find himself in the epicenter of gaydom -- New York City.
Filmed in 1988, it has sincerity on its side. Not much else. Shame, really. Another in a recent string of films destined for limited viewing in GLBT film classes.
Get college credit before investing in this one.
Filmed in 1988, it has sincerity on its side. Not much else. Shame, really. Another in a recent string of films destined for limited viewing in GLBT film classes.
Get college credit before investing in this one.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Ecco Homo
I chanced upon this photo and then forgot the details.... I know it's a photo of two members of the German Synchronized Diving Team.
And it's so much more. The moment captures a composition as powerful and as beautifully balanced as any classical work of art. Move over Mona Lisa, scooch to the right David....
And it's so much more. The moment captures a composition as powerful and as beautifully balanced as any classical work of art. Move over Mona Lisa, scooch to the right David....
What I'm Watching #138
WTC View is a play about the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attack on NYC. It's a play that was turned into a movie with the same cast and wonderful integrity.
It'll make you cry, make you think....
More than worth the time.
It'll make you cry, make you think....
More than worth the time.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Moon Struck
Two amazing images of the recent Total Lunar Eclipse.
Notice the jetliner in the bottom photo.
Notice the jetliner in the bottom photo.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
What I'm Watching #137
A delightful way to spend a quiet and gloomy Saturday afternoon! Micky Rooney is a treasure.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Lego Factory Series #1
You know I've loved Legos ever since my distant cousin gave me his bricks back in 1968! And like Lego, I've come a long way since then.
As a company, Lego divides it's models into series, and recently they introduced a new series of hyper detailed models of classic buildings called the "Factory" series. The models are modular and so you can buy more than one and extend the height/width of the original model to fit your needs.
This image shows the result of combining multiple models of the Hotel (center), Market Street (right), and my own creation (left).
More pics to follow!
As a company, Lego divides it's models into series, and recently they introduced a new series of hyper detailed models of classic buildings called the "Factory" series. The models are modular and so you can buy more than one and extend the height/width of the original model to fit your needs.
This image shows the result of combining multiple models of the Hotel (center), Market Street (right), and my own creation (left).
More pics to follow!
Lego Factory Series #2
This is a close-up of the street "Lego Factory" built. The photo's quality is limited, but you can clearly see that there is a tremendous attention given to architectual details.
Lego Factory Series #3
This image shows the hotel with my construction. It gives a scale perspective of the 2 models.
Lego Factory Series #4
So this is my offering, standing alone. Constructed in the same fashion as the other factory models. It is modular in 4 pieces. The design is derivative of the embassies up on Massachusetts and New Hampshire Avenues in Washington, D.C.
There's a way to upload designs on the Lego site. If I can find the time, I would like to do that.
There's a way to upload designs on the Lego site. If I can find the time, I would like to do that.
Viva la Vida Cubano!
Looks like things might finally be changing in Cuba. Here's a little appreciation for the vitality, tenacity and sensuality of the Cuban people!
AiA Has A Sense Of Humor
Well, probably not. But it is an interesting choice for the cover: Richard Prince, "Best Man".
The text reads: "I went to a wedding at a nudest colony. It was easy to see who was the best man."
The text reads: "I went to a wedding at a nudest colony. It was easy to see who was the best man."
Monday, February 18, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Art I'm Seeing #28
Went down to the Corcoran Gallery of Art in DC this morning specifically to see the three piece retrospective of video portraits by Jeremy Blake. Blake was actually a native of my adopted town of residence, Takoma Park.
His works run about 15 minutes a piece and consist of a continually morphing montage of images (both collage and drawn) with audio accompaniment both musical and narrative. The narration is provided by the videos' subjects. The works are lush and mesmerizing.
knowning that Blake committed suicide this past June, also lent an air of hallowed mystery to the venue--a large blackened gallery illuminated only by the reflected psychodelic splashes of color from the three huge screenings. Headphones were provided to allow viewers to listen to each work in turn.
At the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. through March 2nd.
His works run about 15 minutes a piece and consist of a continually morphing montage of images (both collage and drawn) with audio accompaniment both musical and narrative. The narration is provided by the videos' subjects. The works are lush and mesmerizing.
knowning that Blake committed suicide this past June, also lent an air of hallowed mystery to the venue--a large blackened gallery illuminated only by the reflected psychodelic splashes of color from the three huge screenings. Headphones were provided to allow viewers to listen to each work in turn.
At the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. through March 2nd.
Man O Man!
Now we've really done it! We (meaning humankind) have taken a geological process, one that usually takes tens of millions of years and involves the formation of fossils, bands of sedimentary rocks, etc., and we've reduced it to a mere 10,000 years! What am I speaking about? The creation of a new Epoch, of course. The Anthropocene Epoch to be exact.
It seems that we've chopped the present Holocene Epoch off at the sprout. And here's why:
Among the major changes heralding this two-century-old man-made epoch:
• Vastly altered sediment erosion and deposition patterns.
• Major disturbances to the carbon cycle and global temperature.
• Wholesale changes in biology, from altered flowering times to new migration patterns.
• Acidification of the ocean, which threatens tiny marine life that forms the bottom of the food chain.
Researchers at the University of Leicester, U.K. and the Geological Society of London based their conclusions on the work of Nobel Prize-winning chemist Paul Crutzen.
A google search on this one will yield lots of interesting reading.
It seems that we've chopped the present Holocene Epoch off at the sprout. And here's why:
Among the major changes heralding this two-century-old man-made epoch:
• Vastly altered sediment erosion and deposition patterns.
• Major disturbances to the carbon cycle and global temperature.
• Wholesale changes in biology, from altered flowering times to new migration patterns.
• Acidification of the ocean, which threatens tiny marine life that forms the bottom of the food chain.
Researchers at the University of Leicester, U.K. and the Geological Society of London based their conclusions on the work of Nobel Prize-winning chemist Paul Crutzen.
A google search on this one will yield lots of interesting reading.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
The Only Gay In The Village
After my most recent movie review with the nympho, hypocritical Anglican priest's wife, I recalled another presentation of modern day Anglicans. This from the popular sketch comedy troupe "Little Britain".
Online Videos by Veoh.com
Online Videos by Veoh.com
Friday, February 15, 2008
What I'm Watching #136
I bought this movie out of curiosity for the performance of Rupert Grunt, and respect for the quality of Laura Linney's ouvre. It's an odd, interesting little film. Rupert plays a plausible drowned puppy, and Linney must have enjoyed her role as an adulterous, evangelical, nymphomaniacal, Anglican priest's wife who helps the poor and betrays the trust of her son and husband because the Lord told her to. Who wouldn't?
Catch if you can, but don't feel compelled to go out of your way....
Catch if you can, but don't feel compelled to go out of your way....
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
What I'm Watching #135
"Dangerous Living: Coming Out In The Developing World" is a 60 minute documentary that wraps its narrative around the arrest and prosecution of 52 men in Egypt who were discovered doing nothing more provocative than dancing together on a night club boat on the Nile. From there you meet and waltz your way through the lives of activists from India, Pakistan, Hondurous, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and members of the Egyptian persecution.
It's smart, factual, thought-provoking, and poignant. And you'll learn and thing of two, too. What better way to spend an hour?
It's smart, factual, thought-provoking, and poignant. And you'll learn and thing of two, too. What better way to spend an hour?
Random Quote #85
"Just living is not enough...One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower."
~ Hans Christian Anderson, 1805 - 1875
~ Hans Christian Anderson, 1805 - 1875
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