From the cover the New Yorker to you!
More Treats than tricks come your way this evening of ghoulish fun.
Happy Halloween!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Late Week Poem
THE STUD
He had worked out at Gold’s Gym
until he could bench-press 450 pounds.
He walked around the machine shop
waving a 50-pound lead hammer above his head
with one hand,
and his hammer blows
echoed off the machine shop walls
like gunshots.
Then he started talking
about how much he liked to fuck
his boyfriend.
For the first time in the machine shop’s 20-year history,
no one was telling any faggot jokes.
~ Fred Voss, 1963 -
He had worked out at Gold’s Gym
until he could bench-press 450 pounds.
He walked around the machine shop
waving a 50-pound lead hammer above his head
with one hand,
and his hammer blows
echoed off the machine shop walls
like gunshots.
Then he started talking
about how much he liked to fuck
his boyfriend.
For the first time in the machine shop’s 20-year history,
no one was telling any faggot jokes.
~ Fred Voss, 1963 -
Monday, October 27, 2008
On The Campaign Trail #03
Both candidates held rallies in Rocky Mountain swing states this past weekend. In Albuquerque, McCain drew an enthusiastic crowd of 1,500 supports, while later that same day, Obama spoke before 50,000!
That evening McCain inspired another rousing crowd of 4,000 in Denver. The next morning Obama spoke before the largest crowd of his amazing, record setting campaign in Denver as 125,000+ people showed up to hear his speech. And as if that weren't enough, Obama held a second rally in Fort Collins that evening for 50,000!
That's conservative, evangelical, white centric Fort Collins! Take that James Dobson!
That evening McCain inspired another rousing crowd of 4,000 in Denver. The next morning Obama spoke before the largest crowd of his amazing, record setting campaign in Denver as 125,000+ people showed up to hear his speech. And as if that weren't enough, Obama held a second rally in Fort Collins that evening for 50,000!
That's conservative, evangelical, white centric Fort Collins! Take that James Dobson!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Random Quote #95
"If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly, our whole life would change."
~ Siddhartha Gautama. 563 BCE - 483 BCE
[The Buddha in my backyard this morning flanked by the glow of the fading "Jacob's Ladders")
~ Siddhartha Gautama. 563 BCE - 483 BCE
[The Buddha in my backyard this morning flanked by the glow of the fading "Jacob's Ladders")
What I'm Watching #171
"J'ai Rêvé Sous L'eau" is a really intense French film. The story of Antonin who's life is thrown into utter chaos after his best friend OD's on Heroine. He first tries to destroy himself through prostitution, but in time discovers an inner strength that drives him into and back into again two relationships. Juillette and Baptiste become two expressions of Antonin's love and desire.
Beautifully directed and sparingly written, Hormoz deserves a round of applause for his dream realized in this film.
Beautifully directed and sparingly written, Hormoz deserves a round of applause for his dream realized in this film.
Today's Sermon #2
WHEN I HEARD THE LEARN’D ASTRONOMER
When I heard the learn'd astronomer,
When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in
columns before me,
When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to
add, divide, and measure them,
When I sitting heard the astronomer where he
lectured with much applause in the lecture-
room,
How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick,
Till rising and gliding out I wander'd off by
myself,
In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to
time,
Look'd up in perfect silence at the stars.
~ Walt Whitman, 1819 - 1892
When I heard the learn'd astronomer,
When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in
columns before me,
When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to
add, divide, and measure them,
When I sitting heard the astronomer where he
lectured with much applause in the lecture-
room,
How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick,
Till rising and gliding out I wander'd off by
myself,
In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to
time,
Look'd up in perfect silence at the stars.
~ Walt Whitman, 1819 - 1892
Saturday, October 25, 2008
What I'm Watching #170
"29th & Gay" is another low-budget, one man brain-child of a semi-autobiographical nature. Said impetus James Vasquez, had the good sense not to play director, too. And so it is a "charming and witty" little film. At times, it was even funny, if a bit overplayed and slow at others. A nice film for a lazy, rainy autumn afternoon.
Presidential Race 2008 #19
The big story this week was the continued dropping in support for John McCain. It's a movement of momentum that has opened up double digit leads in Ohio and INDIANA, softened the northern tier of Montana and the Dakotas, and put Georgia into play. The latest pole from the peach state gave Obama a 1% point lead --well, within the margin of error, but a loss of 15% points for McCain and trend moving rapidly in the wrong direction for the Republican ticket in a state that was supposed to be a sure thing. 10 days and counting....
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Our Latest American Hero #126
Army Pfc. Heath K. Pickard, 21, of Palestine, Texas; assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Fort Wainwright, Alaska; died Oct. 16 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds sustained when he received indirect fire in Baqubah, Iraq.
"East Texas soldier killed in Iraq"
A 21-year-old soldier from Palestine, Texas is being remembered by friends and former teachers as someone who could be counted on and loved his job.
The Department of Defense said Tuesday that Pfc. Heath K. Pickard died Thursday in Balad of wounds suffered from indirect fire in Baqubah, Iraq.
“He was proud of where he was, his occupation with the military,” Frankston High School counselor Cindy Owens said in a story in Tuesday’s online edition of The Palestine Herald. “It was like he had finally gotten what he had worked for. He wanted a family, honor and respect and he had gotten that.”
Pickard graduated from Frankston High School in 2006. He played football and was a member of the marching band.
Jacob Whitehurst, who had known Pickard since age 5, said Pickard was someone who could be counted on. “He was always there,” Whitehurst said. “If you needed something, he would try. He really cared.”
Richard Hamilton, Frankston Middle School principal, said Pickard seemed to have his priorities in order on a recent visit home.
“It took him getting into the service to grow up, but after he grew up, the time he spent being a man was more than most people get in a lifetime because, to figure out why we’re here, he did it in a short period of time. I think that’s what I’ll always remember about Heath — he knew why he was here, he knew what was important in life and there’s a lot of folks who don’t figure that out their entire lives.”
"East Texas soldier killed in Iraq"
A 21-year-old soldier from Palestine, Texas is being remembered by friends and former teachers as someone who could be counted on and loved his job.
The Department of Defense said Tuesday that Pfc. Heath K. Pickard died Thursday in Balad of wounds suffered from indirect fire in Baqubah, Iraq.
“He was proud of where he was, his occupation with the military,” Frankston High School counselor Cindy Owens said in a story in Tuesday’s online edition of The Palestine Herald. “It was like he had finally gotten what he had worked for. He wanted a family, honor and respect and he had gotten that.”
Pickard graduated from Frankston High School in 2006. He played football and was a member of the marching band.
Jacob Whitehurst, who had known Pickard since age 5, said Pickard was someone who could be counted on. “He was always there,” Whitehurst said. “If you needed something, he would try. He really cared.”
Richard Hamilton, Frankston Middle School principal, said Pickard seemed to have his priorities in order on a recent visit home.
“It took him getting into the service to grow up, but after he grew up, the time he spent being a man was more than most people get in a lifetime because, to figure out why we’re here, he did it in a short period of time. I think that’s what I’ll always remember about Heath — he knew why he was here, he knew what was important in life and there’s a lot of folks who don’t figure that out their entire lives.”
Sunday, October 19, 2008
My 2 cents
In the waning days of this election cycle, and as a veritable Tsunami of democratic largess is swelling about us, I have some advice for the DCCC.
Doubtless they would care what I think. They are quick to beg me for money; like I need their wisdom to help me invest in a future of hope!
But be that as it is, IF I was given the opportunity to invest in House races in the final hours here are my top pics:
OH 01
OH 02
KY 02
IN 03
WA 08
CA 04
WY @LARGE
TX 22
MD 01
AND JUST TO MESS WITH THEIR HEADS
SC 01 & MD 06
Doubtless they would care what I think. They are quick to beg me for money; like I need their wisdom to help me invest in a future of hope!
But be that as it is, IF I was given the opportunity to invest in House races in the final hours here are my top pics:
OH 01
OH 02
KY 02
IN 03
WA 08
CA 04
WY @LARGE
TX 22
MD 01
AND JUST TO MESS WITH THEIR HEADS
SC 01 & MD 06
What I'm Watching #169
"When Beckham Met Owen" is a coming of age story from China. It tells the tail of 3 friends, Michael, David, and Winnie. The main focus is the friendship between Michael and David. Complicated on many levels, and throughly adolescent throughout, it hits a snag when Michael realizes that he is gay.
The actors portray characters ages 12 & 13, and amazingly enough--they themselves are 12 & 13. And that's the real charm of this beautiful film; although it's about very adult issues, it never forgets that it's young teens who are telling the tale. Their silliness, their pre-occupation with sex in a prankish way, their willingness to take risks, their deeply felt emotions that are show in their actions even though they haven't the words to explain themselves to one another or adults. The writer is to be highly commended, and Adam Wong makes a powerful impression with this, his feature film debut.
The shots are well planned, at times arranged like a well produced music video. Wong takes full advantage of time and setting to punctuate the ideas with metaphor. This was simply a delightful find.
The actors portray characters ages 12 & 13, and amazingly enough--they themselves are 12 & 13. And that's the real charm of this beautiful film; although it's about very adult issues, it never forgets that it's young teens who are telling the tale. Their silliness, their pre-occupation with sex in a prankish way, their willingness to take risks, their deeply felt emotions that are show in their actions even though they haven't the words to explain themselves to one another or adults. The writer is to be highly commended, and Adam Wong makes a powerful impression with this, his feature film debut.
The shots are well planned, at times arranged like a well produced music video. Wong takes full advantage of time and setting to punctuate the ideas with metaphor. This was simply a delightful find.
Random Quote #94
"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace."
~ Jimi Hendrix, 1942 - 1970
~ Jimi Hendrix, 1942 - 1970
Saturday, October 18, 2008
On The Campaign Trail #02
Another view of the 100,000 plus Americans who thronged St. Louis, Missouri to support Barack Obama. My heart is singing with HOPE, as audacious as that may be...
What I'm Watching #168
I first heard of this film at the 2003 Gay and Lesbian Film Festival in San Francisco. It was one of the featured movies, but I wasn't able to catch it. And so ever since, I've always known I would eventually see it.
It's the story (sort of) of members of the GLBT community of Olympia, Washington.
It's production values fail on every conceivable level -- but like a train wreck, I was unable to divert my attention. The actors aren't. The sound quality jumps across time and space with every change of the camera angle (I guess they only had one camera...or one tape record). The dialogue is preachy, stilted, unnatural, and at times non-sensical. The plot goes from somewhere completely irrelevant to nowhere in particular. Ideas and characters are introduced and then never heard from again.... a merciful omission to be sure.
At one point I remember crying out in my tortured boredom, "Please, God, someone have graphic sex!" And then, they did (or attempted to make it look like it). And I nearly fell into a coma.
And the inane, insipid, piano score and incidental music... OMG, I don't have the words to describe how wrong, wrong, WRONG it was!
Look, I've lost these 118 minutes of my life... For the love of all things Campy, don't make the same mistake! You've been warned.
It's the story (sort of) of members of the GLBT community of Olympia, Washington.
It's production values fail on every conceivable level -- but like a train wreck, I was unable to divert my attention. The actors aren't. The sound quality jumps across time and space with every change of the camera angle (I guess they only had one camera...or one tape record). The dialogue is preachy, stilted, unnatural, and at times non-sensical. The plot goes from somewhere completely irrelevant to nowhere in particular. Ideas and characters are introduced and then never heard from again.... a merciful omission to be sure.
At one point I remember crying out in my tortured boredom, "Please, God, someone have graphic sex!" And then, they did (or attempted to make it look like it). And I nearly fell into a coma.
And the inane, insipid, piano score and incidental music... OMG, I don't have the words to describe how wrong, wrong, WRONG it was!
Look, I've lost these 118 minutes of my life... For the love of all things Campy, don't make the same mistake! You've been warned.
On The Campaign Trail #01
How did you spend your Saturday morning? I tidied up the kitchen, raked some leaves, enjoyed a cup of coffee.
Both McCain and Obama where on the campaign trail. Both speaking before voters in battleground states. Both holding rallies. Both stumping for votes. Yet, inspite of the similarities there were differences. And it’s in the differences that you discover again why one candidate continues to rise in the polls and the other appears more angry and more desperate with each passing day.
McCain chose an enclosed venue with limited access. Obama spoke in an open air public park. McCain’s event required tickets, while Obama’s was free and open to everyone. McCain arrived in Concord, North Carolina to discover about 7,000 enthusiastic supporters awaiting his speech (the Carrabas Conference Facility & Events Center holds a capacity crowd of 7,480--more than any other venue in Carrabas County). Obama found himself presiding over a crowd of 100.000+ hopeful, excited supporters and potential supporters under the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri.
Do the math: 7,000 versus 100,000. It would appear that Americans are deciding in favor of the Audacity of Hope.
Both McCain and Obama where on the campaign trail. Both speaking before voters in battleground states. Both holding rallies. Both stumping for votes. Yet, inspite of the similarities there were differences. And it’s in the differences that you discover again why one candidate continues to rise in the polls and the other appears more angry and more desperate with each passing day.
McCain chose an enclosed venue with limited access. Obama spoke in an open air public park. McCain’s event required tickets, while Obama’s was free and open to everyone. McCain arrived in Concord, North Carolina to discover about 7,000 enthusiastic supporters awaiting his speech (the Carrabas Conference Facility & Events Center holds a capacity crowd of 7,480--more than any other venue in Carrabas County). Obama found himself presiding over a crowd of 100.000+ hopeful, excited supporters and potential supporters under the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri.
Do the math: 7,000 versus 100,000. It would appear that Americans are deciding in favor of the Audacity of Hope.
Guillaume Depardieu 1971 - 2008, RIP
I got in a couple of new DVD's this morning and in the process of researching their casts online happened across an article concerning the death of French actor, Guillaume Depardieu. It's very sad.
Exerpted from Wikipedia:
Depardieu was the son of actor Gérard Depardieu and actress Elisabeth Depardieu. ..... In 1995 Depardieu had a motorcycle accident due to a suitcase that fell off a vehicle in front of him. Depardieu needed surgery on his knee. In the hospital he contracted a staphylococcus aureus infection in the knee, which led to an amputation in 2003. Depardieu died on October 13, 2008, at the Garches hospital the age of 37 after contracting severe viral pneumonia at a filming location in Romania, where he had been working on a new movie, "L'Enfance d'Icare."
Exerpted from Wikipedia:
Depardieu was the son of actor Gérard Depardieu and actress Elisabeth Depardieu. ..... In 1995 Depardieu had a motorcycle accident due to a suitcase that fell off a vehicle in front of him. Depardieu needed surgery on his knee. In the hospital he contracted a staphylococcus aureus infection in the knee, which led to an amputation in 2003. Depardieu died on October 13, 2008, at the Garches hospital the age of 37 after contracting severe viral pneumonia at a filming location in Romania, where he had been working on a new movie, "L'Enfance d'Icare."
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
The State of the House #02
As we are now 20 days away from the election, it seems like a good time to review the status of races for the House of Representatives in the next (111th) congress. The top map shows all 435 districts and represents the current state of representation in the 110th congress. Blue equals democrats and Red republicans (the lighter shades distinguishing the districts represented by women).
The map below represents a reconstituted House based on the polls as they currently stand. It depicts a net gain of 22 seats for the Democrats while not a single currently Democratic seat switches to the Republicans. This would further shift of balance of power from today's Democratic majority of 236 versus 199 to a whopping 258 to 177.
All is not lost for the beleaguered Grand Old Party. There is a seat in Florida (FL 16) which only became Democratic in 2006 after the Representative Mark Foley chasing after boy pages scandal broke. It's traditionally Republican, and the Democratic replacement is in a bit of a sex scandal himself, involving infidelity and adultery of a heterosexual nature. If I were on the RCCC I'd have my sharks circling that bleeding soul 24/7!
But still: 257 to 178.... pathetic.
And where will the pick-ups most likely occur?
AK-@Large, CO-04, FL-08, IL-11, KY-02, MI-07, MI-09, MN-03, NV-03, NJ-03, NJ-07, NM-01, NM-02, NY-13, NY-25, NY-29, NC-08, OH-15, OH-16, PA-03, VA-11, and WY-@Large
And as all things "full-discloser" go, I have contributed to the Democratic candidates in CO-04, MN-03, NM-01, NC-08, PA-03, and WY-@Large. But I have also given to MD-06, MD-08, OH-02, and WA-08..... (MD-08 is a shoe in; so 70% so far is pretty good, a mon avis!)
Bottomline: Get out there and get involved!
The map below represents a reconstituted House based on the polls as they currently stand. It depicts a net gain of 22 seats for the Democrats while not a single currently Democratic seat switches to the Republicans. This would further shift of balance of power from today's Democratic majority of 236 versus 199 to a whopping 258 to 177.
All is not lost for the beleaguered Grand Old Party. There is a seat in Florida (FL 16) which only became Democratic in 2006 after the Representative Mark Foley chasing after boy pages scandal broke. It's traditionally Republican, and the Democratic replacement is in a bit of a sex scandal himself, involving infidelity and adultery of a heterosexual nature. If I were on the RCCC I'd have my sharks circling that bleeding soul 24/7!
But still: 257 to 178.... pathetic.
And where will the pick-ups most likely occur?
AK-@Large, CO-04, FL-08, IL-11, KY-02, MI-07, MI-09, MN-03, NV-03, NJ-03, NJ-07, NM-01, NM-02, NY-13, NY-25, NY-29, NC-08, OH-15, OH-16, PA-03, VA-11, and WY-@Large
And as all things "full-discloser" go, I have contributed to the Democratic candidates in CO-04, MN-03, NM-01, NC-08, PA-03, and WY-@Large. But I have also given to MD-06, MD-08, OH-02, and WA-08..... (MD-08 is a shoe in; so 70% so far is pretty good, a mon avis!)
Bottomline: Get out there and get involved!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
3 Views Of My Yard: October 12th
It was such a wonderfully perfect early autumn day. The warm sun against the low humidity created an irresistible atmosphere for being outside.
I worked on the little patio that I had previously laid out just off of my sun porch. I leveled the stones and added a frame of deeper bricks. Then I spread and slowly filled the seems with a fine sand using first a broom and then flowing water.
To my surprise and pleasure, my neighbor (J.) had redefined the edging between our yards to the day before and in doing so drew it back into his yard a good 4". In the past this has been an issue....
While working, J. emerged and we had a pleasant conversation about the patio and hedgerow that I also had recently put in. He approves of both and wondered if I might not want to shift the hedge six inches or so closer to his yard. A generous suggestion, but not something I have the energy to do. I reminded him that the grown bushes would extend a good 10/12" toward his yard and offered to put in fresh mulch on the newly expanded strip.
Based on the sun, I expect the mature hedge to reach a width of 16 to 18," with the lion share of the growth and foliage to be on his (the south) side of the plant's base.
Now, two more brief views....
I worked on the little patio that I had previously laid out just off of my sun porch. I leveled the stones and added a frame of deeper bricks. Then I spread and slowly filled the seems with a fine sand using first a broom and then flowing water.
To my surprise and pleasure, my neighbor (J.) had redefined the edging between our yards to the day before and in doing so drew it back into his yard a good 4". In the past this has been an issue....
While working, J. emerged and we had a pleasant conversation about the patio and hedgerow that I also had recently put in. He approves of both and wondered if I might not want to shift the hedge six inches or so closer to his yard. A generous suggestion, but not something I have the energy to do. I reminded him that the grown bushes would extend a good 10/12" toward his yard and offered to put in fresh mulch on the newly expanded strip.
Based on the sun, I expect the mature hedge to reach a width of 16 to 18," with the lion share of the growth and foliage to be on his (the south) side of the plant's base.
Now, two more brief views....
October 12th, View #2
This volunteer black oak (now a good 15 feet tall) remains green with the exception of this one branch that is trying it's damnedest to make-up for the lack of autumn-enthusiasm on the rest of the tree!
Thoughout my modest backyard I've allowed several trees to remain and grow transforming it into an extension of the woodland strip that abuts it. I have a couple of black oak, a white oak, a sugar maple, and several dogwoods that have joined the other plantings in this way.
Thoughout my modest backyard I've allowed several trees to remain and grow transforming it into an extension of the woodland strip that abuts it. I have a couple of black oak, a white oak, a sugar maple, and several dogwoods that have joined the other plantings in this way.
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