Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
ParaNormal Activity
Silly, of course...
But completely engaging...
... And spooky? Yes!
A friend had recommended it for it's dark psychological mind game...
And I'm glad I took the bait...
And you'll have fun... fun... fun. Til your daddy takes the demon away... (Or not)
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Michael Jackson: This Is It!
My own little Thanksgiving Film Festival, as it were.
And I've been concentrating on films that may very well *not* be playing in the theaters during my next break over Christmas and New Years...
Michael Jackson's This Is It was terrific.
I enjoyed it MUCH more than I would've enjoyed the crowds, and price, and distant views if I had attended such a concert live. It's unlikely that I would have attended anyway... Not a concert crowd kinda guy...
But the intimacy of watching MJ interact with his team and hone his performing artistry was fascinating...
As a self-identified child of family abuse, he was often so very timid in exerting his own creative input with his dedicated team. His artistic suggestions and humble requests were always "spot on"... And, he always wound up backing up even the most simple of comments with a sympathetic plea "for the love" or "with the l-o-v-e" as if he were afraid someone might yell back at him...
Kind of shocking to see this response in someone at the success level of MJ at age 50...
There is much observable pain in knowing that his usually soft and kind output was fed by an inner need to destroy himself with various addictions... Kindness on the outside fueled by an inward rage that would hurt no one but himself... And eventually caused his death... Accidental though it may have been in the end.
The film captures this shockingly tragic side of gifted human nature... if you let it.
It is as poignant and morbid as it is reaffirming, loving, and entertaining.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Nightmares Before Christmas and Other Tim Burton Genius
That's ok, cuz Tim Burton is a mad genius.
Definitely worth it (despite the New York Times review). I found Tim Burton (exhibit title) engaging and dynamic with enough puppets, animatronics, maquettes, and dolls to make it all worthwhile...
Here's the poop:
Taking inspiration from popular culture, Tim Burton (American, b. 1958) has reinvented Hollywood genre filmmaking as an expression of personal vision, garnering for himself an international audience of fans and influencing a generation of young artists working in film, video, and graphics. This exhibition explores the full range of his creative work, tracing the current of his visual imagination from early childhood drawings through his mature work in film. It brings together over seven hundred examples of rarely or never-before-seen drawings, paintings, photographs, moving image works, concept art, storyboards, puppets, maquettes, costumes, and cinematic ephemera from such films as Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Batman, Mars Attacks!, Ed Wood, and Beetlejuice, and from unrealized and little-known personal projects that reveal his talent as an artist, illustrator, photographer, and writer working in the spirit of Pop Surrealism.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Wednesday's Word: Unfriend
unfriend – verb – To remove someone as a ‘friend’ on a social networking site such as Facebook.
As in, “I decided to unfriend my roommate on Facebook after we had a fight.”
Source: Oxford Dictionary
As in, “I decided to unfriend my roommate on Facebook after we had a fight.”
Source: Oxford Dictionary
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Read My Pins at the MAD
Great fun... This exhibit features more than 200 pins, many of which Secretary Albright wore to communicate a message or a mood during her diplomatic tenure. The exhibition examines the collection for its relevance to world events as well as the changeable ability of jewelry to communicate style and make a political as well as fashion statement.
As some MAD Museum literature states: One of her most original pieces is a pin made for her specifically on the occasion of Brooching It Diplomatically. The silver brooch shows the head of Lady Liberty with two watch faces for eyes, one of which is upside down-allowing both her and her visitor to see when it is time for an appointment to end. As demonstrated in this clever work, Read My Pins explores Albright's ongoing impact on the field of jewelry design and collecting.
Exhibit runs til January 31, 2010.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Who Struck John?
* The expression "Who Struck John?" popped in my head a few hours ago... My parents would use it as in: "Don't give me that 'Who Struck John'" Meaning: nonsense, I guess... I googled around and seems the expression is a Baltimore area regionalism. Oh Hon, it figures.
* PC World magazine is recommending Bing as a search engine. I tried a Bing search for myself and was actually impressed with the good, clean, streamlined results. No doubt Microsoft will mess up this heralded new search engine soon. They mess everything up.
* Had a nice Chef Salad at Route 66 with Danny today. Managed to escape with enough leftovers of rolled beef, ham, cheese and turkey to become a featured dish in a bag lunch this coming work week. When did I become this little old person who scoops up doggy bags? (Confession: I take butter, jelly and those crispy breadstick crackers sometimes, too).
* Keith's curry posts all last week on the Sturdy Soapbox have me hankering for some Tikka Masala or Tandoori soon.
* Where, Where, Where DOES the time go?? It's after 1:30 pm, already? Days off go by waaaay too quick.
* Money matters: I've decided that each of my family members will get three gifts from me this Christmas. Three. That's all. Also, been convincing friends that we shouldn't exchange gifts this year either... A shared meal is just as nice... (Plus, I can escape with enough crackers and butter to make another meal!! LOL)
* PC World magazine is recommending Bing as a search engine. I tried a Bing search for myself and was actually impressed with the good, clean, streamlined results. No doubt Microsoft will mess up this heralded new search engine soon. They mess everything up. * Had a nice Chef Salad at Route 66 with Danny today. Managed to escape with enough leftovers of rolled beef, ham, cheese and turkey to become a featured dish in a bag lunch this coming work week. When did I become this little old person who scoops up doggy bags? (Confession: I take butter, jelly and those crispy breadstick crackers sometimes, too).
* Keith's curry posts all last week on the Sturdy Soapbox have me hankering for some Tikka Masala or Tandoori soon.
* Where, Where, Where DOES the time go?? It's after 1:30 pm, already? Days off go by waaaay too quick.
* Money matters: I've decided that each of my family members will get three gifts from me this Christmas. Three. That's all. Also, been convincing friends that we shouldn't exchange gifts this year either... A shared meal is just as nice... (Plus, I can escape with enough crackers and butter to make another meal!! LOL)
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Print Matters
I don't like sitting in front of a computer screen very long... I get antsy... Usually my computer screen time is spent putting forth my own content... Blog posts, tweets, comments on others' posts, updates, etc...
So I like having a paper or magazine in my hand to catch up on reading when I get a bit of time to do so... Over eggs, or a decaff, or a limonada...
If Katie Couric ever asked me, I could tell her that I subscribe to and read regularly: The New York Times, Time Out New York, PC World, Men's Health, and New York Magazine.
Was upset to hear that the Washington Blade went under recently... I grew up reading it in the 70's in Baltimore, where it was widely available in Gay Bars for free, and included Baltimore area news and events, too... Plus DC was a short 45 minute drive down the parkway. It still is, LOL. Anyway, the staff of that weekly (or was it bi-weekly?) grabbed the bull by the horns in time to start their own new website... See DC Agenda.
In this economy, many businesses are in trouble. But... print media is in real trouble...
The New York Times apparently has fired all their fact checkers... This gem of theatrical trivia escaped when they went to print based on an actress's boasting. With Terri White claiming she once had a Tony nomination. Um, I would think you pretty much have to verify anything an actress tells you about her credits, no? It'd be a "necessity" (pun intended)... (And where was the press agent in that mess? Which wound up being repeated on a local TV interview, too... But I digress.)
Meanwhile, Playgirl has given up print just in time for all these flirty Levi Johnston nudies to leak around the Internets (sic)... What's with the towel, and "the hand"?? Enough with the Gypsy Rose Lee tease... I ask you: Where's the Beef?? (Or the sausage in this case. LOL).
Gay glossy Metro Source is out boasting their 20th Anniversary season... No easy feat. Though their abrupt staff changes over a year ago have left the editorial content lacking. But, it's all about the ads for them, anyway...
If someone made a portable reader that worked really well, I might actually make that leap... Save the trees, and all... But right now, the Kindle and Sony readers are lacking in anything beyond straight prose...
So I like having a paper or magazine in my hand to catch up on reading when I get a bit of time to do so... Over eggs, or a decaff, or a limonada...
If Katie Couric ever asked me, I could tell her that I subscribe to and read regularly: The New York Times, Time Out New York, PC World, Men's Health, and New York Magazine.
Was upset to hear that the Washington Blade went under recently... I grew up reading it in the 70's in Baltimore, where it was widely available in Gay Bars for free, and included Baltimore area news and events, too... Plus DC was a short 45 minute drive down the parkway. It still is, LOL. Anyway, the staff of that weekly (or was it bi-weekly?) grabbed the bull by the horns in time to start their own new website... See DC Agenda.
In this economy, many businesses are in trouble. But... print media is in real trouble...
The New York Times apparently has fired all their fact checkers... This gem of theatrical trivia escaped when they went to print based on an actress's boasting. With Terri White claiming she once had a Tony nomination. Um, I would think you pretty much have to verify anything an actress tells you about her credits, no? It'd be a "necessity" (pun intended)... (And where was the press agent in that mess? Which wound up being repeated on a local TV interview, too... But I digress.)
Meanwhile, Playgirl has given up print just in time for all these flirty Levi Johnston nudies to leak around the Internets (sic)... What's with the towel, and "the hand"?? Enough with the Gypsy Rose Lee tease... I ask you: Where's the Beef?? (Or the sausage in this case. LOL).
Gay glossy Metro Source is out boasting their 20th Anniversary season... No easy feat. Though their abrupt staff changes over a year ago have left the editorial content lacking. But, it's all about the ads for them, anyway...
If someone made a portable reader that worked really well, I might actually make that leap... Save the trees, and all... But right now, the Kindle and Sony readers are lacking in anything beyond straight prose...
Friday, November 20, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Apostrophically Speaking
How to use an apostrophe...
The site sez Charles' and Charles's are both acceptable...
Learn something new every day...
The site sez Charles' and Charles's are both acceptable...
Learn something new every day...
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Wednesday's Word: Tiff
tiff, noun
Definition: a non-physical fight or argument between two people who have a strong established friendship, or relationship; a disagreement where two people aren't talking
Usage: "P and B had a little tiff last week..."
Adapted from Urban Dictionary.
Definition: a non-physical fight or argument between two people who have a strong established friendship, or relationship; a disagreement where two people aren't talking
Usage: "P and B had a little tiff last week..."
Adapted from Urban Dictionary.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Otterness to a Hell's Kitchen Playground
The New York Times is reporting that some new Tom Otterness public art is arriving soon in Hell's Kitchen:
A playground filled with the Brooklyn artist Tom Otterness’s whimsical bronze characters is being installed in what will be a two-and-a-half acre park on West 42nd Street between 11th and 12th Avenues. The space is part of two apartment complexes that will be home to some 2,200 residents and is being built by the Manhattan developer Larry A. Silverstein.
He discovered the playground through a Marlborough Gallery catalog and learned there were three. “I called the gallery and asked if any of them existed,” Mr. Silverstein said in a telephone interview.
The answer was yes, but only in private collections. So he flew to Cape Cod to visit one of them. “I fell in love with the damn thing,” Mr. Silverstein said.
The work, which measures 24.5 feet tall, 30 feet long and nearly 33 feet wide, was originally conceived in 2004 as an entry in a competition for an artwork in a public park in Milwaukee. Although Mr. Otterness didn’t win, he made the playground anyway, in an edition of six, and has been able to place three on the grounds of private homes, in Cape Cod; Palm Beach, Fla.; and Aspen, Colo. The New York park where Mr. Otterness’s playground will be permanently installed will open to the public in early spring.
“In my brain I always wanted to create anthropomorphic architecture,” Mr. Otterness said by phone. “And this is like architecture.”
His playground features 27 figures (six inches each), but it’s dominated by a giant smiling character whose legs are slides and whose head is a lookout tower.
“Kids can also look through the eyes as if waking up with a 35-foot-long body,” Mr. Otterness said.
See Carol Vogel's original piece in the New York Times.
A playground filled with the Brooklyn artist Tom Otterness’s whimsical bronze characters is being installed in what will be a two-and-a-half acre park on West 42nd Street between 11th and 12th Avenues. The space is part of two apartment complexes that will be home to some 2,200 residents and is being built by the Manhattan developer Larry A. Silverstein.He discovered the playground through a Marlborough Gallery catalog and learned there were three. “I called the gallery and asked if any of them existed,” Mr. Silverstein said in a telephone interview.
The answer was yes, but only in private collections. So he flew to Cape Cod to visit one of them. “I fell in love with the damn thing,” Mr. Silverstein said.
The work, which measures 24.5 feet tall, 30 feet long and nearly 33 feet wide, was originally conceived in 2004 as an entry in a competition for an artwork in a public park in Milwaukee. Although Mr. Otterness didn’t win, he made the playground anyway, in an edition of six, and has been able to place three on the grounds of private homes, in Cape Cod; Palm Beach, Fla.; and Aspen, Colo. The New York park where Mr. Otterness’s playground will be permanently installed will open to the public in early spring.
“In my brain I always wanted to create anthropomorphic architecture,” Mr. Otterness said by phone. “And this is like architecture.”
His playground features 27 figures (six inches each), but it’s dominated by a giant smiling character whose legs are slides and whose head is a lookout tower.
“Kids can also look through the eyes as if waking up with a 35-foot-long body,” Mr. Otterness said.
See Carol Vogel's original piece in the New York Times.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Ring, Relax, and Bite
Another of those occasional misc rambling blog posts:
* Augusten Burroughs' diet tips from MensHealth magazine include: drink a lot of water before a meal to fill you up. "Something that should be taught in grade school", sez he. Eat anything you want: One bite for women, two bites for men. "Normal size bites. No big, cheating bites."
* Regarding remnants of Hurricane Ida (now a nasty Nor'easter)... Still nasty in Hell's Kitchen right now with a warm misty rain, but the worst downpours and winds are expected to be over.
* "The New Adventures of Old Christine" completely sucks.
* It has been fully determined and verified that Bioresolve.com is a hoax and scam... See Wikipedia, Better Business Bureau and Did Bio-resolve Take Your Money? for more information...
* Dear Connecticut: PLEASE retire self-promoting media starved Senator Joseph Lieberman at the very next opportunity. He's an embarrassing joke.
* Tim McGraw sure is waaay hotter than Phil McGraw!
* How DID Julie Halston get her Equity card?
* New curriculum program in NYC schools: If you are stuck in an elevator: "Ring, relax, and wait" See NYT.
* For more misc ramblings and free associations see my Twitter profile
* Augusten Burroughs' diet tips from MensHealth magazine include: drink a lot of water before a meal to fill you up. "Something that should be taught in grade school", sez he. Eat anything you want: One bite for women, two bites for men. "Normal size bites. No big, cheating bites."
* Regarding remnants of Hurricane Ida (now a nasty Nor'easter)... Still nasty in Hell's Kitchen right now with a warm misty rain, but the worst downpours and winds are expected to be over. * "The New Adventures of Old Christine" completely sucks.
* It has been fully determined and verified that Bioresolve.com is a hoax and scam... See Wikipedia, Better Business Bureau and Did Bio-resolve Take Your Money? for more information...
* Dear Connecticut: PLEASE retire self-promoting media starved Senator Joseph Lieberman at the very next opportunity. He's an embarrassing joke.
* Tim McGraw sure is waaay hotter than Phil McGraw!
* How DID Julie Halston get her Equity card?
* New curriculum program in NYC schools: If you are stuck in an elevator: "Ring, relax, and wait" See NYT.
* For more misc ramblings and free associations see my Twitter profile
Friday, November 13, 2009
Friday the 13th
I went through the whole work day completely unaware that today was Friday the 13th!
I never forgot the Friday part though...
But the 13th??
Who knew??
I never forgot the Friday part though...
But the 13th??
Who knew??
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Wednesday's Word: Indoorsman
indoorsman
Someone who spends considerable time in indoor pursuits, such as computing, sleeping and/or watching television.
"Todd, enjoys cold rainy days because it drives him to remain inside and become an indoorsman for the day, and to keep busy with indoor pursuits in his man cave."
Adapted from the Urban Dictionary.
Someone who spends considerable time in indoor pursuits, such as computing, sleeping and/or watching television.
"Todd, enjoys cold rainy days because it drives him to remain inside and become an indoorsman for the day, and to keep busy with indoor pursuits in his man cave."
Adapted from the Urban Dictionary.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Casual Tuesday
It's casual Tuesday, like casual Friday only because tomorrow Wednesday is a day off like Saturday. Albeit a more solemn day off like a Sunday. It'll Veteran's Day.
I prefer a cool crisp chill this time of year.... But this mild Tuesday is nice for a day or two... LOL.
Hoping that the weather returns to normal tomorrow so I can spend some time tending to indoor tasks... Guilt free.
De-cluttering: Stuff. Gadgets.
I never did the iTunes thang... I like my music on a disk in a seperate Bose thingie.
I also think that DVD's should be watched on a separate DVD and HD TV thing....
... A minimalist, I'm not.
There's something comforting knowing that different machines have solo tasks...
So, if my computer gets fried, I don't lose cel, music library or video library access...
Like if the Microwavee breaks, I can still use the gas stove or the electric grill.
Keep it simple. That's my credo.
I prefer a cool crisp chill this time of year.... But this mild Tuesday is nice for a day or two... LOL.
Hoping that the weather returns to normal tomorrow so I can spend some time tending to indoor tasks... Guilt free.
De-cluttering: Stuff. Gadgets.
I never did the iTunes thang... I like my music on a disk in a seperate Bose thingie.
I also think that DVD's should be watched on a separate DVD and HD TV thing....
... A minimalist, I'm not.
There's something comforting knowing that different machines have solo tasks...
So, if my computer gets fried, I don't lose cel, music library or video library access...
Like if the Microwavee breaks, I can still use the gas stove or the electric grill.
Keep it simple. That's my credo.
Monday, November 09, 2009
Sunday, November 08, 2009
A Sunny Sunday Report
It was a glorious day today. In fact, I did some sunbathing down along the Hudson River today.
Also strolled by to see the USS New York bow, reinforced with several tons of steel from the rubble of World Trade Center. Astounding, actually.
The weather was too great to stay indoors, So I didn't...
Luckily this coming week includes a bonus day off. Veteran's Day is Wednesday. So, hopefully I'll be inspired to finish some more of these home projects already in varying stages of completion.
Also strolled by to see the USS New York bow, reinforced with several tons of steel from the rubble of World Trade Center. Astounding, actually.
The weather was too great to stay indoors, So I didn't...
Luckily this coming week includes a bonus day off. Veteran's Day is Wednesday. So, hopefully I'll be inspired to finish some more of these home projects already in varying stages of completion.
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Friday, November 06, 2009
A Free Association Friday
* Was a good and cool Autumn day. Makes me crave Apple Cider donuts, hot Apple Cider and Crisp tart apples. I'll take care of all of those tomorrow at the Hell's Kitchen Green Market!
* TGIF... Twas a looong week... Was also a long Friday, with a headache and a stiff neck for most of the day. ...Felt better soon after I got home. Hm.
* "A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him." - David Brinkley
* So now it's obvious that Democrats DID have a real chance of winning the NYC Mayoralty after all... If only a) Thompson hadn't botched his fund-raising and campaign; b) If Obama had taken a serious role in supporting him.or c) Dems had a REAL strong candidate in the race...
* I love the DVR!
* My new recession restaurant rule. I only eat dinner out when I know I'm getting enough food to bring half home, add in some veggies and get at least another full microwaved meal out of it. Sometimes three meals.
* Fridays are perfect to just get into a sweat suit and catching up with FaceBook and blogs... Or at least some of them... More to do! This article explains that social media is good.
* I like to recycle.
* I go outside a lot less without the doggy to walk. IMMG = I miss my doggy!
* I need to blog about my latest visit to the Museum of Art & Design.
* Have been re-arranging the furniture in the apartment... So I don't find myself gazing in the usual doggy spots when there's no doggy to spot.
* CNN is finished. MSNBC rocks.
* Got photos today of The 92 Year Old Man's military funeral in Ohio... That was nice. He would have become the 93 year old man had he lived just another couple of weeks to November 11. But he clearly wanted to go.
* I'm looking forward to the Tim Burton exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art later this month...
* I love good authentic homemade not-too-sweet pumpkin pie. And this is that time of year...
* TGIF... Twas a looong week... Was also a long Friday, with a headache and a stiff neck for most of the day. ...Felt better soon after I got home. Hm.
* "A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him." - David Brinkley
* So now it's obvious that Democrats DID have a real chance of winning the NYC Mayoralty after all... If only a) Thompson hadn't botched his fund-raising and campaign; b) If Obama had taken a serious role in supporting him.or c) Dems had a REAL strong candidate in the race...
* I love the DVR!
* My new recession restaurant rule. I only eat dinner out when I know I'm getting enough food to bring half home, add in some veggies and get at least another full microwaved meal out of it. Sometimes three meals.
* Fridays are perfect to just get into a sweat suit and catching up with FaceBook and blogs... Or at least some of them... More to do! This article explains that social media is good.
* I like to recycle.
* I go outside a lot less without the doggy to walk. IMMG = I miss my doggy!
* I need to blog about my latest visit to the Museum of Art & Design.
* Have been re-arranging the furniture in the apartment... So I don't find myself gazing in the usual doggy spots when there's no doggy to spot.
* CNN is finished. MSNBC rocks.
* Got photos today of The 92 Year Old Man's military funeral in Ohio... That was nice. He would have become the 93 year old man had he lived just another couple of weeks to November 11. But he clearly wanted to go.
* I'm looking forward to the Tim Burton exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art later this month...
* I love good authentic homemade not-too-sweet pumpkin pie. And this is that time of year...
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Sesame Street Turned 40
Google bestowed their highest honor, yesterday, by making a graphic that incorporated Big Bird's legs...
Kermit Love would have been so proud.
And so, I'm sure, is Caroll Spinney...
Congrats to ALL! And here's to 40 more...
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Wednesday's Word: Mantrum
mantrum, noun
When a grown man throws a tantrum when he can't have his way.
Usage: He had a mantrum when he found out he couldn't have KFC for dinner!
Adapted from Urban Dictionary
When a grown man throws a tantrum when he can't have his way.
Usage: He had a mantrum when he found out he couldn't have KFC for dinner!
Adapted from Urban Dictionary
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
NYC Election Day 2009
Here's my rule when casting my ballot this morning...
If they played a role in overturning term limits, they DON't get my vote...
... It's that simple for me...
But, I don't have unrealistic hopes for the outcome of this election...
Just saying... I'll rest easier knowing I did the right thing...
And for those of you voting for the billionaire bully, and his cronies... The next four years are ON YOU!
If they played a role in overturning term limits, they DON't get my vote...
... It's that simple for me...
But, I don't have unrealistic hopes for the outcome of this election...
Just saying... I'll rest easier knowing I did the right thing...
And for those of you voting for the billionaire bully, and his cronies... The next four years are ON YOU!
Monday, November 02, 2009
Sunday, November 01, 2009
A Most Multi-Faceted Sunday
Happy Post-Halloween; Re-Adjust the Clocks; God I Miss My Doggy; NYC
Marathon; Welcome to November... Sunday...
Marathon; Welcome to November... Sunday...
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