Thu - April 26, 2007
Hiddily Ho, Neighborino!
Hallelujah, we're homeowners! (Let the renovations
begin...)
Isn't it beautiful?
Actually that's not it--we just think that picture is funny.
Here it is:
Before and after pictures to follow...
Posted at 11:41 PM |
Tue - April 17, 2007
In Need of Some Levity
Thought I was too busy to blog for a while... But
realized that with everything that went down at Virginia Tech yesterday, life is
too short to put things off.
Funny how your priorities get rearranged so quickly
in situations like these... Anyway, I wrote a
little bit about VT on our MySpace blog, so here I just wanted to add a
little joviality to the week.
On a recent episode of The Colbert Report, Stephen closed by saying, "I’ll smile and you at home pose next to your televisions." So here's a picture of me and my friend, Stephen Colbert:
On a recent episode of The Colbert Report, Stephen closed by saying, "I’ll smile and you at home pose next to your televisions." So here's a picture of me and my friend, Stephen Colbert:
Posted at 10:57 PM |
Sat - March 10, 2007
Bad Omen
We've been all excited about the new Mexican
restaurant called "El Charro" that's moving into a nearby plaza...
As you know, Radford doesn't have the best reputation for restaurants--in food or
service--so you can't blame us for hoping something more exciting than the new
Applebee's might come in.
The name translates roughly to "cowboy" and these new owners do seem to have that level of dedication. They've been fighting to keep their vinyl roadside signs up in the 40+ mph winds we've had lately. Up, down, up, down. But finally, to our relief, they put a permanent sign up on the building:
Uh oh. Is it just us or does that font make it look like "El Crappo"?
UPDATE: We finally got around to visiting "El Crappo" tonight and are happy to report it does not live, er, down to it's name. They don't have their ABC license yet (so no birthday margarita for John) but the service was decent (for this area) and the food was pretty good too... especially, the sopapilla with ice cream! Decor-wise, they may have some issues with the faux marble linoleum "blocks" on the wall, but somebody gets serious effort points for the 2-per-booth engraved wood El Charro signs. And fortunately they used a different lettering style from that on the building sign.
The name translates roughly to "cowboy" and these new owners do seem to have that level of dedication. They've been fighting to keep their vinyl roadside signs up in the 40+ mph winds we've had lately. Up, down, up, down. But finally, to our relief, they put a permanent sign up on the building:
Uh oh. Is it just us or does that font make it look like "El Crappo"?
UPDATE: We finally got around to visiting "El Crappo" tonight and are happy to report it does not live, er, down to it's name. They don't have their ABC license yet (so no birthday margarita for John) but the service was decent (for this area) and the food was pretty good too... especially, the sopapilla with ice cream! Decor-wise, they may have some issues with the faux marble linoleum "blocks" on the wall, but somebody gets serious effort points for the 2-per-booth engraved wood El Charro signs. And fortunately they used a different lettering style from that on the building sign.
Posted at 01:37 PM |
Tue - February 27, 2007
CyberSeeking
According to poll data, about one-fifth of
Americans describe themselves as
"spiritual, but not
religious."
Essentially this means they choose a more personal expression of faith rather than a public or institutional one. So where does this ever-growing group of unorthodox, mystic types go for guidance or spiritual community? My guess is online.
And my bet is that the virtual spiritual landscape has changed since Time magazine covered this topic in 1996. Could an author who wrote the phrase "the interconnection of religious documents through so-called hyperlinks" possibly fathom virtual meditation rooms, or the Belief-o-Matic quiz that tells you what religion you are after asking just 20 questions? [But not without an explicit "Warning: Belief-O-Matic assumes no legal liability for the ultimate fate of your soul."] I think not.
He might have foreseen sites like ReligousTolerance.org, which was started to "objectively describe religious faiths in all their diversity," or DailyOm email subscriptions--but could he have predicted that 3.1 million unique visitors would click to Beliefnet.com on a monthly basis more than ten years later?
This will be a continuing topic here, but I just have to say to all the "Americans have lost all semblance of faith" doubters that they're wrong--those people just don't want to go to your church anymore.
Posted at 10:09 PM |
Mon - February 26, 2007
Impersonating Veruca Salt
Those of you who know me might remember that I've
always wanted a bunny. Well I still do, only now I want a giant
bunny.
Meet Herman, a 17 lb. bunny whose picture was apparently passed around on the Internet about a year ago (for reasons I understand--how cute are his feet? Try carrying your keys on that!)
Around that same time, another German breeder won the title for largest bunny with Robert--weighing almost 20 pounds:
Well now the N. Koreans are after these cuties--for eating, of all things. (Could NPR be any more graphic about that, by the way?) And although the breeder has agreed, he's definitely not a capitalist and claims he won't be increasing production to sell to the Chinese or anyone else. Oh well. I guess since he won't sell them, I'll just have to kidnap them.
Come here, bunny bunny... let me schmoop you!
Posted at 10:16 PM |
Tue - February 6, 2007
I'm a Celebrity Lookalike
Haven't you always wondered who would play you in
the movie version of your life? Well, now I have some choices.
Janeane Garofalo was too easy because of the glasses, and I had no idea who Chester Bennington was, but was pleased to find out I actually like him (one of Linkin Park's lead singers). But the other three totally crack me up. Is it just because they're smiling?!
Anyway, to find out what celebrities should play you, find the Face Recognition demo at MyHeritage.com and upload a picture. (Unfortunately, Mac users, Safari isn't compatible, but the error message says they're working on it.) Let me know who you most resemble!
Posted at 08:30 AM |
Tue - January 23, 2007
Non-Disposable Hero Alert
It's encouraging to find another musician, who,
like Tracy Chapman, asks: "Why are the missiles called peacekeepers, when
they're aimed to kill?"
Michael Franti was even willing to travel around Iraq with his guitar asking these kinds of questions--and filmed a moving documentary in the process. I'd heard of one of his previous bands, the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, but knew next to nothing about Franti before a friend invited us to watch his copy of I Know I'm Not Alone.
In an interview with Mother Jones, he was asked: "What were some of the biggest dangers you faced?" His reply was: "Driving out of the Baghdad airport when we first got off the plane, there were two cars blown up coming into the airport—bodies inside them, the cars were still on fire. There were soldiers all around pointing their weapons in ready position. We tried to videotape it, and the driver, who we had just met, slammed the video camera out of our hands and said, “Don’t ever shoot any U.S. military operations, or else they’re going to open fire on our vehicle.” That was just the awakening."
Let's just say the movie gave me goosebumps. And I've heard that his shows are near-religious experiences, so I'm hoping to see him live in concert in the next few months. His music can be described as funk, hip-hop, reggae, etc., but the common denominator is his deft, heartfelt lyrics. And although they lean toward political topics, Franti said in his film, "This trip made me realize one very important thing, which is that I’m not on the side of the Americans, Iraqis, Israelis, or Palestinians. I’m on the side of the peacemakers...whichever country they come from.” My kind of guy.
Posted at 10:35 PM |
Thu - January 18, 2007
Are Wii Sorry Now?
I knew you could die of dehydration, but I didn't
know you could die from drinking too much water. Apparently, this
radio station didn't know either.
I know some people who've tried the gallon challenge with milk (and some of them got
really sick) but at least they were permitted to tinkle if needed. This poor
woman just wanted to be a hero to her three kids and come home with a Nintendo
Wii system. Instead they got Justin Timberlake tickets and lost their mom (talk
about adding insult to injury).
I figured when I read the first story that there would be a major lawsuit against the radio station--waivers or no--but apparently the DJs were warned of the dangers multiple times and ignored it, so the ramifications could be much, much worse. And in a Dickensian stroke of irony, the station manager's spokesperson's name is "Sipkins." (This is why I love nonfiction--you just can't make up this kind of stuff.)
But seriously, my heart goes out to the woman's family, and I hope all the radio stations who take their contests from a page in the Howard Stern book of broadcasting will heed the warning and just give us all a break. Whatever happened to a good, old-fashioned, "we'll take the 8th caller"?
I figured when I read the first story that there would be a major lawsuit against the radio station--waivers or no--but apparently the DJs were warned of the dangers multiple times and ignored it, so the ramifications could be much, much worse. And in a Dickensian stroke of irony, the station manager's spokesperson's name is "Sipkins." (This is why I love nonfiction--you just can't make up this kind of stuff.)
But seriously, my heart goes out to the woman's family, and I hope all the radio stations who take their contests from a page in the Howard Stern book of broadcasting will heed the warning and just give us all a break. Whatever happened to a good, old-fashioned, "we'll take the 8th caller"?
Posted at 11:11 PM |
Wed - January 17, 2007
Beware: Poetry Crossing
I read an inspiring quote online today, which
turned out to be a poem:
"Our greatest fear is not that we are
inadequate,
but that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.
And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others."
I looked it up online and discovered that--while it's widely misattributed to Nelson Mandela--it was actually written by Marianne Williamson in her book A Return to Love.
I had never heard of Williamson, but apparently I live under a rock because she has several best-sellers, is considered one of Oprah's friends, and the poem is prominently referenced in two films I hoped to see: Coach Carter and Akeelah and the Bee. I guess we only discover things when we need them.
My question is: when I finally let my light shine, will it be mistaken for someone else's? Honestly, the day a word of my writing is misattributed to Oscar Wilde, I can retire and/or die.
but that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, handsome, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.
It is not just in some; it is in everyone.
And, as we let our own light shine, we consciously give
other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our fear,
our presence automatically liberates others."
I looked it up online and discovered that--while it's widely misattributed to Nelson Mandela--it was actually written by Marianne Williamson in her book A Return to Love.
I had never heard of Williamson, but apparently I live under a rock because she has several best-sellers, is considered one of Oprah's friends, and the poem is prominently referenced in two films I hoped to see: Coach Carter and Akeelah and the Bee. I guess we only discover things when we need them.
My question is: when I finally let my light shine, will it be mistaken for someone else's? Honestly, the day a word of my writing is misattributed to Oscar Wilde, I can retire and/or die.
Posted at 09:49 PM |
Tue - January 16, 2007
Little Miss Can't Be Sunshine
I can't remember the last time a movie made me
laugh and cry at the same time...
It may have been Terms of Endearment or Fried Green Tomatoes, but it's been a long time.
Then came Little Miss Sunshine. Many of my friends (and
even my boss!) recommended it to me. My only complaint is that I wish I hadn't
seen the previews (so I won't be spoiling much of the plot here) but it wasn't
any less brilliant, even so. The ending really was one of the best on film, even
if some of the minor plot points feel as if they came straight out of a fiction
writing exercise (ie, write a story in which pornography helps someone escape a
difficult situation).
My one burning question, though, is whether British children's author, Roger Hargreaves, got any royalties:
It's almost too perfect that the first line of the book (which I read as a kid) is "Welcome to Miseryland." And I've discovered, I'm not the only one to make this connection.
My one burning question, though, is whether British children's author, Roger Hargreaves, got any royalties:
It's almost too perfect that the first line of the book (which I read as a kid) is "Welcome to Miseryland." And I've discovered, I'm not the only one to make this connection.
Posted at 09:59 PM |
Mon - January 15, 2007
Art-o-matic for the People
Another entry to file under the "wish I'd thought
of that" category--the Art-o-mat.
I heard about cigarette machines being converted to art-vendors when I lived in Rochester, but thought it was a one-off entertainment (there's also a not-so-artfully converted machine selling candy in a cool bar called Lux). But to the contrary, the inventor who launched the Art-o-mat in Winston-Salem in 1997 supplies more than 80 custom machines around the US and internationally, selling the work of around 400 artists.
The growth of the phenomenon makes sense to me--in the age of Found magazine and Post Secret--it feels more personal to buy it this way--like a grab-bag, but also like the art was meant for you. And I'm all for getting art into the hands of the everyday joe. Plus purchasing from a "forbidden" cigarette machine is a novelty akin to having your penny pressed as a souvenir or getting your fortune told by an old arcade game.
And now there's an Art-o-mat book as well.
Posted at 08:41 PM |
Sun - January 14, 2007
You're Getting Very Sleepy
I've always been a sucker for color, but these
commercials are beyond cool...
Remember the SONY Bravia commercial with the slow-mo bouncing balls? If you don't then you gotta check it out. Possibly the most mesmerizing commercial I've ever seen, done with no CGI--and a kickin' soundtrack by Jose Gonzalez, a singer I nominate for the Allowed to Succeed Nick Drake award.
If you do remember it, well those genius folks have created yet another visual feast--in the form of flying paint.
I mean, who doesn't love the idea of a crazy mess this big? I don't think it's better than the first, though--if only because the music is way inferior. Still, kudos to the ad agency for their creative thinking. Tell them to keep it up!
Posted at 10:49 PM |
Sat - January 13, 2007
As Dr. Evil says, "Ex-zip-it A"
As a DIY-kind of
girl, I enjoy recycling "worthless" things into creative and useful
objects...
So when I saw pictures of Susan Colquitt's
sculptures, I felt she was a kindred spirit. I saw this photo last year in a
review of the Extreme Materials exhibit at Memorial Art
Gallery in Rochester, NY, and loved it, but had no idea what it was made
of:
It's called Colors in Water: Superior and it's made entirely of tightly wound zippers! How cool is that? Unfortunately I can't seem to find much about the artist online, aside from her having been referenced in Fiber Arts magazine, being in a few exhibits, and hailing from Marquette, Michigan.
This piece is called Permanence and is also made of nylon zippers--and a few perm rods. If any artist could represent Craftygal chic, it's Ms. Colquitt.
It's called Colors in Water: Superior and it's made entirely of tightly wound zippers! How cool is that? Unfortunately I can't seem to find much about the artist online, aside from her having been referenced in Fiber Arts magazine, being in a few exhibits, and hailing from Marquette, Michigan.
This piece is called Permanence and is also made of nylon zippers--and a few perm rods. If any artist could represent Craftygal chic, it's Ms. Colquitt.
Posted at 10:20 PM |
Fri - January 12, 2007
Toon Duo Hall of Fame
There's a new cartoon duo in town...
But first, a brief history. In the beginning, there
was Tom & Jerry, enemies extraordinaire (so happy to find this link to the
Mice Follies episode which was my favorite as a
kid); you also had Pepe Le Pew & his sometimes reluctant girlfriend, Penelope Pussycat; then best of friends, Pooh
& Piglet, and comic companions, Calvin &
Hobbes.
In high school I was big into Animaniacs' characters, Pinky & the Brain, who then got their own show. Then came the advent of frontveggies, Bob the Tomato & Larry the Cucumber (can't wait to get the Bob & Larry Sing the 70's CD!) and the sarcastic and loveable Brak & Spaceghost. Of course we can't forget Mike Kazowski & James P. "Sully" Sullivan from Monsters, Inc., and the Internet-based odd couple, Strindberg & Helium.
Now, from the unlikely origins of a greeting card company, come Hoops & Yoyo--a green bunny and a pink kitty who started out silently and grew a cult-following. My friend Heidi sent me a couple of ecard, and now I'm addicted. The gallery page alone makes me want to buy the plush versions. The big question is will they rise to hall of fame level? As of right now, chances are looking good.
PS
Tell me your favorite cartoon duos!
In high school I was big into Animaniacs' characters, Pinky & the Brain, who then got their own show. Then came the advent of frontveggies, Bob the Tomato & Larry the Cucumber (can't wait to get the Bob & Larry Sing the 70's CD!) and the sarcastic and loveable Brak & Spaceghost. Of course we can't forget Mike Kazowski & James P. "Sully" Sullivan from Monsters, Inc., and the Internet-based odd couple, Strindberg & Helium.
Now, from the unlikely origins of a greeting card company, come Hoops & Yoyo--a green bunny and a pink kitty who started out silently and grew a cult-following. My friend Heidi sent me a couple of ecard, and now I'm addicted. The gallery page alone makes me want to buy the plush versions. The big question is will they rise to hall of fame level? As of right now, chances are looking good.
PS
Tell me your favorite cartoon duos!
Posted at 11:18 PM |
Thu - January 11, 2007
Death of a Venue
Sad news from a friend today--one of the best
intimate venues for live music in Rochester, NY is closing....
It may not have been CBGB's, but Milestones was a staple in my concert-seeing college (and post-college) years. It was there that I saw:
Moxy Fruvous' last 3 shows;
Sarah Harmer;
Trashcan Sinatras;
Mike Doughty;
Andy Stochansky;
Ben Kweller;
November Project;
local legends Eleven Foot Seven;
and Buddhahood;
and countless other acts. Not to mention the delicious fried ravioli they served. Yum!
The good news, I suppose, is that the venue is simply changing hands; the new owners plan to change the name to High Fidelity (presumably tangentially related to the book/film by the same name) and will continue booking live acts. And if the new club owner's MySpace page is any indication, though, the shows will be quality.
Still, the change could mean the demise of East End Eddy (shown in the upper-left corner playing guitar). Eddy is a character my friend Chaz created back in the day--who has since taken on a life of his own ever since and shows up on flyers wearing different hats for various occasions and festivals. There's a chance the new owners could continue using him--but to be honest, I'm not sure if Charles will be sad to see him go, or relieved not to find bastardized versions floating around for eternity... So Milestones & Eddy, Requisat In Pacem.
UPDATE: Charles let me know that Eddy is most likely here to stay since he was created for the entire East End. Phew!
Posted at 09:50 PM |
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Random Thoughts of Thinking
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Published On: Apr 26, 2007 11:44 PM
Published On: Apr 26, 2007 11:44 PM