Wednesday, October 31, 2007
my job is so scary
Many people dressed up at the office today.
DropTrou was my favorite by far.
I was clearly, Green with Envy.
DropTrou was my favorite by far.
I was clearly, Green with Envy.
Shaken, but not stirred
I talked to Kevin last night just before the earthquake. He called right after the shaking and left a message for me at home. He wanted to confess that as his house started shaking, he ran to his bar to steady it and make sure nothing fell off the shelves. It is a somewhat rickety antique wire and glass stand, so his concerns were valid, except when you consider that he was surrounded by glass, in the open, next to an enormous mirror hanging on the wall, and he was in the least seismically secure part of his house.
He called to confess that during a major earthquake, his first instinct was to save the liquor.
He called back and left another message saying that he called to confess to me, because I would have done the same thing.
He called to confess that during a major earthquake, his first instinct was to save the liquor.
He called back and left another message saying that he called to confess to me, because I would have done the same thing.
Porcupumpkin!
From my cool niece and nephew:
Bradley made the porcupumpkin.
Or is it a pumpkinpine?
The "cuter" ones of course are from the girls Steff and Ellen.
I just got these in my inbox and gave them a call. Ellen has left for a party as one of Charlie's Angels. Bradley, 15 now, is staying home in ghoulish makeup and handing out candy.
I have demanded pics.
Bradley made the porcupumpkin.
Or is it a pumpkinpine?
The "cuter" ones of course are from the girls Steff and Ellen.
I just got these in my inbox and gave them a call. Ellen has left for a party as one of Charlie's Angels. Bradley, 15 now, is staying home in ghoulish makeup and handing out candy.I have demanded pics.
Go CATS!
The Davidson Wildcats are in the news again.
This time it is an enormous spread in USA Today.
Excerpt:
Photo credit: Chris Keane
This time it is an enormous spread in USA Today.
Excerpt:
Read it all: At Davidson, hoops and books coexistMcKillop demands team play and that his players become one unit, then revels in their differences.
"Players are not just basketball players here," says McKillop, who has six foreign players on the team. "They are discussing and they are analyzing the war in Iraq, the economic situation of the country, the 'Jena Six' or what is going on in Africa. They are just as much in touch with that reality as they are of the reality of the campus social environment, where they are constantly under a microscope because they are in a small-town college environment.
"I understand who we can recruit to fit that dynamic," McKillop says. "Usually if they fit that dynamic they are generally going to be guys who are team-oriented."
Photo credit: Chris Keane
And your little dog too
ArtRageous is an annual multi-gallery art opening and late party benefiting Nashville CARES. It has been immensely popular, and by 1996 had become the world's largest reserved-ticket fundraiser. Just before I moved to SF, I was the Digital Media Director for ArtRageous 9: Moving Pictures (I also did their Web page, back wen the Web was very new).
This year is the 20th anniversary and some of my friends are chairing the event. Other CARES friends are heavily involved as well, and with round-trip airfare a paltry $200, I'm going home for the weekend for the event. I haven't been back since ArtRageous 13: Bewitched.
While a CARES benefit, ArtRageous has always been an event for the broader community (i.e. not just the gays), and with its enormous success has become the public social event of the year. Lots of flash, and lots of fun.
This year, the 20th, has a Wizard of Oz theme, because if you flip 20, you get OZ.
The Art Director this year has done an amazing job of stylizing the Wizard of Oz theme (my personal favorite is the art deco Tin Man), including save-the-date invitations with a tarot card look that rotates Oz and 20 (I can't find the animated version at the moment).
With such a gay party, and a gay theme, I thought that I and my cohort should step up. Originally I was planning on going with some of the organizers but they are way too busy. Keith and I made a plan to join some of his friends on a limo instead of a Van Go (host committee coaches). When Mac and Emily heard I was coming, they decided to go too. They usually go to ArtRageous, and have chaired the host committee in the past, but with a nine-month old at home, were thinking of taking a pass. Joe & Cynthia invited Mac & Emily, and me, to join them on their Van Go, which they have named "The Whizz." (I had to explain the play on words to my mother. Surely you need no such help.)
I have been thinking about what to wear. One needs a little flair for this sort of thing. Or as RMJ puts it, a wardrobe that is "contextually flaming." I have ruby redslippers boots (well, they are made from stingray), so there's that. I thought about making a pair of blue gingham pants and having a Dorothy sort of look to go with the boots, but pale gingham pants and a white shirt did not sound terribly slimming. I have designed a thematic take on the scarecrow, involving jeans, a dark green shirt, and gold fringe; and have spent too much money on it already without hot glue gunning "sewing" it together yet.
During the e-mail exchange regarding logistics, transportation, and appropriate attire, someone made a joke about flying monkeys.
I thought, "THAT'S IT!"
Flying monkeys: a costume that would be cheap, easy--just accessories really--would be festive, attract attention, and unite the group to each other and to the event.
My enthusiasm was not shared with the goup.
Straight people.
Some are claiming they aren't "joiners" or "theme people." Um, you're going to a huge gay party with a Wizard of Oz theme. I know it would be social shame to miss this party, but if you are going, you need to step up to the event.
Cynthia suggested I put together a proposal as people weren't really getting the idea. It took me a while just to to find the time to make the illustrations, not to mention the time just to draw it up and make the pitch page.
But here it is, my modest proposal.
Of course now that I have spent $150 on the scarecrow design, I'm kind of over it and don't care so much anymore if I am alone in my context or not. But a murder of flying monkeys would be hilarious for this event.
[I so wanted to embed the Simpson's clip of Mister Burns releasing his flying monkeys, which plummet to their death, and then turning to Smithers and saying, "Continue the research." But Fox had the clip removed from YouTube. Doh.)
This year is the 20th anniversary and some of my friends are chairing the event. Other CARES friends are heavily involved as well, and with round-trip airfare a paltry $200, I'm going home for the weekend for the event. I haven't been back since ArtRageous 13: Bewitched.
While a CARES benefit, ArtRageous has always been an event for the broader community (i.e. not just the gays), and with its enormous success has become the public social event of the year. Lots of flash, and lots of fun.
This year, the 20th, has a Wizard of Oz theme, because if you flip 20, you get OZ.
The Art Director this year has done an amazing job of stylizing the Wizard of Oz theme (my personal favorite is the art deco Tin Man), including save-the-date invitations with a tarot card look that rotates Oz and 20 (I can't find the animated version at the moment).
With such a gay party, and a gay theme, I thought that I and my cohort should step up. Originally I was planning on going with some of the organizers but they are way too busy. Keith and I made a plan to join some of his friends on a limo instead of a Van Go (host committee coaches). When Mac and Emily heard I was coming, they decided to go too. They usually go to ArtRageous, and have chaired the host committee in the past, but with a nine-month old at home, were thinking of taking a pass. Joe & Cynthia invited Mac & Emily, and me, to join them on their Van Go, which they have named "The Whizz." (I had to explain the play on words to my mother. Surely you need no such help.)
I have been thinking about what to wear. One needs a little flair for this sort of thing. Or as RMJ puts it, a wardrobe that is "contextually flaming." I have ruby red
During the e-mail exchange regarding logistics, transportation, and appropriate attire, someone made a joke about flying monkeys.
I thought, "THAT'S IT!"
Flying monkeys: a costume that would be cheap, easy--just accessories really--would be festive, attract attention, and unite the group to each other and to the event.
My enthusiasm was not shared with the goup.
Straight people.
Some are claiming they aren't "joiners" or "theme people." Um, you're going to a huge gay party with a Wizard of Oz theme. I know it would be social shame to miss this party, but if you are going, you need to step up to the event.
Cynthia suggested I put together a proposal as people weren't really getting the idea. It took me a while just to to find the time to make the illustrations, not to mention the time just to draw it up and make the pitch page.But here it is, my modest proposal.
Of course now that I have spent $150 on the scarecrow design, I'm kind of over it and don't care so much anymore if I am alone in my context or not. But a murder of flying monkeys would be hilarious for this event.
[I so wanted to embed the Simpson's clip of Mister Burns releasing his flying monkeys, which plummet to their death, and then turning to Smithers and saying, "Continue the research." But Fox had the clip removed from YouTube. Doh.)
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
aftershock
The ground was still shaking. Those were aftershocks. At least three of them. All 1.3 or above as it looks.
Holy CRAP!
That was a huge freaking quake. It feels like the building is still shaking. That lasted longer and was more forceful than any earthquake I've felt before. It went very quickly from "huh." to "cool." to "Oh shit!" and gripping the doorframe.
I'm sure it was only a minute or less, but it felt much, much longer.
I'll see if the USGS has any data yet. Seriously, this just happened. Of course I called Shilps and she's shaken but only a little stirred. She's checking with her parents now.
I'm sure it was only a minute or less, but it felt much, much longer.
I'll see if the USGS has any data yet. Seriously, this just happened. Of course I called Shilps and she's shaken but only a little stirred. She's checking with her parents now.
Halloween 2007
Well, most everything anywhere near the Castro has now been strong armed persuaded to close down tomorrow. My usual co-conspirators are otherwise engaged or out of town so I'm not sure what I'll be doing.
As usual, Halloween for us stared on the Saturday before. It's been a blast, and exhausting. I'll post a big BOO recap after tomorrow. But here are some wonderful shots from Saturday night (just the community in the Castro)
Suzan and me
and the costume contest Sunday night at Sundance Salon. Sunday night I recycled an old, old Burning Man costume I still can't believe I could fit into.
I went as "Southern California."
Too soon?
As usual, Halloween for us stared on the Saturday before. It's been a blast, and exhausting. I'll post a big BOO recap after tomorrow. But here are some wonderful shots from Saturday night (just the community in the Castro)
Suzan and me
I call this one "Castro, Theater."
and the costume contest Sunday night at Sundance Salon. Sunday night I recycled an old, old Burning Man costume I still can't believe I could fit into.
I went as "Southern California."Too soon?
passé aggressive?
From the NYT: Gay Enclaves Face Prospect of Being Passé
The article continues, but I'm not in agreement with the author on this one. There will always be gayborhoods. I do agree that it will approach cost-prohibitive to live there though...
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 24 — This Halloween, the Glindas, gladiators and harem boys of the Castro — along with untold numbers who plan to dress up as Senator Larry E. Craig, this year’s camp celebrity — will be celebrating behind closed doors. The city’s most popular Halloween party, in America’s largest gay neighborhood, is canceled.
The once-exuberant street party, a symbol of sexual liberation since 1979 has in recent years become a Nightmare on Castro Street, drawing as many as 200,000 people, many of them costumeless outsiders, and there has been talk of moving it outside the district because of increasing violence. Last year, nine people were wounded when a gunman opened fire at the celebration.
For many in the Castro District, the cancellation is a blow that strikes at the heart of neighborhood identity, and it has brought soul-searching that goes beyond concerns about crime.
These are wrenching times for San Francisco’s historic gay village, with population shifts, booming development, and a waning sense of belonging that is also being felt in gay enclaves across the nation, from Key West, Fla., to West Hollywood, as they struggle to maintain cultural relevance in the face of gentrification.
There has been a notable shift of gravity from the Castro, with young gay men and lesbians fanning out into less-expensive neighborhoods like Mission Dolores and the Outer Sunset, and farther away to Marin and Alameda Counties, “mirroring national trends where you are seeing same-sex couples becoming less urban, even as the population become slightly more urban,” said Gary J. Gates, a demographer and senior research fellow at the University of California, Los Angeles.
The article continues, but I'm not in agreement with the author on this one. There will always be gayborhoods. I do agree that it will approach cost-prohibitive to live there though...
Monday, October 29, 2007
I would have gone with
"dead ringer."
(instead of "the name does ring a bell.")
I went to Montgomery Bell Academy, and our high school paper was in fact called, The Bell Ringer. I wrote in suggesting a Halloween cover.
(instead of "the name does ring a bell.")I went to Montgomery Bell Academy, and our high school paper was in fact called, The Bell Ringer. I wrote in suggesting a Halloween cover.
Bernal Heights Hill Soap Box Derby 2007
Bernal Heights Hill Soap Box Derby 2007
Originally uploaded by Laughing Squid
Kelly called Sunday morning asking if I was still going to the soap box derby. We were both far too hung over to get vertical and make it out into the admittedly beautiful day.
Laughing Squid, of course, has a great flickr set. Now I am sort of regretting laying in bed with movies and coffee...
mashup
One of my favorite mashups (annoyingly perky, but so much fun) is DJ Lobsterdust's "Unk vs. Avril Lavigne ft. Toni Basil - Walkin’ Out Yo Girlfriend."
This video is made to Walk It Out on its own, but it completely cracks me up.
This video is made to Walk It Out on its own, but it completely cracks me up.
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