.but they shuttered your stores.

This is Yoda.
I met him in the park today.
He likes squirrels.

.you are filthy but fine.

Leslie Buck, designer of one of the most recognizable pieces of New York iconography died.

He went to the big street side coffee cart in the sky.

I imagine it's like this.

.our records all show.

The above picture
(take from SMKjr's Flickr - and has great street art photos)
is from a mural on Houston Street
which now changes on a regular basis (?)
by Shepard Fairey.

Who?

You know him, really.
You know this : OBEY
And you know this: HOPE

And in typical New Yorker fashion
people are bitching
and complaining
and general hating on Fairey.

I like him.
I like him a lot more after watching Exit Through the Gift Shop
(I seriously loved that movie)
I like his work.
He has a great visual aesthetic/language which has
evolved and grown with time.
(and he can be forgiven for going to RISD - the sworn enemy of the MICA student)

I didn't pay for the mural.
And even if I did,
even if it was taken out my taxes.
I'm all for good public art.
Most of the time it sucks,
this mural does not suck.
New York isn't exactly the most
beautiful city in the world.

What's wrong with a little
expression
and making the world a little less conventional?

More murals!
More art!
More love!

.and you're wasting my time.

Honestly,
this is the first time in
a really long time
I've been affected by a TV
advertisement.

But I love
the new Kotex ads
and it actually makes me want to buy
and support
a company that recognizes
how silly tampon advertisements are.
(they also have crazy-totally-wouldn't-fly-in-the-US ads in Australia)

.new york, you're safer.

Is it just me
or has anyone else
noticed the massive
increase
in pot themed
television programming
this year on this day from last?

.pulling minimum wage.

I forgot to talk about this
before
but this is the reason
I've loved Dave Grohl
since I was 12.

Of course,
it did lead to
a very real hospitalization
due to a coffee overdose.

That's the way to go
coffee overdose.
Delicious heart failure.

.like a rat in a cage.

Jeez,
made an update from
my phone
which disappeared.

Went something like this:
(11:30pm-ish)
Weird smell and
massive amounts of firetrucks
and ambulances.

Look out the window and see a
massive
cloud of black smoke
coming from a few blocks
north.

Hope no one got hurt.

Sad.

-------------------

UPDATE: The fire was massive and took over 250 firefighters from 60 departments all over the city to put out but lucky (amazingly) no one was hurt. Article with crazy pictures at the New York Times (no subscription needed to see it).
UPDATE 2: Gawker has a post with crazy video inside! And a rescued cat!

.but you're bringing me down.

I've been in the
Upper East Side
a lot for interviews
and museums
and whatnots recently
(weird, right?)
and also in the Bronx
and there is no reasonable
explanation
of the 6 line.
What part of this:


















makes sense
Especially when you're
on the train
and one goes every other stop
(not shown - not sure why)
while the other train
makes up those stops.

If all else fails in trying to
understand
this abomination
of a subway line
just read this
weekend service announcement
and try to make left
from right.

.new york, i love you.

Here's the breakdown:

• I can't believe Canal Street is no longer the home to all things counterfeit. It just won't be the same walking around without some guy pushing a piece of paper with pictures of fake Chanel bags in your hand. Is this also the cut down of the baby turtle trade?
• Oooo, this looks good.
  
• Look at these sad, sad numbers. Come on Williamsburg, even my neighborhood is beating you - and you know those Census (Censi?) didn't come in Chinese (only Spanish/English - Dios bendiga América).
• This is upsetting to me.
• I watched the final scenes of Alejandro Jodorowsky's Holy Mountain during dinner last night, not such a good idea. A FYI really.
• I don't know which I like more, Lost or watching Lost with my Mom 195 miles away with commentary via text message. Classic from her, "Oh fuck noooooo" (verbatim). Classic from me, "Excellentness.....Whoa! Who was that in the preview?!"
• Oh Inky, you silly cat.
• Photo above is from the snowpocalypse or whatever they were calling it. Just a reminder to myself really as I grumbled my way to an interview with heels and a blazer in 90 degree weather.
  

(flip record to side 4B)

This is the baby seal
that lives on the Hudson
(ew, gross, I know)
I love it.
I want it to love me.
I wonder if it came from
San Francisco?

.your love is gonna drown.

Ooops.
Left the hummus
uncovered for
too long.

.first iPhone post.

What part of no uptown train do you not understand? I know most of the signs are in Chinese and yes that's weird and frustrating but there are also signs in English and are posted all over the turnstiles that remind you NO UPTOWN TRAINS THIS WEEKEND!

I helped the young Russian couple because they were very, very confuse and as someone who has navigated international subway construction rerouting, I know it's very unsettling and sorta scary. But the rest of you have no excuse.

The guy said to me with his heavy accent, "So everyone here is waiting for a train that won't come?"
Yes sir, they are and unlike you they have no excuse.

Subway on weekends & at night = always fucked up. Always always always.

That's all. And hooray for mobile updating!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

.it slowly rises.

Drunks giving
fellow drunks
directions to the best place
to grab
a cab.
At 10pm.

Gotta love New York.

.half empty or half full.

Me.
Today.
FYI.

.but while you debate.

Just saw
sex, lies, and videotapes.

Jaw, meet floor.
Awesome.
And I don't even like Steven Soderbergh!

Amazing dialogue.
Loved it.

.in the sound.

Soooo....
Is there a terrible
smelling person
who lives in the E. B'way subway station
and
the station just happens to smell like
bacon
or
is there a person who smells like
urine and bacon simultaneously?

And I've also noticed that the only things
that come of out my
super's apartment
is pot and puppies.

.and there is comfort.

Dear Jackasses,

Your sexual harassment in light of the nice weather is predictable, trite and unwelcome.

-Me

.that leaks.

Yeah! Oscars! Well, not really because this past year really sucked for movies. Sure, I enjoyed a couple, but they were far and few between. I was watching one of my favorite movies, American Splendor, which came out in 2003 and thought, man, indie films just aren't as good. 2003 was a great year for movies. As was 2004. But 2009, blah. Usually I can't wait to see all the Best Picture nominees but alas, not this year. With that said, here's my commentary on the nominees and my picks (this year I'm going with my heart - whoo hoo!):

BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY/ANIMATION - I have no idea and therefor picked the one with the cutest name, A Matter of Loaf and Death. Awwww.

BEST DOCUMENTARY - I don't even know. And I usually always know. Sigh.

BEST FOREIGN - Again, I usually know, but this year I'm at a loss. Even though the Academy sometimes has odd taste in foreign films (last year Waltz with Bashir lost, seriously?) Um...let's go with the Frenchy!

BEST ANIMATED - I don't think it's fair that one of the nominees, Up, is in this category and Best Picture. That's sort of mean to the other filmmakers, am I right? But I did hear The Fantastic Mr. Fox was great and I really loved Coraline and it's artistic use of 3D (not just things popping in your face). It's Up - did you not cry in the first 10 minutes? Yes, yes you did.

BEST VISUALS/EDITING/CINEMATOGRAPHY/MIXING - In all these techie awards (which I don't understand why they aren't given out at the Techie Oscars for all the behind the scenes people who rarely see daylight - and hilariously always feature a host that is a hot young actress - gotta know your audience) I'm going with The Hurt Locker when possible 'cause fuck James Cameron.

BEST SONG - Randy Newman is back! But will loose to T-Bone Burnett for his Crazy Heart song. Why? Because it's T-Bone Burnett one of the greatest living music producers and singer/writer of one of my favorite songs, Earlier Baghdad (The Bounce). I heard it unplugged on the radio and almost cried because it was so wonderful. Also, his name is T-Bone. Sweeeeet.

BEST MAKE-UP AND COSTUME - I'm not usually good at this sort of thing because I think they all look great. I love costumes....sigh.

BEST ART DIRECTION and SOUNDTRACK - I'm going with my gut and saying Sherlock Holmes because yes I liked the movie but one of the first things I thought was wow, what a great soundtrack and the art direction is spot on. Even if you hate RDJ (how?! why?!) and think the plot is stupid (it isn't) you'll really like the feeling of the entire movie - it's technically very good and should get the recognition it deserves. That and Guy Ritchie survived a marriage to Madonna. Good for you!

BEST SCREENPLAY (ORIGINAL) - Give it to Taratino. He'll give the best speech.....Mother fucker.

BEST SCREENPLAY (ADAPTED) - I love that Nick Horby is nominated. Top 5! Good job. But I freaking loved In the Loop and thought it was one of the most well written, clever scripts in a really long time. The only reason it hasn't done better, I guess, is that it's super, super political and British (the Scottish guy gets pissed at an American because he called him English - my boyfriend and I agreed that most people didn't get it) which I guess turns people off. Yes, I know you have to listen to what they're saying and follow the dialogue and not just look at the pretty blue people. It's soooo hard. Idiots.

BEST DIRECTOR - If Cameron gets this I'll throw something at the TV. Not joking. Kathryn Bigelow will get it because the Academy will looooove themselves for finally giving it to a woman. Honestly, a woman has never won this award and looking back I can't think of any who deserved it. I think people are also thrown off that a woman could direct a war movie and not some rom-com or Beaches type thing. Yes, all us woman like to do it watch weepy movies.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR AND ACTRESS - Mo'Nique (I loath stupid spellings of names. LOATH it) and Waltz. Duh. Although Woody Fucking Harrelson (don't get it. Rent Zombieland) is awesome and I would like to have a drink with him (Cheers? Cheers? Anyone? Nevermind).

BEST ACTOR - Again, duh. The Dude. The Dude for President/Leader of the Universe. Jeff Bridges is one of the coolest people on the planet and will be in Tron 2. Seriously. He's 60 and will be in Tron 2. Awesome.

BEST ACTRESS (breaking it down):

• Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side) - Sorry Mom but fuck Sandra Bullock. Seriously. I'm not even kidding when I say she's in some of the most mediocre (if not awful) movies of the last 15 years and when the Blind Side ads came out saying she'd be nominated for an Oscar we all laughed and laughed because it's Saundra Bullock. Watching her try to be serious (Infamous, Crash, etc.) is painful. Cross my heart painful. Yes, she's very sweet and sometimes says funny things but no, no, no. She's like Julia Roberts - everyone loves her but me and I'm left standing there thinking, I just don't get it. But she might get it because in the last few years the Academy has decided to give it to pretty, popular actresses who make one okay, over dramatic movie out of a career of crap (ie: Julia Roberts, Charlize Theron, Halle Berry, Helen Hun, Gwyneth Paltrow and to a lesser extent Reese Witherspoon - who was in Election so I can't hate her)
  
• Helen Mirren (The Last Station) - The What Station? Huh? Was this movie released in more than two theaters?
• Carey Mulligan (An Education) - Winner. Yep, I know, I'm going for the unknown. I think she'll pull an Adrien Brody and upset all the more established actors. She'll also uphold the time honored tradition of the next movie the Best Actress winner is in will suck by appearing in Wall Street 2 (no, I'm not making that up). She's also elegant and a cutie and I generally like her even if she's dating Shia LaBeouf (when did he stop appearing in fun indie movies - ie: The Battle of Shaker Heights - and become a dick? I would like to know the exact moment. Signing the Transformers contract? Yes, that has to be it)
  
• Gabourey Sidibe (Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire) - Have you heard this girl speak? She's is one of the funniest, most well spoken actresses I've heard. Her smile makes me happy. I would love to see her win...but she won't.
• Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia) - Do you think she's tired on being nominated? I do. She wasn't even paying attention when they were reading her name at the Golden Globes. She was reading something with her husband. Ha! If Mulligan don't get it I think Streep will. She's likable and a great actress who has proven she can do any role.

(and finally) BEST PICTURE (breaking it down, again) (PS: I dig the ten movies idea but it's a shame it started up in a year that sucked for movies)

• Avatar - Boo.
  
• The Blind Side - Bleh.
  
• District 9 - Dorks rejoice!
• An Education - Nope.
• The Hurt Locker - Yep.
• Inglorious Basterds - Ineligible for spelling error.
• Precious - Spent too much time crying - no one actually saw the movie
• A Serious Man - Not a snowballs chance in hell (see below)
  
• Up - Too cute.
  
• Up in the Air - Boring.

Anyone who has half a brain and isn't blind/deaf/dumb/can't-play-a-mean-pinball knows that A Serious Man was the best movie last year. Hands down. Like, nothing came close to it. Well written, great, natural acting, beautifully shot and a subtle, intelligent script with a hell of an ending. Coen brothers=gods. Ends of story.
RECAP:
In the Loop and Serious Man - Best movies of 2009
Up - Cute and sad.
Where the Wild Things Are - NO NOMINATIONS!?!?
Avatar - Blow me.
Hosts - Eh.
RDJ - future husband.
Carey Mulligan - get new boyfriend.
Best Cameo in a Motion Picture - Zombieland

Well, that's it.Thanks for sticking with this craziness. I'll be chowing down on some pizza leftovers and veggie chili in Baltimore. See you next week to report on the awesomeness known as jury duty. Ta kids!



(good luck goober!)

.just like a faucet.

I. Hate. Babies. In. Bars.
Hate it.
Not only because I
feel
the need to be on my
best behavior
(I'm in a bar drinking - talking loudly, cursing and bumping into things is part of the process even thought I should note that I rarely get like this, sans the talking loudly but I mean, come on, it's a bar with crappy music on full blast)
but because,
oh, I don't know,
babies shouldn't be bars.

No one under 21 should
be in bars.
I thought this was a
basic understanding of
modern existence.

I was at Floyd on Atlantic Avenue
5ish - still early
and Hipster Mom and Hipster Dad
(and Hipster Uncle/Friend or something)
come in with
Lil' Hip (aged 18ish-months - I'm pretty bad at that sort of thing).
Mom, Dad and Uncle/Friend have their
beers
as Lil' is standing/leaning on a table
(like little baby humans do 'cause they have no balance)
reaching to play with
lit candle on table
with the rest of the
crew
yap and yap about whatever.

Um, hello?
Your life ended when you got
knocked up.
I thought this was
another
fact of human existence.
Life ends for 18 years.
Get
a
damn
sitter.

Shell out the whopping 20 bucks
to have some tween
sit your kid.

You live in Park Slope
with those $1k strollers
you have the cash.

Read this article that still haunts me today
and you'll realize everything that is
wrong
with parenting today.
I am so not looking forward to
seeing what these kids are like
in 15/16 years.

(photo from here, but I'm not sure where it originated)

.through a pinhole.

I think
I cut more
hair
off my head than
there were inches of
snowfall
last week.

Ready for spring,
I guess.