Sunday, February 24, 2008
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
It gets better and better...
Living in Phoenix is a mixed blessing. As it becomes more populated and the traffic becomes almost unbearable, the city planners are paying more attention to the downtown area and improving public transportation and the city's cultural center. But for its size, it's always been a bit of a cow town.
You can find things to do if you know where to look, and that has always been true, but it's getting easier and easier, and the quality is improving. There is even vibrancy downtown now; well, around events like First Fridays, but at least it's getting better.
But this week there's a Krzysztof Zanussi film festival - a seemingly random event for this town. Prior to this, the area was only known for its art - Scottsdale is a pretty big art center. Now we have 2 very decent film festivals that are becoming players on the national festival circuit - Phoenix and Scottsdale - and edgier ones like the Jewish and the Gay/Lesbian film festivals. But a Zanussi film festival? He's even going to be here in person.
Zanussi heavily influenced Krzysztof Kieslowski, a fellow Pole who also began his career under communist rule. Kieslowski's Blue, White, Red (Colors Trilogy), is one of my favorites of all time, and I just happen to be re-watching it this month with Kevin... but I'm unfamiliar with Zanussi's work... So it's great timing to have this seemingly random event drop in our laps...
So yay Phoenix. I'm still gonna leave though. :-)
You can find things to do if you know where to look, and that has always been true, but it's getting easier and easier, and the quality is improving. There is even vibrancy downtown now; well, around events like First Fridays, but at least it's getting better.
But this week there's a Krzysztof Zanussi film festival - a seemingly random event for this town. Prior to this, the area was only known for its art - Scottsdale is a pretty big art center. Now we have 2 very decent film festivals that are becoming players on the national festival circuit - Phoenix and Scottsdale - and edgier ones like the Jewish and the Gay/Lesbian film festivals. But a Zanussi film festival? He's even going to be here in person.
Zanussi heavily influenced Krzysztof Kieslowski, a fellow Pole who also began his career under communist rule. Kieslowski's Blue, White, Red (Colors Trilogy), is one of my favorites of all time, and I just happen to be re-watching it this month with Kevin... but I'm unfamiliar with Zanussi's work... So it's great timing to have this seemingly random event drop in our laps...
So yay Phoenix. I'm still gonna leave though. :-)
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
My cool mom
Most of my friends, when they meet my mom, ask to be adopted. They visit her in Florida without me, and she has been known to drive 4.5 hours to a Springsteen party. (Don't ask.) She previews Jon Stewart for me at 11 every night to let me know if I should watch it the next day at 8 my time... she sends me articles about current events and forwards sarcastic email jokes and saves signed first edition books for me... you get the picture.
But in addition to being funny and hip (no, I'm not referring to the springsteen part), she is really nice, so she is not able to just send a sarcastic card when holidays roll around, she has to send nice ones too. So here is the funny one I got for V-day:
Happy V-day to you too, mom.
But in addition to being funny and hip (no, I'm not referring to the springsteen part), she is really nice, so she is not able to just send a sarcastic card when holidays roll around, she has to send nice ones too. So here is the funny one I got for V-day:
Happy V-day to you too, mom.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Not quite what I was planning...
"Everyone has a story. Can you tell yours in six words? Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure collects almost 1,000 six-word memoirs... Surprisingly addictive, Not Quite is both a moving peek at the minutia of humanity and the most literary toilet reading you’ll ever find."
Funny stuff - check out some of the quotes:
"I thought it was funny." Stephen Colbert
"Couldn't cope so I wrote songs." Aimee Mann
"Fifteen years since last professional haircut." Dave Eggers
Right off the top of my head, I'd say mine is
Takes a licking, keeps on ticking
Send yours or click on the title link to submit yours to be considered for SMITH's next six-word memoir book.
Friday, February 08, 2008
It was 20 years ago today...
That I moved from Sarasota, Florida, to Phoenix.
Aside from a brief timeout for bad behavior, during which I was exiled to Southern California, I have happily called Phoenix my home since 1988. The city has changed dramatically in that time; the population has increased by about 16%, the traffic has increased by about 2000%, the summers have gotten hotter, and the winters colder. This is the first place that ever felt like home to me, and this is the longest I have lived in one place.
When I moved here, there was no Highway 51, no Trader Joe's, one independent theater, and no one went downtown except for First Fridays. In 1991 you could go to First Fridays and literally take over the empty galleries, eat all the food, and they actually served drinks. The Ice House had great parties and installations. Now, while it's so much more fun (well, except for the Ice House), sometimes you have to wait in line to get a good look at a cool painting. And, while you could easily get on the Art Detour back then - just sign up, which we did in a short-lived gallery called Artcentricity, the art is so much better now and the shuttles so much more organized.
We didn't have the cool Wil Bruder library, or the remodeled Art Museum. But we had the Refreshments, the Gin Blossoms, the Pistoleros, and all the other great Tempe-based bands. We had Long Wongs, Chuy's, and the Library - Mill Avenue was a street lined with independent stores rather than corporate chains. But now we have at least 3 great Irish pubs and some high quality concert venues. No one will ever miss the pit that was the Coliseum.
I have some of the same friends I made that first year (hey Mark and Greg), but most have moved on, because Phoenix remains a transient place. The upside of that is that people are always moving here - I meet new people every year.
When I leave, I will miss most of it. I just can't believe I've lived somewhere for 20 years.
Aside from a brief timeout for bad behavior, during which I was exiled to Southern California, I have happily called Phoenix my home since 1988. The city has changed dramatically in that time; the population has increased by about 16%, the traffic has increased by about 2000%, the summers have gotten hotter, and the winters colder. This is the first place that ever felt like home to me, and this is the longest I have lived in one place.
When I moved here, there was no Highway 51, no Trader Joe's, one independent theater, and no one went downtown except for First Fridays. In 1991 you could go to First Fridays and literally take over the empty galleries, eat all the food, and they actually served drinks. The Ice House had great parties and installations. Now, while it's so much more fun (well, except for the Ice House), sometimes you have to wait in line to get a good look at a cool painting. And, while you could easily get on the Art Detour back then - just sign up, which we did in a short-lived gallery called Artcentricity, the art is so much better now and the shuttles so much more organized.
We didn't have the cool Wil Bruder library, or the remodeled Art Museum. But we had the Refreshments, the Gin Blossoms, the Pistoleros, and all the other great Tempe-based bands. We had Long Wongs, Chuy's, and the Library - Mill Avenue was a street lined with independent stores rather than corporate chains. But now we have at least 3 great Irish pubs and some high quality concert venues. No one will ever miss the pit that was the Coliseum.
I have some of the same friends I made that first year (hey Mark and Greg), but most have moved on, because Phoenix remains a transient place. The upside of that is that people are always moving here - I meet new people every year.
When I leave, I will miss most of it. I just can't believe I've lived somewhere for 20 years.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Wind Dam
This project that looks like a cross between a sail boat and a creature out of Pan's Labyrinth is actually a proposed wind dam, to be built in northern Russia's Lake Lagoda. The creators actually intend for it to look sculptural in addition to being functional. It will harness the wind like a sail, or kite, and send it through a turbine, which is the white part. If approved, the makers estimate the dam could power up to 35 homes per year.
If it successful, they plan to market it world-wide. It would look beautiful in the Arizona mountains too. Despite how jarring the windmill farm is when you first see it, entering Palm Springs, it becomes almost other worldly when you're driving through it. Something colorful and floating in the desert would be oh so wonderful.
If only more designers were supported for giving objects a magical appearance, something to provoke a sense of wonder or emotion, like you get from art.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Favorite flicks in January
U23D
Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Cloverfield
This is England
Eastern Promises
The Orphanage
Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Cloverfield
This is England
Eastern Promises
The Orphanage
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
H.L. Mencken
H.L. Mencken died on this date in 1956. Here are some of his great quotes.
Giving every man a vote has no more made men wise and free than Christianity has made them good.
The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.
All government, of course, is against liberty.
A national political campaign is better than the best circus ever heard of, with a mass baptism and a couple of hangings thrown in.
A politician is an animal which can sit on a fence and yet keep both ears to the ground.
A society made up of individuals who were all capable of original thought would probably be unendurable.
Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.
Democracy is the art and science of running the circus from the monkey cage.
Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods.
Giving every man a vote has no more made men wise and free than Christianity has made them good.
The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.
All government, of course, is against liberty.
A national political campaign is better than the best circus ever heard of, with a mass baptism and a couple of hangings thrown in.
A politician is an animal which can sit on a fence and yet keep both ears to the ground.
A society made up of individuals who were all capable of original thought would probably be unendurable.
Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.
Democracy is the art and science of running the circus from the monkey cage.
Every election is a sort of advance auction sale of stolen goods.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Random Quotes of the Week
"I have gotten so pale, I am Jonferatu..." Jon P
"My head is sodden like the earth itself..." Jeff
Following U2 movie,
"I feel like I just had sex." ... Tracy
"I want a robot Bono, I want a Robono"... Me
"Blursh ... up.. mmm ... hic" ... Joann
"I'm going on the next tour, even if I'm in a wheelchair." Joann
Most out of Character Quote of the Year
"You can't expect me to give up a job for a Bruce concert." Carolyn
"My head is sodden like the earth itself..." Jeff
Following U2 movie,
"I feel like I just had sex." ... Tracy
"I want a robot Bono, I want a Robono"... Me
"Blursh ... up.. mmm ... hic" ... Joann
"I'm going on the next tour, even if I'm in a wheelchair." Joann
Most out of Character Quote of the Year
"You can't expect me to give up a job for a Bruce concert." Carolyn
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Interesting Blogs
One of the interesting sociological developments springing from the popularity of the web is how people combine spirituality with technology. You HAVE to have a website, right? Even if you're a guru on a mountaintop, otherwise how would anyone know where to seek you?
One might think that spirituality is inherently, almost diametrically opposed to technology, because we perceive technology as impersonal, an abstraction of real life. I started thinking about it when I tried to find a new yoga studio when my old one went belly up, so to speak.
That is a related concept - making a business out of yoga. It's just like any other business. My studio did virtually no advertising and it was tucked away in the hind side of a strip mall. It was great, the instructors were good, it had a little store (they were going to sell my pavers - Namaste, peace, etc of course). :-( But apparently one cannot Ohm their way into knowing how to run a business, or perhaps they did not have enough time to do so.
So I googled yoga studio phoenix, and found a new place which is more organized and busy, and discovered that it treats yoga more like a business too, with more expensive rates, many rules, crowded practice rooms, and a lot of advertising. So it's a trade-off, but at least they're open. Anyway, on my way to that site, I stumbled upon ads for books and sites for meditation.
The ads are not tasteless - Click Here for Soul Growth! I noticed one for Deepak Chopra (who normally bugs me just b/c he IS so famous) and clicked on the Intent Blog. It's pretty cool - one of the first posts was about the economy and probable recession, by one of the contributors who is looking for a way to create a sustainable, wisdom-based global economy. Of course - EVERYTHING is related, so if we treat the economy as a living thing, and create economic theory using say, the wisdom of Ghandi - makes sense, no? So here is that link - Intent Blog.
That same contributor has started a new group called the Holistic Quantum Relativity Group, a bit more esoteric, with a goal of uniting Science with Spirituality as presented by the Great Spiritual Masters like Socrates, Pythagoras, Jesus, Maulana Rumi, Lao Tse Tsu, Kabir and Kirpal. The introduction features a vector illustration that 'visualizes' part of string theory, showing that it looks like the petal lotus symbol used in eastern religions.
Hey, you had me at Holistic Quantum Relativity. One of the by-lines is "The Entire World is One Family. Listen, learn, and love." Posts are encouraged, as they are at Chopra's site - so in addition to the good stuff you get, and it is stuff to really sink your teeth into, you are going to see a lot of entertaining wacko posts. Holistic Quantum Relativity Group.
One might think that spirituality is inherently, almost diametrically opposed to technology, because we perceive technology as impersonal, an abstraction of real life. I started thinking about it when I tried to find a new yoga studio when my old one went belly up, so to speak.
That is a related concept - making a business out of yoga. It's just like any other business. My studio did virtually no advertising and it was tucked away in the hind side of a strip mall. It was great, the instructors were good, it had a little store (they were going to sell my pavers - Namaste, peace, etc of course). :-( But apparently one cannot Ohm their way into knowing how to run a business, or perhaps they did not have enough time to do so.
So I googled yoga studio phoenix, and found a new place which is more organized and busy, and discovered that it treats yoga more like a business too, with more expensive rates, many rules, crowded practice rooms, and a lot of advertising. So it's a trade-off, but at least they're open. Anyway, on my way to that site, I stumbled upon ads for books and sites for meditation.
The ads are not tasteless - Click Here for Soul Growth! I noticed one for Deepak Chopra (who normally bugs me just b/c he IS so famous) and clicked on the Intent Blog. It's pretty cool - one of the first posts was about the economy and probable recession, by one of the contributors who is looking for a way to create a sustainable, wisdom-based global economy. Of course - EVERYTHING is related, so if we treat the economy as a living thing, and create economic theory using say, the wisdom of Ghandi - makes sense, no? So here is that link - Intent Blog.
That same contributor has started a new group called the Holistic Quantum Relativity Group, a bit more esoteric, with a goal of uniting Science with Spirituality as presented by the Great Spiritual Masters like Socrates, Pythagoras, Jesus, Maulana Rumi, Lao Tse Tsu, Kabir and Kirpal. The introduction features a vector illustration that 'visualizes' part of string theory, showing that it looks like the petal lotus symbol used in eastern religions.
Hey, you had me at Holistic Quantum Relativity. One of the by-lines is "The Entire World is One Family. Listen, learn, and love." Posts are encouraged, as they are at Chopra's site - so in addition to the good stuff you get, and it is stuff to really sink your teeth into, you are going to see a lot of entertaining wacko posts. Holistic Quantum Relativity Group.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Even Better than the Real Thing
Well, not exactly, but only in this U23D adventure can you actually get right up in Bono's face, unless you're the one chosen to dance at the real show...
If you did not go to any shows on this tour, or if you want to see the gigantic stage set up they used abroad, with the 90-foot bank of effects/lights, this is like being there. Well, it's actually more like being a bird and being there. And it's kind of overwhelming, this view. At one point, from the side, you see the crowd jumping up and down, making a weird wave-like effect, and Joann and I both pointed and said - 'Dublin!' It was that overwhelming...
It wasn't filmed in Dublin though, it was filmed mostly in Argentina - it's a reminder of U2's huge popularity when you watch fans for whom English is not their first language, singing along with every song. And a reminder too, of how really uptight Americans are when it comes to expressing emotion and really enjoying themselves at a show. The shows I went to locally were just a pale comparison in terms of audience appreciation and participation. Not to mention, way more aggressive idiots here.
The film is not just a 3D concert either, it's an aesthetic experience, a work of art in its own right. If you've been to some shows you know that they incorporate mostly video art, but they have also produced some spectacular effects just with lighting - like projecting the names of the 9/11 victims onto the crowd itself... but this gives them a chance to combine art and show in a way that feels natural - the art enhances the effects of the songs, and there is a feeling of immersion in it that you couldn't get at a show, because you are always aware of your surroundings.
There was a moment in the last 5 minutes of the Dublin show where I was right up front and the bank of lights was displaying words and images faster than I could comprehend them, and the music was incredibly loud (second go of Vertigo), and I was off my feet, taken along with taller people who were moving forward, and jumping up and down - I felt like I was out of my body, and actually had a bit of trouble reorienting when it was over... There were a couple minutes like that in the movie - totally unexpected.
So anyway, go, even if you're the most casual fan, (and you'll like the setlist then) it's worth it.
If you did not go to any shows on this tour, or if you want to see the gigantic stage set up they used abroad, with the 90-foot bank of effects/lights, this is like being there. Well, it's actually more like being a bird and being there. And it's kind of overwhelming, this view. At one point, from the side, you see the crowd jumping up and down, making a weird wave-like effect, and Joann and I both pointed and said - 'Dublin!' It was that overwhelming...
It wasn't filmed in Dublin though, it was filmed mostly in Argentina - it's a reminder of U2's huge popularity when you watch fans for whom English is not their first language, singing along with every song. And a reminder too, of how really uptight Americans are when it comes to expressing emotion and really enjoying themselves at a show. The shows I went to locally were just a pale comparison in terms of audience appreciation and participation. Not to mention, way more aggressive idiots here.
The film is not just a 3D concert either, it's an aesthetic experience, a work of art in its own right. If you've been to some shows you know that they incorporate mostly video art, but they have also produced some spectacular effects just with lighting - like projecting the names of the 9/11 victims onto the crowd itself... but this gives them a chance to combine art and show in a way that feels natural - the art enhances the effects of the songs, and there is a feeling of immersion in it that you couldn't get at a show, because you are always aware of your surroundings.
There was a moment in the last 5 minutes of the Dublin show where I was right up front and the bank of lights was displaying words and images faster than I could comprehend them, and the music was incredibly loud (second go of Vertigo), and I was off my feet, taken along with taller people who were moving forward, and jumping up and down - I felt like I was out of my body, and actually had a bit of trouble reorienting when it was over... There were a couple minutes like that in the movie - totally unexpected.
So anyway, go, even if you're the most casual fan, (and you'll like the setlist then) it's worth it.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Octopus loves Mr Potatohead
Louis the octopus clearly thinks two heads are better than one when it comes to toys.
The 1.8m-wide (6ft) creature is so attached to Mr Potato Head that he turns aggressive when aquarium staff try to remove it from his tank.
The giant Pacific octopus was given the toy for Christmas and has even learned to dig out food hidden in a secret box at the back of it.
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