This picture makes sense if you click on Mondale's link.
Friday, July 29, 2005
Thursday, July 28, 2005
I Got Frisked in NYC And All I Got Was This Lousy Visa Plastic Bag
Recently, the NYPD has started a program of checking bags randomly of people who want to enter the subway. If a person refuses to be searched, he or she will be denied admission but can head to another station that might not have a police presence there.
For years, I've been surprised that there hasn't been a major subway attack in our country. It would be so easy to do as seen in London. I'm not quite sure how to really protect the public from these attacks but I'm pretty sure, halfass bagchecking measures are not the answer. Much like Bush and Co. used 9/11 to invade Iraq, imprison people all over the world, and ramrod the Patriot Act down our throats, the NYPD commish Ray Kelly is happy to seize on the devastation in London to enact his dreams.
Ah yes, the ever popular "give away your rights for your safety" line of reasoning. Hey, if it is good enough for the Federal Government, why not the NYPD?
But even if people are okay with giving up a little privacy for security, what makes these clowns think that this will actually work?
Wonderful. People are showing their bags to the police! I wonder if any of the fine citizens volunteering their bags were courteous suicide bombers. What a load of shit this all is. And they aren't even checking at every stop. Do they really think that a terrorist who sees that he can't get on a train at Wall. St is so dumb that he can't head into Brooklyn to get on a Wall St. bound train to then detonate his bomb? It reminds me of the bullshit that goes on every game at Yankee Stadium. You are not allowed to bring in a bag to the game. If you have a plastic bag, they make you empty out your possessions into a clear plastic Yankees/ Visa/ Adias bag for no discernible reason.
To alleviate some of my fears, I probably wouldn't mind if they actually frisked everyone that came through the doors or had bomb sniffing dogs or something. But this sort of mindless PR security measure serves no purpose other than to pay the NYPD overtime for bullshit.
For years, I've been surprised that there hasn't been a major subway attack in our country. It would be so easy to do as seen in London. I'm not quite sure how to really protect the public from these attacks but I'm pretty sure, halfass bagchecking measures are not the answer. Much like Bush and Co. used 9/11 to invade Iraq, imprison people all over the world, and ramrod the Patriot Act down our throats, the NYPD commish Ray Kelly is happy to seize on the devastation in London to enact his dreams.
"The reality is, you need an event such as London for people to realize this is a procedure put in place for their safety. Searches are intrusive. The issue is what the public will accept. You still need an event to get public support."
Ah yes, the ever popular "give away your rights for your safety" line of reasoning. Hey, if it is good enough for the Federal Government, why not the NYPD?
But even if people are okay with giving up a little privacy for security, what makes these clowns think that this will actually work?
"There are three reasons for doing this," said Mark Juergensmeyer, a security expert at the University of California, Santa Barbara. "First, that you actually hope to discover a bomb. Second, to give the impression to a bomber that it will be difficult to succeed. And third, to give the appearance or illusion of security to make the public happy."
"Probably the third is the most important," added Professor Juergensmeyer, the director of the university's global and international studies program. "Don't discount the importance of that."
Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly acknowledged as much in an interview yesterday, saying deterrence was not the only intention of the program.
"I see it also as giving some comfort to the riding public," he said. "We actually had people who came over and volunteered to have their bags checked - kind of supporting the process."
Wonderful. People are showing their bags to the police! I wonder if any of the fine citizens volunteering their bags were courteous suicide bombers. What a load of shit this all is. And they aren't even checking at every stop. Do they really think that a terrorist who sees that he can't get on a train at Wall. St is so dumb that he can't head into Brooklyn to get on a Wall St. bound train to then detonate his bomb? It reminds me of the bullshit that goes on every game at Yankee Stadium. You are not allowed to bring in a bag to the game. If you have a plastic bag, they make you empty out your possessions into a clear plastic Yankees/ Visa/ Adias bag for no discernible reason.
To alleviate some of my fears, I probably wouldn't mind if they actually frisked everyone that came through the doors or had bomb sniffing dogs or something. But this sort of mindless PR security measure serves no purpose other than to pay the NYPD overtime for bullshit.
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Three Shows Given Two Episodes Each to Win My Affections
Battlestar Galactica
I want to like this show. Honest, I do. But damnit, if I hear the word "fracking" one more time, I'm going to break something. I watched the first episode of the first season and wasn't that impressed. However, after hearing the buzz that this show was the most excellentest ever and that it was an amazing social commentary, I had to give it another shot. It's okay. The herky jerky camera motions to create a chaotic world are annoying to me. Some of the actors are a little too modely for me (although that didn't stop me from loving Starship Troopers) and everything seems a little too flat to me. The whole thing seems like a soap opera in space. I can understand why others like this but I won't be partaking.
Verdict: No More
Although I just talked to Jim about this show over dinner and now I'm thinking I'm wrong to not give it another shot. Sigh.
Hooking Up
ABC News goes in depth on the whole wacky internet dating world. You might not have heard of such a thing but apparently a lot of people find their mates these days using the World Wide Web. Eleven women were chosen by the producers to be followed. The first two episodes were pretty good and fairly entertaining. I would have assumed that Balgavy would have loved this show but he doesn't. If it isn't good enough for Balgavy, it isn't good enough for me.
Verdict: No More
The First 48
A and E's big show. Alex J. has been raving about this show for awhile but I'm not quite as obsessed with the police as he is. Still, I was intrigued so I gave it a shot. Each show follows a different homicide squad as they investigate during the first 48 hours. It has some really amazing elements to it. It makes me appreciate good police shows like Homicide even more because many of the real life elements are just like the ones on fictional shows. There have been some amazing moments in the first two episodes I've watched and I feel like I've learned some things about the latest in detective technology and methods. The two episodes both took place in poor neighborhoods and the homicides were drug-related. The image of a heroin addict shooting up into his neck in an vacant lot was incredibly chilling.
But there are parts of this show that I don't like. There are a few typical Fox moments with dumb sound effects added to the proceedings. Alex is right when he points out that the narrator can be a little over the top. Plus, it reminds me of a great documentary that was on a few years ago on Court TV called Brooklyn North Homicide Squad about a nearby precinct. Marc and I were quite excited to watch an episode that featured a murder only a block away. Hell, we could see the apartment in question from our window! That show was much better than The First 48 because it was more cinema verite and less Fox Sports.
Verdict: At least one more episode.
I want to like this show. Honest, I do. But damnit, if I hear the word "fracking" one more time, I'm going to break something. I watched the first episode of the first season and wasn't that impressed. However, after hearing the buzz that this show was the most excellentest ever and that it was an amazing social commentary, I had to give it another shot. It's okay. The herky jerky camera motions to create a chaotic world are annoying to me. Some of the actors are a little too modely for me (although that didn't stop me from loving Starship Troopers) and everything seems a little too flat to me. The whole thing seems like a soap opera in space. I can understand why others like this but I won't be partaking.
Verdict: No More
Although I just talked to Jim about this show over dinner and now I'm thinking I'm wrong to not give it another shot. Sigh.
Hooking Up
ABC News goes in depth on the whole wacky internet dating world. You might not have heard of such a thing but apparently a lot of people find their mates these days using the World Wide Web. Eleven women were chosen by the producers to be followed. The first two episodes were pretty good and fairly entertaining. I would have assumed that Balgavy would have loved this show but he doesn't. If it isn't good enough for Balgavy, it isn't good enough for me.
Verdict: No More
The First 48
A and E's big show. Alex J. has been raving about this show for awhile but I'm not quite as obsessed with the police as he is. Still, I was intrigued so I gave it a shot. Each show follows a different homicide squad as they investigate during the first 48 hours. It has some really amazing elements to it. It makes me appreciate good police shows like Homicide even more because many of the real life elements are just like the ones on fictional shows. There have been some amazing moments in the first two episodes I've watched and I feel like I've learned some things about the latest in detective technology and methods. The two episodes both took place in poor neighborhoods and the homicides were drug-related. The image of a heroin addict shooting up into his neck in an vacant lot was incredibly chilling.
But there are parts of this show that I don't like. There are a few typical Fox moments with dumb sound effects added to the proceedings. Alex is right when he points out that the narrator can be a little over the top. Plus, it reminds me of a great documentary that was on a few years ago on Court TV called Brooklyn North Homicide Squad about a nearby precinct. Marc and I were quite excited to watch an episode that featured a murder only a block away. Hell, we could see the apartment in question from our window! That show was much better than The First 48 because it was more cinema verite and less Fox Sports.
Verdict: At least one more episode.
Al Qaeda's Worst Nightmare
In case you were worried that Michael Bolton was going to cancel his upcoming world tour because of recent terrorist attacks, worry no more. He's coming to a town near you and he's pissed!
"I don't feel like giving the terrorists any more victory than they already have. This is World War III, the war against terrorism. We are about to be tested in ways we've never been tested before."
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Monday, July 25, 2005
Why Is It 9:10 PM and I'm Just Now Finding Out About This?
The rock musician Huey Lewis will make his first appearance on Broadway in "Chicago" at the Ambassador Theater beginning Nov. 1. The singer will play the slick-as-an-oil-spill lawyer Billy Flynn. Mr. Lewis, the front man of the band Huey Lewis and the News, is no stranger to acting. He had small roles in the films "Back to the Future," "Shortcuts," "Sphere" and "Duets," and the television shows "Just Shoot Me" and "One Tree Hill." November will mark the 10th year on Broadway for this staging of "Chicago." The revival of the musical won six Tony Awards in 1997.
Dressed Up Like A Million-Dollar Trooper
Last week, I was lucky enough to see two classic films on the big screen. After seeing Morocco and Phantom of the Opera, I was struck by two things.
Lon Chaney was a scary looking guy.
Gary Cooper was not.
I don't think I had ever seen a Chaney film but, wow, was he freaky. And I had seen Gary Cooper in other movies but I don't think I had ever seen him so young. Unlike other heartthrobs of yesteryear (Clark Gable, Cary Crant, Tony Curtis), Cooper's performance did not seem dated at all. He was like James Dean, twenty-five years early. Marlene Dietrech was stellar but in a 1930's kind of way. It really was striking to see such a modern performance in such an old movie.
Lon Chaney was a scary looking guy.
Gary Cooper was not.
I don't think I had ever seen a Chaney film but, wow, was he freaky. And I had seen Gary Cooper in other movies but I don't think I had ever seen him so young. Unlike other heartthrobs of yesteryear (Clark Gable, Cary Crant, Tony Curtis), Cooper's performance did not seem dated at all. He was like James Dean, twenty-five years early. Marlene Dietrech was stellar but in a 1930's kind of way. It really was striking to see such a modern performance in such an old movie.
Thank You Friends*
Youthlarge and I were quite surprised at the amount of cards, e-mails, phone calls, and all around good cheer people threw our way congratulating us on our first anniversary. I've always been of the thought that an anniversary was for the two people to celebrate rather than others to send cards, etc. It has been very nice to be remembered by our friends and family. But does this mean that I've been an asshole the past few years by never bothering to call or send a card to my friends on their anniversaries? I believe that it does.
*Of course, thank you family as well but Big Star doesn't have a song called "Thank You Friends and Family."
Thursday, July 21, 2005
The Marriage is Now Official
This Sunday, it will be Youthlarge's and my one year anniversary. But in some ways, I feel like we just got married last week. That is because, last week we finally got around to completely merging our vast CD collections into one massive one.
Of course, the very thought of merging collections was daunting to me. I dragged my feet for a long time. I have a whole system of retiring CDs into the collection at large. I have so much music that my fear is that if a CD is retired too soon, that it will be lost in the shuffle and I'll never really get to know it. I couldn't imagine incorporating all of her CDs into my collection. How would I know what I was familiar with or not? Things would get so messed up and countless records would get lost in the shuffle. I might just like that Adventures in Stereo CD of hers but since it is lost in the midst of thousands of other CDs, it will never get its due! Youthlarge, on the other hand, isn't at all like me. She has been in the music industry for so long that she has many CDs in her collection that she hasn't even listened to once. She is much more relaxed about this whole thing - imagine that.
For over a year, she has humored me. When we moved in together last April, I took out all of the CDs from her collection that I also had a copy of. We sold many and gave many away at our wedding. Her remaining collection was still 1,000+ strong but I relegated it to its own ghetto section of the CD towers. My collection was the same and I rarely even ventured to her side of the collection. Over the past year, there have been numerous CDs that have made the short but quite momentous journey from her sections to a place on my vaunted shelves. Still, a few here and there barely made a dent.
But I knew what was looming. I couldn't take ten years to listen to all of her CDs and retire them into my collection. So I broke down and last weekend, I suggested that we finally merge the collections. Youthlarge knows how to alleviate my weird obsessions. She suggested that all of the CDs in her collection that I wasn't familiar with and needed to be listened to should be tagged with a small red sticker. Once I had retired the CD, I simply could remove the red sticker. This system sounded great to me so I finally acquiesced. Nonetheless, it was a monumental odyssey for me to embark on.
Luckily, Youthlarge and I both subscribe to the alphabetical/ chronological manner of organization. We spent many hours on the project. When we finished around 11 pm, it was time for me to down a couple of beers with some friends and ponder my new life. It was an odd feeling having acquired so many new CDs in an afternoon. I never really felt like her collection was mine before last weekend. But now, for better or for worse, our collections are one. And I kind of like it.
Of course, it only took me a couple of days to figure out a system to listen to her CDs so I can retire them by taking off the red sticker. I don't want to go in strict alphabetical order because then I'll get stuck listening to six Blur CDs in a row. So I will go tower by tower and take the first available CD on it. This will most likely take me years but I am up for the challenge. And if I don't like a CD at all, then one listen will have to suffice. I've got to relax a little or maybe a lot. To be honest, I'm pretty damn excited to start wading through her collection.
But for the record, this CD is not mine!
Of course, the very thought of merging collections was daunting to me. I dragged my feet for a long time. I have a whole system of retiring CDs into the collection at large. I have so much music that my fear is that if a CD is retired too soon, that it will be lost in the shuffle and I'll never really get to know it. I couldn't imagine incorporating all of her CDs into my collection. How would I know what I was familiar with or not? Things would get so messed up and countless records would get lost in the shuffle. I might just like that Adventures in Stereo CD of hers but since it is lost in the midst of thousands of other CDs, it will never get its due! Youthlarge, on the other hand, isn't at all like me. She has been in the music industry for so long that she has many CDs in her collection that she hasn't even listened to once. She is much more relaxed about this whole thing - imagine that.
For over a year, she has humored me. When we moved in together last April, I took out all of the CDs from her collection that I also had a copy of. We sold many and gave many away at our wedding. Her remaining collection was still 1,000+ strong but I relegated it to its own ghetto section of the CD towers. My collection was the same and I rarely even ventured to her side of the collection. Over the past year, there have been numerous CDs that have made the short but quite momentous journey from her sections to a place on my vaunted shelves. Still, a few here and there barely made a dent.
But I knew what was looming. I couldn't take ten years to listen to all of her CDs and retire them into my collection. So I broke down and last weekend, I suggested that we finally merge the collections. Youthlarge knows how to alleviate my weird obsessions. She suggested that all of the CDs in her collection that I wasn't familiar with and needed to be listened to should be tagged with a small red sticker. Once I had retired the CD, I simply could remove the red sticker. This system sounded great to me so I finally acquiesced. Nonetheless, it was a monumental odyssey for me to embark on.
Luckily, Youthlarge and I both subscribe to the alphabetical/ chronological manner of organization. We spent many hours on the project. When we finished around 11 pm, it was time for me to down a couple of beers with some friends and ponder my new life. It was an odd feeling having acquired so many new CDs in an afternoon. I never really felt like her collection was mine before last weekend. But now, for better or for worse, our collections are one. And I kind of like it.
Of course, it only took me a couple of days to figure out a system to listen to her CDs so I can retire them by taking off the red sticker. I don't want to go in strict alphabetical order because then I'll get stuck listening to six Blur CDs in a row. So I will go tower by tower and take the first available CD on it. This will most likely take me years but I am up for the challenge. And if I don't like a CD at all, then one listen will have to suffice. I've got to relax a little or maybe a lot. To be honest, I'm pretty damn excited to start wading through her collection.
But for the record, this CD is not mine!
Wednesday, July 20, 2005
Two Sentence Reviews of Many CDs
Matthew Sweet - Kimi Ga Suki, 2003
Chris Larry tuned me onto this Japanese only release which is like a classic Matthew Sweet album from the early 90's - a number of really catchy songs and amazing hooks. Somewhere, Spike Priggen is creaming himself.
Ray Charles - In Concert, 1958-1976
Everytime I hear his voice, I still get a thrill. The stuff from the late 50's and 60's drives me insane with pleasure.
The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan, 2005
Some great songs, some mediocres ones. I still love the fact that such a huge band set the restraints on themselves (written and recorded within 2 weeks if you believe them) that they did with this record and I love the marimba!
Duke Ellington - The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse, 1971
This was recorded only three years before his death, but Duke still was looking for new statements to make. I also love that he quotes Marshall McLuhan at the beginning of the recording.
Teenline #101: All American Powerpop
Holy shit! 26 tracks of late 70's/ early 80's powerpop from across this great land of ours!
Holiday - Cafe Reggio, 1997
Who would win in a fight between Holiday and the Beautiful South in a battle of the wimpiest bands ever? PD Heaton is kind of scrappy.
Holiday
The Beautiful South
Well?
The Kills - No Wow, 2005
PJ Harvey can't get enough of her To Bring You My Love, becomes inspired by The White Stripes and decides to start a new band that sucks. And I mean sucks.
Sons and Daughters - Love the Cup, 2004
Sons and Daughters - The Repulsion Box, 2005
PJ Harvey can't get enough of her To Bring You My Love, becomes inspired by The White Stripes and decides to start a new band that is mediocre. And somewhere, Gordon Gano loves it.
2004 Teenbeat Sampler
Johnny Cohen is still putting out crappy music! And Evelyn has taken a major step down from Blast Off Country Style.
Neil Young - American Stars ‘N Bars, 1977
Why don't I own more Neil Young? Thank you Chris Larry for continuing to recommend which Young albums I should buy.
Charles Mingus - Oh Yeah, 1962
Mingus remains the one jazz musician whose songs give me the same kick in the pants that a great rock song does. The presence of Roland Kirk and Mingus' crazed vocals make this one of my all time favorites.
Grandaddy - Signal to Snow Ratio, 1999
Wow, 1999 seems like a long time ago when you listen to this. I can't argue that music was better then.
Bruce Springsteen - Devils and Dust, 2005
The seventy year-old secretary at my school is obsessed with Springsteen and lent me this CD. The title track is great, the rest is okay, but no matter what, it is better than the shit that is The Rising.
Spoon - Gimme Fiction, 2005
I just don't get the hype about this band. Decent, but definitely not earthshattering.
Joan Jett - Black Leather and a Black Heart
A best of made by Jeremy that hits the right spot. The official title of her greatest hits should be the title of this disc.
Sir Douglas Quintet - Mendocino, 1969
Stone Groove's boyfriend's great record of a true stone groove. Every song is a gem.
Fruit Bats - Spelled in Bones, 2005
So melodic, pretty, and great. One of three CDs that I've come across recently that have a song on it titled "Born in the 70's."
Super Furry Animals - Radiator, 1999
Some bands are album bands as opposed to single bands. This band is a whole collection kind of band.
Divine Comedy - Regeneration
Sorry, Bowles but this album didn't do that much for me. Weasel and Bowles may begin to deride me ---- Now!
The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema, 2005
Another perfect summer pop album. The only problem with it is that it doesn't even come out until the end of the summer!
Guided By Voices - The Odds and End, mostly 2003-2004
The end of the massive five CD best of box that Jamie made for me. And I apologize to all GBV fans out there, but this band just sort of petered out at the end, didn't they?
The Incredible String Band The Incredible String Band, 1966
Only the 60's could produce such a charming, earnest bunch. Good stuff
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm, 2005
Maximo Park - A Certain Trigger, 2005
Of all the new similar sounding bands that also include Franz Ferdinand, The Futureheads and countless others, Bloc Party do not always necessarily distinguish themselves from the pack. But Maximo Park does -- sometimes.
Sufjan Stevens - Come on Feel the Illinoise, 2005
As epic in scale as Greetings From Michigan and maybe even better? The whole album for every state thing might just be a gimmick but he's off to a great start.
Dave Pajo - Sell and Bleed, 2005
Who would have thought that Mr. Slint would end up sounding so much like Elliott Smith or have a song that sounds just like Springsteen's "State Trooper"? Not that either one of those things is bad.
The Double - Loose in the Air, 2005
Even better than their debut. This album will make Pitchfork come in their pants upon its release this fall.
Laura Cantrell - Humming By the Flowered Vine, 2005
This is good but is a letdown after her first two records. Good songs + slicker production = disappointment.
Smog - A River Ain't Too Much to Love, 2005
The John Olerud of indie rock. Sometimes great, sometimes good, sometimes mediocre, but always there producing an unassuming if not flashy output.
One of these guys once hit .363 and one of them once released the amazing album Knock Knock.
Chris Larry tuned me onto this Japanese only release which is like a classic Matthew Sweet album from the early 90's - a number of really catchy songs and amazing hooks. Somewhere, Spike Priggen is creaming himself.
Ray Charles - In Concert, 1958-1976
Everytime I hear his voice, I still get a thrill. The stuff from the late 50's and 60's drives me insane with pleasure.
The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan, 2005
Some great songs, some mediocres ones. I still love the fact that such a huge band set the restraints on themselves (written and recorded within 2 weeks if you believe them) that they did with this record and I love the marimba!
Duke Ellington - The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse, 1971
This was recorded only three years before his death, but Duke still was looking for new statements to make. I also love that he quotes Marshall McLuhan at the beginning of the recording.
Teenline #101: All American Powerpop
Holy shit! 26 tracks of late 70's/ early 80's powerpop from across this great land of ours!
Holiday - Cafe Reggio, 1997
Who would win in a fight between Holiday and the Beautiful South in a battle of the wimpiest bands ever? PD Heaton is kind of scrappy.
Holiday
The Beautiful South
Well?
The Kills - No Wow, 2005
PJ Harvey can't get enough of her To Bring You My Love, becomes inspired by The White Stripes and decides to start a new band that sucks. And I mean sucks.
Sons and Daughters - Love the Cup, 2004
Sons and Daughters - The Repulsion Box, 2005
PJ Harvey can't get enough of her To Bring You My Love, becomes inspired by The White Stripes and decides to start a new band that is mediocre. And somewhere, Gordon Gano loves it.
2004 Teenbeat Sampler
Johnny Cohen is still putting out crappy music! And Evelyn has taken a major step down from Blast Off Country Style.
Neil Young - American Stars ‘N Bars, 1977
Why don't I own more Neil Young? Thank you Chris Larry for continuing to recommend which Young albums I should buy.
Charles Mingus - Oh Yeah, 1962
Mingus remains the one jazz musician whose songs give me the same kick in the pants that a great rock song does. The presence of Roland Kirk and Mingus' crazed vocals make this one of my all time favorites.
Grandaddy - Signal to Snow Ratio, 1999
Wow, 1999 seems like a long time ago when you listen to this. I can't argue that music was better then.
Bruce Springsteen - Devils and Dust, 2005
The seventy year-old secretary at my school is obsessed with Springsteen and lent me this CD. The title track is great, the rest is okay, but no matter what, it is better than the shit that is The Rising.
Spoon - Gimme Fiction, 2005
I just don't get the hype about this band. Decent, but definitely not earthshattering.
Joan Jett - Black Leather and a Black Heart
A best of made by Jeremy that hits the right spot. The official title of her greatest hits should be the title of this disc.
Sir Douglas Quintet - Mendocino, 1969
Stone Groove's boyfriend's great record of a true stone groove. Every song is a gem.
Fruit Bats - Spelled in Bones, 2005
So melodic, pretty, and great. One of three CDs that I've come across recently that have a song on it titled "Born in the 70's."
Super Furry Animals - Radiator, 1999
Some bands are album bands as opposed to single bands. This band is a whole collection kind of band.
Divine Comedy - Regeneration
Sorry, Bowles but this album didn't do that much for me. Weasel and Bowles may begin to deride me ---- Now!
The New Pornographers - Twin Cinema, 2005
Another perfect summer pop album. The only problem with it is that it doesn't even come out until the end of the summer!
Guided By Voices - The Odds and End, mostly 2003-2004
The end of the massive five CD best of box that Jamie made for me. And I apologize to all GBV fans out there, but this band just sort of petered out at the end, didn't they?
The Incredible String Band The Incredible String Band, 1966
Only the 60's could produce such a charming, earnest bunch. Good stuff
Bloc Party - Silent Alarm, 2005
Maximo Park - A Certain Trigger, 2005
Of all the new similar sounding bands that also include Franz Ferdinand, The Futureheads and countless others, Bloc Party do not always necessarily distinguish themselves from the pack. But Maximo Park does -- sometimes.
Sufjan Stevens - Come on Feel the Illinoise, 2005
As epic in scale as Greetings From Michigan and maybe even better? The whole album for every state thing might just be a gimmick but he's off to a great start.
Dave Pajo - Sell and Bleed, 2005
Who would have thought that Mr. Slint would end up sounding so much like Elliott Smith or have a song that sounds just like Springsteen's "State Trooper"? Not that either one of those things is bad.
The Double - Loose in the Air, 2005
Even better than their debut. This album will make Pitchfork come in their pants upon its release this fall.
Laura Cantrell - Humming By the Flowered Vine, 2005
This is good but is a letdown after her first two records. Good songs + slicker production = disappointment.
Smog - A River Ain't Too Much to Love, 2005
The John Olerud of indie rock. Sometimes great, sometimes good, sometimes mediocre, but always there producing an unassuming if not flashy output.
One of these guys once hit .363 and one of them once released the amazing album Knock Knock.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
War Movie Haikus
The past few weeks, I've watched three classic war movies on TCM that I'd somehow never seen before.
Patton
George C. Scott was great
Otherwise it was just a
Standard biopic
The Great Escape
Steve McQueen is cool
But was not ready for the
Light feel of the film
Bridge On the River Kwai
Now this delivered!
Alec Guinness, explosives
Honor, tension. Wow!
Patton
George C. Scott was great
Otherwise it was just a
Standard biopic
The Great Escape
Steve McQueen is cool
But was not ready for the
Light feel of the film
Bridge On the River Kwai
Now this delivered!
Alec Guinness, explosives
Honor, tension. Wow!
Facial Hair Update
Listmaker Self Portrait - 7/05
Sometimes I think the only reason I haven't shaved this ridiculous moustache is because I don't want to disappoint Balgavy.
Sometimes I think the only reason I haven't shaved this ridiculous moustache is because I don't want to disappoint Balgavy.
Logan's Run Meets The Rock
Anyone else excited to see The Island? Hopefully it will be better than the 1980 Michael Caine flick of the same title. That movie freaked the hell out of me when a babysitter let me watch it. All I remember is some freaky scene with captives with needles sticking out of their eyes.
Monday, July 18, 2005
Books Don't Mess With My Head
I don't read books nearly as much as I should. With all the baseball, tv, music, and movies that I am determined to consume on top of the internet, newspaper, and assorted periodicals that I read, I marvel that I can actually find time for anything else. Youthlarge is not allowed to comment. I tend to read whatever people lend me or buy for me. I have stacks of books that I haven't read but for some reason, it doesn't bother me in the way that some other things do. I realize that there just isn't enough time to read everything I want to so I don't stress about it. If only I could take that attitude to other things. Anyway, here's a rundown of what I've been reading the past few months.
102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers - Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn
A gift from my sister
Not necessarily a beach kind of book but if you are looking for a page turner, I couldn't put this book down. Obviously, I am quite obsessed by 9/11 and I was fascinated by this book. Dwyer and Flynn do an amazing job of putting together a minute by minute account of what happened inside the towers based on phone calls, e-mails, rescue operation transcripts, and interviews.
We Wish to Inform You that Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families: Stories From Rwanda - Philip Gourevitch
Borrowed from Unwellness
After reading this, I felt like I had a much better understanding of what happened in Rwanda. Gourevitch weaves his own observations of Rwanda after the genoicide with interviews and a concise historical background. A very good book.
Running With Scissors - Augesten Burroughs
Borrowed from Youthlarge's co-worker Christy
Burroughs' memoir about his fucked up childhood. Mix David Sedaris with Paul Feig with maybe a dash of JT Leroy and you end up with this book.
The Lost Legends of New Jersey - Frederick Reiken
A Youthlarge purchase
Both Youthlarge and I fell in love with this book. Set in the 80's in Jersey, this book is about a high school boy, his crush on a neighborhood girl rumored to be the daughter of a Mafioso, the pathetic story of her parents, and the protagonist's tangled home life. One of the best recent fiction books I've read. The little details are well-written, the sense of loneliness and longing permeate every page, and the characters are interesting.
The History of Korea - Djun Kil Kim
Bought for me by Youthlarge's dad
Even though I haven't learned to speak Korean yet, I at least read this book. Or most of it. Interesting history but kind of textbooky. If I hadn't read this, I might have gotten in big trouble with the family.
Da Capo Best Music Writing 2003 edited by Matt Groening
A gift from the parents of my 2003-2004 class - back when gifts acceptable at my school.
Some really fun writing, some kind of boring writing.
Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bronx Is Burning: 1977, Baseball, Politics, and the Battle for the Soul of a City - Jonathan Mahler
Shawn's profession hooks her up with many books. She sent me this one a few months before it had come out. How exciting!
This book tries to piece together many different aspects of 1977 and tries to weave them together into a larger cohesive tapestry. I'm not sure that all of the pieces necessarily fit together but the story is interesting nonetheless. However, as a baseball fan I think I would have rather just have read The Bronx Zoo. And the Son of Sam stuff is old hat as well. But the political stuff was fascinating as were sections on the blackout and the riots.
Meat Is Murder - Joe Pernice
Borrowed from Jeremy
Part of the 33 1/3 series of books. Each book is about a different landmark record. This is the first book I've read in the series and it was really good. Rather than write about the album itself, Pernice writes a fictional story about a high school kid in 1985 who is obsessed with the Smiths' album. It completely evokes a 1985 feeling of high school loneliness, alienation, and confusion.
The Plot Against America - Philip Roth
Borrowed from Alex J.
I have read seven of Roth's books and I feel like I am barely scratching the surface. As Alex commented, Roth's storytelling just seems to unfold naturally. Roth has been writing forever and you feel like you are in the hands of a master as you read his books. This one tells the story of what might have happened if Lindbergh had been elected president in 1940 instead of FDR. There have been other books and movies about what might have happened if Germany had won the war but this book is different. Roth has other things on his mind than describing the hell that would have been unleashed if Germany had won. Instead, he wants to study the insiduous nature of how our country could begin to unravel and to turn on Jews in a matter of months. The scary part is that it all seems so realistic.
Of course, as more and more rights are stripped from the people, the government tells more and more lies, and the All-American Lindbergh flies from state to state in The Spirit of St. Louis to give speeches in his flight suit, there is an obvious parallel to today.
*** PLOT SPOILER AHEAD ***
As I read, I kept wondering - "Is Roth really going to have concentration camps set up and set in motion the extermination of the Jews? Is he really going to have Germany win the war? Where is he going with this?" So when I finally got to the end, I was initially disappointed. Rather than have the seemingly inevitable take place, Roth instead rights the American ship. Roosevelt gets reelected, Pearl Harbor happens a year later, and the course of history stays the same.
After thinking about it for awhile, I don't think that this was a bad ending. Roth wasn't interested in writing an alternate history. He wanted to show how the plot could easily dupe Americans into giving away their rights because of fear. He wanted to show his faith in the system (Are you listening 2005 America?) to correct itself, and he wanted to tell a good, realistic story at a certain place and time that wouldn't have to change the course of history within its pages. A stellar book.
102 Minutes: The Untold Story of the Fight to Survive Inside the Twin Towers - Jim Dwyer and Kevin Flynn
A gift from my sister
Not necessarily a beach kind of book but if you are looking for a page turner, I couldn't put this book down. Obviously, I am quite obsessed by 9/11 and I was fascinated by this book. Dwyer and Flynn do an amazing job of putting together a minute by minute account of what happened inside the towers based on phone calls, e-mails, rescue operation transcripts, and interviews.
We Wish to Inform You that Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families: Stories From Rwanda - Philip Gourevitch
Borrowed from Unwellness
After reading this, I felt like I had a much better understanding of what happened in Rwanda. Gourevitch weaves his own observations of Rwanda after the genoicide with interviews and a concise historical background. A very good book.
Running With Scissors - Augesten Burroughs
Borrowed from Youthlarge's co-worker Christy
Burroughs' memoir about his fucked up childhood. Mix David Sedaris with Paul Feig with maybe a dash of JT Leroy and you end up with this book.
The Lost Legends of New Jersey - Frederick Reiken
A Youthlarge purchase
Both Youthlarge and I fell in love with this book. Set in the 80's in Jersey, this book is about a high school boy, his crush on a neighborhood girl rumored to be the daughter of a Mafioso, the pathetic story of her parents, and the protagonist's tangled home life. One of the best recent fiction books I've read. The little details are well-written, the sense of loneliness and longing permeate every page, and the characters are interesting.
The History of Korea - Djun Kil Kim
Bought for me by Youthlarge's dad
Even though I haven't learned to speak Korean yet, I at least read this book. Or most of it. Interesting history but kind of textbooky. If I hadn't read this, I might have gotten in big trouble with the family.
Da Capo Best Music Writing 2003 edited by Matt Groening
A gift from the parents of my 2003-2004 class - back when gifts acceptable at my school.
Some really fun writing, some kind of boring writing.
Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bronx Is Burning: 1977, Baseball, Politics, and the Battle for the Soul of a City - Jonathan Mahler
Shawn's profession hooks her up with many books. She sent me this one a few months before it had come out. How exciting!
This book tries to piece together many different aspects of 1977 and tries to weave them together into a larger cohesive tapestry. I'm not sure that all of the pieces necessarily fit together but the story is interesting nonetheless. However, as a baseball fan I think I would have rather just have read The Bronx Zoo. And the Son of Sam stuff is old hat as well. But the political stuff was fascinating as were sections on the blackout and the riots.
Meat Is Murder - Joe Pernice
Borrowed from Jeremy
Part of the 33 1/3 series of books. Each book is about a different landmark record. This is the first book I've read in the series and it was really good. Rather than write about the album itself, Pernice writes a fictional story about a high school kid in 1985 who is obsessed with the Smiths' album. It completely evokes a 1985 feeling of high school loneliness, alienation, and confusion.
The Plot Against America - Philip Roth
Borrowed from Alex J.
I have read seven of Roth's books and I feel like I am barely scratching the surface. As Alex commented, Roth's storytelling just seems to unfold naturally. Roth has been writing forever and you feel like you are in the hands of a master as you read his books. This one tells the story of what might have happened if Lindbergh had been elected president in 1940 instead of FDR. There have been other books and movies about what might have happened if Germany had won the war but this book is different. Roth has other things on his mind than describing the hell that would have been unleashed if Germany had won. Instead, he wants to study the insiduous nature of how our country could begin to unravel and to turn on Jews in a matter of months. The scary part is that it all seems so realistic.
Of course, as more and more rights are stripped from the people, the government tells more and more lies, and the All-American Lindbergh flies from state to state in The Spirit of St. Louis to give speeches in his flight suit, there is an obvious parallel to today.
*** PLOT SPOILER AHEAD ***
As I read, I kept wondering - "Is Roth really going to have concentration camps set up and set in motion the extermination of the Jews? Is he really going to have Germany win the war? Where is he going with this?" So when I finally got to the end, I was initially disappointed. Rather than have the seemingly inevitable take place, Roth instead rights the American ship. Roosevelt gets reelected, Pearl Harbor happens a year later, and the course of history stays the same.
After thinking about it for awhile, I don't think that this was a bad ending. Roth wasn't interested in writing an alternate history. He wanted to show how the plot could easily dupe Americans into giving away their rights because of fear. He wanted to show his faith in the system (Are you listening 2005 America?) to correct itself, and he wanted to tell a good, realistic story at a certain place and time that wouldn't have to change the course of history within its pages. A stellar book.
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Amy's Famous, Stone Groove's Not
Thursday's Washington Post has this article about Paul Feig that includes this nugget:
Even though my dad told Feig that he was more into realistic teen shows like The O.C., it was my little sister that made the paper.
Amy R, a recent graduate of the University of Delaware, shows Feig her senior thesis: a treatise on "Freaks" irresistibly titled "Revenge of the Nerds." For which she got an A, thank you.
Even though my dad told Feig that he was more into realistic teen shows like The O.C., it was my little sister that made the paper.
Brooklyn Kickball
The first game of the '05 season -- Prospect Park
Chris shows off his strong kicking chops.
Jelani's kick is so impressive that I couldn't keep the ball within the frame.
Beth's secret to kickball success resides in her superhero poses.
Anatomy Of A Homerun
Balgavy strikes gold.
It is over Chris Larry's head!
I'm not sure how he made it all the way home when the ball is almost to the infield in this shot of Marc heading for third base.
Rounding Third
Heading Home
Mike tries to stem the tide.
Alex kicks one of his 2,310 homeruns of the day.
Too hot to keep playing.
Chris confounds James by making bird noises. Where the hell is that noise coming from?
If you can't run around in the sun anymore, it is time to drink.
With everyone feeling a little tipsy, the remaining few head to dinner.
Chris shows off his strong kicking chops.
Jelani's kick is so impressive that I couldn't keep the ball within the frame.
Beth's secret to kickball success resides in her superhero poses.
Anatomy Of A Homerun
Balgavy strikes gold.
It is over Chris Larry's head!
I'm not sure how he made it all the way home when the ball is almost to the infield in this shot of Marc heading for third base.
Rounding Third
Heading Home
Mike tries to stem the tide.
Alex kicks one of his 2,310 homeruns of the day.
Too hot to keep playing.
Chris confounds James by making bird noises. Where the hell is that noise coming from?
If you can't run around in the sun anymore, it is time to drink.
With everyone feeling a little tipsy, the remaining few head to dinner.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Oops
Youthlarge changed her server. All my pictures on my blog are on that server. She assures me that they will be back soon. If they are lost, I might have a meltdown. I'll repost the kickball pictures that I originally put up last night once the pictures return.
TV, How I Love Thee
30 Days
My main complaint about Super Size Me was that it would have been better on TV. Needless to say, I was excited about the concept of this show. I liked the first episode a lot where he and his fiancee live on minimum wage for a month. Sure, it was a stunt but eating McDonald's for 30 days wasn't?
However, the second episode was terrible. That was the one with the former athlete who decided to take steroids. Lame concept. The third episode was the one with the Christian living as a Muslim - interesting concept but kind of dull as a show. I haven't watched the 4th episode yet with the one about the straight guy living as a gay man but I don't have high hopes.
Spurlock is a fairly interesting and charming guy. When he isn't in the show, it suffers greatly. Plus, what made the first show and Super Size Me interesting was that Spurlock had to live in a certain way and see what life would be like either by living on minimum wage or living strictly on a McDonald's diet. The other episodes seem to be more about a fish out of water concept. Gee, it would be funny to put a conservative straight man into a gay life! Hah! This show often feels like a preachier, less entertaining version of Wife Swap.
Six Feet Under
I hated the first episode of the season. It seemed completely lifeless and dull. It clearly seemed that the writers were going to be content to limp to the finish line.
But then the next few episodes happened. And they were fantastic! So depressing, so creepy (Nate's old high school friend confessing he has a thing for 14 year-olds), so fascinating. The writers are going to go out with a bang! The ratings are down? Who gives a fuck? Let's make everyone's life a train wreck and see what happens.
The tension between Ruth and Claire in the first few episodes was terrifying. The scene when Ruth barks, "Not everything is about you!" at Nate's surprise 40th birthday party was one of the best moments of the entire run of the series. I like that there has been an effort to incorporate the dead people into the story line. The past couple of seasons they have really strayed from that and the show has suffered because of it.
I have no idea where this show is leading. Will everyone end up miserable at the end? Will the last episode begin with a number of them killed in a car crash? Will things get better for anyone? As long as it doesn't end with all of them standing by a bonfire watching their stuff burn like the scene from the beginning of last season, I don't see how any of these options can be bad.
Entourage
I liked this show last year but I'm liking it even more this year. I'm not sure that it is necessarily any better but it is the kind of show that needs to gain its momentum. This season, it can not be stopped. It goes without saying that Jeremy Piven is the best character on television but the other characters are great as well. I don't see any reason why this show can't keep going strong for a number of seasons as we follow Vince's career.
Penn and Teller: Bullshit
I already wrote about the first episode of the season about circumcision. I have kept up with the show even though it can be a little hit and miss. The shows are the strongest when they have a definite idea what they are trying to espouse. There have been a couple of shows where they have a muddled view of what they are trying to say and the show suffers for it. Still, it has never crossed my mind to stop watching the show. I would give it a 75% success rate.
Empire
I gave it ten minutes. I'm not sure why I thought I would like this.
Stella
As discussed on Apes, this show sucks. I gave it five minutes.
Wonder Showzen
Youthlarge has been watching this show. I've got to admit that it is quite unique and probably the most bizarre show I've seen in years. Kind of an R-Rated version of Sesame St. There seems to be a season long thread of a gangland war between letters and numbers. I gave this show two episodes before growing weary of it. Still, if it happens to be on while I'm on the computer or reading the paper, I'll pay attention to it. One of the best bits involves a child reporter interviewing people on the street. The segment with a girl asking stockbrokers on Wall St. the question, "Who have you exploited today?" is one of the funniest things I've seen this year. Come to think of it, the segment with the hand puppet invading people's personal space is also pretty brilliant. Shit, I think I just talked myself into giving this show another chance.
My main complaint about Super Size Me was that it would have been better on TV. Needless to say, I was excited about the concept of this show. I liked the first episode a lot where he and his fiancee live on minimum wage for a month. Sure, it was a stunt but eating McDonald's for 30 days wasn't?
However, the second episode was terrible. That was the one with the former athlete who decided to take steroids. Lame concept. The third episode was the one with the Christian living as a Muslim - interesting concept but kind of dull as a show. I haven't watched the 4th episode yet with the one about the straight guy living as a gay man but I don't have high hopes.
Spurlock is a fairly interesting and charming guy. When he isn't in the show, it suffers greatly. Plus, what made the first show and Super Size Me interesting was that Spurlock had to live in a certain way and see what life would be like either by living on minimum wage or living strictly on a McDonald's diet. The other episodes seem to be more about a fish out of water concept. Gee, it would be funny to put a conservative straight man into a gay life! Hah! This show often feels like a preachier, less entertaining version of Wife Swap.
Six Feet Under
I hated the first episode of the season. It seemed completely lifeless and dull. It clearly seemed that the writers were going to be content to limp to the finish line.
But then the next few episodes happened. And they were fantastic! So depressing, so creepy (Nate's old high school friend confessing he has a thing for 14 year-olds), so fascinating. The writers are going to go out with a bang! The ratings are down? Who gives a fuck? Let's make everyone's life a train wreck and see what happens.
The tension between Ruth and Claire in the first few episodes was terrifying. The scene when Ruth barks, "Not everything is about you!" at Nate's surprise 40th birthday party was one of the best moments of the entire run of the series. I like that there has been an effort to incorporate the dead people into the story line. The past couple of seasons they have really strayed from that and the show has suffered because of it.
I have no idea where this show is leading. Will everyone end up miserable at the end? Will the last episode begin with a number of them killed in a car crash? Will things get better for anyone? As long as it doesn't end with all of them standing by a bonfire watching their stuff burn like the scene from the beginning of last season, I don't see how any of these options can be bad.
Entourage
I liked this show last year but I'm liking it even more this year. I'm not sure that it is necessarily any better but it is the kind of show that needs to gain its momentum. This season, it can not be stopped. It goes without saying that Jeremy Piven is the best character on television but the other characters are great as well. I don't see any reason why this show can't keep going strong for a number of seasons as we follow Vince's career.
Penn and Teller: Bullshit
I already wrote about the first episode of the season about circumcision. I have kept up with the show even though it can be a little hit and miss. The shows are the strongest when they have a definite idea what they are trying to espouse. There have been a couple of shows where they have a muddled view of what they are trying to say and the show suffers for it. Still, it has never crossed my mind to stop watching the show. I would give it a 75% success rate.
Empire
I gave it ten minutes. I'm not sure why I thought I would like this.
Stella
As discussed on Apes, this show sucks. I gave it five minutes.
Wonder Showzen
Youthlarge has been watching this show. I've got to admit that it is quite unique and probably the most bizarre show I've seen in years. Kind of an R-Rated version of Sesame St. There seems to be a season long thread of a gangland war between letters and numbers. I gave this show two episodes before growing weary of it. Still, if it happens to be on while I'm on the computer or reading the paper, I'll pay attention to it. One of the best bits involves a child reporter interviewing people on the street. The segment with a girl asking stockbrokers on Wall St. the question, "Who have you exploited today?" is one of the funniest things I've seen this year. Come to think of it, the segment with the hand puppet invading people's personal space is also pretty brilliant. Shit, I think I just talked myself into giving this show another chance.
Monday, July 11, 2005
A Saturday Trip to the Natural History Museum
When I first moved to New York, I went to this museum a few times. It is such a fun, old musty kind of place. However, this room might be even better now that it has been renovated. It keeps the charm of the old while incorporating the new.
The Peanut was fascinated by everything.
She loves to point.
Introducing Eryn. Youthlarge has dubbed her the Bean but I think that I'm partial to the Peapod.
Sunday, July 10, 2005
Vanishing New York
With both the Pt. Authority Bowling Alley and the Times Square Howard Johnson's due to close soon, my posse decided to take a Wednesday night field trip to visit a soon to be vanished part of New York.
Size 9, please.
The bowling alley is set to close at the end of the summer. In its place will be some sort of lame corporate playground. It may try to be classy but how much classier can you get than beer served like this?
Glen, Jane, Alex, and Anne can not believe that Joe said he was only going to bowl a 32 because he is on fire!
Mary, "So when do you think Rafael Palmeiro will get his 3,000 hit?"
Youthlarge bowls like Keith Hernandez.
Did Jane just bowl three strikes in a row?
Hojo's Time!
Summer Dan! How much longer can the moustache stay?
We find out that we have arrived in the nick of time. The restaurant will close for good on Friday!
Our polish bartender tells us that he is mad at his boss because when he was hired a month ago, he was not told that the restaurant was about to close. Balgavy tries to chat him up but it goes nowhere. Although we do find out that the bartender finds people from the Czech Republic to be very friendly.
Balgavy bought that shirt at K-Mart right before bowling. It works perfectly with the beard.
I love the mirrors.
Those coat hangers are dangerous.
Too many cameras.
Sarah From the Future stops by unexpectedly -- that kind of shit happens all the time with time travel.
Goodbye Hojo's, goodbye!
This was only the third time I had gone to this particular Hojo's but it was always nice to know it was there. The first time I visited was during a 7th grade Teen Club trip to New York. Our tour guide loaded a bunch of kids on the bus after seeing an Off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors to descend on what he said was the best place to go in the entire city.
I'm sure that the Friday's/ Olive Garden/ Çhevy's that will take Hojo's place will be just wonderful.
For more pics, check some of these from Amy F. I'm sure Balgavy will post some pics soon as well -- if we can just pry him away from podcasting.
Update: 7/18
New Photos!
Size 9, please.
The bowling alley is set to close at the end of the summer. In its place will be some sort of lame corporate playground. It may try to be classy but how much classier can you get than beer served like this?
Glen, Jane, Alex, and Anne can not believe that Joe said he was only going to bowl a 32 because he is on fire!
Mary, "So when do you think Rafael Palmeiro will get his 3,000 hit?"
Youthlarge bowls like Keith Hernandez.
Did Jane just bowl three strikes in a row?
Hojo's Time!
Summer Dan! How much longer can the moustache stay?
We find out that we have arrived in the nick of time. The restaurant will close for good on Friday!
Our polish bartender tells us that he is mad at his boss because when he was hired a month ago, he was not told that the restaurant was about to close. Balgavy tries to chat him up but it goes nowhere. Although we do find out that the bartender finds people from the Czech Republic to be very friendly.
Balgavy bought that shirt at K-Mart right before bowling. It works perfectly with the beard.
I love the mirrors.
Those coat hangers are dangerous.
Too many cameras.
Sarah From the Future stops by unexpectedly -- that kind of shit happens all the time with time travel.
Goodbye Hojo's, goodbye!
This was only the third time I had gone to this particular Hojo's but it was always nice to know it was there. The first time I visited was during a 7th grade Teen Club trip to New York. Our tour guide loaded a bunch of kids on the bus after seeing an Off-Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors to descend on what he said was the best place to go in the entire city.
I'm sure that the Friday's/ Olive Garden/ Çhevy's that will take Hojo's place will be just wonderful.
For more pics, check some of these from Amy F. I'm sure Balgavy will post some pics soon as well -- if we can just pry him away from podcasting.
Update: 7/18
New Photos!
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