Saturday, February 28, 2009

I Am David (not me, that's the name of it)


I just saw "I Am David" on IFC. It's not the type of movie I would have gone to see in the theaters, but perfect for a lazy Saturday (see my previous post, Mood Movies). This film is about a boy who escapes from a prison camp in Bulgaria in the 1950's. One of the key characters is played by James Caveziel (a.k.a. Jesus). This casting tells you that there may be Christ-like sacrifice and redemption ahead. Sure enough, those suspicions are proved true. I won't give away any more, but I recommend it. Here's the trailer.

Friday, February 27, 2009

2 Celebs, 1 Day

Growing up far from New York (and Hollywood), it never occurred to me that I would ever see celebrities in real life. They existed in another world. But now that I live in New York, it's almost commonplace to see someone whom I recognize from TV or film. Usually it's "that guy from that commercial" - in other words, basically, a working actor. Actual "celebrities" or "stars" are more rare. But today I saw two of them going about their personal lives.
Is it creepy that I am writing about it? I think the answer, despite what our culture says, is yes.

I saw Alec Baldwin at my gym. Ethan Hawke was on the subway.

It's not terribly exciting because I've actually seen both of them before. Just not on the same day. Wow. How jaded am I now? (I guess if I was REALLY jaded I wouldn't even mention it!)

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Free Ride


new york city bus
Originally uploaded by sally henny penny
There are those somewhat rare occaisions when you board a CTB (that's "Cross Town Bus" to you uninitiated) and instead watching you make the expected payment, the driver covers the card reader with his/her hand and waves you on board. Even though it's actually because the reader is broken, it feels like you are getting away with something. There's a small leap of joy inside and I think, "Can you do that? Awesome!" Remarkably, I feel that way even when I am carrying an unlimited ride metrocard.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Ash Wednesday

I'm always a little surprised by how many people wear ashes on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday. Not only how many, but which people.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Discuss...

I could write a sermon about this. Seriously. Talk about the desperate, universal cry of the human condition. Wow. He's even holding a bar of soap!
Who would you address this message to? How does real change occur? Where is the hope?

On Beards

The L Shaped Beard
As a child, I didn’t know any men with beards. Neither my father, male relatives, nor any family friends that I can recall had facial hair of any sort. So my first real opportunity to observe a beard was with my 9th grade history teacher, Dr. Lamploo. (It’s not spelled that way in real life). Dr. Lamploo would shave his cheeks and neck making the beard form an “L” shape. I think it was everything that a beard shouldn’t be. Trimmed and shaped and awkward. It used to distract me in class. Did he get up each morning, pull out his razor and just run it down a razor width on each cheek? Why grow a beard if you are still shaving daily? Doesn’t that defeat the purpose?
The Handlebar
I have a dear older friend who sported a big handlebar moustache for 23 years. It was metonymy. He was the moustache. It defined him. He shaved it for a party I threw. His wife was thrilled. I was flabbergasted. It made him look 10 years younger. But when I see him, I see the lack of moustache. But though I love my formerly handlebarred friend, the moustache is, even if you are a Brooklyn hipster, a bad choice. I’ll leave it there.
Beard Brothers
I hadn’t seen my neighbor, Reed, for about 3 months. I ran into him on the sidewalk with a friend of his; they both had huge beards. Big, bushy, untrimmed, lumberjack beards. Reed and 7 of his friends decided to be “Beard Brothers” growing them together and also having a contest to see who could go the longest not shaving (or, apparently trimming) them. Reed is fair haired, blue eyed, and of Scottish descent, yet he told me that since he had grown out his beard, people assumed he was Jewish. Oddly enough, I could see what they meant. I didn’t love his beard, but I have to say I preferred it to the Dr. Lamploo thing.

I am happy to say that I have never had noticeable facial hair (except eyebrows and lashes). I’ve never had to pluck, wax, or bleach. And that makes me happy. But if I was a guy, I think I would enjoy experimenting with various facial hair arrangements on a short-term basis. A brief foo-manchoo, a temporary flavor-saver, whatever. But nothing long-term. And nothing shaped like a topiary.
Let me say, though, with all my beard-bashing that there is a kind of beard I do like. It’s the untrimmed, just slightly longer than a five o’clock shadow. Viggo Mortenson in Lord of the Rings is an example. A little closer to home would be Brett from Flight of the Conchords. You get the idea.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Nice One, Marc.

I'm not exactly known as a fashionista, but I like Marc Jacob's stuff, seen here. I think I'd look great in most of these. The rich tones, the fit... Oh, if money were no object...
(As I was uploading these, my roommate asked, "Does cream go with white"? She's trying on an outfit for tomorrow and the top is white, the skirt is black and cream. I have no idea. I mean, to me, they don't look right together, but what do I know?)

Great Design


I am not particularly a Harry Potter fan, but these re-imagined book jacket designs (by M. S. Corley) hit the nail on the head. Awesomely retro. I really love design that "gets it right." And this does it 100%. Props to Corley.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Sunset at Princengracht


Sunset at Princengracht
Originally uploaded by Ettubrute
Amsterdam is a beautiful city.
This video is mesmerizing.
Well done.

Garbage

True confession: I can be a lazy recycler.
Also true: I need to take out the trash today.
My mother used to say, "One man's trash is another man's treasure."
I never really liked Oscar the Grouch. Too grouchy.
I like how Brits say "rubbish" and "dustbin."

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Windward Farms Venice California

This place makes the most amazing salsa ever. It's of the watery variety, but really fresh and addictive. Also awesome are the chips they carry which are a local brand that you can't find anywhere else. I am going to LA next month and I plan to eat chips and salsa every single day, multiple times a day, while I am there.

Once I even flew home with some of the salsa in my carry on. I think that'd be illegal or something now.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Crime Stoppers


I read a really interesting article in Newsweek (Always On My Mind) on a new and successful approach to dealing with drug dealers and crime in low income areas. I'm not sure why this captured my attention except that I really appreciated the balance of grace and truth in the treatment of the dealers, and the offer of a second chance.


In a 2004 experiment in High Point, N.C., Kennedy got the cops to try a new way of cleaning up the corners. They rounded up some young dealers; showed a videotape of them dealing drugs; and readied cases, set for indictment, that would have meant hard time in prison. Then they let the kids go. Working with their families, the police helped the dope dealers find job training and mentors. The message, which spread quickly through the neighborhood, was that the cops would give kids a second chance—but come down aggressively if they didn't take it. The police won back trust they had lost long ago (if they ever had it). After four years, police in High Point had wiped the drug dealers off the corner. They compared the numbers to the prior four years and found a 57 percent drop in violent crime in the targeted area.


Here's another article on the same initiative from ABC news.

Dandelion


Siberiano
Originally uploaded by Darkaico
A fragile thing.
Fleeting and momentary,
but with a lasting impact.
Beautiful and free.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Che Bella, Venezia!


I got pretty turned around in Venice once. In an attempt to avoid the smothering crowds we tried to strike out on a different path. And got pretty lost for a while. One missed turn will do you in. What sets Venice apart is how quiet it is. Incredibly still. Not having cars or mopeds will do that. And the declining population. But it's beautiful, off the beaten path. Piazzas like the one above feel surreal in their beauty. It wasn't bad, being lost in Venice, because, well, you're in Venice.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Just Say No To Jorts

I imagine that the jort (jeans + shorts = jorts) originated in central Florida. One day a boy said to his mother, “Momma, I wanna cut off these jeans ‘cause it’s too hot to wear ‘em.”
And rather than just cutting them off, which would cause them to fray (and the pockets might hang out the bottom) she hemmed them. She wanted her boy to look neat. And the jort was born.

I stand by the notion that the jean short is an invention of Florida because there, like much of the Southeast, it is often far too humid for full length denim. Folks in the Southwest, with it’s drier air and cool evenings, would have had more of a need for the full jean, at least at night. I had a lot of intense “jort exposure” growing up in Georgia.

In high school I wished that it was illegal for men to wear shorts to the mall. I dreamed that a guy would have to be given (by me) a special card that permitted him to wear shorts inside. I think it tells you a little bit about me growing up that it was at the mall that my senses were so offended. But I was sincere in this thought, and very few guys would have made the cut in my ideal world.

Shorts should really only be worm by most men when they are exercising, and other activities outside. Otherwise, it’s far safer to cover them up. Maybe I’d let them wear shorts to baseball games. Maybe. Basically, there are just so many things that can go wrong with a guy in shorts. The shorts could be to short, too long, too tight. Then you have the legs. Too big, to skinny, too pale, too hairy. And lets not even talk about all the ways the shoes, socks, and feet could go wrong. And while it’s not so bad outside, inside, they often just look ridiculous.

The jort wearing man was always the worst offender to my pseudo-sophisticated sensibilities (I mean, I was, after all, hanging out at the mall).

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Confirmation: I am a horrible person.


It's humbling (and harrowing) to realize one's capability to sin. Today I drove my dad's car to the cell phone store. I just needed to zip in for a few minutes (note: this is an excuse/justification). There were no parking spaces in the very small parking lot. Except a handicap space. Actually, only 1 of the 3 handicap spaces was open. This was literally the last open space in the lot. Now, my father has some back problems, so he has (and needs) a handicap sticker. For the record, I do not. I DO NOT need a handicap sticker of any sort. But, because I am selfish and lazy, I took that bad boy, hooked it over my rear-view mirror and walked (slowly, like as if I had an injury) into the store leaving zero handicap spaces for people who really need them. I was there maybe 5 minutes. But of course, on my way out, there's a man coming in the store in one of those motorized chair things. Totally, legitimately, for-the-rest-of-his-life handicapped. I suck.
2 important points:
1. I will never do that again. I feel terrible. Like staring into the latrine pit of one's own soul.
2. I believe in a God of forgiveness and grace, so I can repent and be forgiven. Good News.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Balloons



When I was a little girl, as soon as I was given a balloon, my mother always made sure she tied it to my wrist so that if I let it go I wouldn't lose it. And there was that let down the next morning when nearly all the helium had escaped and the balloons were on the ground. I always felt sorry for the balloons. They looked so sad.

Funny Ladies

I hate the word "comedienne" because that's sort of like how girls' basketball teams are, like, "The Lady Tigers" or whatever. So, female comedians it is.
Here are some of my favorites. I'd like to hang out, learn from, (and be?) them.

She has fascinated me from childhood. Her characters were amazing. As a kid, I watched The Carol Burnett Show re-runs in the early evenings on weekdays. To this day the themesong evokes dinnertime for me.

Jan Hooks
Loved her in the 80's on SNL, and love her in almost cameo appearance a she appears in. And she's got a real Southern accent, because she grew up in Georgia.



Elaine was probably my favorite Seinfeld character. Great physical comedy. Amazing timing.




These ladies are all brilliant. Amy's turn in Mean Girls as the mom who wants to be "cool" was creepily right-on, Maya's versitility is jaw dropping, and Kristen has several characters that I can't stop watching.

But right now, hands down, the writer/actor/comedian that I am awed by is Tina Fey.


Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Never Have I Ever (#2)

I've never "played" Sudoku. I've never wanted to. The very premise of Sudoku stresses me out.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

The Real Thing, And My Weak Imitation

So here is the real thing. I found this on 20x200. It's by Coke Wisdom O'Neal, and I think the series is brilliant.

Recently, I was up at our mountain cabin packing some things up in order to prepare it to go on the market. We haven't spent much time up there in years. As a result, there are parts of the house that feel like time capsules. I think the medicine cabinet possibly hadn't been touched in 15 years or more. It's full of my dad's stuff, primarily. I wish the quality of the picture was a little better.

Saturday, February 7, 2009

The Recession...

This thing is real. REAL. Too many people I know are out of work.
But on a lighter note, how about some "recession specials"? And I am not just talking about Gray's Papaya.
Eater NY has a thing called DealFeed. I'd like to take advantage of some of these.
Or how bout some clothing sales?
But I have a few recession friendly standbys. Like my Taco Truck.

Or my favorite Indian place, Desi Deli. (Disclaimer on their website. The pictures have nothing to do with the restaurant. Hilarious.) Their Chai Tea is legit. With the Cardamom seed and everything. It's just me and the cabbies. Love it.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Paper Airplanes and Other Lost Arts


Growing up, we spent many hours at the mountain cabin designing and constructing (simple) paper airplanes and launching them off of the loft onto unsuspecting adults. My father had rescued a few reams of very high quality paper from his office that had been destined for the trashcan because of it's outdated letterhead. We used this beautifully heavy, cotton-blended paper to make what we thought could be "the best paper airplane ever." We attempted different styles of contruction and made minor changes and adaptations, in search of this elusive perfect plane. I never realized that spending weekend afternoons this way this would firmly plant me in what is now a by-gone era.
Kids today don't know how to make paper airplanes. Sad but true. I know for a fact that a larger than expected proportion of middle schoolers(including boys), when faced with the task of making a paper airplane, don't know where to begin. At first I found it surprising. Then I found it very dissapointing, but indicative of our different generations. A piece of paper, even one flying through the air, is not nearly as interesting as a video game with complex graphics or a flat-screen HD TV show or movie. We only had a 14" black and white TV at the cabin, and limited channel options. I am glad I had the chance to hone my paper airplane skills. They weren't a very girly thing to enjoy, but then again, I wasn't a girly girl.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Current Addiction


Digestive Biscuits have an amazing power over me: I crave them.
They are pretty much like crack. I prefer to eat them after dipping them in milky tea. The most well known brand (and the easiest to find in the US) is McVitie's, but there are many similar store brands (Tesco etc.) that are just as good. In fact, I found some very good digestives in a Korean supermarket in Koreatown. The closest American equivalent is graham crackers, but they pale in comparison. Perhaps another similar cookie would be Carr's Wholewheat Crackers . Again, nothing close to the real thing. I actually don't let myself buy digestives too frequently, because I eat so many, so fast, it can't possibly be good for me. And they are also pretty expensive for how many you get when you buy them in the US.
And no, I don't like the ones that are dipped in chocolate on one side. Give me the original!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Lil' Rap


I am a Phoenix, I rise from the embers.
I rock the mic, New Year's Day thru December.


(ridic, i know)

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Never Have I Ever (#1)

Here are a few things I've never done:

1. I've never knitted anything. Someone sort of tried to teach me (I remember it was at school, outside, maybe in kindergarten?), but I think my left-handedness got in the way. I don't really want to learn . I like knitted things, don't get me wrong. But I don't need to knit.

2. I've never used a Port-A-Potty. Never even been inside one. Never plan to. Ever. If I've made it this long in my life - surviving sporting events and concerts - and never used one, why break the streak?

3. I have never Rollerbladed. Nope. Don't think it's a good idea. I imagine a broken wrist. I had a tough enough time rollerskating as a kid. I had my 2nd grade birthday party at a rollerskating rink called Jellybeans, which was fun, but I wasn't good then, and I am not good now. No need to press my luck with blades.

I will never be able to do that. I have accepted this.

Monday, February 2, 2009

Agree to Disagree?

How do you love someone with whom you deeply disagree? I'm not not talking about disagreeing about small things, or "cultural" things but vital, important, key ideas/motivations/beliefs? I'd rather avoid the person. Or at least avoid the subject. But that isn't always possible. So when you have friends in common, when you rub shoulders regularly, how do you not only treat them well, but still "like" them? It is far easier to despise someone you feel is wrong and misguided, whom you believe is leading others astray (even with good intentions), than to want good things for them.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Mood Movies

I've recently realized that I enjoy a totally different type of movie when I'm watching it at home, than when I go to see movies in the theater. When I go to the theater, I want something fun, not totally mindless, and not (usually) a thinker or a downer. Movies with great visuals that pull me in, or really funny ones are my favorites. But when I am at home, I really enjoy things that are darker and slower, or sometimes even more mindless and light. Let's just say, I am way more flexible and forgiving on my couch than in a theater. If I'm in the right mood, I might really enjoy something that I would have given a "thumbs down" had I gone out to see it.


I DVR a lot of movies from TCM. I prefer movies from just post-WWII through the 1970's. And these movies are often quite different than what I would pay $12.50 to see on the big screen. Recently, I saw The China Syndrome, for instance. Very Seventies, but good.


Sometimes I stumble onto other films that I don't expect to enjoy and I am pleasantly surprised. Take for instance, M. Night Shyamalan's Unbreakable. It didn't get great reviews, nor did it make anything near The Sixth Sense, but I was in the right frame of mind, on the right day, and in the right place to really appreciate it.