Conversations at 8508

"What number Rambo is this?"
"Four."
"Wasn't the first one called 'First Blood'?"
"Yes."
"When did they just start calling them Rambo?"
"Technically the third installment, which was Rambo 3."
"What was number 2 called?"
"Rambo: First Blood Part 2."
"Wouldn't that make it 'Second Blood'? So shouldn't this one be 'Fourth Blood'?"
"..."

Pool party

Just a quick note -

If you're not doing anything this weekend, please stop by Temple Billiards in Pioneer Square tomorrow for a billiards tournament. The proceeds raised will go to help Risa's step-brother pay for his leukemia treatment.
This, I believe, is Patrick's second time dealing with the disease. The medical bills are surely outrageously expensive. Every bit donated will help lessen his burden.
So come out for a good time!!!
In case the image below isn't loading, Temple Billiards is located at 126 S. Jackson

Hope to see you there!

Coachella '08

These would be the reasons I would go to Coachella this year

Danny Tenaglia

Sasha and Digweed

Booka Shade

Portishead

Simian Mobile Disco

Hot Chip

Chromeo

Architecture in Helsinki

CutCopy

Datarock

The Breeders

Mum

Kraftwerk

Spiritualized

Stars



Unfortunately, the list of reasons to not go is substantially longer.

This is what I wrote to my mother regarding the film Brokeback Mountain:

I also thought I'd tell you why Brokeback has been getting such
acclaim. You saw it, however, when it was super-saturated by the media.
First of all, the film is part-Western (screenplay by the guy who wrote Lonesome
Dove) and Hollywood's love affair with the Western is well-chronicled. By
showing the love between Jack and Ennis, we finally get to see what movies like
Red River (with Montgomery Clift) only hint at. Secondly, the film is
unbelievably subtle. Normally, Ang Lee, the director, is ham-fisted with
his symbolism, but he was pretty restrained in this film. The real
centerpiece of the movie is living life in the closet and how it ruins
lives. The end of the film (which is actually the climax) has two literal
closets--Jack's boyhood closet which contains the two shirts from their time on
the mountain, and Ennis' closet where he keeps the shirts. The latter
closet also has a window in it which looks out onto a field of yellow
flowers. This is the visual contrast Lee has constructed for the film.
Visually, the movie contrasts openness and nature with structures and
society--which is exactly the struggle every gay man must face. Lots of
critics say that this film could be about people of two different races or two
different religions who are star-crossed lovers, but realistically, it couldn't
be. If it were about religion or race, then the audience would be allowed
to feel outrage that the constructs of society are what is keeping the couple
apart. The couple would never despise themselves or their love. The
tragedy of Ennis and Jack begins before either of them meet. We learn that
Ennis was shown a man who was beaten to death because he was gay. He was
taught early on to despise his very nature. Heath Ledger, the actor who
played Ennis, said of his character, —"Fear was instilled in him at an early
age, and so the way he loved disgusted him." He shows that in every frame
of the film, with every mumbled word and every silence. The way their lives fall
apart and the way they hurt those around them (unintentionally or otherwise) is
directly a result of their inability to understand the way they feel. So really,
even though the movie is unbearbly slow at times, it is definitely
intentional--Lee wants the film to sink into the audience's subconscious the way
that the image of a man beaten because he was gay must have stuck in Ennis'
psyche. Also, the fact that the film is about cowboys serves to both
Americanize and de-stereotype the lives of gay men. So that's why its getting
all of its praise.

I'm not gonna lie--I'm sure that I pilfered a line or two of that directly from a couple other sources. This was a letter I was writing to my mom, so forgive me the occasional plagiarism. My relationship with my mother has been strenuous since I came out to her, but occasionally we are afforded moments of understanding. Brokeback Mountain provided one of those moments for us. Since the heart of the film lie in Ledger's performance, I just wanted to take this space to thank him.
Rest In Peace

Thank christ

Two posts in one day? What could warrant that?

Eddie Vedder getting overlooked for his "work" on Into the Wild.
Eff you Sean Penn.
Eff you Jon Krakauer.
Eff you Emile Hirsch.
Eff you Christopher McCandless,
but most of all,
Fuck you Eddie Vedder. Your crappy songs are as irrelevant now as they were when you ruined my senior year of high school (dick).

Improving my money

I've stated on here before that this year is all about cutting back and finally taking some steps to secure my financial future.

Right now, 15% of my income goes into a 401(k). The first 6% is matched dollar for dollar by my employer. I've got a good amount in a Roth IRA, to which I need to contribute more money.

In lieu of a CD, I've got a Money Market Account that is slowly accumulating money.

To give you an idea of how much money I am saving this year--

I spent over $650 on restaurants in December.

This January I've spent around $70 on restaurants.

In December, I spent around $400 on groceries.

So far, I've spent around $140.

I've achieved these goals fairy easily. Given, I'm only three weeks in, but there is a sense of accomplishment. There's less beer in the house and more Balance bars. My lunches are predictable and stops to the local falafel/burger/hot dog/pizza joint on the way to work have ceased. All of this, plus some other stuff, and my finances are turning around.

(Oh yeah, and I don't owe the city for that pesky DUI anymore. It only cost me 6 years of my life and around 20 thousand dollars to keep it off my record.)

So, now I'm looking to invest. And what better time plunk down some money for stocks than now? I mean, there's some real bargains out there right now! So, how do I find a broker? How do I pick what to invest in?

Why is becoming an adult so difficult?

So, the big thing I wanted to do this year is invest in stocks.

Crazy is as crazy does

By now, I'm sure you've watched the Tom Cruise video. If you haven't, I direct you to Gawker.

Now, I'd like to direct you to Manya Brachear's piece in the Chicago Tribune. I think the piece irks me because it is essentially an apologist's take on his rant. Her ending query asking the reader would they be as uncomfortable if it were a celebrity hawking a more palatable religion smacks of "Makes You Think" knowingness.

Do I think that Tom Cruise finds happiness and fulfillment through his religion? Yes, most definitely. In fact, as I was relaying to Risa and Keith this past Sunday, religion tops the polls on what makes people happiest. It surpasses family, friends, food, and other f words.

And why wouldn't you be happy? Religion offers simple history, a plethora of morals,--the good ones we observe, the bad ones we dismiss--and most importantly direction and purpose. A life lived with purpose and all that junk . . .

What turns me off to the whole affair, besides looking as crazy as Tom Cruise, is the willful ignorance necessary to finding that purpose. You have to be willing to supplant fact with fiction (or science fiction). You have to be willing to hold this fantasy up against all others--Thetans vs. Jesus vs. Buddha--and claim its correctness. It is just that sort of effrontery that has caused many of the horrible things that have been done (and are still being done) in the name of religion.

For years I fell back on easy prayers and simple verses because they were comforting and brought a degree of happiness, but I think the calm happiness that accompanies curiosity and thirst for knowledge far surpasses the crazy happniess of the believer.

Riced potatoes

I know my guy loves me. He's bought me a meat tenderizer and, more recently a potato ricer. Maybe he just loves me cooking for him. I've been talking about making gnocchi forever, but all the recipes I read recommend a ricer for good consistency. And isn't that what good gnocchi's all about?
I'm also excited to make mashed potatoes with it. I loves me some mashed potatoes. Plain. With roasted garlic. With bleu cheese and caramelized onions. With pancetta and parsley . . .
But the mashed potatoes will come later, this Saturday I'll attempt my first gnocchi run.
Maybe I'll video it and post the results up here.

If I weren't being hermit this year, I'd probably be going to the Northwest Film Forum to see Crispin Hellion Glover present his film What Is It?

Instead, I'll be at home playing with my new cooking gadget. Maybe I'll flatten out some chicken breats and make chicken parmigiana with gnocchi in marinara.

Oh, I'll probably also watch this documentary that I've wanted to see for a while called Red Without Blue. Its about these twins from Missoula, Montana. One is transgendered, the other is gay, and I guess they have a lot of other family issues piled on top of that. It won the audience award for best documentary last year at Sundance. (Man, my life is exciting! Dinner at home AND a movie!?!?)

Speaking of Sundance--this year's festival starts in 6 days. During the run, and even a bit after if they operate the site like they did last year, you can view many of the short films in competition. Also, many of the workshops and lectures are podcast. So check that site next week for all kinds of movie goodness.
Films that sound interesting this year--
Adventures of Power, written, directed and starring Ari Gold with Michael McKean and Jane Lynch tells the silly story of an "air drummer."
Be Kind Rewind, the Michel Gondry flick starring Jack Black and Mos Def as they try to recreate all the films that got demagnetized at their video store.
Donkey Punch--its a horror film. That title and its a horror film? Sign me up. Interesting fact, another film called Donkey Punch came out in 1992.
I'm most looking forward to Tom Kalin's return to feature length cinema, Savage Grace starring Julianne Moore. His debut feature, Swoon in 1992, was a great crime-drama based on the Leopold and Loeb murder. He also penned the underrated Office Killer starring Molly Ringwald and Carol Kane.

There's some more, too, but go check 'em out yourself.

I miss Marilyn McCoo

And because I can't listen to Marilyn without thinking of the dancers . . .

While I was out

I started 2008 with a cold. Definitely not the best way to start a new year, but I did have 7 days off in a row which was lovely.

During that time I watched a plethora of bad movies.

Here is my two-second reviews of films that do not merit even a two-second review.

Live Free or Die Hard -- Ridiculous and long.
Shoot 'Em Up -- Ridiculous and loud.
The Final Cut -- Awesome idea, horrible everything else.

Now back to the previously planned year of hard work and fiscal responsibility.

Best of

What a peculiar year. I didn't read as many novels as I usually do. I didn't purchase as much music as I usually do. I travelled a bit, but not as much as I would have liked. I went to a few art openings. I saw a few films, but overall, 2007 was a pretty mellow year.

So here's my roundup for the year.

Best Live Shows - Trentemoller at Neumo's, Seattle - Its hard to put into words the electric energy of this show. Just an all around great night and a Monday to boot.
Booka Shade at Mezzanine, San Francisco - My only wish for this show was that it was about 2 hours longer, but seriously, these guys proved why they are international superstars.

Best Movies
INLAND EMPIRE - Once again, David Lynch blew my mind. He creates moody works that are inexplicable and demand viewing. Therefore, I won't try to explain it.
No Country for Old Men - The most accomplished work of the Coens. Still behind The Big Lebowski in terms of all-time favorites, but a nearly perfect film. During Tommy Lee Jones' final monologue, all of the events of the film shifted in my head and all of a sudden, I was thinking about the existential dilemma. Whoa. Heavy.
Eastern Promises - It took me a long time to see it, but it was well worth the wait. A heavy, dark film that still holds that crunchy, organic Cronenberg feel. Plus, a super-hot bath house fight scene featuring a nude Viggo Mortensen.
Zodiac - This movie haunted me. I can still picture the close-up of the college student's face as the Zodiac killer forces her onto her stomach and then stabs her. More mature than all of Fincher's previous work. I really liked how the investigator's obsession became the focal point of the final third of the film.

Best Books
I didn't read any. I did listen to American Fascists, God is Not Great, The God Delusion, and No Country for Old Men. I started The Prestige (probably in 2006) and I've only got a couple pages left. Maybe I'll get around to it. What else . . . oh, I read the Buffy comic. God I suck.

And Best Music -
The best mix this year has to go to Sean Wolcott for his DJ Set 2. There are so many killer tracks on there and so many kitschy tracks on there. Everyone who came over to my house had to listen to Male Stripper and Ultimate Warlord.
I don't think I bought any albums, really, just tracks.

Man, an odd year indeed.

Its a city of strangers

I haven't seen Sweeny Todd, yet. I will, I promise, but I just can't succomb to both Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter when my ears are so very accustomed to Len Cariou and Angela Lansbury. I realize, of course, that one of the great things about Sondheim is that his music is meant for polyphony and generally can bend to the timbre of nearly anyone's voice. THe downside being that that voice must have range and the performer must have depth to bring out the contradictions in lyrics and motif. While I believe that Depp can achieve the innocence of Todd's revenge, I wonder if Bonham-Carter can find the purity of insanity required for Mrs. Lovett.

For a fellow blogger's take on the whole bloody thing, I direct you to ReelFanatic.

I think another reason I can't get around to seeing it (besides my lingering illness), is the new cast recording for Company. I love Company. It is, in my ears, one of the most satisfying scores ever written. And while I adore the original Broadway recording, especially the amazing Elaine Strich's "Ladies Who Lunch," the new Broadway cast recording featuring Raul Esparza and Barbara Walsh is grown-up and excellent. The flat out exuberance of the opening number is tempered by intentionally calling out some disonance. Bobby's friends no longer merely want him to "Stop by on [his] way home," there is a creepy neediness that has infected them that completely justifies his yelling, "Stop" before the show-stopping final number, "Being Alive."

So I was looking for a video clip somewhere online of "Another Hundred People," and I stumbled across this one with the amazingly talented Marcy Harriel. I saw Marcie play Mimi in Rent in 1997 (three times). She was great. This song is considered a signature song, and she capably adds her powerful, well-phrased voice to the list of only a few who can claim it as theirs.

P.S. I watch really crappy movies

That's right, I'm going to see P.S. I Love You sometime over the holidays. I will go with Risa, and even though every bone in my cynical body will most likely detest the film, I will also, most likely, cry. I mean, that's what films like that are supposed to do, right?
The story of a woman who continually gets letters from her dead husband--how could you not cry? Temper the maudlin with sitcom patter and pratfalls, and you're guaranteed to play misty for me. I mean, I still cry at Steel Magnolias.
My eye rolls and accompanying "gah" will probably irritate those around me, but I'm going anyway.

Oh yeah. And Gerard Butler and Jeffrey Dean Morgan are in it. And I guess Gerard does some silly striptease down to his boxers. So, really, what's not to like? Sure, I've seen him in a loincloth, but this should be the type of cringeworthy that makes for a nice wank once its released on video.

Dina dong merrily on high

Phil and I hit up the Dina Martina show this weekend at the Re-Bar. It was as spectacular as I had anticipated. To simply call Dina's show a drag show would do it a great disservice. Phil had never seen her before. Check out his reaction over here.

After the show, we talked briefly with Marcus/Ursula Android. He indicated that Dina might be getting too big for this little town. That would be a real shame. We also talked about his final show at Pony (which bumped poor Terry).

And now the news that the Showbox has been purchased by AEG Live out of Los Angeles and the Crocodile Cafe has closed its doors.

And, of course, the Re-Bar is still for sale--Carla can't seem to dump that place.

Five years ago, I went out at least three nights a week. Now, going out one night puts a strain on my schedule. I'm more excited about my foam matress topper than I am about Alex Smoke coming town.

I think I've fleetingly mentioned that next year will be very boring for me.

I'll take the time to elaborate.

Over the course of the next year, I am going to be on a very strict budget. I am not renewing my membership to the Henry or going to SIFF or the Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. I will not go out to hear live music. I will not see a film in the theater. My diet will be as boring and monotonous as my days, but the silver lining/goal I've set to myself is saving nearly half of my gross income. It sounds ambitious, and I guess it is, but at this time next year, I want to be searching for my home, or at least well on my way to putting down 20% on a ridiculously priced Seattle area home.

Man, things do change.

Other things I'm looking forward to next year? M.A.N.D.Y.'s Fabric mix which is due out January 14th, and Scott Heim's newest novel We Disappear.

I've had Scott's first novel in the sidebar for sometime but I just realized that I don't have Scott's blog listed in my Linkage section. That will be rectified shortly.

If you're a reader, then please take the time to pre-order Scott's book from Amazon now. His debut was wonderful, and his sophomore effort sounds equally as magnificent. Also take the time to swing by Scott's blog. You won't be disappointed.

Related

A lazy Friday post . . .

Fischerspooner covered a song by Wire

who sang a song called Heartbeat

which is also the name of a song by Tahiti 80

who had one of their songs remixed by Swayzak who recorded a track with Kristy Hankshaw

who covered this song by Opus III

which is sampled in Orbital's Halcyon and On and On

which inevitably reminds me of Mindcircus by Way Out West

and I can't hear Mindcircus without thinking of Do It Now by Dubtribe Soundsystem.

Juno what your problem is?

This evening I'll be attending a screening of Juno. I also attended a screening on Tuesday. Now, don't get the wrong idea. I didn't love the film so much that I had to see it twice. The free screenings downtown filled up entirely too quick, so tonight I'll be seeing it with the bf and couple friends.

So here's my thoughts on the film. I guess my initial impression is that it is a very uneven film. The dialogue and the actions are working against the cloying direction (and especially art direction). The director, Jason Reitman, who so masterfully navigated Thank You For Smoking, gets really trapped in this film. The two times he uses cutaways to illustrate what a character is talking about is jarring and out of place. Early in the film, he uses a close up of the title character whispering into her boyfriend's ear. The shot isn't the best composition, but it works nicely with what the characters are saying. These extreme close ups recur throughout the film and each time they feel more claustrophobic and compositionally haphazard. He needs to learn to pull his camera away from his subjects and let them interact with their environments.

To claim that Ellen Page "owns her character" is equivalent to saying that a charcoal sketch has as much color as a pastel drawing. Juno is a sketch of a character with more interesting characters floating around her. There is talk of the delicate balance necessary of portraying a 16 year-old girl. At times she is childlike, and other times she seems like a grown woman. Wow, so she's just like a 16 year-old girl. The role itself, in my opinion, doesn't have enough meat on it to merit the kudos she has recieved. All it really has going for it is snappy, of-the-moment dialogue that will sound dated by the end of the year.

The supporting roles are much more interesting. Most notably, Jennifer Garner stood out for me. She has never been so nuanced and focused in a role. The scene in the mall where she talks to Juno's belly is at once sweet and heartbreaking. Her desire is palpable and the truly emotional impact of the film comes from her character. Also Jason Bateman is quite good. His reaction shots, which were perfected in Arrested Developement, garnered (ha!) more laughs than much of the dialogue. Allison Janney and JK Simmons also do great turns as the stepmother and father of Juno. They are the types of actors who are given sketches (to continue a theme) and flesh out real people from them. While they don't have the most screen time, they do quite well with what they are given. Olivia Thrilby also deserves some recognition as Juno's best friend, Leah. Instead of feeling like a sidekick, she feels like someone who has grown up knowing Juno's family and is an extension of that family. And finally, Michael Cera. As always, he plays the straight man to all the zaniness that is occuring around him; unfortunately, the costume designers have decided to zany him up as well so just looking at him becomes a joke. Its just one of the many travesties that the art directors made on the film (see also: a sign at a track meet that reads, "Go Manatees"). Cera however outshines the missteps and plays the yin to Page's yang quite comedically.

Now, onto my final critique. The music. Yes, the soundtrack kicks ass in that twee, too-precious-for-words kinda way. However, it couldn't be worse music for the film. The name of the film is Juno, and she tells us how much she loves the Ramones and the Stooges and Runaways, but instead of hearing her soundtrack, we get a Pitchfork sampler that spans all the way back to the late 90's. I like the music, but its just in the wrong film.

So, I liked the film. It kept me entertained, but its not nearly as good as I had hoped.

R.I.P. - Mel Cheren

My world wouldn't be the same if it weren't for people like Mel Cheren. His love for music, as translated through the music of West End Records, has moved me body, heart, and mind.
I recently got to see a documentary about Mel and his seminal label. He was a pioneer in many respects--he opened one of the preeminent discos of the disco era and he donated a residence so that Gay Men's Health Crisis could have headquarters.

If people can dance together, they can live together.

Thanks, Mel.

They should call it Parkin-FUN's disease

Increased gambling is seriously a side effect of Parkinson's medication called Mirapex.

And here I thought side effects were limited to watery bowels, blindness, and temporary paralysis. Turns out, they can include obsessive behaviors like shopping, eating and gambling.

This, that, the other

So this is kind of a catchall for stuff that I've needed/meant to relay to friends and stuff that I've meant to mention.

Ok.

So, first of all, fellow Seattlites, the film Juno will be screening at Pacific Place on December 11th. As with all screenings, I'd recommend showing up an hour or so early. Bring a book, a video game, whatever.
Would love to attend with some of you (lookin' your way Andrew, Bill, Keith, and Risa).
I alerted Keith over at ReelFanatic to the screening in Atlanta and he thoroughly enjoyed the film. You can read his review here.

Secondly, a couple of you have asked (and Phil commented) about the So You Think You Can Dance live show. It was Risa's birthday, we went with her sisters and had an amazing time. The kids were so athletic and danced so well. There were only a couple new numbers, but that's ok. There was no hustle, either, but I guess Neil and Sara's disco routine made up for that. I screamed "Everett" and "Take your shirt off!" I spilled red wine all over myself, a good time was had, indeed. To get an idea of the show, below are collected clips. Run them simultaneously for the best effect.



Finally, Risa and I were talking about Xanadu and how awesome it is. Here is a clip, via Tapeworthy of the lovely Kerry Butler and the radiant Cheyenne Jackson performing at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade.

I shit you not

A lot of my job is corresponding with clients in Japan and China. Because I am fluent in neither Mandarin nor Japanese, I am frequently reduced to using Babel Fish to ascertain what a client needs/is trying to communicate.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the most recent and easily the funniest translation I have ever had.

Milk well way You have taken care. It is Helen Keller's case, but it was
difficult to take the illumination of the thing which after all is details and
this person of the picture this time as for Helen Keller the judgement that went
down from Dentsu it is not used. Very much we applying the number of hands,
excuse it was not. In addition when something it is, we ask may.