A Deal to Die For

A Kind Enigma

Have been going through old photographs recently and will be posting random shots from my archive over the next few days. This is from 2004, taken on the porch of my place on Q Street in Sacramento. Nothing extraordinary here, but I just like the red "Streets of San Francisco" Oldsmobile parked in front, and the exposure burns on the left side of the frame. (The first shot of the roll.) This image is like a relic from another era.

Times Like This

Went through a box of old photographs the other day and came across these four shots of Jennifer from grad school, taken with one of those cheap disposable Kodaks. This represents some of the first shots I ever took with real film, long before I ever experimented with cross-processing. As much as I'd like to think my photography has matured and evolved over the years, these are still some of my favorite images. Of course Jennifer's genius in these poses has a lot to do with it.

Young Henry III aka Big Bank Hank

Favorite Movie Posters | DVD Covers

I know I've forgotten (and omitted) many but this is a pretty cool collection. Funny Games is a new discovery and I just can't take my eyes off it. Next week: book covers.

Mastering Chaos

"Edward Lorenz, the father of chaos theory, who showed how small actions could lead to major changes in what became known as the "butterfly effect," died of cancer on Wednesday at the age of 90, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said."

Decompression

I've been in a dark place the past few days. Most people know to leave me alone when I get like this - I mean my game face is enough to scare off the the warmest smile - and yet, yesterday, while waiting for my latte, this flamboyantly gay hippie asked for change. Normally when homeless people ask for something I couldn't be cooler, but again, yesterday I was unapproachable, so when I said, sorry, bro, I can't help you, I expected him to move on. Instead he just stood there, inches from my face. He asked for a dollar this time, and again I said, sorry, I can't help you, only this time it was with more emphasis and, probably, more disgust. He still wouldn't leave. It was at this point that the fruit decided I was the reincarnation of Lucifer himself. He gave me this look like I was the most revolting person he had ever encountered, making this "ewwwww, gross" expression, only he still wouldn't get out of my face, and kept turning around and then back, trying to find another customer that would be on his side and agree with his assessment. I found myself getting warmer. I looked at the girl behind the counter, the one who helps me everyday, and motioned to her with me eyes, like, hey, get this cunt away from me. He asked a third time for change and I didn't respond, just staring him straight in the eye. When he asked "what?" like he couldn't fathom what was annoying me, I told him to leave me the fuck alone. This time I must have said it emphatically, because two employees came from behind the counter and asked him to leave.

But he didn't, waiting outside the door, and then he followed me back to the gallery, the whole time walking a few feet behind me and behaving like I had been the biggest disappointment of his young life.

I don't know why this incident stuck with me. I mean, I guess it was sort of troubling to go through this ordeal in public, but it isn't like I don't experience tweakers every day. But the thing is, another couple of seconds and something bad would have happened, something really bad, and it's scary to think what a few traumatic experiences can trigger in my mind.

One of these days I'm gonna lose the war.

I guess this explains why I've been watching Jacob's Ladder the past three evenings with my mouth wide open, unable to muster a sound.

No Lucifer - British Sea Power

"You think you know but you don't."

Updates

1. Redesigned my site. New photography section (four contact sheets: landscapes, portraits, archive I and archive II - with larger views coming soon), new wallpaper (courtesy of Squidfingers), an updated list of favorites, and links to my work on flickr, lomography, vimeo, and youtube. Taking a break now to concentrate on a few writing projects.

2. Incredible NCAA Championship game last night. If only you could have heard me screaming when Chalmers hit that shot. I was a year early with my Kansas prediction, obviously, but felt they were the best team in the country this year too. The only reason I didn't go on record here last week (I considered it but chickened out) is because I didn't want to jinx them. Despite this, if Memphis had hit a free throw it wouldn't have mattered.

Mario Chalmers was my sleeper pick for the Celtics at the #30 pick in this June's draft, but after the game-tying shot, not to mention his strong performance all tournament (including the Big 12 Conference Championship), there's no way he lasts that long. I will say, now, that he reminds me of Gilbert Arenas, especially the way he was dismissed all season as an under-sized shooting guard. (Remember Arenas was a second-round pick, which is where Chalmers was slotted until this weekend.) Mark my words, though. He's got better handles than many experts think - which means adjusting to full-time point guard won't be a problem, his mid-range jumper is deadly, and he can get to the rack whenever he wants. (Chalmers isn't blazing fast, but he's smooth, like Brandon Roy.) He, along with Brandon Rush (whose game, and body, is frighteningly similar to Paul Pierce) and Darrell Arthur (an Antonio McDyess clone) will be all-stars within three years.

I just purchased the domain mayanhandballcourt.com so I can babble on about these sorts of things. More soon, once things are up and running.

3. Musical Pick: Tapes N' Tapes. Another recent highlight is The Walkmen set of Leonard Cohen songs.

4. Been watching Flight of the Conchords. I love it. Saw a few episodes last summer at a Day's Inn in King City, and had been waiting patiently for it to come out on DVD. All I can say is, if you thought Ricky Gervais' music video on the holiday special of The Office was funny, check this out.

"Beautiful Losers" Documentary

"Beautiful Losers celebrates the spirit behind one of the most influential cultural movements of a generation. In the early 1990's a loose-knit group of like-minded outsiders found common ground at a little NYC storefront gallery. Rooted in the DIY (do-it-yourself) subcultures of skateboarding, surf, punk, hip hop & graffiti, they made art that reflected the lifestyles they led. Developing their craft with almost no influence from the "establishment" art world, this group, and the subcultures they sprang from, have now become a movement that has been transforming pop culture. Starring a selection of artists who are considered leaders within this culture, Beautiful Losers focuses on the telling of personal stories...speaking to themes of what happens when the outside becomes "in" as it explores the creative ethos connecting these artists and today's youth."

Links:
Insight article about Alleged Gallery
Interview with filmmaker Aaron Rose