Viewing entries in
Personal
A nice essay from the San Fran Chronicle about one of my favorite magazines, Mother Jones:
The current version of Mother Jones is almost rollicking. A lot of the information is packaged in bite-size data pockets, useful koans to use in meditating on corruption, scandal and greed. In the current issue (September-October; stick figure on a blackboard cover) has a two-page bushel o' factoids written by Dave Gilson about the credit crunch.[...]
The center of the magazine still belongs to the kind of investigative reporting that Mother Jones has done so well for so long. The cover story, by Jennifer Gonnerman, is summed up in its subhead: "Eight states are sending mentally retarded and emotionally troubled kids to a facility that punishes them with painful electric shocks. How many times do you have to zap a child before it's torture?"
Rollicking is absolutely the right word for this magazine. For such an advocacy publication it's incredibly accessible, and I think this quality makes it very unique in the crowded and competitive magazine marketplace.
My commute highlights the magazine's great balance between its lengthier articles and essays and what Carroll calls 'bite size data packets.' In a 20 minute commute standing on a crowded subway train, the easily digestible fact 'koans' make for the perfect (and often amusing) reading. Reminds me of Harper's Index in a way. And on the flip side the investigative reports (Hilary's long participating in a prayer circle article is really interesting; if you haven't read it do so) and essays are deliciously consumed in my free time in my apartment.
Side Note: Is it me or does the San Fran Chronicle have some terrific writers?
[Thanks Kaizar!]
I always thought atop of Mount Kilimanjaro would be the best way to propose to that special lady friend someday, but I learned recently someone already did this. Bastard. Good thing I had a sweet alternative plan to fall back on, but dammit if this artist guy didn't already beat me to it! Looks like my future wifey is going to have to enjoy telling her friends about how I proposed to her by texting "Wil1 U Marry Me?" to the Jumbotron at Madison Square Garden during the halftime of the Knicks home opener. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCiThCeY2Uc]
This video of the artist guy's admittedly brilliant and rad proposal will most likely make all the single ladies that view this wet.
Wet around their eyes from tears, you disgusting, disgusting pervert.
And down there.
Sorry, I couldn't resist. I just saw "Superbad."
I think a central ingredient of our humanity--that inimitable quality which says we are not mere animals, but unique in some way--is the very complex and often conflicting desires and emotions that govern our lives day in and day out. Human individuals are constantly in a dialectical relationship with themselves, whereby two opposing actions or forces occupy the same space that can sometimes create an emotive singularity.
For example, when animals are hungry, they will search, some hunt, and consume the end product. This process for animals is yes, an evolving one depending on their changing habitats and surroundings, but for the most part, the menu if you will, was worked out eons ago. The only thing the animal is concerned with is which item on that menu is most immediately available.
I on the other hand, when feeling the sensation of hunger earlier this evening weighed the following thoughts: I had a rare craving for some McDonalds, but such a meal would not compliment my recent, and generally successful attempts to eat healthy. Moreover I wanted to go to the gym before dinner and desired a filling yet quick snack that would also enable me a quick burst of energy. All these factors occupy a singular place in my mind. If you consider that this thought process was applied to something so primitive and necessary, then just imagine what is occurring when you're pondering more abstract matters, say those that govern feelings arising from our interactions with others that can result in feelings of "love" on one end, and "hate" on the other. However at times, both diametric emotions can find themselves joined at the hip in an emotional singularity.
It is our ability to both love and hate one person, or to wish someone's departure and simultaneously wish for them to stay, or to desire to be both with or without you that is ultimately our distinguishing characteristic.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBqr113GecU]
This story is deja vu all over again: A Chinese man, Liu Hua, 24 who has the unfortunate title of possessing the world's largest hand arrived at a hospital to continue the delicate surgery. WARNING: Photo below is NOT of puppies, unicorns, or IKEA furniture.
Take a deep whiff of that lower Manhattan air. Know what that smell is? Nope, not air polluted with all sorts of toxic particles such as asbestos, silicon, and heavy metals. What you're smelling is class and packaging grace.
These photos are from the past couple weeks.
I finally made it to the Mets' stadium. Nosebleeds, but for 10 bucks, that ain't too bad.
Ah, the comforts of nearly verticle seating in the upper seats.
Dr. Stan is a Mets fan.
The crowds. Heh.
This may be one of the scariest photos I've ever taken of my friends.
This may be the WORST popsicle I've ever tasted. It was so gross I couldn't finish it.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrbfOqjwsxI]
1. In January July among newspapers online, the New York Times is king of the hill with the highest visitors, and among the top 30 papers Times readers spent the most time on the site (average of 27 minutes).
2. Long time and powerful Alaskan senator Ted Stevens don't like his home state's main newspaper too much. Also, he doesn't like to talk about his own little scandal either.
5. Barneys annual warehouse sale. Gah, I need to win the lotto.
Double entendre: a word or phrase open to two interpretations, one of which is usually risque or indecent.
I hate it when a server goes down.
IT'S SATURDAY! W00T W00T! WEEKEND!!!
I'm cognizant that I'm shilling now on behalf of large companies and moneyed investors, but I can't help it because this movie looks so gawddamn hilarious and genius. Mos Def is a movie rental store owner whose videos all get erased thanks to Jack Black's magnetized uniform of all paranoids--aluminum foil. Their solution? They'll remake--act, produce, direct, shoot--ALL the movies, such as Ghostbusters, Robocop, Rush Hour 2, 2001 Space Odyssey, and Boyz in the Hood, themselves. Also, this film was directed by the same guy behind Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExRplxd6zXc]
If you are easily squeamish or nauseated by sharp metal objects penetrating skin then I suggest you close this window immediately and go back to whatever it was you were working on prior to making the mistake of visiting my blog. Still here? The victim involves a child. Surely you have no interest now. I have no clue why you'd want to but if you're still interested then there's more after the jump.
You are a sick bastard.
Fine. Here you go:
To view the aftermath, click here.
Photo update from the past few weekends. I sound like a broken record but I'll say it again: I can't believe how fast time is flying by.
I work near an art gallery and I noticed one day after work that this gallery had an exhibit that spilled out onto the streets.
I don't get it ever, but I dig it.
I noticed that some spectators walked into the gallery and came out again with a glass of what appears to be various spirits. Two words: Open bar, bitches! Okay, three words!
Open bar! Cranberry and oh so delicious vodka.
Cyrus! A bar exam survivor.
Who woulda thunk a time machine would land in Soho? Or maybe it's the perfect location for a visitor from the future to blend in.
MTA couple on the subway. Black and white makes it artsy.
5-3-9-1! Got it!
I don't have the patience for it, but I think this photo is nearly identitcal to a photo I took of Cy at Babel last Fall.
Viviana and 2/3rds of my face.
This t-shirt makes me laugh.
Cyrus chillin.
Cy and glasses.
Cool dog in front of my favorite breakfast spot in Soho.
Nothing classes up a weekend outfit like the bicycle chain around one's waist.
Bear just chillin' in the park.
Bear, take two.
Bear is trendy with his iPhone.
Perfectly blue sky.
Marina hailing from London, UK in Central Park.
Lauren amused by something on her iPhone/iPod.
Lauren's still amused.
Mmm, candy.
This blogger enjoying a good day in the park.
Memo to self: Get a haircut.
This is what a perfect burger from the Burger Joint looks like. Yup, a perfect burger.
Munira's Xth birthday party.
The sexy vibe thrown out by Chris and Mun.
Birthday girl and me.
Birthday girl and me 2.
Chris and his coworker (I ferget her name, sorry!).
Sometimes birthday girl's feet gets tired from her heels!
Keeping it classy.
In the aftermath of the Minneapolis bridge collapse, Slate's Explainer has an apropos article about how to get out of a car sinking in water. No, you can't rely on Aquaman to come save you.