Sunday, December 16, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
Everything can be seen in black and white
So I just finished up my Friday evening by watching the 1942 classic Random Harvest. Well...it's a classic to me...and about 3 million really old people. and my mom. Therefore, it's important. It's a CLASSIC. I mean come on Greer Garson! War! Amnesia! Ronald Coleman! Random things! what could be better? (note: I'm not being sarcastic, I love this movie) While I was watching the film I not only walked on my roomate's back to ease her discomfort, but I started thinking about black and white filmmaking. Mostly because at one point the light (meant to be sunlight) made greer garson's (Paula's/Margaret's) hair shine really brightly and I thought wow you know in color films...you don't get that. you get brighter colors, not the impact of light and dark, the beauty in the purity. So anyway, this blog is not actually about black and white films (although I'd LOVE to talk about the dramatic irony in having the audience realize that Margaret is Paula way earlier than Charles does and wayyy earlier in the movie as opposed to in the novel (1942 James Hilton) where only at the very very end do both Charles and reader discover that Paula and Margaret are one in the same....unless you're reading this blog in which case well you're spoiled so...go read the book and enjoy your aforementioned dramatic irony.
Moving on. this blog is about black and white THINGS. Not people, mind you. I think racial tensions are stupid and I pretty much refuse to discuss them. I love all people regardless of color. Stupid people, however, are not loved. But that's just me. I'm...intelligist. Anyway. So. black and white things. Well...there are films and photographs and stuff but I'm not going to TALK about them. No. I'm going to make everyone a little more informed on the world of what is black and white.
1. Bunnies
In a google search for "black & white" I came across this clip of bunnies named "black" and "white" eating. they're adoreable. If you like bunnies, go.
2. Black & White Print Communications
I'm not actually sure what this company does but it has something to do with corporate branding and "collateral materials." If someone figures THAT one out, lemme know.
3. Black & White Cookies
okay seriously if i NEED to explain that one then I also NEED to kick you.
4. Black & White: The Computer Game
Developed by Lionhead Studios in 2001, this empire-game makes the player a "god" ruling over an "island" populated by "various tribes."
Apparently there is a sequel, Black & White 2.
anyone???
5. Black & White Cabs
This Australian Taxi service provides both everyday i-bought-too-much-at-the-suburban-australian-mall transport, as well as school transportation. Isn't that lovely of them? PS did you know that they have 6-digit phonenumbers in Australia? I'm almost jealous. Not even area codes...
6. Black & White: A New York Magazine Critics' Pick bar in the suburbs of the East Village. they do open mic AND have a DJ. sounds like fun!
7. Swans
Yes, they can be black OR white!
anyway, that's it for right now. i think i've fulfilled by boredom quota for the evening. peace out :) :) :)
Moving on. this blog is about black and white THINGS. Not people, mind you. I think racial tensions are stupid and I pretty much refuse to discuss them. I love all people regardless of color. Stupid people, however, are not loved. But that's just me. I'm...intelligist. Anyway. So. black and white things. Well...there are films and photographs and stuff but I'm not going to TALK about them. No. I'm going to make everyone a little more informed on the world of what is black and white.
1. Bunnies
In a google search for "black & white" I came across this clip of bunnies named "black" and "white" eating. they're adoreable. If you like bunnies, go.
2. Black & White Print Communications
I'm not actually sure what this company does but it has something to do with corporate branding and "collateral materials." If someone figures THAT one out, lemme know.
3. Black & White Cookies
okay seriously if i NEED to explain that one then I also NEED to kick you.
4. Black & White: The Computer Game
Developed by Lionhead Studios in 2001, this empire-game makes the player a "god" ruling over an "island" populated by "various tribes."
Apparently there is a sequel, Black & White 2.
anyone???
5. Black & White Cabs
This Australian Taxi service provides both everyday i-bought-too-much-at-the-suburban-australian-mall transport, as well as school transportation. Isn't that lovely of them? PS did you know that they have 6-digit phonenumbers in Australia? I'm almost jealous. Not even area codes...
6. Black & White: A New York Magazine Critics' Pick bar in the suburbs of the East Village. they do open mic AND have a DJ. sounds like fun!
7. Swans
Yes, they can be black OR white!
anyway, that's it for right now. i think i've fulfilled by boredom quota for the evening. peace out :) :) :)
Thursday, December 13, 2007
when self-defense is no longer about self
As we all know, there's a lot of controversy regarding the right to bear arms...or perhaps you DON'T all know. for reference, see Wikipedia...or, you know, the Constitution. Second Amendment. It's the second door on your left right past the Declaration of Independence. You can also check out the NRA's website. They know all about firearms and one's right to bear them. They even have a splashy flashy website. oh, and apparently you can even donate a deer on the site. but the link doesn't connect to anything to do with deer so i'm omitting it for this blog.
ANYWAY there's gun control and right to bear arms controversy. What's new? Well...what's NEW is that on March 27, 2007 Texas Governor Rick Perry of Texas signed a bill into law that "states that a person has no duty to retreat from an intruder before using deadly force" (Dallas News). In layman's terms, this means that a private citizen may protect their home, car, or their workplace (which, of course, is not actually an employee's property so one must wonder where the line gets drawn. like...can you only use deadly force if someone attempts to rob your cubicle? and hey, what if someone DOES try to rob your cubicle. What if your most annoying worker intrudes on your workspace and steals a post-it...? can you use deadly force? According to the Dallas News article, this "castle doctrine" bill (named for the idea that a man's home is his castle--and his car is his steed???) "also provide[s] civil immunity for a person who lawfully uses deadly force in any of the circumstances spelled out in the bill." Note: those circumstances require the building or car to be "occupied at the time for the deadly force provision to apply" and the killer must not be the instigator of the attack. Very interesting. Yes, it's all VERY interesting. But not as interesting as what follows now.
On November 17, a Texan by the name of Joe Horn (I call him a Texan because he is, in fact, from Texas and, thereby, affected by the aforementioned castle doctrine bill) shot and killed two men. But it's not like he, you know, walked up to them in a supermarket or anything. no no no. he felt threatened by these two men. they were burglarizing his neighbor's home. and not just any neighbor, but a neighbor with whom he didn't have a very close relationship. Yes, Mr. Horn shot and killed two men...with a shotgun...and, according to CBS they were both shot from less than 15 feet away...and all for a neighbor that he didn't really know well? Yes. Not only that, but according to CBS' documentation of the 911 call transcript, Mr. Horn argued with the dispatcher about whether he should go outside to stop them with force.
Now, I know what you're thinking: but wait! he wasn't defending his own property! Exactly. that seems to be the root of the complication. And it's not like he shot them in the legs to keep them from running. No, he shot them dead. But still, Hron "was not taken into custody after the shooting...a grand jury will decide if charges are to be filed." Why? The law never said 'your neighbor's property' it says YOUR property. the neighbor's house wasn't occupied by the person who did the killing. Doesn't that make him the instigator? doesn't that say "off to jail with you now!"
No, apparently it doesn't. The New York Times today created a community comment board for Readers' Comments and Responses to what people felt about Mr. Horn's actions. Definitely click on that NYTimes link and definitely read the responses. The majority of them make them pretty sick, not gonna lie. Comments like "If criminals were routinely shot ... instead of trying to protect them from their own folly ... there would be fewer crimin[als]" (S.A.W., Washington DC) and "Illegal aliens have no business in this country and they should be caught and deported at every chance. In the meantime, American homes and property are being burglarized by them, our medical services are overwhelmed by illegals with no remunerative compensation, our law enforcement can't possibly do enough, and on and on" (Dude, USA...yes, he called himself "DUDE")...quick comment on this, the names of the two men were spanish, but no where in the initial report did it say they were illegal aliens. now, that is possible that they were, but really this negative and poorly informed outlook on international inhabitants is pretty disgusting to hear coming from anyone. Oh and a personal favorite: "It's his life. He was born free. So it's his decision. If they didn't want to be shot then they should not have angered him. End of story." (Tatiana Covington, Tuscon AZ). Wait...if they didn't want to get shot they shouldn't have ANGERED him??? what about if my roomate eats my cheese or my damn coworker steals my post-its or my sister steals a CD out of my car (note: I don't have a car)? Should I shoot them because I'm angry? According to 2/3 of those commenting on this situation, yes.
What do you think?
ANYWAY there's gun control and right to bear arms controversy. What's new? Well...what's NEW is that on March 27, 2007 Texas Governor Rick Perry of Texas signed a bill into law that "states that a person has no duty to retreat from an intruder before using deadly force" (Dallas News). In layman's terms, this means that a private citizen may protect their home, car, or their workplace (which, of course, is not actually an employee's property so one must wonder where the line gets drawn. like...can you only use deadly force if someone attempts to rob your cubicle? and hey, what if someone DOES try to rob your cubicle. What if your most annoying worker intrudes on your workspace and steals a post-it...? can you use deadly force? According to the Dallas News article, this "castle doctrine" bill (named for the idea that a man's home is his castle--and his car is his steed???) "also provide[s] civil immunity for a person who lawfully uses deadly force in any of the circumstances spelled out in the bill." Note: those circumstances require the building or car to be "occupied at the time for the deadly force provision to apply" and the killer must not be the instigator of the attack. Very interesting. Yes, it's all VERY interesting. But not as interesting as what follows now.
On November 17, a Texan by the name of Joe Horn (I call him a Texan because he is, in fact, from Texas and, thereby, affected by the aforementioned castle doctrine bill) shot and killed two men. But it's not like he, you know, walked up to them in a supermarket or anything. no no no. he felt threatened by these two men. they were burglarizing his neighbor's home. and not just any neighbor, but a neighbor with whom he didn't have a very close relationship. Yes, Mr. Horn shot and killed two men...with a shotgun...and, according to CBS they were both shot from less than 15 feet away...and all for a neighbor that he didn't really know well? Yes. Not only that, but according to CBS' documentation of the 911 call transcript, Mr. Horn argued with the dispatcher about whether he should go outside to stop them with force.
Now, I know what you're thinking: but wait! he wasn't defending his own property! Exactly. that seems to be the root of the complication. And it's not like he shot them in the legs to keep them from running. No, he shot them dead. But still, Hron "was not taken into custody after the shooting...a grand jury will decide if charges are to be filed." Why? The law never said 'your neighbor's property' it says YOUR property. the neighbor's house wasn't occupied by the person who did the killing. Doesn't that make him the instigator? doesn't that say "off to jail with you now!"
No, apparently it doesn't. The New York Times today created a community comment board for Readers' Comments and Responses to what people felt about Mr. Horn's actions. Definitely click on that NYTimes link and definitely read the responses. The majority of them make them pretty sick, not gonna lie. Comments like "If criminals were routinely shot ... instead of trying to protect them from their own folly ... there would be fewer crimin[als]" (S.A.W., Washington DC) and "Illegal aliens have no business in this country and they should be caught and deported at every chance. In the meantime, American homes and property are being burglarized by them, our medical services are overwhelmed by illegals with no remunerative compensation, our law enforcement can't possibly do enough, and on and on" (Dude, USA...yes, he called himself "DUDE")...quick comment on this, the names of the two men were spanish, but no where in the initial report did it say they were illegal aliens. now, that is possible that they were, but really this negative and poorly informed outlook on international inhabitants is pretty disgusting to hear coming from anyone. Oh and a personal favorite: "It's his life. He was born free. So it's his decision. If they didn't want to be shot then they should not have angered him. End of story." (Tatiana Covington, Tuscon AZ). Wait...if they didn't want to get shot they shouldn't have ANGERED him??? what about if my roomate eats my cheese or my damn coworker steals my post-its or my sister steals a CD out of my car (note: I don't have a car)? Should I shoot them because I'm angry? According to 2/3 of those commenting on this situation, yes.
What do you think?
#28
Dear America,
It's been so long since I've lived in suburbia full time that you'll have to tell me: are large hair bows, slow walkers and thin coats al the rage in suburbia, too, or is that just the tourist mentality in NYC? or should I say herd mentality? Face it, tourists are slow anywhere you go (prime example - the molases that is disney). By slow I refer to the infinite wisdom of Jack Kerouac who asks whether the luxury of cars and simply crossing a parking lot to get anywhere has decreased the average speed of your average pedestrian. Why yes, it has. I can appreciate wishing to see the sights and enjoy the time with your family, but if you want to go slow opt for a bus instead of the subway, don't clutter NYC sidewalks. Which brings me to my next tourist complaint--herding into food shops. Every Starbucks is the same, there's no need to stop in at every one. and yes, you have them at home too! Fortunately these tourists seem to opt ONLY for the food shops with higher fat and sugar content. 90% don't know what a Jamba Juice is and the 10% who do would rather cuddle up to a dirty water dog or coffee on their trip which leaves me free to be alone with my Jamba Juice and watch all you sillies through the window. Just me and the locals hanging by our windows or hiding in our Whole Foods* Jamba Juice.
Note: if you ever DO stop in on your trip, might I recommend my friend Molly's fave MEGA MANGO and my personal fave FIT & FRUITFUL: Lemonade, green tea, lime sherbert, mangos, strawberries, ice...all blended with a Weight Loss booster. It's the next best thing to sucking on citrus...which...is probably something that only I as a Florida girl would enjoy.
Add'l side note: NYC's straight males also tend to avoid Jamba so it's not the place to pick up guys...unless you're also a guy.
* Whole Foods: another healthy chain protected by the Tourists are Required to Eat Poorly on Their Vacation Act.
It's been so long since I've lived in suburbia full time that you'll have to tell me: are large hair bows, slow walkers and thin coats al the rage in suburbia, too, or is that just the tourist mentality in NYC? or should I say herd mentality? Face it, tourists are slow anywhere you go (prime example - the molases that is disney). By slow I refer to the infinite wisdom of Jack Kerouac who asks whether the luxury of cars and simply crossing a parking lot to get anywhere has decreased the average speed of your average pedestrian. Why yes, it has. I can appreciate wishing to see the sights and enjoy the time with your family, but if you want to go slow opt for a bus instead of the subway, don't clutter NYC sidewalks. Which brings me to my next tourist complaint--herding into food shops. Every Starbucks is the same, there's no need to stop in at every one. and yes, you have them at home too! Fortunately these tourists seem to opt ONLY for the food shops with higher fat and sugar content. 90% don't know what a Jamba Juice is and the 10% who do would rather cuddle up to a dirty water dog or coffee on their trip which leaves me free to be alone with my Jamba Juice and watch all you sillies through the window. Just me and the locals hanging by our windows or hiding in our Whole Foods* Jamba Juice.
Note: if you ever DO stop in on your trip, might I recommend my friend Molly's fave MEGA MANGO and my personal fave FIT & FRUITFUL: Lemonade, green tea, lime sherbert, mangos, strawberries, ice...all blended with a Weight Loss booster. It's the next best thing to sucking on citrus...which...is probably something that only I as a Florida girl would enjoy.
Add'l side note: NYC's straight males also tend to avoid Jamba so it's not the place to pick up guys...unless you're also a guy.
* Whole Foods: another healthy chain protected by the Tourists are Required to Eat Poorly on Their Vacation Act.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
#27
Life is a precariously balanced list of hopes and disappointments. That's how Mandy ended up working the "Nirvana" knitted materials booth at Columbus Circle's Holiday Bazaar. That's how Pete a 53-year-old black man from Pittsburg ended up a bike messenger in NY. And that's how Alex walked into my life. Doug from "Nirvana" re-reads a Daily News from the trash bin. "Little ditty 'bout Jack n' Diane..." in the background. Alex stands, shoulders slumped at the entrance to the bazaar, sighing into his phone, clutching his I ♥ NY bag. Okay...so Alex didn't actually walk into my life and his name (most likely) isn't even actually Alex. But he looks like an Alex. He, too, has experienced hope and disappointment--hoping to buy a gift--found nothing. that's how our lives function. We all settle for what we can get and we end up semi disappointed. Mike over there settled for that "Nirvana" sweater vest because he feels his wife will settle for it just as he is. I've settled for sitting on this cold fountain because the stone is a seat and the light is bright enough and the wind isn't TOO bad. Even Mandy glances at the used Daily News. What will you settle for this Christmas?
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Subways this weekend
So...the downtown A and the C are skipping a bunch of important stations this weekend...like mine. So now I have to wait in the 30-degree-but-it-feels-like-20-degree weather for a BUS so that I can take that down to a station where my train IS stopping so I can get to work. It's weekends like this when I wish I still lived in Orlando.
not worked in Orlando, though. because that sucked.
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