Only anarchists are pretty...

Last night I came across Empire Records (one of my favorite nineties movies - I confess) and watched a bit of it before bed. Today I give you a couple of my favorite music scenes from the movie. So happy Friday, all and enjoy a Sugar High this weekend, eh?

If you don't "get" Twitter, check out this article in The Stranger that sums it up just right:

We're telling each other stories, 140 characters at a time, as they unfold. If you can't see the value in that, you're hopeless.

Via bibliovixen (on Facebook):

( So that's what they call it )

Not so much to say, other than I'm enjoying the goth-hell out of listening to Fields of the Nephilim today (thanks for making me that CD so long ago, M), and I'm pretty psyched that my new Elysian Fields album and t-shirt came today. So, apparently, it's Bands With The Word "Fields" In Their Names Day.

Via molinette:

( All is vanity )

Thursday night through Sunday night:

Talk. Thought. Bliss. Spalike. Sun. Friends. Walking. Sunblock. Booze. Breeze. Food. Laughter. Bugspray. Photos. Explosions. Rickshaw. El. Party. Absinthe. Gelato. Rooftop. Exhaustion. Laziness. Books. Film. Barbeque. Vodka. Smoke. Deck. Cab. Burlington. Neo. Old-school. Rest.

Oh, and blowing things up. America, fuck yeah!



Have a lovely holiday weekend, all.

If you're not reading Texts From Last Night regularly, you should be. Perfect for a quick laugh in the middle of your day. My favorite gem from today:

(704): i wore my purity necklace wen we fucked. but its ok cuz simplified was blasting in the background
(1-704): hahahaha. im glad listening to simplified justifies breaking ur promise to god

You Feel Like Autumn

You have reached a point in your life where you feel successful and accomplished. You have a full, bountiful life. And you're ready to sit back and enjoy it. While you feel like you finally have enough in your life, you make find that you also have things you no longer need. This is a time for you to reassess who you are, what you need, and where you want to go next in your life.

You Are a Winter Person

You are calm, serious, and focused. You're the type of person who appreciates the quiet and calm. Winter is the perfect time for you to get cozy and work on a hobby. Summer is a bit too hectic for you. You like the dead of winter... preferably with a roaring fire inside.

You Are Rain

You are dark and dramatic. You tend to be a bit over the top. You have strong emotions and they can change quickly. You are tempestuous. You are wild and unpredictable. You tend to overwhelm and surprise people. While you are aggressive, you are also a homebody. You don't really care for physical activities.

We don't have a big Pride party every year, just a few people who come over to chill and take a break from the madness of the parade. I didn't even go to the parade, just enjoyed the sound of the crowd from my back deck.

( And it all happened in my own home... )

Like the rest of the world, I was shocked yesterday to learn of Michael Jackson's passing. As I watched the hype late into the night (every news channel was running nonstop MJ coverage, and MTV was even playing MJ videos - I can't remember the last time I saw a video on MTV), I was reminded of when I wrote about appreciating art as a reflection of its time, even if that time was focused on ideas we find anathema now. In a similar sense, the death of Michael Jackson resurfaces a question I've thought about extensively, namely this: Can you separate the art from the artist? In a sort of inverse of the old love-the-sinner-hate-the-sin axiom, can you love the art and hate (or perhaps simply dislike, or get squicked out by) the artist?

I think the answer has to be yes, you can respond to art without liking the artist. I think Phil Spector is an abusive, murdering arsehole, but I love the Wall of Sound style he created back in the 60s. I have no doubt that Roman Polanski raped a girl back in 1977, but I've quite enjoyed some of his films (Rosemary's Baby, Bitter Moon and The Ninth Gate come to mind). In the same vein, while I think it's never been clear what actually happened between Michael Jackson and the children with whom he surrounded himself, I do think that something did happen. Call it intuition, call it legal knowledge (the fact that the victims came forward at all is pretty strong evidence - being a victim of sexual abuse of any kind in our legal system is no picnic), something was up. But I still listened to and enjoyed his music, even after all of the abuse allegations came out. I can separate the art from the artist.

One of the earliest MJ memories I have is of being in grade school, and just about to start a new school year at a new school. Mum jane3tis knew that I was nervous, and so she told me on the morning of the first day of school that I could pick out a record (yes, vinyl) to listen to to put me in a good mood. I picked Off The Wall, which is still arguably my favorite MJ solo album. I also remember scrawling my school folders and such with "Michael Jackson" and "Thriller" when that came out in 1982, and trying (and failing miserably) to moonwalk. I remember being amazed at the man's reinvention capability with "Smooth Criminal" came out, and again when "Scream" was released. And of course, I have always loved just about everything the Jackson 5 did.

And so, in tribute, I offer you ( my favorite MJ songs: )

Note that "Dirty Diana" did NOT make the list. People started singing that song to me the instant it came out (when I was in junior high), and they still haven't stopped. I do not thank you for that, MJ. ;)

Dunno if I buy this, but here it is anyway, the Numerology Report for my full name:

There are 19 letters in your name.
Those 19 letters total to 100
There are 10 vowels and 9 consonants in your name.

What your first name means:Shakespearean Female 'All's Well That Ends Well.' Daughter to the Widow of Florence.
Latin Female Fertile. God, devine. Famous bearers: Diana was the Roman goddess of fertility and childbirth, of hunting, and the moon. The late Lady Diana Spencer, often called 'Lady Di', married British Prince Charles and became Princess Diana of Wales.
French Female From the Greek goddess of the moon.
Biblical Female Luminous, perfect


Your number is: 1

The characteristics of #1 are: Initiating action, pioneering, leading, independent, attaining, individual.

The expression or destiny for #1:
A number 1 Expression denotes the skilled executive with keen administrative capabilities. You must develop the capacity to be a fine leader, sales executive, or promoter. You have the tools to become an original person with a creative approach to problem solving, and a penchant for initiating action. Someone may have to follow behind you to handle the details, but you know how to get things going and make things happen. You have a good mind and the ability to use it for your advancement. Because of these factors, you have much potential for achievement and financial rewards. Frequently, this expression belongs to one running a business or striving to achieve a level of accomplishment on ones talents and efforts. You have little need for much supervision, preferring to act on your own with little restraint. You are both ambitious and determined. Self-confident and self-reliant must be yours, as you develop a strong unyielding will and the courage of your convictions.

Although you fear loneliness, you want to be left alone. You fear routine and being in a rut. You often jump the gun because you are afraid of being left behind.

The negative attributes of the 1 Expression are egotism and a self-centered approach to life. This is an aggressive number and if it is over-emphasized it is very hard to live with. You do not have to be overly aggressive to fulfill your destiny. The 1 has a natural instinct to dominate and to be the boss; adhering to the concept of being number One. Again, you do not have to dominate and destroy in order to lead and manage.

Your Soul Urge number is: 1

A Soul Urge number of 1 means:
Your Soul Urge is the number 1. With a Soul Urge number of 1, you want to lead and direct, to work independent of supervision, by yourself or with subordinates. You take pride in your abilities and want to be recognized for them. You may seek opportunities to display your strength and usefulness, wanting to create and originate. In your desire to manage the big picture and the main issues, you may often leave the details to others.

The positive 1 Soul Urge is Ambitious and determined, a leader seeking opportunities. There is a great deal of honesty and loyalty in this character. If you possess positive 1 Soul Urge qualities, you are very attainment oriented and driven to success. You are a loyal friend and strictly fair in your business dealings.

The negative side of the 1 Soul Urge must be avoided. A negative 1 is apt to dominate situations and people; the home, the spouse, the family and the business. Emotions aren't strong in this nature. If you possess an excess of 1 energy, you may, at times, be boastful and egotistic. You must avoid being too critical and impatient of trifles. The great need of the 1 Soul Urge is the development of friendliness, and a sincere interest in people.

Your Inner Dream number is: 9

An Inner Dream number of 9 means:
You dream of being creative, intellectual, and universal; the selfless humanitarian. You understand the needy and want to help them. You would love to be a person people count on for support and advice.

That would be...weekend before last. And it is absolutely, unequivocally, nobody's business what I was doing. ;)

Fairy tale...metaphor...how many devices can I throw in one, short piece? Let's see...

( Once upon a time... )

...and with it the stifling Midwestern heat and humidity. Good heavens, I am not fond of heat/humidity. Just biding my time till fall arrives (and I'm hoping it won't be too late this year, since summer arrived so late).

In non-weather news, though, July has much to recommend it, including a visit from S from Cali, 4th (er, 3rd) of July fireworks at Navy Pier, Peter Murphy on the 14th, and the Newberry Book Fair on the weekend of the 24th (right, courts828?). So, you know, best to concentrate on the good stuff.

And also, this weekend is my last Pride weekend in the gayborhood. I plan to enjoy it as much as I can, for I doubt GR's Pride events are quite the same. :)

Weekend: Some good time with family/friends, checked out some GR apartments, and played with my new G1.

Monday: Very Monday-like.

I've gone from this utter piece of shit phone (seriously, don't ever get a Motorola Actv - they suck):



To this glorious bit of tech:



The G1. Damn, it is cool. I'm going to go play with it some more...

Lately I feel like the physical embodiment of the word "distracted". Compartmentalization and focus have rarely been a problem for me, but lately I seem to have lost the knack. Something in the air? Perhaps...

In other news, I'll be in GR this weekend (so little or no posting till next week). I should be in by late afternoon/early evening tomorrow. Control at Rocky's tomorrow night is the plan, so you GR folks should come out. Not sure about the rest of the weekend plans - I know there will be some Father's Day festivities throughout the weekend, and I have a couple of apartments to take a look at. Y'all know how to reach me if you want to meet up. I'm heading back to Chicago round 4 on Sunday.

Work: Reviewing and drafting corporate documents, meetings/emails, reviewing court orders.

Not-work: Texting, tweeting, giggling at http://www.textsfromlastnight.com/.

Yes! My life is this glamorous!

Funnily, enough, the answer to that is shown in all the madness going on in Iran right now: Really large crowds. Too many people means too many possibilities of something getting out of hand, whether that be the crowd itself or the authorities charged with keeping the peace.