Classics Written by the 21st Century Middle Class

Cat on a Hot Sun Roof
The Online Gambler
Death of a Sales Rep
The Red and the New Black
Madame Ovary
The Second Sext
Crime and Time-Served
Eighth Level Elvin Mage of the Rings
Blog Postings by Montaigne
A New Yorker Piece of Two Cities
Gatsby Facebooks his Ex
Bridezillas and Prejudice
A Farewell to Archive
Conventionally Grown Grapes of Wrath
Hamlet: The 40 Year Old Virgin
The Golden Netbook
A Downtown Studio of One's Own
The Bible in 3D

The Existentialism of Hurt

Hurt Locker has been an interesting cultural phenomenon, and for me, not the least of reasons is that the word "hurt" is very potent.

I hurt. (transitive)
I hurt. (intransitive)

Sometimes, the best way to hurt (both in the transitive and intransitive senses) is physically. Physical pain can assuage emotional suffering. I believe this now.

Toward the end of last week I compulsively exercised. Two lifting classes in 12 hours, a one hour run, horse-riding... And I compulsively ate. Sound of body, sound of mind. Both sounds are soft today but in perfect pitch.

Now, for the PSA:

If you or someone you know hurts, spend a day with The Littrells.

A Day With the Littrells from Ill Iterate on Vimeo.

Marketing Jargon

I occasionally have to analyze how I feel about marketing jargon and I've recently decided there is nothing wrong with marketing jargon. Just a matter of perspective. Jazz music critics have gotten away with all kinds of neologisms, for example, but who's gonna slap the guy who writes McCoy Tyner got all pentatonic on his bebop? No one. Actually...maybe that's a bad example, as I'd probably slap the computer screen upon reading that.

Marketers are unfortunately just tacky. Our language is derivative but efficient.

THAT SAID. Here are some things I (have heard but) will never say in the context of marketing:

Lock and load.
Make this thing pop/jump/fly.
Let's start throwing some dates around. (As opposed to just asking, "when are you free?")

(Sorry to those who use those phrases. Again, don't have a problem with hearing them. I love all sinners.)

ALSO. I'd love to hear these other metaphors in their stead.
I might even take bets they'll start circulating:

You ready to fight?
Let's lube this thing so everyone's happy.
What's our equinox?

Heads Up

And these two pictures were taken in completely different golden-halves but belong next to each other.


My Los Angeles.

My New York.

Overexposed.

Heads up, New York

Some cool pics of New York.

Cool for the same reason I think the LA pics were rad.

I love this camera.

Thanks for the Golden Half, Powershovel-Nick (pictured here in golden halves).
They say the grass is always greener on the other side but I actually think the sky's bluer on the right.

ps: the sunglasses I'm wearing just went on sale.

He's like a chicken with his head cut off. Better get a pretzel.

Heads up, LA

Some rad pictures of Los Angeles. Rad partly because on analog everything that comes out nice feels twice as good. (Pardon the weird part in my bangs)


Taken with a Golden Half.


Mid-70s all week.

And no smog?...anything can happen.

Rehab. Re:up.

What a zonker of a month. TGINFA: Thank God It's Not February Anymore.

Travel. Lots of travel. It's become a sort of metaphor. "I been movin around a lot."

Between jetlag, gutrot and brainfreeze I'm sure I need a good month of rehabilitation. To wit, I'm going back on the Paleo Diet that ended a couple weeks ago. This time cutting down on me ole smokey treats and the mead and adding some productive R&R (as opposed to self-imposed exile). Wait patiently for heartache to grow up and leave the house.

Detox requires a certain environment and several rations. For example:

Canned wild salmon: $4 a can.
Omega-3 Supplements: $30
Other various mineral supps: $20
Organic and free-range/grassfed produce and meats: $50
2Lbs of coffee beans: $10
New coffeemaker (I now have three different coffee making systems sigh): $90
Mongolian expedition: $1500+
Spending money as defense mechanism: Priceless.

Imperfect as they are.

Some of us get dogs to cure our loneliness. Others get cats. Yet others find themselves boyfriends or girlfriends.

I found an imperfect little video camera.

Some of you have seen the nano films I've shot using this semi-precious gem, and if it meant anything to you, then I don't need to say much more about the product. I can't say enough about it, but even better than my words are the artifacts left by others.

Powershovel is exhibiting a mighty fine roster of Digital Harinezumi films created by artists, musicians, filmmakers and other ordinary geniuses.
March 19 6:30-8:30 at the New Museum.

Please come and keep us company.

The Architecture of Insults

Exhibit A:
Your Mother + Racism

Exhibit B:
You + Racism

Exhibit C:
Your Girlfriend + Racism

Exhibit D:
Your Mother + Sexual Promiscuity

Exhibit E:
Your Girlfriend + Sexual Promiscuity

Exhibit F:
You + Sexual Orientation

Exhibit G:
"Hipster"

Social Networking in a nutshell

Twitter: you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you
you you you you you you you you me you you you you you you you you

Facebook: me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me me
me me me me me you me me me me me me me me me me me me me

Myspace: Myspace Myspace Myspace Myspace Myspace Myspace Myspace
Myspace Myspace Myspace Myspace Myspace Myspace Myspace Myspace

Friendster: social networking social networking social networking social networking
social networking social networking social networking social networking social networking

Tokyo

I like Tokyo just fine and each time I go there I like it more. Probably just because each time I go there I meet more people. The odds of my hitting an ace acquaintance get better each time. My biggest hangup is still the gender divide, but as an American visitor it's nothing I can't pretend gets isolated on this side of the Pacific.

Observation 1: Made by Alvin.

"Japan has mastered a brilliant system of mind-control." (inre: cultish purchasing habits, and business morale)

Observation 2: Made by my Korean Grandma.

"When the kimchi's good, everything is good." (after a sub par KBBQ experience saved by panchan)

Observation 3: Made by Julia (in reference to time zones and where we were currently)

"Right now is today's now."

Observation 4:

This is what karaoke should always look like. (ps: I have just realized I've been surrounded almost my whole life with handsome friends. I must have hated men in a previous existence.)

Karaoke in Tokyo from Ill Iterate on Vimeo.

Observation 5:

Tokyo is a city of solitude.

Tokyo from Ill Iterate on Vimeo.