I have a very, very limited reader base for this here blog, but once in a while I feel it is my duty to use whatever small Bully pulpit I have to say something actually important.
Please, if you’re a citizen of the United States, do not fall for the mindless, xenophobicly based economic policy rhetoric that the people associated with the socalled Tea Party movement have been promulgating. It has nothing to do with sound economic thought and everything to do with the usual hyper partisan players exploiting people’s incomplete understanding of the underpinnings of global economics (99% of us fall into this category, me included) to further their agenda.
Yes giant deficits are bad. But there is a preponderance of evidence that some times, these times, they are necessary. I caught Sean Hannity the other night and the amount of vitriol and manipulation in his words terrified me. That guy is a snake of A#1 caliber and he has no f^8#in clue what makes good fiscal policy.
If pressed, and I had to choose a favorite current TV show, Nitro Circus would definitely be on my short list. If you have not seen it, you need to. Everything they do takes serious cajones and is a deft display of the difference in the way us humans’ brains are wired. These guys do not think like you and me.
The hucksters from the show are currently doing a live version of Nitro at arenas around the world. It looks like an amazing experience and I will definitely be attending when/if they come to New York.
Behold.
My dad recently gave me a NetSpend gift card for my birthday, and while I obviously am grateful for his generosity, this thing sucks so bad I almost want to throw it away and screw the $100 it came loaded with. It is a wretched product, that from what I can tell is designed to frustrate and rip off people who can’t qualify for regular bank issued debit and credit cards. As we speak, I’m on the phone for the 4th time trying to activate my NetSpend card and I’d give the guy on the other end of the line a 1/5 chance of actually activating it.
NetSpend stinks so bad.
I don’t know about you, but in my day-to-day urban dwelling I constantly find myself wanting an axe. Subway turnstile broken? Goddamnit, why don’t I have a cold forged steel axe to chop this f’er down? Cab door jammed shut and can’t get out? Chop a new cab door. These are all very common happenings in New York City and the only thing that’s really going to help you out of them is an axe.
This is why, I imagine, the braintrust at NYC-based Best Made Co. have decided to roll out a line of high-end axes and, dare I say, a very, very nice axe sling.
Granted, the axes are probably very well made because they’re made in Canada, but I’m willing to bet the only thing Best Made Co. does is paint the handles. I like the idea of people learning how to use tools, but this is a little too foppish for my tastes.
I’ve spied these utterly ridiculous sandal concoctions on many women lately. They look like flesh sleeves for the foot.
Thanks to Grete Eliassen for this photo.
Here’s something you don’t see everyday in North America, a local ski jump. “Hey, Dad I’m going to go down to the 120m hill for a few hours before dinner.” “Ok, son. Don’t die.”
For all their douchebagery, at least when Pitchfork posts something about a band there’s usually some hook: a new song, a live video, an interview, tour dates, etc. Apparently, though, when you’re a reclusive, highly successful band like Arcade Fire, it doesn’t take much to get in the music news.
What exactly is the point of this post?
Somehow these two headlines were running together in the news today. Poor John Travolta. It’s like his life is one big headfake:
Movie career: 1976 – 1980 cool, hip (Staying Alive ends this era) 1981 – 1993 (The looks who’s talking too years) (Pulp Fiction!) Cool again – (Broken Arrow, why!? Why!?) 1996 – current back in the sucker. Recently: Son dies in a tragic, freak accident, wife get’s pregnant at a miraculously old age, both of his dogs are run over and killed at the fucking airport.
I won’t be reporting from life’s field for a few days because I’m headed off into the great chasm otherwise known as the Delaware Water Gap. I’m going with a select group of guys whom I’ve known since before I had a driver’s license. These guys tend to favor less hiking, higher per capita beer consumption, and a generally laid back nature experience (small chainsaws and hatchets are almost always in the mix too; not the best idea given the beer part). I’m more of a can’t sit still for too long person who would rather hike 14 miles up something treacherously steep than lounge around and slug Red Bellies all day. Nowadays I try no to bitch and complain too much about the lack of exertion and activity in our trips and just chill out and appreciate the fact that I’m getting to spend time with rare, lifelong friends.
Ok, that’s some mildly sappy stuff. My vituperative edge will return next post. I promise.
