Return to Wood Mountain

"9AM at the corner. If I can still recognize it."

-RW

It looks like this now:

[clicky]

Ribbon Cutting

THE PRESIDENT: Let me cut the ribbon -- are you going to cut it with me, Steve -- and then why don't you all yell simultaneously? (Laughter.) Like, really loudly. (Laughter.) And that way you might get noticed.

Oh, so if we yell, we'll get his attention. Nice to know.

[clicky]

Man Why You Even Got to do a Thing

The tip of Mt. Fuji is the top of Japan.
Can you stretch that thing out like a rubber band?

What people don't know so what we have to sing.
The answer's yes. You can do anything.

[copyright RPW and for reference purposes only]

Eye of the Storm

Most people think of “eye of the storm” as the most hellacious, ferocious, and concentrated of episodes, as a metaphor anyway. But, remember that “the eye is a region of mostly calm weather found at the center of strong cyclones,” or, as we say here, hurricanes.

So eye of the storm is generally misused. Same with “down town.” As in basketball’s “he’s shooting from down town!” for a long shot. Wouldn’t that be the suburbs? Down town, under the basket, is where the action is. The violence, action, crowding, and hustle of down town happen in the lane; under the basket. That’s down town. A three point shot is “from the suburbs!” So people misuse eye of the storm and down town equally.

Anyway, It’s the calm. It’s the break. It’s the moment of quick reflection. The eye of the storm is a breath before the next beating.

So, here I am: the eye of the storm; a moment of quick reflection.

I’ve been breaking ass with the album and with the book obviously. Both going well, I guess. Hard work (like the presidency). I’m still posting pictures to rhinosnort, but the better shots are being reserved for the book. Most will be unused and reposted to rhinosnot. So, we’ll see. It’s a great experience working with Christine too. Her work pushes my work and hopefully my work pushes her work. Seeing is believing fl whatever that means.

The album, brutally exhausting. But, found a great engineer to help out wit mixing and mastering. Frank did the recording, mixing and mastering of radiomakesmemad. It will be good working with him again. And, since Jason is living in his house until his September move to SF, that may escalate the insurgency to another level (if he even simply offers a modest suggestion, it’ll change things). And, trying to get Dave Wave involved somehow, but haven’t figured that out yet (and I don’t have to right now since I’m in the eye of the storm).

Aside from that, there’s helping friends build cribs; there’s driving around post-op neighbors, and there’s the baseline elements of life that take up most of the available time. As Kim said yesterday, “Thank goodness you’re unemployed, Ty.” Else I’d get nothing done.

I’m considering this nine-month certificate photography program. It looks swell, but I’m feeling that I haven’t figured out what the down side is. Yet. I’m sure something just won’t work (like it’s a program for 14 year-olds or something). I’m sure there’s tons I can/will learn. Serious shit to improve my work. But, I can’t get over the hunch that I’d be paying $21,000 for a (valuable) line on my vita. I have an “admissions interview” next week.

[Speaking of 14 year-olds, I received a text message from my Massachusetts friend, Dan. Dan has to be the last person to get a mobile phone. He’s a highly intelligent 60, ultra-liberal, ex-hippie in Newsburyport. He looks to be 35, max. Just a few months ago, he was all “cell phones are completely unnecessary!” Adamant, was Dan. Then a fucking text message. So I called him (on his new cellie) and bitched him out for being a 14 year-old girl from two years ago with that text messaging. His reply, “It’s cool, man!”

Then he sends me this this morning, "I'm glad you are so fond of text messaging. What about voice messaging (not voice mail, leaving a message, but sending a voice message)! I just learned today I can record voice messages and plop them into your voice mailbox, for a small fee, of course. (Actually, the fee was a bit obscure – same as text messaging plus a "data" charge.) This is not a bad feature, actually, particularly for reaching a bunch of people, say if you were sending 10 people directions to your house -- one message, 10 recipients." WTF?!]

But, I realized this morning that I can take a break from art. A very short break. Like, this morning from 10 until noon or something. My historic problem with breaks, or even worse, artistic lulls, has been the fear of “getting it back.” I figure that if there was nothing there, artistically, then that was it. It was over. Time to get a cubicle somewhere and mail it in.

I’ve learned though that lulls are normal and necessary. Breaks should be embraced (so I have another hour of break). So, I’ll take it. Today. For now, before the eye passes.

Alright, I have to go buy groceries for my neighbor. Jesus!

Thumbs Up! Episode 14
Patton Oswald on The Best Show

Pieter Hugo

I came across this exremely powerful image on the internets this morning. It's by Pieter Hugo of South Africa.

I want to do that! [make pictures like this, not walk a hyena in Nigeria]. I mean will you just look at that?

In Search of a Monster

This is where "it" may stand, at least that's what I know.

We now have an engineer on board, and we now have a wild card.

Now we just need a monster. Something epic. Ha!

So Here I Am

Boston University has just opened a new DC campus of their Center for Digital Arts (this is great - clicky - I absolutely feel that all the images on this page totally bite and the student work isn't necessarily appealing).

They offer a program called, "Professional Photography Certificate." Humm.... I'm in their system now and will visit for a chat next Thursday.

It's a full-time, nine month program, 19 modules from Photographic Seeing to Portraiture II. It actually looks like a decent program.

But, what do I get out of it (and the $21,000)? Am I then a certified professional photographer? Do I put that on my card? Can I then open a business, or, more specifically a practice? I'd actually like to do that, but $21,000?

I would like to learn some stuff...but here's my question for you: Does this help me?

Jon Huck : Breakfast (& I'm So Jealous)

[clicky]

What's Good About The East

Q: So Ty, what's so good about living "out east" that you've stayed there for 15 years?

A: Last night I saw the first firefly of the season. Still cool!

Tattoo You II

Apparently these are/were popular (for a time), the fingerstache:

Thinking About Pictures

So this is an interesting thought from today.

I'm less concerned with the photos I take than dismayed with the photographic opportunities I miss. The close calls are killer whether accidental or just plain neglect.

Worst than being completely out of position in a speeding car is realizing hours later that, shit!, that was a great shot.

Just killer city.

Hostage

"Don't be a Hostage to a perception."

-Denise Higgs

Tattoo You

OK, I'm actually not opposed to a rad tattoo or anything. I have a special place inside for rad tattoos. Not necessarily all or nothing -- sleeves, neck, back, legs, face, etc. -- but good art. Or, at least, something that could be arguably personally meaningful. Intimate. Think David Cross and his tattoo of Hitler being spanked by Old Testament god and Hitler's tears are watering the crops for the peasants. That, people, is a tattoo!

But, what the fuck is wrong with people who get goddamn Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck on their leg. What are they being paid by Disney (tm) for ad space? They are, what, so in love with a goddamn weak cartoon character that they want it with them forever? What, they identify so much with Donald goddamn Duck that they become Donald Duck.

I actually saw people with both Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck tattoos. I see them every week when I take the girl to gymnastics. They are parents -- from different families. With Disney (tm) fucking tattoos. I see them every week and cannot stop hating on them.

What. The. Fuck?

Tomorrow, I'm going to ask one of 'em what gives. They get a pass if it involves heroin, prostitution, or prison time.

Well, I Didn't Use The Word "Looms"

Health Care Looms as Top Campaign Issue

- New York Times, Today

My point is, I've been saying this for like 10 years. But, I never used the word "looms," I'm all like, "Health care should be the biggest issue in the coming election." I'm pretty sure I've uttered it before the 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, and 2008 elections.

I think the NYT is reading my mind now.

[clicky]

Did She Send You The Movie?

Yep. That's Christine in the blue #40.

Beginning Of An End II (guest post)

For reals (from CAL):

"My Casio fx-7000G. From 10th grade. I still have it. I'm holding it in my hand right now. It needs batteries, but it's here. Not only could you program in formulas, you could program in text and write all the equations and other answers in your calculator before the test. Who needs the graphing function?

Oh, and it made that 55378008 (BOOBLESS) joke obsolete."

We Need A New Word

We need a word for something that could've been 0r should've been cool. You know, it's a marvelous piece of technology, or fabby design, or whatever, but it's so hyped or wanted that it's entirely worthless.

Let's start with a list:

• iPhone ("...rounded up and made to work in a Chinese toothpaste factory." - Dave)
• Segway ("...soon-to-be-recalled-again 12 m.p.h. glorified moped that makes anyone who rides it look like a complete tool." - Wonkette)
• Democrats ("...the Washington Generals. - Rich)
• Michael Moore
• Gasoline internal combustion engine
• Interleague baseball
  

You get the idea.

I'll call this category, "Bank!" Bunk (phoney) and rank (shitty). Bank. "Dude, the Segway is fucking bank."

Beginning Of An End (guest post)

For reals (from FLA):

"Those dumb "I'm a Mac" commercials were the beginning of the end for Apple. There are those of us who don't want what everyone else wants, because we know everyone else is a dumb-shit. I'm going on record right now saying anyone who pays $600 for a cellphone that also allows you to watch dogs skateboard on YouTube should be rounded up and made to work in a Chinese toothpaste factory.

The iphone is not cool. The HP-34C programmable calculator is.

Why? Because I was the only one who had one, and while everyone else in math class was toiling away at the quadratic equation, I just programmed the HP and plugged in the numbers. That's cool. And, yes, nerdy. And now being a computer nerd is popular because the devices are so slick and easy to use, even the dumb-shits want one."

Libby (guest post - annotated)

"What are the democrats gonna do? Nothing!"

This is what 6 1/2 years of the Bush presidency boil down to. And these bozo's expect me to still vote for them? - RW

[True, but I'm voting for Hillary (or Obama) just to annoy a conservative.] -Ty

Meanwhile, the Republican's have been a more effective minority party (blocking nearly EVERYTHING in the Senate) in 6 months than the Democrats were in 12 years. - RW

[True, truly pathetic.] - Ty

Fucking losers. I hate the democrats. Give me a real team to root for. Not the Washington Generals. - RW

[Or the Washington Wizards, Redskins, or Nationals; all losers.] - Ty

Georgie

Here's what the LA Times has to say:

Do you agree with Pres. Bush that 30 months in federal prison is excessive for telling a lie?

8.3%
Yes

91.7%
No

2260 total responses

[clicky]

I've received emails expressing shock, surprise, and horror that Georgie would do this. Here's one:

"Not a lot of things amaze me about the smirking chimp, but the Scooter Libby commutation, I have to admit, was a surprise. The King truly is in a world of his own -- which, unfortunately, impacts our world and the worlds of everyone else on the planet."

- Edson

To spare you long, boring, and complex analysis, I offer two simple things:

1. Duh! What does he have to lose? Credibility? Poll points? The '08 election? Nope. Nothing to lose. He could have pardoned Libby then hung himself and let Cheney become president and declare Libby as vice. What are the democrats gonna do? Nothing!
2. It plays to the base. Uh, what's left of the base.

It's nothing more than an "annoy a liberal" schoolboy prank (like Abu Ghraib).