Random Thoughts

“Best Friends” 8 May, 2005 Cold Case SE2.E22 If...

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 10:14:41 -0800

“Best Friends” 8 May, 2005

Cold Case

SE2.E22

If you haven’t seen it, or you are not a Cold Case watcher, please take the time to at least watch some highlights from this episode on Youtube.

There are several themes to the story, namely same-sex relationships in the 1930’s, race issues, gender issues, etc.

I can’t watch this ending without tearing up at the end.

- Myles

Garland's 28th Birthday.

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:49:51 -0800

To Garland on his Birthday:

Garland has been my rock for the better part of the last decade. When I reflect on all that I’ve been through, I know that I owe much of who I am and where I am today to his unwavering friendship and support. Over the last few years I have watched his career grow from the days when his writing had very limited outlets, to the present day where you will find his thoughts and observations on several of the internet’s most well-respected socio-political sites.

As each year passes, I fill with optimism for what the new year will bring Garland, and wait with bated breath for the next great article to come from his mind.

Happy birthday Garland, and here’s wishing you a fabulous 28th year!

- Myles

January 19, 2012

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:19:41 -0800

In honor of your B-Day (and Black Books), I’m going to get you a box of pencils. A REALLY nice box of pencils. Magic pencils. Like you draw a cow and the cow comes to life. I know you’re used to the finer things. -M

garlandgrey:

1.

Tomorrow is my 28th birthday.

2.

I wrote a list of 7 British Television shows that are streaming on Netflix that you might enjoy.

[Read more]

3.

4.

And now I need to get out of my pajamas and put on real clothing.

5.

And then maybe try to write something. IF I WANT.

bloodyguttedpoetry: apples: bloodyguttedpoetry: thelouse: Var...

Mon, 09 Jan 2012 07:14:40 -0800

bloodyguttedpoetry:

apples:

bloodyguttedpoetry:

thelouse:

Various original early editions of Howl by Allen Ginsberg at The Beat Museum - North Beach, San Francisco

Buh. I wish these were on display at City Lights instead.

I know the two buildings are close neighbors in North Beach, but last time I was in the Beat Museum, there were posters up promoting an Ed Hardy “art show” & the “curator” was trying to convince me that shitty, bro tattoo templates are of the same quality as the greatest poetry collection published in the United States? … ‘Scuse me, get the fuck out.

I hope they fired that motherfucker.

Now, I clearly don’t know exactly whatever that dude was trying to tell you and for all I know, he was legitimately a super bro who doesn’t know his ass from his elbow let alone the reasons why Howl is ultimately way cooler than Ed Hardy. But as a denizen of North Beach who has gotten to know and is pretty involved with not only the art scene in the ‘hood, but the tattoo artists as well, I feel like I gotta defend my boy here. I can tell you whole-heartedly that Ed Hardy (the man himself, and his tattooing and art) is absolutely nothing like the Christian Audigier licensed bullshit that is what he’s become known for to the general public- he is, in his field, much like the beats were to writing in San Francisco; a pioneer and a pretty radical dude for his time who gave our city an awesome legacy of tattooing. And I have more than a sneaking suspicion that he is horrified at what has become his work and the fact that this is what he is mostly known for outside of the tattooing community.

I don’t want to invalidate you argument, because, yes, the Beat Museum is actually pretty much Jokes, but Ed Hardy is actually a cool dude, and I wish people knew him for more than the fact that he licensed his art to someone who makes awful, awful clothing.

AUGH, that makes it all the more sad. I can’t even begin to fathom how Ed feels now. Thanks for dropping that knowledge! I should have done my research before posting this.

Taking this a step further, yes Don Ed Hardy is a talented skin art veteran, and his lineage having worked with Norman Collins (Sailor Jerry) to me makes his status unquestionable. Horihide (Japanese tattoo master) is the godfather of body art and if Ed Hardy has his respect, then he will always have mine.

I have spoken ad nauseum about my feelings towards the names of these storied artists (who are now mostly associated with cheap liquor, and the Jersey Shore-esque demographic wearing loud shirts emblazoned by bastardizations of their designs as marketed by Christian Audigier.) From a business standpoint, it’s actually brilliant. I used to have to actually TALK to some people to determine if we’re going to get along. Now those people all wear a uniform like Amazonian insects who flash bright colored thoraxes to warn others of their poisonous nature.

As a San Franciscan, I can also say that I like the Beat Museum from a purely subject-matter perspective, but no brick-and-mortar facility will every live up to the expectations of a Beat-enthusiast.

In other news, I was at the Strand Book store today and saw a first edition “Howl” for sale. If I had $3,000 and no need to eat for six months, it would be in my hands.

- M

bloodyguttedpoetry: laceandlions: this will be me all day for...

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 09:42:40 -0800

bloodyguttedpoetry:

laceandlions:

this will be me ~~all day~~ for life ….just not as pretty.

Me tomorrow.

“Summer Heights High” was an incredibly under appreciated show. It got minimal distribution outside of Australia, but I bought the DVDs, it’s brilliantly hilarious. I’ve heard the songs from the musical in the film turned into dance club beats!

TWENTY-TWO.

Sat, 03 Dec 2011 15:45:51 -0800

bloodyguttedpoetry:

Fist pump until I die, amirite?

Fist pump indeed! On the occasion of your birthday, and seeing as mine is tomorrow, I thought I’d share this photo with you from my friend Peter who runs Allen’s estate in NYC. It’s Allen on his last birthday, his 70th on June 3rd 1996.

putthison: This is the picture I’m taking to my tailor when I...

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 09:28:11 -0800

putthison:

This is the picture I’m taking to my tailor when I get my Donegal tweed made up.

Be sure to complete the look with the Nordic blond hairdo and pewter stein.

A lovely video from my friend Andrea Blunt.

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 20:44:00 -0800

A lovely video from my friend Andrea Blunt.

Thank you Steve.

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 08:50:40 -0700

Thank you Steve.

Portraits.

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 17:10:04 -0700

Portraits.

Spent a week and some change in Austin, TX. This is what I...

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:30:00 -0700

Spent a week and some change in Austin, TX. This is what I remember.

- M

PUT THIS ON mentioned a GQ article that speaks on the evolution...

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:58:00 -0700

PUT THIS ON mentioned a GQ article that speaks on the evolution of street fashion and the overflow of “peacocks” out in public today. The author’s criticism seems to be that the once “cool, hip and underground” snaps of people’s unique and idiosyncratic style choices has somehow spawned a generation of outlandish and over-the-top fashion faux pas.

As a fair-weather photographer, I can appreciate the concept of not wanting overly posed and contrived subject matter. It’s a valid argument. I’m not a fan of the criticism of it existing, however. Freedom of expression is pointless if we encourage artistic license and at the same time admonish the “attention whores”. The point is that we don’t get to differentiate the two as a cost of having that freedom.

Let’s not kid ourselves either about what motivates us. Those of us who give more than just a general shit about what we wear are doing it partly if not solely to be noticed. Fashion is a visible expression of self and by definition is done to be seen by others so as to demonstrate our own distinctiveness. I find it a bit hypocritical to chastise someone for their borderline Anna Piaggi-esque fashion choices.

Having been involved in apparel for the better part of the last decade, I’ve seen the evolution of fashion blogging and what seems to get the attention of the public. You are of course correct that sites like the Sartorialist are inundated by shots of Stefano Tonchi from WWD and industry people coming and going from one show to another. An argument could be made, though, that as industry movers and shakers, their own style choices may set trends by being reflected in their respective publications, fashion spreads and clothing lines, and in THAT sense, showing their style might be just as valuable as catching a pedestrian who somehow throws together a unique eye-catching look.

I can’t say that I place value on one more than the other, as far as street style blogs are concerned. I think in general the value of a fashion blog is personal to what we individually like to see. As someone with more in-depth industry knowledge what I like will be vastly different from the general populace.

Fashion blogs as well as main-stream media are so influential on style today that finding truly uninhibited, “natural” street style is quite difficult. (Though, if you are going to present yourself as a “Street Style” blog, then I wouldn’t argue with trying to stay away from being an industry professional-inundated site.)

I think the bigger-picture question here is where are the last bastions of TRUE street-style, and does it really exist? I’ve been to most parts of the country, and my sad conclusion, (it pains me as a red-blooded Budweiser-drinking, Levi 501-wearing, Lucky Strike-smoking American), is that it might not be found in these United States.

I hope to be proven wrong.

- M

goodbye to Cheap Thrills

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 21:20:00 -0700

When I was in high school, I loathed the apparel choices of most of my peers. Much to my Mother’s chagrin, I hated buying what I saw as “department store conformist garb” and instead opted for Goodwill, Salvation Army, and of course, Cheap Thrills.

Painting courtesy of Paul Guyer

Cheap Thrills is a Sacramento institution (and I realize that the word “Institution” gets thrown around a bit too much but it’s appropriate here). I remember discovering this place and ALWAYS finding something that I wanted to wear, sharply in contrast to perusing the racks at an Aberzombie & Bitch store, where I never (and still have never) found anything I was willing to buy.

A few months ago I read in the Sacramento Bee that Cheap Thrills was closing its doors for good. On my way to dinner one night I walked in and as usual, “Uncle Fred” Smith, longtime proprietor, was shuffling around. Cheap Thrills is much like an old used book store, only the shelves are replaced with racks and hangers. Surrounding you is a century or more of history, told through flapper dresses from the 20′s and leisure suits from the 70′s.

I bought this suit, from another era. It looks like something Sy Devore might have made for Joey Bishop. Its immaculate condition, slightly irregular buttonholes, narrow lapels, and hand-stitched construction reminded me of what I love about clothing.

A suit like this comes from an era when everything was made to last. The weight of the wool is quite heavy by today’s standards. We’re very much spoiled these days by tropical weight high twist wools that are as light as the silks of yesteryear. You would never see a suit with wool this heavy in a clothing shop today. Except maybe at a UK haberdasher.

The construction of this garment is superb. There is hand-stitching everywhere. The inside is quarter-lined to balance out the weight of the wool and makes the jacket lighter and easier to wear. A jacket lined in this manner requires substantially more hand-tailoring than one fully-lined. This was made to be WORN.

I had a cinderella moment when I put on the jacket. It fit perfectly. And the pants have no belt loops, only buttons for braces (which I love).

This purchase was meant to be. I find it to be a fitting tribute to everything that Cheap Thrills has offered over the years. Thank you Uncle Fred, for years of public service.

- M

My Everyday Carry: - Vintage wallet (supposedly purchased by my...

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 18:57:00 -0700

My Everyday Carry:

- Vintage wallet (supposedly purchased by my grandfather while in an internment camp in Amache Colorado during WWII)

- Smythson “Notes” notebook

- Dunhill “Sentryman” pen

- iPhone 4

- Spyderco AUS-6 credit card knife

- Vintage Dunhill lighter

- “Walking Liberty” silver dollar money clip

Besides News pages (mostly through Google Reader and RSS Feeds) I only follow a few websites with regularity. One in particular that I am fond of is “EVERY DAY CARRY”.

The site’s owner Bernard posts user-submitted photos of their “Everyday Carry” items, which is a simple inventory of their daily pocket contents.

I am fascinated by this small insight into the lives of others (in much the same voyeuristic way that Reality TV does) and find myself studying the featured EDC’s with intrigue.

- M

a "hip" eatery...

Sat, 20 Aug 2011 21:31:15 -0700

Lobster Capuccino THE MODERN restaurant, (MOMA NYC)

A new bistro opened up not far from my house. Their accolades were enough to pique my interest. Unfortunately, as I should have suspected, the restaurant was a, “Hipster Cafe.” The first telltale sign was this item on the menu,

“…peppercorn-crusted Bourgeoise Farms beef tenderloin…”

Okay, so “Bourgeoise Farms” wasn’t actually what was printed, but the focus of my rant isn’t the ranch itself, so I am withholding the name (which in reality is a great beef supplier).

I’m not opposed to listing the provenance of ingredients on a menu. As someone with a voracious appetite, I’m always interested in the particular details of the dishes I order. HOWEVER, I am very much opposed to using source names to embellish an otherwise, mediocre establishment.

Where did this listing of origins begin?

Chef Alice Waters emerged as a hero of the Organic Food movement in the 1970’s and 80’s. At her Chez Panisse eatery in Berkeley, Chef Waters championed the use of locally-sourced and organically farmed and raised produce, meats, and other ingredients. When she contacted Bill Niman’s eponymous ranch as a source for pork, to declare her devotion to Niman’s organic ideals she featured his name and logo on her menus. Chef Waters started a major trend and today we are bombarded with menus that list every place that every ingredient comes from.

In a world of food blogs, Yelp, and FoodTV, Niman Ranch STILL carries weight when people see the name and logo on menus around the country. While I can’t speak directly about Niman Ranch and their product today, the problem really is that we haven’t the slightest clue if any of these places are high-quality, organic, or even real. Somewhere in our minds we’re thinking, “It MUST be good. ‘La Merde Farms’ sounds so fancy.”

I’m not a conspiracy theorist, and I’m not opposed to the listing of ingredient origins on menus. But they’re definitely overused:

“Niman Ranch choice beef crusted with Kentucky peppercorn relish and Yakima potatoes served with Salinas Valley greens.” Um.

Truth, this DOES sound appetizing (and that’s why I ordered it). What I got, however, was an overly-peppered, well-done charcoal briquet of a skirt steak, burnt fingerling potatoes and a wilted salad. FAIL.

A good steak doesn’t need a description filled with geography lessons and binomial-nomenclature. And a bad steak isn’t made better by a good description.

I am a believer in flavor above all else when it comes to food. I generally pay little to no attention to embellishments like those I have listed above, though I do find them interesting (especially if it’s something exotic). I saw a skit recently on “Portlandia” that perfectly illustrates the beef that I have with all this (or rather, the chicken).

As outlandish as this skit is, I’ve been to restaurants where this is not far from reality. In fact the Hipster Cafe that I am writing about is probably on its way to listing the names of the cows on their menus.

“I’ll order the ‘Daisy’ steak please.”

- M

It’s poetic no? I call it, “Symphony in black,...

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 08:21:34 -0800

It’s poetic no? I call it, “Symphony in black, white, and red No. 1”

Without consideration or intent.

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:42:03 -0700

Without consideration or intent.