Lift Off

The new theme for my life is DISCOVERY. All attention is going to be focussed on exploring the new, the unexperienced, the seemingly impossible.

Aquarians like myself are used to this side of human experience, but I desire to take it to unheard of levels in my mentality, my physicality and my spirituality.

Going OUT

Andre reppin' 210 in the current issue of OUT magazine. To think that a few years ago the New York Times referred to my beloved street as "dowdy".

Ironiconography

Is this an homage or parody? Does this desecrate the seriousness of MLK's legacy or introduce a cool image to a new generation? Are there cows so sacred that we don't want to see them in a different light?

These are questions that I don't have answers to....

Work Hard For The Opportunity To Work Hard

Having not conversed since the writer's strike began, chatted briefly with Kevin yesterday.

We were talking about the strike, the Oscars and the entertainment industry in general...He brought up his friend Miss Fey. Kevin stated that a person at her level of success has had to work for a long-ass time just to get to a point where she has to work extra hard in order to survive in the industry and be creative.

This was a real wake-up call for my mentality. So often I see an endpoint to working hard creatively...To phrase it another way I think the goal is to "rest on your laurels".

I really need to learn that hard work opens up another portal to more hard work...

Interesting Life Makers

Tonight, before you fall asleep, give a prayer to your favorite diety for the presence of eccentric people in our midst.

3 Dimensions

I don't know what drugs Miuccia Prada is feeding her hoard of underling designers, but I definitely want some to come up with similar geniousity.

At Work

Passed S. Epatha Merkerson in the hallway. Don't get too jealous, yesterday I saw the cast of the new American Gladiators, quite frankly, that scar may never heal.

Be Beautiful And Have Fun

...seems to be the message of this Pet Shop video. Is there a simpler formula for happiness

The perfect antidote to a 20 degree day

Undertaken

Earlier this evening I watched this PBS Frontline documentary on a funeral home in Michigan. It really presents another side to the funeral processes that was extremely enlightening to me.

The film follows a few people who have to make arrangements for loved ones. Some of the heartbreaking decisions that are encountered thoroughly reinforced my awareness of how detached I am from these situations. Thankfully death has kept it's distance from my adult consciousness.

Respect Is Due

As much as Gucci has fallen off since the departure of Tom Ford (and considering how much he has fallen off since his departure), you still have to give the company props when they come up with a shoe as sleek as this.

Kudos to whatever unknown is at the helm now...keep on deliverin'

Just Accept Beauty

Charlie Finch directs his venom towards the new Olafur Eliasson joint.

I think it is going to be rad...'nuff said

People Will Think You Are Dumb, But Whatever

I hereby challenge everyone to use the term PLUR five times today...and don't just say PLUR, be PLUR

Towards New Horizon

Dan, one of the most enjoyable co-workers I have co-worked with had his final day on the job this week. I will miss his intelligence, work ethic and clear-headedness.

It is rare to find someone who gets paperrad and Dimebag Darrell references.

Undestroyable

I posted a slightly different version of this clip before, but for some reason YouTube removed that one...whatever.

Only a fool would believe that you could thwart the power of Miss Labelle.

Trust...she will crush anyone who tries to stop her from delivering it to The Children

Someday I Want To Be This Great

Until my dying breath (54 years from now) I will be obsessed geniuses like the K Foundation I cannot wait until their self-imposed moratorium on creating art is lifted and they return with an exhilirating vengeance.

Pain Of The Real World

After having an amazing four day break from work, I have to face the reality of returning tomorrow.

There is nothing really tragic on my plate that is causing my discomfort, just the idea of going from a blissful idyllic environment to work. Needless to say the craziness that Mercury being retrograde inspires is aiding my apprehension.

Give me another week or two and I'll be back in the groove.

Not Want...NEED

You pretty much have to own this disc or your life will suck.

Metal Gods

Sometimes after a hard day at work you just have to strap on the iPod and blast a little Priest.

Sin-joy!

Way Back

...taking a mental walk down memory lane. Thinking about late nights/early mornings spent with my friend Brian at the Mr. Donut in Lincoln.

Whoever said "youth is wasted on the young" sure knew what they were talking about. What I wouldn't give to have back the carefree-ness and open-ness that I had then...

Beautiful Thievery

...people hate on Malcolm McLaren. They say he didn't create anything, merely stole other people's ideas. True, but he knew which ideas to steal and which not to...an underappreciated skill.

Plus, anyone who brings fame to a legend like the one and only Willi Ninja deserves all my praise.

Disheartened

Of course my first weekend without any social or work obligations and I am sick. The illness has been with me for about a week and seems to ebb and flow. One moment I feel normal and then fifteen minutes later I am in tears from extensive coughing.

Worst of all, tomorrow night is my beloved Body&Soul reunion party, and there is no way I can justify such a soul-enriching excursion in my current physiological shape.

I am realizing that I have a difficult time when I am forced to do nothing. If "doing nothing" is of my own choosing I am at ease with it. But tell me I can't "do nothing" and I resent the cosmos.

Mercy Rule

This video brings back so many vivid memories of my time in Lincoln. Of course nostalgia factors into the equation, but Mercy Rule live was an absolutely devestating aural experience.

The single factor that put them head and shoulders above other bands with a similar sound was their sincerity. Every note jarred your skull and your heart.

Sad

Is it possible to be angry and boring at the same time...Tom leads the way. This video is so KSW it is crazy

End Of The Week (Finally!)

Hung out with some of the Beautiful People after work last night.

Jameson had to make me jealous by telling me about the Turner Prize Retrospective that he just saw at the Tate London. I am distraught anytime I miss out on seeing artwork by the likes of my boys Gilbert&George.

After a couple of cocktails I headed home and crashed hard. The lack of sleep this week, while not hitting previous highs, definitely did not help the pressure I put myself under at work this week.

Let Me Dream In The Forest

If there were any justice in this world...I would be living in this ridiculously gorgeous house in the forests of Japan.

Sadly, there is no justice in this world

Breaking A Commandment

I covet this objet d'art so much it hurts. How can a human creation look so divine?

Killing Idols

Hollywood is going to attempt to destroy another icon by doing a biopic of Germs frontperson Darby Crash.

The film is called "What We Do Is Secret". Do yourself a flavor and ignore it...Instead just watch the legendary "Decline Of Western Civilization" and call it a day.

Mind Boggling Creativity

When you come across design as fundamentally genius as this it truly takes your breath away.

Bring On January

Could I be more excited for the arrival of the 2008? A brand new special edition of the incomparable Body&Soul party...what better way to celebrate than with a couple of thousand people dancing to spiritually uplifting music.

Balenciaga Does It Right

Kudos to the Children over at La Maison Balenciaga. They truly prove they have "it" with this masterpiece of design

The first person I see delivering these on the streets gets a personalized kiss from moi.

The Definition of Serving...

Do not front on Tramaine Hawkins. She can crush 90% of The Children just by walking on stage.

Serve!

Devastating

In general I think Oprah is pretty overrated. But anyone who can gather such true legends to deliver it to the Children must have my respeck...

Closing In...

This store is only 3.5 blocks from my apt., which means the odds me coming across a line of sheeple waiting to buy shoes is that much greater.

God forgive me if I am forced to lash out.

Real Beauty

I forgot to write a post about this when it happened a year or so ago, but this is one of those stories that is so gorgeous it blows your heart and mind away.

Nimrod Nation

This show is so great it kills me. Basically, early David Lynch without the irony.

Partial Luxury

Half day of work...great work out at the gym...semi-professional massage...food ordered online delivered to my front door...chat with sister...a bit of TV, then early to bed. A refreshing end to a stressful week.

Too bad a new stressful week begins tomorrow.

Take What Is Given

Even though it is an aquarian horoscope from an astrologer that I have never met before, the following is exactly what I need to hear right now:

Quick, contact the authorities. You’ve surely beat the world record for holding your breath. How long’s it been since you took in a proper lungful of fresh, cool, clean, refreshing air? A few months, at least. Whatever constrictive force has restrained you from truly breathing and relaxing is about to let up, whether it’s a self-inflicted emotional corset or a predatory metaphorical boa constrictor. Your ribs might crack, and it might hurt to draw in that first delicious breath—but you’ll know it’s the good kind of hurt. Yawn, gasp, sigh, and pant—and know that things will have to be at least a little easier from now on.

Even if it is just self fulfilling prophecy leading me in the above-stated direction, I will take whatever release that the Universe has to offer.

The Return

This is the best album title in forever. And the music taint half bad either. Believe it.

Computers Do Not Give Justice

Only two weeks left to see the Ben Grasso exhibition at the Thierry Goldberg gallery. Although Grasso content is visually exhilirating, it is his use of color that will blow you away.

In the painting above he mixes some very fresh greens with some other-worldly purples and lavenders that create an amazing lightness and depth. These are paintings that have to be seen to be appreciated. No computer can mimic the colors that he communicates.

Damn Her!

I can't believe Vanessa Del Rio had the cojones to steal the title of my future autobiography for her own high-end art book.

I shall have my revenge...

Higher (And Lower) States Of Consciousness

Leave it to Billy Beyond to harness the power of music to cleanse the mind and the body.

The AMA better watch out.

Poem Du Jour

Saw this on one of those MTA poetry posters on the subway.

Tell All The Truth

Tell all the truth but tell it slant,

Success in circuit lies,

Too bright for our infirm delight

The truth's superb surprise;

As lightning to the children eased

With explanation kind,

The truth must dazzle gradually

Or every man be blind.

Emily Dickinson

That last line absolutely destroys me...I have been blinded many times by both the unfiltered beauty of "The Truth" as well as being blind-sided by the ugliness of a truthful revelation.

Let's Get Down To Business Indeed!

If this is what life was like back in the repressed 1950's...then I say lets go return!

The Inspiration For The Now

If, as you claim, you are actually a man AND you want to know the look of the season, here it is.

So you think that denim hot pants are a bit feminine...I will give you 500 dollars U.S. to watch you tell that to Lemmy. He would crush the skull of anyone who dared make such a suggestion.

"Ace Of Spades!"
"Ace Of Spades!"
"Ace Of Spades!"

Insight To My Way Of Thinking

The other day I was in my office when I began singing two-hit-wonder Monica's 1995 hit "Just One of Them Days (Don't Take It Personal)". A seemingly normal response to a stress-filled day at work.

My co-worker Miguel was within earshot and said "Oh no!...now you are going to have me singing that song all day"

"What's wrong with that...it is a great song" I replied.

"Yeah, but everyone will think I am crazy for singing it" Miguel responded.

"That's your problem Miguel, you have everyone thinking that you are normal and then you don't want them to find out you're insane...I let everyone know I am insane from square one, then they don't raise an eyebrow at anything I do after that"

Going Internationale

Congrats to my neighbor Andre for making the current cover of Vogue Francais avec Miss Murphy photo'd by the legendary Bruce Weber

Give it to the Children!

The Look Of The Moment

If you are a female, either biological or post-birth-modified, this is the Look that you should be delivering right now.

Think cool-high-school-guidance-counselor en route to the local discotheque.

Past Advice

An old Arabic parable that I truly need to incorporate in my life:

"Write the bad things that are done to you in sand, but write the good things that happen to you on a piece of marble."

New Self-Improvement Plan

Apparently my decades of introspection have been in vain. This advertisement is guiding me to the clear path to happiness. Who knew?

Blurred

With increasing frequency, I am one of those people who keep saying "I can't believe it is already (insert today's date)". It seems like the past few months have just flown by, which is kind of strange as stressful periods often feel like they go on forever.

Carol called earlier this week regarding coming up from D.C. for Thanksgiving. I was finding it hard to fathom that Halloween was upon us, now I am shocked that T-Day is only three weeks away.

I am fully aware that this happens every year, but my perception is that life is on hyperdrive. Perhaps it is because I have little time to really come to a full stop and smell the proverbial roses. Even when I am away from work or other obligations I feel like I always have something in the back of my head gnawing away at me...Is this what a 21st century adulthood feels like?

Sunday School

They simply do not come more legendary than Miss LaBelle.

She can destroy The Children in any era, in any style.

Nothing In Moderation

Remember five days ago when it was literally 83 degrees?

Those days are done...now it is seriously 43 degrees and I am dreading the thought of fall/winter.

Can I interest anyone in some Hot Dr. Pepper?

The Honest Truth

I used to say that I was a "Part-time Lover, and Full-Time Hater". After some introspective moments I must admit that I am just a "Full-Time Hater"

First Post Of The Month

Too much stress, too much going on in my head, can't form a coherent thought.

Under New Management

I now work in the Department Of Making Mountains Out Of Molehills.

Nighttime Is The Righttime

Had a dream last night that Tom Otterness was designing a subterranean bus depot that only dispatched buses to Brooklyn.

Everything looked cute but menacing and got rave reviews from everyone.

Weekend Review

Saturday I chilled most of the day. The unexpected rains kept me from doing my errands so I just hung out around the apartment.

Early evening I pay-per-viewed this movie. Of course any film with even the briefest of appearances by Amy Sedaris is instantly deemed praise-worthy. It was not a laugh riot, just extremely languidly enjoyable. At only 81 minutes it was the perfect length for my attention span

Later on I connected with Timmy and we went on a tour of New Yorks most vile gay bars. The highlight/lowlight was meeting Timmy's friend Jeff for a round of "Who Can Kiss The Most Transsexuals?" at what was once briefly Club Edelweiss, but is now even a more deliciously repulsive version of that iconic locale.

On Sunday, Jeremy scored some free Yankees tickets, so along with Alyssa, we headed out to the Bronx. Despite an atypical hangover, and the absence of my boy Jorge Posada, we had an awesome time with the other 54,000 fans.

Fell asleep watching the new Ken Burns documentary on "dubya, dubya two"

Font Clip

I can't believe that I missed this feature-length film on Helvetica when it was screened at the IFC theater last week.

I am sure it will pop back on to the radar soon.

Beautiful Claws

Camille Paglia gives her opinions on new books about The Menz

Icon

If I could just look half as stylish as Cornel West I could die a happy man.

He has everything working in his favor. Respectable, well-proportioned sunglasses. Simple monochromatic color schemes. The Africa-emblazoned cufflinks scream "I know where it all begins!"

Why he doesn't have a House is so far beyond my comprehension...

Serve it to The Children, Cornel!

The Way We Used To Do...

Holy Sh*t...came across this insane flier. Can you fathom a New Year's Eve with the incomparable Leigh Bowery, German chanteuse Nina Hagen and techno dieties 808 State on one bill?...and at the notorious Limelight no less.

This is how we used to "Do" ....this is how New York was before everything got cliquish and gentrified. People of varying "scenes" used to party together.

Quote of The Day

From Oscar Wilde:

A cynic is a man who knows the price of everything but the value of nothing.

What Brand Are You?

In the new Interview Magazine, genius Tom Sachs says...

"...I think the best work of art of our time is Ashley Bickerton's Tormented Self-Portrait (Susie At Arles) with all the brands. In my own art I've used brand issues to help me understand my ambivalence about, say, wanting something from Chanel or thinking it's stupid to want something from Chanel. I'm not for or against it; I'm simultaneously both things."

I remember being enamoured with Bickerton's work when I saw it in an issue of Artforum back in '88. I think it speaks to what we have been reduced to in our consumerist society....we are what we buy. You can take this even further in the artworld and find that people define themselves by the artists they love/hate. It is all about purchasing an identity, or getting validation from your "tastes"

New Bartlett

Stopped by the new John Bartlett boutique. John was there interacting with the hoi polloi. Either good help is hard to find, or he truly believes only he can give the customer service his clientele demands.

There were some super-starched blue oxford shirts that I definitely could have served.

In The Future...

Bought tickets today for Justice . The show is still over a month away but I am super excited.

The hype is intense, but I know they are going to deliver the goods.

Is Being A Poser Necessarily "Bad"?

One of the things I like about my friend Scott is that he exemplifies the phrase "Fake It 'Til You Make It".

He has no problem basically pretending that he is business genius or CEO. He is not a "know-it-all", he simply knows what he wants to become.

In encountering such people previously in my adulthood, I usually just call them a "Poser" and roll my eyes. Now I am starting to think that they are onto something. Perhaps the pretending actually prepares you for the situation you desire to actually come to fruition.

Upside/Downside

This week I learned of a "restructuring" plan at work.

The good news is that we are slowing down our growth. Hopefully this will mean that we approach problems with a more refined sense of "sanity", instead of getting chewed up on our way to expansion.

The bad news is that with the slowing of the growth, there is a slowing of the opportunities for advancement. Everyone seems to feel "stuck" in their positions.

Obvious

Miss Ross...Central Park 1983...LEGENDARY!

Open Up

Shigeru Ban, the architect behind one of my dream houses the Curtain Wall House, is apparently constructing a residential building over on West 18th St.

The site's website offers no clues as to what it will look like...one can only imagine.

Kinetic Sculpture

Having not owned a car for almost a decade, having constant battles with automobiles on the streets of The New York, one would rightly assume that I am not a car afficiando. But this 1969 Mustang is so ridiculously gorgeous it boggles the mind.

In a perfect world a human could marry a machine...when humanity progresses that far, I will make this car my bride. Imagine the beautiful cyborg babies that would result out of that holy union.

Morning

After an abbreviated workout at the gym, stopped by Think Coffee and saw Antony working at his laptop.

On the way back to my "flat", saw some squirrels having sexshual relations....Aaahh! Fall in New York

Ovah!

The Children are going to be served at this affair. True Legend Danny Krivit pairs up with Master @ Work Louie Vega. I am sensing Monday morning is going to be painful after the necessary hours on the dancefloor of Pacha.

Ouch.

Target

When will I learn not to date clients? They know where you work, so there is no escaping their desired contact with you.

As y'all know...I needz my space.

1.4 (and a million) Miles Away

It is the sixth anniversary of 9/11 and I am wishing that I had something profound to say, but, unsurprisingly I don't.

Had a long conversation with my sister last night as I sat on my roof and watched as the "Towers of Light" beamed up into the heavens. Memories of that horrific day flooded into my head. The day seemed simultaneously like it happened yesterday AND like it happened a lifetime ago.

I feel torn in many directions...many emotions...many thoughts, none of them fully formed. And that is how I will leave them.

Street Theater And Nature Theater

After recovering from the Art Parade, headed uptown to Central Park to see the Public's rendition of "Midsummer Night's Dream".

Ben and Peter directed tickets in my direction, so there was no need to wait in line with the masses...completely effortless.

The production was absolutely amazing. The actors were spellbinding. The weather was perfect for under the stars.

The one downside of the experience was that it was so awesome I feel I may have to go to MORE theater. Unfortunately productions like this are not usually free.

Dun

Can people please immediately cease wearing wayfarers? They were only marginally cool a year ago when the fashion press was hyping them (after presumably seeing 11 hipsters wearing them at MisShapes)

...And I do not care if you have them in Banana Yellow or Neon Orange. They are over.

Pure Power Meets Joan

Husker Du on Joan Rivers...how much more awesome can you get.

Still Summer

Trekked up to the staid Upper East Side to listen to Nicky Siano give it to the Children at the Cooper Hewitt DJ series.

Nicky dug deep into the crates to serve everything from Chaka Khan to Kenny Bobien. Too many legendary tracks to mention.

Fierceness Defined

A clip with Nicky Siano, Jayne County, and Anita Bryant being publicly humiliated, what more could you possibly want.