Friday, March 31, 2006

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

from a village voice write-up of the latest Matthew Barney thingamajig:
What Barney does not grasp is that the greatest avant-garde filmmakers astound us by conjuring powerful visions with limited means. Attempting to approximate this kind of poetic cinema with blockbuster production values becomes as absurd an endeavor as writing a haiku with ten thousand syllables.

Monday, March 27, 2006

hong kong willie



Getting lost out of Tampa on the way to Gibsonton, we saw this structure just off the exit ramp. We turned around to investigate and met Kim and Joe of Hong Kong Willie, an artist's collective that makes art out of buoys and burlap bags and other discards on Key West. Kim and Joe were a sweet couple and Bunny thought they wanted to adopt me. Joe explained that the name Hong Kong Willie comes from 1956, when the world changed and plastic turned this into a nation of nonbiodegradable disposables. I hesitate to call what they do outsider art because it can be a patronizing label; their work comes not from the inward obsession of much outsider art, but from a social conscience and a genuine desire to reach out and make the world a better place.

Friday, March 24, 2006

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

the cadillac motel


the cadillac motel
Originally uploaded by a nameless yeast.

This mom and pop establishment was writ up favorably in guidebooks and articles as a clean and inexpensive choice for those seeking vintage accommodations along US 41. They even had a shuffleboard court.

The first sign that something was amiss was the bullet-proof window between the receptionist and the traveller. A rate card tucked into the bedroom mirror listed prices as of 2003 - which were a good 25% higher than the current rate. The roaches in the bathroom didn't ease our mind, and neither did the bloodstains on the boxspring nor the mysterious crust on the bathtowels. We stood there a few minutes wondering if we could really allow our bodies to lay on those beds. It didn't take long for us to decide to cut our losses and run for the nearest chain.

On the scales of traveling justice, their no-refund policy was soundly trumped by our no-vermin policy. It was a costly lesson but good for a few pictures and a rollicking story-cum-cautionary tale.

american graffiti


american graffiti
Originally uploaded by a nameless yeast.

Careening down the turnpike on the way to Weeki Wachee we passed this seething lovemobile. I looked over and saw this incendiary wahine dolled up in green for St. Paddy's. What you can't see in the picture is that she wore a breathing tube.

sarasota, florida


sarasota, florida
Originally uploaded by a nameless yeast.

county fair, sarasota, florida


county fair, sarasota, florida
Originally uploaded by a nameless yeast.

harold's auto


harold's auto
Originally uploaded by a nameless yeast.

the little mermaid


the little mermaid
Originally uploaded by a nameless yeast.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Alwen ac Owain


Alwen ac Owain
Originally uploaded by Dwlwen.

From the Welsh Records group on flickr.

found fright


found fright
Originally uploaded by a nameless yeast.

I picked this up at a flea market last summer and scanned it shortly afterwards, but I only just now noticed how eerie is the double exposure.

Monday, March 13, 2006

minnesota fats is coming to town


minnesota fats is coming to town
Originally uploaded by a nameless yeast.

Years ago I was riding a crosstown H bus when a big bald black guy got on at the V.A. Hospital stop. He sat and repeated his mantra like a gentle carnival barker: "Minnesota Fats is coming to town ... he's the best around ... Minnesota Fats is coming to town ... he's the best around ..."

Saturday, March 04, 2006

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

the happiest music on earth


from Stinton Band Organs, linked from the International Independent Showmen's Association:
With the hypothesis that there are substances that cause an euphoria/morphine-like response, we need to define what these might be. One study (5) has indicated that endorphin levels are controlled by dietary fat and that eating fat-like foods (such as chocolate) might improve one's mood. A more recent study (21) also indicates that the fat in chocolate stimulates a surge of endorphins and the author feels the phrases "addicted to chocolate" or "chocoholic" maybe are partially true. If this is the case and you apply this to the euphoria brought on by HME then we can follow up with organ owners being "addicted to the Happiest Music on Earth." And, how many of us are?