crank up the yukster machine

[Poop Fresh-Herbed Pickles]

"My heart goes out to the subject in this case and his family."  That's the asshole cop's idea of sounding heartfelt?

[Mister Chaddy]

That's just horrible!

[Bizarro]

Saw both The Invention of Lying and Zombieland this weekend and enjoyed both. The former has some bigger balls than you might imagine and asks more substantial questions than you might imagine. This isn't to say it comes to any weighty conclusions, but it's really pretty great, I thought. Zombieland is just a zombie comedy/road movie with funny jokes and quirky characters, but that's really so far up my alley, I couldn't help but love every minute of it. Either is a pretty fun use of an hour and a half.

[Just Some Girl]

Zombieland is on my list o' flicks, for sure. Looks fun.

Speaking of the poor undead, finally, the University of Florida has their zombie preparedness plan ready.

[Just Some Girl]

I am still weary from my vodka-flavoured Nuit Blanche experience (basically walking around -- and/or standing in line -- for the ahht, from 9pm to 3:30am... someone's OLD, creaking hip joints are a little ouchy today). Hopefully will get a chance to post some pics later.

Meantime, here are some photos/comments from citizen contributors to Torontoist's "Blanche Slate" project...

[Moetown]

Meantime, here are some photos/comments from citizen contributors to Torontoist's "Blanche Slate" project...

That looks cool.

[Doctor Rock]

Saw Faust last night.  Matt was there, with Becky.  We didn't get to talk much (too busy with the music), but she seemed nice. 

I didn't like the venue much: an old building with so-so acoustics, theatre-style rows of chairs, and very little place to stand.  The first two bands had to depend on the soundman provided by the festival, and they sounded like shit.  I don't even know if they were any good, to me it all just sounded like a loud muddy rumble with occasional moments of piercing treble.  Faust sounded a lot better: I imagine they brought their own soundman, and he knew what he was doing.  They played a few oldies (I remember It's a rainy day sunshine girl, giggly smile, the sad skinhead...), some stuff I didn't know and a few improvisations.   It should be noticed that, in my opinion, Faust improvising music sounds more interesting than the vast majority of the stuff being recorded these days, so I'm not complaining. 

Anyway, the band was clearly having fun, Jean-Hervé Péron (bass player) is one goofy old hippie, "Zappi" Diermaier is no Jaki Liebezeit, but he was solid throughout, and they had a guitar player and a woman that sang duets with Péron, who did most of the vocals, when there were vocals.  The Sad Skinhead almost sounded like a cabaret number! 

It was cool.

[Bizarro]

My dad is going to the cardiologist tomorrow to see if he needs to be hospitalized again. They told him after he went home last time that the infection would pass soon, his energy level would return to normal, and he'd drop a bunch of water weight. Instead, he's gained 10 lbs. in one week, he's more and more tired all of the time, and today, he'd given up on eating or doing anything and had changed back to his pajamas before noon.

My mom is scared shitless. And to those of us who know my dad, him saying he's taking off work tomorrow to try and get in to see a specialist without an appointment is the equivalent of him saying, "I am seriously unwell and worry for my life."

If y'all could address some PMAs to Paducah, Kentucky, I'd be mighty obliged.

[Just Some Girl]

Sorry to hear. Many KY PMAs to you and yours, Jeff.

[Just Some Girl]

Meantime, here are some photos/comments from citizen contributors to Torontoist's "Blanche Slate" project...

That looks cool.

It was, though I saw/experienced few of the exhibitions listed/profiled. Among the stuff I did get to, I did check out the Fun Slide and Avalanche rides, which were great to see (line ups too long to actually ride) in the context of the middle of a shut-down Bay Street (our small version of Wall Street) and which used unemployed-till-next-fair-season carnies dressed in business suits to operate the rides. In fact, a lot (a lot!!) of the Nuit Blanche installations/performances now take place in the lobbies, courtyards, etc. of office towers and government buildings which I think is kind of a cool juxtaposition, to use, um, over-used and annoying art-speak. (Except that the phrase is accurate in this case.)

Also: It is remarkable how many people here pronounce "nuit" as "new-ey" (or some approximation -- two incorrect syllables, in any case) instead of (roughly) "nwee." I'm talking educated people, too, who have had at least as much French-language instruction in grade school and high school as me. So of course my friend Isabel and I also took to mispronouncing "blanche" as much as possible as well (mostly to sound like the name, but also adding a syllable our own damn selves, like Blanch-y). Because we's bitches.

And snobs, apparently.

[Just Some Girl]

I will get some pics and text up here at some point. I'm just so so so tired at the moment...

On that note, a demain.

Happy (now official in the Eastern time zone) birthday, to Bams!!!!!!!!!!

[bebopbalogna]

many many pma's headed to paducah, jeff.  hope all is well.

[Tripp]

PMA's to your paw.