Accomplice to the Blog

Back Yard Apocolypse

2006-08-09T20:04:00.000-04:00

100_0347.JPG
Originally uploaded by A2 Mac Geek.

I really really miss storms.
I know, I know... move to sunny cali- bitch about storms.... but come on!
How could you not miss chaotic clouds like this? All beautiful and ominous....

Quote of the day

2006-06-30T17:49:00.000-04:00

"if Superman is such a paragon, how come he wants to save a species so universally dumb that not a single member of it recognizes him when he puts on a pair of glasses?" -ANTHONY LANE

Now I'm not one to ever be turned off by the bitting whit of the uber-sarcastic... but the review attached to this quote is almost as singularly focused on entertaining as the movie it has chosen to abuse. Still, both are worth the time for what they do best. And enjoy them and did.
PS- The fun of Superman Returns in 3D almost makes up for the melodrama it falls victim to.

Angry Shamu!

2006-06-06T18:06:00.000-04:00

House on Telegraph Hill

2006-04-25T22:18:00.000-04:00

Beautiful, odd, and oh, so SF!

Typically considered Film Noir- this film is at the butt end of the genre.
Women in jeopardy is apparently more accurate.
Anyway you slice it though, it is SO much fun to watch now that I am living in this delightful city.

I cannot wait until to see the rest of the movies made in my new home....
any guesses how long it will take me to burn out?

Dancing Cars: Stunt Drivers vs CG

2006-03-28T13:09:00.000-05:00

Both are wonderous, but who will inherit the earth?

Stunt Drivers

CG

Universal Connections

2006-03-18T23:32:00.000-05:00

Fantastic!

No women, no kids. That's the rules.

2006-03-05T01:03:00.000-05:00

So upon rewatching Leon, I have come to the startling conclusion that this may in fact be my favorite movie of all time.

How that happened, I can not say.
But alas it is true.

Sometimes the strangest things happen and we are not entirely irresponsible for these things...
It occurs to me that not everyone would be able to truly enjoy the subtle nuances of the relationships in this movie, the humor, and the simple pleasures of being a human being played out to Beethoven.

Picking out favorite movies is a bit like picking out significant others.
It's so often a crap shoot, a moment when you desperately in love with some part of something and forget everything else. But it isn't always true.
Most times the initial feeling fades and your left with nothing.
You feel silly, cheap, as if you gave something precious away.
You must live with the claim that this was the best, the one, the only.

Any favorites list is like this, whether it be music or books or movies. It is difficult and tragically final. By naming one you leave all others behind.

This is what it is for me, now in this moment I must ignore my love for all other movies.
At the moment, this is an easy task, for I have found true love...

QUOTE OF THE DAY (and perhaps for many to come)

2006-02-27T22:41:00.000-05:00

"[guns] are more important here that pants"
unnamed in Iraq

unnamed: I'm getting ready for a mission, what are you up to?

me: not preparing to wear guns... you? ;-)

unnamed: wearing guns

me: be safe and chat with me later....

unnamed: there more important here than pants
ok talk to you later

me: that's one way to stop the enemy

unnamed: thing is we have actually had fights where some of us just had on underwear
not sure how it happened

me: that's probably not good
put on your pants and go do your thing

unnamed: done and done
later

me: later

things are good when only a car wash can scare you

2006-01-07T12:23:00.000-05:00

It was my birthday, and I was in california!
Well, atleast I made it to the state.
{Marc made reservations at some West Hollywood martini lounge, with so-so martinis, considering thier claim to have invented the apple tini, a crap cheese plate, horrid wine, but fantastic fish.}

From Atlanta, GA on Tuesday we (mostly, I) drove through the night and made it to the painted desert & petrified forest by afternoon on Wednesday & walked around for a while. Then we drove to right outside the Grand Canyon southern rim and cashed out.

In the morning we were feeling a little cramped from being in a car for longer than the germans engineers designed the interior of our jetta for, and decided to go for a little walk.

I'm not sure what went wrong exactly, but a kindly park ranger with a curly mustache apparently mistook us for genuine hikers and sent us down the steepest trail down the southern rim, GrandView.

Now mind you, I've hiked by myself in scotland and Michael is a ninja.... but come on! We are wearing diesels for christ sake and mr ninja is carring a man purse. Do we look like experienced desert hikers ready to disend and then assend 2000 vertical feet of quote "very steep" terriegn?

No, I didn't think so.

We did go get some food before heading towards the rim's edge, but in retrospect, some fruit and yogurt really wasn't what they had in mind when they suggest eating twice what you normally would.

When we got the the trail head we milled about for a few. The ninja stretched, I mocked, it was all calming and awe inspiring to see the ravens soaring above.... then we read the trail sign. And this was the first time we had the chance to comprehend what idiots we were (but certainly not the last). Next to the welcome to the trail sign was a big poster that's headline read: 'Could you run a Marathon?'

The simple answer is no. Sure with the right training and dedication... but I'm missing the point here.

The poster then went on to introduce a young woman, born 1979, who had run the boston marathon the year before and had done quite well. Who had then decided to travel west and hike this very trail that ninja and I stood before. She took with her an apple and 1.2 litters of H2O. ... hmm. We have two apples, a pear, and 1.2 litters of water in Michael's man purse. Good, we are smarter than we thought.
But no. This marathon runner, with water and apple, DIED.
Didn't make it.
Body carried out.
Fuck.

Ninja goes back to the car for more water and peanuts.

Remember: The kindly ranger recomended this trail to us. This marathon runner killing trail.

When I get the chance, photos will go here:
I will be a photo someday

In truth, it was a beautiful trail. But I know I missed most of it because all I can really remember is looking at my feet and the ground to make sure they were connecting properly.

Michael, our resident ninja, slipped at least 3 times before the trail really even got steep and would stop from time to time to check the death factor of the plumenting slopes. Mostly certain deaths, with a good smattering of 200ft "oh, fuck. ouch, ouch, ouch" followed by certain death.

The only people we saw on the trail were a middle aged couple from england with proper hydration packs and poles. Who managed to refer to themselves and us as nutters for choosing this trail.

They weren't wrong.

We ended up not completeing the trail proper for fear of 'Marathon Girl Fate' and darkness... but we did atleast 1500+ vertical feet down and up again and hiked/fell/climbed for 4 hrs into the gapping hole.

It was wonderous and a bit unnerving to consider that folks picked this place as a good path for a trail into or out of the canyon... They were the nutters. They are the ones who looked at rock slides and inconceivably towering sheer walls and said "Here. This is where we will build the {and I use this term loosely} stairs towards the rim edge."

on the road with a cat, and a ninja....

2006-01-02T10:42:00.000-05:00

So as with all good things, our plans have not gone as we initially intended.
However, we saw fireworks over the atlantic on new years and by the end of the week will see the sun set over the pacific.
So really, how badly could we possibly be doing?!

True we have not found housing or offic-e-ing... hmmm. But we are heading west anyway. Caution be damned. And how much fun is it going to be to see the whole country in one big blurry blur?

At any rate, this post is being made from Salem, SC (where Miguel's madre lives) having traveled from Wilmington, NC where Miguel (ninja), Bobert (cat), and I spent a nice, but belated Christmas with my fam. But that was after all the hubbub of moving in Charleston.... a crazy story, that isn't quite yet long ago enough to find funny....

The big questions to ponder: Will we make it in time for my b-day? & Are we complete and utter nutters?

House Industries Make a Special Trip Just For Me!

2005-12-15T15:44:00.000-05:00

That's right.
I move to SF and folks come from all over the place to make me feel more welcome.
House, Chuck, Mambley's...

That is so nice of them.

PS- If you haven't bought your favorite Graphic Designer a Holiday gift yet. Be good and buy them the House Ten Year Book. (This is not a plug for this, your favorite, GD. Michael got me the book already...isn't he sweet.)

Holly Crap

2005-12-12T17:37:00.000-05:00

With 10 days left until the UPacks arrive, my annual holiday panic has morphed into a holly, jolly, crap pile worthy of Thomas Kincade lights and a bow.

How I conceived that moving over the holidays would be 'easier,' I have no idea...
With holiday parties, and family celebrations, and boxes being packed and boxes being wrapped, and cards being hand written with moving announcements scrunched in after pleasant season's greetings to friends and family who have heard little from me in, what like a year.... Yeah. This is going realy, really well.
Sort of like ripping off a bandaid with a little bit of lemon juice.

But, as with everything... the pain of finishing things up here will begin healing as soon as our cardboard shaped paper cuts close up and then will begin the 5 day drive across our beloved US of A with our even more beloved 19yr old cat, bobert.

Car + Cat + Michael's small bladder + 3000 miles = fun, fun, fun.

And at the end of all that forced march kind of fun will be mountains of real fun with our SF friends (some real and some imagined) as we attempt to turn all of our questionable plans into something both tangible and worthwhile, which we will then call our lives.

SF for my B-Day?!

2005-12-01T21:11:00.000-05:00

Ok, so for those in the know... It is totally going to f'n happen... well maybe.
My thoughts are as follows:

Miguel and I become homeless on the 31st (great way to start the new year)

I turned in my 30 day notice today on both my office and home.
Holy shit I have soooooooooooooo much packing to do!
Holy F'n Shit F*ck- moving is F'n expensive.
F!

After 2 days of driving through bumb F' with Bobert, we will no longer desire to stop and "see america." We'll be full enough on that bad crack.

Bobert is 19... and a cat.
F! We are driving across country with an old, cranky cat (think cranky like PeiMei from Kill Bill)
In the good news category... our little diesel that is our car gets great f'n milage.

So the f'n reality of this little haphazard trip de la sunshine... is this:

I may end up in SF for my F'n B-Day!!!!!!
And it's an F'n Friday as well............ What fun!

Hmmmm. What a nice B-Day present that would be.....

My New Home Made From My Favorite Childhood Dessert

2005-11-04T11:50:00.000-05:00

J-E-L-L-O

San Francisco like it should be... cheap and eatible.

Sweet and Delicious!

{Thank You k10k!}

F'n Cool Just Got Phenomenally Cooler

2005-11-03T10:47:00.000-05:00

Google Print is mind boggling, amazingly great!

..and because I'm just this geeky, I called everyone I could think of (on the east coast... my enthusiasm was gracioucly curbed for all you bearly awake westerners) to share the news.

My day will now be blown on research that is for my own personal indulgence. Sweet!

BBC News Story

Change Tastes Better

2005-10-27T22:05:00.000-04:00

What do you guys think?
I am hoping to rock out some more dramatic changes with myself as well. (Yes, that is a threat.)

I might move across country, expand my business, dye my hair pumpkin (but just the tips).

You just don't know.

I'm crazy like that.

No really. I'm hoping to rench myself out of this pit of sameness.
Reclaim my life in new and non cliched ways.
Might even drop a ninja and tango with a pirate.

Who can tell.

Pixel Block Web Design

2005-10-25T18:34:00.000-04:00

Since I am totally over wed design in the conventional sense (it is so the future of yesterday...) I've decided to only create websites out of Pixel Blocks from now on.

Sure, its a bit difficult to search and a tad costly (one 800x600 page would run you about $.03 a pixel). But hey, this is innovation here.

In 1989 no one thought they'd have their own 'web' space to plop down just any ole' stupid idea in their head. Our beloved future predictor Orwell didn't even have a clue.

Other cool things to note about the all Pixel Block Web Design:

The translucent little blocks will create 800x600 pixel web page measuring 25ft x 18.75ft
One page will cost a sizable $14,400 in material alone

Barry Manilow a the power of three!

2005-09-02T10:44:00.000-04:00

If you would like to help... and triple the impact of your contribution... the Manilow Fund For Health And Hope will match dollar for dollar... every dollar contributed to the Fund and designated for Hurricane Help... up to a maximum of $50,000.

Barry will do the same thing... up to another $50,000.

In other words... if you contribute $1 to the Manilow Fund... Barry will match your $1... and the fund will match another $1. So your one dollar becomes $3.

Hopefully... we can very quickly raise $150,000 to lend a hand.

All funds raised for Hurricane Katrina will be donated immediately to the Red Cross to aid in their efforts.

The Manilow Fund contributes 100% of every dollar raised. There are zero charges for administration, etc.

Donations to the Manilow Fund can be made online at www.manilowfund.com or via mail at:

Manilow Fund For Health and Hope
PO Box 45378
Los Angeles, CA 90045

Contributions to the Manilow Fund are tax deductible.

Please be sure to note that the donations are for Hurricane Help.

700 Club Robertson urges US to kill Chavez

2005-08-23T14:14:00.000-04:00

This is all over the news...
BBC
Newsday
All google news links

Watch the Monday, Aug 22, 2006 700 Club show.
Roberrtson's comments start about 9 and a half mins. into the broadcast.

We will Miss you Robert Moog

2005-08-23T08:56:00.000-04:00

Robert Moog (1935-2006)

Had it not been for the recent documentary on the Moog, I might never have fallen in love with the adorable, thoughtful, geeky engineer, Robert Moog.

His public memorial will be held at The Orange Peel: Social Aid and Pleasure Club in Ashville, North Carolina on Wednesday.

More on his life and work:
The Gaurdian
The Citezen Times {Asheville}
Moog Music
Caring Bridge
Moog Music

Behind the Typeface: Cooper Black

2005-08-05T17:22:00.000-04:00

Watch this mockumentary about the sorid history of Cooper Black.

This is a conversation I've been waiting to have.

2005-07-20T13:21:00.000-04:00

Please make comments on his blog to continue the conversation.

Smack Them Harder

As bad as it does sound, I am not sure this was the wrong thing to say. I mean if a terrorist explodes a dirty bomb in one of our cities, and we determine that that terrorist came from a particular city, holy or not, would we not consider retaliation in kind?

Seems to me this is simply a smaller version of the mutually assured destruction policy, which kept us out of a hot war (as opposed to the cold one we won) with the Soviet Union all those years.

I don't think it hurts to let your enemy know you will smack him just as hard and even harder if he attacks you.

Posted by TWM on Wednesday, July 20, 2005

I {big surprise here} added my two cents, but I used no sarcasm and no back-handed valley girl diction to make my point. {Hell, even I'm surprised by that.}

So close, so this is for you!

2005-07-20T12:27:00.000-04:00

Since my all new, fresh from scratch, taking me way too long, fun to be crazed about 17 things at once, Blogger template is almost, but not quite done... I can't let you see it.

Instead, I am going to share something with the ones I love.
I promise it will waste time, make you laugh, and slowly let your soul seep from you.
Excited? Me too!

Hope you all are well.
{PS- here is my beau and I on our hallucinatory hiking trip}

{PPS- one more thing to share: Metric [f'n kickin' ass and takin' names!]

Voltron got served

2005-07-11T18:10:00.000-04:00

The transformer you always wanted.
This is way too much fun. {but aren't all the things I post}

London Bombing

2005-07-07T10:16:00.000-04:00

The confirmation at this time according to the BBC is that there were 4 separate explosions & there are no longer anyone trapped in any of the lines.

In the tube between Aldgate and Liverpool Street
In the tube between Russel Square & King's Cross/ St. Pancras (A very large, very deep station)
On a double decker bus (not a tour bus) in Tavistock Square (near Euston)
In the tube between Edware Road Station and Paddington on the Circle Line.

The BBC has a map of the bombing spots.

The tube report.

I've found the best reporting is on the BBC 5 Live reporting.

The most recent news about continuing threats is a bomb scare presently at Victoria Station (west of Westminster)

Guten Tog!

2005-07-06T14:39:00.000-04:00

All right, so I'm always able to find yet another something to enjoy immensely whilst I should be doing other things... but this one may just beat all.

Cutest MIT Geek EVER!

2005-07-01T20:01:00.000-04:00

Ahhh, we love the boy.
And now the boy will be even bigger, better, and more bionic.

Can you say "Yummy!" in Chinese?

2005-06-28T23:45:00.000-04:00

I am very happy bunny.

2046: a new film by Kai Wai Wong is finally available. The trailer looks visually breath taking... and I have no doubts about Wong's story telling potential.

If you haven't seen other films by this director, rent either Days of Being Wild or Chunking Express {which Tarantino helped bring to the states}. Be warned: these movies have 3 {or oft times more} different titles, depending on where you are in the world and how the movie has been translated. So check with IMBD if you are having any problems.

If you haven't already....enter tokyoplastic v.2

2005-06-28T02:03:00.000-04:00

I don't care how long it takes you to play with this.... it is worth it!

No matter what.

Oh yeah- and this is way older than any matrix reload shite!
So yesterday that they are sold out.

Pardon me, please.

2005-06-26T19:38:00.000-04:00

You will have to forgive me.
I hacked myself a new template today that I am not all that pleased with... so my blogging may trail off to an all time low as each time I look at the thing I get mildly annoyed and again start hacking away....
But fear not, I am more than a little addicted to all the other blogs I spend my time reading. {You know who you are.}
So as long as you keep writing, I will keep posting flippant comments.

Tiny Ninja Theater

2005-06-20T15:10:00.000-04:00

There is little doubt that this idea is just crazy... Tiny ninja figurines acting out MacBeth & other classics on a stage no bigger than your kitchen table... but they've been around for over 3 years so it must be one of those 'just crazy enough to work' ideas.
[public audiences purchase tickets- this ain't no "in yo mamma's kitchen shows"]

I wonder if the boys are aware that someone took their show on the road.

Bunnies on crack.

2005-06-20T15:05:00.000-04:00

On the off hand chance that you still have time to waste online, and I know you do, check out the 30 second bunny version of Pulp Fiction.

And then if you still have time watch the rest.
{Don't forget to scroll down and see the slasher editions.}

A short list of wonderous ways to waste time.

2005-06-08T11:49:00.000-04:00

I wish to share with you all, what I do with my few precious moments of 'free' time.
As most of my free time is discovered whilst I am still sitting in front of my computer, it seems only fair that all the items on my list would involve urls.

Please enjoy and forgive me.

#1: Mood Boards & other such nonsense: Flickr Colr Pickr

#2: Threadless & now, Naked & Angry. {Both brought to you by skinnycorp.

#3: Title sequence giants:
A: Nexus Productions
B: Imaginary Forces
C: Cyle Cooper's new projects

More time consumers to come.... although threadless should be good for atleast 4hrs.

"Bitch Knowledge: The Great Hustla Relaunch"

2005-06-06T13:51:00.000-04:00

Sweet Jesus, this is brilliant!

It takes a normal search for google and trips it out.
Check out my search for blogger!

Please Remember: Hedgehogs dream in Colour

2005-06-04T21:35:00.000-04:00

For the four of you out there who read my sporadic and somewhat vapid blog, this is for you. This is my life in a nut shell; such as it is.

Right. The emptiness is a bit intimidating, so I will just do a bit of a hodged-podged overview.

Michael and I went to San Francisco for a week. And without wanting or intending to, fell in love with the climate, the general beauty of the whole area, and the intelegence and spirit of the folks we meet.
The only draw backs were the much over emphasis of amazing foods... {don't get me wrong the freshness rocked, but dollar for dollar NYC has better meals accompianed by much, much better music} and a place in the Mission —that will remain nameless— which has the potential to be a comedic foder for years to come. {self fullfilling food ethos is just plain, damn funny}
We had the chance to meet some great folks at blogger and have serendipitously now made contact with an artist who is the SR Web Designer for Wired and has a thing for grim, angry bunnies.

—— I have to get back to work, so I guess this overview is going to be a to be continued kind of thing. But the four of you probably won't mind... ——

Right. 'Cause I'm a good blogger....

2005-06-03T14:39:00.000-04:00

However, I love you all so I share.

pig_round

2005-04-20T17:24:00.000-04:00

pig_round
Originally uploaded by accomplice.

Sorry boys, I deleted your pig.... those nasty pirates made me do it.

Daedelus!

2005-04-19T17:38:00.000-04:00

For those of you whom I will be visiting in San Fran, I will be at the Hemlock Tavern on Saturday May 14, 2005 to see Daedelus! I am a happy bunnies!

For those of you on the west coast, get yourself to the Amon Tobin and Daedelus Show at the Knitting Factory on the 20th (IE FREAKIN TOMORROW!)

If you are interested (and you should be) both of these amazing artists are on Ninja Tune.

And if anyone can get their hands on the poster... I will pay you back and pay for shipping.

F-Yeah! Get yours!

2005-04-18T17:13:00.000-04:00

The gods shine on us! Finally.

The sh*t and crap there is....

2005-04-03T00:33:00.000-05:00

So in dealing with a web designer/ cum programmer/ cum personal Jesus such as all web IT people I have meet is that they all believe themselves to be god like in their own genius.

They are better than you.

They are smarter than you.

They are above reproach.

And it is a good thing too, because they are stupid, arrogant and cheap if you don't count how much time you are losing on deadlines.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

I am sure there are good developers out there. They just aren't kicking enough sh*t out of their colleges.

I've been a bad blogger

2005-03-24T16:27:00.000-05:00

Bug
Originally uploaded by accomplice.

This should somehow make up for it though...

- - - - - - - - - - -

Translation of the copy:
"Without a condom, you're sleeping with AIDS. Protect yourself." The posters are the work of TBWA/Paris, the agency behind the Daniloff-lensed PS2 campaign whose freaky "Rebirth" ad took the print Grand Prix at Cannes in 2003. Equally bizarre but far closer to the animal/human nexus are his ads for anti-tobacco client CNCT, also via TBWA/Paris, which feature models tongue kissing dogs and goats. No kidding. See the Corbis Assignment & Representation Services section of www.corbis.com for more of Daniloff's oddly stimulating work.

Thank you PrintCritic.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Music is Design

2005-03-09T16:02:00.000-05:00

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Thank you Michal Levy.

- "Architecture is crystallized music". Goethe

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::

[originally posted by Gui on Design is Kinky]

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::

What a wonderfully world

2005-03-07T18:06:00.000-05:00

The rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and rock stars who can scarcely count to 4 get offers to run the world band.
Thank god the English have a long history of oppressing outspoken Irish and are our allies in the war against... well, anything we say is a noble cause.

My question is how did Bono not think he was being used as a PR ploy?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

PS here is a brillant theory on the Bono's counting error:

Music theory can be broken down to simple mathematics to some degree...my theory is Bono is trying to be cool by saying a fibonacci sequence in Spanish...but...he got it terribly wrong:

0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13
By Marcg (marcg) on Wednesday, October 20, 2004 - 2:19 pm

Although it is possible that Bono is John Ritter.

Speaking of Ninjas

2005-03-06T18:47:00.000-05:00

I cannot say what will happen with this. My hopes are that it will give three very special ninjas a place to come together and talk about the things important to modern day ninjas.

Daedelus

2005-03-06T18:39:00.000-05:00

Yah! Daedelus has a new album out.
It is available on NinjaTune.net

For those who love musicians as much, if not more than music... This guy is quite possibly the most polite and sweet fella in the biz. (I know all of this on the authority of a two email correspondence.)

Although how could he not completely rock? He is friends with kozyndan.

Bar gets webby

2005-03-04T21:53:00.000-05:00

So this is (almost) the final live site for our client and friends at bar145.

I'm going to get a few dozen shots of tequilla now and going home to bed.... I have to work tomorrow.

Yuck.

Peace and enjoy your weekend.

Snowy Central Park

2005-03-03T19:39:00.000-05:00

Snowy Gates
Originally uploaded by accomplice.

Snowy Central Park
Originally uploaded by accomplice.

People who witnessed the raising of the gates talked about it as if they went up by themselves.

The day we arrived in New York, the moment we stepped off the plane, the snow started to fall. By the time we got to Central Park the next day to walk the path(s) of the Gates, the foot & a half of snow had melte just enough to turn the trees black. This resulted in the entire park being covered by a blanket of white snow, black silhoettes, and huge flowing oranges gates.

I loved watch people walking throught them.
Initial, their attention would be up, on the gate they were passing, but within just a few moments they would begin to look out into the infinate passages. Only when a hill or annoying large group got in the way did people seem to mark each passing gate.

I had wanted to count them, the instinct arrise from the challenge of finding one missing or one more. But I too forgot myself within the stark contrast of the sky and the gates or the gates and the ground.

This is how it all started...

2005-02-28T18:07:00.000-05:00

This is the beginning of Ze Frank.

--------------
In March of 2001, Ze Frank created a small Flash Website called 'How to Dance Properly.' On a Thursday evening he sent it out to 17 friends as part of a birthday invitation. By the following Monday over a million people were visiting the site each day. Over the next four years, Ze Frank created a large, ad-free, personal online space called zefrank.com as a vehicle to interact with his spontaneous online audience. The site is a collection of games, toys, writings, short films and collaborative spaces that encourage creative participation from its users.
--------------

Luxury Cars

2005-02-28T17:24:00.000-05:00

Ok, so NYC was simply awesome!

& The Gates were amazing!
As soon as I get my pictures up I will post My Adventures in Gate Land.

But for now I must tell you about my car sightings in the city. I saw one, count them, one and only one H2.

--- It is important to specify here that Michael and did a hell of a lot of walking... on Friday, after walking all through central park we walked over 70 blocks to Blue Chili (Pan-Asian & Pacific Rim, Sushi/251 W 51st St, New York 10019) Still no nasty, retarded H2's. ---

However, as soon as I crossed the border into Jersey I saw no less than 7. And at the Ikea there were atleast 5 more.
Who would have thunk it?

My coolest car sighting was a VW Phaeton.
Although it kinda sucked as it was some old lady in the back seat being chauffeured...
Who would buy such a cool car only to have someone else drive it?
That would be like buying a Lotus only to sit in the passenger seat.

But of course, for you auto-philes out there, Luxury does not come anymore standard than this.

Jet Set Go Central Park

2005-02-23T15:17:00.000-05:00

_H1U1462
Originally uploaded by accomplice.

Christ & Jeanne-Claude's newest exhibit. I have never seen any of their other work.

Michael kinda pulled this trip out of thin air. And I love him for that.

Check it out:
Even the mayor got into the act.

How many Hasselhoff does it take to fill a room?

2005-02-20T16:04:00.000-05:00

Realizing that this request is a definite 'above and beyond' any call of duty... that if I were to be Commander in Chief there would be hearings...

Here it is.
Help if you can.
Mock if you want.
Wait for the laugh... it will be worth it.

I need a good head shot of Hasselhoff, something that can be printed on an 8.5 x 11.

Questions should be asked.
Answers will be given... I can promise, if you all do your job well...
Good answers.
And, at last proof that fun can be had with complete strangers in the south.

For Love or Money

2005-02-19T17:39:00.000-05:00

BRITAIN-IKEA
Originally uploaded by accomplice.

I don't know who said it, but it stands to reason that they had neither; love nor money.

But for the rest of us, who mostly have atleast one or the other, there is IKEA making it easy to make peace with our Jones's.

Well, sort of.

Hasselhoff

2005-02-19T17:37:00.000-05:00

hasselhoff.jpg
Originally uploaded by accomplice.

This deserves a HELL YAH!

It will get worse before it gets better.

2005-02-16T20:10:00.000-05:00

Just like all things, this blog will get much worse before it gets better.

This shall serve as your warning.

2005-02-10T18:11:00.000-05:00

This blog is about to change dramatically.
*All the words "about", "change", and "dramatically" are relative to my own sense of urgency and may not reflect anyone else's ideals.
Although it may be more accurate to depict the changes as "probable" it is my hope that my enthusiasm not be deferred by the pre-assumed notions of reality maliciously thrust down our throats by those who would squelch the flames of progress....

Quit your moaning and do something!

2004-05-17T10:35:00.000-04:00

I don't always like Michael Moore. I often think he tries too hard to get his point across and in the process loses any audience other than the choir.... but I'm impressed with the links available on his website under the title of "How to support the American soldiers and help the people of Iraq."
He may not be my favorite catalysis for change, but he is doing something than most people who are upset about the current (ie continual) state of things in our country are not...

So stop bitching and do something. (Then go back to bitching with a new sense of relevance.)

Do Something!

PS For those who do more than bitching, please post any other urls that offer other constructive ways to support change or help those who are being screwed by current policies.

Check out the new charlestonwatch!

2004-05-07T17:07:00.000-04:00

We may have finally conquered our fear of movable type!

"Check it out!"

Yes, Let's see how easy it is to send an email which mentions politics out of China!

2004-05-07T17:03:00.000-04:00

From: "Stuart Gardiner"
Date: Tue May 4, 2004 7:40:20 AM US/Eastern
To: sinister@missprint.org
Subject: Sinister: Where is my home again?
Reply-To: "Stuart Gardiner"

I heard B&S on the radio while I was having my breakfast yesterday morning. Not much special about that, you might think. But I was a bit surprised to hear an obscure album track - Family Tree - on daytime radio. But what's really surprising is that I was hearing it while having my breakfast in Lhasa, capital of Tibet. Truly, the band's reach is worldwide.

Of course, one thing about travelling in Tibet is that you have to address 'The Tibet Question'. Namely, whether the Chinese occupation is a good or bad thing. Now if you listen to most people in the West, you wouldn't think there was a question. It's a simple answer, right? The Tibetan culture is being destroyed by the evil and oppresive Chinese government. Simple. Well, actually, no...

It seems there's lots of well-meaning but ultimately ill-informed people in the West when it comes to Tibet. They view this place as some kind of paradise, ruined by the Chinese. It's simply not true. For starters, they conveniently forget that until the Chinese took over, Tibet was actually a dictatorship run by the Dalai Lamas and their advisors - just because they're religious doesn't make it any better. And that Tibet was actually only an independent country for about 40 years. And that before then, the Tibetan army regularly invaded China, at one point occupying and sacking the old Chinese capital of Xian. So much for a peaceful serene nation. These same Westerners seem to think it's a tragedy that Lhasa and the other towns have changed - well, hate to break it to you, but London's changed in the last 50 years too. The Chinese have brought (and paid for - Tibet wouldn't have them otherwise) electricity, running water, even paved roads. Do we really have the right todeprive the people of these things just because it would make a better photograph??? The people are much better off, much wealthier, better sanitation and living conditions etc. And they know it. To mis-quote Full Metal Jacket, it seems they would rather be alive than free...

On the flipside, of course they don't have freedom of speech here. But then, nobody in China does. A lot of monasteries and religious items were destroyed in the cultural revolution 40 years ago. Same as in the rest of China. But they're being repaired and rebuilt at a startling rate; they're open to anyone again; and even the Chinese government officially regret the cultural revolution (the people behind it were executed years ago).

So what's my point? That there are two sides to any story, and in this case in particular, what you hear in the West is horrendously biased. Personally, when I look at both sides, I conclude that Tibet is better off being ruled by China, it's just that (as with all of China) it would be even better off if the government changed. Independence would not be good for the people here. If you look at the facts and conclude differently, fair enough; the important thing is to consider both sides of the sotry first before jumping to conclusions.

That's one of the biggest thing that all this backpacking has taught me - there's always two sides to the story. To Western eyes, it would make sense to prosecute the Khmer Rouge for what they did in Cambodia (killing one third of the country's population in just four years). But the Cambodians have decided not to dig up the past in the interests of reconciliation. Whatever you conclude, yoj have to take that opinion into account.

Another example - in February I met a man in Vietnam who used to be a teacher, before he fought with the Americans for the South Vietnamese army. After the US left, he was forced to become a farmer; only twenty years later was he able to set himself up as a motorcycle guide. He said that he doesn't like America, because the US deserted them when they had enough money to keep on fighting and decided not to. Now, you might not agree with him - I don't myself - but it's a view you never hear in the West, that needs to be considered.

Why am I saying all this? Why break the habit of several months by actually posting something, only to talk about politics? Because I think it's important. And because pretty much everyone I meet at home - and so probably most people on here - completely misunderstand what's happening in Tibet. And it causes resentment of the Chinese, which is unfair. And also, maybe some people back home put a little bit too much trust in the liberal media...

You want some more content to go with the rant? Erm... Well I did have a picnic on the roof of the Potala Palace last week, does that count? I've not even seen the I'm A Cuckoo single yet, and I don't know if I'll be back in the UK in time to go to the gigs. Sorry...

As if the politics in Tibet wasn't complicated enough, I'm headingback to Nepal in a few days time, where things are much worse... When I was there last month, there were people killed every day, up to 500 people in one battle, street protests, national strikes every week...

Big Stu

PS Let's see how easy it is to send an email which mentions politics out of China!

I don't care who you are READ THESE BOOK!

2004-03-20T20:48:00.000-05:00

All right, so I probably do care who you are, but chances are if you are reading my blog, I know who you are anyway.... but I diverge.

Here is your reading list:

"Usability for the Web" by Brinck, Gergle, & Wood

"Eric Meyer on CSS" by Eric Meyer

"Great Web Typography" by Wendy Peck

And now for the really fun stuff:

"Japanese Graphics Now!"
by Ed. Gisela Kozak & Julius Wiedemann/ Published by Taschen
(This book comes with a really fun DVD with Japanese commercials, etc.)

Ahhhhhhhh, I suck!

2004-03-20T20:16:00.001-05:00

So here's the deal. Since I last blogged, promising to blog more, I haven't posted a single article or even the obligatory rant. However, I have been mired in blog world stuff. And by stuff I mean really 'fun' stuff like php, MySQL, CSS, and MT tags. So please believe me when I say, "Forgive me. I'm researching a new way to love a blog." And I hope you will forgive me.

If you would like to see what the hell I am talking about, go to CharlestonWatch

I am a bad blogger, please punish me.

2004-02-24T10:15:00.000-05:00

These last few weeks slacking on my blog have been surprisingly full of panic and joy.

When life slows to a halt I will be a daily blogger.

Bush In Town

2004-02-05T14:40:00.000-05:00

PRESIDENT Bush spoke in charleston today.

Warning! Everything that is wrong with the world...

2004-01-29T16:01:00.000-05:00

Blogger's spell checker, the very one implemented by blogger does not contain the word "blog" in it's dictionary. It suggests using "bloc" for blog and "blocker" for Blogger.

This ends today's demonstration of what is wrong with the world.

The World Is A Blog Pile

2004-01-29T15:58:00.000-05:00

www.icograda.org

International Council for Graphic Design.

Council has no political or government affiliations. (How often does that happen?)

Sorry I'm Back?

2004-01-29T14:26:00.000-05:00

http://www.gnod.net/
Today I rediscovered my love for Gnod. Enjoy and use often...

Pretty Stuff & Fluff

2004-01-19T13:23:00.000-05:00

Always full of fun new artist, many times illustrators. Enjoy their front page, it changes weekly and they have an archive of all the previous ones.
url: http://www.designiskinky.com

2004-01-19T13:10:00.000-05:00

Welcome.
My appoligies if you came here expecting more...
I promise I will work on this soon.