Smoke 'em if ya got 'em...

How is it possible, that in 1969 I was hiding cigarettes in the woods to have a smoke on my walk to elementary school? Good times...



As a young woman, my Mom smoked Pall Mall's because..."Fine tobacco is its own best filter."



As she matured, her tastes favored the luxurious—and of course—"smooth, pleasing flavor."



My Father, on the other hand, was always a straight shooter, so I guess "the honest taste of a Lucky Strike" made sense to him.



Maybe his chronic depression was eased at Christmastime by Lucky Strikes..."Merry Christmas and Happy Smoking 200 times..."

And also...

I highly recommend this book.

In this political/economic climate, it's comparable to the phone calls I used to make to friends the day after getting trashed at a party—many years ago. It effectively tracks the arc of the US from its status quo politics (relative sobriety) to the full on venal, billionaire funded, know nothingness that has been mainstreamed today (topsy-turvy, scotch fueled delirium).

"Your're kidding me...I said that...I threw-up where...?! I'm really, really sorry."

 UPDATED:

Women

Patti Smith, PJ Harvey, Kim Gordon, Marnie Greenholz...and on and on.







The original Live Skull line-up at the now shuttered CBGBs.



The music I drop on this blog is too often from the guys (Iggy, etc.). The artists above, and many more, contribute as much (or more) to the architecture of this decidedly subjective blog.

UPDATED:
I hadn't seen this...wow, Bjork!

Have a Nice Day!

For me, Bukowski, unlike Burroughs, has always been too dark to entertain with regularity.
Burroughs' darkness carries a thrill, a kick, within its artifice and craft.
Bukowski's genius rests in his visceral accessibility—crystal clear accounts of failure, loss, and oblivion. Not a whistle or whisper as the graveyard passes.

The Best Laid Plans

This accurately depicts 15 minutes of my work-life yesterday.



I love this video.

For me, the tower magically righted itself...sometimes that happens...

h/t Attaturk

When Life Gives You Lemons, it’s Time for a Lemon Party

By: Attaturk Monday November 8, 2010 1:30 am

photo by uoɹɐɐ at flickr.com

Last week David Broder declared the idea of beating the Iran War drum a most awesome idea, because it will produce those jobs that Iraq and Afghanistan haven’t. And really, it’s an idea he once ran by the Kaiser with approval. Now, rejoining the Chorus Morte of old aspiring murderers is the very definition of “reasonable war criminal” Lindsey Graham:

Graham, a South Carolina Republican who sits on the Armed Services Committee and the Homeland Security Committee, said Saturday the U.S. should consider sinking the Iranian navy, destroying its air force and delivering a decisive blow to the Revolutionary Guard.
He says they should neuter the regime, destroy its ability to fight back and hope Iranians will take a chance to take back their government.

Yes, because we all know people NEVER think of being more angry at the people who are bombing them than their own government. That’s why the 8th Air Force TOTALLY brought down Hitler all by itself rather than strengthening the Fuhrer’s hand…no matter what all those historical facts say. Nothing will make the Iranians love ‘Murica more than our awesome bombs killing their relatives.

From FDL.

UPDATE: This is interesting now, in light of the recent Wikileaks dump. David Broder, Lindsey Graham and the Saudi royal family are of the same mind when it comes to Iran...that's grand.

This hits the bullseye.

After the morning after

I find it difficult to find a flaw in Athenae's analysis:

You had majorities, and you had Harry Reid, refusing to be mean to Republicans by shoving stuff through. You had majorities, and you had Barack Obama acting like he was already an ex-president and could be gracious and social with these pricks. You had majorities, used them to do some stuff, and then sat back and acted like we should be grateful when we can fucking count.

We can fucking count, out here. We know what 51 means. We know what 257 means. We're not morons. And all the procedural whatsit you argue today, about ConservaDems and Blue Dogs, doesn't mean shit. You had it, and we worked hard to give it to you, and we see you calling things impossible which are just very hard, and we get fucking annoyed, because we don't get to get away with that shit. Not at our jobs and not in our lives.

And there it is: "It's hard" appears to have meant, "So let's not try."

Well, you know, I'm sure we can find a few hundred other people who would be happy to take a job for a few hundred thousand bucks a year (plus a rather attractive pension and health insurance package) where all you do is offer excuses for why you "can't" do your job.

Signed,
Not Atrios

-Avedon 07:58

The Democratic House of Representatives

One consolation—my home state of Massachusetts gave the Teatards and Brownbots a sad.

Republicans’ revolution fades in Massachusetts

While in line at my polling place Tuesday morning, I had the pleasure of listening to the proud citizens (above/right) relish the opportunity to vote against Barney Frank, who is NOT on the ballot in my district.

Pale Lunacy

One might place this phenomenon in the context of insecurity. A group or a demographic that feels anxiety about its future—political or economic. Yet, as an argument, it fails in light of all the other demographic groups who are indisputably vulnerable—but not insane.

Actually, I think the crazy segments of white culture are manufacturing this crisis. Narcissistically and dramatically projecting what their loss of power might look like. Projecting an environment of victim-hood because it feels good.

What's missing from most media analysis is the fact that only a powerful and privileged demographic group can afford to stage its own decline. To subtly threaten this country's well being by foreshadowing how shitty it will be if their power is diminished. And as stated below, the message is being crafted by its most powerful members—its millionaires and billionaires—and delivered by its least powerful—the working poor and the elderly.

If the teabaggers ever grasp how they're being manipulated...watch out

h/t Cogitamus

Great agitprop.
Finally people (Matt Taibbi) are beginning to point out that the Tea Party is really a billionaire's revolt.
Cocksuckers, heh...oops.

Put this in a time capsule...

to explain to your grandchildren why they're living in a Cormac McCarthy novel written collaboratively with Margaret Atwood.

Mandatory Comedy Break

This is making the rounds...and it's funny.

Seizing power for the few by dividing the masses.

With the thousands of re-purposed Hitler rants out there, today, this one is the best.



h/t weekendnazi

We're not rich...but we might be someday.

Knowing dupes.

Painting #11

I've been working on #11 in the background as I've slowly resolved my computer issues. I am also trying to reorganize my studio/work space—I think by the weekend I should be able to push this one toward more regular working states.

State #1

State #2

Mostly...

One of my favorite bits of cinema...it's in my head every time things go south at work—or currently, when I watch the news about the mid-term elections.

Swans (aka Skin)

Great cover.
I was just in NYC for work...this played in my head as I scuffed around Chelsea.

Time stamp:
I was there the same afternoon/evening as the tornadoes that hit Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. I didn't realize until the next morning that we just missed a Penn Station sleep-over (trains in every direction down).

Also went to a hilarious garden party under the High Line to celebrate the Pace Gallery's 50th anniversary. We stopped in briefly on the way to the train.

Secret Service style security only hinted at the high-powered guest list (not me or SS). GQ models offered up attitude, despair...and oeur d'oeuvres.

An empty lot was transformed into a spectacular picnic area, complete with a field of sunflowers and plenty of boldfaced names. I mean dozens; such as: Muffie Potter Aston, Alec Baldwin, Larry Bell, Eli Broad,Chuck Close, Tom Campbell (Director, Metropolitan Museum), Jim Dine, Tara Donovan, Rosalyn Drexler, Somers Farkas, Casey Fremont (Director, Art Production Fund), Diane Von Furstenberg, Arne Glimcher (the founder and host), Andrea Glimcher, Kim Heirston, Chrissie Iles (Curator, Whitney), Bob Irwin, Mort Janklow, Leonard Lauder, David Lauren, Glenn Lowry (Director, MoMA), Robert Mangold, Thomas Nozkowski, Claes Oldenburg, Michael Ovitz, Thakoon Panichgul, Robert Ryman, Lucas Samaras, Joel Shapiro, Ann Temkin (Chief Curator, MoMA), James Turrell, Keith Tyson, Corban Walker, Fred Wilson, Beth Rudin de Woody, and Charlie Scheips, to name only a few.

We were too early to catch a glimpse of the luminaries.

Okay, less dirge.

No words can describe...

the joy of my work-life.
 
 

9 hours of this...I should pay them.

Restoring Honor

Image by dengre

Sad and ironic.

The mind-numbing dissonance of today's right-wing politics is by design...it frustrates critics and hoodwinks followers.

Media outlets amplify and mainstream these reactionary and xenophobic political operatives. Glenn Beck cynically maneuvers himself to stand alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and the media puts him there—Beck is elevated and MLK is reduced. It is a slick game.

Update: Throw in a little "christ is the best" shtick and you're good to go.