Friday, February 27, 2009

Attn: Tri-City Area, Help me out!

Residents of Albany, Schenectady, and Troy!

Economy Got You Down?
Relax! You can still provide for yourself, creating, fixing, doing with your own two hands, right? Or perhaps someone you know has taught, or can teach you such a valuable skill.

This is a call for photographs of models, resulting pictures to be used in an installation celebrating and encouraging handiwork in the community.

What I'm Looking For:

1. A photo of someone who has taught you a skill using one's hands (or of someone who possesses such a skill that you admire)
2. A photo of that person's hands with his or her handiwork.

Along with the photographs or offers to allow me to take pictures, I also welcome stories along the theme.

If you would like anything returned (physical mail) please include SASE.

E-mail: WithHandsTroy@gmail.com
WithHandsAlbany@gmail.com
or WithHandsSchenectady@gmail.com

Physical Mail:

With Hands: (Please Indicate Albany, Schenectady or Troy)
P. O. Box 1274
Troy, NY 12181


and if you're really feeling randy, check out Sparkle Mag

Like a name out of your high school year book.

That's because it was a name out of my high school yearbook.

Looks like he's doing pretty good for himself

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Maybe too many steps ahead

However, that is where I'm at.

Making hardcover books? Great.
Bookcloth? expensive and rare

I don't usually like to share tutorials before I've tried them, but this one seems pretty harmless.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Combined Life Insurance

It's just a familiar story until it happens to you. And now that it is over, it doesn't seem so bad.

After work today, unable to located the paycheck I was going to go cash, I settled down on my futon to drink some soda, flip through some library books and watch some tv-on-dvd. Suddenly!

There was a knock on my door.

Now, granted, if he thinks I'm home, my mailman will knock, but his is a pleasant knock-knock-kna-knock-knock, and this knock seemed to have an agenda. Perhaps I heard it wrong, so I opened the door tentatively.

Also, it should be noted that this morning I noticed that the rear window of my crazy neighbor (who attacked one of my perfectly sane neighbors) had been smashed. For this reason, I was also hesitant to open my door. Perhaps she would blame me, and try to kill me.

But no, just two men in suits. Clean looking. Jehovah's Witnesses? Maybe. I can handle them.

So I give them a moment of my time, and they ask how they were fortunate enough to catch me home at this hour.
-Well, you see, I am a substitute teacher. Four pm isn't an unreasonable time to be home.


Before they get into their schpeal, they ask me if they can step inside for a moment.

I've always been polite, and it was really cold out, and I felt too awkward to tell them that I wasn't comfortable with that. The next thing I know, these two men are inside my not-clean-enough-for-visitors house, spreading their insurance plan on my coffee table, sitting in the only place on my futon that isn't covered with library books and magazines. After I sit through the whole bit, asking questions when necessary (sorry Jackie, no pre-existing condition coverage), I assure the men that I am well insured. CDPHP. I'm not going to need their plan. To this, the one doing all the rambling whips out a laminated article from the Times Union Feb 2005 discussing Insurance Companies going bankrupt. Or something like that. He did a lot of yammering while pointing to numbers in the article.
-No, really, I'm insured up the Wazoo. I understand that you have this to offer, but I have really good health insurance, and life insurance, and everything else.

To be polite, and considerate for my friends who could maybe use some insurance, I ask him to leave me some literature. Apparently since the policy is so low, they do not advertise. They have no literature to leave me. He also tells me that he doesn't think I understand, that theirs isn't really life insurance or health insurance, it is more of an accident insurance. What will be more valuable if I had an accident and was unable to work and pay my small bills? $2 a week in the bank or $75 a day?
-I think at that point, I could borrow some money from my savings, or from my mom. Honestly, it doesn't cost me that much to live.
Oh, oh, but surely you are saving to live more comfortably. You wouldn't want to jeopardize that.
-I live pretty modestly. I don't imagine ever wanting it differently. I like making things. It doesn't really cost anything to make things.
Well alright.
-So I'm not going to do this. You have no literature to leave me?
No, we have a website.
{Goes to leave}
So what is it, combined.com?
-combinedny.com

The one who has been doing all the yammering is pissed, and the other one seems to feel bad and shakes my hand and tells me to have a nice day.

Way to shove yourself into my house. Also, who goes around before 5pm knocking on doors? What sort of clientele are you looking for?

I'm beginning to understand the feeling of having one's home violated.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Thao Nguyen!!

No, not that Thao that lives in Albany. The one who has a band! Check it out!

As I often do, I think I like her better solo.

And it inspired me, so I called up my friend to ask him again if we can have a band. (He always says yes).

So anyhow, she is beautiful, talented, and amazing, and her voice is a little like Frances's. I guess I have a type.

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Dylan Poster

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Men I Love

In no particular order...



Liam Lynch

The genius behind Sifl & Olley, My United States of Whatever, The Tenacious D Movie and DVD. Also, have you ever checked out his podcast? Besides being a genius at what he does, Liam is an upright citizen, as per his advice given in his viewer mail / vlog. Also, this renaissance man is super cute.


David Sedaris

Read any of his books. He is wonderful and hilarious.


Dave Eggers

Dave Eggers *is* McSweeney's, and if that isn't enough, and you haven't read A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius or What is the What, then surely you must check out Giraffes? Giraffes! and Your Disgusting Head.



Ron Howard

Opie Taylor, Richie Cunningham, Arrested Development? Yes, please.


Dan Savage

He's snarky and sassy, and except for his pro-cheating stance, I think he gives really good advice in Savage Love, his weekly syndicated sex/relationship advice column and podcast.


Rob Kalin

Cute, red-headed...oh yea, and he founded Etsy.


Ira Glass

Listen to This American Life. His way of speaking to the radio public is a soothing change from the quasi-robotic all-business manner of many other public radio DJs. Sorry Ian.


Michael Cera

I think that I love Michael Cera in the way that everyone else loves Michael Cera. It feels like I alone appreciate his dorky charm and adorable-ness, but the reality of the matter is, it isn't hidden from anyone. It is the sort of situation I find myself in a lot. (I once dated a boy who didn't realize that others appreciated his dorky charm and adorable-ness, so I told him and told him until he believed me and consequently left me).

I am excited and terrified to see his rendition of Nick Twisp if they ever come out with Youth In Revolt.


Johnny Depp

Sure, Johnny Depp is hot, but that isn't what puts him on this list. What it is is that he is just such a versatile actor. Every movie I see him in, it could be an entirely different person, and I would believe it. He has done creepy, sexy, scary, and homoerotic excellently.


Dr. Frank N. Furter

I'm not a huge Tim Curry fan, but regardless....

never before has (and perhaps never again will) a man in fishnets and heels been so attractive.


The Fonz

So Henry Winkler was pretty cute in the movie Katherine (with Sissy Spacek - a gem in the wasteland of $1 DVDs by the Wal-Mart checkout), and he was pretty creepy in Arrested Development (ay, he oughta be), but there was no one as cool as the Fonz. (Perhaps it was a little sad or not cool that he was so concerned with being cool, but unlike all the other nerds out there, he pulled it off somehow)

Monday, February 16, 2009

Crying about Gentrification while eating Chicken Taco/ Burritos

I like the concept, but I'm not sure about the execution.

Perhaps it is because the reasons and crying seem fake.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Movie Reviews

Went to see Coraline in 3-D. I'd totally recommend it to everyone. No, it is not a Tim Burton film. Yes, it has that feel. Yes, TMBG sing a little song in the middle.

I am watching Wristcutters with the kid from Almost Famous. This is a movie about people who have committed suicide. After they die, they go to a place slightly like earth, except everything sucks a little more and you aren't allowed to smile. There is a character clearly based on Eugene Hutz from Gogol Bordello, the character is even named Eugene, and he plays a cassette of his band's music, all songs which are by Gogol Bordello.

Watched Enchanted, which was interesting, but the ending had some unrealistic plot elements. Two people who have just been left by their significant others will not so easily move on to be romantically involved with each other. Other than that, it was cute.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Sweet Lovin - Happy Valentine's Day

In July of 2005 I posted a myspace bulletin that said: Do you like me? Yes / No (Underline One)

This is, of course, good for one's self esteem, because mostly people respond in order to reassure me that they think I am great. However. I got an odd message from a certain friend's older brother. Luckily for me, myspace never deleted any messages from people who still have accounts, so I was able to rehash this odd happening.

What did it say?






"I'm sorry, I only like the idea of you..
but would likely never invest in it"

I guess I only liked the idea of him too.

Road Trip Plans


View Larger Map

Friday, February 13, 2009

Accent Archive

Watching Terrible Chick Flicks
Leads me to Googling Zooey Deschanel
Who apparently last bookmarked this website.



Wow!

Jonny One-Arm

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Snowshoeing: Is It Fun?







No.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Factory Tours



Ben & Jerry's Factory Tour:
WHERE? Waterbury, VT
COST? $3
THIS INCLUDES? 1 1/2" Button
1 scoop IC
30 minutes, most of which involves looking at videos. The only part where you get to see the factory is when they stick you in an observing tower type room in the top center of the tiny factory and sort of point to things.



Cabot Creamery Visitor's Center (Factory Tour)
WHERE? Cabot, VT
COST? $2
THIS INCLUDES? 1 cow print rubber bracelet (the livestrong type)
As much cheese and samples as you can stomach
30 minutes, perhaps 10 or less of which involves looking at videos. This tour walks you along and through the factory, with giant windows and close up views of everything that is happening. The video really defends all of the decisions that they make, such as the choice of incorporating 2 robots into production.

VERDICT? The button and Ice Cream were probably better tchotchkes, but the Ben & Jerry's tour was probably less enjoyable than if I had just watched about it on Unwrapped. The Cabot tour was much better, I didn't love the bracelet, and you didn't need to go on the tour to eat the cheese samples. However, for a dollar less, it was a much more enjoyable half hour. Neither tour guide knew quite as much as I had hoped they would.