SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

Danny Boyle did it again. Took a genre and revised it into something fresh and unique. This easily could have been an idea that was made with ill results but Danny Boyle made a feel good movie that came out of reality of suffering so when the triumphant finale hits, it is well deserved. A simple and sharp piece of writing by Simon Beaufoy, and who didn't fall in love with the children?

WALL-E

Compelling silence. Enough said. Visually stunning and a tiny machine stole my heart. Everyone said this movie was political because of the people being fat, did you watch the movie? They were blobs not obsese. Their phyiscal appearance had nothing to do with consumption alone. They were in space and gravity over a long period took its toll, which is proven in science and NASA research would occur, hence, no scheduled trips to Mars anytime soon. I don't go any further into the complaints of viewers and the film's activist statements. It is a fun, heart felt movie with a dash of hope for a world that is heavy in our lack of face to face communication, I am most likely a blob writing this blog in a bunker secluded from the outside world.

MILK

Human rights has never been presented with such energy and joy. Even with all the heartache that accompanies the joy in Harvet Milk's life, the tragedy felt always uplifted by his extreme and quirky optimism. I've heard complaints of this film being 'not subtle enough' well duh. Harvey Milk wasn't a subtle man and everything can't be told subtly. I loved the cinenmatography, the colors were as apprasive as the material and the odd choice of head space added an element of Harvey's doom always lingering throughout. Wonderful cast. I forgive Emile Hirsch for Speed Racer after what he gave here. and Josh Brolin hits another out of the park.

IN BRUGES

Why has Colin Ferrell been hiding behind terrible performances? He finally shows off his gusto in this far from cliché film about two hitmen hiding out. The first movie I loved in 2008. The writing is sharp, funny, bittersweet and harsh. Dark comedy has never been better. Martin McDonagh created deeply simple relationships in a world that is rotten with characters that smell of overdone gangster types found in student film work. The relationships were excuted by master craftsmen Brenden Gleason, Ralph Fiennes and newer comer Colin Ferrell...I call him a newcomer because the actor here isn't present in any previous work, that I know of yet.

REVOLUTIONARY ROAD

The first scene is intense and is relentless for the entire film. Silence is a killer in the shadows. Even when the lead characters are shouting it takes the ease off the silence. A devasting portrait of the suburban way of life in an era of surmountable change occuring and no one really knowing what they wanted next and unspoken agendas drowning people in their moments of silence and solitude. Kate Winslet should have been nominated Oscar for this role. I am happy that Michael Shannon was nodded because I loved his performance. 

THE WRESTLER

Darren Aronofsky is the newest of the underappreciated directors; with Hitchcock, Kubrick and Scorsese-his statue was a pity play for one of his lesser achievements-among others. What current director can change gears and style so drastically and still succeed? I am bias because he did homage Kurosawa's Ikiru in The Fountain, and Kurosawa is tops with me. This a slice of life film that never bores with its ambiguity, only intrigues with each little snippet of story, especially the grandiose ending. Aronosky might be a crazy, difficult director but that dedication shows in his work. Mickey Rourke is the comeback kid with a powreful and frighteningly personal performance; this is his story as much as it is Randy the Ram's Marisa Tomei is hot and a great actor, double threat!

The DARK KNIGHT

Some will protest and ask why isn't it higher. Chill out fan boys. The Dark Knight is the best comic book movie as of yet. However, we shouldn't make it more than it is. One question, once Batman comes face to face with Joker in the Sonar sequence, why doesn't he turn it off?  He is Batman; trained and heightened, skilled senses, stop using the sonar especially when it cuts out, push a button to extract the lenses. Never got that. Still love the movie, absolutely wonderful. Nolan brought the Batman I love to the screen. Heath Ledger will forever be the The Joker on the silver screen and I do wish though Heath's universal praise didn't overshadow, Aaron Eckhart's Harvey Dent-Two Face. It was a solid character played truthfully through the arc and to his demise.

APPALOOSA

First off, I am a western fan and a good western cannot even be ruined by Renee Zellweger's creepy squished face and squinted eyes as though the sun is always in her eyeline. She actually fits the role perfectly as a desperate and unattractive praire woman that would only receive empty love from wild west hoodlums and an equally cold lawman. This a solid western that explores the friendship of two lawman which forged on the western desert. It has some of my favorite dialogue following a great shoot out. Viggo: That went quick. Ed: Everyone could shoot. Awesome! Viggo is a badass gunman and just his fancy, military dueling stance has me loving this western.

SYNECNOCHE, NY

I can't deny that much of Charlie Kaufman's symbols and metaphors and philosohy alludes me, however, he has a gift to make the odd, strange and obscure mesh among the mundane, ordinary and typical. This explores life's deepest fear, an existence without meaning; to live a meaningless life. I love all the ideas driving this forward. When I didn't fully understand something, it was always surrounded and accompanied by ideas that were rooted in reality and hit close to go home on a fundamental level of living. The layers of duplicate characters and environments is astounding and perplexing. This film is an extrodinary experiment by one the most unique minds in filmmaking. The cast only improves on Kaufman's vast and haunting world within worlds within worlds.

LET THE RIGHT ONE IN

This vampire film transcends others by reintroducing us to what really makes us scared; the unknown. This tensely slow paced film has us uneasy because of its quiet ambiguity that drips and crusts over like the blood that Eli extracts from her victims. What emotion out does fear? Loneliness. Oscar's urge to have a friend/love in his life makes his fear of the unknown a fearless void. A hauntingly bittersweet romantic tale of how two individuals must rely on each other to survive in the world that wasn't built for their idiosyncrasies that hinder their social development and abilities. However, the  cat attack scene did break the great pacing of the film, wish they could have done that a little differently, perhaps.

Other favorites:
My Winnipeg
Rachel Getting Married
The Visitor
Role Models
Choke
Kung Fu Panda
Iron Man

This favorites list is limited by the fact that I can only see what I see and it never seems to all that I want to see.

CURRENT MOVIE I AM HIGHLY INTERESTED IN SEEING: Medicine For Melancholy; check it out: http://www.strikeanywherefilms.com/ 

Posted via LiveJournal.app.

CHICAGO WITH RITA PART 2

Went to the Pub for a Music SHow

THE RUBY SUNS This New Zealand band is one of my 2008 favorites, there poppy music makes you move and forces a smile on your face. Although I do have one discrepancy with the show, it was the moment where they stopped and dedicated the next song to a musician that inspires them, I was thrilled to hear who gave them the surge to make music, my heart was stunned when the dedication was revealed...PHIL COLLINS! What? Really? Blazer, tennis shoes and headset drummer from Genesis, the one behind that horrible Disney's Tarzan soundtrack? Why? Your music has such a better sound, light and flowery without being sappy or tacky like modern jazz or new age. Regardless of The Ruby Suns' source of inspiration the show was great and it would be fun to see them again.

When your not a drinker, all friends tempt you Funny thing, I like tasting beer. I am not a drinker, I have never drank a full beer or half for that matter. Yet, I like tasting various beers, especially when I am with Rita...odd. She had a Samuel Adams White Ale and to be honest I loved the taste and it flowed down my throat like candy, Rita told me later that after my 5 minute rant about how good the beer was, she thought I was going to buy a beer start my drinking career right there

WHEN IN ROME....or the WINDY CITY you must go to Hot Dougs. When I arrived Rita had one of their buffalo dogs waiting for me, what a sweetheart and the dog was a tasty tasty meal. One dog isn't enough, later in the week, we went back and I had another buffalo dog plus a classic Chicago dog, there is nothing like a Chicago dog, the relish and tomato combination that the create is simply delicious delight. Another homegrown meal that I had when in the windy city was real deep dish pizza. I don't think I will ever have Chicago deep dish again, too heavy too much for my small body to handle, the deep dish there is merely a quiche with pizza toppings. Sorry Chicago natives, I don't think I will be having that again unless I befriend one of you and that is your choice for your birthday dinner. Bring on the dogs.

SEEING THE SITES The Married with Children fountain

THE BEAN aka Cloudgate My posture is so suburban gangsta

If all the Tourists are doing it, I'm doing it too.

Street Performance Art They need a permit to pester me for cash.

Kind of like Jesus

Among the Children of Chicago I Smirk

ODD FOUNTAIN

Seriously? Playfully splashing around in hundreds of gallons of spit is fun?

The Picture of Dorian Gray The Chicago Museum, I don't remember which museum-it's name, I just no it wasn't the modern one. It was awesome that they had the original painting from the 1945 film of The Picture of Dorian Gray byIvan Albright, his other works were as gruesome and more depressingly dark as the Dorian portrait. Thumbs up for movies and art.

Here is the full creepy painting that reflects Dorian's true image and the 1945 movie poster, The film just recently was released on DVD this past year.

CHICAGO WITH RITA PART 1

RITA IN THE STORM My first eastern storm. This was insane. I thought I had walked into a sound studio and foley artist and special effects masters were creating the booms and flashes that blasted through the walls and windows. It was reported that night that tornados were planting in the city only blocks away from her house.

<tbody> <tr> <td></td> </tr> <tr> <td>LIGHTNING STARTLE

My first night in Chicago is a roaring rage of rain and electric bolts cracking around me, and I wanted outside with an umbrella, luckily there were large trees around that I fooled myself into thinking I was sensible wondering out in the wild storm</td></tr></tbody>

Don't Throw in a Coin your wish will only be Fecal matter

BEST DAMN SUSHI DEAL! All YOU CAN EAT, $5...I only made it through two full rolls and here there are regulations and rules about eating it all or else everyone plays extra at the table.

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The Devil in a Wood Pile Great live music at The Hideout . Never heard a steel guitar or a washboard played with such gusto and passion. If your going to Chicago mark it on your must go list.

MORE FOOD IN CHINATOWN











Camera Video of the Storm:

Can someone, me, that didn't vote for the new president, that finds himself separate from the two major parties, find joyous celebration in the swearing in of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States of America?

Yes! With absolute certainty and happiness and reflection and a major impression of history bestowed onto all of us as we watched. The first inauguration, in my life, that I have ever had any mind to watch and when I witnessed I was brought to the break of tears; the only reason I didn't actually cry was because I viewed the ceremony ,that mountainous speech, in the break room on the very first day of my job, I wasn't fully comfortable showing my full self in front of people that I haven't yet to get the full capacity of time to know.

I am not capable of quoting his speech and I am not capable of shedding the impact and volume it spoke to me. Our world, our nation has come such a long way to reach this point, this point of change, the Change is beyond the major economic struggle, the struggle for the world's respect and a better global reputation, the fact that a black man is our President shouts volumes of progress. The race issues that have plagued our nation for generations are now being challenged not through marches, unnecessary deaths and pain of a hurting minority, and needful education to break cruel myths and stereotypes; it has been challenged with equality. Like the great moment of Martin Luther King declaring that he had a dream, which I was not born to witness, this moment plants down like a bomb sending out a ripple that trembles the future and the past.

Being a white, suburban boy that grew up in Sandy, Utah I will never fully feel the triumph and blessing this has brought for the Black/African American community. I can understand. History classes, documentaries, personal accounts and stories from parents, friends and strangers paint a landscape that I can hardly believe was possible. Segregation only marks the tip of a monstrous iceberg that rammed into human civilization.

These flowery words don't even amount to the pride and joy that this President's ceremony has brought to my heart and my optimism that is clouded over with skepticism for our U.S. government. This moment is pure, he have finally rid ourselves of a fool that lost sight of the big picture, the people make the country. I have many opinions of his service and failures, I think his heart was equipped however he stopped listening to the people and I have found in my own life that if we don't open our hearts to the people that surround us that our heart will fail us because for our hearts to work at their maximum abilities and foresight we must be present with everyone. Goodbye Bush, Welcome Obama with open arms.

Next I would like to address something that pertains to the new President but is in no way meant to contradict my previous statements of pride, joy, and happiness for the Obama's presidency. Obama is the chance for optimism to be rekindle in the west.

I strongly disagree with that which I refer to as the "Savior Complex". We must not put all our energy into one man and trust that the world's problems will clear out and make way for the revolution. One man is fully capable of making a difference yet it takes several people, all the nation's people-all the world's people-from all walks of life, to implement true genuine change. Like the Buddhist idea of fully achieving nirvana; one must assure that everyone else reaches nirvana in order to fully achieve nirvana. One man gets the ball rolling, one man stands up, one man speaks out but we must do the same,if you will, we all must be saviors unto each other.

History is full of great people that have made the leap against the status quo and changed history without ever knowing it, Rosa Parks is the biggest one that comes to mind, in here simple act of not standing from her seat, an entire nation exploded into a forward movement, like a river of sorts, against racial prejudice and reform.

I do believe, from the two speeches that I have had the chance to hear- this Tuesday's inauguration speech and his victory speech on election night, that Obama is fully capable of making a major difference in America and the world. What I loved about his speech this past Tuesday was his focus on the reality and humanity of America's current situation. He didn't hide the fact that everything will be met with time, "with time". It takes time and I think that he is a President that is asking for patience and trust and to top it off asking for our help and assistance into a better nation. We the people are responsible now to keep the flame at our new leader's feet, not saying 'quicker, quicker' but 'don't stray, don't stray'. We the people our the watchers of the land, our civil servants are those we appoint that keep our needs and hopes in clear focus and fight, on an equal level, for those hopes and needs.

I am not fearful that Obama will stray off his path however I am not one for saying I should have kept up when the shit has hit the fan. I look at my past voting, political involvement and how I was introduced into a system with a President i didn't like nor vote for and was given two choices, the President I wasn't wanting to back or a proxy puppet named Kerry that spouted promises of plans that never once materialized into solid laid out ground work that gave an image of his Presidency. Therefore, I voted poorly that year. The world kept moving and now I am attempting to gain back my trust in the American system that I have long misunderstood and distrusted.

Hope is what keeps us going. Obama is hope but for Obama succeed to the fullest abilities of his power and grace, we must have hope in ourselves.

Goodbye BUSH! WELCOME OBAMA!

This pic is great!

SPEAKS LOUDER THAN WORDS

Beautiful yes, but can you imagine being the dumb slum that has to remove and clean each and every individual crystal separately, I would hate to be that Government employee unless the perks are good

Just possibly where it all went wrong... the first room for congress to meet, now down in the lower depths of the capitol.

FDR and his golden touch

I hope his touch clears up my depression

DING! DEPRESSION GONE America is to FDR as Elliot was to E.T.

A SMALL GLIMPSE INTO THE SHORT VACATION IN TORREY, UTAH

THIS TRIP WAS A BLAST, SWIMMING IN THE CAPITOL REEF AND CAMPING AND ENJOYING MUSIC...BUT TRAGEDY STRUCK IN THE FORM OF MY OWN STUPIDITY. I LEFT MY PHONE, CAMERA AND WALLET AT A CAMP SITE THAT MY FRIENDS AND I WERE RESTING AT AND EATING HOT DOGS. MY GRACIOUS AND A BIT ANNOYED BEST FRIEND MATT DROVE ME BACK TO THE STOP AND WITHIN 30 MINUTES MY STUFF WAS NO WHERE TO BE FOUND, GONE.

IT WAS STRANGE. THE CAMP SPOT WAS FAR AWAY FROM THE ROAD. I'M NOT SURE HOW SOMEONE COULD HAVE SEEN OR TAKEN MY STUFF UNLESS A CURIOUS MISFIT OF A SQUIRREL GRABBED THE CAMERA BAG THAT STORED ALL MY BELONGINGS. BUMMER. IT SUCKS TO SHUT OFF CREDIT CARDS, IT IS A WASTE OF MONEY TO REPLACE A LOST PHONE BUT WHAT I WAS MOST MAD ABOUT WAS THE PICTURES I LOST, SOME FUNNY, CHARMING AND QUITE SCANDALOUS PICTURES WERE TAKEN ON OUR TRIP AND THEY WILL NOW NEVER SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY.

LUCKILY OTHERS, ESPECIALLY MY FRIEND RITA HAD PICS OF US ENJOYING SOME OF THE FUN IN TORREY, UTAH. THE ODDITY OF TORREY IS IT PART OF SOUTHERN UTAH YET HAS HIGH ELEVATION SO THE WINTERS ARE UNBEARABLE AND THE SUMMERS ARE FINE.

1 of 2 THE SURVIVING PICS Nick Whittaker, Matt Whittaker and I on the fence watching another of our friends approach buffalo. Thrilling stuff, although the picture doesn't provide much motion or character in storytelling way.

2 of 2 THE SURVIVING PICS When there is a mini tricycle, you must sit on when wearing yellow short shorts. No questions or quarrels about it.

A PICTURE FROM THE INTERNET I just wanted you all to have a visual of what our friend was walking up to plus there were about 6 or so buffalo not just one and he was big and getting pretty angry about our friends curious approach

Coming up next on Catching up 3...chicago, filming and The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940. Almost caught to moving to Los Angeles however not there yet...I hoping to get this all out of the way in order to start posting maybe something more funny or entertaining...i can dream can't I?

I am not the most dedicated blogger that lives on the internet, that is right I don't stay home with mountless hours to throw at surfing the net for news with televisions running numerous cable channels all once with a random change function that allows me to view several programs throughout the day yet cutting down the time, hell I don't even have a TIVO, that is right I don't have Tivo, I rarely watch television, I have to have friends suggest shows and I will wait until DVD to watch, soooo I am seriously behind on the television viewing....anyways this has become a boring rant without any punchline or climax.

SO WHERE AM I NOW?

I AM NOT HATING POLAR BEARS Although the media has been spreading various rumors of my abuse to the Arctic creatures...they're all lies.

I AM NOT ENJOYING A CUP OF EARL GREY As much as I wish I was, I just don't have the money to spread about in those little delicacies

I AM NOT CAMPING WITH THE BEARS Sorry folks Herzog is not interested in the dull life of a born and raised Utahan that neglected the very nature that was a only a 10 minute drive from his home throughout his entire 25 years living in Utah.

I HAVE MOVED TO... I took the plunge into the monkey barrel of crazies and dreamers.

Before we dive right into the move, the little time I have experience here in the City of Angels and my pursuit of the acting, I must recap, as neatly as possible from where I left off, Washington D.C., then I visited Chicago, lost my camera in Torrey, Utah and starred in the marvelous production of The Musical Comedy Murder of 1940.

Allow me to attempt, with pictures and the possibility of clever caption to take you on the 2008 ride of Dave's quirky ventures.

WASHINGTON D.C. WITH BEST FRIEND VANESSA:

I went to the National Capitol

What am I so surprised by?	table>
George Washington as a god. That is right. It is one of the most interesting and historical aspects of early America, that we have a painting on the ceiling of the National Capitol depicting the President as a God and that is what the belief was at that time, that he would become a God in death for his service to the country. Crazy, I had never known this until my visit to D.C. and I think it is possibly reason why I think America is stuck in a runt because our nation has a populace that is trapped in a mind set that I like to call the Savior Complex.--I will save a future post for the my ideas about that. Cool painting, although my favorite painting in the capitol cannot be photographed because it is on the senate floor and you have all your cameras, phones etc. taken before entering that level. The painting is of the signing of Declaration of Independence, the size is like 10 x 12 feet and it is beautiful.

Serious Expression or a vietnam play on phrase "Why so Serious?" There are a lot of monuments in D.C. as you would imagine and as you go through each has a different atmosphere about them yet nothing compares to the Vietnam Memorial. Even as I approached I told myself I wasn't going to be affected by the solid black marble V however as you silently walk beside the hundreds and thousands of names of soldiers that lost their lives for a faceless cause and pointless American venture. It hurt, it swelled up inside you and you couldn't help to release it with an overwhelming urge to tear up and cry out against the evil and senseless taking of life. A powerful monument that allows us, the generations that were not born during the time of such tragic choices, to understand what those at home,-on America soil-were protesting against.

Maybe I shouldn't have taken a picture of this? I couldn't resist because it was a piece of history and life only inches away. Another man placed out pictures of his fellow soldiers/brothers as he called them in the letter with for all passing people to see a face with the name chiseled in dark marble. Every name had a face. We must not forget that. No matter what our government, with it's ill direction takes we must support our fellow Americans with our love and trust of their ability to sacrifice what most of us are incapable of giving up for more than a breath.

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Our current politicians need to read this Thomas Jefferson had many great words, this is my favorite. It is great to have the inauguration of Obama coming in just two days however happy I am for Bush's exit I have high exceptions and doubts for the President, he is much better than our previous idiot of a commander in chief but is Obama just another career politician with a better grasp on the english language with better speech writers on his staff and a smile that melts your sensibilities? I am not worried about his ability to bring America back from this economic turmoil, time and struggle will always be overcome, my biggest worry is will the people press hard on the new Presidential cabinet and more so onto congress for a change that benefits the PEOPLE and not the corporate powers of America? Our government has to many stakes in the corporate world and it hurts to know corporate stability is far more important to them than any of the people's lives or way of life. Yes, you're right there has been talk of jobs and Obama's plans to better the life of the common man but I am a doubter that wants to be proven wrong, I want my expression of reservation to be replaced with a smile of surprise and triumph that my contempt for the system has been solidified as false and the system works. I want us as a people to join together and simply ask for more from our government and our leaders, stop falling back on the Savior Complex; the expectation of one man changing everything. One man can get the ball rolling, one man can show us it is possible, yet for true, genuinely large changes to occur in the world, we must stop relying on the Savior figure to provide that change and join those figures and become a society of saviors, one to another, as helpers to keep our flame of humanity and prosperity alive for generations to come. This will be a trek that takes all of our lives but we must stand up and take our blame, our stake, our responsibility in the world and in the lives of those surrounding us and those we never come in contact with-because in reality of existence and the theories of every choice affecting millions-we are in contact with each other all of the time. We must stop having reservations about others and evolve daily.

I would say there is too much to see in the small stretch of land called The Mall. I had to pick and choose where to go. One of the highlights of the museum was the Hirshhorn film exhibit. It was an extensive walk through several experimental films. Some good, some alright. Sometimes I thought the filmmakers were doing something so beautiful and they would ruin it simple because they wanted to show the process of making film right in the middle of piece, by revealing the camera. Blah in my opinion, showing me the camera doesn't make it an experimental film, it makes it more pretentious. Or something. There was a cool installation that an artist took clips from films of famous actresses playing mothers in one and famous actors playing fathers in another and edited the clips and had five television to house each individual actor's clips and it created a new, abstract conversation between the actors.

On my exit out of the Hirshhorn, I walk through the sculpture garden and happened upon an artist's work that I had originally seen in Spain, on the beach of Barcelona to be correct. A sculptor by the name of Juan Munoz (1953=2001). His work is one that grabs my attention. His forms create a new world and tell a story of abstraction yet grounded in familiarity.



Here is the pics from Spain of his work on the beach in Barcelona



When I went to the National Gallery of Art, I decided to become lost in the environment. I plugged my ears with classical music and wondered the vast gallery without a care of time or space, just take in what I discovered. I have a long list of paintings for my own search and memory but one painting grab me fully. It might be cliche to speak highly on the Monet, but this piece had me captivated from my first look and had me coming back. It is gorgeous. It reminds why I like Terrance Malick films and beautiful cinematography. A Woman with a parasol and boy. I had to buy a print of it, even though prints never capture the true essence of seeing work present and with all your senses.



Lastly, I had the treat of going to the Jim Henson exhibit. People talk about Tolkien and now the overrated J.K Rowling, having creative to the max. I don't disagree but I think these two people overshadow a lot of great work that isn't being appreciated. Jim Henson was one of the most imaginative people in history, period. His characters are iconic and he was the first to push forward and use large puppets in productions. The exhibit was a little small and designed for children too much yet it didn't take away from Henson contribution to the world.



Although, security was tight and set on people not taking pictures, I couldn't resist snapping off a picture of the original Bert and Ernie. I grew up watching these two argue, play with a rubber ducky, snicker and dance the pigeon dance.

The Eastern Market of D.C. turned out to have many hidden treasures, sadly I wasn't able to try the waffles because I arrived after breakfast-I will blame that on my friend Vanessa whom was working as an intern when in D.C. and was tired all the time, all the time therefore wasn't awake early enough to reach the farmers market for breakfast. However, the crepes were a wonderful substitute.






YUMMY!

FUGAZI. Washington, D.C. is the hometown of Fugazi. In reality thought the Dischord house is in Arlington, but since this was a short trip, I cut out the visit to Arlington cemetery therefore didn't give the time to search for the Dischord House, which I couldn't find an address online for at all. I would have loved to had a Minor Threat like picture on those steps, maybe next time. Yet, since I am a big fan of the Fugazi and pretty much everything Ian Mackaye has done for music. Fugazi, along with Minor Threat, Embrace, One Last Wish, Egg Hunt, and Rites of Spring, will be a band I will love on my deathbed, when I pass into the unknown void after this singular perception. I went out of my ay, dragging my friend Vanessa on a short bus ride, which we have to know she hates buses, too dirty-too OCD, to the birth place of Ian MacKaye and the original Dischord house before they moved it over to Arlington. I wanted to walk up and knock on the door, maybe talk to the mother of a music revolutionary, but nervous Vanessa wasn't going to have that, "You walk up to the door and I am leaving".




The BIGGEST TREASURE OF the EASTERN MARKET was Andrew Shelton.

A local painter that had a passion for the superhero. My inner geek was woken up like a sleeping giant when I spotted another local artist wearing a hand painted shirt of the fantastic four. Bad Ass. I asked for a picture and was pointed in the direction of the shirts source of original strokes. A tiny booth tucked away among the rest of the cheap jewelry and garments and ran by a very welcoming and friendly artistic praised by his fellow artist and paranoid that the comic books industry will slam their hammer down.


Andrew Shelton in the flesh
Fuck the comic industry if they ever come down on a poor, truly struggling artist that possibly lives or has lived in the streets trying his hardest to get by by doing what he loves, painting up the superheroes that he loves. Shelton new a lot about superheros, he was no generic comic fan like the rest of nation caught up in the movie craze. When I requested my custom tee of the avengers, he started spouting off all the sub-characters that readers of comics know, like Wasp, Ant man, The Vision etc. He was awesome, when I dropped my tee off for him, we talked, or he talked with me about everything and eventually came around to tell me that GOD was the one painting the pictures and he was merely an instrument.

Whether it was GOD that painted it or not I don't care. I will tell you, Andrew Shelton painted me my new favorite t-shirt. A Captain America and The Avengers; the three main stars of the group, t-shirt that sparks with life. Hell Yeah! Best thing that came from D.C.
FRONT:

BACK:


After dropping off my t-shirt with Andrew Shelton, which I wouldn't see until almost a month later because I left the following day and my friend Vanessa had to bring it back for me, I enjoyed a hamburger and a large of one of my favorite drinks, an Arnold Palmer. Refreshing.

I highly enjoyed the monuments of Washington at night. All lit up and magical, for a moment there you think you're at Disneyland rather than the National Capital. The only thing missing is a talking President Lincoln. It is a National tragedy that Disneyland closed down the The Hall of Presidents because it was an Animatronic piece of art. However, I do have to say the new Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of Caribbean, although I'm not a fan of the films, is realistic to a point of creeping me out and thinking they hired an actor to play the part every hour of the day.

I salute you Washington

It GLOWS!

A friend of mine, a best friend-therefore I don't hold their opinion against them, had me thinking after they put out their opinion on the Washington Monument. As we walked up, they expressed a distaste for the fact that the monument only has American flags around it and how this showed an ignorance as a country-possibly as a National people and there should be flags of other countries around the monument. I didn't say it then but I completely disagree. Now, I am one of the first people you'll meet to point out the flaws of our government and agree with Cindy Clark's comments, "That George W. Bush is masturbating the United States. [into committing to choices that damage us as a world image]". However, the Washington Monument is not a monument of our current choices and mistakes, it is a symbol for our past and where we have come from. I don't think it is wrong to have pride in our past or our country-even flawed too. The government fucks up no matter what, probably because we're humans and it is natural for us not to agree on all aspects no matter how many debates and arguments we throw back and forth. All that I am saying is, that ever country has a right to celebrate itself and just because we might fuck it up and keep right on fucking it up, that doesn't remove our right and other countries right to fuck it up.



LOVE CHEESY PICS!

Don't you wish there was a myth about all the presidents of America having their brains stored here until they can be formed into a super brain to rule over the next world order. Hail! Isn't that the American dream? THE WORLD.



Why such a dominate phallic symbol?

A country ran by men and their penises...an ongoing and most likely eternal observation.


Better watch what I say

It will slap me in the face, that dirty American cock.


WORLD WAR 2 Memorial

Vanessa is tired

Guess what state we originate from?

THAT IS RIGHT, THE BEEHIVE STATE

HONEST ABE! There should be a comic book where he returns to the modern day as a super hero, not unlike Captain America, yet with more humorous results. I am thinking a sex shop episode.

He is close to our hearts.



Hanging with Lincoln, like Mr. Cooper. We came to an agreement that Darwin did make a bigger impact on the world than him. High five, Abe.




Even when close to great words, you can't but notice I'm thinning out back there.

READ IT! LIVE IT!



I think I might have blacked out after this picture, from so much American pride swelling my head. That might be the cause to all our nations problems, the swelling of the brain that accompanies PRIDE