Category Archives: Art

Obtuse Strategies Deck

I’m sure most people know about Brian Eno’s Oblique Strategies — a deck of cards with gnomic suggestions to consult at random during creative work. I propose my own, new deck, informed by my jaundiced world view, and in no … Continue reading

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In Praise of “A Charlie Brown Christmas”

This post has been making the rounds this week and I had to respond. Not so much because it needs defending, but because I believe this post fundamentally misunderstands Peanuts and A Charlie Brown Christmas. “F*ck You, Charlie Brown.” Poor … Continue reading

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The Awl: The Phantom Tollbooth, or The Democratizing Principle of Literature

Maria Bustillos nails it on the Awl Blog “…I cannot help but think that it is flat wrong to teach anyone that he or she should not read, or love, or identify with, any book he or she pleases.” George … Continue reading

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My Children’s Treasury Of Helpful Misinformation — now downloadable/printable

I drew a book for my niece Lucy for Christmas 2007, based on an anecdote from her mother Tessa: Tessa was in a bookstore in Park Slope Brooklyn with my niece Lucy, who was two and a half years old. … Continue reading

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If you can make it there: Tyne Daly & Martha Plimpton Caberet in NYC?

I read the New York Times Arts section on the off chance they’ll write about music I might find interesting. When that happens it’s usually perceptive and well-written. This week, I note two reviews for events I can’t even begin … Continue reading

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Digital Download Services — How Ugly Are The Licenses?

Consider Boomkat. They’re very specific about what you can do with them: put them on up to three computers, three portable music players, and burn on up to five CDs. They say that you permanently own the tracks you purchase, … Continue reading

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Subconscious Art Of Graffitti Removal

This is really kinda awesome, and says something I’d never thought of before. I am fascinated by subconscious art of all sorts, like Ghost Signs

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Brittany Murphy — The Lesser Known Movies

So, writing about a movie star when they die isn’t exactly my thing, but Brittany Murphy dying got to me. And I wouldn’t write about it at all except that through random trolling for movies with Melissa, I saw a … Continue reading

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Stone Cold Classic: Popeye “Sinbad The Sailor”

All of the original Ub Iwerks “Popeye” cartoons lapsed into Public Domain before the film industry stooges bribed Congress to extend copyright indefinitely. These cartoons were vastly superior to the later Popeye retreads, which are still under copyright. Paul Di … Continue reading

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Pansonic & Haino Kenji Live

Whoa I got the mailer from Bleep just now and featured is Pan.Sonic and Haino Kenji “Shall I Download a Black Hole”. This was recorded at the Volksbühne in Berline on November 15, 2007, and I went to that show. … Continue reading

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One from one of my favorite LJ Photographers…

Rob’s this guy from Canada who takes pictures, among other things, and this one kinda blew my mind. Click thru on the pic to get to his entry.

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The Awfulness of Religion-driven Art

The other night I watched, beginning to end the movie Faith Like Potatoes. It’s based on a ‘true’ story of a farmer who leaves Zambia for South Africa, and how he becomes a lay Evangelical preacher. I liked the setting … Continue reading

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