Now I'm just waiting for the flying car.

I was shocked and horrified to learn that the Pentagon has unveiled a new "non lethal" weapon for crowd control called ADS or Active Denial System. It is a heat-ray gun. Beam my f'n ass up Scottie. We have a heat-ray. Brought to you by the same folks who made the microwave oven, Raytheon.

Mounted from a Humvee this gun sends a silent beam that reportedly penetrates 0.4 millimeters into your skin to give you an awful burning sensation as if you might catch on fire. Beautiful.

Some light reading.

Democracy Now interview with Marc Garlasco, non-lethal weapons expert at Human Rights Watch and Gary Anderson, retired Marine Colonel and defense consultant.

Link referred by Raytheon

Proof that I still get out and Dystopian road trips

Things have calmed down a bit and it has afforded me the opportunity to do things like drop by Headquarters Studio to see the gallery show, "I'm Celebrating My Love for You With a Pint of Beer & a New Tattoo". It was a collection of collages by Matt Maust, bassist for the Cold War Kids. Some real lovely typography.
To be honest I missed the bandwagon and never heard their music but my friend, Lucy, enlightened me. You can read more about the show here and here (not very informative, but sports my likeness).

I also finally got around to seeing Children of Men and it lived up to my hyped expectations. Alfonso Cuarón is now on my awesome list. The cinematographer ain't to shabby either – the much talked about single take action sequences were absolutely stunning. It was also quite refreshing to sparesly see any gadgetry that will inevitably read as dated 10 years from now. If there is a 10 years from now :) Plus, it's the only movie I've contemplated seeing twice in the theater this year. My wife wasn't as thrilled, however.

Urban Sprawl

As I was driving back to Brooklyn from TN after the holidays I started thinking about the immediate geography.

Here is a collection of links I have made in honor of urban sprawl. Enjoy.

The paintings of Josh Keyes who was selected for the juried exhibition in print, New American Paintings.


The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs

100 Largest U.S. Urbanized Areas ranked by square miles of sprawl.


Flickr photoset for the documentary, Subdivided.

David Maisel's series, Oblivion.

Urban Sprawl and Public Health by Howard Frumkin and Lawrence Frank


Maps

Google Maps at Night

Sprol's Google Map Mash-up

Head (Cold) in the (dave) Cloud(s)

I've started the new year with a hearty strain of the common cold. It's bittersweet because I feel like hell, but I finally get a chance to slow down. The holiday from the holidays if you will.

And now our narrative will be tainted by NyQuil.

My friends Brian and Elizabeth came up from Nashville to see the Tropicália exhibit at the Bronx Museum and were staying with us for the weekend. Somehow, over a glass of wine, our conversation turned to Dave Cloud and the Gospel of Power who Brian was once a member of. I asked about finding some of their recordings under the assumption Dave's heyday was over. Yet, the opposite was true and I was directed to their new UK label, Fire Records, and a compilation cd called that was released in 06'. Plus, they are touring in Europe!


This video however was the Christmas miracle I have been waiting for.

Still Way Too Busy

Much time has passed once again. The holiday's and work deadlines are ruining my flow. I did have a chance to tune out for a bit on Wednesday where I found myself once again in Dumbo. Powerhouse Books held their annual "Holiday Extravaganza" in the very impressive Powerhouse Arena. Many authors and photographers were there to sign books available for purchase. I was surprised to find some books that I had been pining over where actually published by them.

This post gives me the opportunity to plug my favorite street photographer at the moment, Boogie, who's book "It's All Good" was also on display. My wife's a sucker for anything horse related so it was ok that we purchased the very interesting, "Fletcher Street".

Also on display were photographs from the bygone disco years.

And yes, the best part was free booze. Go check out their books!

Rock the Vote

Now that the task of reinstating a balance on the hill has been accomplished, it's time to vote for your rock n' roll candidate. The Hold Steady wants your vote for "Who's Next?". No, our democracy isn't perfect by a long shot. But hey, at least you know that the voting machines really do work on Yahoo.

8:00 AM: Having my coffee

I've been so incredibly busy playing art director that I have neglected the blog I just started. We shot on Thursday and Friday so the hard part is over. The photographer was the lovely, Sarah Silver , who was lot's of fun. I hope to get back with some good linkage soon.

Super Awesome

Check out the greatest pinhole camera I've seen yet. One of those projects that makes you think, "Damn, I should of done that."

Other treats:
The photobooth is becoming a rare commodity thanks to digtal photography and printing (not to mention the wane of malls). The said photobooth has now been cloistered at your local dive bar. But wait, is there a glimmer of hope?

I urge you to check out Home-Tapes, a haven for artists as musicians. As I mentioned, Nick Butcher played the CMJ showcase and it was beautiful. Oh, the confusion for anyone looking for easily consumed product. With little regard for the "too cool for school crowd", Nick served up some challenging compositions made with primitive keyboards,ancient tape recorders,an old radio, and no compromise. It was if these forgotten, archaic electronics were having their own private dialog. Once you settled into the drone of a looped chord through the speaker of an old radio you start to notice things you haven't before. The same way you start to relate to a color field painting which is also deceptivly simple. It was fun to see Nick's strategy for implementing all of his tools, which included scotch tape and a bit of dexterity, as well as some well timed jack inputs. Yet, no amount of preplanning could compensate for the pervasive element of chance. I found the whole the whole performance to be quite genius. Nick is truly an artist and I wouldn't expect less from his music. Good times.

I didn't get a chance to stay for much of the rest of the showcase but I did catch the beginning of The Carribean's set. Of what I heard it was quite enjoyable. But what the hell do you care what I think? Check it out yourself.

Eternal Damnation and Powdered Doughnuts

Out of all the places I might think to find the evangelical shock treatment that is Hell House, Dumbo would be the last place I would look. Yet, lo and behold, Les Freres Corbusier, the same folks that brought you A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant, has staged a production straight from the Hell House kit.

I attended last night and it was surprisingly good fun. I won't go into the head trip about the elephant in the room named irony. I think the New York Times theater review sums it up pretty well.

To me it felt like a grand experiment where two worlds collide. And what it yielded is hard for me to articulate. Which is unfortunate for a blog.

So on that note. Get tickets if you can. You'll have all the fire and brimstone without the painful conversion pressure at the end. Bonus = free powdered doughnuts.

p.s. If you do attend, don't pass by "Pin the Sin on Jesus" without taking a gander. It's a cut out of Jesus that you affix your confessed sins to via push pin and paper.
My favorite sin posted that night was, "I like to stick Jesus with pins".

Eat your heart out screamo pansies

Check out these kids playing a Sepultura cover. They are going to kick your ass when they turn 15. Link via Josh

Dear Technorati Spiders

I just got word from Nick Butcher. He will be playing a show at the Trash Bar in Williamsburg for CMJ.

Ever see his screen printed book, The Complicated Bicycle? You should. Comes with fabulous lo fi music. Check it out at Placetapes

Technorati Profile

Apollo Up on Woxy

Download Apollo Up's performance at Woxy. Chariots of Fire is a real solid album. But don't take my word for it. Visit their site and check it out for yourself. Almost makes me regret being a Tennesee expat.

Track Listing:
Walking The Plank
Situation: Hot!
- interview -
Even If You Don't Die
Custom Critical
The Job's A Game

New Hold Steady Video

Unless you've been hiding under a moon rock, you've surely heard of The Hold Steady. As a public service I've posted their new video. I was impressed, I'm sure you will be too. Tad, you're hillarious.

The Hold Steady - "Chips Ahoy!"

Net Neutrality is Everyone's F'n Problem.

So let's deal with it.

Bill Moyers had another great show tonight on PBS, this time dealing with the issue of net neutrality as well as the problem of media conglomeration. I find these to be very important topics for any nation declaring itself a democracy.

Here's a host of links to get you started if you haven't a clue what I'm talking about. Look at them now before the FCC makes it too hard.

From Wikipedia
Center for Digital Democracy
Save the Internet
We Are the Web
Free Press
Robert McChesney
Media Access Project
They Rule

The Day the Factory Died

Last night I had the pleasure of attending the book launch for Andy Warhol, The Day the Factory Died,published by Empire Editions.

I'll make it quick:
The book itself is a great collection of photographs taken by Christophe Von Hohenberg ( a very personable and incredibly modest guy) along with an essay by Charlie Schieps. The photos are of society folks, artists, and celebrities as they make their way to the memorial service for Andy. Sprinkled inside the pages are notes addressed to the departed. The book is beautifully produced, 170 pages, feels like the most expensive journal you've ever owned, and is decently priced.

The party was what you might expect - society folks, artists, and celebrities. Lot's of champagne was consumed. I certainly did my damage at the open bar. The highlight of the night was meeting Zelda Kaplan. She's a trip - very nice. I wish I had the opportunity to talk to her more.

If you are an Andy Warhol freak you should definitely check out the book. While you're at it, check out Empire Editions. Anthony is hard working guy producing some real quality books.

I taught god how to play guitar!

Thanks to my friend Josh for the heads up. I'm apparently the last to know about such hillarity at YouTube.

Blood Oath

Yet another post with a mordbid title. Way back, when I was still living in the fine state of Tennessee, my girlfriend (now wife) landed a role in a horror flick. It was a low budget, homegrown B movie made by some very ambitious folks at Albatross Films. The synopsis:

"A group of friends on a weekend camping trip decide to investigate a local urban legend. The trip will change the lives of everyone in the group. They will have to fight to stay alive, but will soon pray for death."

Ha! My wife and I never saw it, although we often teased our friends with the trailer.

Fast forward five years later. The movie is now having it's "world premier" at the Belcourt Theater in Nashville and has actually recieved some pretty decent press and shout outs on the web:

Nashville Scene Best Of 2006
Mondo Schlocko
The Film Asylum


I'm can't tell you how excited I am that my wife is a B movie star.

o'death dot net

Finally, o'death, has put up a site. After seeing them in Bushwick many moons ago I began to spread the gospel but sadly could only refer to a myspace page. Now they have a place on the internets to call their own. Yeah, it's still under construction but it beats having to look at ads and listen to poor compression.

I strongly suggest going to their shows.