I've never joined the mile-high club and seriously doubt that I'll ever have that opportunity, or the compulsion necessary to gain membership, but it's - apparently - a fairly common thought among passengers at the very least.
Had he (or someone with similar impulses) been seated next to others of us - who would have opened our mouths, but not to scream - the whole scene might have turned out far differently. Especially if his dick looked anything like this (So NSFW)??
News and other media coverage of the catastrophe in Japan over the weekend was, apparently (and rightfully so) legion. It's easy to surmise there has probably never been another cataclysmic event of this magnitude (there are few of this magnitude in human history period, for one thing!) to have been filmed so intensively.
While - having no television - I watched none of the news coverage of the events, comparisons of clips like the ones presented here from internet coverage (a combo of news program clips and video taken by amateur cameramen who were eyewitnesses.) provide reason to deem the term "newsworthy", as in big enough and dramatic enough to "deserve" coverage by professional journalists and news programs, all but insulting.
To illustrate my point, compare the two clips in this post. First, there's the awe-inspiring, yet non-narrated video above of the tsunami's arrival in Miyako, Japan. Second, there's the following clip of ABC News' coverage of the earthquake/tsunami which includes footage from the above video. In the ABC News coverage, you have a smug-looking, almost smirking (to me, at least) journalist speaking as though to idiots, describing the circumstances of the visuals we're about to see. Interestingly, the footage from the video above included in their clip seems sped up in comparison to the original video, which isn't that unlikely considering the attenuated attention span of the greater television audience, even for such a unique, visually and mentally arresting sight, due to - and because the segment must cut very soon to - commercials. In other words, even catastrophes of historic proportions aren't enough of a spectacle to hold a nationwide audience.
Pathetic.
More than that, though is the question: what do the reporter and the narrator add to our viewing experience? How do they enrich our understanding of the events unfolding before our eyes in the video? To my mind, they don't. In any way.
"This new video shows a tidal wave is hardly just an oversized beach wave."
Up-and-comer (Only? Not full-fledged? Unsure.) Michael Fassbender has been incredibly busy of late and is scheduled to work at an even more break-neck pace this year if we're to believe reports from recent articles about him. Upcoming appearances in X-Men: First Class, Jane Eyre and other sure-to-be-blockbusters have given him "most wanted" status, at least among agents/producers/directors in Hollywood.
Recently, a group of NYC leathermen/bears/gays served as extras on the set of a movie Michael is currently shooting -- background for a pick-up scene set in a leather bar (Guess where!)...
[Insert clever/quip-y ending involving "horse-hung" or "his power really IS to make things 'rise'" or the like here.]
A quarantine hospital (and home to Typhoid Mary), veteran's housing, and a teenage rehab center, North Brother Island has served several purposes. Not nearly as famous as the nearby Ryker's Island, it still has its compelling draws to urban adventurers. Check out this amazing set from local photographer Richard Nickel, Jr.
Kiger Hansen woke up early and went to the Lanvin debut at H&M this morning. Here's his report:
it was the most fun shopping xperience ever! i waited from 6.45 on when i got there. the line was around the corner and i was right by the subway entrance near victoria secret store on 34/broadway. by 7 they handed out croissants and coffee. @ 7.05 they started to hand out the gift bags and braceleting people, by 7.30 it was getting colder and colder, the crowd and the anticipation was killing all of us. there was a fierce black girl right behind me who was just not having it with her chanel bag.
we were the first group to get in and i ran to the upstairs to the men's floor, pissing all the girls off as i ran past them to the escalator. almost half of everything was gone and people were grabbing things. all the accessories were in boxes. the first to go were the sunglasses; i did not even see them and i grabbed as much as i could to the dressing room!
the trench coat, fabric was awful.
the tux was cute, but did not like the fit.
cute free gift bag, inside: h&m magazine and a scarf and coffee kegs.
i was amazed how the shoe fit me, as all european dress shoes are too slim for my wide web feet!
the women's were outrageous and i wanted to get a necklace or lipstick but i did not want to stand in another line
ended up with 2 big bag fulls of deeeelight: blue bow tie, navy and charcoal grey cardigan, copper shoes, tiger t-shirt with green rhinestone for eyes, and navy with sequined tie, plaid blazer and purple bow tie, cute garment bag!!
i got two big bagfuls and they were adamant about giving me a garment bag and the cashier w/o his boss knowing folded one and placed one in one of my bags. i thanked him profusely in my sleepy ass state. i had amazing time and wished you guys were there to experience it. i got home by 8.45 and trying to sleep but, [redacted homo] and [redacted homo] keep texting me.
This photo, sent by FYF friend (and infrequent blogger) Mister Hobbs is from a Hamilton Heights laudromat. The picture takes me back to a time before there were stylish Internet terminals in the laundomats. Back in the day, a jay would be rolled before going to the laundry. One day, having just loaded my machines and feeling quite resplendent, my neighbor/friend Analise came to do her wash as well. She quickly loaded her machines and asked that I keep an eye on them while she went to get some wine. "Genius," I thought, stonededly agreeing to her request. She was back within five minutes with her bottle, and I innocently asked, "What should we do for cups?" Analise looked at me and looked at the bottle. "You big doof. I wasn't getting wine to drink while we're doing laundry. You're hilarious." The truth though, was that I was not hilarious; I was disappointed. There was to be no alcoholing at the laundromat.
Last-minute shopping for Mother's Day cards at Hallmark, I noticed a new divider categorization I'd never seen before: "Mom - Warm & Respectful". I looked at a few different cards in slots labeled that way and the only distinction I could make between their greetings and the greetings of cards NOT marked "Warm & Respectful" was that they were slightly less flowery and less wordy, period. The whole effect was bemusing as I couldn't help wondering why ALL of the Mother's Day cards wouldn't be categorized as Warm & Respectful? Are some Cold & Distant? I didn't see any that would have qualified.
Other seeming gaffes/head-scratchers: Mahogany...a line of cards apparently created to celebrate African (or African-American?) culture, had an undue number of $1.99 ("sale") cards as compared to the non-Mahogany card lines, while Mother's Day cards categorized "Mom - From Son" were absurdly light on affection or any type of emotional expression - i.e. a big one for Mother's Day: Love? (One that I picked up said something like, "Thanks, Mom for being a great coach. A great cheerleader. And Thanks for knowing when I was ready to carry the ball.".)
I wanted to find a card for my sister for Mother's Day (she's got four kids), but all the ones I saw were written - VERY CLEARLY - as if from one woman to another (and no, I'm not denying I'm a woman!). They all seemed to include some variation of "You're a good sister and a great friend.", which is a wonderful sentiment, but one I felt extremely conflicted about expressing as - while I love my sister and understand that she's doing what she thinks is right for her and her family - she is not being a good friend to me in doing so. Where are the cards that say, "Happy Mother's Day, Sis! I love you, and I'm sorry you think being around me will somehow confuse your childrens' sexuality."?
Our intrepid field reporter (featured in the video above in a couple of shots that fly by just a bit too fast.) tells us of a very special birthday perk he received as part of his celebration at Uncut at Elevate a few months ago. No confirmation that this perk is offered to ALL birthday celebrants, but our reporter was given the opportunity (and took it, apparently) to help the dancers get all riled up and ready for their set. Disclaimer: He further states the only thing to go in his mouth - as related to this opportunity - was the vodka shot Peppermint poured there. Just sayin'.
Now what I don't understand is how the promoters aren't promoting this as some sort of "package" deal!?
After a recent visit to this mega-club night (closest thing to the Roxy of yore?) near Columbus Circle, an intrepid reporter - new to the wonders of giant chain restaurants - described it to me as "the Olive Garden of gays!".
It remains unclear exactly what he meant by that...perhaps as a reference to the quantity/quality of Italian offerings to be tasted? ...the size and cleanliness of the space? ...the unlimited salad and breadsticks? I'm not sure how he meant it (he does love Olive Garden!)...but what I do know is - like Olive Garden - he specified that the hosts of Club 57 are incredibly warm and welcoming.
I missed out on THE Armory Show, but was able to hit Pulse: New York Sunday afternoon for a few hours. Mr. McNatt reported Pulse was the more interesting of the two anyway...and it was CERTAINLY the less overwhelming, by all accounts.
Spinello Gallery of Miami showed there and had the best selections in the whole show in my opinion (take that with a grain of salt. I'm slightly biased.). They showed only two artists - Zachari Logan and Enrique Gomez de Molina - but the pieces shown and their juxtaposition made for an amazingly arresting tableau.
Mr. Gomez de Molina's works are taxidermical and the piece at the top of this post gives you some idea of the amazing creations he had on display Sunday. A giant, wall-mounted walrus head whose skin had been painstakingly recreated using iridescent green beetle wings and whose tusks were re-crafted from swordfish bills was one of the least fantastical, yet arguably one of the most striking pieces shown.
Mr. Logan's piece (below and - likely - NSFW) is a giant canvas of nude self-potraits many of you may be familiar with from his recent show here in the City. It too created quite the buzz, as did Mr. Logan's presence and the resulting realization by viewers that was him in the flesh there before them, and him and his flesh life-size behind him on the wall!
R and I were there with his sister from Italy and her best friend. They were going to a show at 8:00p, so we wanted a cocktail and a quick bite to eat.
The hummus plate was decidedly substandard from what it used to be at Therapy. The chicken nachos, however, were just as divine as always. And they seem to have stopped using their fancy glasses for most drinks. Way lame.
Other than that, it was Therapy.
Usual post-work crowd. Although, there were more beards there than I remember in years past.