Happy Halloween

Download Martha for a quick and terrifying costume.

A Different Israel

During an unrelated search I came across the above image taken by Guy Olami. Guy is a photographer working primarily in Israel and Europe. His photos of religion and the gay communities in Israel are particularly startling.

Guy Olami

Morbus

I am feeling better today. Don't get me wrong I am still congested and weak. Tim slaved over the stove fixing breakfast, lunch, and dinner. All this while I watched TV and played on the interweb. The cocktail is wrecking havoc, but I am looking forward to the good heath it promises.

Disfarmer

Disfarmer ran a portrait studio in Heber Springs, Arkansas during the nineteen thirties and fourties. He changed his name from Meyers to Disfarmer (Dis-farmer) out of his distain for the farming communities in which he was raised. In his desperation to escape his parent's farm he taught himself photography and began shooting portraits on his mother's porch. Later he moved to Main Street and began shooting portraiture full time. Shot in startling full light, these portraits grant the viewer an uneasy intimacy.

Disfarmer Project
Disfarmer Gallery

Geeks Luv Cats

I've had a great deal of time to play on the interweb over the last week. One jewel that came to me via b3ta and Tim are these geek cats.

Night Terrors

I've never really liked cocktails. This is especially true for drug combinations. I haven't slept for more than thirty minutes all week, but last night was the worst. I think the mucinex did it. I had been stuffed up until I took the mucinex which is advertised as an "expectorant and cough suppressant". It certainly does expel the mucus. It does this through violent coughing. I coughed so frequently and violently that I began to vomit. Mucinex's accomplices were the antibiotics. All I have to say is that the most common side effect is diarrhea. So I spent last night with raw throat hacking and vomiting on the toilet. I can't wait for tonight.

Diagnosis

My work is the best. Yesterday they arranged things so that I didn't have to come in. Given that I was already dressed and out of the house I made an impromptu trip to the doctor. Turns out that my cold (upper respiratory infection) is coupled with tonsillitis and ear infections (yes, both ears). The sudafed I was taking for congestion raised my blood pressure to dangerous levels, thus I had to stop taking it and have to go back to the office tomorrow for a follow-up visit. I was prescribed antibiotics and a cocktail to make up for the sudafed - mucinex, tylenol, and zicam.

Redundancy

I feel worse than ever. Last night was incredibly exhausting. I didn't get any sleep and I feel miserable. My face and ears are burning. I have to lead a question and answer session tonight. I don't think that I'll be able to get through it.

Kleenex

My box of Kleenex has become my best friend. I had to leave work early and didn't attend my classes. I have a long day tomorrow.

The Illness Lingers

I am still sick. I've stayed home all day alternating sleep and passive entertainment. I have work and school tomorrow. Hopefully I'll feel better then.

Sick - Sick - Sick

I've been sick all this weekend and subsequently haven't gotten anything done. I have a great deal of housework, homework, and errands to do. All left undone. Instead I spent the day watching movies I intentionally missed in the theaters. The first I got sucked into was Mr. and Mrs. Smith, the second The Island, and finally Somethings Gotta Give (this I watched twice). Mr. and Mrs. Smith was lighthearted and an easy watch. The Island was fairly predictable as I have read my share of science fiction. The only catch was the use of clones as surrogate mothers. I recently read an excellent book in this vain Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. Of course, this was much more suspenseful and insightful than the film. Finally, Somethings Gotta Give is always great - just the kind of romantic comedy to watch when you're sick.

GRAPHOPHOBIA

I signed up for this blog in December of 2004 and never touched it. This is due to my overwhelming fear of writing. I enjoy the written word too greatly to ruin it with my poor attempts. I savor a finely crafted line, a witty turn of phrase, or just a ripe word plucked from some arcane literary tradition. Wordsmiths such as Ira Glass, David Rakoff, and David Sedaris thrill me with their skill. Academic writing is even more intimidating. Many art historians’ critiques verge on the mammoth, while my papers are watery and indistinct. I am hoping that with familiarity will come comfort, with comfort will come proficiency. So raise a glass and say a salute to my attempts at writing.

Marie Antoinette

The first previews for this film surfaced a year ago and since I have been biting at the bit for the release. Today I finally had the pleasure and determined that it was well worth the wait. Taking for granted that this is a beautiful work, it is also wonderfully arranged. Sofia Coppola expertly paces Marie with periods of frenzy punctuated with long moments of silence. This reflective pause found in her past films - Virgin Suicides and Lost in Translation - blossoms in this latest work.

As a young girl and newly minted dauphine Marie struggles with the demands of her position to produce an heir, act as diplomat, and ingratiate herself to the French court. These demands prove difficult and in her frustration she indulges in the escapism of luxury. As she ages and the pressures of her reign seem to decrease she audaciously seeks to maintain a private life that may ultimately have led to the downfall of the French monarchy.

Official Film Website
Antonia Franser's Marie Antoinette
PBS Marie Antoinette