The Color Quiz

Left: Tapestry on my living room wall.

~*~


I've just taken THE COLOR QUIZ, over at Annie's. Yigh!

Some of the stuff it says about me:

Your Existing Situation
Readily participates in things affording excitement or stimulation. Wants to feel exhilarated.

Your Stress Sources
Wishes to be independent, unhampered, and free from any limitation or restriction, other than those which she imposes of herself or by her own choice and decision.

Your Actual Problem
Feels restricted and prevented from progressing; seeking a solution which will remove these limitations.

And even more, which is embarrassing. Take it yourself!

----------------
Listening to: Nada Surf - Your Legs Grow
via FoxyTunes

Wordless Wednesday: Dragon*Con parade

I love the aesthetic of the 40s "calendar girl"--also currently on display from Kenley on PROJECT RUNWAY. Fittingly, this is my favorite photo of the Dragon*Con parade this year!

My whole Dragon*Con set on Flickr.



----------------
Listening to: Howlin' Wolf - Smokestack Lightnin'
via FoxyTunes

McCain camp angry over Obama's 'lipstick' comment

I certainly know what it is to stick one's foot in one's mouth, which I did today too...so my heart goes out to Senator Obama.

Or maybe he meant it? Yow!

~*~

McCain camp angry over Obama's 'lipstick' comment

By NEDRA PICKLER, AP

LEBANON, Va. - What's the difference between the presidential campaign before and after the national political conventions? Lipstick.

The colorful cosmetic has become a political buzzword, thanks to Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin's joke in her acceptance speech that lipstick is the only thing that separates a hockey mom like her from a pit bull.

Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama told an audience Tuesday that GOP presidential nominee John McCain says he'll change Washington, but he's just like President Bush.

"You can put lipstick on a pig," he said to an outbreak of laughter, shouts and raucous applause from his audience, clearly drawing a connection to Palin's joke. "It's still a pig. You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called change. It's still going to stink after eight years."

McCain's campaign immediately organized a telephone conference call in response and called on Obama to apologize for calling Palin a pig. Obama's campaign said he wasn't referring to Palin; he had been talking about McCain immediately before the lipstick comment.

Obama followed up by saying Palin is an interesting story, drawing boos at the mention of her name that he tried to cut off.

"Look, she's new, she hasn't been on the scene, she's got five kids. And my hat goes off to anybody whose looking after five. I've got two and they tire Michelle and me out," he said.

McCain has used the lipstick phrase, too.

Last year while criticizing health proposals from the Democratic presidential candidates, he said Hillary Rodham Clinton's resembled the failed plan she offered as first lady during the 1990s. "I think they put some lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig," McCain of her proposal.

In Virginia, a questioner asked Obama to join Republicans and agree that candidates' families and religion are off limits. Palin's pregnant teenage daughter and the teachings of her church, the nondenominational Wasilla Bible Church, have been the subject of scrutiny since McCain picked her as his running mate.

Obama responded that he already has said families are off limits and he's very protective of his daughters, 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha. He said he doesn't want their inevitable future mistakes to become newspaper fodder if he gets to the White House.

Obama also is no stranger to attacks on his religion. He's been the subject of a false rumor campaign saying he's a Muslim, and the racially tinged sermons of his longtime former preacher caused problems for his campaign earlier this year.

He stressed that he's a Christian and "so the fact that Gov. Palin is deeply religious, that's a good thing." He said poking around in her religion or saying it's wrong is "offensive" and he wants to have a debate about the issues.

"But don't give people some sort of religious litmus test because I don't want somebody to question my faith and I'm certainly not going to question somebody else's," he said.

----------------
Listening to: U2 - The Unforgettable Fire
via FoxyTunes

Scarlet Begonias, or ...another Wal-Mart rant

 

Above, Bele Chere folk art. The sun looks happy, not oppressive and cruel.

The extended, suffocating heat of upstate South Carolina wears ever onward... exactly when the Buckeye in me expects it to GET COOLER, during the second week of September. Why does the southern autumn (or lack of one) always fake me out like that????? Every year, I am still bewildered by searing heat in Fall. It's like I just got here, when I have lived in the south 21 years now.

This searing heat gives way to October and November (indistinguishable), in which very chilly, frosty mornings often turn into a definite, prolonged sizzle by midday. As a result of these extremes, one never knows if long or short sleeves are required or what kind of sweater or jacket to pack. I never learned how to dress young Delusional Precious properly, and she was perpetually burning up and/or freezing.

I was married on Thanksgiving Eve in November, and I still recall the bright digital temperature display on the front of a nearby bank as we drove away: 75 degrees. (I was so startled by it, I still remember it.)

~*~

Luckily by the end of the week, the remains of tropical storm Ike should cool off the place and bring some much-needed rain. But what is good for one area will likely be tragedy for someone else. Philosophical truth (heavy).

If that seems unduly negative, I blame Wal-Mart for my unpleasant mood. Yes, my nerves are shot, my life disrupted, the huge pile of industrialized SHIT from the ENORMOUS construction site is as big as the space shuttle.

All so people can buy CHEAPLY and make sure the people of Taiwan have jobs. I know, I watch Fox.

There is an obscene amount of noise, dust, drilling, smoke, trucks, concrete, blacktop, traffic, crap... I mean, the size of the parking-lot lights, alone? They are the height of Mount Rushmore. At least one delivery was actually made by helicopter, like something out of Apocalypse Now. It has all made me ill.

I have been unable to do much of anything except flip channels compulsively, eat ice-cream sandwiches and watch Obama's poll numbers go down.

I've also been commenting on other people's blogs, being pesky elsewhere, and sending emails, most of which are likely incoherent. Sorry about that, if you were lucky enough to get one today! I'm trying to get caught up. Doing badly!

Nonetheless, keep those cards and letters coming in, and down with Wal-Mart!

~*~

Studio version of Scarlet Begonias, with some interesting acidhead visuals!



I'm trying to concentrate on those lyrics--

Once in a while you get shown the light
In the strangest of places if you look at it right.

Dead Air Church - I'll be your mirror

If you've never seen Nan Goldin's collection of photographs by the same name, it would serve you well to find them. They are perfectly joined to this song, in my mind. Once you see them, they will be forever connected in your head also. She is amazingly talented.

If you've never seen the movie loosely based on Goldin's life (High Art), please check that out too. Wikipedia says the photos in the movie were based on Goldin's, not really commenting directly on the story itself. (Ally Sheedy, Patricia Clarkson and Radha Mitchell are all quite outstanding as the lead trio!) I've seen the movie maybe, what, a dozen times? (Trailer included below.) I always get something new out of it every time. If you have ever been emotionally involved with an addict (as lover OR friend) this is required viewing; consider it as important as your reading list about co-dependency. (Nan Goldin's first showing/book of photos was titled The Ballad of Sexual Dependency, not surprisingly.)

The lyrics of this song (by Lou Reed) are childlike, sweet, and filled with love. This is what Lou felt for Nico. We know that Nico's life was often tortured and unpleasant, may her soul rest in peace. (Also recommended: Nico Icon) Hers was not a happy life.

Although we can reflect those we love, it is no guarantee they will see themselves as we see them. All we have is our attempt to show them what we see. This song reflects that aching desire, so perfectly.

The desire to be the light on the door, to show that they're home.


~*~

I'll be your mirror
Reflect what you are
in case you don't know
I'll be the wind, the rain and the sunset
The light on your door
to show that you're home

When you think the night has seen your mind
That inside you're twisted and unkind
Let me stand to show that you are blind
Please put down your hands
cause I see you

I find it hard to believe you don't know
The beauty that you are
But if you don't let me be your eyes
A hand in your darkness
so you won't be afraid

When you think the night has seen your mind
That inside you're twisted and unkind
Let me stand to show that you are blind
Please put down your hands
cause I see you

I'll be your mirror

~*~

The Velvet Underground & Nico - I'll be your mirror

[via FoxyTunes / The Velvet Underground]

Trailer - High Art (1998)