WHERE IS MISTER YOSHI?

Walking downtown --- nature called. Now, when nature calls pour moi that means I have approx. 5 minutes to find a can! So, being the resourceful man that I am, I ran/walked to the nearest hotel. This happened to be a rather elite hotel. And, being me, I could not locate the restrooms easily --- as panic began to set in and I scurried about the lobby looking for signage leading me to plumbed salvation --- I was stopped by a classy, but severe hotel worker.

"May we help you, sir?

"Oh, yes! I am waiting for one of your guests, but am in need to using a restroom. Can you direct me?"

"Well, our restrooms are reserved for our guests and their guests"

"Uh, huh --- I am a friend of one of your guests and he will back in the hotel diner bussing tables if you give me anymore attitude. Now, get over yourself and point me to the restrooms, please!"

...it worked!

"I apologize, the restrooms are located behind the elevator banks. May I have the name of our guest to alert that you have arrived and are waiting?"

...running/walking toward the back of the elevator banks -- as the perfectly pressed woman was trying to keep up with me.

"No need. I just spoke with him on my cell. He will be down in a few. He is on an important business call."

"Oh, I see. Well, I will just give him a quick ring. What is his name?"

The Men's Room!!!!! Yes!!!!

"Mr. Yoshi"

About 20 minutes later after losing half of my body weight in the posh restroom. ...well, not quite -- but wouldn't that be cool!???!

"Sir? There does not appear to be a Mr. Yoshi staying with us. In fact, we are unfamiliar with Mr. Yoshi's name."

Shit.

"Hmmmm... Isn't this the Four Seasons?"

You could cut the tension with a butter knife...

"Sir! This is NOT the Four Seasons!"

"Oh NO!!!! I have to run! Mr. Yoshi is going to be soooo pissed at me!!! I knew this place didn't look upscale enough! Bye!"

Running out the door as the door man holds it open smiling blandly, I can feel the Insulted Hotel Lady steaming in the lobby! As they say -- "shit happens"

BEING RETARDED IS HARD ENOUGH...

...It just seems cruel to have yet another actor "play" mentally-challenged. Even worse, to have that actor pretend to be retarded in a made for cable TV movie. And, it is really scraping the very bottom of the Bucket-O-Bad-Taste when that actor is Rossie O'Donnell and Andie MacDowell has been cast as her older sister. I am sorry, but no gene pool is that fucked up.

If you ask me there are certain things that all actors should avoid:

1. Acting with children or animals
2. Taking part in any scene involving lip-syncing to old 45's with a hair brush
3. Breaking the "Third Wall" in a film unless you are Woody Allen
4. Remaking and raping an original and profoundly twisted film like "Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory"
5. Playing retarded

It never pays off and actors just never seem to get it. Who of us over 35 can forget Linda Purl and Shaun Cassidy playing a retarded couple who want to marry and have children --- or, if you have a really strong memory for horrific pop culture -- Julie "Rhoda's Sister Brenda/Voice of Marge Simpson" Kavner and John Boy Walton who played a retarded couple who wanted to marry and have children a few years before Linda and Shaun adapted odd gutteral noises and slanted facial expressions while wearing bad clothing and mismatched shoes! And let us not forget the big screen turn of Sean Penn. ...a retarded man fighting to keep his daughter (played by that demon seeded child star, Dakota Something or Other) or Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump -- and, yes, Forrest was retarded and we all paid money to see it for some reason.

And, now --- Hallmark is bringing Rosie to us as a retarded girl who somehow must find a way to "bond" with her fab sister, Andie --- and I guess they have to ride a bus or something because it is refers to bus riding with a sister in the title.

Let's face it --- the only actors who can play retarded without insulting our mentally-challenged citizens are Juliette Lewis and Meg Ryan.

Now, I know a few of you are thinking, "When did Meg Ryan play retarded?" ...well, go back and take a look at one of her movies --- any of her movies. As you watch --- keep in mind that Meg is trying to channel her inner-retardedness as she acts her little heart out. I don't think Meg has ever not played retarded. Well, unless we discount that movie she made last year where she was all depressed and took her clothing off while Jennifer Jason Leigh walked around looking confused til some other character iced her. This was meant to be Meg's "break out" role where she could prove to us that she is not retarded. ...It didn't work.

Oh, Rosie. Why?

SAYING GOODBYE

I hate it when I have to really say "goodbye" to someone who I know I will not be seeing in a while. I hate it so much that I go out of my way to avoid it. However, there are some people in your life that to whom you have to say goodbye when times like that come up.

I said goodbye to the person who has been the center of my universe this morning. It felt like my "heart" was being broken in ways I didn't know it could break. Tried to keep it clean and easy --- and quick. But, saying goodbye has never been so hard. So, here I sit trying to pull my shit together.

It is cloudy and raining right now. Fitting for the way I feel. Love never stops --- it just changes forms. However, the pain of formally walking away from people whom you love and with whom you've shared so many key moments of your life is a real son-of-a-bitch. You feel as if you're trapped in some 70's torch ballad from Hell. And suddenly you wish you could take to heart the lyrics to that emotionally crippled song that Melissa Manchester used to sing. ...don't cry out loud. ...but sometimes you can't help it and you can't push it all down inside or you will explode.

Well, I figure the day can only go uphill from here! LOL!

STRANGE MONTH

This has been a very stressful and odd month --- not really a bad one, but srange. I haven't had a time to do much posting and am way behind on checking my favorite blogs! I will catch up soon!

A lot of friends have emailed me wanting to know what was up with the postings I had to pull down and had my open post from a few days ago. Just to clarrify --- I love people leaving their opinions and ideas on my blog! I really do! And, I enjoy it when people see things in a different light than me --- very often those views can impact the way I see things. However, a certain reader had suddenly decided to post comments that related to nothing in my blog other than to say that I was a "stupid faggot" or other idiotic comments of the same. So, yes --- I do want people to post comments, but not cruel and without point.

And, I really appreciate all the cool emails I have gotten --- especially from those of you who saw the postings before I took them down. Made me feel good!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! And, I'm sorry my posting is so dull! Will be back to normal soon!

matt

MESSAGE TO ANONYMOUS

This post if for the individual who has been posting homophobic, cruel and odd comments to my blog. Please stop --- or, at the very least, have the balls to share your name and email with the other readers of this blog.

Are you worried that others will finally see your true colors? Wake up call: They already do so just be honest.

At any rate. If you do not like me as a person --- please stop wasting your energy reading/posting comments to this blog. If you simply do not agree with what I write --- then be an adult and stop with the hate-inspired and silly rhetoric. Just state your opinion in an intelligent way. No need for name-calling. You might even change some minds, but I am asking that you either stop this childish behavior regarding posting comments or be honest about who you are and post something that makes sense and is of some remote intelligence.

thanks,
matt

POSSIBLY MAYBE

Hey Kids, just wanted to let you all know that I am likely to be off line more than ususual for the next week or two. However, I will be checking in as often as I can. And, I will be checking my email!

Talk to ya soon!

kisses,
matt

STRESS MANAGEMENT

Ever just have "one of those days" ? ...Of course you have! We all have. Well, today was one of those days for me. And, tomorrow promises much of the same! Fun! I am so behind on my email and returning phone calls it isn't even funny. Still, today was Monday --- and I am about to head to bed! Tomorrow starts bright and early and I am going to grab Tuesday by the balls --- and own it!

THE SEXIEST SONGS, IF YOU ASK ME

I was thinking about the music that helps us get our respective grooves on and started listing out the songs which I feel are the most sexy out there. Here is my list, in no particular order:

"Crash" by the Dave Matthews Band. Very straight, but I find the lyrics and the soft sound of his voice so very erotic. And, I relate to the idea of sex as being a way to fully understand the world of another. A deep connection.

"Justify My Love" by Madonna --- this song just sounds and even feels like really hot sex to me.

Any song sung by Jean-Luis Murat. Better than Barry White in terms of sounding so very sexy/erotic. And because I do not speak French I am left to simply imagine what he is singing!

"Kelly Watch The Stars" by AIR. Actually, I find much of AIR's music to be quite seductive.

"Hot Trip to Heaven" by Love & Rockets --- very sexy.

"Coming Down" by Daniel Ash

"Lost Inside of You" by Babs and Kris Kristoferson -- pure sexy belly-rubbin' music, baby!

"Strange Fruit" performed by Billie Holiiday. I just find this song and performance to be very erotic

"Love to Love You, Baby" by Donna Summer ---- a 17 minute orgasm. How can that be beat?

"Get Me Off" by Basement Jaxx. Hot. Sweaty. Raw.

And, then the "after glow" music:

"Honey, Can I Wear Your Clothes" by Barbra Streisand. Very erotically charged romantic song. And, of course you know Babs is going to make my list at least twice. No seriously, if you've never heard this song --- very eroitc.

Stan Getz or Chet Baker playing something soft and dreamy.

The sound of Damien Rice or Arthur H's voices singing anything.

Feel free to post the songs you feel are the sexiest out there. And, no, I have never found Prince's music to be erotic --- I like it, but it always feels tounge in cheek to me.

THE BIG FUCK YOU FROM THE US PRESIDENT AND OUR "GOVERNMENT"

OK. You had to enroll in the armed forces so you would have a chance to go to college. Now, you've been pulled over to Iraq to fight "something" that our "fearless" leaders call a "war" --- meanwhile, your wife gives birth to you first child. You are not there for the birth. Medical problems are encountered for both your wife and your newly born son. Thank God, they both pull through and are OK.

However, your wife is unable to work and the baby requires a great deal of medical treatment. Insurance covers some, but not enough. Your wife uses that American Express Card you received to cover some of the bills to ensure that your son gets the best treatment possible --- that treatment is already not so good because your wive has to use the lower income hospital where the HMO makes all the rules.

Before long, you and your wife are spiraling into debt and your income for fighting Mr. President's "war" is not making ends meet. If only you could get home -- maybe you could get a job that would pay enough to get your family out of debt. But, you are stuck. Stuck until a bullet pierces your skull. Thank God, you survive. You are returned home and you begin the slow process of being approved for perm. disabilty. Your wive has developed hives from worry and you are becoming fat as the cheap food in the fridge seems to be all that can give you comfort. The medical bills stack up and the AmEx card dried up long ago. Neither of you answer the phone for fear of having to be treated like shit by some underpaid collection agent from AmEx.

Finally, your uncle convinces you to swallow your pride and file for bankruptcy. As he explains it -- this is the only way you will ever get your family out of debt and your only hope to start clean so that, maybe, you will be able to get your son into college one day --- if the HMO system puts enough effort into getting his health on track.

You find out that another of your buddies just came back from Iraq in a rubber bag. This only adds to the constant pain you're having to learn to deal with as the HMO feels you do not qualify for a special surgery available in Canada.

You recieve a formal notice that American Express is going to sue you. You contact a Bankruptcy Attorney. And, then you are told that your President --- the one you voted for because the Democrat seemed too "educated" to "get" you --- helped push a new law which ends the ability to file for bankruptcy. You and your wife will be paying $100 a month for the next 15 years to pay off the debt that was incurred while you were "protecting" the country you love.

Your President, Congress, Big Corporate Banks/Credit Cards and the Super Wealthy have just told you to fuck off. You are worthless and do not deserve a chance to rebuild your life so that your son might have a chance to escape the hell in which he is being raised.

The thought occurs to you that you are not even at the poverty level. You are middle class.

And you wonder, is this how it starts? The gradual errosion of human rights. The gradual take over by the coproate machine which keeps folks like your "President" wealthy. ...Will your son even have the opportunity to fight a useless greedy war so that he can get an education ---- or, by the time he is 17 --- will you and your family become slaves working in camps designed to keep the machine running while the wealthy go on about their businesses?

How long will we all just sit and watch our country continue to bully other countries and de-humanize anyone who makes less than $150K a year? How long will we continue to allow our government to define what is "appropriate" love? How long will we allow our rights to be taken away so that Bank of America and Sony can make more money? How much longer will we let our farmers, nurses and teachers be underpaid and overworked? How much longer we will continue to all agree to sit in the back of the bus because we do not opt to live the life a few assholes have decided is the only "acceptable" way? How long will people pretend that folks like C. Rice is not really scoring points for the rights of women or the advancement of People of Color? How long before we realize that she is little more than a sad Uncle Tom parody used to fool the masses? How long before the inner-city gangs wise up and turn the guns away from each other and aim them at "us"? How long before we stop worrying about other countries and focus on the fact that we have people in our country who barely get enough food to eat? How long before we realize that our failure to put more importance on education is destroying out future? How long before we do something about the fact that the evil men behind the Enron scandal are still walking about free while the 18 year old kid who held up a convenience store with a toy gun is sitting in prison till he hits his 58th birthday? How many more of our kids are going to die "protecting" democracy when we really know that they are there to keep us close to oil? How much longer are we going to let people like George Bush ruin our country?

How much longer are we all going to be stupid? ...or, is it already too late?

MISSING

Today should be a great day! The weather is nice and it is not too cold or too hot! And, tonight I have an invitation to join a very different friend and her family for dinner! I am all excited because I have silly little gifts for the kids --- who, by the way, are the cutest kids on the planet! My only concern is I have to meet my friend at a bus stop in an area of town which I've not been in well over 2 years. ...and we all know I've no sense of direction!

Anway, I was walked over to Cambridge to enjoy the sunlight and breeze. Picked up a "Flu Fighter" smoothie because I am all about fighting the flu with thick shakes! I had my Walkman on and was wallking to the sounds of Kate Bush and that hill she is always running up when I an unusual posting on a telephone pole caught my eye. At first glance, I thought it was one of those missing signs for a pet. Those signs always bum me out, but I feel compelled to read them just in case I might come across someone's precious little dog or cat and get them back to their homes.

Well, it was a missing notice someone had made up and printed out at a copy shop --- but it was of a young man. The picture on the sign was of a handsome young kid in scrubs -- looked as if he might be a med student or resident. The piece of paper taped to the pole read that he was last seen on April 5th at one of the Boston subway stops. Information was provided about how to contact his family and close friend in the event that somone knows where he might be or if someone has seen him. He is a little guy --- 5 foot 4 inches and weighs in at 130 pounds. I don't know. It was one of those sad moments when you get a sinking feeling. Something is very wrong and you worry that whatever is going to be discovered or learned will not be good. I felt for his friends and family.

How very horrible it would be for a friend or loved one to just vanish. And, how very sad to imagine being in a situation where you have to make a sign and post it around town in hopes that someone will have seen or might find him. I found myself wishing I was looking at a missing cat or dog sign --- and, not a missing person.

Maybe he just got fed up and ran away to a different place and has started calling himself by a different name. Maybe he went missing on purpose. Maybe he is OK.

Oh, by the way I listened to a Merideth Monk CD at Borders and it was beautiful --- piano music. A bit on the sparse/modern side not to far north of P. Glass --- but she brings more "heart" and melody to her work. Or at least that was the case with the CD I was able to play at the Listening Station. The recording was from 1981 and was called "Dolmen Music"
..find it odd that she has been around so long and I've been unaware of her. Most def. worth a listen!

HIS POP CULTURE MOMENT SEEMS TO HAVE PASSED...

Because I tend to be a bit obsessive when it comes to music and film, I tend to go thru periods of listening to or watching certain things. Just recently I have found myself re-visiting the musical work of Ryuichi Sakamoto. ...Not his film scores, but his pop/rock work including YMO from the early 80's.

For those of you over 32, you probably can remember when he was on the cusp of mainstream success for a while in the mid-90's. Then he released "SMOOCHY" in 1996 featuring him in those dance club like shots wearing a pretty pink shirt and a boa -- I think it was with that CD that his solo rock career sort of died. Anyway, I still like his stuff. But, his last work, CHASM, really bums me out. His hair has gone gray and he seems to be "borrowing" a lot from the warped world of Brian Eno. And, I think I may be the only person who bothered to buy it.

ENOUGH ABOUT JUNGIAN THERORIES --- LET'S TALK ABOUT MEREDITH MONK!

I had to take a break from the Jung book and I overheard two men discussing a Meredith Monk CD. ????? So interesting did I find their conversation, I never even turned on my Walkman. Yes, I sat there and just listened in --- but they were discussing art so I don't think they would have minded. Still, I was left wondering a few things.

First of all, who is she? Does anyone out there know? I am aware of her name, but I've always associated her with modern dance. However, it appears she is a composer and a bit of an opera singer! How did I miss out on this?

As you can see I have so much to share with you today --- I don't even know where to begin. That's really not true. I've nothing to share tonight other than I did not know that Meredith Monk sang and composed. Perhaps she dances to music of her own design! Well, if anyone knows more -- please share!

...of course, there is always google.

A MEME!

Everyone's favorite Trash Addict, Mr. Lubin, passed along a meme for me to complete! Please visit Lubin's site -- find the link to the right and below. For some reason I am having trouble with Blogger tonight and can't provide a link in my post. Grrrrrrrrr.

You're stuck inside Fahrenheit 451, which book do you want to be?

My first choice would be VALLEY OF THE DOLLS by Jackie S, but that option was already taken. So, I will go with my second choice which would be Lewis C's THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS --- I would enjoy all those nooks and crannies that Alice failed to fully explore. Talk about a head trip!

Have you ever had a crush on a fictional character?

Yes. Stanley Kowalski from T. Williams' A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE. Just a fantasy/porn-like crush, tho. That character is just so down and dirty. Would not want to hang with him at all in reality, but in fantasy it might be a bit of rough trade fun!

The last book you bought is:

Don't make fun of me, but I just bought MY LIFE SO FAR by Jane Fonda. Look, I wanna know about those wacky antics in Hanoi like everyone else! Plus, my hope is that she will discuss wardrobe fittings for BARBARELLA and provide more details regarding the poorly done boob job of 1988. I mean, the woman had money. How did she end up with such bad ones?

The last book you read is:

I usually read 3 to 5 books at a time. However, things have been a bit hectic. So, the last two books I read were PIECE BY PIECE by Tori Amos (I love her because she is both wildly talented and original -- and I also think she might be just a little insane) and HAROLD'S END by JT LeRoy (which I now consider one of my fave books!) ---- am still working my way through A CRACK UP AT THE RACE RIOTS by Harmony Korine (I've not fully formed an opinion at this point, but color me confused for now) and JUNG ON ACTIVE IMAGINATION (no comment)

What are you currently reading?

See above and add Jane Fonda's new book. I also just picked up HERZOG by Saul Bellow yesterday. Haven't started it yet, though. Karl just told me that Mr. Bellow recently died. I didn't know what with all this Pope business.

Five books you would take to a deserted island:

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS/ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND (I can read it over and over and over)

VALLEY OF THE DOLLS (never has bad taste been so glam and wonderous!)

THE ANARCHY OF THE IMAGINATION (Fassbinder was a genius!)

CONFESSIONS OF A PRETTY LADY (Sandra Bernhard's first book and it saved Madonna's life --- it says so on the dust jacket!)

THE BARBRA STREISAND SCRAPBOOK (the boy can't help it!)

...I would also try to sneak Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's THE LITTLE PRINCE on to the island as well while no one was looking. I find this book to be so beautiful and inspiring. It is full of love and wisdom.


Who are you going to pass this stick to (3 persons) and why?

Too bad I can only pick 3, in fact, I think I am going to have to go with 5 -- but links to each person's site are below and to the left!

Karyn -- Vexed In the City because she has exceptional taste and always expresses it so beautifully!

Underling -- Very well-read and always insighful

Adrock2xander --- Not sure if he will actually do it, but this Outrageous, Beautiful Misfit is one of my new fave bloggers and I am curious to see how he would answer!

Sexy Thomas of KUNG FU KITTEN fame --- Thomas, share with us!

Tim at Non Stop to Tokyo because he rocks

...I would also pick my pals Jon and Karl --- but they have already done this!

CRASPING JUNGIAN THERORIES ...AND, THEN, A BIRD SHIT ON MY MESSENGER BAG

I just couldn't get any quality sleep last night. In fact, I do not think I fell into sleep until sometime after 4am this morning! However, I was able to catch up on the sleep and even managed to met my pal, Tom, to take in a screening of EROS in Cambridge.

It was a really nice day --- temp was in the mid 60's, the sun was out and there was a nice breeze. While waiting for Tom, I slid on my Walkman and listened to the song stylings of Mylene Farmer while trying to focus on a book regarding the theories of Jung. I like a lot of what can be found in Jungian thought, but some of it seems just a bit too new-agey to me. However, as I was starting to really get into the book I noticed something fall from the heavens. That something turned out to be a large clump of bird shit which landed directly on my beautiful messenger bag which was given to me by a fellow blogger this past Christmas. I was quite bummed.

I am not sure if this relates at all to the teachings of Jung, but the hidden tresures of myth and archetypes took less import to me as I cautiously scraped the shit from my book bag. As with most things in life, it certainly could have been much worse --- the bird's deposit could have been made on my head. And, yes, I am aware of the belief that this is a sign of coming fortune, but to me --- all that would have meant is that nature had taken on dump on moi. And, that would not have been cool in my book!

Hey, there is a new CD out from Garbage tomorrow! And, we all thought they were breaking up! Little did we know. Oh, and I am the only one who finds the new Beck CD to be a bit lame. Don't get me wrong, I love Beck. But the new CD is a sort of retread of his Odelay. I mean, why didn't he just hire the Dust Brothers and maybe it would have at least been as good. ???

IS IT ILLEGAL?????

I only ask because I feel slightly guilty, but the thing is I just didn't want to deal with her anymore. She was starting to freak my shit out, ok? I can't quite explain it --- but when you pull that little string and she whispers in a somewhat sinister tone, "I have a secret. Do you want to know what it is?" --- well, I would have to stuff her into the foot chest in the living room because I do not need some old lady doll stealing my soul at the witching hour. The thing I did was --- as I gave a TV set to my little brother, an aspiring and gifited Manhattan artist, I more or less forced him to take my Mrs. Beasley doll.

Yes. I made my brother take Mrs. Beasely. My hope is that he will sell her on Ebay for a good amount and get rid of her before she tries to harm him or his lovely girlfriend, Mayumi. Was that wrong of me? Am I going to go to Hell for that? Well, I don't think there is a hell, but what sort of karmatic feedback am I destined to experience for sending that evil 60's sitcom-inspired doll home with my innocent brother? I fear it is not good.

Roy and I had a really cool time. We saw a lame French film, ate really unhealthy food, discussed the horrific state of the world, the embarrasment of US politics and policies and the fact that Arnold Shwarzentager (yes, I am sure I spelled the Nazi's name wrong. Sorry) is most likely going to be our President one day. You know it will happen. UGH! Oh, and we watched 2046, the sequel to IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE. We had a bit of debate over this film. We both agreed that we loved the visuals and the sheer artistry displayed --- but I felt Wong Kar Wai was "borrowing" a bit too much from Kubrick and I also felt a bit cheated as the film's connection to IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE seemed somewhat of an after thought. I mean, Tony Leung's character seemed to be a different person than the kind man we were shown in IML. ...and what was up with the gorgeous robot woman getting so brutually stabbed as Tony Leung watch? And why was this film so long???? Still, I would give the movie an 8 for the cinematography, sets, music and lighting alone. I think Roy felt it was a better film than IML. Maybe he is right. One thing of interest --- and something rather interesting to me --- I was blown away by the beauty of the women in this film! I mean I don't think there is a chance in hell I am going to go "straight" --- but Faye Wong and Maggie Cheung could definitely make me think about it! I now list them up there with Debbie Harry as the hottest women I know of!

Hope everyone had a great weekend and my the Creator forgive me for passing the Evil Mrs. Beasley to my brother!

love and kisses,
matt

ACCIDENT ON THE WAY TO HAPPEN...

Today, as I was killing some time and decided to take a walk through Tower Records. Now, for those of you who know me well --- you know that this can be quite dangerous! However, I did quite well! No spending! This might have been a first for me!

Anyway, I was walking through the DVD's and I noticed that Ji-woon Kim's fantastic 2003 thinking man's horror film, TALE OF TWO SISTERS, has been released to DVD in the US! I had to take a look to see if anything special had been added for the US release that might not be on the DVD I have had for about a year. So, I reached to remove one of the copies from the stand -- and, I do not know how I did this --- but an entire section of the DVD rack collapsed sending well over several hundred DVD flying all over the store. I can't even begin to describe the amount of noise that rang out. Every single patron on the first floor of Tower Records jumped and was soon staring at me. I just stood there looking on in absolute horror holding a single DVD.

About 5 Tower employees came running to the mess --- and as any Tower Records customer knows, this in itself is a small miracle as most Tower Records employees resemble and act like zombies from one of George Romero's living dead films. And there the 6 of us stood amid the chaos of hundreds of DVD's and a collapsed shelving unit. Within about a minute, after the shock of everything started to subside into a panic about how this mess was going to be addressed, I noticed all 5 set of eyes glaring at me.

Not quite knowing what I should do or say -- I bent down and sat the DVD on the floor, stood back up and said in my nicest voice, "Um, I am so sorry" ----- I then sort of ran/walked out the door. I could hear one of the zombies say, "Oh my God" as I ran out to the street. I guess I won't be going back to Tower Records anytime in the near future. Ugh!

Oh, if you've not seen the Korean film, TALE OF TWO SISTERS, you must now do so as you've no excuses!

Oh, and for those of you lucky enough to be in NYC or LA -- be sure to check out KUNG-FU HUSTLE! I promise you will have seen noting like it before and will get plenty of laughs out of it!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!!!

kisses,
matt

ANNOYANCE AND THE LAST OF SUSAN SONTAG

Don't you just hate it when you make a call to a business and the person who picks up says something like, "Hi! My name is Rachel! How can I save money for you today?"

And, of course, you know that poor Rachel probably hates having to say it more than you hate having to hear her say it.

Does this form of PR/Sales/Marketing still work or didn't this sort of thing go out with our grandparents? I just find it annoying.

Also, if anyone out there knows something I don't please correct me. However, I do believe that late Susan Sontag's last work came our way today via the release of the new Fischerspooner CD. Ms. Sontag is credited with some of the lyrics to a song called "We Need A War" ...some how it does seem fitting that the woman who studied and analyzed pop culture would leave us with a contribution to what is probably the most ultimate pop art band since The Velvet Underground.

Still, does this make pop culture more relavent or more pointless?

Personally, despite all of her writing and flirtations with film --- my favorite contribution from Sontag was her all too brief cameo in Woody Allen's ZELIG.

TOTALLY & COMPLETELY DIGITAL ULTRA-VIOLENCE ...and an issue with a song from 1984

You know, I do not think I have ever had the pleasure of seeing a digitally filmed movie via a digital projector, but today I was lucky enought to catch SIN CITY on the big screen with one of only 2 digital projectors in New England. ...at least as far as i know. Anyway, the film which is based on several graphic novels/comics was expertly shot and it was a really impressive looking film. It also had some entratining moments --- but did it have to be so very vile? As exciting as it was to see such use of color, editing, set design and cinematography, it was just too repugnant at times.

True, it was meant to be a comic book so the violence certainly hinged on the level over-the-top dark comedy but I feel the directors still took it too far and made it too nasty for no other reason than to take it too far and to be nasty. I guess exploitive would be the appropriate word.

The film was also filled with the geek comic book view of the ideal woman: busty, long legged, tiny waist, pouty lips, big hair, dangerous and nude at all times. And, of course, there seems to be a bit of sadistic pleasure in putting these one-deminsional female characters in peril or torture. And, of course, at the heart of it --- the female characters turn out to be the cruelest of the bunch.

Now, one could argue that this fits the genre of most comic books and that I am being a bit silly about it. However, if I were female and saw this movie --- I would be offended. And when, o, when will Bruce Willis play a lover or love interest to an actress who would be more appropriate in age?!?!? Do we all feel the need to see Mr. Willis get it on with nubile teens? Is this a reflection of an actor's ego or that of us?

And what gives with this film securing an R-rating? If any film would deserve the NC-17 label it would be this film! There is no logical explanation for the way films are rated in the US. I think it all depends on the budget of the film and who is producing/distrirbuting it. Even still, I am glad it at least merited an R-rating. However, the sad thing is that the plots and the script in general are really at the 13 to 16 year old boy level. It will be interesting to see if this film does well at all. It certainly has quite a cast. ...however, the only reason, in my opinion, to take it in is to see the latest step in a new technology. Very well crafted trash!

Now, I am going to just be honest and let you all know that I have a problem. ...well, a new problem. As many of you know, I have a tendency to love the White Trash Operatic Diversions of rock-n-roll composer, Jim Steinman. I love the bombast and melody of it all! I mean, Total Eclipse of the Heart is one of my all time favorite 3 songs! ...and one will not find a bad song on the Meatloaf Bat Out of Hell LP! And the once hot Billy Squire fared well under the rock oper stylings of Mr. S --- as did, gulp, Air Supply.

Anyway, Mr. Steinman somehow convinced Barbra Streisand to record a song which even poor Bonnie Tyler rejected --- "Left in the Dark" back in 1984. It was Bab's last bid for a pop/rock hit. ...the bid failed, tho the video got quite a bit of play during the fall of '84. However, to hear Babs sing those lyrics which could only be penned by Jim Steinman was too much to resist!

Sample lyric for those of you too young to remember or for those of you who simply do not care enough to know:

"I know that you love me.
There's no need to talk.
I see that look in your eyes and I got the proof!
And, there are no lies on your body as I watch you undress.
...but don't tell me now, I don't need any answers tonight.
I just need some love.
So turn off the lights and I'll be left in the dark again"

Wow --- it doesn't get much more poetic than that does it, folks? Still as bad as the song is -- I love the sencerity Babs tries to invest in the 9 MINUTE opus! And, as with all Steinmann songs --- the melody is infectious.

Now, I wish I could tell you that my problem is that I can't stop playing this song over and over again --- and, yes, that is part of the problem -- but the real issue is that it is the 45 second cheezzy opening to the song that I like to play on repeat.

...to the sound of tunnled wind and creepy 80's synth drum-like throbs Babs SPEAKS the following prior to forging head first into this ballad from Hell:

"Where did she touch you?
How did it feel?
Why did you let it begin?
What did she whisper and what did it mean?
Where do you think it will end?
How long did it last?
Do you think it will stop?
Did you get to try anything ---- new?
How good was she? ...Honestly.
And, who made the very first move?
Who made the first move?" ...enter echo effect repeating Babs last line to affinity

Sigh. It both amuses and puzzles me and I can't stop playing it! Help!

Wouldn't it have been even more classic if Luther Vandross had been given some lines to read back in response!?!?!? Yeah, that would have been way-worse. That might have made it so bad it would have come around to good again!

A VERY CREEPY MOVIE AND SOME BEAUTIFUL MUSIC!!!!

I just saw an exceptional film from Thailand --- which is a unusual as I tend to find Thai films poorly made. At any rate, should you like horror films and get the chance --- do not miss SHUTTER! Tho the filmmakers borrow a bit from the Janpanese film cycle, RINGU, --- this horror flick has enough going for it that makes it very effective! Very creepy! I am not sure if it has ever been released in the US, but I was able to get it on DVD.

Speaking of Asian cinema --- as I've written before, I think some of the finest films being produced at this time are coming out of Korea. One of the best films I've seen in years is finally making it to the US this month on the 15th! If you're lucky enough to live in a city that will be showing OLDBOY starting April 15th --- be sure to see it! Awesome film! Choi Min-Sik is my new favorite actor! Warning, tho --- not a movie for the sqeamish! If you are a purist, pursue the Korean version which can be found on DVD as the US/UK version has been trimed and altered by about 8 minutes.

Oh! And my new pal, Milford, sent me a CD of Hawaiian hula music by Mark Keali'i Ho'omatu. The CD is titled "Call It What You Like" and it is an amazingly beautiful collection of music unlike anything I've ever heard. Qutie haunting and rhythmic. Actually, Milford has turned me on to a whole new cultural celebration thru the practice of hula. And, kids, there is a lot more to it than you probably think! If interested, check out www.naleihulu.org ! And, if you're feeling adventurous --- check out this CD! It is quite interesting!

CONTEMPLATIONS ON A LIFETIME

There was this great "moment" in the Neil Gaiman Sandman DC Vetigo comic series when "Death" comes to a crib to claim the soul of baby who has just died. As Death is carrying the baby away to the underworld, the baby cries out something like, "It isn't fair! I didn't get to live long enough" and Death advices the baby that it is fair ---- the baby was given what every single human being receives; a lifetime.

Rather cynical and dark, but quite true when you think about it. We all get one. ...at least. And, that lifetime is only as valuable as we make it.

I have been thinking a lot about life as of late. And, I do not mean my own singular life --- I mean "life" in general.

It seems that we all waste so much of our time on pursuits (and people) that really do not matter to us in the big scheme of things. It is so interesting to contemplate the way we each touch each other's lives in so many distinct and important ways. People come into your life -- or you into theirs --- and, sometimes, just when you think that this involvement is "forever" --- it turns out to be quite fleeting and with end. And, then, there are those times when people we expect to make a speedy exit -- stay there -- forever.

There are a few of you reading this right now who I have yet to meet "in the flesh" -- but who have had greater impact on my being than people who are phsysically in my life on a daily basis. I guess it is not so much how we touch each other but more about why and in what way we impact the courses and turns of our lives.

One is unable to predict how others will fare in one's life --- all you can do is trust in God and your instincts ...and that person. That moment when you decide to trust someone to come into your life is one of the bravest that you will ever do. And, even if it turns out that it isn't forever or that it isn't what it appeared to be in the beginning does not devalue or deminish what the interaction(s)/relationship brings into the lives which are touched.

And, of course, we all know that material things, money and our jobs really mean very little to us at the end of the day. It is our interactions with each other that matter. It is facing our fears and trusting that makes all the difference. I think that it is in that hour when you take a deep breath and jump off the cliff into risk that the meaning of life plays out. It is isn't a game. It is your life and you must live it to the fullest because whether or not you get 2 days or 100 years ---- we all get one lifetime. Make it worth something and try to rise above the temptations of our civilization and focus on what matters. ...each other.

As we all know --- this is much easier said than done. Still, we can try ------ and dream.