#John S. Dykstra

[eucanthos]

John S. Dykstra   (US, 1991)

Penalty Box, 2016

https://chowartfund.wordpress.com/2020/04/08/penalty-box-2016-by-john-s-dykstra/

https://www.diyphotography.net/these-surreal-photos-play-with-your-mind-and-they-were-created-entirely-in-camera/

https://mymodernmet.com/john-dykstra-surreal-photography/

https://creativ.vision/

[henk-heijmans]

Misconstrued, 2016 - by John S. Dykstra, American

[bcminutes]

2024 Minutes

Minutes: Bishop Committee Meeting

January 14, 2024 @ 12:25pm

Attendance: Ed and Bernadette Hamilton, Mary Carter, Camille Norman, Deacon Dan Dykstra, Stephanie Edison, Carla and Ron Parish, and Jean Christensen

Deacon Dan opened the meeting with prayer.

Motion was made to accept the November minutes as written and no corrections were made.

OLD BUSINESS:

Gym Floor: It was recommended, moved and seconded with final approval by the Bishop’s Committee to pay Sexton, Ron Parris, $5,500 to complete repairs on the gym floor. Ron will receive a deposit of $2,500. The contract includes cleaning the stage underneath, which has been completed; previous work of varnish will be removed and recovered, and other items listed in the contract including putting the planks down to replace the damaged wood, no wood putty, and put down the floor materials purchased. The fee will be split at $2,750 between St. George’s Church and St. George’s Community Center.

Mortar flaking will be addressed and Ron will be in charge. The price was quoted as $60 for four (4) large cans. It is a spray on product. This still needs to be addressed in our November meeting. Ron was not present, out of town, and no report was made.

Deacon Dan will talk to Rev. Matt Bradley about the Homeless Project. St. George’s is able to provide meal/s for the group. In discussions, the committee felt that we could provide meals. Further discussion is needed to determine the number of times we could make the meals available for the people and if it would be dinner, snack bag, or breakfast food.

New Business:

Deacon Dan suggested two new projects for St. George’s.

People in the Pews Project – Deacon Dan would compose a letter asking Episcopal Churches to send a person from their church to worship at St. Georges. It would be a one-time visit or more if the people desire to continue coming.

Braden Committee Prep – St George’s and others would watch the video on Anne Braden’s life as a group.

Coats and Blankets Project: Mary stated that Church of the Advent will start to send items of clothing to St. George’s. Angie Mills from St. John’s in Murray, KY will participate. St. John’s Youth group will visit Louisville to go out and take items to the Homeless with us in December. A date for this event has not been set.

The monthly financial report was presented as of October 31, 2023 by Deacon Dan. St. George’s Episcopal Church has total assets of $27,574.49; the Community Center has total assets of $6,311.41. Both accounts joined together show assets of $33,885.90 representing our total liability and equity. Again, the only sources of income for the Center are the monthly check from the Diocese and private donations.

Reminder/s: We may not receive a Bishop’s visitation this year as Bishop White is recovering from an eye problem. Our opportunity will be based on the Bishop’s recovery this year, 2024.

Monday, February 12, 2024 is the date set for our annual parish meeting. A virtual option will be available.

Meeting adjourned at 12:25 pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Bernadette Hamilton

Minutes: Bishop Committee Meeting

February 12, 2024 @ 5:15pm

Meeting opened with prayer from Deacon Dan.

Attendance: Ed and Bernadette Hamilton, Mary Carter, Camille Norman, Deacon Dan Dykstra, Stephanie Edison, Carla and Ron Parris, Pamela Burdine and Jean Christensen

Deacon Dan opened the meeting with prayer.

Motion was made to accept the January minutes as written and no corrections were made.

OLD BUSINESS:

Gym Floor: Ron reported that the gym floor will be completed by February 20, 2024. Pam reported that Dare to Care (DTC) has 3-4 pallets with product on them that are in the gym. Ron suggested that DTC use the archway to hold the pallets and products for customers. Ron stated that he has already cleaned the area. DTC can move everything as long as it is not in the middle of the gym floor. Ron will be there on Tuesday to discuss the setup with the delivery team from the main DTC office.

Mortar flacking: Ron stated that he has completed the mortar flacking.

Deacon Dan will talk to Rev. Matt Bradley about the Homeless Project. St. George’s is able to provide meal/s for the group. In discussions, the committee felt that we could provide meals. Further discussion is needed to determine the number of times we could make the meals available for the people and if it would be dinner, snack bag, or breakfast food.

Christmas Food Boxes: Mary reported that we supplied 75 Christmas food boxes to the community.

Leadership Conference: Begins March 2, 2024 in Bowling Green, KY. It is free. Please don’t forget to register if you are interested.

Open House Partnership: The Partnership will meet on March 17, 2024 at Christ Church Cathedral (CCC) at 10:30 am

Safe Guarding: Camille has not heard from Safe Guarding Committee. Two documents were sent to her iPhone pertaining to convention delegates and clergy. It includes children and adult safety guidelines. Rev. Witt Stodgill is in charge. Camille will make contact with the committee.

Church leaders and Bishop Committee reassignment: Leader positions and names were listed. Mary Carter, Warden called for resignations and people interested in any positions of leadership. Thus, Mary Carter remains Warden and Ron Parris is Jr. Warden and Sexton. Deacon Dan Dykstra is officially listed as Clerk for receiving correspondence for the church. Jean Christensen expressed an interest in working with DTC. Jean withdrew the discussion until the next meeting due to time.

All Saints Camp: Mary will get information on All St. Camping rules and regulations.

Computer for Finance Chair, Carla Parris: The computer given/used by Eldra Reeves, former title of bookkeeper was returned in an unusable condition. It wouldn’t boot up. The church needs to buy Carla a new laptop. It was motioned, seconded and approved to buy the new laptop.

Deacon Dan suggested two new projects for St. George’s:

People in the Pews Project – Deacon Dan would compose a letter asking Episcopal Churches to send a person from their church to worship at St. Georges. It would be a one-time visit or more if the people desire to continue coming. We had people from St. Matthews last Sunday.

Braden Committee Prep: On March 7, 2024, St George’s and others would watch the video on Anne Braden’s life as a group at CCC at 12 noon. Volunteer readers are needed.

Coats and Blankets Project: Mary stated that Church of the Advent will start to send items of clothing to St. George’s. Angie Mills from St. John’s in Murray, KY will participate. St. John’s Youth group will visit Louisville to go out and take items to the Homeless with us in December. A date for this event has not been set.

The monthly financial report: The Bishop Marmion loan Balance is $676. It takes us to a zero balance when paid in full.

New Business:

Financial Considerations: 1) Convention fees will be paid by St., George’s Church for delegates and clergy. 2) All Saints Camp fees are part of the consideration and 3) “Garden in a Box.” If approved all three would be included in the budget.

The Budget Report for March will include the amounts spent for 2023. This is due to delays in meetings for Christmas, the weather and no major issues needing to be addressed during November, December and January. Deacon Dan will take all monthly income of receipts and checks to our accountant.

Balance for St. George’s as of Date: ___________________ is $_______________

Balance for the Community Center as of Date: _______________ is $___________

Mary will discuss the Parochial Report at the March meeting.

Community Center: St. George’s activities for 2023 were posted in the February minutes.

Upon Awakening an, AA Guided Meditation meets on Wednesday 10:30-11:30 under the leadership of Ron Parris, is in its 6th year. The “They Stopped in Time,” young people’s AA meeting now has six members and meets on Wednesday from 5:30-6:30pm.

Ron will drive the van for the Senior Citizens social group under the leadership of Stephanie Edison.

We are still on the list for Health Start “Baby Shower.” We have to wait until the gym floor is finished before it restarts.

Bonnie Barron is available for tax related work. She needs to clean the office space where she worked. She is now located in the public library. Ron is getting rid of the things that don’t belong in the room. There is a fee for tax filing.

Jean is working on mice control with cats, the Working Cats program. There are several considerations that need to be addressed before the project can begin. Pam is in agreement with acquiring the cats.

Cintax, a fire extinguisher company will relocate the fire extinguishers over the stove in the kitchen and make any other adjustments needed. Ron will work with them.

It was suggested that we come up with a flyer for the Center.

DTC will be partnering with Door Dash to provide delivery to individuals unable to pick up their box. It will include a box of fresh produce with the CSFP box. This is fabulous. Average Numbers of individuals served are listed as 60 families came to get produce weekly; 30 food boxes were provided each week and 95 commodity boxes were picked up each month.

A document needs to be drawn up to let the man next door know when he needs to leave our parking lot on the DTC side of the building.

Sacred Grounds group meets on February 28 from 6:30-7:30pm with Camille and Rev. Karl Rattan.

A special shout out to Stephanie Edison for the altar Banners she has created throughout the year. Your artistic talent is highly appreciated.

Reminder/s: We may not receive a Bishop’s visitation this year as Bishop White is recovering from an eye problem. Our opportunity will be based on the Bishop’s recovery this year, 2024.

Monday, March 11, 2024 is the date set for the next BC meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 6:23pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Bernadette Hamilton

Minutes: Bishop Committee Meeting

March 11, 2024 @ 5:15pm

Meeting opened with prayer from Deacon Dan.

Attendance: Ed and Bernadette Hamilton, Mary Carter, Deacon Dan Dykstra, and Jean Christensen

Prayer: Deacon Dan opened the meeting with prayer.

Reading of Minutes: Motion was made to accept the January minutes as written and no corrections were made.

OLD BUSINESS:

Gym Floor: After discussion, it was suggested that the gym floor needs at a minimum, two (2) more coats of the material used for sealing the floor, and a remover is still needed in some areas. The edges and front need to be repaired. We need to put down the tarps for DTC to continue moving products.

Homeless Project: Deacon Dan reported that the Homeless Project has been delayed until January 2025.

New Resident, Jupiter the Cat: Our cat is here. He is housed in the DTC refrigeration room. He is an adult male, five (5) years old, and fully vaccinated. When he is nervous, he hisses and bites. He has food needed for his transition in his cage, a smaller hut in the cage to sleep in with a blanket. He must be seen at least once a day and remain in his cage for two (2) weeks. At this time, Jean has taken responsibility for his care along with others. The main thing is not to let him out of the doors.

Open House Partnership: The Partnership will meet on March 17, 2024 at Christ Church Cathedral (CCC) at 10:30 am. St. George’s arrived for the morning worship service and stayed for the coffee hour afterwards. Other churches came after their service was complete. We had a good time eating and enjoying fellowship with our Episcopal brothers and sisters.

Parochial Report: Warden Mary is waiting on the pin number needed to finish the report.

Safe Guarding: Camille connected with the Safe Guarding Committee. Two documents were sent to her iPhone pertaining to convention delegates and clergy. It includes children and adult safety guidelines. Rev. Witt Stodgill is in charge. Camille will make contact with the committee. A link was sent by Camille to get us started. I have completed the Ministry section. I was able to print my certificate.

New Business: The Budget Report for March will include the amounts spent for 2023. This is due to delays in meetings for Christmas, the weather and no major issues needing to be addressed during November, December and January. Deacon Dan will take all monthly income of receipts and checks to our accountant.

Balance for St. George’s as of Date: ___________________ is $________________________

Balance for the Community Center as of Date: _______________ is $____________________

Holy Saturday: It will be held at 12 noon at St. George’s Episcopal Church. Everything will be in black.

Dare to Care: DTC needs to contact the main office for oil change locations for the delivery truck. The truck now has its new license tags. Mary is writing a letter to our neighbor next door. He parks in our van area space. The space is only available to him when we are not using the area.

Leadership Positions: Ron Parris has been asked and accepted to function in the capacity of Program Director for the Community Center. Because we are not a full parish, he cannot use the title of junior warden. Brother Ron is excellent in his role as a director or securing and recognizing program needs of the St. George Community. However, he is still the sexton for the church and a van driver. An official vote was called by Warden Mary Carter and the vote was a unanimous YES.

Jean Christensen has been asked and accepted the position as Event Coordinator and will maintain the calendar and remain in the position of directing church members as to refreshments needed for events. Any request for us of the facilities by outsides persons should go to Jean. She will discuss with Ron and Mary for availability and if the event is appropriate for the church space. This includes the church and the center. An official vote was called by Warden Mary Carter and the vote was a unanimous YES. Both of the above positions are voluntary and will meet with Mary Carter in her office in the Tachau House which will be cleaned and shared by all three.

Notes: People can get married in the church but it must be an Episcopal Priest and they must go thru counseling.

If you are interested in the Resolution for Forestry Treatment that happened in 2018, please talk to Camille.

Carla Parris has purchased the new laptop for recording records and paying bills.

Reminder/s: We may not receive a Bishop’s visitation this year as Bishop White is recovering from an eye problem. Our opportunity will be based on the Bishop’s recovery this year, 2024.

Monday, April 8, 2024 is the date set for our next parish meeting. Meeting adjourned at 5:57pm. Respectfully submitted, Bernadette Hamilton

Minutes: Bishop Committee Meeting

April 15, 2024 @ 5:05pm

Meeting opened with prayer from Deacon Dan.

Attendance: Ed and Bernadette Hamilton, Pamela Burdine via video, Mary Carter, Deacon Dan Dykstra, Stephanie Edison, Carla and Ron Parris, Jean Christensen and Camille Norman

Prayer: Deacon Dan opened the meeting with prayer.

Reading of Minutes: Motion was made to accept the March minutes as written with corrections.

OLD BUSINESS:

Gym Floor: After discussion, it was suggested that the gym floor needs at a minimum, two (2) more coats of the material used for sealing the floor. We have material available. The edges of the floor will not be repaired. Tarp will be used on the floor and the possibility of bunching needs to be monitored as Dare to Care moves products. Maybe the pallets can be used as anchors.

Open House Partnership @ St. George’s on April 28, 2024: We anticipate about 50 people to attend. We will serve fruit salad and cake; sandwiches from Subway (tuna, ham, roast beef, & turkey); cheese tray & crackers; vegetables & dip; coffee & tea; chips & country time tea and drinks. Rev. Tom Price from OMS will provide the sermon and communion for this event.

Parochial Report: Warden Mary is waiting on the pin number needed to finish the report.

EPISCOPAL GENERAL CONVENTION: June 22-28, 2024. Bernadette Hamilton is replacing Bonnie Barron as liaison contact person. A Revival will be held on June 22 at the YUM Center from 7pm – 9pm. There is a link to register as a volunteer. The convention is free and open to the public. To volunteer for the 81st GC of the Episcopal Church, contact Amy Spicer, email address - amyspicer@episcopalky.org.

Safe Guarding: Camille provided the following sections that need to be taken by Bishop Committee members on the Praesiduim Programmed testing – Safeguarding God’s People: Preventing Sexual Exploitation in Communities of Faith for Ministries. As you finish each section, print your certificate for your records.

The sections are listed below, 10 inclusive, and work at your own pace:

Intro & Theological Background

Organizational Rules & Policies

Healthy Boundaries

Inclusion

Duty to Report

Power & Relationships

Abuse & Neglect

Pastoral Relationships

Preventing Sexual Harassment (for managers & supervisors) Senior & Junior Warden

Bullying

New Business:

This Budget Report for April will include the amounts spent for January 2024. Deacon Dan will take all monthly income of receipts and checks to our accountant. We run two months behind due to statement arrival dates. Therefore, February balances will be reported in the May minutes.

Balance for St. George’s as of Date: January 31, 2024 was $26,270.69

Balance for the Community Center as of Date: January 31, 2024 was $3,748.21

Dare to Care (need a report on this): DTC needs to contact the main office for oil change locations for the delivery truck. The truck now has its new license tags. Mary is writing a letter to our neighbor next door. He parks in our van area space. The space is only available to him, the neighbor, when we are not using the area.

Racial Healing Commission: Planning a pilgrimage to Montgomery/Selma, Alabama on September 25-28, 2024.

Program Planning/s:

A. Stephanie Edison is inviting St. George members and OMS members to participate in a recognition day for senior members of both churches.

B. St. George’s will reach a 100 year Anniversary in 2024. We need to form a committee as to what we can or want to do in recognition of this event.

Notes: Ron will view and select exercise equipment from Hester’s Family Fitness, his contact is Delinda Hester. We need to have space to store and use the equipment that we select.

Monday, May 13, 2024 is the date set for our next parish meeting. A virtual option will be available.

Meeting adjourned at 6:15pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Bernadette Hamilton

Minutes: Bishop Committee Meeting

June 10, 2024 at 5:15PM

Attendance: Mary Carter, Deacon Dan Dykstra, Stephanie Edison, Carla and Ron Parris, and Camille Norman

Prayer: Deacon Dan opened the meeting with prayer.

Reading of Minutes: Motion was made to accept the April minutes as written.

OLD BUSINESS:

EPISCOPAL GENERAL CONVENTION: June 22-28, 2024. Bernadette Hamilton has replaced Bonnie Barron as liaison contact person. A Revival will be held on June 22 at the YUM Center from 7pm – 9pm. There is a link to register as a volunteer. To volunteer for the 81st GC of the Episcopal Church, contact Amy Spicer, email address - amyspicer@episcopalky.org.

Safe Guarding: Camille provided the following sections that need to be taken by Bishop Committee members on the Praesiduim Programmed testing – Safeguarding God’s People: Preventing Sexual Exploitation in Communities of Faith for Ministries. As you finish each section, print your certificate for your records.

Women’s Recognition Event: Stephanie is leading this project that will involve the women of both St. George’s and OMS. Dialog continues between the women at both churches.

100 Year Anniversary Event: BC decided on September 2, (tentative) Labor Day, to hold an event to both celebrate the community center and to reunite people who used it in the past. Cam will find out how to get information to our council representative to advertise the event, Stephanie will contact Astrojunk to ascertain costs to rent cotton candy and snow cone machines, and Mary will look into block party possibilities.

Dare to Care: Mary spoke of important forms in need of completion to continue DTC distribution through our community center. She has them complete and will get Lisa and Pamela to sign off on them 6-11-2024.

Mission Funding: Committee discussed monetary needs. The following was approved:

2025: Community Center $30,000. This is up from $25,000 in 2024

2025: Church $10,000. This is up from $9,000 in 2024

Laundry Love: Mary described how it works. Mary has vouchers that she gives out each month.

Fire Inspection: Inspector Sarah Norton was unable to get into the building when she came to inspect. She will return on 6-19-2024. Mary and Ron say we will be in compliance when she visits.

Garden in a Box: Plans for this were tabled.

Parking Space: Mary has spoken with Maurice, next door, about not parking in our space in front of the community center on days when we need it. Mary said Sunday parking there occurs and she puts a note on the cars to tell folks not to park there in the future.

New Business:

Loft Use: Ron asked if he could designate the loft for recovery youth use. The number of recovery folks is increasing (ranges from 3-15) and he would like a place for them to meet and socialize, etc. A vote was taken and unanimous approval was given. Deacon Dan said pilgrims coming for the convention will be here on the afternoons of June 24,25, and maybe 26th to clean the loft and trim trees in the back of the church.

Woodcock Foundation Grant: Ron has applied for the scholarship.

Concrete: Mary asked for $ (around $150) to complete concrete work needed in the front of the church and community center. Committee approved her request.

Tree Issue: Deacon Dan said a neighbor would like help clearing a tree limb that stretches from our tree onto his roof. Deacon Dan told the neighbor he would advise our sexton. We have no liability regarding this limb as to the law. Ron will see what, if anything, we might be able to do to help.

Balance for the Church as of Date: April 30, 2024 was $22,193.32

Balance for the Community Center as of Date: April 30, 2024 was $3,116.11

Monday, July 8, 2024 is the date set for our next BC meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 6:15pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Deacon Dan

Minutes: Bishop Committee Meeting

July 9, 2024 @ 5:30pm

Attendance: Ed and Bernadette Hamilton, Mary Carter, Deacon Dan Dykstra, Carla and Ron Parris, Jean Christensen and Camille Norman

Prayer: Deacon Dan opened the meeting with prayer.

Reading of Minutes: Motion was made to accept the June minutes as written with corrections.

OLD BUSINESS:

Parochial Report: Warden Mary stated that the report was filed on time.

Mission Funding: Warden Mary reported tha she requested $30,000 for the Community Center, $5,000 more than last year and $10,00 for the church, $5,000 increase from last year.

EPISCOPAL GENERAL CONVENTION: June 22-28, 2024. Bonnie Barron remained as liaison contact person for the convention. She was not present to make her report. Mary stated that Bonnie assisted in directing visitors to their locations.

Ann Braden literature was available out our booth. Ron feels he made good network contacts/relationships

Safe Guarding: Camille provided the following sections that need to be taken by Bishop Committee members on the Praesiduim Programmed testing – Safeguarding God’s People: Preventing Sexual Exploitation in Communities of Faith for Ministries. She reminded us of the sections and the need to print your certificate As you finish each section, print your certificate for your records.

The sections are listed below, 10 inclusive, and work at your own pace:

Intro & Theological Background

Organizational Rules & Policies

Healthy Boundaries

Inclusion

Duty to Report

Power & Relationships

Abuse & Neglect

Pastoral Relationships

Preventing Sexual Harassment (for managers & supervisors) Senior & Junior Warden

Bullying

Wesbsite for the above is Praesidiumacademy.com

Website: General for the general convention events is General Convention.org

Church Anniversary: The 100 year anniversary will be postponed until 2025. The cost of an Astrojump for the children will be investigated as well as a cotton candy machine, party house and other details.

New Business:

This Budget Report for July will include the amounts spent for May 2024. Deacon Dan is delivering the packet to the bookkeeper.

Balance for St. George’s as of Date: May 2024 was $22,193.32

Balance for the Community Center as of Date: May 2024 was $3,716.11

The Rev. Shawn Rowe is the new Bishop. He will be installed in October or November. The installation will be on line.

Program Planning/s:

A. Stephanie Edison is inviting St. George members and OMS members to participate in a recognition day for senior members of both churches.

B. St. George’s will reach a 100 year Anniversary in 2024. We need to form a committee as to what we can or want to do in recognition of this event. This event is postponed until 2025> Members will work on things that need to be done.

C. Norton Hospital Pastoral Care Department has inquired about using our facility as a possible meeting place.

D. The Goodwill Opportunity Center is now open. It has different services available to community people (a barber shop, dental clinic, Park Community Credit Union, community cafeteria, Black Coffee, Volunteers of America and YMCA Child care to name a few).

E. Laundry Love did not honor vouchers. Rev. Jason needs to make the contact to approve vouchers. People were turned away. . Old clothing in the Dare to Care office will be bagged and put in the trash.

F. Fire Inspector was here on June 25 and will send a written report to the church. Major changes need to be made including fixing the basement door. It will not close at top and the bottom. The door is located at the bottom of the stairs leading to the basement. We need a list for all the fire extinguishers located in the church buildings.

G. Wilmon Plumbing is inspecting the back flow and reports back to the city. They will bill the church for this service.

Monday, August 9, 2024 is the date set for our next parish meeting. A virtual option will be available.

Meeting adjourned at 6:25pm. Respectfully submitted, Bernadette Hamilton

[petnews2day]

Monticello New York Kennel Club, Inc. – Saturday, March 11, 2023

New Post has been published on https://petn.ws/sNn8E

Monticello New York Kennel Club, Inc. – Saturday, March 11, 2023

Show Name: Monticello New York Kennel Club, Inc.Location: Augusta, NJShow Date: Saturday, March 11, 2023Total Entry: 518Best In Show Judge: Mrs. Edy Dykstra-BlumShow Photographer(s):John Ashbey • Website: johnashbey.com Dog Reg: GCH Revelation Adiva Aviva Of Samara [Bitch]Breed: Canaan DogHandler: Kim CalvaccaOwner: P Rosman & P Vulliet Reserve Dog Reg: CH Palisades Electric Wizard [Dog]Reserve Breed: […]

See full article at https://petn.ws/sNn8E #DogNews

[jareckiworld]

John S. Dykstra  -  Studio Session  (2015)

[jamesusilljournal]

John S. Dykstra

[nkp1981]

An homage to those people who gave us 'Star Wars':

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

People helping Anthony Daniels into the C-3P0 suit:

Visual effects supervisor John Dykstra lays out the miniature rebel fleet:

Concept artist Ralph McQuarrie at work:

Model maker Lorne Peterson checks the Jawa sandcrawler:

Fifty "stunt" stormtrooper helmets were created plus "six" hero helmets for close-ups:

The surface of the Death Star was blown up in the parking lot at ILM:

Unknown man working on R2D2's 'beep':

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back:

Unknown man holding miniature AT-ATs:

'The Space Slug' was operated by Jon Berg:

Star Wars Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi:

Model maker Paul Huston working on 'The Chicken Walker':

Model maker Paul Huston works on a massive X-wing fighter:

Phil Tippett works with ‘The Speeder Bike Puppet’:

Art Director Nilo Rodis-Jamero art directs the forest moon of Endor:

[fuad-ramses-73]

PH :  John S. Dykstra

[ossurworld]

Ratings Gold for Civil War Gold Show!

Ratings Gold for Civil War Gold Show!

DATELINE: Moneybags Lagina Wins!

In Hackley Library Under His Images!

Somebody up there at History Channel knows how to salt a mine. Tenderfoot types are buying the bullion by the cartload.

The curse of Civil War Gold is the albatross of the Curse of Civil War Gold. It’s too late to change the show’s title, and they’re stuck with it. Kevin Dykstra, the originator, seems more and more bewildered…

[boredout305]

Kat Talley Jones (Urinals/100 Flowers)

John Talley-Jones and Kat Talley-Jones, Santa Barbara, California, circa late 1978/1979.

Kat Talley-Jones was an early photographer of The Urinals and 100 Flowers. She is the lyricist of “Ack Ack Ack Ack” and has compiled an impressive 1978 to 1983 gigography of The Urinals and 100 Flowers. Talley-Jones is the wife of the bands’ bassist and vocalist John Talley-Jones.

Professionally, Talley-Jones is an independent exhibit developer and writer. She’s worked on teams that created the Dinosaur Hall and Nature Lab at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and visitor center exhibits at Mammoth Cave National Park, Devils Tower National Monument, Badlands, National Park, Stones River National Battlefield, and Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area among many others.  

Talley-Jones is still involved with The Urinals and 100 Flowers, taking photos and contributing in countless other ways, something she’s done since the late 1970s.

Interview by Ryan Leach

This interview originally ran on Razorcake’s website. 

Ryan: Where did you meet John (Talley-Jones)?

Kat: Like John, I come from a military background. I was born in Italy. I later lived in Japan, the (Washington) D.C. area and Iran. I met John at the University of Texas at Austin. We gravitated towards the same circle. There were Texans and then there were army brats. We had a different frame of reference than other people did.

           John was walking down the hall of the dorm I lived in. I had pulled a picture out of the NME of Kevin Ayers and put it on my door. Kevin Ayers was wearing some blue silk jacket. It was a great photo. I loved Kevin Ayers, The Soft Machine and the Ayers, Cale, Nico, Eno album.

Ryan: That’s a great live record.

Kat: Yeah. My roommate was a lesbian, so we had a nude pinup of a woman on the door too which was very scandalous—we hoped.

Ryan: At that time in Texas it was. Even in Austin.

Kat: Right. John and a friend of his were walking down the hall. They stopped, saw the photos on the door, and wondered, “Who lives here?” I opened the door and there was John, wearing blue eye shadow, black nail polish and a toothbrush around his neck (laughs). We got to know each other after that, running in the same circles. I went out with a guy and John went out with his sister—you know how it is being college aged. Everyone is switching partners.

           John left UT. His parents thought—and maybe he did too—that film school would be better at UCLA than at UT. That probably wasn’t the case, but John left for California. My parents had moved from Iran to Redondo Beach. So we got back together again. It’s complicated.

Ryan: John had mentioned that he had moved to San Francisco before attending UCLA.

Kat: He was in San Rafael in Marin County. He lived with his aunt and uncle and worked at a bookstore in San Rafael. That was before he went to UCLA.

           My parents went back to Iran. I moved in with my brother in Santa Barbara. I was living in Santa Barbara, John went to UCLA, and then we started going out. I did not see the first Urinals iteration when they played the talent show at UCLA. However, I did see the first three-piece show at UCLA with Kevin (Barrett), Kjehl (Johansen) and John. That was on the fourth floor of Dykstra Hall.  

Ryan: Had your parents not moved back to California, would you have likely stayed in Austin?

Kat: Probably not. At that time, there wasn’t really a scene yet. It was sleepy. It was a place where you could get by getting stoned, paying $100 a month for an apartment. I was ambitious, but I didn’t happen to paint or anything. I didn’t love Austin. Just as I was leaving, friends of mine were forming The Huns. We would go to Raul’s and bands like the Skunks were playing. The Ramones and Patti Smith came through there. So there was stuff, but LA felt much more exciting.

Ryan: You mentioned The Huns. So you knew Phil Tolstead and the rest of the band?

Kat: Yes. Phil was an Air Force brat. We had a mutual friend named Victoria (Jones) who Phil went to see the Sex Pistols with in San Antonio. She had lived in London. We were people with a broader background. I can’t say that above everyone in The Huns. I’m still friends with Dan Puckett who played keyboards in the band. I knew their drummer, Tom Huckabee. My boyfriend at the time had a crush on him which was awkward (laughs). I was getting away from that situation too. My parents moving back played a part. But my brother was at UCSB and needed a roommate. I thought, “Well, I’ve got nothing going on in Austin, so I’ll live with him.”

Ryan: You took a lot of early Urinals photos—obviously, for most of their record sleeves. Was photography something you had been pursuing previously?

Kat: Well, I had a camera (laughs). It was just because I was there and I had one. I wasn’t really trying to be expressive. I didn’t take that many photos of shows; the cost of film and developing was expensive. Also, with the low light, the photos often came out horrible.

Ryan: You need an SLR and a lens with a low f-stop. Even then, results aren’t guaranteed.

Kat: I had a Canon FTb camera. I was the beneficiary of trickle down: my dad would get something new, and I’d get the old version of whatever he replaced it with. It was a nice camera that was unfortunately stolen. I didn’t take photographs as a means of self-expression. I just had a camera and I was standing there.

Ryan: If you don’t mind me digressing back a bit, did your parents have to flee Iran when the Shah fell or had they already moved back to the States? I can’t help but think that all of this—you having lived in Iran—played some part in the naming of “Surfin’ with the Shah.”

Kat: Yes, they did. They went on Christmas vacation and never went back.

Ryan: Amazing. I’m glad to hear they got out safely.

Kat: Yeah. My dad was an army officer. He liked that kind of excitement (laughs). I was in Iran and John would write me and send me punk mixtapes. Iran was very much on his mind. I would say that had a lot to do with naming of the song, “Surfin’ with the Shah.” But not the modality or anything.

Ryan: What years were you in Iran?

Kat: I was there when I was in high school, so 1970-1973. I then went to the University of Texas. I was an insane overachiever and graduated UT in three years. My parents moved back to Iran. I went to visit; I thought, “Why go back to the States? I can get a job here.” So I got a job typing repair logs for Bell Helicopter. I came back to the States with something on my resume: “I’ve had a job!” When I moved back to Austin, I was employed by a contractor that worked for the Air Force at what was then Bergstrom Air Force Base.

Urinals practicing at Dykstra Hall (UCLA). Photo by Kat Talley-Jones

Ryan: Going back to the early days of The Urinals, do you recall the first 7” EP (self-titled) coming out?

Kat: Oh, sure.  

Ryan: You took the photo for the back cover. I can only imagine being part of a self-released 7” was pretty exciting back in 1978.

Kat: It was very exciting. I had been a prog fan. I loved Yes and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. It seemed so out of reach; what ordinary mortal could release a record? To think that you could control the means of production that way was amazing. I can’t remember if that’s the one with the taped piece of Super 8 film on it, but I certainly sat down with Kevin and Kjehl and taped pieces of film on one of the labels. I stuffed the singles too into the plastic bags. I would go around with John and we’d drop the records off to stores on consignment. I was still living in Santa Barbara. I recall going to record stores there. People were often extremely uninterested, because the records were so handmade looking. Not all of the record stores—even the independent ones—were interested in the DIY thing yet.

Ryan: I grew up in Newbury Park, between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. I found it surprising that The Urinals played an early show in Santa Barbara (at George’s on November 4, 1979). The recording was recently released as a live LP, Pin the Needles. You must have been the conduit for that show.

Kat: Yeah. There was a band that was playing up there, The Neighbors, and someone in the group worked at a record store in Goleta. I would go and hang out there and that’s how that connection was made. Santa Barbara doesn’t seem that likely, does it? There wasn’t much going on up there.

Ryan: Nearly zero. You don’t think of Santa Barbara and punk.

Kat: There was a little bit. There was The Rotters.

Ryan: That’s true. Lance Loud was from Santa Barbara.

Kat: But he had moved on.

Ryan: Right. To New York.

Kat: I lived in Isla Vista. The Rotters played a park there and I saw them. I would walk down the street and people would yell, “Hey, punk rock!” Nobody looked like that in Santa Barbara then. There was this club called The Fubar in Goleta. I saw Magazine play there. There were probably 15 people there. It was not a crowd. People didn’t know about them.

John might not frame it this way, but I was also pretty instrumental in setting up the Raul’s shows in Austin (March 27, 1978, and March 28, 1978).

Ryan: That’s interesting.

Kat: Phil Tolstead had been John’s roommate (at UT), so I can’t say that they weren’t close. But I had a connection with the Huns. The Urinals played with the Re-Cords (at Raul’s) which was Tom Huckabee from the Huns’ band. They also played with the Norvells which was Sally Norvell’s band. I don’t have a specific remembrance of setting the Raul’s shows up, but I was always writing letters to (Huns keyboardist) Dan (Puckett), Victoria (Jones) and less to Phil (Tolstead). Phil could hardly manage to write you back. We were in touch a lot. When the Huns had their bust (September 19, 1978), they sent me a T-shirt with the image of Phil being arrested by the police officer. I still have a photo of me wearing it. I think I have the original cover art for their 7”. Victoria painted the cover and sent it to me. I’ll have to look for it. I’ve got boxes filled with stuff.

Ryan: It’s pretty amazing that the first Urinals show outside of UCLA was in Austin at Raul’s. Do you recall trekking out there?

Kat: I think we drove out to Austin in Kjehl’s Chevy Caprice. It was a small Chevy; it wasn’t big. We crammed everyone in there. My particular gift is that I wake up very early. When everyone else can’t drive another moment, I’m starting to wake up. With the four of us we were able to make it to Austin in one shot. I think it was 27 hours. We just brought guitars. Kevin borrowed Tom Huckabee’s drums. We stayed with friends and drank a lot of frozen margaritas. I think those two shows at Raul’s happened over spring break (1978). That was the only time everyone could get together to leave town.

Ryan: That makes sense.

Kat: Yeah. We weren’t in school or working.

Urinals performing at a house party. Photo by Kat Talley-Jones

Ryan: Can you talk about writing “Ack Ack Ack Ack.” As far as I know, it’s your only songwriting credit, but it’s a great one.

Kat: Right. Why not stay on a highpoint? I had heard the news reports about Brenda Spencer, the girl who shot some kids in school. It was the same event that inspired the song “I Don’t Like Mondays” (by the Boomtown Rats). I was thinking about that. When I was a kid, as everyone does, I’d play war with friends. We’d chase each other around and pretend to shoot each other. The boys—I don’t know if it was genetic or what—but they could always make that machine gun sound better than I could. I was always jealous. They could vocalize “Ack Ack Ack Ack” and I couldn’t. It was a word you’d see in comic books. I always liked it as a sound. Why did I name the subject of the song Johnny? Possibly because of John.

Ryan: How did the music come together? You wrote the lyrics and John composed the music?

Kat: I wrote the lyrics. I typed them up. I was still in Isla Vista. I probably mailed them to John. But we saw each other virtually every weekend. I would drive down (to West Los Angeles) and occasionally he’d drive up. But John had an old Volkswagen that couldn’t get over the Conejo Grade.

Ryan: I lived right at the top of the Conejo Grade for years. I know exactly what you’re talking about.

Kat: Yeah. So John would take the Greyhound Bus to Santa Barbara and he’d smell like the bus for a day or two. It’d take a while to get that smell out.

Ryan: Los Angeles to Santa Barbara isn’t too far. Nevertheless, it’s still about a two-hour drive.

Kat: There would be a Urinals or 100 Flowers show. Afterwards, I’d sleep until about 4 AM. And then I’d scoot out when there was no traffic to work. I had a Buick Skyhawk with a V6 engine. It was a terrible car; the clutch cable would always break. I’d drive it straight to work. It’s no wonder why I didn’t get the best performance reviews.

Ryan: Do you recall taking the photo for the Presence of Mind 7” EP? It has a real dada feel to it.

Kat: John came up with the idea. I think it was taken at Kevin’s apartment. I don’t know why it was just John and Kjehl (on the front cover). It feels like Kevin was developing in another direction. He had gotten extremely political. I wrapped them up in newspaper and took the photo. That one turned out nice because the black and white was more saturated. It seemed like the photos for the other albums were washed out. We may have had a rudimentary darkroom; it’s possible we made the prints ourselves. That sounds like something we would’ve done. It’s insane to me that we have so few photos. We just couldn’t afford it at the time.

Ryan: You’ve compiled an amazing Urinals and 100 Flowers gigography. How did you put it together?

Kat: I had these tiny datebooks my dad would get from the USAA. I would get one and he’d keep one. When we lived in Iran, I’d make daily notes. What I was doing in Tehran, the dates I’d been on and other things. I had a habit of making daily notes. Later on, I went back to those little pocket calendars and made that gig list. It’s moderately accurate.

Ryan: It’s an incredible resource. I didn’t realize 100 Flowers played Phoenix with the Meat Puppets (on October 17, 1981). I thought those early shows at Raul’s in Austin was the only time the early incarnation of the band left California.

Kat: We drove in Seabiscuit—the name I gave my horrible Buick Skyhawk. Again, it was Kevin, John, Kjehl and I and we drove straight to Phoenix. We left early. I remember Savage Republic drove out too and played; they might have been called Africa Corps then. I did take some decent photos of that show. It was at a boxing ring (Phoenix Madison Square Gardens). There’s a nice one of John and David Wiley that I took. David was in Human Hands.

Ryan: The Consumers too.

Kat: Right. We stayed at David’s house. Bruce Licher and the other Savage Republic guys stayed with the Meat Puppets at their place. The Savage Republic guys were pretty clean cut, but the Meat Puppets took acid and were playing cowboys and Indians over them all night. 

Ryan: That makes sense.

Kat: Yeah (laughs). It was always kind of a blitzkrieg thing. We actually spent one night in Arizona. 100 Flowers played in San Francisco. We drove up for the gig and then drove back home (to Los Angeles) afterwards. It was pretty horrendous.

Ryan: I’ve done Los Angeles to Phoenix and back to see a show. It’s pretty rough.

Kat: It’s doable.

Ryan: I did it in my early twenties. I’d just spring for a motel now.

Kat: Yeah. I mean, if they were playing in San Diego now, we’d stay the night at a hotel. We drove back from a show in San Diego one time. A truck tire bounced over the center divider and hopped over us, hitting the car behind us. That was scary.

Ryan: With the benefit of hindsight, it’s interesting seeing The Urinals evolve. You can hear their musicianship develop on each EP. Eventually, they’d release compilations like Keats Rides a Harley on their own imprint, Happy Squid. I picture The Shaggs evolving like that had they actually wanted to be in a band. There aren’t many similar examples. Maybe The Raincoats? I can’t think of any at the moment from Los Angeles.

Kat: They learned more and more as they went along. I don’t think they initially had aspirations to release, say, Keats Rides a Harley or The Happy Squid Sampler. An LP was unthinkable when they started. I’m sure John and Kjehl have mentioned this, but getting a mentor like Vitus (Mataré) was key. Vitus knew how to do things. Obviously, being in The Last he had a much broader reach. They knew Gary Stewart (The Last’s manager) and people who were more record business savvy. But there was never any aspiration to get picked up by a record label. That was also unthinkable. It wasn’t a political thing: “We’re pure of heart. We’re not going to sign.” But who would’ve signed The Urinals in that era? There was some interaction with Greg Shaw at Bomp! It seemed like it was all a natural progression. It wasn’t aspirational—if that makes sense.

Ryan: It does. The Urinals and 100 Flowers weren’t trying to get on Enigma Records.

Kat: Right. I think it was really satisfying to put out friends’ work. I think about the little Happy Squid Sampler (1980). Getting stuff out by Neef and Phil Bedel (��Bells in Ice” 45, 1980). I’m not going to say it was done out of generosity of spirit; they’d just figured out how to do it. John is extremely thrifty and a monetarily conscious person. Doing things as cheaply as possible resonated with him. They were playing with all of these great bands—Leaving Trains, Meat Puppets, and Gun Club—and they had simply figured out how to get records made. So they did it without being careerist. It was coming from an artistic standpoint.    

Ryan: Do you recall the last two 100 Flowers shows at the Anti-Club (January 28 and 29, 1983)? I think that was the only time the band headlined a bill.

Kat: Oh yeah. It was so crazy—it was celebratory, but it was also the end of the band. There was that psychological development: celebrating and mourning at the same time. I don’t know why, but it always seemed like 100 Flowers played when it was raining. That’s true up until the present. I think the Anti-Club shows happened during an El Nino year. It was really wet outside; everyone at the club was wet. It was humid; the walls were dripping. The Minutemen played. It was a lot of fun. I remember thinking, “Why couldn’t it have been like this all the time?” But people didn’t appreciate them until they were ending the band.

           The second night was with the Leaving Trains and The Last. I don’t remember that show being as wild as the one where The Minutemen played. But how could it ever be?

Ryan: With the release of the Negative Capability compilation and reunion in 1996, it seemed like folks caught up with the Urinals. It was the same thing with Mission of Burma when they reunited.

Kat: Yes. Honestly, I think some of it had to do with the singles being collectors’ items. They were being bootlegged back in the 1990s. “Oh, that band I paid $100 for their 7” is reforming.” Perhaps I’m wrong on that

Ryan: I think you’re right. I was in New York City two years ago and I went to Almost Ready Records. They had just gotten the first Urinals 7” EP in. I remember saying, “Oh, wow! That’s the first one I’ve seen in the wild.” It has an effect.

Kat: Oh really?

Ryan: Yeah. I’d never seen an original copy of the first 7” before. Those records suck you in. We were talking about Vitus and The Last earlier: I recall seeing a test press of Look Again (1980)—obviously, the record was never released—on the wall at Amoeba for hundreds of dollars in the mid-2000s. It sticks with you. Especially with self-released records like The Urinals 7”s. They had an initial small pressing, limited distribution, and often record labels—with or without a band’s approval—will repress titles once used copies hit a certain price. If you released it and you’re not repressing them, prices go up and they sometimes get pirated.

Kat: It always irritated me. The band never saw any of that money. Like I said, John was very thrifty. I’m sure he wasn’t in the red. But they weren’t sold for much originally. I don’t know how many copies of the first EP we have. I’d be surprised if it was five. You wanted them out in the world.

Ryan: You’re still involved with the Urinals and 100 Flowers. I see you’re still taking photographs. It’s amazing seeing them play places like Belgium and China.

Kat: Yeah. I always thought they were doing interesting things. It wasn’t random. I had mentioned that their records being scarce had some allure, but they were doing something different. They continue to. All of John’s iterations of the band have been good. There are things I’ve liked more than other things. There have been times where I’ve liked the band less than at other times. But they’ve persisted because they have merit. All of the band members have a vision. I believe in it. There have been times where I’ve been busy with my own work and haven’t gone to shows. As I mentioned earlier, I wake up early, so having a set start at midnight isn’t always my favorite thing. But I enjoy watching them play. I think John appreciates that if I think something sucks that I’ll tell him. But not with an axe to grind.

Kat and John today, photo by Pat Aldarete. 

#urinals #100flowers #kattalleyjones #johntalleyjones #ackackackack #happysquid 

[rabbitcruiser]

National September 11 Memorial & Museum, Manhattan (No. 3)

Formerly the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum was formed as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation to raise funds and manage  the memorial's planning and construction. Its board of directors met for the first time on January 4, 2005, and it reached its first-phase capital-fundraising goal ($350 million) in April 2008. This money and additional funds raised will be used to build the memorial and museum and endow the museum.

In 2003, the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation launched the World Trade Center Site Memorial Competition, an international competition to design a memorial at the World Trade Center site to commemorate the lives lost on 9/11. Individuals and teams from around the world submitted design proposals. On November 19, 2003, the thirteen-member jury selected eight finalists. Reflecting Absence, designed by Michael Arad and Peter Walker, was chosen as the winning design on January 6, 2004. It consists of a field of trees interrupted by two large, recessed pools, the footprints of the Twin Towers. The deciduous trees (swamp white oaks) are arranged in rows and form informal clusters, clearings and groves. The park is at street level, above the Memorial Museum. The names of the victims of the attacks (including those from the Pentagon, American Airlines Flight 77, United Airlines Flight 93, and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing) are inscribed on the parapets surrounding the waterfalls in an arrangement of "meaningful adjacencies".A portion of the slurry wall originally designed to hold back the Hudson River, about half of what Daniel Libeskind originally wanted to preserve, is maintained in the museum. On January 14, 2004, the final design for the World Trade Center site memorial was unveiled at a press conference in Federal Hall National Memorial.

As mandated by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation (LMDC), the World Trade Center Memorial Foundation owns, operates and finances the Reflecting Absence Memorial and the Museum. John C. Whitehead, chair of the LMDC and the foundation, announced his resignation in May 2006 and was replaced at the LMDC by former president Kevin Rampe. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg replaced Whitehead as chair of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. Foundation executive committee chair Thomas S. Johnson said on May 9, 2006:

The decision was made to not actively pursue new fund-raising efforts until complete clarity can be achieved with respect to the design and costs of the project. Cost concerns emerged publicly last week with the disclosure of an estimate by the construction manager, Lend Lease Group, that the memorial and museum would cost $672 million and that it would take a total of at least $973 million to fully develop the memorial setting with a cooling plant, roadways, sidewalks, utilities and stabilized foundation walls. An estimate earlier this year put the cost of the memorial and memorial museum at $494 million.

On May 26, 2006, Gretchen Dykstra resigned as president and chief executive officer of the World Trade Center Foundation. Joseph C. Daniels was appointed as president and CEO in October 2006 The memorial projects were toned down, and the budget was cut to $530 million. Construction of the memorial began in August 2006 and, despite delays, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum was confident that it would be completed by September 11, 2011.

Source: Wikipedia

[tabloidtoc]

Us, February 10

Cover: Brave Kate Middleton -- Her Side of the Story 

Page 4: Who Wore It Best? Julianne Hough vs. Toni Garrn, Danai Gurira vs. Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Richie vs. Kate Mara 

Page 6: Loose Talk -- Dax Shepard on Brad Pitt, Colin Farrell, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kim Kardashian, Halsey on getting a birthday kiss from Evan Peters 

Page 8: Contents 

Page 10: Grammys Best Dressed -- Gwen Stefani 

Page 11: Cardi B, Dua Lipa 

Page 12: Grammys -- Chrissy Teigen and Ariana Grande, Lana Del Rey and Khalid, Billie Eilish’s big night 

Page 13: Alicia Keys and Boyz II Men sang It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday for Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, Billy Porter, Dan + Shay 

Page 14: Billy Ray Cyrus and Lil Nas X, Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton and Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi

Page 15: Demi Lovato, Jonas Brothers

Page 16: Hot Pics -- Paris Hilton and her chihuahua in her custom BMW i8 Roadster, Kristin Cavallari and Heidi Montag and Audrina Patridge, Gigi Hadid in Jean-Paul Gaultier’s final fashion show 

Page 17: Jennifer Aniston interviewed Will Ferrell while sitting in for Ellen DeGeneres, James Van Der Beek helps #EndPeriodPoverty 

Page 18: Stars They’re  Just Like Us -- Bjork hails a cab, Gabrielle Union lifts weights, John C. Reilly at a flea market 

Page 20: Top Dogs -- Emily Ratajkowski with Colombo, Danielle Fisher and Brunch, Simon Cowell and his dogs in Barbados, Katy Perry and her dog Nugget, Gabby Douglas 

Page 22: Remembering Kobe Bryant 

Page 23: Zac Efron and Sarah Bro have called it quits and Zac is now seeing Halston Sage, RHOC losing Vicki Gunvalson and Tamra Judge 

Page 24: Taylor Swift’s documentary Miss Americana, VIP Scene -- Jessie J and Channing Tatum (pictured), Patrick J. Adams, Jay-Z, Maya Rudolph, Kesha, Kendaya and Timothee Chalamet at Bed Bath & Beyond, Jamie-Lynn Sigler and husband Cutter Dykstra and kids, Shawn Mendes 

Page 25: At record producer Jimmy Iovine and wife Liberty Ross’ get-together Kim Kardashian West and Jay-Z’s kids played with each other 

Page 26: What’s in My Bag? Elaine Hendrix and her vegan Shiraleah tote

Page 28: Hollywood Moms -- Alyson Hannigan on daughters Satyana and Keeva 

Page 30: Love Lives -- Jennifer Garner and boyfriend John Miller are very much together 

Page 31: Mary Steenburgen can always find inspiration in Ted Danson, Dax Shepard and Kristen Bell would love to work together, Heidi Klum says she has a partner for the first time in Tom Kaulitz 

Page 38: Cover Story -- A Duchess in Distress -- with the palace in crisis Kate Middleton feels the weight of the world on her shoulders 

Page 42: When Hollywood heavyweights need a divorce they call Laura Wasser 

Page 50: Us Musts -- Lucy Hale on Katy Keene 

Page 52: Inside Kim Kardashian West’s new documentary 

Page 58: Fashion Police -- Nina Kiri, Nicolas Cage, Jenna Lyons 

Page 59: Cara Buono, Bella Hadid, Lisa Edelstein

Page 60: 25 Things You Don’t Know About Me -- Wendie Malick 

[zatanaz-world]

"Ahora no es el momento de pensar en lo que no tienes. Piensa en lo que puedes hacer con lo que hay".

Ernest Hemingway

📷John S. Dykstra

[admire-art7]

John S. Dykstra

“I'm John and I'm an introvert experimental photographer who likes to shoot photographs that look like digital composites, except without digital compositing. In a world of CGI, Photoshop manipulation and floating people, I prefer to create real photographs of otherworldly scenes through the use of practical effects, optical illusions, and camera trickery.”

Website: https://www.johndykstra.us 

[twh-news]

25 Things We Learned from the ‘Kong: Skull Island’ Commentary

by Rob Hunter | July 26, 2017 | Commentary

“This whole movie is basically just my huge, expensive infomercial for why people should go visit Vietnam.”

Warner Bros.’ giant monsterverse is two films in so far, and the visible improvement from Godzilla to Kong: Skull Island bodes well for whatever comes next. The latter film understands that the big draw here are the big monsters, and it delivers an abundance of big monster action. The film was recently released on Blu-ray/DVD, and in addition to numerous featurettes and deleted scenes the supplements include a director’s commentary.

Commentator: Jordan Vogt-Roberts (director)

1. The opening title sequence featuring WB and Legendary logos was originally meant to feature “throwbacks to 70s vector-based and illustrated company logos,” but not only could they not get them right but the companies were also “very protective of their logos.”

2. The American pilot falling out of the sun is meant to suggest Icarus, a world of myths, and the loss of mankind’s connection to them.

3. The opening on the beach is tonally inspired by the likes of The Good the Bad the Weird, and he adds that “I love the idea of this crazy David Lean movie.”

4. The title credits are done by Kyle Cooper who also did David Fincher’s Seven.

5. The image that Bill Randa (John Goodman) hands Senator Willis (Richard Jenkins) was originally of Godzilla, but he fought against that as he felt the film needed to be about Kong from the beginning.

6. Jenkins, Corey Hawkins, Toby Kebbell, and John Dykstra are all “the man.”

7. Three of his Kings of Summer stars — Nick Robinson, Erin Moriarty, and Moises Arias — appear in the background at the 12:10 mark. It was the last day of filming, and he flew them out to Hawaii for the cameo.

8. Thomas Middleditch is the voice on the phone with Brie Larson.

9. The ship named Athena is his “dumb, unnecessary” nod to Alien via the lettering font. It’s the first of several “dorky” nods in the film, and he promises to point some out while leaving others for the viewers to find.

10. Chuck Jones’ “Now Hear This” is playing in the background of the briefing scene. He’s always loved it and took advantage of this being a WB film to toss it into the movie.

11. Video games mentioned as inspirations include Shadow of Colossus, Metal Gear Solid, Journey, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Metroid, and Call of Duty.

12. He had dinner with Park Chan-wook, and the main question the Korean director had about the film had to do with how believable the flight-deck crew were on the ship.

13. Vietnam is one of his favorite countries, and he hopes the film encourages people to visit similar to how the Lord of the Rings films increased tourism to Middle Earth.

14. The helicopter occupant falling into Kong’s mouth is an homage to the 1933 film version where Kong actually ate people.

15. It was a massive undertaking to attain permission and arrange filming in Vietnam. He says this was the first American film to shoot there since 2002’s The Quiet American.

16. Directors mentioned as inspirations include Terrence Malick, Steven Spielberg, and Hayao Miyazaki.

17. Kebbell’s facial motion-capture work includes the scene where Kong munches on the squid — which yes, is obviously an Old Boy reference — and for the shot he was actually chewing Red Vines.

18. Hank Marlow’s (John C. Reilly) jacket says “Lizard Company” on it which is a nod of sorts to Travis Bickle’s jacket in Taxi Driver saying “King Kong Company.”

19. The script originally included a section where they find a “boat city” which was a steampunk-like village consisting of people who’ve washed up or capsized on the island.

20. The writing atop the record player is a design nod to the serial number and writing on the box holding the Ark of the Covenant at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark.

21. The montage showing the boat head off down the river away from the village was originally longer and set to Cat Stevens’ “Wild World.”

22. One of his main goals with the film was to create images we’ve never seen before… like a .50 caliber machine gun mounted atop a triceratops skull or Tom Hiddleston slicing prehistoric flying creatures with a katana while running through a poison cloud in a gas mask.

23. The scene where Kong approaches James Conrad (Hiddleston) and Mason Weaver (Larson) at night in the fog and has glowing eyes lead to some behind the scenes disagreements. “Somebody actually quit production over this, ‘I don’t understand it! It just doesn’t make sense to me!'”

24. He says Vietnam is ready for their version of The Raid, suggesting their film industry is growing and ready to bust out, but he’s discounting the political climate. The filmmakers behind the excellent Clash followed it up with another action film called Chinatown which was immediately banned by authorities from being shown anywhere inside or out of the country without severe consequences.

25. The post-credits scene almost didn’t make the cut as several voices felt it didn’t fit, but he argued successfully for its inclusion knowing that audiences would love the tease into the bigger monsterverse to come.

Best in Context-Free Commentary

“I love the Peanuts and Snoopy.”

“The stuff these guys do in helicopters is insane.”

“This is one of my favorite shots in the movie as it turns into a very anime like Evangelion you know long lens like several layers of parallax as you’re running by shot.”

“I love the idea of them kind of being the crackheads of the island.”

“Brie runs like a movie star.”

“That moon should not be that big, but why not.”

“Sometimes you gotta change stuff to avoid vomit.”

Final Thoughts

As flawed as the script may be there’s no denying the appeal of the imagery throughout Kong: Skull Island. It’s a visually exciting movie, and Vogt-Roberts splits his enthusiasm evenly between what we’re seeing onscreen and the people involved. He loves his cast and crew, and he’s complimentary towards them all — with the exception of Samuel L. Jackson whom he only mentions briefly a couple times before his character dies. He’s also not shy about sharing his pop culture interests from video games to anime to Asian cinema, and if you take nothing else from his numerous references know this… he *loves* Evangelion. It’s a solid track with minimal silence, and he shares a lot of information regarding the production choices making for an interesting and engaging listen.