#saul is the great-grandpa

[rynnthefangirl]

My Top 10 Favorite Breaking Bad Universe Characters

1. Howard Hamlin - this one is kinda silly bc he is much less developed than other characters, but I can’t help it. His tragedy hits so hard, it took a character whom I didn’t really care about and made him my absolute #1 fave. Rest in peace Howard you deserved better🥺💔

2. Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman - Gilligould really took a look at their whacky comic relief lawyer in Breaking Bad, and said “hmm, what if we made him the absolute most complex and fascinating character in our entire fictional universe”. And then they did.🙌

3. Jesse Pinkman - God his story hurts. He had one of the best hearts in the whole show, yet he suffered more than ANY other character. His character goes from loveably silly to absolutely heart shattering. I hope he found some peace in Alaska.❤️

4. Walter White - I just can’t help but love this horrible horrible man. He’s goofy and ridiculous, but also insane and egotistical in the most entertaining way. What a great protagonist, he’s compelling when I am rooting for him and compelling when I am praying for his downfall.

5. Chuck McGill - IMO, the best antagonist in the whole BrBa universe. The Jimmy vs Chuck storyline was TOP TIER, Chicanery was a masterpiece of an episode, Lantern and Winner are just dripping with tragedy and sorrow and what-if's. And it's all because of Chuck. Rip Chuck, you may have been a prick but damn if you didn’t make this show the brilliant piece of television that it was.

6. Kim Wexler - no character gives me more mixed feelings than Kim. I always liked her in the early seasons, then I despised her in s6a, then my heart broke for her in s6b, and now I retroactively have so much more love and sorrow for her earlier self because there was so much good there and she could have been so much better and GOD Kim is such a tragic, amazing, well written character.

7. Skyler White - oh my god, my poor wife. You deserved so much better than what the audience gave you all those years. You were a queen, and so right about everything, and I am so sorry I didn’t see it before but now I will defend you until my dying day❤️❤️❤️

8. Lalo Salamanca - he’s just so insane and silly and entertaining. He steals every scene he’s in, and in my opinion added some desperately needed charm and charisma to the cartel side of the show. Legit was rooting for him against Gus, even though he killed my boy Howie and I knew he was doomed to fail.

8. Nacho Varga - Like Jesse, he went through so much despite having one of the most decent hearts on the show, and it all culminated in such a tragic yet powerful death scene. And I love love love the idea of the curse of Nacho Varga dooming Gus, the Salamancas, and the Cartel for their sins. His ghost looms over Breaking Bad, and makes both shows much richer as a result.

9. Cheryl Hamlin - she fascinates me, we see very little of her and yet I loved her scenes and want to know more. I'll also not tolerate Cheryl slander, we don't know what was going on in her and Howard’s marriage, and in the end she stood up for him when nobody else did.

10. Mike Ehrmantraut - to be honest, I'm not the biggest Mike fan. Not because there is anything wrong with his character per se, but I find it a bit annoying how the fandom idolizes him as a loveable grandpa/moral criminal when he actually is kind of horrible and not all that different from Walter. That being said, I do love what they were going for in BCS, showing his slow corruption as he keeps going back into the world of crime to avoid dealing with his grief for his son's death, culminating in that amazing scene where the show calls him on his hypocrisy and Manual Varga tells him 'you gangsters and your justice, you are all the same'. I just wish it was explored more explicitly in the narrative and fandom the way that Walt and Jimmy's moral corruptions are.

[eddiiiieeee]

currently me and my ex (lets call him Eddie cuz i dunno what else to name him) that i mentioned are friends. but ive recently started dating this great guy (lets call him Saul (he's a big rock fan and adores Slash like me so) yk) anyway, Eddie disappeared for a good week claiming he was busy studying for his IELTs and sleeping during our half term break from school, on a thursday i told him about this guy ive been talking to (Saul). and he asks how old he is and i tell him oh 17-18 and he freaks out saying thats a large age gap (literally not cuz im the same age) so he ends up dipping again once i change the convo and when we get back to school on monday he replies and hes being sort of weird and his texts seem aggressive and i told my friends and my music teacher (my music teachers like my school dad) and they all thought he was jealous because of it and i just felt so angry because i know for a fact i didnt give Eddie my everything, my feelings, myself, my soul, just for the second i even decide to move on and like someone else, he gets jealous, so i decided to wait for him to talk to me, he never did, not even in school he completely avoided me and pretended to not hear me and his excuse was hes been diagnosed with diabeties on top of his already diagnosed but not medicate for, BPD. and then my mom caught me sending my boyfriend, Saul, like semi nudes (like yk swimsuit type pics). and she found out about me and Eddie because she didnt know and so i had my friends log into my instagram account to monitor it for me cuz my mom had access to my phone and all my accounts and my laptop. she ended up ripping all my posters off my door, taking my guitars, pictures that were hung in my room and my record player. shes also before found out about my scars and smashed all my vinyls. so me and her are good now, we're mending our relationship but the only way ive been talking to Eddie is through email and ive been talking to Saul through a secret snap account because she blocked him everywhere and will open my phone sometimes to go through it. basically ive been stripped of everything, saul understood full heartedly when i told him i wont be sending anymore pictures. and it just made me breakdown, because he told me that it didnt matter to him because as long as he gets to talk to me, and hear my voice and see those small snaps i send him everyday then it doesnt matter to him. like he told me he loves me a few days ago. and yet when Eddie said it, he told me he meant it in a 'ur cool' way. like who the fuck does that! anyway todays my grandpas one year, today marks the day my grandpa died and i emotionally shut down. everytime i saw that ive broken down, it just means i freeze up and stop talking, last time i felt something that deep to cry again since my grandpa was when Eddie broke up with me. and its like what the fuck. there is a shit ton i havent mentioned here yet, but theyre very main key points to the eddie story im writing and so i wont mention them rn, but also a little reminder, the titles of the chapters are actually songs you should listen to while reading the chapter

[csauls]

Henry W. Sauls

My grandfather, Pastor Henry W. Sauls was an amazing man! He was known for being an excellent husband, Father, Preacher, prophet, grandad and just a great man overall! He served in the military in Richmond, VA!

He served in the Glorious Church of God in Christ. We enjoyed hearing him preach, holding his ear, jumping off of the pulpit, praying for people and spending time with all of the kids in church in his big van on weekends!

He used to make me to sing the same song….all the time and he let me wear pants in the winter!

I enjoyed going to conventions and special services in West Virginia, Richmond, VA, Roanoke, Brooklyn, NY and other cities and states! I really enjoyed going to Saint Beulah with Bishop Davis in Richmond, VA or whn Saint Beulah came to Glorious. They always had such great musicians!!

To this day, there are awesome people in Glorious Church of God in Christ and I am glad to still be connected.

People that knew my grandfather knew much more about him than I can share in this post as I only had a few years with him!

He was a legend and I celebrate him during this time of Black History! Definitely love and miss my Grandpa!

Please feel free to share your stories about Henry W. Sauls!

Remember to respect and celebrate great people! . . . .

happyblackhistorymonth

[themovieblogonline]

The Best Bingo Scenes in Movies

A suited and booted James Bond cutting through an opulent casino before pausing at the baccarat table is a movie cliché. For most of us, the closest we’ll get to a luxury casino is a night at the bingo, but you don’t get many of those to the pound in Hollywood.  Even if you’ve never darkened the doors of a brick-and-mortar bingo hall, everyone’s familiar with the accessibility and community-minded spirit of bingo. But times have changed, these days the bingo hall is somewhat of an anachronism. There are now loads of online bingo sites that do a fantastic job of replicating the live experience for a new generation of players. And while many ‘live’ bingo halls are in decline, the old-school bingo experience has left a profound legacy. If you know where to look, of course…  So, join us now as we explore some classic bingo scenes in four movies and one award-winning TV Show. We’ll get onto that later, let’s kick off with one for the kids. Hotel Transylvania (2012) This animated offering from Sony Pictures was nominated for ‘Best Animated Feature Film’ at the Golden Globes. It stars Adam Sandler as Count Dracula, but the scene stealer is surely the little bingo skulls, whispering their value to the caller.  What’s great about the scene isn’t just the payoff (no spoilers here!) It’s the bingo hall with its amazing characters. Sure, it’s not the most flattering depiction of a bingo game, but it literally screams ‘fun’! Cocoon (1985) It’s funny how, these days, we barely think of a movie after its cinema/TV run has passed. This has a lot to do with the sheer quantity of choices we have in our modern age, which means that former classics can get lost, even forgotten. Cocoon is a prime example, it was a smash hit in its heyday with a sterling cast that includes Dom Ameche, Wilford Brimley, and Hume Cronyn. The plot revolves around a bunch of old guys who are suddenly rejuvenated after a visit to an alien-infested swimming pool. The bingo scene in the movie is a poignant one, and we’re not even going to explain how or why. If you want to learn more, you must see Cocoon, and if you don’t, you still must see Cocoon! Full Monty (1997) The ‘bingo scene’ in The Full Monty is more than the sum of its parts because it doesn’t really exist. Instead, the bingo hall provides the backdrop for a troupe of unemployed steelworkers with a new career, testing out their striptease routine! What’s interesting about the scene is that it takes us back to a time and a place that seems to have disappeared. A time when the bingo hall was for many people, women especially, a huge part of their lives.  It’s a fondly remembered place too, there is nothing cynical or condescending here, just a really funny scene with a great bingo-related pay-off. One of the great British films of the 90’s the Full Monty will be, for many, a trip down memory lane.  Bad Grandpa (2013) Bingo is often depicted in movies and TV shows as a game played by older citizens, indeed, bingo in certain circumstances can almost be shorthand for ‘old’. Of course, in our modern, online world bingo is enjoyed by everyone/anyone, but as late as 2013, bingo still had a geriatric stigma. Most younger people still see traditional bingo as a game that older people play. An excellent example of this perception being exploited to the max is Bad Grandpa, brought to you by the guys that created Jackass, which is all you need to know.  Jonny Knoxville himself donned prosthetics to play a curmudgeonly old widow, and one of the funniest scenes in the movie takes place at the bingo hall. Whether or not his fellow players knew it was Knoxville in disguise is anyone’s guess, but it doesn’t matter either way. Hilarious! Better Call Soul (2015) We mentioned one award-winning TV show earlier, and you’ve got it. For those in the know, this might be one of the best TV shows ever -if you’ve never heard of this Breaking Bad side hustle, get stuck in.  Bob Odenkirk plays Saul, a decidedly dodgy lawyer down on his luck who, at one point, finds himself as a bingo hall caller. And at just over five minutes long this is one of TV's greatest scenes in the past decade. The acting, casting, direction, attention to detail -everything- is outstanding. Even when enjoyed without plot context the bingo scene is quite brilliant, but you’re urged to watch the whole show that concluded August 15, 2022. So, when it comes to the best bingo scenes in movies, the TV scene in Better Call Saul hits the jackpot!   Read the full article

[guessimate]

Today we’re playing the Venditor family – the new merchants in town. I already introduced them in this post.

I got a plague ROS and the family fell sick with the flu for 3 days. I don’t have the more realistic sickness mod, so it wasn’t a death sentence, but they had to stay home. I didn’t worry about the kids, as I don’t think children can die of the flu and I couldn’t infect the toddler.

It makes sense they would fall sick in a new place, and also it’s autumn, so there are a lot of germs in the air.

Everyone but Ysella combatted their illness within a day, but because it took a longer time for her to get better, grandpa Sayed got infected again, but they were fine by Thursday (the toddler’s birthday) anyway. They all got well quite quickly, but I decided against the idea of infecting them again once Saul aged up, as I really wanted them to go to their business at least once.

Because of this ROS little Saul was able to learn all his toddler skills. Mother taught him to walk, grandfather - to talk, grandmother helped him with the potty, and even his big brother helped by singing the Nursery Rhyme with him.

The kids went to school only once, but I’ll still teleport them over to the Church so that they can meet some other merchant & gentry kids.

~*~

They sold some goods that the previous merchants left, but I don’t want to restock all of the expensive décor all the time. I want to focus on reselling harvestables and other goods bought from other families.

I thought it would make sense to introduce laundry now after the plague has struck, so I put some soap in the store as well. I put some cologne and jewelry on the lot, and more groceries to stock the fridge with.

I would like to have servants come here and get some shopping done, at least the groceries and the soap for doing the laundry.

I’ll probably make them go to their bazaar only once a week so that they won’t get too rich too quickly.  

~*~

Sayed inherited like 990$ from his lover, Euphrosina, but it really doesn’t matter, as I had to set their money when they were first opening the business.

They ended up with earnings of 7704$ [7489$ + some random bonus of 215$ one of the kids got at school]. They had 8704$ in the bank, as merchants start with 1000$ after the initial stocking.

2000$ – rent.

1541$ – tax.

= 3550$ to the Royal Family who has earned 149,050$ so far in this town.

770$ – tithe, rounded up to 800$. The Church has accumulated 25,050$ to date.

They dug up just a bone.

They’re left with 4354$. Hopefully that’s enough to get some goods from the townsfolk next round... if there is anything to sell, because it will be winter. Let’s hope winter comes early!

~*~

Grandma Safiya – despite her romantic nature – makes for a great wife and she isn’t suspecting that her husband is meeting other women behind her back. She was happy to cook for the family when they were sick, and to do laundry after the illness. She even rolled to get some cleaning skill points, even though she’s quite a slob, and she wanted to cook as well.

~*~

Elvira Croix, the “insane” noble lady came over and invited herself in, probably to try to mend her friendship with the family, which is very important to her as a Popularity sim. Maybe she knew one of Ysella’s children would be aging up, so she expected a birthday party. The Venditors really didn’t expect more guests, but Enrique Avesnes followed Elvira and they stayed at the merchant house for a while. 

Maybe the townsfolk are confused because nobody was leaving the house for a while due to the illness or they expected the house to be vacant after the Emeres had moved out?

[lookninjas]

Okay, so with about an hour to go on the poll, these are the songs and where they stand:

EDITED BECAUSE IT CHANGED

"I'm a million years old" makes a great mantra when you think about it. (2.3%) -- "Champion," Warpaint

Dave and Martin's harmonies are fucking magic on this one. (2.3%) -- "Peace," Depeche Mode

Shirley and the boys break survival down to the basics. (4.7%) -- "The Trick is to Keep Breathing," Garbage

Sometimes you just need a really good Latvian love song. (4.7%) -- "Saules Stari," Citi Zēni

God, the worst winters really do feel untenable sometimes. (4.7%) -- "The Crow," Dessa

Starting the zen process by JUST FUCKING SCREAMING WITH TRENT (9.3%) -- "We're in This Together," Nine Inch Nails

When in doubt, let Uncle Robert sing you a pirate lullaby. (9.3%) -- "Pirate Ships," The Cure

An intriguing mix of piano, cello, and Pavlovian muscle relaxers (9.3%) -- "2 Ravens," Roger O'Donnell

Anti-racist grandpas are doing fine actually, and so are you, promise. (11.6%) -- "I Don't Mind Failing in This World," the Specials

Sometimes you just need a really good cover of a 90s love song. (11.6%) -- "Breathless," Caroline Polachek

Maybe it's not more queer or iconic than the original, but to equal is enough (14%) -- "Freedom," Christine and the Queens

Starting the zen process by indulging my inner thirteen year-old (17.1%) -- "Shameika," Fiona Apple

I have a rough playlist right now, but I'll hold off until the votes are all in, in case something changes (it's all ties right now, so). I should be able to post it on my lunch break, though. Hopefully.

As mentioned, it's been a fucking week. Here are some songs that I find, for whatever reason, instantly relaxing. Pick one using a bad description. If you want to know what a song is, ask and I shall answer.

At the end of the week, there'll be a playlist (just in time for HELL WEEKEND HELL WEEKEND HELL WEEKEND [I work retail]). Songs will go in order from fewest votes to most votes. If you would like to be reminded of the playlist, let me know and I will tag you.

And please reblog the poll! Seriously, it's polls. It's the one thing on this website we actually want to break containment.

[jovalencia]

and I know nobody asked and nobody wanted to know about my great grandpa but in addition to being the nicest guy I’ve ever met in my life, he also survived his entire family dying of hepatitis when he was a kid in rural montana in the 1930s and went to school and didn’t speak any english but fucking schooled those bitches at algebra and met my grandma and was married to her for 69 years and had six kids and spent his whole life providing for them and avoiding getting drafted for the war like three times and he adopted my mom and raised her all while somehow having a lifetime of cooky drunken adventure stories and he always had food from his garden to give you and tools from his garage of treasures to give to you (you could never borrow from him he would just give you one of his ten shovels and no I’m not hyperbolizing be hen I say he had at least five of each tool and like fifteen shovels) and despite the fact that he worked in like. fuckin factories and construction and shit he never had to go to the hospital once until he was a month shy of his 90th birthday. very legendary to me. then better call saul had to go ahead and name a villain after him. fucked up.

[victorie552onepiecespeedrun]

Reading One Piece pt 186: Everyone Crashes Barbeque Party

Chapter 433

Thoughts:

- Fpos/cs: “Someone’s in the hole�� True, and they appear to be unconscious

- “You’re my grandson! That’s why I won’t capture you! That’s what I’ll write on my report! Stay as long as you want!” “Let’s just write they got away.” Grandpa Garp really is something else :D

- “I’m leaving” “Ok, bye” :D

- YOU HURT YOUR GRANDPA’S FEELINGS LUFFY :D

- Yeah, they’re very much related, Nami

- Ok, so there’s only Coby and Helmeppo now. Luffy went to talk with them but Zoro didn’t. You could interact with people sometimes, Zoro

- Straw Hats really went and took a break :) They need it

- Some of marines warships can cross the Calm Belt, huh (Luffy asked Coby how they got to the Grand Line if not by Reverse Mountain)

- Kairouseki again. It’s like a magic stone I swear. Stops DF users, makes ships invisible to monsters, what next

- Also, Nami is totally spying at them

- Dr. Vegapunk? Will it be relevant?

- They’re happy :D

- “Luffy-san! Do you know what the latter half of this Grand Line is called? People know the last part of the sea that goes beyond the Red Line by the name:…” ?

- “…The “New World”” !!!

- I heard it before! So that’s what that means!

- “A sea where people who will begin the next generation gather! Whoever conquers this sea will become the Pirate King! Luffy! Let’s meet again over there!” !!! This is great!

- “…and I will be Admiral!” you go Coby, dream big!

- Aww, he got embarrassed :D

- Luffy believes in him of course

- “Are you still a crybaby, Coby?” Yes, he is

- “Luffy, did you just… create another great enemy?” “Coby’s a man of his word. I know it.” They seem pretty happy about it. They’re weird guys like that

- Feeding time! And Sogeking is here!

- Ok, is it a chapter where Usopp Situation is finally resolved or what

- (I can’t believe Galley-ga Company has swimming pool just for its employees. Talk about perks)

- Ok, literary everyone crashed on Straw Hats barbeque party right now. Frankies, Galley-ga, Iceberg, giants, horses, Franky, you name it

- “IT’S A FEAST!”

- I love post-adventure parties, they’re the best

- !!!!

- Aokiji is here! What does he wants from Robin

- “Why didn’t you run away?” “I changed” she did, she’s not alone anymore

- “The giant who fought for Ohara 20 years ago… Saul… we were… very good friends.” Oh?

- “It was my duty to observe what you do with your life…” I wanted to be proud of you right now, Aokiji, but I just realized that if you were taking care of Robin, you could secretly take her in, not leave her for 20 years to fend for herself

- Oh, it’s an confession

- “I decided that I could no longer leave a ticking bomb like you roam free” SHE WAS 8!!! NOT YOU TOO, AOKIJI

- “One who hasn’t found a place to harbour herself… and is still wandering around even after 20 years” and whose fault is that? Ok, let bygones be bygones, I’m letting it go

- “Most of all… I thought you just wanted to die… I… I intended to but everything about Ohara to an end this time.” …alright, at least you’re honest

- “Of course I never expected CP9 to fall…” haha

- “…Did you finally find a place to harbour herself?” “…Yes”

- “Then live your life to the fullest… Ohara… hasn’t fallen yet.”

- And he vanishes. That was emotional

- (I like Aokiji, flaws and all)

- (we do see Aokiji one last time. He stole food from the feast :D Bicycle away, Admiral)

- PLOT TIME

- We’re in Holyland! Government got an emergency on their hands

- Grand Line! Apparently Shanks contacted Whitebeard! That’s good!

- WHITEBEARD

Another chapter filled with wonders :D

rOP 185  rOP 187

[damnicantcontroltheweather]

Today is remembrance day and I wanted to share some pictures of the people in my family who fought in the wars.

This is my Great-grandfather Ernest (left). He fought in WW1 and was stationed in England.

This is my great great grandpa Saul. He lived in Alberta and fought in WW1 in France.

Some other folks in my family who fought were Cyril, George and Fredrick, who fought in WW1 at the battle of Ypres together. They were from Saskatchewan and their younger brother Harold fought in WW2.

Today I remember what they did for all of us and I remember what all of the folks who fought and died did for us.

Lest we forget.

Nov. 11. 2020.

[katiewattsart]

DOMESTIC SPACE LECTURE

Alec Soth – The Reverend and Margaret’s Bedroom, 2002

André Kertész , “La Fourchette, 1928”

King Solomon (Egg Slicer), 1941, André Kertész

Bowl with Sugar Cubes, 1928, André Kertész

In 1952 Kertesz and Elizabeth moved to Fifth Avenue. Their 12th floor apartment had a small terrace that commanded a view over Washington Square Park directly below, and Kertesz had a broad view to the south and west. He began a series of work from his windows and terrace.

William Eggleston

On May 25, 1976, Eggleston made his MoMA debut with a show of 75 prints, titled "William Eggleston’s Guide." It was the first solo show dedicated to colour photographs at the museum; colour photography’s mainstream acceptance still faced a barrier. But where other photographers like Shore and Saul Leiter had tried, to varying degrees of success, to crack it, Eggleston wielded a hammer. The show and its accompanying monograph would become landmark moments in the history of photography.

Born in 1939 In Memphis, Tennessee

William Eggleston assumes a neutral gaze and creates his art from commonplace subjects: a farmer's muddy Ford truck, a red ceiling in a friend's house, the contents of his own refrigerator. In his work, Eggleston photographs "democratically"--literally photographing the world around him. His large-format prints monumentalize everyday subjects, everything is equally important; every detail deserves attention.

Getty Museum

William Eggleston, 1971

William Eggleston, Untitled, 1980, from Louisiana Project

Sian Bonnell

Everyday Dada & When the Domestic Meets the Wild

Everyday Dada

When the Domestic Meets the Wild, Sian Bonnell

Nigel Shafran

Shafran has chosen to concentrate his work on what he knows best, on what he understands more then anyone else: his own life - the most personal relationships, the most familiar spaces and objects, the most ordinary, everyday situations. His work is about preserving identity and uniqueness: it quietly records what is unique to him. As he has said: ‘My photographs are the ones that only I can make.'

David Chandler, Director, Photoworks.

Washing-up 2000

4th January 2000. Three bean soup, cauliflower vegetable cheese. Morning coffee and croissants.

30th January 2000. Flowers for Lillie Donaldson’s 13th birthday. Crumpets and rosehip tea, left-over squash, pepper soup, homemade pizza.

19th February 2000. Toast, smoked salmon sandwich, Thai coconut veg and rice with Dave [Ruth at Charlotte’s tonight].

27th June. Muesli, cheese sandwich at darkroom, Ruth back from Leeds, vegetarian restaurant, Blah blah blah, Shepherds Bush.

The photographer Walker Evans said a great thing: that he worked rather blindly. I don't like to think too much about what I do either. When inspiration comes, I try not to get in the way. My work is about a build-up of images, often in sequences. There is a connection between them all. Basically, I'm a one-trick pony: it's all life and death and that's it.

(Shafran, 2010)

A Room for Solace: An Exhibition of Domestic Interiors

Alec Soth, the acclaimed took on the role of curator for: A Room for Solace: An Exhibition of Domestic Interiors. This is a collection of images that depict intimacy via interiors. Central to the exhibition is the idea of respite, and how by capturing private scenes photographers are able to present a view of the world that is just as powerful as a public image. Photographers have long sought out domestic spaces as subjects, and it is the relevance of such images in the context of uncertain times that Soth hones in on with A Room for Solace.

Belle Hutton, AnOther Journal, 2019

Sirkka Liisa Konttinen, Emma Dowds (Step by Step series), 1982

Fred Herzog, My Room, Harwood Street, 1958

Laura Letinsky, Untitled #38 from the series Hardly More Than Ever, 2001

Elliot Erwitt, Valencia, Spain, 1952

Margaret Watkins, The Kitchen Sink, 1919

René Magritte / Paul Nougé, Intérieur de Paul Nougé, en arriere plan “Portrait de Paul Nougé”; (1927), c. 1928.

Takashi Yasumura, A Doorknob Cover, 2000

Chris Verene, Untitled, from Galesburg series, 1994 “Grandpa and I went to visit his friend, Turney, at the Millionaire’s Rest Home. They used to work on the railroad together.”

“With this exhibition, I want to take a break from the fractious public square of photography and wander quietly into people’s homes,” the photographer writes in a statement about the exhibition. “Behind these doors I hope to find a sliver of solace in these unstable times.”

Alec Soth

Rebecca Norris Webb, Homestead Blizzard (from My Dakota) 2010

TASK

You will ...

• Research an established photographer whose work examines ‘Domestic Space’

• Write a short analysis of the project you have chosen

• Recreate one photographic image as an ‘Homage’ to your chosen artist

• Upload your researched image, a short synopsis of their work, and your photographic response, to a shared slide presentation to present on 21st May.

My response:

[eretzyisrael]

I was going to start with the words “I won’t claim to be impartial where Israel’s concerned” – but then I wondered, why bother? Most people aren’t. To everyone from the BBC (I take great delight in being the only guest ever on Desert Island Discs to pick the Israeli national anthem) to the UN (more resolutions against it than any other state, just the kind of judgment one expects from a body which recently appointed Iran to the women’s rights panel), Israel is portrayed as the source of all unrest in a region that would otherwise be a paradise of peace-loving, civil‑rights‑respecting countries all rubbing along together.

Then, on the other hand, there’s my small band, the philo-Semites, who, if we were forced to find one fault with Israel, it would be that there’s not enough of it. We range from Mark Twain through Marilyn Monroe to Helen Mirren; much anti-Semitism comes from envy, so it stands to reason that we Philos tend to be quite an impressive lot.

I’m an especially extreme one; indeed, when asked my opinion of various general elections, I have annoyed Israeli friends with the admittedly unsophisticated answer: “Whoever wins, we win!” The Middle East expert, Julie Lenarz, said it better last week: “Election day in Israel – a day to celebrate the fact that a people persecuted and killed for centuries have built a home in which to determine their own fate. It’s the ultimate defeat of Nazism.”

And there in the middle of their haters and their cheerleaders are the Israelis, just trying to be a country like any other, rather than a symbol of good or evil. They’re doing pretty well; just over 70 years since the ancient homeland of the Jews was reclaimed, they are already the 10th oldest uninterrupted democracy in the world. This is a country where army generals run as centrist candidates, rather than plan coups and revolutions. 13th Happiest Country, 10th Healthiest Country, 7th Best Place to be Gay, 3rd Most Educated – and, of course, the number one “Start-Up Nation”.

The book of the same name – by Dan Señor and Saul Singer, published a decade ago – asked why it was that a country the size of Wales, surrounded by enemies, with no natural resources, produces more start-up companies than large, peaceful, stable nations like Japan and Canada, to the point where it has a larger venture capital industry per capita than literally any other country in the world.

They came up with two main reasons: immigration (“Immigrants are not averse to starting from scratch – they are by definition risk-takers”) and the uniquely disrespectful set-up of the Israel Defence Forces, where military service is mandatory (“If you’re a junior officer, you call your higher-ups by their first names, and if you see them doing something wrong, you say so. Taxi drivers can command millionaires and 23-year-olds can train their uncles… Israeli forces regularly vote to oust their unit leaders”).

Here in Europe, however, whereas other forms of racism fade with each generation, anti‑Semitism has recruited new blood through the medium of anti-Zionism, leading to the upsurge of what I named “Fresh’n’Funky Fascism” – the Left-wing kind that thrives on university campuses, as opposed to the fading Right-wing, golf-club type. With typical stupidity, anti-Zionists claiming they’re not anti-Semites only make Zion stronger by sending their nation’s Jews fleeing there when the abuse gets too much. Good work, Magic Grandpa!

In an age of victim-virtue, Israel refuses the invitation to the self-pity party, and to me this is another secret of their success.

I asked an Israeli: “How do you feel about the boycotts?”, and he laughed: “We never think about the boycotts – we’ve got more important things to get on with.” They had to go home and go big. And how quickly they’ve progressed from being a few dispossessed people in a desert, while all around them there is a ceaseless reversal of human rights, from the brutality of Brunei to the self‑inflicted tragedy of the Arab Spring.

Their space-shot may have crash landed – but the start-up nation can’t be stopped.

[soysaucevictim]

Yeah, I have not been all that consistent at all of late... :/

-

Apr 21

Got up a bit early today, roughly 11AM, to prep to go with the family for Easter Dinner.

It was okay, I only ate potato salad and some chips (not a fan of ham.) Talking with grandpa did hit a nerve... and I guess for the whole day I was kind of agitated and anxious for it. To quote a bit of my tweets on that one:

I think my final, lingering thoughts sum things up - if America was ever truly great, we wouldn't need civil rights movements. Not that I think that was worth my energy. The man's got a condescension streak.

... I don't really like talking with him at all. It's been that way for ages. Blah.

... since he talked about how people don't learn to be American... and I'm like, "we have such a deeply fundamental disconnect here... and I don't know where to begin.

Got on some other spiels at home related to some of those issues on Twitter too... but yeah. I know I should let this shit go by now - but I think it’s important I write it down for context.

I did basically nothing else other than gaming and watching YouTube the rest of the day.

-

Apr 22

Got up a bit after 2PM, again.

Same old gaming/YouTube noise for the vast majority of my day. Only thing productive I did today was doing some dishes, showering, and catching up on my DDs.

First, yesterday’s DD. 50 folded crunches with EC. I got entirely too distracted yesterday and didn't get around to this, on time. Oops. But I enjoy this one, it's good to give the obliques some love. :D

Last, today’s DD. 10 jump knee tucks with EC. Very manageable, but I'm just glad it was only 10. :P

I otherwise poorly managed my time again, choosing to rain-check my workouts. Again. :/

-

Apr 23

I stayed up far too late to have any business going to group today.

Forgot to call in, but I did wake up fairly early to let the driver know, take my meds, and get back to bed. :/

After getting up at like 2PM, I just did the usual BS. Only productive thing I did today was my laundry. Yeah. Time slipped through my fingers, otherwise. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

-

Apr 24

Been up since almost 3PM. Nnng. My sleep schedule has gone off the rails. (Being careless about my coffee consumption of late probably being a major reason...)

Watched the first few episodes of Better Call Saul (that spin-off series from Breaking Bad) with pops, while making dinner. Also was running the usual nonsense (games & YouTube intermittently), before getting into today’s exercise.

First, yesterday’s DD. 2′ one arm plank with EC (1′/1′). No real excuse for missing this yesterday. Bad time management, but got it done now. I used my mp3 player as a timer - holding it up in front of face rather than thigh. The trembling was really noticeable.

Second, today’s DD. 10 swipers with EC. It is cool noticing exercises that used to make me go ??? get easier to coordinate. I remember when I first did these, I was a bit frustrated. Yay, for innervation and procedural memory. :D

Third, Day 25 of CG! Step jacks and march steps. Fairly uneventful, glad I got it done. But I did take 1 rest period to switch to shorts (PJ pants kept sliding off my hips after a few intervals. :I )

Fourth, Day 26 of CG! March steps, punches, and overhead punches. What can I say, I had some fun here with the punching. My legs were getting just a bit tired from doing these workouts back-to-back, but I’ve been worse off before. Didn’t need to rest, this time, even. :,D

Last, Days 25&26 of the A&CC. 4x20 pulse-ups and side-to-side tilts. The former is very deceptive, looks easy but will easily tuck the abs out (but I did have a great deal of fun with this one)! I don’t think I’ve done those tilts very often before, a bit awkward and tough, but doable.

Despite BSing so hard today, I got that done squarely at midnight. So I really should go wind down once I’ve posted this.

[dailyaudiobible]

05/07/2021 DAB Transcript

1 Samuel 1:1-2:21, John 5:1-23, Psalms 105:37-45, Proverbs 14:28-29

Today is the 7th day of May welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I am Brian it’s great to be here with you today on this 7th day of May. We concluded the book of Ruth yesterday. So, that means were heading into some new territory. And in the books of Samuel, we’ll begin to migrate out of the time of the judges and into the time of the monarchy.

Introduction to the book of First Samuel:

Samuel is the last judge of Israel. He's also a prophet. He's also a priest. He’s also monumental figure in the Bible, but he's speaking with a voice as prophet, priest, this kind of voice speaking for God. This is something that the people were more accustomed to under Moses leadership. So, we’ll begin today, and we’ll begin just getting to know Samuel's story. And then the story of his birth. And then before Samuel's time is done, before we’ve finished the stories of Samuel, we’ll be lead all the way to Israel's first monarch because it's Samuel that will anoint king Saul. And then we will spend some time with Israel's first king Saul, which will challenge us in a manner…in a number of ways to look at the parallels in our own lives, and then eventually we’ll meet David. And Samuel plays a role in David's life as well. And then we’ll be kinda getting to know David a bit through his poetry and songs found in the book of Psalms. But we’ll get to know his life and his story, and his life and story will also teach us remarkable things about ourselves. So, there are two books of Samuel - first and second Samuel. And followed by that we will read first and second Kings. And this is a good time to just point out that there…originally there wasn't first and second Samuel, first and second Kings. These were all grouped together as one text. So, eventually the…what we know as the Old Testament was translated into Greek and we call that the Septuagint, which was around the time of Jesus. Then the books were divided into four different parts. And these were known as the books of the kingdoms. Then later, the same Hebrew text, the Old Testament as we know it now was then translated into Latin. It was called the Vulgate and then these four texts became the books of the Kings. So, at this time then we’re looking at First Kings Second Kings Third Kings and Fourth Kings. So, First and Second Samuel, what we’re about to start reading was then known as First and Second Kings. You get it? Like, I know this is confusing. So, First and Second Samuel was at one time First and Second Kings and then there was a Third and Fourth Kings, which is now First and Second Kings. And, so, this all changed ultimately to what…what we are more familiar with, the books of Samuel and the books of Kings when the King James Bible was created in 1611. Unless we think that 1611 was so long ago, that's like 400 years 400 and change years ago in a tradition that goes back thousands and thousands of years. But anyway, our Bible now reads First and Second Samuel and then First and Second Kings. And, so, that's what we’ll be reading starting with First and Second Samuel here in about a few seconds. Let’s just remember the territory that we’ve come out of as we’ve come out of judges. Israel had no king. Everybody was doing what was right in their own eyes. That is the set of circumstances that Samuel enters into the story. He’s the last judge. But as we’ll see from his story, he is a prophet and he’s speaking directly for God and the people listen. And, so, with that we begin. First Samuel chapter 1 verse 1 through chapter 2 verse 21.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Your word and we thank You for this new…this new territory that we’re getting to settle into with the story of Samuel that will lead us to other stories of people that we need to get to know as we’re making our way through the Bible. And, so, thank You for Your word and for bringing us to this point. We’ve been traveling in a specific direction for so long that now we’re seen things unfold before us as the story of the ancient Hebrews in the promised land begins to flesh itself out. And, so, as we continue to move forward on this journey, we ask that You continue to help us see what we need to see, that our lives might be informed, that the paths that we choose are informed by the stories that are found in the Scriptures. Come Holy Spirit we pray. In the name of Jesus, we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is home base, it's the website, and its where you find what's going on around here.

It's with a prayer wall lives. It's where to get connected on social media.

It's where the Shop is. Different categories in that Shop for this journey. All kinds of different resources for this journey through the Bible in a year. So, check those things out.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, if…if this community, if our seats around this Global Campfire brings light and life and good news and hope into your world than thank you for being life-giving. We wouldn't be here if we weren't here together. And…and it it's amazing that we are. And, so, thank you for your partnership. There is a link on the homepage. If you’re using the app you can press the give button in the upper right hand corner or the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And, as always, if you have a prayer request or encouragement, you can hit the Hotline button in the app, the little red button up at the top, hard to miss, or you can dial 877-942-4253.

And that's it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I'll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

[singing starts] When I look around at what the Lord offers, I begin to pray on the things that I see. I should keep my eyes on Jesus my savior He has promised every treasure to me. All that I need is my faith in Jesus. All that I need is my home above. All that I need is my Father's mercy. All that I need is my Saviors love. [singing stops] That was Emily in the UK.

Hello Daily Audio Bible family, first-time caller. My name is Isaiah. I want to send an encouragement to the mother suffering from kidney failure with the 8-year-old son. My heart was breaking when I heard her voice asking for prayer and that really blew me away a0s well as everyone else I'm sure is. Her heart for other people. And I want to reach out and say that you have an entire family praying for you. We love you. And amidst all of these trials the fact that you can still praise God is an incredible testimony to the power of our Lord Jesus Christ. So, just want you to know that I'm praying for you and your son. God bless you and thank you for this incredible Daily Audio Bible app and this family. God bless you all.

Congratulations China and Ben and for your baby Reagan the Brave. It's so awesome. Congratulations, grandma and grandpa, Jill, and little E. Just congratulations to all of you. And Brian, just such a blessing to have this baby upon us. Happy to hear the announcement. Isabel from Australia from Melbourne just congratulations you guys and praying for all you guys Daily Audio Bible. Love you’s all. Congratulations.

Hi, I'm calling…I'm calling for the father who was begging the Lord to reconnect with his daughters, with his children, one who is 20 and one who is 18 and that he has sorrow in his heart. He…he would like to reconnect with them and that the mother doesn't let him reconnect. I just want to let you know that God hears you and you…you know…you've…it touched me to so deeply this love and pain that you feel. And I know that if it touches someone like me who's in Paris and I have a dad whose sick right now and. you know. sometimes it's not easy to connect with our parents. And, you know, I'm just going to pray for you now that the path is going to be opened for you. Father, Father sweet Father heavenly Father have mercy on us. Thank You. Thank You, Father for connecting us through technology and through beautiful people like Brian and his family, for gracing us with beautiful hearts. Father, I beg You to forgive our sins, forgive my sins please hear my voice. Please hear my plea for this father who has so much love to give to his daughters. And You alone can connect and repair time. Father sometimes the difficulties in life like illnesses can help families come together. Please use this illness, this diagnosis that his father has to…

Hey, my sweet DAB family this is Kingdom Seeker Daniel. Family, I wanted to reach out to my brother Norman. Double DABber Norman first-time caller from the East Coast of Pennsylvania. Oh, my beloved brother my heart goes out to you in a major way for both the cancer diagnosis as well as the trial and the challenge that you're experiencing of not having had contact with your children with…which I so relate to, probably around the same timeframe particularly with my girls but maybe even longer. But I just wanted to encourage you to know that the Lord sees you, the Lord knows all about your struggle and he absolutely cares. And, so, I want you to just hold fast my friend, hold fast Norman. God knows and He cares. I don't know exactly how He's gonna move but I know He's at work in the lives of your children. So, let me pray for you. Father I lift up Your son Norman. God, You see both the diagnosis of cancer and the separation and the heartache of not having contact with his children for at least 10 years. God, is there anything too hard for You? We know emphatically there is nothing You cannot do. Will You show up for Norman both in his health and in the relationship break? In the name of Jesus. Amen.

So, my name is Alexander Schultz I'm Annette Marie Allison’s son and I’ll have to say that I was in a jail cell in Telluride Co and I got sent a couple of books from Mr. Brian Hardin, one of them being Sneezing Jesus. And I recall reading his story in that book talking about how Brian had gotten stranded out in the middle of the desert and he ended up in this bar where he didn't belong, and he ended up needing a ride from somebody. And this guy in this old beater truck gave him a ride and he's talking trash on this truck and it ends up being the one that he rides in. And I'm in a jail cell laughing to myself as hard as I can on lock down. And people are wondering looking in my cell, “what's going on?” And I'm here reading this story about Brian and this truck that he's riding in with this guy who's half drunk. And it just gave me…gave me a lot of encouragement right there, gave me… gave me a good an uplifting feeling to read that he had been through all this trouble and the person that he just probably didn't even want to be beside ended up being the only man who would help him. I thought I'd share that though. I thought it was pretty funny.

[nonisartblog]

All Companions Headcanons!

Kinda to make up for lost time. Mostly X6, Danse and the sole.

X6-88 and Danse Headcanons + The sole

Ughhh sorry for the late post guys. Since you all of you really liked my other headcanon, I decided to do some more.

I'll be adding a few of the other companions and my ocs. They'll get their own headcanons soon, also some of the older companions will be mentioned, because of my companions react to other companions headcanon.

Now lets get to it! -

The two are a both lovable nerds in my opinion. They're both super attractive it truly make me wonder how could they be related to Nate just seriously? X6 has great cheekbones and Danse a great smile, (they both have other great features) I just love these two sooo much.

-X6-88 and Danse are very smart probs have an intelligence over 9000, while their granpa is a goof.

-X6 hates the sun, and gets rashes just thinking about it. -Danse has worked up a tan over the years, and he kinda hates how red he is. But he was already kinda redish and tan to start with. -Nate used to wear a hood, due to his sensitivity to the sun he adjusted and got himself a tan too.

-Danse almost always turns red and gets really embarrassed when Nate refers to him as "Saul Johnfield Danse" when he's not acknowledging him. -Nate's always trying to tell X6 he loves him, X6 acts like he can't hear but the words make him melt. -Nate hates when X6 and Danse try to pat him on his head, it only makes him feel shorter.

-Danse is Italian/English (on Nate's side of the family) and Latino/Israeli/Scottish (on Nora's side of the family) -X6-88 is as well but the Italian shows up on him better (look at black italians or old italians).

-X6-88 has Nate's photosensitivity, while Danse developed Nora's near-sight.

-Both X6 and Danse enjoy sweets. -X6 sits in Loretta's drawer and eat all of her fancy lad snack cakes she got for Veronica. -Veronica fought him once... lets just say everyone ended up in Arcade's office

-They both this its weird to call Nate grandpa due to how young he looks, tbh he looks like their brother if anything.  

-Danse is 6'4 while X6-88 is around 5'10, poor Nates around 5'2 or 5'4 (poor boy).

-Danse doesn't really hate Hancock as much as he's annoyed by him, but Maccready makes jokes about Danse being jealous of the mayor's crispy golden body.

-Ada often lectures Maccready on his bad mouth and makes him put money in a swear jar. Mac always steals the money back anyway, but it gives her a new reason to shout at him:)

-Ada, Nick Valentine, Lily, Raul, Fawkes and Star Paladin Cross are a part of the mom/dad patrol. -Tbh Old Longfellow, Raul and Lily are more like the cool grandparent patrol. -And Nick, Jericho and Porter Gage are a part of the cool uncle patrol.

-Ever since Cass has came to the commonwealth, she's been subtly hitting on Danse, X6 and Arcade. -Arcade hates it.

-Ada and Old Longfellow are a cute ship to me. -They're more like very good friends, they just relate to each other on a high level.

-Preston has to force feed Mac cause he acts like he doesn't wanna eat.

-Maccready likes to make fun of other peoples bodies but really hates his own. Quinlan and Teagan kinda laugh at him cause he's always making jokes about the two having "old shrivelly man bodies" or "being disgusting old people".

-When Boone came to the commonwealth he tried to take his shades off, but got tired of people joking about his eyes or being seriously distracted by them (my boi's eyes are beautiful).

-Boone hates it there even more than the Mohave, only because more people are taller than him, even Butch. -The last time he saw The lone and him, Butch was barely 5'4 he's not that tall now but damn. -He still has more body mass than him though.

-Ravynne hates taking Loretta with her on trips cause Loretta's too distracting, always touching stuff she shouldn't, constantly disappearing and trying to put flower in her hair. -Ravynne prefers the quiet, but doesn't mind Loretta some days.

-Preston Garvey is pretty protective of his friends, even though he hate Porter Gage he took a bullet for him once. -They still act like they hate one another, but have a new found respect. -Porter Gage is tall and skinny with muscle (6'1 and 119lbs) while is kinda toned and is kinda short (around 5'5 and 120lbs).

-Codworth and K-l-e-o are a ship. -They're both a super sassy duo. -She eradicates people and he cleans up the mess (so death on top of death).

Don't think I forgot Sgt. Rl-3... -He and P-a-m are the best ship in my opinion cause opposites attract.

-After Benny shot Vince, Vince used to go back to his grave and lie down in it cause it was pretty comfy in his opinion, but thinks it disrespectful for Benny to sit and smoke around his grave. -Benny's a chain smoker...

-Ulysses is still mad at Vince, for what reason he doesn't know, but truly still believes its because of the hotwheels incident. -Ulysses is a rather beautiful man in Loretta eyes, he really is too with his long locks, deep eyes... but not to Vulpes. -Nobody cares about your opinion pretty boy sit down *all the fnv fans agree*

-Loretta and Benny went out on a date once, Danse and Vince had to come and get her cause she was ready to kill him after five minutes of being with him. -Benny has the same effect on many ladies.

-

I have more coming up, hope you guys enjoyed these ones<3

[shelleeski]

Most-Enjoyed Media 2017

An incomplete list, but here’s some stuff I enjoyed this year that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.

BOOKS

The Kingdom of Gods (N. K. Jemisin) Step Aside, Pops (Kate Beaton) Room (Emma Donoghue) The Earthsea Cycle (Ursula Le Guin) Dreamsnake (Vonda McIntyre) A Civil Campaign (Lois McMaster Bujold) The Mount (Carol Emshwiller) The House Next Door (Anne Rivers Siddons) Killers of the Flower Moon (David Grann) The Power (Naomi Alderman) Provenance (Ann Leckie) Invasive (Chuck Wendig)

MOVIES

Mommy Dead & Dearest Wonder Woman The Incredible Jessica James Josie & the Pussycats Moana Thor: Ragnarok Arrival The Last Jedi

TV

Brooklyn 99 Sweet/Vicious The Good Place Full Frontal with Samantha Bee The Kettering Incident Master of None The Keepers GLOW Better Call Saul Playing House Orphan Black Anne with an E Insecure Good Girls Revolt Catastrophe Bob’s Burgers Stranger Things Halt & Catch Fire Runaways Mindhunter

GAMES

Breath of the Wild Monument Valley 2 Stardew Valley Super Mario Odyssey

MUSIC

(artists)

Childbirth Lisa Prank Mommy Long Legs Great Grandpa Thunderpussy Jenn Champion La Luz Colleen Green Baywitch Sun Dummy Run River North Cumulus

(albums)

Michelle Branch - Hopeless Romantic Jade Bird - Something American (EP) Feist - Pleasure Lizzo - Coconut Oil (EP) Smokey Brights - Hard Candy Lorde - Melodrama

PODCASTS

Dirty John Accused Larry Wilmore: Black on the Air S-Town You Must Remember This How Did This Get Made? Zealot Levar Burton Reads

[artdjgblog]

​Innerview: Nathan Reusch​ / The Record Machine​​

October 2008

Art: DJG Design

Note: ​Interview ​for a series called "​Where Are They Now?​"​

Over the years we have gotten to work with really great creative people. After doing this for five years we want to give you guys some more insight on who has helped be a part of this label and make it what it is today. First off we have an interview with Danny Gibson of DJG Design. Danny has always been behind the scenes at TRM. He has helped create almost all of our logos and helped us with a lot of art direction and design since the begining. He also designed our very first release for Jame Dean Trio. ​0​1) Introduction I was at the historic first official meeting of The Record Machine held at McCoy’s in West Port of Kansas City, MO over half a decade ago. My say didn’t amount to much. I think my mouth was full as I was mostly positioned to eat free cheeseburgers. ​0​2) How have you been spending your days? My days are spent. Creeping on the Crow’s Feet I find that time is more easily measured in flap jack format than ever before. Something big has always been beaming and beating and I find myself blind peeping to see how far back the dogs with prickly sticks in their mouths yip, kick and nip for my heels. I do beat the crickets up at 5 am Monday thru Saturday in order to pinch a bit back. Evenings and weekends find me down slide sliver squeezes as well. I engage in making things and find some peace through all the pieces with my maker in the act of doing so. The handful of women I share space with enlightenment my walk as well…kitties and wife. Walks are good too and Fall time is the best for comfortable living in Kansas City. ​0​3) Where have you been spending your days or evenings? A bounty of selections from my basement is always on the menu. I’m easily entertained hunched over at my good ol’ door desk. In the mean time I appreciate the company of my wife, kitty hair on my clothes, celebrating all movies, well-tailored music that sometimes requires a third ear and high rise stacks of books and comics. For nourishment I scrape every pan and pot my wife cooks in. And I am the dishwasher. In the twilight occasion, a one scoop waffle cone of peanut butter ice cream at Miami Ice just down the street does me correctly. If I’m in need to see the stars or get away, the family farm isn’t too far off. ​0​4) What has been in your ears? I love big chunks of ear wax. While rockin’ to the thunder that Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band brought at Sprint Center here in KC, I had a big chunk of ear gunk fall out and it was heavenly. I’m really tickled by the musical foundations a fellow basement dweller named Micah Buzan of Blue Springs, MO is cranking out. He is only 18 and one to watch. Other Kansas City area highlights include The Tambourine Club and The ACBs, who both not only crank out some great and fresh music, but are genuinely lovely lads and don’t boast at the art of playing “rock star”. Far out of this area…I’m excited to hear more from Empire of the Sun as the single “Walking on a Dream” is some of the best dance pop I’ve heard since Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album. Which, I’ve been rattling the rafters with that ’80s gold as well whenever I tire of the Samey So-So’s of most things current. Though, there are a few great new ones and “Evil Urges” by My Morning Jackets is my favorite album so far in 2008. And I can never get enough Bruce Springsteen in my diet. Every day and sometimes every minute of the day calls for a different selection from The Boss’s healthy catalogue. I’m also into the music of Suicide lately. Oh, and I’m quite convinced that Harry Nilsson is one of our finest song craftsmen as a handful of his albums have really been making sense to me and his range is all over the map. ​0​5) What has been inspiring or refreshing to you lately? The work ethic, ideas, passion and output of singer-songwriters Harry Nilsson and Bruce Springsteen gets me going. I finished reading Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road” for the second and one half times and it is gold. I like Michael Chabon’s writing and work ethic a lot too and am spending my second Fall in his books…the same with Flannery O’Connor. In terms of arts and crafts, Saul Steinberg, Henryk Tomaszewski, Eric Carle and Bill Traylor continue to get me to smiling. Oh, and I must hand out an exclamation to fellow maker Ben Chlapek of Neversleeping.com as he is involved with a lot of lovely creations. ​0​6) Earliest Influences that you can think of? Farm Life / Giant Watermelon Patches / Giant Pumpkins / Grandaddy Long Legs / Dead Animals Under Bed / Homemade Stuffed Animals / Taxidermy / Seed Corn Packaging and Farm Implement Logos / Small Town Gas Stations / Uncle Ed’s Horse Drawing Skills / The Seasons / Fireworks / Animals Big and Little / Hunting / Dead Animal Backpack / Grandma Gibson’s Handmade Aesthetics, Checker skills, Sugar Cookies and Salmon Patties / Grandpa Gibson’s Burnt Pancakes and Old Western-Love Story Reading / The Sand Box / Tree Houses and Forts / Popping Asphalt Bubbles in Summertime / Snow Days / Hard Rains / Holidays / Fishing / Camping / Guns and War / Drawing WWII Battles with Dad / Raccoon Wall Paper / Puppets / Anything Jim Henson / Mad Magazine / Mad Balls / Garbage Pail Kids / Dr. Demento / Taping Music Off the Radio / “Live & Let Die” by Paul McCartney & Wings / Mom’s Record Pile / The Beatles / Oldies Music / ‘70s T.V. Theme Tunes / ‘80s Pop Music (Michael Jackson for sure) / Weird Al Yankovic / Ren & Stimpy / Pee-Wee’s Playhouse / Saturday Morning Cartoons / “Gummi Bears” / Comic Books / Tractor Pulls / Big Foot (Creature and Monster Truck) / “Star Wars” / “The Swiss Family Robinson” / “James Bond” / “Indiana Jones” / “Rambo” / “Commando” / “Batman” (Tim Burton) / Going to the Movies / Pizza and Tacos / Soda Pop / Flavored Frozen Pops / Kick Ball / Grandma Dayton’s Spaghetti / Racking Leaves and Riding to the Dump with Grandpa Dayton / Sports (Michael Jordan for sure) / Sports Team Mascots / Sports Stadiums / Collecting Sports Trading Cards / Skyscrapers / Cake and Ice Cream / Late Nights at Best Friend Ean’s Funeral Home House / “…red and yellow, black and white they are precious in his sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world.” / Being Alone / Cutting and Pasting / Falling Off a Slide, Hitting My Head and Blacking Out in Kindergarten ​0​7) Best thing you have seen on a little or big screen in a while? P.T. Anderson’s “Punch-Drunk Love” is my favorite movie and I just took my 8th dip with it. My favorite 2008 movie and the best rockumentary ever so far is “Young @ Heart” and close behind for top of this year is “Be Kind Rewind” and “Son of Rambow”. This Fall and Winter look to boast one of the finest crops of films…I’m highly anticipating “The Road”, “The Wrestler”, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”, “Synecdoche, NY”, “The Changeling” and many others. Other great watches of late (old and new) include “The Tin Drum”, “Hoop Dreams”, “It’s A Wonderful Life”, “The Wicker Man” (1973), “Sorry, Haters”, “The Seven Year Itch”, “The Cars That Ate Paris”, “Don’t Look Now”, “Dark Days”, “Rat Catcher”, “The King of Kong”, “Alice”, “Dear Wendy” and “The Band’s Visit”. On the small screen, “Planet Earth” is mind-blowing worship that demands for me to invest in a projector for the future. In T.V. Land this summer I discovered and fell in love with “Beauty & The Geek”. I’m excited for the cool new sci-fi show with cool typography called “Fringe” and another season with the excellent “How I Met Your Mother”. Currently I’m backtracking through the entire series of “Sex & The City” and am absolutely loving it and can’t wait to get the movie! Oh, and the live Broadway production of “The Drowsy Chaperone” is gold genius and made me cry. ​0​8) Last best show you have been to? Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band in Kansas City on August 24, 2008. It is the best show I’ve ever seen, even better than two previous Boss concerts. Sprint Center is now officially called Spring Center. I can’t wait for the Super Bowl half-time… ​0​9) Any links to things you want to pass along? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYwhvD2-fYw 10) The Final Word? (one word only please) GRILLEDCHEESETOMATOSOUP -djg