Flaming Pablum

Rest in Peace, Rick

After Kiss, Pink Floyd were one of my "favorite bands" for a great while (before discovering the volatile joys of Punk Rock) and I hungrily gobbled up and summarily memorized virtually their entire catalog (you can read more about my Floyd fandom here). Floyd keyboardist/vocalist Rick Wright succumbed to cancer today. Pour one out for the great man.

The Squabble

A rare moment of disharmony with Charlotte & Oliver  

Save Galveston

The wife and I are sitting here watching the news of Hurricane Ike and the prognosis for Galveston isn't good. As I mentioned earlier today, I have a hard time picturing this placid haven away from the hustle and bustle under such catastrophic circumstances. Ike is slated to officially make landfall within the next two hours. I pray that the place survives. In tribute, herewith some pics from our lovely stay on its comely shores earlier this year. I only wish I'd taken more pictures of its streets, its shops and its people. May they all still be intact tomorrow.

Oh Yes!

I Dislike Ike

 

 

While I make no secret of my overarching disdain for the "red states" (or, really, anywhere in the U.S. that isn't New York City), I have to say that my heart truly goes out to the good folks of Galveston, Texas today as they prepare to suffer the wrath of Hurricane Ike. I've actually spent a decent amount of time in Galveston (most recently this past December), and found the place to be lovely and the people to be warm and friendly. It's hard to imagine that peaceful, picturesque area my family vacationed in suddenly under such terrifying siege.  The city has famously survived such calamities before. Here's hoping Ike runs out of steam before too much damage occurs.

Nominate Devo!

Not that the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame means a damn thing (just ask the Stooges), but I'm all about Devo getting their damn due, so do your part. Nominate Devo. Duty Now for the Future, Spuds!

See, It's Not Just Me!

Testify!!! 

Oh Crumbs!

I'm not quite sure why the one over on Eighth Street doesn't suffice, but evidently Crumbs is opening another outlet on University Place, soon to occupy a space formerly held by a long-time Chinese laundry service between 13th and 14th streets. I never gave said shop my patronage (it being simply too far to lug my shirts from 9th street), but I liked the fact that it had hung in there for all these years, looking entirely unchanged since the 1970s or possibly before. In any event, they were forced out and another characterless chain is moving in. Thrills. 

The Palin Polemic Continues

One former GOP senator thinks Sarah Palin is 'a cocky wacko.'

And Matt Damon thinks...., well, I'll let him speak for himself. For what it's worth, he's SPOT ON!

And, lastly, THIS GUY is positively my hero!

Seven Years Later

Seven years later, I don't have too much to add to what I'd written on the previous anniversaries of September 11th, 2001. There's be no real progress in terms of re-building (and, again, let's please not call it a "Freedom Tower" if it ever gets built). Those responsible for that day's events are still at large. The tragedy is still used as a political football (especially by the party of the administration on whose watch it happened), which is morally reprehensible on more levels than can be quantified. Personally speaking, I don't detect a great deal of healing or closure of any meaningful kind.

As I mentioned on the previous anniversaries, the most resonant aspect of September 11th for me isn't that it was a blow against our freedom -- or any other sort of sweeping patriotic platitude that would fit nicely on a flag-shaped lapel pin or crying bald eagle t-shirt -- it's that it was the day a friend of mine from high school was killed, Michael J. Armstrong. He would have just turned 41 last month. You can read more about Mike here.

If I recall correctly, I took the below photo of Mike sometime in 1985 or so. He was making some extra money by being a fill-in doorman at a building on East 86th Street, and after he spoke of how goofy he felt his uniform was, I felt compelled to capture it on film. For years after I took this shot, he kept on hounding me to get him a copy of it. I never got around to it. It's way too late now, but here it is, Mike. Rest in peace.