Fave Foto Friday: Weegee Time

It all started when Mags emailed me this photo:

...something by one of my all time favorite photographer, Arthur Fellig AKA Weege...

...here's the man himself with a couple of fans....

...he started out as a press photographer in New York City and Newark New Jersey...

...but his photos of the urban flotsam were so intriguing, he began taking pictures just for  art's sake.

Many of Weegee's works put me in mind of a Tom Waits song, or a Raymond Chandler novel...

...full of shady dames, freaks, dicey dudes and inner city decay...

...that's not to say he was blind to joy or innocence (as can be seen in the photo above).

This is my all time favorite picture of his "Couple in a Voodoo Trance" ; a copy of it has been hanging in my bedroom for over fifteen years...

How can you not be intrigued by these images? 

for more about The Master, CLICK HERE

Vaffanculo!

Uncle Pax's Almanac: 1/28/2010

Buon Giorno from Utopia New Jersey where the waning days of January have brought us some bone chilling temperatures.  Well, maybe not so chilling today, but we are dropping back to 30 degrees come Friday.  Snow on Saturday?  One can only hope.

On  today's date in 1813  Pride and Prejudice was first published in England.

Make an artistic mess if today is your birthday, as you share the date with Jackson Pollock!

Here's your obscure term of the day: "Bug Eyed Betty" - any idea what it means?

Of all people, Gallagher gives us this bit of wisdom: " Don't you wish there was a knob on the TV to turn up the intelligence? There's one marked 'Brightness,' but it doesn't work."

Hope you all have a wonderful day, and that your TV's as bright as you need it to be.

Uncle Pax's Almanac: 01/27/10

Góðan daginn from Utopia, New Jersey.  It's a partly cloudy day today, not much going on weather-wise here at least - once again they are hinting at snow for this weekend, we shall see.

On today's date in 1977, Roots, premeired on the ABC Network .

If today is your birthday, join Keith Olbermann in celebrating! K. O. is 51!

Today's obscure term is in the form of advice, "Don't take any wooden nickels" - do you know what that means?

The Quote of the day: "A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything." It is credited to Friedrich Nietzsche

Here's wishing you a great day, and a lack of any type of currency made from cellulose fibers.

Uncle Pax's Almanac: 01/26/10

Guten Morgen from Utopia, New Jersey where we are drying out from yesterday's deluge.  Today, the temperature has dropped some thirty degrees from our high of 60 on Monday.  Winter has come back, now where is the snow?

Today in 1962, The Catholic Church banned The Twist decreeing it as "impure" - molesting altar boys, though, was still permitted.

If you are in birthday mode today, you are in great company as today is the birthday of the late, great Ms. Earth Kitt.

Yesterday's obscure term, "cinder dick" was commented on by constant reader, iasa who said, "I actually know what a cinder dick is. Is that sad? Instead of using it in reference to a railroad guard though, I think i will start using it in reference to a boyfriend. He's always asleep by midnight, stopping all the fun."

Today's obscure term is  "k balling", and no, it's not sexual in any way.  Care to figure it out?

Our quote of the day comes from the late Frank Zappa, who said, "In the fight between you and the world, back the world."  

Here's wishing you a wonderful day and a TKO against the world if you are feeling pugilistic.

Uncle Pax's Almanac: 01/25/10

Good Morning and Good Monday from Utopia New Jersey where soaking rains and wicked winds are on tap for the day.  While many of us might prefer snow, it seems that this winter, which started off promising with an early season blizzard, is going to end up just being rather run-of-the-mill.

It was on the date back in 1915 that Alexander Graham Bell spoke to his assistant (Thomas Watson) using a telephone.  Bell was in New York and Watson was in San Francisco - thus, long distance was born!

If today is your birthday, don't be spooked by the fact that you share the date with horror film director, Tobe Hopper.

Today's obscure term is "cinder dick", and it has nothing to do with Prince Charming's appendage on his wedding night - care to venture a guess as to what it means?

Today's quote is from Mohandas Gandhi who said, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." - I could not agree more.

Here's wishing you a all a great Monday free of any cinder dicks, unless of course you like that sort of the thing!

The Week In Review

*Massachusetts chooses style over substance and a former Cosmo Pin Up wins the late Ted Kennedy's seat.

* New Jersey welcomes a new Governor who will do his best to woo big business, dismantle the unions, and ultimately continue to fuck over an already fucked up state.

* Southern California was pummeled by rain storms and mudslides.  It never rains in California, but girl don't they warn you, it pours, man it pours.

* The relief efforts for Haiti continue, climaxing in a low key, widely televised telethon that was actually pretty entertaining and contained a few great performances.

* Conan said goodbye (and got a nice severance to the tune of 40 million), Leno goes back to the Tonight Show, and life goes on.

* And last, but certainly not least, it looks like the well fed and the uninformed in this country will get what they want as it appears that Health Care Reform (at least not the version we all wanted) is  NOT going to happen.   

So how was your week?

Fave Foto Friday : Rat Pack Edition

Dean, Sammy and Frank, share a laugh backstage at the Sands Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada circa 1960 in this uncredited photo.  Smoke 'em if you got 'em!

Uncle Pax's Almanac: 01/21/10

Good Morning and Salutations from Utopia, New Jersey.  Let's take a second today to keep the people of Haiti in our thoughts, and if you have not already, please make a donation  to the charity of your choice to help even if it means skipping lunch, or not buying something for yourself.

The weather in this neck of the woods is sunny and cold, well, colder than it's been in a week.  Some say snow for tomorrow, we shall see.

On today's date in 1793,King Louis XVI was executed by guillotine.

If you are blowing out the candles on your birthday cake today, you share the date with the late, great, Wolfman Jack!

The Obscure term of the day is "Bank's Closed" - it was used in the 20's and 30's and had nothing to do with the local savings and loan closing down.  Any idea what it means?

Today's Quote is: "The world's as ugly as sin, and almost as delightful", it was said by Frederick Locker-Lampson

Here's wishing you a delightful day, and remember to make a donation that would benefit the people of Haiti!

Uncle Pax's Almanac: 01/20/10

Good Morning, America:  The weather remains unstable and downright crazy on the West Coast.  It was reported that a tornado touched down in Orange County California on Wednesday (STORY HERE).  Meanwhile, In these neck of the woods, it's sunny and clear.  Some of us are still waiting for winter to return with the gusto it had shown back in mid-December.  The past few weeks have been somewhat mild.

It was on this day in 1964 that the album, "Meet The Beatles" was released in the USA; and popular music was never the same!

Today's obscure term is "church-key" .  If you know what a church-key is (and it's got nothing to do with unlocking a chapel) you've probably been around the block a few times.

If you are celebrating your birthday today, you can join director David Lynch for a some cherry pie and a cup of coffee - Mr. Lynch turns 63.

Today's quote is "Punctuality is the virtue of the bored." and it was said by Evelyn Waugh, who, no doubt, was late for all appointments.

Here's hoping you are on time for everything today, and if you're in SoCal, stay dry and try not to get flung over the rainbow!

Scott Brown: Pretty Is, As Pretty Does.

"In Scott Brown we have an irresponsible, homophobic, racist, reactionary, ex-nude model, tea-bagging supporter of violence against women and against politicians with whom he disagrees."

— Keith Olbermann

How does that old saying go?  We get the government we deserve:  Scott Brown, made for these superficial times. 

Uncle Pax's Almanac 1/19/10

Good Morning From Pax Romano Inc. Headquarters  in Beautiful Utopia New Jersey: Looks like it's going to be sunny today - much better weather than they are having out in (normally sunny) southern California; looks like forty days and forty nights of rain for the City of Angels and it's environs.

Citizens of the Garden State are welcoming Chris Christie as their new governor today. Civil servants are quivering, conservatives are clapping their hands in anticipatory glee,while everyone else is probably unaware of the fact.

For all you old hippies, try and digest this little fact: had she lived, Janis Joplin would have been 67 today!

Today's obscure word is xanthic. It means yellow in color.  

Albert Camus give us today's quote:In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.

Hope you are enjoying your own invincible summer today, no matter what the weather! 

Uncle Pax's Almanac 1/18/10

Good Morning Mr. & Mrs. America, and all the ships at sea.  Today is January 18th, 2010.  The weather in these parts is still a bit soggy, but things should be clearing out soon enough.  Still no sign of snow yet, but I am sure we will get some more before this wacky winter is over with. 

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  Do something in memory of this honorable American who was taken away from us much too early in his life. More than that, keep his memory and his dream alive.

The obscure term of the day is "Soda Jerk".  Your job is to look up this term, discover the meaning, and try and use it during a conversation with someone today.  Come on, I know you can do it , and your friends will think you are the cat's pajamas when you do!

If you are celebrating a birthday today, you are in great company as Cary Grant would have been 105 years old.

It's only 14 days until Groundhog Day.  What will Punxsutawney Phil predict concerning Spring this year?

Today's quote comes to us from Dr. Tom Leher who said, "I wish people who have trouble communicating would just shut up."  Amen to that!

Here's hoping you have a great day and that the only jerks you deal with are Soda jerks, and that anyone who should, will keep his mouth shut.

Uncle Pax's Almanac : 01/17/10

The blog is getting stagnant again - in order to remedy this situation, I came up with an idea - a daily almanac-style posting, let's see if it works, shall we?

Good morning from Utopia, New Jersey.  It's Sunday, January 17th, 2010 and the weather in this neck of the woods is wet, cold and miserable.  For the record, the Farmer's Almanac predicted, "sunny, then rain and snow, seasonable" for the period of January 13th through 20th, for this region; well, we had the sun, and now the rain is here, let's see if we get that snow!

The word of the day is Draconian  ; impress your friends and neighbors and use it in a sentence!  You'll probably be able to fit it in when talking about work.


Born today: If today is your birthday, you share the date with first lady, Michele Obama.

Spring is a mere 71 days away. Independence Day is 167 days from now,  Halloween is 286 days away, and Xmas will be here in 341 days.

Today's quote comes to us from Herbert Hoover who said, About the time we think we can make ends meet, somebody moves the ends.  

Here's hoping you stay dry, and all your ends are meeting today.

Fave Foto Friday

Belive it or not, this photo by Andreas Gursky, 99 Cent II Diptychon is said to be the most expensive photo ever sold, for $3,346,456 in a Feb. 2007 Sotheby’s auction.

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Meanwhile, here's Mags rolling the dice, and showing off a bit more of herself than is probably proper for a woman of her breeding!

Here's How You Can Help Haiti

CLICK ON ANY LINK TO SEND A DONATION!

DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS

AMERICAN RED CROSS  

MERCY CORP

UNICEF

Seven Things...

On my other blog, I was recently given an award - upon receiving said honor, the recipient was supposed to post seven things about themselves that others might find interesting ...   well, I don't know how interesting these points might be, but here they are (with nifty retro illustrations!) - oh, and I posted these items here as I don't think they fit the theme of my other blog.

1: I Love Kool-Aid.  Really, I do.  I don't know why, but there is something about stirring up a pitcher of this fake fruit flavored beverage that is so damn comforting...

2: I Love Traveling on Trains: What can I say?  Just something I really enjoy.

3: Gay Bars Bore Me to Death:  I know, take away my toaster oven ... actually, I'm really not fond of straight bars either ... but I do have an affinity for those dark, smoky, corner bars; shot and a beer joints - what can I say, I have simple tastes.

4: I Think that 85 Percent of What's on Television is Dreck : Were it not for movie stations, The History Channel,  Family Guy and the handful of decent programs on cable, I'd never turn the set on except for background noise.

5: I Wish the Future They Promised Us Was the One We Got

6: I Am A Born Again Atheist: I really wish I could believe in god, but I just cant.

7: Halloween is my Favorite Holiday (with the 4th of July running a close second).

for more nifty illustrations, go to PLAN 59

Come now, gentlemen, your love is all I crave

Now why can't the business meetings I attend be like this?  That's Mick Jagger in Performance:  The song is called, "Memo from Turner".

Fave Foto Friday : Weather Edition

This winter will be one for the books, no doubt.  The photo above was taken in Omaha, Nebraska by Nati Harnik for the Associated Press.  Doesn't it look like something from a sci fi movie?

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Meanwhile, the sun is always shining on our Miss Magnolia - here she is soaking up the rays with a gal pal at her winter retreat in Varadero, Cuba.

Fuck You Very Much

Today the New Jersey senate voted against legalizing marriages for gay men and women, and I wanted to say something profound about this...but I am too fucking angry to come up with anything other than a knee jerk reaction.

So be it.

What the fuck is wrong with lawmakers who kowtow to the fucking religious right, the asinine family values crowd, the Rush Limbaugh/Fox News loving assholes who yearn for a time when they were the fucking majority...a bunch of shit-for-brains morons who manage one thing only; to keep our society stagnant, stupid and scared. Jesus, if it was up to these assholes, we'd still own slaves!

Argh!! How the fuck can the marriage between two men, or two women have any type of negative effect on anyone?  Where is the logic?  Does logic even figure into this thing?  Of course not!

With that in mind I just want to say, FUCK YOU, FUCK YOU, and FUCK YOU, to anyone and everyone that would deny me or any other gay person in this land a basic right. 

I Love this Song So Much, I Want to Marry It...

BOUGAINVILLEA WALTZ - by Jay Spears...

So full, so ripe, so juicy... yes it's corny, it's also twisted and romantic ... the Parisian-like accordion accompaniment just puts it over the top...give a listen, I think you might enjoy it.

Cell Phone Snaps

So I was at the supermarket picking up my lunch yesterday and saw this staring me in the face.  It was all I could do not to to yell out, "ME! ME!"  I can not believe that the unwashed masses still read crap like this; more than that, I can't fathom that the sexuality of anyone is that earth shattering - then again, what do I know?

Officeland Adventures In Furniture Moving:  carted this fine crafted piece of furniture to the parking lot today so that I could toss it into the back seat of a fellow drone's car, so that she (said fellow drone) could transport said fine crafted piece of furniture to the home of one of our consumers.  Oh never mind that we are not supposed to be moving furniture, never mind that at all - we play fast and loose with the rules at Officeland these days.

My Dream Date with Carrie Fisher

Having devoured Carrie Fisher's latest tome, Wishful Drinking, I am left with a burning desire to meet her, to sit down and listen to her retell me these tales of her Hollywood upbringing, her ongoing battle/love affair with narcotics and alcohol, and her propensity for turning men bald and/or gay.  Yeah, I know, I should have seen her one woman show (which is  basically what the book is based on).  Well, I did not see the show, so I will continue to imagine my dream date with Ms. Fisher.

...first I pick her up at Philadelphia airport, she's traveling light so there's only really one bag and that will fit in my car...immediately we hit it off, and she starts telling me about her (mostly absent) father, Eddie Fisher, and how he hails from Philadelphia-specifically, South Philly; so with that in mind, I drive over to the City of Brotherly Love's land of Cheestakes, Mummers and Mafioso; the same place, ironically, that I hail from...we stop in to the Melrose Diner for breakfast and she starts talking about her father, she loves him, but does not like him - I really can't blame her, he sounds like a real cad...later on we drive back into Center City and stop at TLA video on Rittenhouse Square and pick up a copy of "What's The Matter With Helen" and "Mother" - two of my favorite films that star Carrie's Mom, Debbie Reynolds. She reminds me that whenever her mother calls she says, "Hello dear, this is your mother, Debbie"...as it turns out there's one of those sci fi conventions going on in town, we stop in and instantly, Carrie is swamped by geek boys of every age, shape and size, and they all tell her how much Princess Leia meant to them, and still does.  We both have a good laugh over this, and she reminds them that her likeness as the Princess can be found also as a shampoo bottle and a Pez dispenser... after the convention, we head on over to a coffee house and suck down a couple of cappuccino's and Carrie starts talking about her ex husband, Paul Simon.  When "Graceland" starts playing on the jukebox at the coffee house, we figure that's a sign and take our leave ... I figure it's time to prove to her that familial dysfunction does not just thrive in that hotbed of craziness that is Hollywood, no, it can also be found in the quaint little homes of the blue collar town in South Jersey were I spent my formative years. Carrie and my mother really like each other, and that's no surprise, if you ever met my mom, she'd remind you of Debbie Reynolds as well.  My father tells her that he was a big fan of Eddie Fisher.  She smiles politely and then rolls her eyes when she thinks no one is looking.  After a huge Italian meal, we leave my parent's house and head on over to public library where we search for the "Abnormal Psychology" text book that feature's Princess Leia's face in the section entitled, "The Biology of Bipolar Disorder" ...

...now that we've found the book, we both start laughing uncontrollably, which causes the stern-faced librarian to shush us both and ask us to leave ... the car ride to her hotel is filled with stories about rehab, Cary Grant as a drug counselor, and, of course, the tale of the gay friend of hers who died in her bed...naturally, when Carrie asks if I want to spend the night in her room, I defer as I know that a gay man who sleeps in Carrie Fisher's bed might not make it to the morning - then again, since she herself has admitted to turning men both gay and bald, I ponder the chance of defying death and waking up straight as well as with a head full of hair!  Nonetheless, it's been a great day, and after I drop her off, I tell her that I'll swing by in the morning for breakfast and she promises to tell me more stories...I am all smiles, she's my own Scheherazade, and I can hardly wait for more tales; one thousand and one hysterically dysfunctional date nights.