Archive for October, 2004
But when I say that I have the power, it’s not really a power but more of a skill. And by skill I really mean potential. And when I say potential I’m really meaning ‘potential to’. I mean, I could act but I never do. What I mean to say is that I have the power of procrastination. It’s an art form and one that I’ve developed over a long time.
I practice day and night, attempting to get down to work, but never actually doing so. This is a prime example. I am writing about not doing any work! Crazy nut that I am.
Seattle’s alternative newspaper, The Stranger has a guide to the best political Halloween costumes for this year - including arrested protester, Abu Ghraib prisoner and Richard Reid ‘Shoe Bomber’.
“Your child will be the hit of the neighborhood costume parade in this recreation of the Abu Ghraib prisoner-abuse scandal’s most indelible image. As an added bonus this easy-to-make costume will remind everyone on your child’s trick-or-treat route of our national shame! “
link
“”Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.”
President Dwight D. Eisenhower
April 16, 195″
www.costofwar.com
“[Gay marriage is] a big deal for people. While they might not be gay, they may have a family member who is gay, a friend that’s gay or a child that’s gay,” said Dale.
The largest gay republican group in the United States has come out, days before the election, not supporting Bush. As “the nation’s largest organization of Republicans who support fairness, freedom, and equality for gay and lesbian Americans” (link), the LCR’s have questioned the Republican party’s actions without distinctly expressing their disapproval for the candidates. Two weeks ago the executive director of the Log Cabin Republicans wrote to Chairman Edward Gillespie of the RNC to show disappointment with the party’s actions.
“The RNC itself has admitted to sending mailers to voters in Arkansas and West Virginia that seek to equate the recognition of gay and lesbian families with banning the Bible. This dishonest and disgraceful mailing represents a new low in this election cycle.”
The group has now apparently withdrawn their support for GW Bush in the 2004 elections. The time is ripe for an alternative.
MSNBC
Same story, with a date - Thurs Oct 28 2004
Log Cabin Republicans
There was this boy at the club , and we talked. Then we danced, and I laughed. The vodka was an influence, culling my inhibitions. I was out of control, I was forward and too much but somehow he took it all.
And I really like him, and I want to see him again.
When you meet someone at a club you can never tell who they are, can never be sure they’re anything like you, but I’d met him before, we’d already made first contact. What is difficult is that when I really like someone I get scared because, because I really like them. If I’m ambivalent about a guy, if I’m not intimidated by my own affection, I can be a scream, can play the fool and can have a laugh. But if I really like him I worry because I want him to really like me back.
Tonight, I’m scared.
I didn’t know what fun she was - on the West Wing she’s a giggle - in real life she’s a scream! I would have never guessed - Lily Tomlin’s a hoot.
link
“Please note: Homo operates a strict door policy for fags, faggots and their friends”
We’ve decided to come out and party. Tonight is the exhausted-but-pretending evening where all the fags will be out in force. I don’t know when we’re meeting or where we’re meeting but Fran and I are going to have a northern ‘laff’.
Club Mission
“culture is a product of consumption”
Culture individuelle et culture de masse
And that’s all I have to say about that!
“Some of Britain’s best known contemporary artists have given or have promised major works to the Tate Gallery, to plug the gaping holes in the collections caused by years of standstill in government funding.
Damien Hirst, David Hockney, Sir Lucian Freud, and Gilbert and George are among those who have promised art, while Antony Gormley and Anthony Caro have already given major works.”
“The Tate is also launching a fund raising drive to build up a purchase fund of £50m to £100m, of which only the interest would be spent on buying art, unless something extraordinary came on the market.
Sir Nicholas said that given the cuts or at best freezing of its government funds, year after year, and the staggering inflation in art prices, the gallery’s buying power was now about 5% of what it had been 20 years ago.”
I think this is fantastic. Most importantly is the involvement of Paula Rego who is by far the most interesting and arresting of the artists here. I find Hockney and Hirst slightly sideways in the way their art comes across whislt Rego’s work though not straightforward in any way, is beautifully executed and composed. I can’t wait to see what she’s given.
It’s interesting of course, that a major art museum like the Tate is forced to stoop to the level of appealing to the artists themselves for donations. Of course these same artists will be more keen to aid the Tate than perhaps the MoMa, because the Tate has consistently supported struggling, growing artists. But what is it about the UK art market that means that the museums themselves cannot afford to purchase their own art, cannot compete on the the open market?
Guardian story
