Niagara Falls, NY

After a pleasant dinner, in search of coffee, Keith and I cruised through the streets of Niagara Falls, NY. If you want a textbook case of a gutted downtown, this is probably it. Everything is shuttered, and there no traffic to speak of, save for right around the casino. Keith made the observation that it would take quite the perserverance to pull oneself out of the despair and poverty evident in downtown Niagara Falls.

Musing About Recent Additions to the iPod

You know what song still sounds great? The Fluke remix of Bjork's Big Time Sensuality. There is a just a huge presence to that song. I was walking past some kids, probably middle-school age in a park tonight, and it occured to me that they were probably born after this song came out. Sheesh. Another track I uploaded is a sort of hidden-gem, the REM track You Are The Everything from the Green album. This song always reminds me of spring, so I guess it was fitting on a spring-like day, like today.

Something New

Sabrina has made her very own blog. Check it out.

Cognitive Dissonance

I'm seeing a couple confusing messages from those that are gung-ho on the US excursion in Iraq. One message is that things are going great in Iraq and that all the claims that there might be a civil war are grossly overblown, things are generally getting better and life is great for the average Iraqi. The other is that the Christian Peace Teams are crazy idiots for trying operate in the super-dangerous realm outside of the fortified Green Zone. So to update, I guess everything in Iraq is "fine" except for the intense danger of roaming gangs of professional kidnappers. I suppose that Iraqis are supposed to accept this as one of the prices of freedom...

Hallelujah

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. - Luke 15:24

I was relieved to see today that the members of Christian Peace Teams that were held captive in Iraq, including the two Canadians pictured here, have been freed. It's easy for fatass junkies like Rush Limbaugh to criticize the work of CPT, but more so than any other group, I feel like they are really following the example of the gospel by going to Iraq unarmed and living among the people of Iraq with no security or anything. Groups like CPT go a long way towards countering the perception that Christianity is all about whatever the religious right's media machine and Pat Robertson say it is.

A Snowy Late March

I've been away from here for too long, but I'll take this moment to throw out some updates that I consider worthwhile:

The painting is coming along very well. I think that I might actually pull this one off. If it turns out, I think I may try to sell the thing. I mean, I don't have surplus room for canvases here, there, and everywhere. I never set out to do paintings that exist on a huge scale, but that's where I always end up. I showed the sketch, and sure enough, the first thing that was said was, "make it bigger." And it's entirely the most accurate description, so I can't complain.

It's snowing out here today, I was sure we were going to make a steady and orderly progression towards Spring-like weather from here on in. Apparently, I was mistaken. At least I have a comfy chair and a hot cup of coffee this morning. If you are ever in Lewiston and want the same, stop by The Orange Cat.

Speaking of Lewiston, there was another funeral across the street yesterday. I suppose the stand out more down here since the hearse is not the usual black, but rather a sort of oxblood colour. Seriously though, they always seem to hold these things when I'm around, why? Maybe I'm just not attuned to the patterns of small-town life.

Meanwhile in the Art World

I have this great new idea for a painting. The sketch is promising at least. I started by wanting to do something that works off of the mood found in Celan's poetry. I think that so far, it's working... but I'll have to see where it ends up.

Speaking Styles

A bunch of people have posted this quote, but I find it funny, so I'll add it here as well:

"He speaks to the audience as if they're idiots. I think the reason he does that is because that's the way these issues were explained to him." - Graydon Carter

Ah yes, it really does make a lot of sense when you think of it like that.

Random Lewiston Notes

This is the second week in a row that I've witnessed a funeral or funeral procession. What or who is killing off the citizens of Lewiston?

Congradulations to Keith for having the only car in Lewiston that is dirtier than mine!

I tried the cheap Chinese place here last week, and I'm still alive, so that bodes well.

We Live in a Class Society (In Case You Forgot)

Fark.com posted this little gem about Geico and their rates based on occupation and education. Apparently insurance companies cannot base rates on race or ethnicity, but all other classifications are fair game. So if you're poor, apparently that gives insurers the right to charge you more...