BEACH HOUSE

Beach House, at the Fox Oakland Theater.

Awesome show.

LACOSTE

I bought my first one in 1984.

Longue vie à l'alligator!

PEANUTS AND CRACKER JACK

Alright, Yankees. You got this!

Please help make my July prediction come true.

SIGN LANGUAGE

A new bar in the neighborhood, perhaps?

PYRAMIDS

A great song from a great album.

Frank Ocean's Channel Orange is confirmed to appear on my year-end best of list.

SWINGERS

A recent Quinnipiac University/CBS News/New York Times Swing State Poll has shown the so-called swing states are now backing President Obama, and not just by a few percentage points, either.

Poll numbers show that Florida backs Obama's re-election over the opponent Mitt Romney 53% to 44%. In Ohio, the numbers are similar, 53% to 43%. Pennsylvania shows an even bigger spread between the two, with 54% supporting Obama over the 42% who are backing Romney.

However, I'm not going to start popping the champagne just yet. We still have the debate and the dreaded "October Surprise," which I not so secretly hope hits the Romney/Ryan campaign.

God, I can't wait for the debates!

EVERYBODY WANG CHUNG TONIGHT

Okay, we're going to have a little fun, here. Play this song, Wait, by Wang Chung, while you're watching the GIF of 80's queen Molly Ringwald in the post below.

Seriously, the music matches her moves.

THE BREAKFAST CLUB

Get it, girl.

BOOKWORM

I get up late the next morning to the blare of Duran Duran coming from my mother's room. The door's open and my sisters are lying on the large bed, wearing bathing suits, leafing through old issues of GQ, while watching some porno film on the Betamax with the sound turned off. I sit down on the bed, also in my bathing suit, and they tell me that Mom went out to lunch and that the maid went shopping and I watch about ten minutes of the movie, wondering whose is it - my mom's? sisters? Christmas present from a friend? the person with the Ferrari? mine?

One of my sisters says that she hates it when they show the guy coming, and I walk downstairs, out to the pool, do my laps.

-- Brett Easton Ellis, Less Than Zero

TRIBUTE

An iconic song from an icon film, and his version isn't even in it. So what, who cares. Andy Williams totally nailed it, and made it his own.

So long, Andy. You did good.

NO DOUBT

I'm not even going to waste your time with a review.

Just run out right now and buy it, borrow it, beg for it, steal it, or download it illegally. I don't care how you get it, just get it.

NO MATERIAL GIRL

Battery Park, Gangway 1 -
This is the Madonna I choose
to remember

Y’all better vote for fucking Obama, OK? For better or for worse, all right? We have a black Muslim in the White House.

-- Madonna, during a recent concert

She has since backtracked on her statement a bit, claiming to be speaking ironically.

(sigh)

CABIN PRESSURE

I appreciate the fact that she is on the ground, safe and sound. And I don’t think she knows just how worried some of us were. When you have a fire in an aircraft, there’s no place to go, exactly.

The windows don’t open. I don’t know why they don’t do that. It’s a real problem. So it’s very dangerous.

-- Mitt Romney, commenting on the situation of his wife's plane, which had an emergency landing a few days back after an electrical fire caused the cabin to fill with smoke.

Wow. Ladies and Gentlemen, Forrest Gump.

BOOKWORM

Barnett: Oh, I should say I am concerned about it, Mr. President. It's a horrible situation. 

JFK: Well now, here's my problem, Governor . . . Listen, I didn't put him in the university, but on the other hand, under the Constitution, I have to carry out the orders of the, carry that order out, and I don't want to do it in any way that causes difficulty to you or anyone else. But I've got to do it. Now, I'd like to get your help in doing that.

Barnett: You know what I am up against, Mr. President. I took an oath, you know, to abide by the laws of this state. And we have a statute that was enacted a couple of weeks ago stating that no one who had been convicted of a crime, or whether the criminal action pending against them, would not be eligible for any of the institutions of higher learning.

JFK: What I want, would like to do is to try to work this out in an amicable way. We don't want a lot of people down there getting hurt . . . we don't want to have a lot of people getting hurt or killed down there.

-- President John F. Kennedy, as he tried to negotiate with Mississippi Governor Ross Barnett, on a peaceful solution over the admittance of University of Mississippi's first black student James Meredith. The President did end up having to send the army down to the school to quell the ensuing riots.

The book, Listening In: The Secret White House Recordings of John F. Kennedy, by Tim Widmer and Caroline Kennedy, is one I can't wait to get  my hands on.

MY OZ

Oh, to be on a New York City Transit subway train today.

ENDEAVOR

I have to admit, when I first heard about the space shuttle Endeavors' final tour, I wasn't too particularly interested. The thought of wading my way through the expected crowds at the suggested viewing sites just to catch a momentary glimpse was a complete turn off. However, when I saw the next morning that the final route included flying over my neighborhood, I was more than happy to run up to the roof and try to see if I could capture a few shots, which as you can see, I did.

While waiting for Endeavor, I was suddenly struck by the poignancy of the moment. The space shuttle program was one that had existed within my lifetime. I remember watching the first shuttle launch and landing on television back in 1981, and in a few moments, it was all going to be gone.

It was roughly an hour late in arriving in San Francisco, which helped create a heightened sense of excitement, at least for me. So when I finally spotted Endeavor as it was crossing over from the East Bay, I anxiously pointed in its direction to a neighbor who had joined me on the roof, and exclaimed "there is it." We lost sight of it as it disappeared behind the skyscrapers of downtown San Francisco, but as it made its way over the Golden Gate Bridge and back into town, I saw another neighbor a few buildings away point up in the sky and yell "behind you."

We both turned, and there it was.

Obviously awestruck, we both stood silently for a moment, and then said at the same time "Wow."

So awesome.

AUTUMNAL EQUINOX

Welcome Autumnal Equinox 2012.

I hope you're nicer to me than Summer 2012 was.

ELECTORAL COLLEGE

With the election fast approaching, the New York Times has broken down the electoral map, and it looks like the President is kicking ass and taking names.

I'm not popping my bottle of champagne open just yet, because anything can happen in 46 days.

I guess that's why they call it"the October surprise." However, it's looking pretty promising for Barack.

GoBama.

TRASH TALK

So, according to the readers of Travel+Leisure Magazine, New York City is the dirtiest city in the country.

I'm calling bullshit on this one.

The unscientific survey goes on to list San Francisco as number 11 on the same list. Apparently, no one who took part in the questionnaire has ever set foot in the city once called Bagdad by the Bay, because at least in The Big Apple, the streets don't smell like stale piss.

FAREWELL

So long, Summer 2012.

Let's not say we'll keep in touch, shall we?

SLIM SHADY

There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it. 

-- Mitt Romney, at a fund-raiser this past May

This is a campaign about the 100%.

-- Mitt Romney, last night on the Spanish television network, Univision

On Obamacare:

Well of course I’m going to repeal Obamacare . . . I’ve said that on the campaign trail, I think, every single day. Obamacare must be repealed –- in its entirety. It’s bad policy, it’s bad law, and frankly, a $2 trillion entitlement we don’t want and we certainly can’t afford. 

-- Mitt Romney, September 10, 2012

Now and then the president says I’m the grandfather of Obamacare. I don’t think he meant that as a compliment, but I’ll take it.

-- Mitt Romney, September 19, 2012

On gay marriage:

Well, when these issues were raised in my state of Massachusetts, I indicated my view, which is I do not favor marriage between people of the same gender, and I do not favor civil unions if they are identical to marriage other than by name.

--Mitt Romney, May 9, 2012

I would like to have the term marriage continue to be associated with a relationship between one man and one woman, and that certainly doesn’t prevent two people of the same gender living in a loving relationship together having gay domestic partnership, if you will.

-- Mitt Romney, September 19, 2012

Will the real Mitt Romney please stand up, please stand up, please stand up?

REMINGTON STEELE

Okay, I have to admit that it hurt just a little bit when I caught an episode of the 80's detective show, Remington Steele, and noticed in the closing credits that it was from 1982.

Actually, it hurt quite a bit, especially since I'd remembered watching this particular episode when it was first broadcast.

Damn.

ICE AGE

Recent measurements have shown that the Arctic sea ice is melting at a much higher rate than previously forecast, and with that area now seemingly open to shipping traffic (between Russia and Canada), investors recently met in Alaska to discuss those shipping opportunities.

Nice to know that with all that ice melting, which not only causes the sea levels and planet temperatures to rise, that people are looking for ways to exploit a new shipping route, rather than doing something to slow the melts.

Way to go, team.

A TAXING SITUATION

There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it. That that's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. 

And they will vote for this president no matter what . . . These are people who pay no income tax. 

-- Mitt Romney

I'm still quite amazed at not only what Romney had to say, but that he continues to so blindly stand by this statement. What a great way to alienate many of those who might have voted for you, Mitt, because there are a few folks under that 47% umbrella who call themselves republicans. Also, there are many reasons why they, as you see it, don't pay taxes.

First, WE (I am a proud 47%'er) do pay a tax, and it's called the payroll tax.

Second, there are many credits and entitlements available under the tax codes, and during the Cheney/Bush regime, those credits and entitlements were significantly expanded. It seems odd that now you, specifically, and Repugnicans, in general, want to end those so-called entitlements, and try to pass it off as everyone taking "personal responsibility and care for their lives" (something he also said in this now infamous speech).

Does this mean that if elected, you'll be repealing tax credits and entitlements to corporations like Exxon and General Electric?

Finally, I find it incredibly ironic to have someone who only paid 13% in taxes (based on income of $45 million dollars), then turn around and wag their finger at the rest of us about tax credits, entitlements, and "taking personal responsibility and care."

OUTERWEAR

Oh man, I love this entire outfit.

GOODFELLAS

"Funny, how?"

FOOT IN MOUTH DISEASE

There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it. That that's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them.

And they will vote for this president no matter what . . . These are people who pay no income tax.

-- Mitt Romney

So rather than use the usual "my comments were taken out of context," excuse, Romney told reporters yesterday:

"It’s not elegantly stated . . . I’m speaking off the cuff in response to a question."

Wow. Well, I'll say this about Romney, he sure has a big set of balls.

No brains, just balls.

FRANK OCEAN

The whole album, Channel Orange, is pretty awesome, but this song, I've Been Thinking About You, from R&B artist Frank Ocean, is  currently getting lots and lots of airplay on my iPod.

THE STREETS OF SAN FRANCISCO

Few issues that have annoyed me more than the current trend of the naked guy on the street.

For those who live outside San Francisco and may not be aware, public nudity is perfectly legal here, so long as the naked guy (and I say naked guy because I have yet to a woman join her naked brothers) is not in a state of arousal, and has placed something between his buttocks and the seat/chair/bench he has decided to sit upon.

I wasn't at all surprised to read earlier today that enough of these guys have pushed the envelope so far that the Board of Stupidvisors might go back to making public nudity against the law. It seems that many of the guys have now taken to sporting "cockrings" as they stroll around the neighborhood, and that has caused an increase of complaints. Says San Francisco police sergeant Chuck Limbert:

"There is a difference between being naked and making a political statement and then wearing jewelry that brings attention to one's genital areas . . . We have been getting a lot more pressure from the community to do some enforcement in regard to the public nudity and what is going on up there . . . Wearing a cock ring, when you are aroused or getting aroused, that to me has kind of moved over or stepped out of the realm of being a political statement."

Right, because walking around the neighborhood naked was supposed to be a "political statement."

Assholes.

I can't wait for this ban to go back into effect.

TO SUR, WITH LOVE

Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmelo
(Mission Carmel)

Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmelo
(Mission Carmel)

Here are a few of the shots I captured during that road trip with Kim this past Friday down to Big Sur, via Carmel.

Oh, Highway 1, you've got to be the one of the most beautiful roads in the world.

THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY

Here I am at age 20 - damn, that hair is so high that I could
almost be mistaken as one of The Supremes

Me, 25 years later (taken this morning)

Oh man, a lot sure has changed since the first picture posted was taken.

My hair has less volume now than it did back in the day (thank god), is a bit greyer, and has receded a little, as well. Also, what we use to take pictures today is a lot different than what we used back in the day.

However, even I have to admit that I don't look half bad for being 45 years and 2 days old.

#narcissism.

ROAD TRIP

Okay, Carmel, here we come.

BEACH HOUSE

The album Bloom, by Beach House, is set to appear on my list of this year's best music later this year. This video, Lazuli, is the best song on that album.

I can't hardly wait to see 'em at the Fox Oakland later this month.

PASSPORT PHOTO

Even in a non-smiling passport photo, Monroe, along with husband Joe DiMaggio, looks like a million bucks.

The photo in my now-expired passport makes me look like a Middle Eastern terrorist. Seriously, remind me to tell you about the last time I went through customs at London Heathrow.

ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

"It's not worth moving heaven and earth and spending billions of dollars just trying to catch one person."

-- Mitt Romney, on the pursuit of Osama Bin Laden, April 2007

There are some republican voters in Ohio who really need to sit down and take a second look at the infamous photo above, because according to Public Policy Polling, 15% of republicans believe that Romney is more responsible for the death of Osama Bin Laden than President Obama.

That same poll also showed that 47% are not sure whether Romney or the President deserves more credit.

What. The. Fuck?

Hey Ohioans - Romney wasn't even in the room, much less interested in catching Bin Laden, so I'm not sure why you're thinking the bullshit that you're thinking.

BOOKWORM

There are many sports that can be taken up in 'middle age' - an expression I hate. But anyway, you're not eighteen any more, and it's too late to try out for the hundred-yard dash. But it's never too late for skiing - both snow and water. Or for golf. Swinging a club doesn't take too much energy, and you get a nice brisk walk.

I have friends who say bowling is a good thing. And nothing can beat mountain climbing. A couple might combine it with hunting, bird watching, or the study of flowers.

Or just climb the damned mountain because it's there.

-- Joan Crawford, My Way Of Life, 1971

This is hilarious because some how, I just don't see Crawford climbing any damned mountain.

WAFFLES

"(I'm) not getting rid of all of health care reform. Of course there are a number of things that I like in health care reform that I'm going to put in place. One is to make sure that those with pre-existing conditions can get coverage. Two is to assure that the marketplace allows for individuals to have policies that cover their family up to whatever age they might like . . . Even in Massachusetts when I was governor, our plan there deals with pre-existing conditions and with young people.

-- Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney

That's what Romney had to say on Sunday's Meet The Press. He must have had (another) change of heart, because the very next day, Romney said on conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt's program:

"Well of course I’m going to repeal Obamacare. I’ve said that on the campaign trail, I think, every single day. Obamacare must be repealed in its entirety. It’s bad policy, it’s bad law, and frankly, a $2 trillion entitlement we don’t want and we certainly can’t afford. I have my own health care plan, and it does not require Obamacare to make our health care system work better. Obamacare is a disaster in my opinion, and has to be repealed entirely." 

So are you going to be serving this latest order of waffles with jam or syrup, Mr. Romney?

BATHROOM BREAK

I didn't take this picture, but I sure wish I had. It's a terrific shot, isn't it?

CONDOMENTS

I'll bet this condom has a pinhole through it.