Thursday, February 28, 2008
826 continues to be awesome
826 recently opened a new and fabulous store in los angeles. pictures and descriptions can be viewed in this blog. (LOVE the aesthetic. totally hilarious.)
having known for some time that there are 826 centers in several cities around the u.s., and being curious if the other cities have excellent institutions akin to the pirate store, i looked around to try and figure out what stores are where. unfortunately, only two of the stores appear to have store-specific websites (=BAH). but i was at least able to compile a list, since there's one on the national site, and if you want to see better descriptions of the stores, with pictures, go to that page.
here's the list:
826Valencia - The Pirate Store
826NYC - Superhero Supply Company
826Seattle - Greenwood Space Travel Supply Company
826Michigan - Monsters Union Local
826LA - The Echo Park Time Travel Mart
826Chicago - The Boring Store (a secret agent supply store)
826Boston - not quite yet a cryptozoology shop (but already involving some collection of cryptozoological artifacts)
and for good measure, here's the real actual thing that 826 is...
826 National is an innovative tutoring, writing, and publishing nonprofit based in seven cities across the country. Since starting up in 2002, our goal has been to assist students ages 6-18 with their writing skills while helping teachers get their classes excited about the writing. Our mission is based on the understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.
Through volunteer support, each of the seven 826 chapters provides drop-in tutoring, class field trips, writing workshops, and in-schools programs—all free of charge—for students, classes, and schools. 826 chapters are especially committed to supporting teachers, offering services and resources for English Language Learners, and publishing student work.
huzzah.
having known for some time that there are 826 centers in several cities around the u.s., and being curious if the other cities have excellent institutions akin to the pirate store, i looked around to try and figure out what stores are where. unfortunately, only two of the stores appear to have store-specific websites (=BAH). but i was at least able to compile a list, since there's one on the national site, and if you want to see better descriptions of the stores, with pictures, go to that page.
here's the list:
826Valencia - The Pirate Store
826NYC - Superhero Supply Company
826Seattle - Greenwood Space Travel Supply Company
826Michigan - Monsters Union Local
826LA - The Echo Park Time Travel Mart
826Chicago - The Boring Store (a secret agent supply store)
826Boston - not quite yet a cryptozoology shop (but already involving some collection of cryptozoological artifacts)
and for good measure, here's the real actual thing that 826 is...
826 National is an innovative tutoring, writing, and publishing nonprofit based in seven cities across the country. Since starting up in 2002, our goal has been to assist students ages 6-18 with their writing skills while helping teachers get their classes excited about the writing. Our mission is based on the understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.
Through volunteer support, each of the seven 826 chapters provides drop-in tutoring, class field trips, writing workshops, and in-schools programs—all free of charge—for students, classes, and schools. 826 chapters are especially committed to supporting teachers, offering services and resources for English Language Learners, and publishing student work.
huzzah.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
we die to each other daily
just saw this quote on satsi's blog, and it resonates all deep n shit right now. i'm in the midst of a bit of a conversation with myself about closeness, love, and intimacy. these words are all manner of aching terror and crystalline beauty.
We die to each other daily.
What we know of other people
Is only our memory of the moments
During which we knew them. And they have changed since then.
To pretend that they and we are the same
Is a useful and convenient social convention
Which must sometimes broken. We must also remember
That at every meeting we are meeting a stranger.
~t.s. elliot
from the play The Cocktail Party; more quotes here.
We die to each other daily.
What we know of other people
Is only our memory of the moments
During which we knew them. And they have changed since then.
To pretend that they and we are the same
Is a useful and convenient social convention
Which must sometimes broken. We must also remember
That at every meeting we are meeting a stranger.
~t.s. elliot
from the play The Cocktail Party; more quotes here.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
supperclubbed
anastazia of bad.unkl.sista is one of the creative directors (or some such fun title) at supperclub, and last week she was in charge of the performance each evening. i was invited to come out and perform as a character during the shows, and was able to participate on wednesday and friday nights.
notes and observations:
-i really need to work on finding my character before i go out to a crowd. spend more time in front of a mirror, watch myself move my limbs and use my facial expressions...
-i have a hard time interacting with crowds unless i have a character.
-i have an easier time interacting with crowds if i'm onstage.
-dancing to cheesy house music is ALWAYS hard...but even more so if you're trying to be an alien bug and stay dignified (and even more more so if you're utterly sober).
-i'm better at fun playful characters than i am at stately dignified characters.
-i miss being orange the way i used to be orange.
sum: that was a great exercise. i found a bunch of things to work on, and hope to try similar performance again soon.
Friday, February 08, 2008
i'm sorry, sir; your record's too clean for you to become our next president...
amusing article in which a nytimes reporter accuses obama of not doing as much drugs as he claims to have done in his memoir. as far as i can tell, the reporter seems to be hinting that the candidate was...lying to gain street cred...?
hum. interesting form of mud-slinging, there.
hum. interesting form of mud-slinging, there.
word of the season:
Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 08, 2008 is:
sitzmark \SITS-mark\ noun:
a depression left in the snow by a skier falling backward
Example sentence:Proper skiing etiquette dictates that a skier who falls in the middle of a trail should smooth over his or her sitzmark so it won't pose a hazard to other skiers.
:)
sitzmark \SITS-mark\ noun:
a depression left in the snow by a skier falling backward
Example sentence:Proper skiing etiquette dictates that a skier who falls in the middle of a trail should smooth over his or her sitzmark so it won't pose a hazard to other skiers.
:)
Monday, February 04, 2008
flight suits, shopping carts, brooklyn
a friend of mine and his extremely impressive crew of humans recently won Best in Show in the Idiotarod, a totally rad and ridiculous race over in nYc.
(idiotarod...idiotarod... *maybe* the most fun word to pronounce that i've ever dared to pronounce. try it. and while we're talking about the name, can i tell you what this same crew dressed up as for last year's race? rod stewart. a whole team of rod stewarts. puns = awesome; the end.)
super-photog steph goralnick took a typically badass set of photos, and it does an excellent job as a photo essay for the winning team's progress.
if you just passed up on that link, i shall tell you what you missed: Team Danger Zone. five pilots from the top gun program, plus their flight crew. a shopping cart turned fighter jet that spews smoke and has a soundtrack. THREE costume changes, including flight suits, beachware (for the volleyball game, duh), and dress whites for the after party.
morals of this story:
-new york has better races than we do.
-if you have attention to detail with respect to your costume changes, you will be rewarded in kind.
-top gun, and especially the bar scene, continues to be a work of cultural inspiration.
-if you get a chance to trick these humans into letting you work with them on any projects or activities, you should do so. and i'm pretty sure they're okay with bribes.
Friday, February 01, 2008
home as art
1. gorgeous sculpture home. (article about gorgeous sculpture home)
2. funky home made from found objects. (better photo) (i've actually been to this one. recommended. pretty impressive.)
2. funky home made from found objects. (better photo) (i've actually been to this one. recommended. pretty impressive.)
