March 20, 2008

Arthur C. Clarke

1917 - 2008

Posted by Charlie at 02:34 PM | Comments (0)

November 19, 2007

How Do We Beat The Bitch?

When prompted by a not-so-eloquent but very direct inquirer, John McCain clearly realizes his mistake when he inadvertently equates Clinton to being a 'bitch.' Welcome back to the 1950s, folks.

Posted by Charlie at 10:38 AM | Comments (0)

November 07, 2006

Republican Values VS Democratic Values

Above: A flyer being distributed by the New York State Republican Party. Note the darker hand across the white woman's face. Don't you just love Republican values? A personal jab at Harold Ford, Jr. for sure. Here's hoping he takes Frist's spot; Corker's political campaign has been one of the seediest I've seen appearing on television.

Posted by Charlie at 11:31 PM | Comments (1)

July 17, 2006

This Time It's Different

I have so little faith in humanity, especially during wartimes like these. The world is in so much pain right now, and it breaks my heart whenever I think about what's going on in the Middle East at this moment.

Posted by Charlie at 02:48 AM | Comments (0)

May 03, 2006

Greenpoint Fires & Real Estate Drama

Yesterday when I woke up I looked out the window and, seeing the dark gray overcast, I readied my umbrella for an impending rainstorm. On the train ride across the bridge however, I saw what turned out to be the "biggest fire since 9/11." An abandoned warehouse all ablaze, its smokey plumes literally blanketing Williamsburg in its entirety. Even on the train ride back home the fire fighters were still battling the blaze. Craziness. I immediately wrote it off as a secret ploy for the insurance money. But then...

Today, Curbed has dug out some really interesting information on the landlord and the buildings that burned down... I'm not really a big fan of gossip, but stuff like this gets my attention going like no other:

The buildings were up for preservation—several were expected to pass. The property is owned by Joshua Guttman, a landlord who has a history of his buildings burning down when its rezoning time. When the buildings burned two things happend: the chance for preservation dropped, making the architects renderings more likely; instead of paying for cleanup and abatement of toxic materials, all that shit burned into the air. Yay world-trade-center style cancers.

Oooh... something's goin' DOWN!

Posted by Charlie at 09:12 AM | Comments (0)

February 10, 2006

I Heart Dan Savage

Back when I was in college, I had a very brief desire to go into journalism. I went to see Dan Savage speak about it, and although he gave a very wonderful and insightful speech about the world of news media, I left the room with my mind changed.

Anyway, here is an op-ed piece that he did for the New York Times recently, which concerns two controversal movies as of late: "Brokeback Mountain" and "End of the Spear." He pretty much spells out why I never really did want to see "Brokeback" in the first place. Can anyone say it more candidly? I don't think so.

Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Ex-Gay Cowboys
By Dan Savage

FIRST, a little of that full disclosure stuff: I have not actually seen "Brokeback Mountain" or "End of the Spear," both of which I'm going to discuss here.

But since when did not seeing a film prevent anyone from sharing his or her strong opinions about it? Before the posters for "Brokeback Mountain" were even printed, everyone from the blogger Mickey Kaus to the Concerned Women for America to gay men all over the country had already said a lot about the film. (Their opinions were, respectively, con, con and pro.)

So, let's get to it: Remember when straight actors who played gay were the ones taking a professional risk? Those days are over. Shortly after Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, both straight, received Oscar nominations for playing gay cowboys in "Brokeback Mountain," conservative Christians were upset when they learned that a gay actor, Chad Allen, was playing a straight missionary in "End of the Spear."

"End of the Spear" tells what happened after five American missionaries were murdered in 1956 by a tribe in Ecuador. Instead of seeking retribution, the missionaries' families reached out to the tribe, forgave the killers and eventually converted them to Christianity. An evangelical film company, Every Tribe Entertainment, brought the story to the screen. In a glowing review, Marcus Yoars, a film critic for Focus on the Family, noted that the "martyrdom" of the slain missionaries has "inspired thousands if not millions of Christians." But after conservatives took a closer look at the cast list, the protests began. Many felt Chad Allen's presence in the film negated any positive message.

The pastors claim they're worried about what will happen when their children rush home from the movies, Google Chad Allen's name, and discover that he's a "gay activist." ("Gay activist" is a term evangelicals apply to any homosexual who isn't a gay doormat.) They needn't be too concerned. Straight boys who have unsupervised access to the Internet aren't Googling the names of middle-aged male actors gay or straight — not when Paris Hilton's sex tapes are still out there.

Frankly, I can't help but be perplexed by the criticisms of Mr. Allen from the Christian right. After all, isn't playing straight what evangelicals have been urging gay men to do?

That's precisely what Jack and Ennis attempt to do in "Brokeback Mountain" — at least, according to people I know who have actually seen the film. These gay cowboys try, as best they can, to quit one another. They marry women, start families. But their wives are crushed when they realize their husbands don't, and can't, ever really love them. "Brokeback Mountain" makes clear that it would have been better for all concerned if Jack and Ennis had lived in a world where they could simply be together.

That world didn't exist when Jack and Ennis were pitching tents together, but it does now — even in the American West. Today, the tiny and stable percentage of men who are gay are free to live openly, and those who want to settle down and start families can do so without having to deceive some poor, unsuspecting woman.

Straight audiences are watching and loving "Brokeback Mountain" — that's troubling to evangelical Christians who have invested a decade and millions of dollars promoting the notion that gay men can be converted to heterosexuality, or become "ex-gay." It is, they insist, an ex-gay movement, although I've never met a gay man who was moved to join it.

This "movement" demands more from gay men than simply playing straight. Once a man can really pass as ex-gay — once he's got some Dockers, an expired gym membership and a bad haircut — he's supposed to become, in effect, an ex-gay missionary, reaching out to the hostile gay tribes in such inhospitable places as Chelsea and West Hollywood.

What should really trouble evangelicals, however, is this: even if every gay man became ex-gay tomorrow, there still wouldn't be an ex-lesbian tomboy out there for every ex-gay cowboy. Instead, millions of straight women would wake up one morning to discover that they had married a Jack or an Ennis. Restaurant hostesses and receptionists at hair salons would be especially vulnerable.

Sometimes I wonder if evangelicals really believe that gay men can go straight. If they don't think Chad Allen can play straight convincingly for 108 minutes, do they honestly imagine that gay men who aren't actors can play straight for a lifetime? And if anyone reading this believes that gay men can actually become ex-gay men, I have just one question for you: Would you want your daughter to marry one?

Evangelical Christians seem sincere in their desire to help build healthy, lasting marriages. Well, if that's their goal, encouraging gay men to enter into straight marriages is a peculiar strategy. Every straight marriage that includes a gay husband is one Web-browser-history check away from an ugly divorce.

If anything, supporters of traditional marriage should want gay men out of the heterosexual marriage market entirely. And the best way to do that is to see that we're safely married off — to each other, not to your daughters. Let gay actors like Chad Allen only play it straight in the movies.

Posted by Charlie at 12:21 PM | Comments (0)

February 08, 2006

Death & Politics

I find it a little ironic that Coretta Scott King’s death came at a time when the Bush administration is dodging criticism about the NSA’s spying program, especially since when Martin Luther King was alive he was the target of multiple spying operations, notably by Kennedy and Hoover.

Posted by Charlie at 11:58 AM | Comments (0)

January 27, 2006

L.N.Y.

Saehae BOK mani mani mani badeuseYO!!!

Posted by Charlie at 10:01 AM | Comments (0)

January 25, 2006

Future American Lawyers

"Alberto Gonzales spoke before law students at Georgetown today, justifying illegal, unauthorized surveilance of US citizens, but during the course of his speech the students in class did something pretty ballsy and brave. They got up from their seats and turned their backs to him.

...additional students came into the room, wearing black cowls and carrying a simple banner, written on a sheet."

(Via Boing Boing)

Posted by Charlie at 12:26 PM | Comments (0)

December 12, 2005

"We Grew Here, You Flew Here"

Young men attacked a man who appeared to be Middle Eastern descent on a train in Sydney.

Thousands of white youths attacked people they believed were of Arab descent at a Sydney beach.

(Via The New York TImes)

Posted by Charlie at 11:24 AM | Comments (0)

October 26, 2005

Rosa Parks

Posted by Charlie at 01:35 AM | Comments (0)

September 15, 2005

Classroom Notes

"U.S. President George W. Bush writes a note to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during a Security Council meeting at the 2005 World Summit and 60th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York September 14, 2005. World leaders are exploring ways to revitalize the United Nations at a summit on Wednesday but their blueprint falls short of Secretary-General Kofi Annan's vision of freedom from want, persecution and war."

(via Reuters)

Posted by Charlie at 08:19 PM | Comments (0)

September 01, 2005

The Frailty of the Human Condition

Human beings are capable of achieving some very wondrous and beautiful things, but when we're bad, we're really bad.

Apparently God wanted to make sure that next week's Southern Decadence party doesn't happen.

In the meantime, please go to www.redcross.org and donate to help those who were victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Posted by Charlie at 09:57 PM | Comments (1)

July 14, 2005

I Hate Politics

I think it's infuriating how the Republicans (and certain news media personalities) are describing the Karl Rove "incident" as yet another Democratic "smear campaign" to discredit the integrity (wait - what integrity?) of the Bush administration. While the White House has said explicitly denied Rove's role in the disclosure of Valerie Plame's identity, neither Bush nor Rove have offered any comment on these allegations. Whether he's the culprit or not, this act [of disclosing a CIA operative's identity] is a criminal offense, and with war going on, this is also a serious breach of national security. Yet, according to the growing ranks of Republicans coming to Rove's side, this is just yet another Democratic "smear campaign."

Posted by Charlie at 12:16 AM | Comments (1)

March 03, 2005

That Guy From Project Runway

I was browsing articles on Advocate.com today, and they had this interview with the winner from Project Runway, a show that, thankfully, I had not yet seen. Anyway, they asked him a question about the current state of gay culture, and he gave this answer which I thought was fucking fabulous:

God, I hate gays. [laughs] Can I just talk about that for a minute? For a community that celebrates diversity, I have never been accepted until I'm on Project Runway. And I have tried. I'm just a bizarre person, I guess. I'm not fucking Brad Pitt. Maybe if I had time to work out. I don't know, I just look at those people, I'm like, "Where do you find time to do that?" That's the time where I'm watching Gastineau Girls or, like, ordering Chinese. I don't understand how the gay community and culture has become such a clonefest. It's horrible for me to watch. When I was young, there was that guy from Are You Being Served? and Boy George, just flamboyant, kind of interesting gay men. Then you grow up and you're 30 and you walk into a bar and everyone looks the same. Oh, I hate it. Not that I want to date a freak. When guys look at me, I'm like "Notice the inside," but then maybe I just notice the outside. So I'm a hypocrite, but, oh well.

I just don't understand gay culture. I'm not an activist. I auditioned for Queer Eye for the Straight Guy back in the day. After seeing the show come out I'm like, Thank God I did not get on this, because if I had to go down to Gay Street next to Straight Street and have to be a part of the Fab Five and say "Cheers Queers," I'd kill myself. People don't often consider the [Runway competitor] Austin Scarletts of the world or the Jays of the world. I think that's been really liberating for me, that response now from the gay community of "Maybe we should accept people like him even though he's a freak and shaped like Buddha." That German model on the show cracked me up. She called me Buddha. Anyway, I hope I can somehow affect something and break a stereotype, because it's hard for people like me out there.  

I have start watching more television. More power to Buddha-shaped gay men.

Posted by Charlie at 03:20 PM | Comments (2)

February 20, 2005

Wacky Weather Water Works

Meteorologists have all said that Seattle will be covered with rain clouds this weekend, but so far I have not seen any sign of rain, or of clouds for that matter. Has summer arrived here early, or what? The skies are clear and the sun is bright; I can see the Cascades from my bedroom window and the frame that they create around downtown is a visual treat.

Posted by Charlie at 11:11 AM | Comments (0)

February 04, 2005

Gay Marriage in New York

The New York Supreme Court ruled today that gay couples must be allowed to marry. Awesome news.

Posted by Charlie at 11:40 AM | Comments (0)

January 27, 2005

From Bamboo With Love

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHAR CHAR!

So, like, what the hell birthday boy? You think that just cuz it's your special day you can neglect the bush of your people?! I am more than mildly offended. I am lonely. So, so lonely. I wouldn't even mind if you came by and screamed warui bushie! and thrashed me around a bit. But even while I am preoccupied tragically swaying in the breeze, I am simultaneously wishing you a happy birthday and bitchin lucky 24, and hoping you may stop by to celebrate with me, or at least acknowledge me in all my leafy glory. You know, together, we could be unstoppable. A formidable man-foliage duo. Oh yeah, and maybe that klepto chick friend of yours, Boogie, or whatever. She can come along too if she wants, like some violent Shanghai Triad. Fuck all these pussy rhododendrons. Nobody appreciates bamboo anymore. XO,

Your best friend Bamboo!

Posted by Charlie at 04:02 PM | Comments (0)

January 05, 2005

Racial Identity in Multi-Ethnic America

NPR is hosting a four-part discussion series on race, idenity, media, ethnicity, and other related questions. Makes way for a very interesting listen.

Posted by Charlie at 01:32 AM | Comments (0)

December 29, 2004

International Response Fund

Please make a contribution to the International Response Fund to help those affected by the earthquake and tsunamis in Southern Asia.

Posted by Charlie at 10:35 AM | Comments (0)

December 04, 2004

My Holiday Wishlist

In no particular order:

• A Sony PSP
• 1GB RAM upgrade for my PowerBook
• Earmuffs
• Paul Smith socks
• A pair of Dolce & Gabanna jeans circa 1997/1998
• A Wacom tablet
• An Apple 23-Inch HD Cinema Display
• Cookbooks
• Visitor guidebooks to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tokyo
• 60-minute massge
• A guy who can make a mean katsu curry

A guy can dream...

Posted by Charlie at 04:19 PM | Comments (0)

December 01, 2004

World AIDS Day

December 1st is World AIDS Day. According to the World AIDS Day website, 8,000 people every day die from complications stemming from HIV and AIDS. This is a worldwide epidemic and there has to be more global action to increase awareness of this disease. Even if you don't have the free time, please try to get involved by wearing the red ribbon, donating your services at your local health organizations, or at the very least, taking the time to learn more about HIV & AIDS and its global impact.

Posted by Charlie at 12:01 AM | Comments (0)

November 11, 2004

The Stranger Cover

I really like this week's cover of The Stranger.

Posted by Charlie at 04:00 PM | Comments (0)

November 03, 2004

Fuck Morals

According to CNN, roughly 78% of those who voted for George W. Bush said that they did so because they identify with his moral issues, NOT his political agenda. The photos above document our facial expressions upon hearing this. I don't get it.

Posted by Charlie at 06:54 PM

September 01, 2004

The Last Days Of Summer

The first day of September is here and already this morning I was awakened periodically by the sounds of torrential downpour. Rain is quickly making a comeback here in Seattle, and to many locals it's a sign that things are finally shifting back to the routine. I love autumn. It's just cold enough to layer several designer pieces, yet warm enough to sport a t-shirt if one wishes. The trees are bursting in colors of red, orange, and yellow. Squirrels are everywhere, scrambling for every little piece of nut to store before the earths gets to cold to dig in.

I, however, am not ready to settle into the routine. I'm escaping the cold weather for four days of warmness in the Bay Area, looking to hook up with friends, family, and... yes. I hope it'll be fun. I haven't seen my cousins in several years.

The rain subsided by mid-afternoon today, and the sun came out in full force on Seattle, giving us its farewell warmth before it slowly begins to fade into the winter skies. I took more pictures of myself to celebrate the occasion.

Posted by Charlie at 09:55 PM | Comments (0)

August 19, 2004

The International Examiner

Okay, so I finally had a chance to read the article that Andrew wrote about the Community MAP Project way back in... May, was it? I can't remember. Anyway, not only do I have photo credits on this article, but I'm quoted in there as well: "It was very encouraging to see the amount of support for this crucial project, and its potential affect on the community."

Huh? I don't remember saying that. Hmmmm... I might have said something more in the lines of this: "MAVIN rocks. Free food. Let's get drunk!!! Woo hoo!!!"

I think it was wise of Andrew to paraphrase my comment.

Posted by Charlie at 03:20 PM | Comments (0)

August 10, 2004

New York In The Wintertime???

Ms. Alicia (pictured below winning the pullups contest, with help courtesy of Booga Struthers) has extended an invitation for me to live with her in her fabulous Brooklyn brownstone. I'm awfully tempted to accept this offer because, you know, who wouldn't want to live in a house that has an antique chandelier in the bathroom?! But the lease starts in November, which wouldn't give me enough time to save enough money to float in New York for six months without a job. Hmmmm. *taps forehead with fingers, trying desperately to think*

P.S. - in related news, SueJeanA has gotten herself a job after being in Manhattan for less than a week! Congrats. It's supposedly some office job, but the fact that there is a full bar in the office more than makes up for its shortcomings. Those New Yorkers, always one step ahead of us! And we just have a pool table...

Posted by Charlie at 11:40 AM | Comments (0)

August 08, 2004

Jared's Housewarming Party

As it goes with most parties these days, I was the first to arrive and the last to leave Jared's housewarming party last Saturday.

A debaucherious night filled with memorable photographs to showcase.

Watching creepy Cronenberg movies, playing old-school Nintendo games, discussions of racial backgrounds, and sweet phone calls were the highlights of the night. Booga saw someone taking a nap in Jared's bed and decided to go spoon him. Boy was she in for a rude surprise. I do remember us driving back to the party after Linda's to a quiet house and making Jared and Ellen stay up another hour watching us dance and eat hummus... or something.

Posted by Charlie at 05:48 PM | Comments (1)

July 25, 2004

LASIK

I've been following up on LASIK technology since there was no such thing as LASIK technology - back then the latest in vision enhancement technology was PRK. I think I was sixteen or seventeen years old back then, and I stumbled across a magazine article about a laser that can reshape your cornea so your vision is restored so that you wouldn't have to wear glasses or contacts again. I was excited, until I found out that you have to wait until your vision was stabilized (aka until you're around 23) to undergo the surgery. And so for the past six years I've been patiently waiting, researching on breakthroughs in the technology and talking to people who've been under the laser. Now that I'm 23, and my vision has for the most part stabilized, I'm offered an array of LASIK choices that was not available two years ago. I'm seriously considering finally going in for a consultation. Should I go with this procedure I will probably have to relinquish my D&G and Hiero glasses, but randomly accessorizing the face with $5 frames does not seem like a bad compromise at all. No, sir.

Posted by Charlie at 08:47 PM | Comments (0)

July 24, 2004

Gender Bombs

Okay, so the spodie wasn't as strong as last year's, but since Orlando Bloom yet again made an appearance at the barbeque everything was all good. The gigantic trampoline was a hit, although the hapas were the only ones jumping on it. Seriously. I think someone should write a dissertation on hapas and their fascination with things that make them bounce.

By the eighth cup of spodie I was ready to get my dance on. Mikey's going away party was that night as well, but I didn't want to be dragged further into the menial geriatrics of drama queens, so I (of course) decided to go to RPlace (as usual). At least I didn't get accosted by a Russian doctor this time.

The girl will scold you... Happy Birthday, Booga. Sisterhood 4EVA!

Posted by Charlie at 02:37 PM | Comments (0)

July 19, 2004

The Little Bird That Could

Call me morbid, but I think it's just funny that the 6000-acre fire near Los Angeles was caused by a bird that caught fire when it hit power lines and fell to the ground. Twenty years from now I hope we can all chuckle over this.

Posted by Charlie at 03:02 PM | Comments (0)

July 16, 2004

Martha Stewart and Me

I do wish Ms. Stewart the very best, I do. She was sentenced to five months in prison today for lying to investigators about her sale of ImClone stock shares 2001, finally concluding a whirlwind of a media circus that should be more concentrated on more pressing news in Iraq and the Senate. Even though she was not charged for the more serious crime of insider trading, because she is a famous media celebrity, people all over America have already cemented their opinions of her through magazines such as People and The National Enquirer.

In a country where the latest opening of Jennifer Lopez's restaurant gets way more press coverage than say, The Canadian National Election or the mysterious killings of women in Juarez, I feel ashamed to claim my American nationality. Sometimes. I don't like to watch TV anymore (unless Sex And The City is on).

Anywaysss... So for some good news resources, go to these great (if slightly progressively biased) sites for content: The Onion, The Village Voice, Asia Times and, just for its real estate section, The New York Times.

Rock on, Martha Stewart, rock on.

Posted by Charlie at 09:41 AM | Comments (0)

July 05, 2004

Uber-rich Asians and Michael Moore

We had dinner with some of my parent's uber-rich friends the other day. What an interesting lifestyle they lead. Their idea of dinner means taking their fabulous boat (which they bought as an impulse-purchase), riding out across the lake, and having a seven-course meal at what I must say is the best tasting Thai restaurant I have ever been to. Luckily these uber-rich individuals are also active Democrats, so we had many stimulating conversations concerning the upcoming election as well as Michael Moore's new film, which I still have to see.

Posted by Charlie at 09:03 PM | Comments (0)