Amargosa Hotel, Death Valley (Overlook Hotel)

Nancy and I went to Death Valley and lived.

Bullies

Original Video - More videos at TinyPic

While I do not advocate violence of any kind, except in self-defense perhaps, I cannot help but feel at one with this husky kid who took his tormentor directly in his hands—and threw him on the pavement. It reminds me of when I was in elementary school and kids much smaller than me would try to bully moi. Instead of fighting or talking back, I let them have their way because I was very shy and passive. No one ever tried to knock my block off, thankfully, but even if thehy tried, I doubt I would have done what this husky boy did. All in all, I think this kid did might have done the right thing, provided he didn't let his 'victory' go to his head too much and rely on the same technique every time.

Sometimes pretending to be retarded or blind, or both, is equally as effective to disorienting the enemy. I have used this technique and it works quite well.

Eastbound & Down, motherfuckers!

Eastbound and Down is the best fucking show on fucking television. It centers on Kenny Powers, a mullet-haired and washed-up mid-thirty something relief pitcher, partly based on real-life former major leaguer John Rocker (famous for saying, as a Yankee, the subways were dirty in "Jew York"). With his glory days behind him, the show details his various dunder-headed ploys to return to the major leagues, stumbling through a panoply of self-delusions, episode by episode. Stubbornly believing that his 'God given talent' is enough to make it back to Shangri-la, overlooking his deep predilection for cocaine, steroids, prostitutes, and beer 'on the reg', always just when getting there seems impossible, he keeps on trucking.

Kenny's only true friend is Stevie, a former high school classmate who he doesn't even remember. Stevie preternaturally idolizes Kenny (how far this love goes into homo-territory is left tantalizingly ambiguous) and will do anything for him. It is here a lasting camaraderie is born, even though Kenny does not like Stevie, uses him, and calls him a 'little bitch'. Stevie, ever the loyal poodle, follows Kenny anyway throughout his adventures.

This show is the redreck answer to Sancho Panza and Don Quixote, the stuff from which classics are born. There is no time duration between episodes; it runs like an epic film, picking up exactly where it leaves off. Like Don Quixote, Kenny is the hero-buffoon. His 'quest' is based on fumes, but you cannot help rooting for Kenny, knowing full well he's an asshole. There's a strong whiff of the everyman in Kenny that makes you want him to succeed.

The show's humor is slapstick, crass, and politically incorrect (because of Kenny's devil-may-care mouth). This strangely intermixes with a narrative tenderness and humane attitude to Kenny's aspirations, which is partly what makes the show so compelling. The bonus is the smart use of music and casting (Don Johnson, Will Farrell, and Matthew Macaugheny(sp?) make amazing cameos). More kudos is owed to the show's very slight to no coverage of baseball mechanics or drama in the game itself. The show rarely goes into any of that crap. Kenny's prowess on the mound is only represented by how fast he can throw the ball and where and that's it. The rest of the focus is on the journey and the characters along the way. A classic is in the making, folks.

wow. In the spirit of Michael Haneke

http://www.wimp.com/excitingday/

Double Rainbow / Donald Judd Mash-up

Untitled from VJ Peter Rand on Vimeo.

Connie loves it when I trip

Connie was my favorite student at my last p/t job. She also happened to be the most socially active member of the class. She could be very affectionate, sometimes embracing a teacher or fellow student spontaneously, kissing them on the head. This was especially unique because direct communication between students rarely happened. Each of them seemed to be in their own world, and it was difficult to feel like I had access to it.

At the start of my stint, the staff would give her coffee in the morning. She drank it with relish. The downside to this was that she became obsessed with coffee and was constantly asking for more. She was also somewhat of a pre-Madonna, being very demanding for attention during class time. This was especially hard when I was dealing with 10 students per class, many of whom demanding attention in their own particular way.

My favorite thing about Connie was that she had a slightly silly and even devious sense of humor. She loved it when I would pretend to sneeze ("ACHOOOOO!!!!") or snort like a pig. She always busted a gut when I did that and say "One more!"; then I'd do it again and she'd keep laughing without fail. It wasn't until I was walking to the kitchen, having tripped on the carpet, that I knew what made her laugh the hardest: she was laughing at my unintentional pratfall! So then it became an ongoing joke when I would pretend to trip and she'd slap her knee in glee and say "One more!".

She's a saucy lady who would slap my butt like a tough Italian grandma. I will miss her the most.

The video isn't a very good rep. of Connie, as she seemed a bit tired when I shot this, but it's what I have to show.

Steven's favorite food

A quick interview with one of my former 'students' on his favorite culinary delight. He never liked doing anything, like activities and exercises, and was constantly grousing about something like an old grumpy man, but then you realized you could pick out very few words as being proper English——or in any language. It was his own native tongue.
He did like to smile and sing to himself after lunch, though. Find out why.
More on the job that allowed me to spend some time with him later.

Evolutionary replicators

Special Poetry Slam Intro

Yosemitebear Mountain Giant Double Rainbow 1-8-10

This probably one of my fave Youtubes of all time.

Retail Rage - Eaton Centre closed during G20 protests, guy has meltdown

Why?

Jim Carey Screaming "The Mask" movie

What I look like when I orgasm.

James Dean Driving Safety

The only thing they forgot to mention here too is don't become an alcoholic and kill your wife, then yourself, as Gig Young, seen here with Jimmy Dean, did.

Factoid: Gig Young played one of the gay henchmen in Peckinpah's "Bring Me The Head of Alfredo Garcia"

Re: DFW on Charlie Rose

The link on picture didn't work.
GO HERE