guess where these were taken

Nuclear fall-out shelter? An abandoned section of the NYC underground railway system? Also resembles a sci-fi set--like the one where Sigourney Weaver and Bill Paxton stumble upon Newt the space orphan in Aliens.

Just realizing it's probably not too difficult a guess once you see Vicky with the shopping cart.

just photos

Thinking of starting a blog called "just photos" seeing as I'm running out of interesting things to say and I only have two readers--thanks Kdubs, danielfan--this one's from a while back and is an exterior of that zeum/ice skating rink place near Third and Howard.

been intrigued...

by the tops of buildings for some reason. This one's the de Young.

bartenders in ref uni's

I recently stumbled upon a revelation--it seems in mid-'80s cinema, there was a trend of featuring bartenders in referee uniforms. This one's from Running Scared as you can see. Others I remember are About Last Night and Nothing in Common. I think there was also a Burt Reynolds movie with one. Maybe that one with Goldie Hawn--Best Friends? Or was it Switching Channels? You're wondering why, aren't you? Well, I'll venture a guess. Sports marketing really took off in like '86 with Jordan. Predating Nike were those irksome Miller Lite spots in which old ex-jocks like, say, Larry Tzonka (sp?) and that large, mustachioed lineman who starred in Webster would argue over whether Miller Lite's excellence was due to it "tast(es)ing" great or being "less filling." These ads all took place in bars obviously and I believe there was a referee in the house, presiding over the sparrings. So the movies just took this concept and ran with it. I've seen this at real-life bars as well; Dave and Busters, the popular Chuck E. Cheese-type establishment for adults has their bartenders running around in zebra-stripes. Anyone who wants to steal my idea can forget about it--I've already filed the necessary papers for my dissertation.

Uh oh...

Looks like the CHP's issued an Amber alert for the nightcap.

I think they need to stay focused on this guy.

free baby car

Van Nuys Graffiti

Quite possibly the most shameless rip-off I've ever seen. Actually, maybe that's second and this one's first:



In fact, if memory serves, I believe the synopsis on the box read "In the heartwarming tradition of E.T."

MN's...

...running this blog shit.

mahogany stallion

The true story of a man possessed by eight personalities

There's the willful and sadistic Bobby; the brawny yet taciturn carpenter, Roger; Egan, the pony-tailed and introverted programmer; Eustace, the confident and argumentative Ph.D. candidate; Vanessa--Daniel's only female self--is flirtatious, self-assured and quick to laugh; the demure and passive Sean possesses the mind of a 6-year-old; big-hearted Brian bakes and delivers cakes to lonely seniors on their birthdays; and lastly, Ethan, an agoraphobic hoarder who enjoys true crime shows.

no subject

ny street photography

Just looking at this series of photos after posting and, after second look, am not all that impressed (with the street photos that is--NOT vick). That whole building attached to the video screen on the first one is entirely devoted to m&m novelties if you can believe it. The rest are rather prosaic street portraits and of course my lovely V appearing contemplative and wistful.

God is watching us

And one look at that crack in his face and you know he's far from benevolent; he's an angry, vengeful god.

Francis Bacon at the 'cap

face-off

Firstly, why do you arrange your elliptical machines in this manner? Secondly, why oh why would you choose the machine opposite me when there are others available?

I find it surprising that..

...Snoop doesn't have an album titled Dogmatic.

Is that Lindsay Lohan or Wagner?

I was a little surprised when I saw this mannequin at Chico's--a store for 50-year-old+ women--taking on this snooty, cat-walking posture. Is all humility gone? Looks like after bringing down an entire generation of tweeners, the Lindsays and Britneys have moved on to the boomers. Better bring my A-game next time I go out to mom's.

Hopper at the nightcap

This photo I took in Monterey reminds me of some of Hopper's stuff. Just a quiet lil townscape centering on a long-abandoned saloon; nothing revolutionary but rather pensive and pretty.

What kind of store is this?

I've lived across from it for over two years and still am not quite sure. My guess would be a spa/beauty treatment place of some kind. As I was taking this picture, I considered getting a closer look, but I felt them watching me so I chickened out and scampered off.

Clement St...

has got some great, weird stores. This is a Chinese health/wellness store. Thoughtful of them to show you how that arm sling or neck brace will look on you. Of course, it's good to remember that neck braces always look better on mannequins.