A Buddhafield manifestation (AKA David), behind counter at noh tsu oH coffeehouse, Houston, December, 2001.

This man is a brilliant artist and social critic, who makes beautifully strange abstract drawings in a very detailed, monochrome style. He also makes collages out of cut up porn magazines. And he’s got more attainment than YOU, Buddhawannabe!

Finally getting around to showing some of the fotos I took in Houston in December.

Near where my parents live, is a place to get hot dogs. Not just any hot dogs, but James Coney Island hot dogs. I had already wolfed down one before I thought to take the picture.

To get from their place to James, you have to cross the Sam Houston Tollway. The tollway used to be known as Highway 8. Where these dozen or so lanes of submerged transit are, there used to be a wide green space with lots of trees and two two-lane roads, one each direction, on either side. At least, back when I was a kid. Things change, not always for the better.

This is a sign on the same bridge as the previous picture.

Now. James Coney Island is at the intersection of two roads. At that intersection, there is a traffic light. Note: No sidewalks. Curb cut, but no where for a wheelchair to go (in fact, there’s a BRICK WALL!). Buttons for pedestrians to push for the signal, but no way to get to it without trampling some landscaping. You may think this is an isolated situation, but all four corners of the intersection are like this. In fact, ALL OF HOUSTON is like this. If you got no car, you ain’t nobody.

The road I described in a previous ‘blog.

This picture illustrates the unique relationship we have with our landlords.

Shortly after this picture was taken, the envelope was dropped into their mail slot, our rent check inside.

Walgreen’s sign, Oakland, CA, Fruitvale section, Mid-January, 2002.

Sometimes I just fire up the ol’ web browser and go to Flak Magazine, because it’s easily-digestible, more than somewhat intelligent, and easy to navigate. I just want to read something random, OK?

So today, there’s an article about which is better: Jon Anderson’s web site, or Ian Anderson’s web site. And while that’s kind of a funny thing to make catty comments about, the article mentions something near and dear to my heart: Ren Faire attendees. But not only that, the words ‘Ren Faire attendees’ were a link to a review of the movie ‘Knightriders,’ recently released on DVD. Which is a good movie, a fun movie, a movie for double-feature with ‘The Princess Bride’ and some Monty Python.

Now, what we have here is the super-slick digerati making fun of the super-sincere Rennies, and I find it hard to take sides. I want to be slick and sophisticated, but at the same time I like the idea of dressing up like an elf and running around with a sword.

What to do, what to do?

Today I got an interesting spam emails. It’s one of those ‘there must have been some kind of mix-up’ spams.

It says something like, “Your tech article is due for the site launch! How am I supposed to give our users information if you keep dragging your heels?” Of course the email is from someone@sometechmagsite.com, and their signature just happens to contain a clickable link to the site. Hey, I wonder what this is all about! I better go check! Heh.

The amusing part is, however, that it’s not just one spam. You get ‘treated’ to a whole argument between this alleged editor and some alleged content author, complete with catty comments by a third person, ostensibly an author who got their article in on time. All told, about five emails.

But it gets better (or worse, depending on how you look at it). Now there are hapless naive people responding, saying stuff like, ‘I think there’s been some kind of mix-up. I shouldn’t be on your distribution list.’ About four of those so far. I wonder how many will filter into my in-box. The spammers can’t lose, because they get both exposure and verification of which emails in their database are valid.

Fuckers.

Sometimes I tire of being me. I think: Why can’t I just redesign everything right now, so that it’ll all work better?

Like walking through my grid-like semi-suburban neighborhood. The place I want to go is diagonal from here, according to the grid. Short of cutting through people’s houses (and the solid walls inside), I’m going to have to zig-zag, or tack, or figure out a place to go that’s less annoying to get to.

Those houses and that grid exist for a reason, but the question is: Is that reason good enough for me? Should I curse those reasons? They’re probably not any better or worse than my reasons for wanting to go diagonal.

Part of me says: It’s an opportunity to go a different way each time. Like, if I want go to the bank, there’s a variety of ways to get there. Should I resent my need to go to the bank instead?

So it is with me. I can see things in my life that are stupid and meaningless, and I should jettison them. But getting from here to there requires zigging and zagging and tacking, because of other parts of my life that are stupid and meaningless. It becomes a question of scale… What’s more stupid and meaningless, the thing I’m trying to get rid of, or the thing standing between me and getting rid of it?

And I tire of this game. You would, too. Maybe the game is the most stupid and meaningless thing of all. Hah.

In case you were wondering what ‘the good store’ is, well.. it’s this one.

I wrapped myself up in plastic. I went to Briano’s, got a double tall soy latte. Went to Quizno’s, got a sammich.

Came home. Worked out a bug in a plugin I’m writing. Answered some emails. Read some usenet. Wrote some checks for bills.

Discovered that a friend needs a place, so he’ll probably be living here for at least 4-6 months. Reprieve! Don’t have to worry (as much) about housemate #3. Now for #4…

Went out again to get some groceries. NPR on the headphones.

I hate Safeway. Nothing safe about it. Flourescent lights and processed food. I have to chortle when I see the ‘health food’ section. I wouldn’t go except it’s closer than the good store, and it was raining.