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Makin' Moves with David Quantic

Last night I caught the OUTFEST premiere of David Quantic's terrific new film transatlantic in the Makin' Moves program. While already a fan of Dave's, his newest film is a breakout work. It is beautifully photographed with a D90 and has no dialogue. The refreshing camera work makes all the narrative connections visually, and the score is lean and effortless (in a good way). There are lovely candid moments between lovers, joyful exchanges between friends in a cafe, and the film truthfully achieves those hesitant moments in the afterglow of love. The entire Makin' Moves program is quite solid, and surprisingly and wonderfully diverse. It plays again on Monday night, and I encourage you see it.

Worst Metro Bus/Driver in Weeks

As a regular 920 Rapid Express rider, this morning I had the worst ride. It was like taking the local bus. The driver even slowed down at healthy green lights. Slow buses mean late arrivals and missed connections at Union Station. Either the driver or the bus should come with a rating system like restaurants. Like, oh damn that driver got a D - I'm gonna wait and take the 720 instead. Oh, and there was no air on. Ick!

Extortion Power Charge at KCI

Charging $2 for 30 minutes of electricity is beyond lame, it's an extortion power charge! This is of course while stuck inside the security zone with no amenities. Next the unfriendly travel experts at Kansas City International will probably switch to corporate owned pay toilets.

Proud Marry

The Beverly Blvd. LA Eyeworks store wears it's pride on its glass.

Hammer Pants | Corporate-Flashmob Meme | FAKE

Sadly, here is yet another meme neutered via hostile corporate takeover. This is a corporate commercial posing as flashmob and it signals the death knell for Flashmobs. Hammer Pants is a weak promotion for the A&E's Hammertime reality show. I did my own investigation and found out the dancers were hired, costumed, and directed. The Live! On Sunset store was rented for the shoot back in early May. The shoppers are all actors.

Such a lame ending for a form with it's historical roots in actual activism.

Box of Shit

Don't act like you don't have at least one of these stuffed under your bed or tucked in the back of your hallway closet. I have more than one, but this one has lingered since 2004. I decided enough was enough and tore it open to find a shit-time-capsule of perverse proportions: keys to nowhere, phone numbers to forgotten faces, batteries leaking, billing statements from hell, a floppy disk and receipts of trips and times past. Oh, and a Hallmark ornament from my Mom. And still a third to go!

Day of Decision Rally in WeHo 2009

I attended an excellent rally tonight in West Hollywood. The rally was in response to the mixed ruling today from the California Supreme Court. The standout speaker had to be Lt. Daniel Choi. He spoke with conviction, determination, and heartfelt zeal - his leadership training & courage under fire could be a real asset as we take this back to the polls in 2010. Finally tonight, we heard voices from actual Gay families, and it was a such simple, powerful moment. It suddenly seemed so adult, so compelling in a very different way.

MORE PIX HERE

Time & Times for TINY

Both Time Magazine & the LA Times declare it's time for TINY HOUSES by Mimi Zeiger! Time Magazine features Zeiger's new book in the special The Green Design 100 bookshelf section. The LA Times features a big slide show covering the book and 15 of the great houses featured inside it. And of course, there is also TINY in Time Out New York as well. Way to score the press MZ!

the Big Fat Gay Anti-Hate Collaborate

You have to take 3 minutes to catch the latest in youth culture response to all the hate on the internet. This one is created by the ever-colorful, irrepressible StevieBeeBishop. Sometimes a little online disinhibition effect is a good thing. And a note for my Mom, I know it's an F-bomb attack, but just try to roll-with-it and laugh it off.

Tiny House Battle: Tiny VS. Luxury

It has been a crazy week - what with the twisted logic of anti-tax Right-wing Teabaggers, the sick Gathering Storm warnings (great parody here), and images of would-be-patriots calling for state succession while waving the American flag - a cultural shift is underway. 

Even on the studied displays of Hennessey + Ingalls Bookstore in Santa Monica, the battle is at it's tipping point. Will we question everything and choose quality over quantity? Will we continue with the unsustainable excess that leaves us all with decidedly less? Or can we design our way to a better tomorrow? Finally there's a book, and a message you can believe in, and it's Tiny Houses by Mimi Zeiger! 

Okay, maybe that was a bit overblown, but I can't help but think of Tiny Houses as the-little-book-that-could change some super-size-me minds. Each page of Tiny Houses offers compelling reminders to architects, developers, and would-be home owners alike to consider smaller, better, slower. Now listen up people! In this battle my money is on TINY!