Bryan Jackson

Nobody Walks in Osage

People in Kansas cling to delusional folklore about who they are and what makes being a midwesterner great. They must think they are still pioneers on the Santa Fe Trail - why else would the wagon wheel motif pervade the decorative landscape? They deride densely-populated cities as traps - How can you breathe sandwiched like that between neighbors? They like to think they love the great outdoors, but as soon as a nature trail on a decommissioned rail road track is announced, everyone was up in arms. Nature, fresh air and walking are socialist! If so, then their festering, toxin-leeching-wall-to-wall-carpeted houses the embodiment of true liberty? When did fear-based privacy obsession create the need for year-round window treatments to blot out the beautiful big blue skies, fantasic sunsets, and the moon and the stars? Or maybe it was the sight of the crumbling streets and the weed-choked sidewalks they couldn't take?

On this trip, I've made a point of walking the portion of the Flint Hills Nature Trail that runs through Osage City every other day or so. You vote with your feet, right? I've been joined on most walks by family members. Everyone loves being out on the trail. However we have all been disappointed with the poor condition of the trail in Osage. It speaks volumes that a town filled with people with a multitude of chainsaws and garden implements can't gather enough civic-minded let's-build-a-barn-muster to clean up a three mile section of a trail. And why do some people use the trail as a toxic dumping ground?

On the trail there are no trash cans, no benches, no wayfinding signage, and worst of all, no people. Nobody. I haven't met a single person on the trail. We've seen a few solitary kids cruising side streets on bikes but no other hikers.

Today we headed out west of town for 2.5 miles. It was a beautiful walk.

A Very Gay Christmas Party | Super VivaHome

Tokyo - A sweet older gay Santa couple moved into a run-down stable (which they got for a steal) and completely redid the place from the groundup. The couple made sure to keep some of the old-warm charm - the former manger makes a cheeky, but sweet bar for making cocktails. For their first Christmas in their new place they invited over the lesbian snowwomen couple from down the street and their snotty reindeer neighbor Prancer (who is still single, big suprise). Although he didn't say anything, he clearly disapproved of their decorating style.

Pekopoko Just Cross Stitched My Heart

Yes, okay I'm guilty alright? I bought this for the package alone.

Fauchon For Sure

Yesterday started with a treat before an insane day running around Tokyo for installation supplies. Let's just say, the Japanese don't know paint - wall paint that is. Since most people here would never paint their apartment there is no such thing as a giant paint sample display - even at the big box Super Viva Home. Lesson learned. I ended up mixing my own.

While this store is big by Tokyo standards, my heart is still in Tokyu Hands. 

Finished pinku wall at community center akta - mandala installation happens today.

World Order | Machine Civilization

World Order | Music by Genki Sudo /Takashi Watanabe, Words by Genki Sudo

Message in the YouTube video description, translated by the awesome Pink Tentacle:

The unprecedented disasters unfolding in Japan; earthquakes, tsunami, and nuclear explosions, will somehow change things to come. And to send my message about this, I have expressed it here with WORLD ORDER.These disasters can be interpreted as a turning point for civilization. I think that we have arrived at a time of revolution, shared with all the people of the world, in today's society, economy, and political systems.Incidents themselves are neutral. I believe that every single one of us, wandering through this deep darkness, can overcome anything, if only we let go of our fear, and face the it all in a positive light.The world is not going to change. Each one of us will change. And if we do, then yes, the world will be changed. It is darkest right before the dawn. Let's all rise up to welcome the morning that will be so very bright for mankind.

Tiger Touching Tail

We're having a heatwave, a it's-so-fucking-hot-it's-not-even-funny heatwave.  Monday was like a high fever, with first-day-back packed classes, searing temperatures, and the remainder of a cold.  A fast train ride through the dark but simmering southland and musty-but-chilly Metro bus across town and suddenly I was back in Westwood where everything was still hot and all the cafe's were closed.  In the search for lemonade I spotted this tiger almost touching his tail in a store window. It was a moment of cool seduction in the heat sink of LA.  I took it as a sign and went for ice cream instead. 

Traveling Back

Short flights are filled with most of the same annoyances as long ones. Endless, too-loud-to-ignore conversations one row back have plagued every leg of this trip. It's either an entire row of blonde-ed, aging sorority girls talking about hairstyles, fashion and tanning tips. Or it's how to keep a contractor from screwing you on your granite countertops and Kozumel travel tips. Me, I get contemplative considering life changes and end up all existential watching the shadow of the plane ripple over an ocean of unsustainable sprawl. Eventually freedom comes with responsibility for me and the McMansion denizens below. And at least for me - meaning is shifting.

Swell Party

With Jose in NYC most of the year, the Blue Line to Long Beach is one of those Metro lines I rarely take.  Every Blue Line trip is full sensory overload.  At the Pico Station, a contingent of Cosplay Anime convention survivors boarded.  I think of Cosplay as drag for geeks.  Well, more like female impersonation.  But considering the things I have worn in public, nothing much shocks me. Nor did the Cosplay tweens garner much attention from the passengers who have seen it all.

Later on, a station after we bid farewell to our affable entertainers, a new arrival took over their roost.  You know, the smell of tuna in a train car really travels fast.  Before looking up I thought - you can't eat on the train!  But then I saw the mangled tuna can, the crazy look in her? eyes, and the fact that this not-homeless-looking person was eating the tuna with the pointy end of a bottle opener.  A few stations later, after finishing dinner service the passenger disembarked, the smell of tuna however lingered on.

Fresh air, retirees, and cholo-adjacent fashion signaled my arrival to Downtown Long Beach. Walking along Ocean Blvd. with cars zipping the blustery winds were a welcome refresher.

The subject is of course the swell party at Jose's recently tightened-up, portfolio-ready condo.  In the evening, with it's sleek black stained floors, views to the Queen Mary and ocean backdrop, the place is effortless.  There were lots tastes and friendly faces including a dreamy potato and chickpea curry over couscous.  I had a lovely Veuve Clicquot-fueled time but had to leave early to catch the train back.  The bite of apple tarte tartin fed to me as I dashed out will live on in my memory.  Friendship and food are such guilty pleasures.

Metro Map Flap

Everywhere you look, the new and difficult to read Metro Red/Purple Line maps are having some serious sticky-back fail. While I was happy to see the old maps freshened up, the new ones are hard to read on the dim and dreary Red Line subway cars. The light weight font used for station names is swallowed by a gulf of unlit black ink. Begging the question: was this location tested with sets of eyes other than the designers? The good news is that the sag, curl, and wilt now hitting the new maps provides an opportunity to fix the typography flaws and prioritize readability over fickle form.

Metro Leakage

I called and complained about Metro moving the ticket machines and not posting any signage to point people to the new, and now hidden location. (upstairs and around a blind corner) Thoughtless crap like this causes needless confusion and missed trains. It makes you wonder what exactly they do at planning meetings. The pix are of someone's awesome handiwork answering that complaint of mine.

Standing in Muir Woods

I spent the day wishing I was standing in Muir Woods again. Tonight I am wondering what it would be like to sleep there, in the nook of a giant sequoia, listening to the sounds of the ancient forest all around you. Maybe it's time to date a forest ranger.

 

A small portion, to be polite

Brian & I have been walking the streets of SF all afternoon. We stopped in Hayes Valley for a little Citizen Cake to see us into the New Year.

SF HolidayTrip - and go!

Yes, I survived the line and made my flight with 5 minutes to spare. Damn it, I could have stopped for a beverage. Now let's get this bird in the air!

Solid Gold Line

 

My first ride on the Goldline Eastside extension was a quick hop to Little Tokyo from Union Station. The cool glide over the freeway was nice. However exiting the station I actually did find the track crossing is confusing and poorly designed. Hard to imagine that starting from scratch this was the best they could do. With crummy videos, lame TAP cards, and awkward track crossings, the MTA continues to disappoint.

(I saw you walking) Kabuki-cho in the Rain

    

It's a rainy morning here in Tokyo. Quyen & Sam arrived Monday night and we started the trip easy with a good dinner at ATE. Yes, we drank and laughed a lot and the ATE posse were so kind to us. It was a great night.

Tuesday we hit the ground running with a morning camera appointment Kunii Yoichi at Sanwa Cine Equipment Rental. We did a full review of the gear for the shoot and Q caught a potential problem. The staff went off and machined an adjustment on a plate while we chatted up Kunii san. Sanwa is a great place with an friendly, skilled, well organized staff. We are thrilled to be working with them for camera gear for our shoot.

In the afternoon I hit Harajuku with JohnJ. We landed the kimono at Chicago and made our remaining plans for her costume as Amaterasu. It will be a great costume but there is so much to do.

Last night we met up with Murata Asuka for dinner in Shibuya. Asuka has been so great helping to arrange our green screen studio shoot despite her incredibly busy job. After dinner we hopped over to Kurage for dessert and tea and tried to keep Quyen awake. The open window/wall at Kurage is now one of my favorite things. 

We had to drag ourselves back to the hotel - it was a long day for everyone. After some morning shopping for the shoot, I will be sewing, glueing and wig styling until I go to sleep. That's a good thing right?

TRIP PIX