"anthrax is not cool anymore. we're changing our name to ebola."
Ode to the Middle of Nowhere
What is it about Central Asia?
From the so-called Aryans, to the Huns and the Hordes, not to mention Timur the Iron Limper; there's always some threat to civilization issuing from this inhospitable zone. Alexander the Great turned back there, along with Kipling's Britain (check the last verse). I can see why people want to leave, but what are they doing there to begin with? History's losers, forced beyond the margins, until they've grown as hard as the country? We're talking about people whose favorite sport involves a bunch of guys on horseback and a goat carcass. People expect the world to end in the Middle East, but I say keep your eye on Central Asia. Maybe we should ask Pynchon about it.
Anyway, the point I'm getting to is that the area provides the perfect name for the current military campaign. This has been a problem, as Operation Infinite Justice was dumped, supposedly in deference to our Moslem friends. Actually, it's got a ring to it, and will likely turn up as the title of a Schwarzenneger movie next year. Enduring Freedom, or whatever it is now, is no good. Clumsy, and whose freedom are we talking about? And forget Muslims, it ought to be objectionable to Christians. Doesn't the Bible teach that the works of man are passing, and only God endures? As far as I know, heaven is not a democracy.
I'm proposing Operation Baluchitherium, named after the largest land mammal ever to walk the earth. Imposing animals have a long tradition as totems and military mascots. I think a giant, extinct, hornless rhinoceros makes a fine symbol for our present deployment. And where's it from? You guessed it; Central Asia.
What is it with that place?
What is it about Central Asia?
From the so-called Aryans, to the Huns and the Hordes, not to mention Timur the Iron Limper; there's always some threat to civilization issuing from this inhospitable zone. Alexander the Great turned back there, along with Kipling's Britain (check the last verse). I can see why people want to leave, but what are they doing there to begin with? History's losers, forced beyond the margins, until they've grown as hard as the country? We're talking about people whose favorite sport involves a bunch of guys on horseback and a goat carcass. People expect the world to end in the Middle East, but I say keep your eye on Central Asia. Maybe we should ask Pynchon about it.
Anyway, the point I'm getting to is that the area provides the perfect name for the current military campaign. This has been a problem, as Operation Infinite Justice was dumped, supposedly in deference to our Moslem friends. Actually, it's got a ring to it, and will likely turn up as the title of a Schwarzenneger movie next year. Enduring Freedom, or whatever it is now, is no good. Clumsy, and whose freedom are we talking about? And forget Muslims, it ought to be objectionable to Christians. Doesn't the Bible teach that the works of man are passing, and only God endures? As far as I know, heaven is not a democracy.
I'm proposing Operation Baluchitherium, named after the largest land mammal ever to walk the earth. Imposing animals have a long tradition as totems and military mascots. I think a giant, extinct, hornless rhinoceros makes a fine symbol for our present deployment. And where's it from? You guessed it; Central Asia.
What is it with that place?
Our office building at 26 Federal Plaza was just evacuated. One of my clerks said he heard banging noises and then saw people running from the building. I looked into the hall and saw the staff of the security office next door running out. No PA announcement, no evidence of standard fire-drill type emergency procedures. It turned out to be noise from some construction equipment. They let us back in after about twenty minutes, and made an announcement that construction noises on the 14th floor may be ongoing. Didn't tell us how to distinguish between construction and terror noises. People are a bit edgy around here.
Ben Shahn The Passion of Sacco and Vanzetti
Daniel Levine sent me the following, lifted from a chatboard:
i was at a rave last night in toronto, and saw a 20 year old kid get stabbed to death. today i spent the entire day in bed listening to american water. davids voice is very soothing.
Where was it? I didn't hear this on the news. I thought all ravers are high on ecstasy and are non-violent.
obviously not. someone is dead.
I saw this on the news as well. Said they kept the rave going so that the pigs could gather more info from the crowd. Rumour had something to do with a pool of blood left unmopped for quite sometime while the pigs asked questions... I live near Toronto...
you all type as though the kid wasn't suppose to die
rave + toronto + 20 year-olds.
how could there not be a stabbing with these ingredients.
when i was twenty, we raved to sound and drugs, not to violence and death.
gee thats great. when i was twenty i watched some dude (about 20) get the bottom of his pant caught in his bike chain on the way to a rave.
thats fuckin funny, about the bike
WWMD: What Would MacGyver Do?
now if only the rest of america didnt have to hear him.......
Another pal, Gavin (Steve - can you help with a last name and more info?) has a piece in a group show at Rare (435 w. 14th) from October 6 through November 3. I will try to hit the opening this friday night (10/12) between 6:00 and 8:00.
Our pal Matthew McCaslin has a show opening this Saturday, 10/13, at Sandra Gering, 534 West 22nd St, 6 to 8. Love that structural schwebe.
Random bird story for Alex: American oriole wings its way across Atlantic to Baltimore, Ireland
This item is in Slate's "Today's Papers" feature for 10/9/01. I can't find reference to it elsewhere. Are there any more details? It sounds like a major story if it's true.
"USAT fronts and everybody else stuffs word that yesterday a man broke into the cockpit of a Los Angeles to Chicago airliner. After a struggle during which the plane rocked violently, the man was subdued by passengers and, escorted by Air Force fighters, the aircraft then made a safe landing in Chicago."
Cassavetes on Cassavetes
It's chili in Terlingua TX
From the L.A. Times (link via liberalartsmafia)
Winding up a speech, Bush said America will be tough and resolute to defeat terrorists so future generations can live in peace. "And there is no doubt in my mind, not one doubt in my mind, that we will fail," the president said.Can't they get some animatronics or something so this guy doesn't have to speak for himself in public?
John Lilly died 09-30-01. Here's the Times obit.:
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/07/obituaries/07LILL.html?searchpv=nytToday
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/07/obituaries/07LILL.html?searchpv=nytToday
we have begun bombing and i dont really know what we can do to have peace on earth, or what is best to do in this situation (i am just a wine dealer) but i fear that life will never be the same again, of course i am not knowledgable enough to agree with all of this but think he makes some good points (originally posted by dratfink)....
last night linda and i had our last meal at 71CFFood with Captain Wylie at the helm, it was without any question the best meal we ever had there too, the pasta made of pure squid rocked but so did all the other 16, as we yum yum'd through a 6 course tasting menu with a different creation for all three quests (my pal passed on dessert to have the squid pasta again) so it was a mere 17 different...:>)....see you at 50 Clinton....and thank you for a real good time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this probably seemed like a better idea a month ago.
all your opinions belong to us
Jennifer Jason Leigh is on Rosie O'Donell this morning wearing one of Sarah MacFaddens necklaces.
I recieved this email today. Jim, what's the scoop on this supposed virus which attacks mac's as well as pc's?
Very Urgent!!!!!!!
PASS THIS ON TO ANYONE YOU HAVE AN E-MAIL ADDRESS FOR.
If you receive an email titled:
"It Takes Guts to Say Jesus"
DO NOT OPEN IT.
It will erase everything on your hard drive. This information was announced yesterday morning from ; AOL states that this is a very dangerous virus, much worse than "Melissa," and that there is NO Remedy for it at this time.
Some very sick individual has succeeded in using the reformat function from Norton Utilities causing it to completely erase all documents on the hard drive. It has been designed to work with Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer. It destroys Macintosh and IBM compatible computers. This is a
new, very malicious virus and not many people know about it. Pass this warning along to EVERYONE in your address book ! and please share it with all your online friends ASAP so that this threat maybe stopped. Please practice cautionary measures and tell anyone that may have access to your computer.
Forward this warning to everyone that you know that might access the Internet.
Joyce L. Bober
IBM Information Systems Pittsburgh Mailing Systems
412 - 922-8744
Very Urgent!!!!!!!
PASS THIS ON TO ANYONE YOU HAVE AN E-MAIL ADDRESS FOR.
If you receive an email titled:
"It Takes Guts to Say Jesus"
DO NOT OPEN IT.
It will erase everything on your hard drive. This information was announced yesterday morning from ; AOL states that this is a very dangerous virus, much worse than "Melissa," and that there is NO Remedy for it at this time.
Some very sick individual has succeeded in using the reformat function from Norton Utilities causing it to completely erase all documents on the hard drive. It has been designed to work with Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer. It destroys Macintosh and IBM compatible computers. This is a
new, very malicious virus and not many people know about it. Pass this warning along to EVERYONE in your address book ! and please share it with all your online friends ASAP so that this threat maybe stopped. Please practice cautionary measures and tell anyone that may have access to your computer.
Forward this warning to everyone that you know that might access the Internet.
Joyce L. Bober
IBM Information Systems Pittsburgh Mailing Systems
412 - 922-8744
guess i just inadvertently got as close to the president as i ever will. if youre keeping track that would be approximately 10 feet. his motorcade drove across grand st and then turned north on the bowery. as everyone was forced behind the baracades and blockaded onto the sidewalk, i wasnt going anywhere so i stood and watched like everyone else who was stuck between bowery and christie and beyond. as the motorcade made its way down the block, i was thinking it must have been a pretty odd sight from within the heavily armored oversized limo that carried the dignitaries to see the street lined four deep with asian americans many with flags outstretched. but maybe thats the type of scene you become immune to if you are often stumping across the highways/byways of america. but i would think now with the events at hand its hyperrealized.
i cant actually say i saw the shrub . the windows were semitranslucent and the only person i could make out was an older gentleman who wore large framed glasses as he waved to the onlookers. he looked like an investment banker or an ambassador -- old rich and familiar with the trappings of power.
the last police escort finally moved through and eventually all the cruisers that were blocking the intersections disengaged and finally the barricades were released and everyone sputtered on their way.
i cant actually say i saw the shrub . the windows were semitranslucent and the only person i could make out was an older gentleman who wore large framed glasses as he waved to the onlookers. he looked like an investment banker or an ambassador -- old rich and familiar with the trappings of power.
the last police escort finally moved through and eventually all the cruisers that were blocking the intersections disengaged and finally the barricades were released and everyone sputtered on their way.
Eric Asimov reviews AKA in todays New York Times.
