"need to write more better journal writing"

The Best Argument for Coming to Study in New Orleans

This picture was taken in Bruff Cafeteria tonight. A sorority girl scoffed and questioned me,

"Why do you have your camera out in the cafeteria?"

Because that's a beautiful sight, honey. And if you can't respect that you're whole perspective is wack...

The Scoop on 2012

More often than once the date 2012 has come up in conversation as some kind of deadline date for society. This paranoid prediction is based off the ever-handy Mayan calendar and the fact that it only runs up to the date 2012, or something like that. So the talk goes, when the year 2012 arrives we as human race may face some sort of calamity ranging from our all out utter destruction to just having to replace our old obsolete Mayan Calendars with a new one from Hallmark. What may come, we don't know. I'm even not sure if I believe in Armageddon (capital A) but I am curious to know more about this phenomenon so that I can probe other people's beliefs and hysterias.

So I plan on going to hear this keynote address at the Stone Center on Tulane's campus, Friday Feb. 6 @ 7 pm.

What an obscure privilege it will to be able to regurgitate some learned professor expertise at a drunken conversation in a bar later on to bring some legitimacy to the hype.

Knowledge is power. The end is near. Pass on your copy of the PaprPaper.

Look, KNOX Rocks

Knoxville, TN: too often overlooked. Let me lay down a few of the cool things I do know about the place.

-You want to know where the wigs are at? There not hidden inside the Sunsphere, that golden epcot-ical sphere you saw from Interstate 40. But there is a spot along Gay Street right next to Yee Haw Industries that had a pretty comprehensive wig selection last time I checked in there (3 years ago). Its the kind of funky dollar store where its worth your time to peruse the aisles and wipe away the dust to reveal some bygone merchandise from China. They were mostly ladies wigs as I remember in styles from the 80's. Sounds curious enough to investigate right? They also sell looseys at the counter.

-That spot is hit or miss I'll admit but you're bound to see something cool next door at Yee Haw. Plus around the corner from them is Market Square which keeps a good buzz going for a good many hours of the 24 that are available. I got breakfast there at 7 in the morning the other day after I'd spent the night drinking across the way at Preservation Pub the night before. The posters on the wall were funny and the scene smoky and when the itch passed through my body there was a wall around the side to go relieve my antisocial tendencies on. A number of plywood sheets are boarding up part of the perimeter of Market Square and nobody we'll stress you out if you want to spill your creed there with some permanent ink. That's cool and that's where these pics come from.
-Oh, I forgot to tell you that you can actually go inside the sunsphere and poke around yourself. I've been going to Knoxville all my life and only recently discovered the magical elevator at the base that'll take you up free of charge. The first 3 levels are accessable from the street and World's Fair Park (the original impetus for the 1982 architectural wonder) but when you hit the button for floor #4 you actually rise up 22 stories. Definitely a good view to get your bearings and scan the kingdom that is UT. The lookout is only one level but provides 360 degrees of urban critiquing pleasure. Apparently there are some law firms and other buisnesses above that in the rest of the thing, which would not be too terrible a work environment.

So there you go the next time you pass through on your way to Asheville or Virginia or wherever. You don't have to settle down in the damn place, but do snoop around and you will be rewarded.

striving to do this

"Getting Up" is a great book I once checked out from the library

'Staying Up' is more than just pulling an all nighter

(Rising Up) will be defined after I've done it...
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<<art histroy references: see "Getting Up">>

Flowers popping up

Michael De Feo came to town recently. I first saw his stuff along the sidewalks of Manhattan where he is more commonly known as 'the Flower Guy' because the flower logo he puts up around there.

For one thing its cool to see somebody's work that I recognize from street art books start popping up around New Orleans (much like Banksy and Swoon). On another level what he does is a good reminder of the effectiveness of good design and simple methods like screen printing and wheat pasting. It seems everytime I go out now I see another flower. A few of them are boldly placed but for the most part they're just around, simply and unobtrusively present.

Its obvious the dude came to NOLA to get work done. And like a lot of people who come here these days he was able to do that and still have fun.

Thanks Mike