Reviews

I was just reading the NY Times book review from this past Sunday. In it the name of the reviewer is given as is the name of the last book the person wrote. If not a book then what publication that person writes for, edits etc. When reading dance reviews, I don’t see the authors’ names attached to any previous production.

Is there a different standard between the art forms? Are dancers not reviewing each others work? Are dancers not able to review each others work? Would I rather have a dancer review my work than a non dancer? Well, hell, at this point I would want anyone to review my work…

Saddam’s Execution

here is a video of it.

What does it mean that someone used a cellphone to film the execution of a deposed despot? My first question was – is this real? Do I need to see this? People used to watch executions in town squares, no? Now those town squares are online.

What kind of shit storm is awaiting us? Won’t Saddam just become a martyr? As Obi-Wan said to Vader- if you kill me, it will only make me stronger (okay, not the exact words, whatever, haven’t seen the movie in a while, and last time, I was stoned)

Dreamgirls

we are dream girls we are dream girls we are your wet dream girls

gotta love how songs gloss over the topics that they really are talking about. Sort of taking all the sting, spice, and interest out of the topic to make it palatable for the masses.

That is what happened with the movie”Dreamgirls”. It had so many possible great storylines in there, too many for 2 hours to deal with, that nothing really stood out. The story of Eddie Murphy’s heroin addict could have been great. The story of Effie’s drinking and single mother hood could be really intense and then her comeback. The megalomania of Jamie Foxx’s character. The squashing of C.C. soul and spirit to make the songs fit into marketable packages could have been interesting. Curtis’ realization of fatherhood could have been interesting.

But in the end none of these issues are really tackled, leaving you with not much.

Also what is with Beyoncé’s eyebrows? Looks like there is something missing between her eyebrown? is it expression? How much Botox is in there. And why is she up for best actress? Jennifer Hudson is the main star in the movie, not Beyoncé. Once again the curvy chick gets bumped by the skinny one.

Parking

Yesterday, Kelly and I went for a little hike in the Huckleberry Botanic Preserve up in the Oakland Hills.

As we were leaving, I saw a car drive into the parking area and back into a parking spot. From some reason, I have always been suspicious of people who back into parking spots. It doesn’t save any time. Back out now or back out later, same diff. I understand backing into a spot at a campground, so that the trunk is closer to your site. I think people who back into parking spots are too occupied with their cars. Or they have some secret knowledge I do not possess.

Jealousy, it all comes back to jealousy.

Nauman

Just got a link to video by Bruce Nauman.

You just gotta love his stuff. The idea is so simple and contained almost like a color, a new color on everyone’s palette. Each time I see a video of his that I have not seen before, it is like a section of the refied world is opened up, allowing me new possiblities. What would/could I do with a video of me pinching my neck? I had never thought about a video of me pinching my neck. Aaack, my mind is opening. And then all his walking videos. Damn, just makes you want to do something and then film it. Bam idea bam

new colors new colors new colors

That is what is important, the new colors. Anyone can paint but can anyone make new colors?

Post show depression

The Scenery was wrecked. Guessing some people were thoroughly confused. Received the usual platitudes “Nice to see you dancing”, the euphemism for many things – don’t like it, didn’t get it, you can’t dance. Not that people need to have a well articulated opinion after the show, but something.

The houses were filled, not busting at the seams, but more than my last two shows here. So that is nice. Not sure if that is due to Mary and Nina’s names or just knowing more people here in town.

One thing I am learning is that most people are not very curious. And how can you be an artist and not be curious? Yes, everyone had busy lives and many obligations, but one of those obligations as an artist, as a dancer, is to see as much work as possible. To see what is going on, what people are investigating/thinking about. You can only poo-poo someone’s work if you have seen it. And my show was only $15.

How else are you going to learn about art if you don’t go see show? Dance class isn’t much of a place, rehearsal isn’t much of one either. Well, those are both good places, but not as good as seeing other people’s work.

Maybe I am approaching bitterness, but more and more I am convinced that people are not curious.

Canary in a Coal Mine

photo
I must say 21st Century car insurance has been a disappointment for today. Well, not them directly but, the towing services they use. Some guy was supposed to pick my car up about 3 hrs. ago. But one of his trucks got into an accident. Another one broke down. Ironically the name is Secure Towing. Kinda like the Patriot Act, the name is the complete opposite. Homeland Security. Woo hoo…

This is like the butterfly affect. Except I am in a cul de sac when it comes to that. The tow truck gets into an accident, so my car can’t make it to the dealer. that’s the end. well, though now I get to do laundry and I might walk to the movie rental place. And all that will start a different chain of events. I saw that I am in the cul de sac, because the fact that my car is not towed affects no one but me. Somewhat affects K,M, and N, but we have another vehicle to scoot around in.

What surprised me when I was on the phone with 21st century, was that the person did not know how to pronounce Prius, as in the the car. I would think that someone who works for a car insurance company would know how to saw the name of a car made by Toyota. It’s not like it is a fancy unheard of Italian car, or a really old car.

Shit shit shit my car is dead. How much is this going to cost now? Now accepting donations…

To Cater or Not to Cater

That is the question. Whether it is better to cook for your fellow mankind or to hire others to do so, I do not know. Does your personal sweat make the food taste better? Or will a stranger’s sweat do? If you can hire someone for the food, can you hire someone for the conversation, too? Or have a friend come over to cook the food, but then pay to talk to a stranger. Conversation catering…

How about the reverse of a restaurant? A place where you go to cook with people you don’t know, instead of going to a place to eat with people you do know.

Identify the variables and then reverse them.

posture and poise

Without good posture, sexiness is impossible. Have you ever seen a well built wo/man and noticed that s/he had bad posture? Kills the appeal. Have seen a couple women at the yoga studio where I practice. They’re tan, fit, maybe a nip here and a tuck there. They could have saved themselves some dough and gone to Alexander lessons instead. Hunched shoulders,rounded back…not sexy. Add a few years and some osteoporosis and you’re looking at the floor. Why is something as fundamental as posture too often ignored?

Poise- a particular way of carrying oneself : BEARING, CARRIAGE as defined by Merriam-Webster. Poise is also important. I don’t mean that one should be ramrod straight, like a drill sergeant with a stick up his ass. But considering the money people spend on lotions, trainers, matching outfits and shoes, yoga classes, and organic vegetables, you’d think that people would spend at least a dollar on how they stand and carry themselves. Or if they slouch and galumpf through a room, do it consciously so that it is a choice, not a default mode.

Is thinking about posture and poise shallow? If you are going to think about what you are wearing, you should think about how you are wearing what you are wearing.