Stunning New Hera Vid

I'm kinda speechless. Hera made this video just for her Jux blog and sent it my way this morning. Incredible for many reasons. She inspires me immensely.

Health care for the entire universe!?

Everyone these days is talking about health care. Those who have it, those who don't, and especially those who want it. There seems to be a lot of jargon surrounding this proposed universal heath care plan (what? we're supposed to be supporting health care for the entire universe!?!) and while I'm all for heath care overhaul, there is one article I found particularly timely on NPR (of course) called "Drug Firms Pour $40 Million Into Health Care Debate."

Basically, in the past 3 months alone, PhRMA has spent an average of $3 million a week lobbying congress on the new heath care bill:

"PhRMA alone has 29 people lobbying for it. [...] You'll find that PhRMA also hired 45 different Washington, D.C., lobbying firms to represent it in those three months of the second quarter.

"Most of the drug companies that belong to PhRMA are running their own lobby shops as well, plus the biggest ones have also hired dozens of D.C. lobbying firms.

"So think about it this way: There are far more people in Washington representing one party of the debate — the big drug companies — than there are members of Congress working on the health care bill."

And we wonder why it takes so long to get any drastic change accomplished around here.

Big new painting!

A while back, I wrote a bio for artist Jenn Porreca's website. True to her massively generous nature, she insisted I come over and pick out a piece of artwork as a thank you. If you're not yet familiar with Jenn's work, you should be because she's totally self-taught, really talented, and super nice and smart. That must be why we get a long so well ;-)

Last night I stopped by her place (she just got married too, so she was in somewhat of a post wedding bliss/daze) to chat and check out the new work. Her latest paintings are by far her strongest (she's really mastering light). But I fell in love with the biggest canvas there, an old piece from years ago that apparently had been sitting in storage for a period of time.

I love it for a few reasons:
First off, it's really abstract and although unlike her new work, to me it shows the artistic depth of the process of creation, as you can see layer after layer of paint. The texture is amazing and I found myself literally petting the canvas to feel all the organic depth the piece has to offer.
Secondly, the colors are great. The warm reddish, which Jenn uses quite a bit, is inviting but the central cool aqua pops and provides a notable contrast.
Third, in the center of the canvas it's written in small cursive lettering, "Screw Monday, lets run away." Uhh, rad! That's pretty much what I say to myself every morning and night, regardless if it's Monday or not. It reminded me of my constant lamenting to Chris about wanting to "just run away." (so cliche, but I want to sometimes!)
Lastly, the canvas is friggin huge. And big things are always better, right?

Well, maybe until it won't fit in your car, it's drizzling outside (cus y'know, it's summer in SF) and you have to borrow surf straps to tie the thing onto the roof of your car. I love it that Jenn let me tie her massive canvas to my car and drive home in the drizzle! Anyways, it made it home safe and sound and now I really never want to leave my bedroom (even more than before). It reminds me of a studio space now, and that is simply peachy.

I Heart Mac

I have been a big fan of Mac's artwork for a while now. He's on our subscriber cover this month and so that has allowed us a bit more contact than our already very regular contact has allowed in the past. Not only is Mac super duper talented but he is a totally rad guy and extremely mindful of himself, his artwork, and everyone around him. I wish more artists were this considerate and easy to work with!

In his feature interview with David Choe, Mac states, "I think the more good public art a city has, especially in the poorer areas, can help emphasize that there's more to life than just getting by." I couldn't agree more. Fuck just getting by. Suck the life outta the world every damn day.

Rapper Feuds Mirror World Politics?

This may be one of the most astute comparisons I have read in a while: rapper feuds mimicking world politics.

"The way that rappers compete with each other — this is soft power," says Marc Lynch, author of a recent article for Foreign Policy.com comparing world politics to rap feuds. "This is the way you try and make a reputation, try and get what you want, and you have to do it through this very intricate series of alliances."

Man, I'd love to sit down and chat with this guy. On his political and rap game? Get this guy in the White House.

The whole story from NPR is here.

Raise your hand...

If you really have no idea what you're doing with your life (except to be happy and make others happy and all that peachyness).

Wicked Joy Division Cover

I have heard quite a few Joy Division covers, but this drumline cover in Manchester gets the blue ribbon from me.