Saturday, December 13, 2003

match.com catch o' the day! 9:44:58 PM    comment []

eight going on sixteen My little girl Mariel is eight years old, going on sixteen.  No matter what I say or do these days, all Mariel says is, "you're weird, dad." Come to think of it, a lot of people have been saying that. 8:06:01 PM    comment []

8:04:46 PM    comment []

the human spirit I am always looking for that elusive slice of life picture that will win me honorable mention in a junior college photo contest.  This one could have been a contender if the image here looked anything like what was in my viewfinder when I pressed the shutter button. But still I think there's a story here.  One that speaks of the human spirit.  People helping their fellow man.  Cooperation and brotherhood.  The pay binoculars represent what we can achieve if we only look ahead and pay a small fee. 7:14:26 PM    comment []

anna the art girl This is Anna the art girl.  I always seem to be riding my bike by her gallery just when she's getting off of work.  Hmmm.  Very strange coincidence. She took over the art shows at the Emerald when BASk (Ales Hostomsky) made tracks for Detroit, and left his little St. Petersburg friends behind.  Anna said she just sold a Derrick Curry piece from the last show to one of the guys from the somewhat famous band, Better Than Ezra.  Way to go Derrick! Way to go Anna! Way to Go Ezra!   6:54:15 PM    comment []

panhandling rockers Here's some rocker dudes I saw jamming and begging while I was out on my bike downtown.  They seemed like the kind of people who wouldn't mind having their picture taken, so I pedaled over with my camera. "Mind if I take your picture?" I said, addressing them collectively. "Got any spare change?" their spokesman said. "Yeah, I'll give you some change," I said.  But I took my pictures first. 6:34:00 PM    comment []

When I started shooting, their lead guitarist started to jam noticably harder.  Unfortunately, I haven't mastered my camera's low light capabilities.  But perhaps this effect is suitable: these dudes seem to have a checkered past, a cloudy future, and blurry present.  I don't know.  Rock and Roll should be about kicking ass and getting chicks.  It seems like it would be hard to kick ass and get chicks sitting on the ground and asking for change. Anyway, I threw  three bucks into their guitar case. 6:32:59 PM    comment []

and now, a cute little neigborhood story... (to be read in the deliberate and folksie voice of Burl Ives) If you ever take a morning stroll through the quaint, oak-shaded streets of St. Pete's Old Northeast, you just might  happen upon a curious little propietorship that I like to call the neighborhood star fruit stand. Now, mind you, it's not some some big fancy chain store like Starbucks, or Mac Donald's or Kiwi's R Us.  Nope, it's just a tiny little table with some start fruit on it freshly plucked from one of my neighbor's back yards. There's even directions taped right on the stand to tell you what the deal is: each star fruit is 25 cents, or five for a dollar. 3:56:04 PM    comment []

You see, you can save a quarter if you buy in a larger quantity, as many shrewd shoppers are sure to do. Go ahead, plunk your dollar in the coffee  can and pick up five of those delicious, mouthwatering star fruit.  Now take yourself a juicy bite, like this. Now isn't that--oh Christ, that's bitter! Pluh! Pthit! Pfit! Damnit, I can't get that taste out of my mouth.  What are these things made out of?  Acid? 3:54:47 PM    comment []

ales hostomsky: thought criminal Does this look like the face of a man who would steal your idea, make it a lot cooler and then ride to dizzying heights of success with it? (To be fair, I have copied as many things as I could from BASK's art.  But the result was always crappy immitation art that never sold and gathered dust in the corner of a warehouse until it was thrown away). 3:14:48 PM    comment []

BASK IN YOUR ART CRIME! Once again, I am taunted my nemesis: BASK.  One of his subversive stickers appeared on the back of a white Isuzu rodeo as I went to eat a Chattaburger with my daughter, Mariel. Now, I don't begrudge anybody success when they use clever and resourceful means to spread their fame.  But the yellow and black sticker campaign has a bitter sting for me personally. You see, for years I had made made simplistic yellow and black artwork my signature style.  Imitating the bold and iconic look of road signs to reach my public. 2:44:54 PM    comment []

But then, as he is often known to do, BASK took a half-baked concept and grilled it to perfection, changing the recipie just enough to make it his own.  When BASK unveiled his yellow and black "BASK IN YOUR THOUGHT CRIME" stickers, my artistic jaw dropped to the floor. Of course, BASK's publicity campaign was much more focused and consistent than mine.  His stickers started showing up everywhere.  On bumpers, on phone booths, in toilet stalls.  Everywhere I went, a "BASK IN YOUR THOUGHT CRIME" sticker was waiting for me. Not only had BASK succesfully blanketed the urban underground landscape with his logo, but he was able to make other people want to display and propagate the image as well. Well, you may have won this batte, Mr. Hostomsky!  But the war is not over! I WILL HAVE MY DAY!  YOU HEAR ME, BASK!  I AM UP LATE EVERY NIGHT PLOTTING MY REVENGE. AND IT WILL BE SWEET, VERY SWEET INDEED!!! 2:39:26 PM    comment []

© Copyright 2004 Mark Michaels. Last update: 1/1/2004; 3:39:21 AM.