I Am What I Am (and that's all I am)

Friday, March 28, 2003   The piece below is by Jeff LeVine. You can find tons more at his website. Also, be on the lookout for more of his work in print later this year. Thanks, Jeff! posted by Rick Bradford E-Mail Me | 3/28/2003 04:47:00 PM Tuesday, March 25, 2003   Song playing in my head when I woke up: the Cops theme song ################### "Just so you know, we're ashamed the president of the United States is from Texas." – Natalie Maines, on stage in London Does anybody else find it highly disturbing that a few days ago people were publicly destroying Dixie Chicks CDs in some sort of assinine protest? You think "assinine" is too strong? Okay, tell me this then: What exactly are people angry at Natalie Maines for? Exercising her freedom of speech? Don't most war supporters feel that bombing Iraq is a step to ensure our freedoms here are protected? Isn't one of those freedoms the right to speak one's opinions? I have news for you, people: One of those precious freedoms many Americans are more than happy to kill for is the right to disagree with the government or the president or Michael Eisner or who-the-fuck-ever. Remember a little thing called "democracy"? No, not capitalism, that's the other one. In a democracy even those who don't agree with the opinions of the masses are allowed to say so. Days later, she retracted her statement and issued an apology. This action always amuses me because it's simply empty damage control, but it usually works. It's just an opinion. Are we really that fucking insecure as a nation that we have to stifle any opposition? I know what the answer is. Do you? p.s. Yes, I understand that the Dixie Chicks protesters (boy, that sounds stupid) are exercising the same freedom of speech that she has. The difference, I think, is that her position doesn't involve violent displays or damage to anyone's livelihood. ################### No doubt it's unnecessary to unload the above rant on the bulk of my readers here, but I felt the need to get it off my chest. All I ask of people is to stop and think for just a second... posted by Rick Bradford E-Mail Me | 3/25/2003 03:08:00 PM Wednesday, March 19, 2003   Did you see Bush's address on tv last night? One word: "nukular". posted by Rick Bradford E-Mail Me | 3/19/2003 02:22:00 AM Sunday, March 16, 2003   I've been pretty busy this week as ace photog Alan Rankin blew into town around Tuesday. He went on his way Friday morning and I'd intended to post something here sooner, but I had to catch up on fan mail and signing 8×10 glossies. You know how it is. (Alan, by the way, has just released the first issue of his journal/personalzine, Road Scholar. Look for a review at Poopsheet soon.) We spent a lot of time in Austin during all of the SXSW hullabaloo. Here are a few things we saw and did: • Petty Booka – We saw this Tokyo duo at Cheapo Discs and dug the performance. Try to imagine cute Japanese women singing songs like, say, "I Fall to Pieces" or a bluegrass arrangement of "Material Girl" and become enthralled with the notion as I have. As for the Cheapo shop itself (it's a used CD/DVD place), the name led me to be disappointed by the actual prices, but the selection is huge. It's the biggest used CD store I've seen. • 33º – We visited this record shop for the first time and were pleased to find a pretty decent zine selection and that they carry the free Arthur tabloid that I've been having trouble finding. Arthur's got, among other things, cool comix by Jordan Crane, James Kochalka, Anders Nilsen, Kevin Huizenga and others. • Funny Papers – While at 33º we picked up a flyer for the Funny Papers comic shop announcing a big sale, so we headed there next. We found out that Tim Doyle (Amazing Adult Fantasy) has bought the store and is in the process of making a few changes. I already like what I've seen so far and look forward to seeing what he does with the place. UT students, this is your chance to help make Funny Papers the shop you want it to be! (For those who don't know, it's practically on the University of Texas campus.) • BookPeople – An amazing independent bookstore in Austin (6th & Lamar) that easily rivals stores like Borders in size and selection. While there, I tracked down writer Mark Finn and got the skinny on what he's been up to. • SXSW – Apart from a couple of in-stores, we really didn't see much of this festival. We'd intended to make it to a screening of Bob Odenkirk's new film Melvin Goes to Dinner (which took home the Audience Award), but we didn't make it. ################### Last night I dreamed I met Willie Nelson and told him how funny I think his recent H&R Block commercial is. He was a nice guy. The night before I dreamed that Annette and I went to Whole Foods and saw Amy in the parking lot. I was miffed with Annette for some reason, so I didn't stop to chat, but went on into the store and started shopping. The store was crowded. A customer informed me that one of the free cheese samples needed refilling as if he expected me to do it. Soon, there was a fire drill and I met up with Annette and Amy outside. We hopped some kind of subway train/trolley on which they were giving away comic-related posters. There were about six different kinds, but I only wanted two. They also had reading copies of some British news tabloid, only it was full of comics, half of 'em great-looking and original, half American reprints (printed at a smaller size than the rest). ################### posted by Rick Bradford E-Mail Me | 3/16/2003 11:08:00 PM Friday, March 07, 2003   WOMEN: Please don't fall prey to the Cult of Beauty. You're too smart for that; I know you are. Make-up is a deceit. Ugh. I believe the above, but I'm feeling especially strongly about it at the moment because earlier today and I had the unfortunate experience of watching a paid program for Alexis Vogel's (make-up artist to the stars, apparently) Hollywood Glamour Kit (I don't actually remember if that's what it's called, but it may as well be). Worse than the fact that so many women think they need make-up to be beautiful is the fact that the current trends are so unnatural, to say the least, and stomach-churningly repulsive, to be more precise. And Alexis Vogel, I gather, is at least partly responsible for that. Pamela Anderson, for example, has been one of her projects for a decade. So many young women (and girls) are fashioning themselves after other women who look like either porn stars or drag queens. An example courtesy Miss Anderson: Now, I have no particular problem with either porn stars or drag queens; I just don't think this particular look does anything to enhance the beauty of a woman. You know how little girls slather on make-up when their mom's not looking? That's what this reminds me of. You don't need make-up. You don't need bigger breasts. You don't need slimmer thighs. Et cetera. We're all vain to some extent, but come on, let's make a point to not be defined by our looks. And please, please, don't listen to the Cult of Beauty. posted by Rick Bradford E-Mail Me | 3/07/2003 04:25:00 PM		archives links Ricko's [Old] Web Hovel Poopsheet E-mail Ricko