Monday, September 29, 2008

Quote of the Day

One of the things I love about my character is I can make vast declarations and it doesn't matter if I'm wrong. I love being wrong. So my character can tell you exactly what's going to happen: The Democrats are going to change everything. We're going to have gay parents marrying their own gay babies. Obama's gonna be sworn in on a gay baby. The oath is gonna end ''So help me, gay baby.''


-Stephen Colbert, in Entertainment Weekly

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Monday, September 22, 2008

Goodwill Outlet

Today I went with my friend Daniel to the hugeass / fucking overwhelming Goodwill Outlet in SODO. I had never been there before. I go to places like Value Village all the time, but the Goodwill Outlet took the thriftstore minimalistic environment to an industrial level I wasn't prepared for.

(Why does Goodwill need an outlet? Isn't it already the outlet of all outlet stores?)

The rubbermaid buckets were overflowing with clothing, books, tchotchkies, kitchen appliances, lightbulbs, bras... and digging through it all felt dangerous. Dampness was foremost on my mind. As was brown stains. Or lacy anything.

My friend Daniel has an unhealthy relationship with the citizens of Seattle who are giving away their suits to Goodwill. Please stop giving them away to Daniel. He has enough and, as I remind him, not every day is dress-like-a-an-out-of-touch-businessman-ironically-day. I don't care if you can buy 8 for only 6 dollars because they don't weigh very much. YOO HAVE TOO MUCH CRAP.

Anyone who wants to feel abused and upset can read someone's just-tossed Ann Coulter book, "How to Talk To A Liberal (if you must)" located in the back right bin. After I'd exhausted all the levels of the game on my phone, I began to read the book. Eight pages later and my head was spinning with enough dogma about Liberal Gay Hollywood Socialist Conspiracy Theories To Destroy America that I could have written a very bad very angry letter. Goodwill-I am offended by the placement of that book on the top of the heap. Can someone please come and bury it underneath that coffee-stained 1977 edition of "Women's World" where no one will ever think to look? Thank you.

Daniel was scarily good at mechanically sifting crap from discarded jewels (like Ferragamo shoes). He had the search and seize movements down, his eyes darted everywhere, his brow furrowed, his lips pursed. Watching him was like watching a Project Runway contestant clawing his way through an overpriced fabric store bin. Or a homeless person, desperate for clothing. Either / or.

Not to go all Chuck Klosterman on your ass, but I sometimes feel like Daniel and I simply act out Project Runway when we shop. I feel more comfortable criticizing his choice of dress because we'd just watched Michael Kors ape on that unfortunate overly tanned dude from West Seattle on television. Daniel doesn't get angry at me because the Project Runway Fashion Gods are watching us both interact, nodding their heads in silent approval.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Deborah Soloman Tears Into the Author of "The Bell Curve"

And what a blithering, non-sensical, elitest, hypocritical, asshole he is.

Money quote:

What do you make of the fact that John McCain was ranked 894 in a class of 899 when he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy? I like to think that the reason he ranked so low is that he was out drinking beer, as opposed to just unable to learn stuff.

“The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you are uncool.”

That wonderful line, originally spoken in Almost Famous, is used to anchor a brilliant essay about contrarian teaching in tomorrow's New York Times Magazine. Read it now.

Friday, September 19, 2008

New Chow Bio!

I interviewed Ronnie Santone of "Hay Paison!" Read it here.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Baby Palin Names

According to an email just sent to me by friends...

Max Berde is Comma Liberty Palin

Chris Kinzig is Nam Guadalupe Palin

Max Silver is Bush Gator Palin

Matan Barnea is Ammo Canal Palin

Daniel Frum is Clamp Noodle Palin

and I...am...

Lock Pepper Palin

The trend seems to be animals, patriotic words, places where America has fought wars, a city in New Mexico, a president's surname, something that goes into guns, an artificial water channel, a food made from unleavened dough that is cooked in a boiling liquid, a mechanical fastening device, and a spicy plant. In other words, uhm, there is no trend.

You Know The Movie's Going to Be Bad...

When the only reviews advertised on the movie's website are from some dude named "D.W. Bostaph" (perhaps the neighbor of the filmmaker?) and S.T. Josi (the other neighbor?) .

Overheard at Another Gay Bar in New York

"I think that's stupid. Just because you're gay doesn't mean you're more creative, or witty, or anything. Come on. We live in a post-gay world. Stop clinging to your gay identity. You are who you are because you are who you are, not because you're gay."

Overheard at a Gay Bar

"Why's everyone so crazy about the New Yorker?"

"I think it's just the font."