Sunday, August 31, 2008

Hello Gustov: My New Favorite Website

For all the wrong reasons, Stormpulse is my new favorite website.

I'm a sucker for a pretty interface, and I had a chance to see the site on a nice cinema screen Mac. Hurricane Gustov is heading north, Hannah is hanging out by the Grand Turks and way over Africa way is High Potential Disturbance #1.

*sigh*

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Wednesday Night Photo Post: "Big Alex" by David Adickes



"Big Alex" by David Adickes, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.


While hoping to visit the Texas Junk Company (closed until Sept 6th or 7th, can't remember) I saw this on the corner of Mason and Hyde Park Blvd. Picture Plus is hosting this David Adickes sculpture.

Loving that every street in Houston is viewable on Google Maps street view. That's how I confirmed the exact location, with a view of the building before the addition of phone and business sign.

Why I don't have to remember a thing now that Google does it for me.

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Interesting local article
on "Big Alex" and his long journey from David Adickes studio to the Montrose neighborhood. (original article no longer available. cached version found on Google

Monday, August 25, 2008

The High Price of Literacy: Windsor McCay Will Make Me Poor

Between my wife taking what little money I earn (for safe keeping) and the Houston library's large collection, I buy few books. Which is good, because I naturally gravitate towards the pricey end of the spectrum. Not 18th century first editions, but nowhere near the cheap, used paperbacks that would be so much easier on the budget.



Examples: I already purchased last year "Little Nemo in Slumberland: So Many Splendid Sundays."  Little did I know that a second volume was in the making.



There goes another hundred or so bucks on another Little Nemo collection.  And Windsor McCay and his surreal draftsmanship is not done with me yet.

 

Continuing the dream theme, "Dream of the Rarebit Fiend" is a complete collection of all of Windsor McCay's fantastical exploration of what happens when one has a late-night snack of welsh rarebit before bedtime.  Like the other books, "Dream of the Rarebit Fiend" is hefty in size. Blogger Need More Coffee's review put it this way,

"...it's a foot tall and seventeen inches across, to give the comic strips reprinted within enough room to be reproduced at their original size. The book weighs about ten pounds. In other words, it's only slightly sturdier than a Roman soldier's shield and could probably be used to stop small caliber bullets..."

And it is the smallest book on this wish list.  At $133 (shipping and DVD of additional material included) it looks like I'll have to get working before even thinking about adding these two gorgeous books to my library.

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The Comic Strip Library is scanning public domain comic strips, including Little Nemo.  Check out the archives to see what newspaper readers in the 1900's were finding in their Sunday papers.

Sunday Press Books, publisher of both Little Nemo collections and more.

My copy of Many Splendid Sundays...

Sunday, August 24, 2008

CNN's Unconventional Spelling



Unconventional Spelling, originally uploaded by Mr. Kimberly.

The missus pointed this out while flipping channels. She noted, "At least they spelled 'swastikas' correctly."

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Houston: One Year + A Few Days

Little over a year ago, we were aiming a moving van towards Texas.  Now, we have an 8-month old cutie, a great job for the missus, a collection of great art/museum jobs under my belt and the happy experience of calling Houston home.

Everyone has reason to bitch about their city and Houston is no different.  But for us, the move here has been nothing but good things.

Still looking for new places to go and people to meet.  On my list, definately the Texas Junk Company (how could I have not been here) and possibly meet the owner of this place.

What will another year bring?  More of the same, I hope.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Wednesday Night Photo Post: Other Houston Photographers - Lucky Burger


10: LOCAL LANDMARK, originally uploaded by Graustark.

Friday, August 15, 2008

"Man on Wire": Saw It, Really Liked it



Man on Wire.  The tale of one man's desire to perform on beautiful stages, to go where no one else could or would. Simply great. To aid in the story telling, there are reenactments of his early wirewalking that are as interesting and engaging as the archival photos and film.

Most surprising, how genuinely funny a movie it is. Highly recommended, the exception being for acrophobics.  Just fantastic!





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Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Wednesday Night Photo Post: Other Houston Photographers - The Orange Show at Night


Friday, August 08, 2008

More Road Trip Fun: Dinosaurs Attacking Yankee Soldier

If only the North had been successful in their use of giant reptiles during the Civil War/War of Northern Aggression.


Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Foamhenge - Natural Bridge, VA

Back in Houston. Let the blogging recommence.