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And I’ve Loved G ‘n R Since “Lies”

Sunday, November 23, 2008


Guns ‘n Roses‘ 1988 release Lies was a solid piece of work. Patience made the album an immediate classic. Gun ‘n Roses’ 1990 followup Appetite for Destruction secured the band a place in rock ‘n roll history with Welcome to the Jungle and Sweet Child ‘o Mine. Then, in consistent defiance of expectation, G ‘n R dropped their 1991 twin vinyl release Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II. No self-respecting rock ‘n roll fan doesn’t have at least five G ‘n R favorites playing heavy rotation on their iPod.

What of Guns ‘n Roses’ recent release, 17 years in the waiting, Chinese Democracy? I’ve fallen in love with so much music over these last 17 years, and what I have to say of Chinese Democracy is, it really hasn’t kept pace.

As everyone knows, the only original G ‘n R member is Axl. A drama of which cost Axl personal fortunes because he had to buy out the contracts of the original members, then settle lawsuits brought against the band name. This drama takes a toll — and most unfortunately, that toll weighted creatively upon Chinese Democracy. Overly produced. Heavy handed. Too orchestral. Vocally redundant.

Memorable cuts include Chinese Democracy, There Was a Time, If the World (very James Bond), Madagascar and Prostitute.

Would I buy this album? Nah.

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Thanksgiving Years Past

Sunday, November 23, 2008

In previous years, my mother hosted our family Thanksgiving. My cousin’s daughter Stephanie presented my mother with this Thanksgiving celebration drawing she drew as an art assignment. I think Stephanie was in 2nd or 3rd grade. Stephanie is now 16 and in high school. You can only imagine how embarrassed she’ll be if she happens upon this post! The size of this drawing is approximately 16″ x 19″ and it has hung on the side of my refrigerator for almost 10 years!

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Howard’s Bigger Than Oprah

Sunday, November 9, 2008

This double-page spread appeared in Sunday’s New York Times. Finally, the world sees that Howard is bigger than both Oprah and Martha! It took some time, but The King of All Media has truly been crowned. Thank you Sirius. Thank you XM. Thank you Howard for helping create new media.

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I helped make history today.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

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2008 Holiday Season Movie Pics

Sunday, November 2, 2008

While most Philadelphians are spending this morning recuperating from a week of joyous celebration after the Phillies World Series win, my celebrating has just begun with today’s New York Times 2008 holiday movie guide. Following are my pics taken among their pics.

Boy in the Stripped Pajamas, The (2008, dir. Mark Herman with Vera Farmiga and David Thewlis)
I gravitate to Holocaust-themed films like a moth to the flame. Same with anything featuring David Thewlis.

Che/The Argentine (2008, dir. Steven Soderbergh with Benicio Del Toro)
Is there really no film genre Soderbergh can’t conquer?

Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008, dir. David Fincher with Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett)
I would have skipped this one if it weren’t directed by David Fincher, (Se7en, Fight Club, Zodiac)

Defiance (2008 dir. Edward Zwick with Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber)
Better known as the other Daniel Craig release.

Doubt (2008, dir. John Patrick Shanley with Philip Seymour Hoffman, Meryl Streep and Amy Adams)
Shanley wrote two of my favorite movies, Five Corners with Jodie Foster and Moonstruck, the flick that won Cher her Oscar.

Good (2008, dir. Vicente Amorim with Viggo Mortensen)
If it has Viggo Mortensen in it, I’m watching it.

Quantum of Solace (2008, dir. Marc Forster with Daniel Craig, Judi Dench and Jeffrey Wright)
Not all cinephiles are pretentious. You’re always likely to find at least one or two tent poles among my list. Plus, I’m likely to see anything featuring Jeffrey Wright.

Revolutionary Road (2008, dir. Sam Mendes with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet)
Three reasons: Jarhead, Road to Perdition, American Beauty.

Road, The (2009, dir. John Hillcoat with Viggo Mortensen and Charlize Theron)
If it has Charlize Theron in it, I’m watching it.

Synecdoche, New York (2008, dir. Charlie Kaufman)
Pic features one of my favorite actors and a plethora of my favorite actresses.

Valkyrie (2008, dir. Bryan Singer with Tom Cruise)
Helmer hasn’t done anything of interest since Usual Suspects. Nonetheless…

Interesting statistics about my 2008 holiday season movie pics:

2 have Viggo Mortensen in the lead
2 have Philip Seymour Hoffman in the lead
2 have Daniel Craig in the lead
3 are based on true-life historical figures/events
4 are Nazi/Holocaust themed
9 are adaptations from other sources
Bonus: Total number of Oscars previously won by all the people involved in listed pics: 12

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Get Your Happy On — Obama Biden 2008

Saturday, August 23, 2008

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Worth the Extra Calories

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Ben & Jerry’s is honoring Sir Elton John with a limited flavor ice cream, proceeds which will go to Elton John AIDS Foundation. Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road, a play on Elton’s double-platinum 1973 album Goodbye Yellow Brick Road will be available in a limited-batch at the Ben & Jerry’s Vermont Scoop Shops only for one week from July 18th – 25th. This custom flavor consists of “an outrageous symphony of decadent chocolate ice cream, peanut butter cookie dough, butter brickle and white chocolate chunks.”

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Johnny in PHL @ PIGLFF

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival kicked off on July 10 and runs through July 22. And, where was I on July 11? Nursing off Chi Chi LaRue’s XXX gay porn tit, that’s where! Chi Chi invited my personal hero Johnny Hazzard to accompany her on her Philly Smut Review tour. (Also in attendance was BLAKE RILEY!!!)

A stroke of complete PIGLFF volunteer generosity on my part left me working the outside doors the moment Chi Chi’s black stretch limo arrived. Chi Chi looked gorgeous and worked the mic and cameras as Johnny et al were escorted into the theater. Arms stretched, I approached the smiley-faced rock star Hazzard with, “Hey, babe!” –Gotta tell ya … Johnny is a great hugger!

Another stroke of complete PIGLFF volunteer generosity on my part left me inside the theater at the moment Chi Chi introduced Johnny and Blake Riley for audience questions. I raised my hand (ala Election’s Tracy Flick). Chi Chi called on me. My question for Johnny was, “Will you sign my original Boy George BRude Johnny Hazzard design T-Shirt???” Johnny asked, “Have you got a Sharpie?” I was invited on stage for formal signature. Chi Chi, lovely as can be, acknowledge my being a film festival volunteer and asked the audience to applaud the volunteer staff. As a closing gesture, Johnny insisted that Chi Chi gift me with a copy of her coffeetable book, Smut. (There are some time lapses here, but, heck, “brevity is the essence of wit.”)

(Refer to Johnny Hazzard’s blog entry from two years ago today -1 when Johnny and I first met! Entertaining Rita)


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Salmon Rushdie @ Free Library of Philadelphia

Thursday, June 26, 2008


Not ashamed to admit that I actually shelled out hard cash to attend Salmon Rushdie’s reading at Free Library of Philadelphia. An interesting thing I learned from Sir Rushdie is that there is no such thing in Indian storytelling as “Once upon a time.” Rather, what they have roughly translates to “It is so, it is not so, in a time long forgotten.” The reading was followed by a very engaging and lively Q&A where Sir Rushdie admitted that his writing process “is not tidy” and that he wishes he could just visit the idea shop rather than have to come up with his own stories. He ended with a comment on writer’s shelf-life, and the idea that most novelists complete their best work before the age of 35. He said he hopes perhaps he’s contributed a bit to dispelling that myth.

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Anchor Trauma

Tuesday, June 24, 2008


First, Charlie Rose, and I ignored it. Then, Anderson Cooper, and I still ignored it. Now, Stephen Colbert. This can not be allowed to continue! What’s next, Katie Couric in a body bag?

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