Current TV

Several years ago I discovered a cable TV channel (TRIO) that I really enjoyed. It had great content, documentaries, original programming, and it made me think. When that channel disappeared off of my dial, I thought I was out of luck for interesting TV (except of course for the dramas on FX), until recently when I discovered Current TV. I remember hearing about an Al Gore backed TV channel, but I never really watched it until a few weeks ago. Now, it is one of the few channels that I view with any regularity. I really like their Vanguard series and the fact that the channel promotes green living, green businesses, and a world culture, rather than the typical consumerism and capitalism that we usually see on TV.

If you get a chance, check it out. Current TV has documentaries, music videos, interviews, news, and a lot of original programming that I think is worth viewing. It's very fast paced programming, and the shows and news on Current TV are interactive and integrated with the Internet. I think the programming on Current will appeal to people who are used to multitasking and used to the Internet. I can see how watching this channel would be difficult for people who have not spent a considerable time using computers, because there is a manic quality built into the presentation of the shows and content. The only thing I have found disappointing is that whenever I try to use the website, my computer slows to almost a halt. I'm sure it's the fact that my computer is several years old, but it's still frustrating.

When Sammies Attack

This is footage that was taken of Sammy and Connor having more fun than expected. I especially love the way Sky is checking out her photos with great focus and in almost perfect oblivion while Sammy goes nuts on Connor. I laugh every time I watch it.

Porky's Adoption Attempt

We took Porky to the Furry Pals Rescue at Highland Village yesterday, and tried to adopt him out. When I arrived after a half day of being crated and hanging out with strangers, he was more than a little glad to see me coming to pick him up. It was pretty sad really. They told us that he would be harder to adopt out, because he was black. They weren't sure why, but it was pretty clear to me - it's racism, man.

Porky is a lucky dog, because Robyn located a wonderful new friend, Cody, who wants to take Porky home with him. Porky will never have to be displayed like a slab of meat for sale again. He should be going to his new home in the Heights next Sunday, cross fingers!

Sky Train Shoot

Wheeler Station by Finijo

Sky and I took the light rail train from Wheeler Station to the end of the line at One Main Street (University of Houston Downtown) and back again. Along the way, we had a good time, and got some interesting shots of downtown Houston.

Blue Train Interior by Finijo

This shot was taken as we pulled out, so it is a little shaky, but so is the trip, so I like the effect. It looks like it felt.

Silver Tube by Finijo

This was taken at the University of Houston Downtown from the parking deck. I think it may be my favorite shot of the day.

Dean's Home of Easy Credit by Finijo

Dean's Credit Clothing has been on Main Street in Houston forever, but now the old department store is a hipster bar. Progress? Who knows...

Green and White House by Finijo

This structure is one of the most beautiful buildings downtown, in my opinion. I think there is a law office in it now, but it is likely that it was once a home for some lucky family, back when transportation in the city was either horse drawn or a trolley.

Green and White Turret by Finijo

This is just an architectural detail of the building shown above. It's my favorite part of one of my favorite buildings on Main Street.

Under Time by Finijo

This is the Louis and Annie Friedman Clock Tower not far off of Main Street in downtown Houston. We received a call that cut short our photo shoot, but we also realised that there are several places we want to get back to try to get the shots we missed this time around. Thank you to Caryn and Matt for trusting me with your daughter. Thank you, Sky, for another great shoot.

Sunset Approaching Wheeler Station

This shot was taken through the scratched up plexiglass window of the Metro train. I pointed it directly at the sunset in defiance of the bright light that was blinding me and sending rapidly towards a migraine. Thank you to Caryn and Matt for trusting me with your daughter. Thank you, Sky, for another great shoot.

Holy $&@#!

Cross and Baptismal by Finijo

While traveling down I-45 with Connor, I exited Beltway 8 and and as I started up the steep incline and rounded the corner, I found myself face to face with the biggest freaking cross I have ever seen in my life. I literally exclaimed "HOLY SHIT!"

Caged Cross by Finijo

The cross rises up over the beltway when nothing else does. It's just cross and sky for as far as the eye can see. I am both drawn to and completely repelled by this behemoth of a structure. I've gone back twice to take photos, and I know I will have to go back again.

Holy Shit! by Finijo

The cross belongs to the Sagemont Church, formerly known as Sagemont Baptist Church. It is on a campus that looks like it was purchased for expansion. Something tells me that the long term plans for this church is to out mega the mega churches, like Lakewood.

Cross to Bear by Finijo

Scientology Protest

Scientology Hates Free Speech by Finijo

While in Austin over the weekend, we encountered this group of protesters in front of the Church of Scientology storefront on Guadalupe. That same storefront was used by them when I attended college at UT. When I was there, nobody bothered to protest, because it was just understood that it was a cult, so we all steered clear. Every now and then, one of the depressed or lost students would come back to the dorm after getting their "free personality test," from the Dyanetics Center, and think they stumbled upon the meaning of life. They were usually met with either pity or mockery, and if that wasn't enough to deter them, they eventually became disillusioned with Mr. Hubbard's cash cow of a "religion," and drifted away from it. I never knew anyone who got the personality test, became a Scientologist, and was never heard again, but I don't doubt that could happen. A cult is a cult - whether Tom Cruise is the spokesperson for the cult, or not.

Anonymous Protesters by Finijo

Instead of protesters, this Dyanetics Center usually had a table out front manned by volunteers handing out pamphlets and trying to entice students to enter the center to take the free personality test. I don't recall there being a security guard back then, especially since most of us cut a wide swath to avoid having to deal with the annoyance of the volunteers trying desperately to make eye contact. I guess that's the difference that 25 years can make. I fear that the cult of celebrity has had quite an impact on the cult of Scientology, and it is now a name brand that people recognize. What Madonna did for Kabbalah a few years ago has also been done with Scientology, but like Kabbalah, I think this fad will have to wither. Unless a movement has more substance than style, it will fade.

Anonymous

This is the flier that was being distributed by the protesters. Thanks to Dave, I have a link for information about Anonymous. I love their tag line: Anonymous is legion. We do not forget. We do not forgive. Expect us. How scary is that? I'm American, so I love the underdog, the rebel, the revolutionary; but I think they may be missing their mark and coming across a little terroristic. I know people throw the "T" word around too much since the demise of our civil liberties under Bush, but I think they should include something that makes them more people friendly. Maybe, Anonymous: We are legion. We do not forget. We are here for the people. O.K. , that's lame, but you can see what I am getting at. A faceless organization that is unforgiving is pretty much describing the Scientologists, Fortune 500 Companies, most bureaucracies, and most governments. As much as I love underdogs and rebels, I dislike mob mentality, and there is definitely the opportunity for Anonymous to become a bully organization, if they do not keep themselves in check. That said, I also understand why they would take on Scientology in masks - there is a part of me that expects to be contacted by Scientology's attornies for exercising my right to free speech in this blog. If I do, then I may find myself in a mask at the next protest. We shall see...

Cult of Greed

Sorry the scanned copy is a bit grainy. The best part of this flier is not the written description of why Scientology is a bad thing, but the watermark graphic that looks like an alien overlord. Some kind of alien demon oppressor here to enslave humanity. One of my favorite classes in college was a class on propaganda - and this flier is as perfect an example as I can think of. I say that with admiration (really), because anyone who has read up on Scientology, has heard of the alien connection. Propaganda is not by its nature false information, it can very often be factual. It's the packaging of the info that makes it propaganda - and I must say, I love the packaging of Anonymous. From the uber cool V for Vendetta masks, to their willingness to stand up against one of the scariest organizations I know of -Scientology. Keep up the good work, Anonymous, just don't let it go to your head. I would hate to hear that you used your power for evil, instead of good.

Austin Street Art

View from Littlefield Fountain to State Capitol by Finijo

The trip to Austin resulted in our being able to see a variety of artwork on campus and the Drag. I believe this statue in the Littlefield Fountain is called Winged Liberty, but I am no longer certain. I found a great description of the statue here:

The theme of the fountain's statuary is that the First World War brought the northern and southern states into a joint effort against a common enemy, uniting the country for the first time since the Civil War. The central figure in the statue grouping is a winged goddess, who is flanked by a soldier and a sailor, both clad in loin cloths. She stands on a ship, which is pulled by sea horses with webbed hooves and water coming out of their nostrils. The horses are ridden by naked giants with horns on their heads. Campus legend has it that if a virgin ever graduates from UT the horses will fly out of the fountain.

While photographing Littlefield Fountain, I had a realization that it is quite a homoerotic statue. In fact, I would say it is just an Indian Chief and Cowboy short of being an homage to the Village People.

Movie Mural by Finijo

This mural was on the side of what was The Varsity Theater, an old movie theater that turned into a classic movie theater by the time I was a student at UT. There was another movie theater on the Drag, not to far away from The Varsity, but it showed only X-rated films. I remember two of the movie titles that played there back in the day. The first was "The French Student," and I took a photo of the title on the marquis and sent a copy to a friend in Paris who was a French exchange student at my high school. The other was a movie called "Bodacious Tatas," which I remember because those words made me laugh every time I passed the theater. They still makes me laugh. In case you are wondering, I did not ever see a movie at that theater, it was just too skeevey. When I visited Austin in the early 90's, the Varsity Theater had been bought out and transformed into a Tower Music store. Now it is some other store, I didn't even note the name. Much of the Drag has lost it's character and become homogenized over the years. I know it was dirty and probably more dangerous, but I miss that element. Walking on The Drag was always exciting for me. Even on this trip, we still had to wade through bands of homeless people to do our shopping. So, I guess some things have not changed that much.

Joel Perlman's Square Tilt (1983) photo by Finijo

This statue is in front of the Perry Castaneda Library (The PCL) across the street from Jester. I passed it everyday on my way to and from classes, but never gave it much thought. I think I liked it more on this visit than I ever did when I was living in Austin. I'm not sure why, but I seem to have a better appreciation for modern art as I become older. I do wish they would do something to make the rest of the terrace leading to the PCL more inviting. Perhaps more seating, some plants or a fountain would help.

Pop Art Iconography by Finijo

This art work can be found on the front of the music/video store that replaced the Varsity Theater, then the Tower Records store. While the new store did not draw me in, the artwork along Guadalupe was quite eye catching. I am partial to the portrait of Johnny Cash. I also think the bright colors and the graffiti-esque style of the installation make it a joyful addition to street that is becoming congested with chain stores.

Hi, How Are You by Finijo

This mural was painted on the side of The Sound Exchange. I have seen the image before, but never really knew the story behind it. This mural made the Rolling Stone in January of this year, when the planned demolition of the wall on which it rests was called off. I think it is wonderful to be able to walk down one street and find so many murals and so much street art. It exists in Houston, too, but the art is so spread out that it's hard to find it. In Austin, it's just about any place you look and I think the presence of the art there spawns more creativity. It is a very positive cycle.

Challenger by Faile photo by Finijo

This is the close-up I did of Challenger, by Faile, an artists collective based in New York of New York. The more I look at this one, the more I like it. This visit to Austin has prompted me to be more aware of street art and artists. The Internet is great for identifying street art and the artists behind the pieces. A partial list of Austin's murals can be found here.

Challenger in the Distance by Finijo

This is the same mural as above, but from a distance as we approached it on Guadalupe. The green building behind it is The Goodall Wooten Dormitory. A look up of "The Woo" shows just how much times have changed. Listed on the first page of its website is that it is a "substance free" dormitory. This is a stark contrast to the partying that used to go on at the Wooton way back when. My memories are of trying to avoid walking under the balconies on Friday or Saturday night, because of the drunken students who urinated off the balcony while taking aim at unsuspecting passersby. I also remember that beer bottles were thrown at friends of mine who made up the first Gay Pride float in a UT parade that started on Guadalupe before one of the big football games. The incident ended up being well covered in the press and got several write ups in The Daily Texan. This mural covers what was once the mural that adorned the side of Captain Quackenbush's Intergalactic Coffee Bar and Desert Cafe. We took a trip down 43rd to visit Quack's new location, and while it was nice, it just wasn't the same. It is now located in a residential area and it is just popular enough to be too cramped for it's present location, which really does detract from the experience.

Renaissance Market Mural photo by Finijo

This is a newer installment (one of several) that now graces the walls that border The Renaissance Market. I don't know the name of the piece or the artist, so please leave me a comment if you find out any information about the piece.

Renaissance Market Mural 2 - photo by Finijo

This is another piece I could not find information about on the Internet. I'm sure someone wrote about it at some point, but I did not locate the info. Please feel free to fill me in on this one, if you know anything about it.

Renaissance Market Mural 2 (2) - photo by Finijo

This is part of the same piece as the photo above. It is vibrant and full of Texas landmarks and geography.

Renaissance Market Mural by Photo by Finijo

This site has a nice little article about the Renaissance Market and this mural:

"The market mural, the brainchild of Kerry Awn, Rick Turner and Tom Baumand was begun around Christmas of 1974. The mural was painted by local artists, including contributions by Michael Priest and Jim Franklin. The mural offers a humorous pictoral view of the strange and wonderful people and places that are the cultural history of Austin. Refurbished in 2002, the mural has been updated to include caricatures of more recent celebrities, including a certain computer mogul selling computers on the sidewalk and a famous actor running naked through the streets with his bongo drums."

Detail of "Le Bonheur de Vivre" by Doug Jacques photo by Finijo

I found the following information here:

'"Le Bonheur de Vivre," at 24th & Guadalupe, was executed by Doug Jacques and his students at ACC in 1998. Jacques' piece is a very colorful, slightly surreal viewing experience for all who pass by. With depictions of floating coffee cups and pigs playing the violin among its fanciful imagery, it's as if Lewis Carroll has infiltrated the subconscious sleep of the student body and projected it onto the side of the Gap for all to experience. "

"Le Bonheur de Vivre" by Doug Jacques photo by Finijo

This is another detail of the mural shown in the previous picture. It reminds me of the dust cover for Carlos Castaneda's Journey To Ixtlan and I think it has a 70's feel to it. I love the cup of coffee, too. Long before Starbuck's came to Texas, Austin was chock-full-o coffee houses. The joke (or maybe it was an actual statistic) back then was that Austin had the most baristas with masters degrees serving coffee of any city in the US.

Street Ganesh photo by Finijo

I cannot remember exactly where we found this rendering of Ganesh, but I know it was on Guadalupe. We found a little bit of everything on our walking tour of this part of the campus. I think when we return we will have to hike through the rest of the campus to show Connor more of what the campus looks and feels like.

Etched Window on Harry Ransom Center by Finijo

I used to love to go to the Harry Ransom Center. There was such a variety of items that I always found it interesting. I remember that the most famous exhibit while I was a student was the Guttenberg Bible. I don't remember the etched window being there when I was a student, but I think it is fantastic. The red glow in the eye of the gentleman in the middle is actually the reflection of my jacket in the window.

I have one more blog post connected with our trip to Austin. We packed so much into the few hours we were there, that it warrants three separate posts. Thank you Dave, for being such a great host!

ATX

Marilyn, Connor, and I drove up to Austin today to visit Dave. It was Connor's birthday trip and it served multiple purposes. We got to see Dave and his dorm room, Connor got to tour the campus and be inspired to work harder in school, and I got a really cool trip down memory lane. I exited the University of Texas Campus many years ago after not exactly fulfilling my scholarly duty (or potential). I have been back on campus several times since then, but not back in my old dorm, where David now resides. That was pretty cool. He is one floor and one room down from my old room. I would have liked to visit the old room, but we did a lot of walking and talking on this trip, so there really wasn't time. The dorm now has security measures in place that seem like no brainers, but were definitely not present when I attended. Pretty much anyone could access the dorm back in the day, and I guess things have changed a lot. Even though UT had the tower sniper, Charles Whitman, killed 14 people and injured 32 in 1966, campus security was relatively lax while I attended school there. Now, the dorm is locked down, each floor is locked down and security seems to be a priority, which is reassuring and also a little sad, I suppose.

We had a great day, and hope to get back up there for another visit soon. Thank you, Dave for the tour and a a fun day.

Crows on the Patio

I wend to Niko Niko's this evening to have dinner with Karim. The weather was great, so we sat outside. I shared my dinner with the crows on the patio.

It Was A Dark and Stormy Night

I shot this video at the behest of David who is in Austin. The storms were pretty nasty and knocked out my electricity at one point, but it came back on pretty quick. I wish I had more light in my back yard, so You could see it better. The wind was whipping the trees around and the rain was coming down pretty hard. You can hear it, even if you can't see it. I like the way the lights show up green in the video - they are actually yellow to the naked eye.