Published on Sun Mar 30, 2003, 10:29 pm .
Presley, Tbone, Megger, Chris and I just got back from the Midwest Grill in Inman Square, where we celebrated Presley’s 23rd birthday. She really is getting quite old.
But, on the way home, we convinced Chris to drive down to South Boston, so we could come up the new I-93 N tunnel– that’s right, the Big Dig is open. Well, partially open. The tunnel is wide and bright, with actual signage that gives you some actual notice about your exit before you drive by it.
But the real treat was emerging from the tunnel, and driving onto the Zakim Bridge. It’s really beautiful. I stuck my head out the window in the rain, and just gawked up at the towers. Even with the neon purple lights, it is really something to appreciate– especially at night. Nothing about it says “Boston”, except for its name…. but, you really should take your own trip. Everybody is doing it.
Published on Wed Mar 26, 2003, 11:22 pm .
Overheard in our building, from Annoying Unpleasant Girl Who Lives Down the Hall, on her cell phone, after my “hello” went rudely ignored:
I need to ask you something…. did you tell such-and-such that we did coke?
Published on Sat Mar 22, 2003, 5:28 pm .
Published on Sat Mar 22, 2003, 1:27 am .
Last night, Presley and I were smack in the middle of painting our minuscule Cambridge bedroom a lovely polar blue, when I noticed a gathering of Police cars on Mass Ave. They were directing traffic away from Central Square, which I thought was odd. My initial impulse was to think that some War Hawk had called in a bomb threat on the People’s Republik…
But, no. Alas, there were war protesters massing down the street, and they intended to march on Harvard Sq. Watching the cops deal with this group of 200 or so kids was amusing– rerouting traffic, and stuff. I love cops on motorcycles… it’s just so urban.
We followed them a bit, and I wish my pics were better. I had to leave the shutter open for a while because there wasn’t much light. Blurry or not, it’s pretty fucking great when 200 kids parade by your apartment at 9pm on a thursday night. I was uncomfortable at being led by dueling French and Pirate flags… but, hey, This is What Democracy Looks Like. No?
Published on Thu Mar 20, 2003, 4:50 pm .
日本のコンピューターに作用することは多くの忍耐を要します。そのため、私はそうです、最高、猛烈!
Published on Wed Mar 19, 2003, 2:30 pm .
I really like what Boston Common does– collecting snippets from Boston-area blogs, and displaying them in aggregated meme-like fashion. I get a lot of hits from the site, and I appreciate the work Adam Gaffin does every day.
BUT! Today, I noticed that Boston Common is now running floating Flash (Rich Media) advertisements from Travelocity. Hovering over the content! I find these things irritating, especially when it specifically delays your access to the information.
I understand the need for online advertising, and revenue, but surely this is more of an annoyance than an effective marketing tool.
Eyeblaster was, I believe, one of the first companies to convince clients that banner ads were pass?, and that has made Eyeblaster an industry leader.
Honestly, for me, it’s enough to make me go make hotel reservations at Expedia. Until I see a floating flash ad from them!
Still, I guess I’m willing to endure the ads, as long as Adam keeps doing what he’s doing. How can you bite the hand that feeds you?
Published on Wed Mar 19, 2003, 12:21 pm .
Over the weekend, I saw David Cronenberg’s new Film Spider with Tbone, who wrote a review. One thing I’d like to comment on, are Miranda Richardson’s several exceptionally noteworthy performances, as both Fiennes’ Mother and Stepmother.
The first character is a model of 1950s restraint and beauty, dutifully preparing dinner for her family and accompanying her husband to the Pub, though she’d rather be at home. This is the boy’s (Fiennes) idealized vision of his Mother. Richardson plays the role much like Julianne Moore did in Far From Heaven. As an audience member, you can’t hardly resist her virtue.
The second character, is a trashy pub-girl that Fiennes’ father picks up for a little action, and eventually becomes the boy’s Step-mom. Wearing a leopard print coat, and stained teeth, this character casually gives a handjob to the boy’s Father under an overpass. She encourages the murder of the boy’s Mom, and becomes the object of the boy’s vindictive intentions later in the film.
In addition, she also steps into the role of the half-way house-master, where she torments Fiennes.
What is truly incredible, watching Richardson, is that you really aren’t sure if it’s the same actress. They are so different in appearance and behavior, that the screenwriter and Cronenberg must’ve been jumping for joy.
It’s a creepy film, about a creepy guy. But, while Ralph Fiennes is mumbling into a journal for an hour, I think Miranda Richardson deserves the credit for holding it all together.
