Charles Phoenix - Art Historian, Kodachrome slide collector, and Histo-tainer - is also a genius! I saw his "God Bless Americana" show the day after Thanksgiving and yes, I am giving thanks that I did! I'm telling everyone I know (that means you) to get off your tushy and get over to the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood to see his Retro Holiday Slide Show, which runs through January 2, 2005.

Phoenix, who collects vintage Kodacrome slides from the 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s, puts them all together in various themes (vacations, holidays, Disneyland) and shows them in small theaters. He narrates them himself, without amplification, and what impresses me most is his exhaustive knowledge of retro-history. He's also funny as hell.

Make it a point to catch his show, buy his books, or take one of his tours.

Photos courtesy of Charles Phoenix's Slide of the Week. Used with permission. Go to Godblessamericana.com to join.

....and a bit of the south, LOL! These boys are some of my absolute favorite sickos - I wouldn't miss them for the world and you shouldn't either!

Dates as of 11/23/04:

Nov 25th, 2004: Los Alamitos, CA - Starting Gate Saloon (18+)
Nov 26th, 2004: Corona, CA - Showcase Theatre (all ages)
Nov 27th, 2004: San Bernandino, CA - Lyrics
Nov 28th, 2004: Whittier, CA - Ibiza (all ages)
Nov 30th, 2004: Hollywood, CA - Knitting Factory (Hellcat's Give Em The Boot Record Release Party! - all ages)
Dec 01st, 2004: Long Beach, CA - Alex' Bar
Dec 03rd, 2004: Las Vegas, NV - The Boston
Dec 04th, 2004: San Antonio, TX - White Rabbit
Dec 05th, 2004: Orlando, FL - Screamers

for more info see website: Mad Sin

Apparently the studios did not recieve my manifesto entitled, "No Christmas Before Thanksgiving," because this week my faithful, we have not one, but TWO movies all about Santa Claus' love and the power of commerce. I could just retch.

1) Kinsey
2) Finding Neverland
3) Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason

49% of the citizens of the United States of America would like to give the rest of the world an apology in the form of a website for the results of last week's election.

A few members of the international community even posted a few of their own images accepting our apology and reasuring us that there are a lot of people out there who know how hard we tried to convince the other 51% to let go of their fear and hate, and embrace a better future.

I told the friend (Katie Cook) who brought this to my attention, "We may be in the minority, but we are far more creative." Katie then reminded me that we are also cuter. How can I disagree?

No offense to the lovely Xeni Jardin, who I met and conversed with at this year's Sent exhibition, nor any offense to the Chinatown Reading (Hi, Sean!!! Come to Alex's for a show!)... but "Skinheads Bowling"????? No. No. No to the title.

Punk Rock Bowling, which will have its seventh year in 2005, is the best damn event on the planet, with SXSW running a not so close second.

Crusty old Punks, yes. Really Smart Intelligent Creative Punks, yes. Youngins galore, yes. Lots of bowlers who have known each other for years in a creative capacity, yes. Lots of women who own their own companies in cute custom made outfits, yes. Drunks and gamblin' Sober Program tattoo'd men, yes... Skinheads, Donkeys, 3 brain cells and all that is associated with the Skin sub-culture? No.

Besides, how many other places can you convince nice, literate, and musical men to take their shirts off?

There's only one movie I'm going to recommend this week. Can you believe I'm too pissed off to write a bunch of snide remarks about lackluster movies?

Get over your stuffy adult self, and go see The Incredibles. Your inner child will thank you.

I don't want to be the stereotypical liberal/leftist crybaby, but G@D Dammit, I'm sad. Sure, I'm angry. I'm angry that I don't recognize my country, that my fellow citizens endorsed a regime that continues to lie to them and allowed the torture of detainees (TORTURE!!! WTF!!!), and I'm furious that the Democratic party didn't fight tooth and nail over this election, popular vote be damned!

The fact that we take the highroad of political strategy, think through issues in an intellectual instead of reactionary manner, and care about the wellbeing of others, does not make us inconsequential. It makes us a minority. That, makes me sad.