Taking a Trip

© Allison V. Smith

I'm flying to Kansas City this evening. My reading material for the trip will be On the Road by Jack Kerouac. I have read the book once but picked it up again after reading Kerouac's introduction to The Americans, Robert Frank's seminal collection of photography. But I had a thought as I was preparing for my trip. With the price of gas, the pace of life, and the relative ease of airline travel, is the quintessential road trip dying off? I know more friends who have taken cross-country trips on their bicycle in the past few years than friends who have embarked on road trips across the country (or even across regions of the country).

- Joel

P.S. Since first seeing it, the picture above (by Allison V. Smith) is what now pops into my head every time I think of road trips.

Ode to Little Debbie

In honor of Booker T.'s Little Debbie party yesterday....

It's a snack cake
For when I can't wait
To eat. Or maybe I'm just bored.
People do that you know.
Eat, when there's nothing to do,
Or nowhere to go.

But Little Debbie ain't the same.
She's the number 1 stunner
In the snack cake game.
Squares from the Devil.
Brownies from Outer Space.
You know it's not a party
Without Fudge Rounds in your face.
Oatmeal Creme Pies.
And the Buns with the Honey.
But watch your portions
Or the doctors get your money.

Because as good as she is
As great as she tastes,
Little Debbie is murder on the figure
She's killer on the waist.
But don't be alarmed.
Have no fear
You're still young
And you have a few years,
Before Debbie catches up
And you have to start running.
So enjoy it while it lasts,
And keep it trill youngin.

Photographer of the Day

Bob Dylan, Central Park, February 10, 1965 © Richard Avedon

Richard Avedon

- Joel

RIP TRL

Come November, MTV will be shutting down Total Request Live. I guess TRL didn't quite fit with the whole reality TV theme MTV has going. Where else will I go to view 45 second clips of music videos and lots of teenage girls packed into a crowded room?

Eminem had this to say, "I'm going to miss 'TRL.' ... Where else will I be able to start feuds, defend my honor vigorously and act like an angry teenager on national TV? Oh wait ... The VMAs!" Who knew Slim Shady was so witty and irreverent?

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

© Brian Harkin

Brian Harkin. A fellow Mizzou grad.

- Joel

New Version

Some photographers may not appreciate Kanye West after his recent violent episode involving a photographer and his camera. For the rest of you, there is a new version of Kanye's new track "Love Lockdown." Download it here. Only in the 21st century can you write a song, record the track, release it online, assault a photographer, rerecord the track, and release it again in the span of 3 weeks. Keep your love locked down Kanye or you'll be locked up.

- Joel

Free Music

I've mentioned The Republic Tigers on this blog before. They're from Kansas City and, as of today, they are the Free Download of the Week on iTunes. Check them out. I am certain you'll like the song. Plus, it's free.

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

U.S. 91, leaving Blackfoot, Idaho. Copyright © Robert Frank

Robert Frank. It's quite the understatement to deem Robert Frank the Photographer of the Day considering many consider him to be the Photographer of the 20th Century. But I recently bought his book The Americans, so he's going up here.

- Joel

Spoiler Alert

I've had a few conversations about the movie The Sandlot over the past two weeks. It surprises me that some people have never seen this movie, though I've come to understand it's a generational thing. You can see the climax of the movie below. Unfortunately, this clip doesn't show Benny putting on his PF Flyers right before hopping the fence to pickle The Beast. The fact that I was 10 years old when this movie was released and loved baseball growing up may explain my lifelong fascination with PF Flyers. By the way, PF Flyers are back in fashion.
- Joel

After seeing Lil Wayne perform on national television each of the past two weekend (MTV's VMAs and Saturday Night Live), most of America is probably asking the same question: how does he manage to keep his pants from falling down? My guess...magnets.

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

© Bobby Neptune

Bobby Neptune. Also, check out his organization Echolite Media.

- Joel

Shout outs

I had a chance to hang with a fun crew on Saturday, many of whom have blogs and/or websites of their own. Check them out below...

- Joel

Leila Grothe - The Prima Gallerina
Cassie Edmondson - BTW Photo Blog (I had to leave before Dylan and the rest of Booker T. crew rolled in but shout out to them)
Barry Whistler - Barry Whistler Gallery, Barry Whistler Gallery Blog (maintained by Leila)
Brian Gibb - Art Prostitute, Art Prostitute Gallery, The Public Trust
Allison V. Smith - allisonvsmith.com, Superficial Snapshots
Holly - Halz Haz A Say

Two other shout outs to people who may or may not have websites or blogs of their own...first to Jonathan (Leila's boyfriend) who withstood the peer pressure and went home rather than staying out for karaoke. Second, to the little boy sleeping on a table at the karaoke bar, who we affectionately named Joel. Oh and one more to Jeff and Nicole. I can't remember their last names but they are without a doubt one of the trillest married couples I've met here in Dallas.

Don't Forget

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

© Kevin Miyazaki

Kevin Miyazaki

The picture on the right reminds me of my grandparents' house in Dodge City, KS.

- Joel

Love Lockdown

Kanye got arrested today. Looks like he didn't keep his love locked down. Somehow love escaped, which prompted him to assault a photographer (actually more than one photographer). So listen to his new track here to make sure you don't do the same thing.

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

2006 © Brian Adams

Brian Adams

- Joel

Ode to Booker T: A Remix

What's this elixir
Photo class calls fixer?

Drama floatin like humidity
Dylan promises the blog of the century.

Why must a class so trill
Be forced on hands and knees to drill?

Yeah, I'm calling you out Miss E.
You got a response better than "Get off me"?

But I won't hate, I won't clown.
I'll keep it like Kanye, keep my love locked down.

Because whether you're a fan or just off the street
You can't deny Booker T. brings non-stop HEAT.

- Joel

Photographer of the Day

I Look Just Like My Daddy, 2003 ©Cass Bird

Cass Bird

- Joel

Lamps On A Wall ©Joel Thomason

You should read "Birches" by Robert Frost. It's a poem so it's short. Read it here. It is my all-time favorite poem. Here's one of my favorite lines:

One by one he subdued his father's trees
By riding them down over and over again
Until he took the stiffness out of them,
And not one but hung limp, not one was left
For him to conquer.

- Joel

Erich Nagler

Crowd, February 2004 ©Erich Nagler

Graphic Designer. Year 2000 graduate of Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Check him out.

- Joel