In other flora related news

I'm excited that Winter seems to be leaving us early this year, thus bringing about the flowering of my succulents that much earlier. Two of them have already started to produce buds, and I can't wait for them to open. I decided to take some pics and share them here, woohoo! I also wanted to give everyone an update on the vagina plant I have.

Orchid Expo

This past weekend I was able to attend the annual San Francisco Orchid Expo held at Fort Mason. It was utterly fantastic, and I was blown away by the variety, number, and vivid colors that orchids come in. The weather outside might have been gloomy and wet, but inside the show you couldn't tell at all for the many heaters and lighting spread throughout the show. The auditorium was overwhelmingly crowded at various times and yet still a great time. I had wanted to buy one or two orchids to grow at home, but there were just too many beautiful specimens to choose from. Upon leaving we got caught in the rain, and I had to take the BART home with wet sucks. Yuck! 

Jurassic Beaver

Palaeontologists around the world were shocked by the discovery of a remarkably preserved mammalian fossil from 164 million years ago. Discovered by Qiang Ji of Nannjing University (located in China), the beaver-like animal is changing the way scientists view mammals from the Jurassic period. I'm just amazed they were able to find the a mammalian fossil in such a complete form. Most of our knowledge of mammals from this time period has come from random teeth with very few complete fossils. I also think the picture to the right is an absolutely wonderful interpretation of the fossil structure. Man, I should have become a paleontologist. That would be sweet.

Ok, This is the Last One

 

More Orchids

 

Yes, there are still more

 

Still more to come

 

Orchid Show

It is late, and I am tired. More to come. 

Urban Ore

I had to escape my apartment today, and I was amazingly able to convince my boy to leave without deciding on what we were going to do or even where. We had thrown around several ideas, but none that we could agree on. After starting up the car my boy suggested going to Berkeley to one of the salvage yards to look for a cheap headboard. I agreed mostly cause I had been wanting to take pictures, and Urban Ore has great old shit that can make for some gorgeous at the very least interesting shots. Hence the two photos. We also ventured to the Ashby flea market and to Telegraph, where there seemed to be an inordinate amount of vomit (even for Telegraph). Nothing too special, but still enjoyable.

Cheney did what?

Accidentally shoot someone? Apparently so. What a funt.

What the fuck?

I don't spend much time randomly perusing people's blogs (most of them are retarded), but today I was bored and kept following random links until I came across TI (that is targeted individual for those of you not in the know) from Jacksonville. Who apparently believes he is the victim of "gangstalking" which is some term they came up with to explain their neuroses. Check out their blog for some truly weird ranting.

Off subject. I went to the farmer's market down by the freeway and found some absolutely gorgeous potatoes (some fingerling some little Yukon golds and some royal purples). Tasty!

Tattoo inspired lighters

I dig this bic design. I know it isn't incredible new or anything, but I wish they were easier to come across.

Oakland

My last post might have given off the impression that I dislike Oakland in some way, which wouldn't be quite correct. I've been living in Oakland now for a couple of years, and I still stumble across a glimmer of beauty peaking out from Oakland's gritty veneer almost everyday. Like this mural tucked away under the freeway near the McArthur BART station. Surprisingly Oakland agrees with me at this point in my life. 

Another Beautiful Day in Oakland

On my walk home from BART after leaving work a tad bit early, I stumbled across one of the many beautiful sites of Oakland, a freshly cut lawn with some assumedly homeless man near Lake Merrit. I didn't get my camera out in time to catch the couple of five or six year olds dropping fresh cut grass on the guy. Quite humorous.

Found Art

I found this drawing on the sidewalk outside my house (seems like that happens to me a lot), and it caught my fancy. Being the packrat that I am, I picked it up to show the world. Don't worry it is already in the trash can and all my shots are up to date.

Murtha = Hero

I'm sick and tired of repubs in Washington and elsewhere saying that the dems are just criticizing the President and not offering any alternatives themselves. Do you want evidence to refute this claim the next time some war happy Bush-sniffer tries to argue it? Look no further than Congressman John Murtha of Pennsylvania. I've linked to the letter he has sent to our President calling for four key elements he feels are necessary to win the war against terrorism: redeploy, replace, reallocate, and reconstitute. Considering that the Bush administration just recently came out with their plan for victory (quite some time after they congratulated themselves for accomplishing their "mission"), maybe it would be wise to listen to a decorated and celebrated war hero (and not some war dodging pussies). So if you care about this country, yes I still do, please read his letter.

Wig in a Box

So apparently, there is an album called Wig in a Box that is comprised of bands covering the Hedwig soundtrack. When I found this out from a comment on my last post, I was a bit hesitant to get excited, but then I saw who was covering the songs. Now I want it. And bad.

-Rufus Wainwright (The Origin of Love)
-Sleater-Kinney & Fred Schneider (Angry Inch)
-They Might Be Giants (The Long Grift)
-Frank Black (Sugar Daddy)
-Robyn Hitchcock (City of Women)
-Imperial Teen (Freaks)
-The Breeders (Wicked Little Town-Hedwig Version)
-Bob Mould (Nailed)
-Polyphonic Spree (Wig in a Box)
-John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask (Milford Lake)
-Stephen Colbert (Ladies & Gentlemen)
-Spoon (Tear Me Down)
-Yoko Ono & Yo La Tengo (Hedwig's Lament/Exquisite Corpse)
-Ben Kweller with Ben Folds & Ben Lee (Wicked Little Town-Tommy Gnosis Version)
-Cyndi Lauper & The Minus 5 (Midnight Radio)
-Jonathan Richman (Origin of Love--Reprise)

The Breeders, Frank Black, Yoko and Yo La Tengo, and Sleater-Kinney, who more could you ask to cover Hedwig? I'll post more once I get a chance to listen to the album in full. Can't wait!

Angry Inch

I was checking out the official Sleater-Kinney website the other day, and boy did I stumble across quite some find. Video of Sleater-Kinney joined by Hedwig writer/director/actor John Cameron Mitchell and actor Wade McCollum at Holocene in Portland, OR for an impromptu and very raucous version of the song "Angry Inch". They've got two extremely poor quality videos of the performance, so check it out. Funting hot, man, funting hot.