rant: August 2002 Archives

There are ignorant people and there are manipulative people in this city. Normally the bullshit doesn’t get this deep until congress is in session.

For now I simply refer you to what I wrote a couple months ago. Yeah I trailed off at the end, but you get the idea.

It's only going to get worse, but I have no desire to comment on this at the moment.

For now I simply refer you to what I wrote a couple months ago.

I work with a bunch of obnoxious assholes.

I say that in the most loving way. I would rather not work with any other kind of people. As the old saying goes, "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."

But is there anyone left who isn't a victim?

In a discussion about soft drinks, after saying she didn't drink pop, I mentioned, as might happen in a discussion, that I'd heard Coke was the number one selling beverage in the world.

The response involved an indignant rebuff, that she simply didn't like any soda and didn't drink it!

Who asked? Who offered? Who beat you about the head and shoulders with a 12 oz. can and forced a Sprite down your throat?

When a fact doesn't apply to your life, it is hardly cause for great personal grief. My discussion of facts will not be curtailed by your indignation.

As if you didn't know by now that I thrive on upsetting people. But if you make it too easy for me, it will just take all the fun out of it.

I'm disturbed.

More so than even Sara will tell you.

I have been the modern internet.

I have been through every trend and every type, before any of them became fashionable. I IRCaddicted and romanced. I cracked and pirated. I telneted to online music shops before CDnow was a nightmare in customer service. I learned to handcode HTML not to be cool, but because there was no other option. And even then, there was damn good money in it. I have been at least six months ahead of every major web design trend. (here's a little tip: half of them were crap). When I lost all interest in being online for a while, it disturbed me. What would happen if the other half million did.

Where's my money. Where's my fame. Where's my options. Where's the obsessed fans?

If I saw all this, a step ahead of the masses, why didn't I make something out of one of the ideas. I proposed these many of these things to friends.

I'm too fucking lazy.

....................

I have no modesty, so don't even bother telling me how concieted I am. Modesty is an utter waste of time.

You know when you have done anything of value. If you don't, you're probably too clueless to accomplish anything deserving pride or respect.

Pride is not a evil thing. The Bible was wrong. Egotism is what will destroy your soul.

You know..Ierjk .,, ,xc, ,, .,c , .

sorry... sneeze.

I was saying...

I have a hard time taking pictures in this city. A small part of it is no doubt that it is hard to find anything interesting in the familiar.

But the more looming problem is the lack of adequate subject matter.

I enjoy taking pictures of natural objects and situations. Something spontaneous or unplanned. Small items in everyday life.

But this is the District. Nothing goes unplanned here. Everything is a presentation. Whether it is federal, city, or private property, it all looks the same. They all plant the same flower beds. They all get the authentic antique looking accessories at the same Homebuilders store. They all put out the same faux iron benches.

The people are no different. Everyone is putting on a front. The homeless scream and yell or shuffle and moan. The politicians, likewise. The college student's buy the just right unfashionable clothes, and attempt unnatural things with their hair. There are the fashionable yuppies leaving the bar after work in their black pants and blue dress shirt to rush home to their Dupont Circle apartments or suburban houses to change into khakis and sweaters, before heading off to a show later.

There are parts of this town where the facade doesn't extend. But I tread carefully. They are not friendly places for a skinny little white boy with an expensive camera.

My best pictures come from travelling. I am going home to NY next week to see my family, and to see what I can see. I will not forget my camera.