Slaughterama 7

This past Saturday was Slaughterama 7 at Belle Isle. If you don't know, Slaughterama is an annual event thrown by The Cutthroats Bike Club. This year was my second time going and it was a big bowl of FUN. My team, The Saddle Sores, competed. Here's a great picture of Malcolm taking someone down in Tall Bike Jousting:

Here's a DC Blog with a great article and great pictures of the event:
Brightest Young Things: WHAT IN THE HELL IS SLAUGHTERAMA?!?

Lo and behold DC, your little cousin to the south: Richmond, VA. Seat of the south. Saddle Sores. Cutthroats. Vomit Squad. And no, these are not descriptions of the city, these are the names of some of Richmond’s famous bike gangs.

Here's a picture they took of yours truly, representin':

Cast Spells

Cast Spells (Lead Singer of Maps & Atlases) w/ Good Old War

Also, check out If You Make It for more videos like this of up and coming bands as well as free album downloads. Good stuff.

Buk

"I closed my eyes and listened to the waves.Thousands of fish out there, eating each other.Endless mouths and ass holes swallowing and shitting. The whole earth was nothing but mouths and assholes swallowing and shitting.The whole earth was nothing but mouths and ass holes swallowing shitting and fucking."

Charles Bukowski
Ham on Rye

Paris of the South

Robert Green and "Make it Right" in New Orleans

I met this man yesterday. He lost his granddaughter and his mother during Katrina. The storm moved his house over fifteen blocks from where the foundation stood. All that remains are the concrete steps he stands on in that picture. He invited me, Charles, and a group we were with into his house to share his story.

Within the past five years since Katrina hit, Robert Green has been getting a lot of press and is the subject of much art because he is living in the "Make it Right" Neighborhood that Brad Pitt has committed himself to build in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans. Brad Pitt has raised over 100 million in funds to pay architects and developers to build very interesting-looking, sustainable, and affordable structures where the homes of families like the Green's once stood. The program is very interesting in that it only allows certain people live in the neighborhood. One of the parameters is that the family must have had several generations living in New Orleans. Also, if the family living in the new home (and paying a monthly mortgage + property taxes) stays for five years, they are relieved of the remainder of the mortgage.
Here's a few examples of the innovative design used on the homes:

This is but one of the extremely interesting (and also very random) things I've come across in New Orleans. I've only been here for one day!

Springtime

Been listening to so much Cassino as of late. Here's a song off of their new album "Kingprince". Nick Torres has such a great voice.

So much has been happening in my life, but that's for another time.
Heading down to New Orleans next week.
More later!

Bergman's Home at Faro

The following pictures were taken by Stephen Shore. They appeared in the art issue of W Magazine (my girlfriend is subscribed):



Here's a link to the actual article about Bergman's home on the Island of Faro, Sweden (the place where most of his works were filmed):
Art & Design: Ingmar Bergman - W Magazine

Reading this really makes me miss Bergman's Films. It has been far too long since I've seen anything by this man. If you haven't, please watch Wild Strawberries, The Seventh Seal, Scenes from a Marriage, Through a Glass Darkly, Persona, Franny & Alexander ... the list goes on. All favorites of mine.

Also, be sure to check out photographer Stephen Shore's other work. He's great! (Here's a teaser):