Blog Archives

When you got nothin’ you got nothin’ to lose.

[Photo Credit: Robert Galbraith/Reuters]

Check out this cool post by Nick Schager over at Esquire.com on Drew Struzan:

Drew Struzan is responsible for some of the most enduring cinematic imagery of the past thirty years, even if few fans recognize his name. That should be partially rectified by this week’s release of Struzan: The Man Behind the Poster, a documentary that pays tribute to the famed movie-poster artist, whose illustrated one-sheets for Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Back to the Future, Harry Potter, and countless other film franchises are both instantly recognizable and beloved. Hand-painted and marked by photorealistic portraits and signature scenes in evocative montages, Struzan’s work remains the standard to which most action, fantasy, and sci-fi posters aspire, conveying emotion and excitement with a compelling style far superior to the modern era’s Photoshopped-to-death posters. In honor of his prolific and peerless career, we present a look back at thirteen of his most compelling creations.

And please dig Struzan’s website. 

A Then and Now photo gallery from Gothamist. 

I contributed a short essay on “Buffalo Gals” to Herc Your Enthusiam, HiLoBrow’s series on old school (pre-1983) rap records:

There wasn’t anything like “Buffalo Gals” before, nor after. Though you could categorize it as an early sample record, in the vein of “Pump Up the Volume,” it’s really a novelty record, the brainchild of British trendsetter and former Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLaren.

For McLaren, style was substance. After a trip to New York where he saw Afrika Bambaataa spin, McLaren co-opted New York’s hip hop scene for his next record — the dancing, record scratching, the fashion (all of which are on display in the “Buffalo Gals” video). He flew New York DJs The Supreme Team to London to provide scratches, and got Trevor Horn, a successful young British producer — he had been part of The Buggles, whose version of “Video Killed the Radio Star” was in 1981 the first video ever played on MTV — to make the record.

“Buffalo Gals” is a culture clash of stuff — samples of phone calls, breaks, a synth bass and pads, the catchy “duck, duck, duck” refrain, the title chorus taken from a Piute Pete record, the scratching: “Oh, that scratching is making me itch.” It sounds like a bunch of stuff cobbled together but it works — and for DJs it goes with other records, because there’s so much in it.

Check out the rest of the series here.

Disappearing Acts. Collages by Eugenia. 

From A Continuous Lean: smoke ’em if you got ’em.

Okay, are the Yankees’ cooked, have you given up hope, or do you believe that they can still make a run? If you think they’ve still got a chance then tonight’s performance is a big one for the Big Fella. Biggest game of the year, in fact.

Brett Gardner CF
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Robinson Cano 2B
Alfonso Soriano LF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Curtis Granderson DH
Eduardo Nunez SS
Lyle Overbay 1B
Chris Stewart C

Never mind the ESPN Dummies:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Photo Credit: Elliott Erwitt]

You Gots to Chill.

[Photo by Thomas van der Zaag via MPD]

Hiroki was due for a bad start but he wasn’t horrible yesterday. The Sox score 3 runs in the 4th inning thanks to an error and a blown call by umpire Bill Welke. But when you only score a single run that stuff is secondary, right?

The final: Red Sox 6, Yanks 1.

Notes from Chad Jennings and Pete Abraham.

[Photo Credit: Jim Rogash, Getty Images]

Our man Hiroki vs. Big John Lackey.

Brett Gardner CF
Ichiro Suzuki RF
Robinson Cano 2B
Alfonso Soriano LF
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Curtis Granderson DH
Eduardo Nunez SS
Lyle Overbay 1B
Chris Stewart C

Never mind the Fox announcers:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

Coolin’.

[Photo Via: Write from the He[art]]

Yesterday afternoon, another chapter in the Alex Rodriguez vs. MLB soap opera dropped. Item goes: Alex Rodriguez or one of his associates ratted on his fellow players including teammate Francisco Cervelli. Before the game, Rodriguez told reporters that he’d spoken to Cervelli in the morning:

“He understands completely that it’s not true,” Rodriguez said. “I’ve been a member of this union for 20 years. It’s important for all the guys to understand that my loyalty is to this union. That would never happen, it would never occur. And it didn’t happen. Let’s make one thing clear: For the next seven weeks, it’s going to be a very, very bumpy road. Every day, expect a story like this if not bigger. After arbitration, I’ll have an opportunity with a full platform and I can tell my full story.”

Later, according to Chad Jennings, Vernon Wells said:

“I’ve always taken the stance that he has nothing to explain to me,” Wells said. “This isn’t my story. This isn’t even a Yankees story. This is an Alex Rodriguez story. If he feels he has to address the team, then great. We’re going to continue to move on and go play baseball.”

And play baseball the Yankees did last night, winning baseball, because Andy Pettitte was solid and the offense, including Rodriguez who went 2-4 with a walk (and both of his outs were well-struck), remained hot.

Final Score: Yanks 10, Sox 3.

Never believe this but Alfonso Soriano hit a 3-run home run giving him 18 RBI (a good month) in his last 4 games. And Mark Reynolds homered in his first Yankee at bat. Again, from Jennings, here’s Reynolds:

“We battled these guys with the Orioles last year, but this is different. When you’re on deck, I mean, you can’t repeat what the fans say to you, but it’s just a different vibe, a different atmosphere for sure. But all that stuff does is motivate us as players to go out there and perform better. It’s all in good fun, and it’s a great spot to be in, in this rivalry.”

The hysteria will continue for sure today and tomorrow what with the games on National TV. Last night, Rodriguez wasn’t upset by the jeering. Let’s hope the Yanks keep pushing along, sideshow and all.

[Photo Credit: USA Today]

Yanks and Sox in Boston.

Bring the ruckus. Or rumpus. Or whatever you want to call it.

Never mind the hostilities:

Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Photo Via: BullDays]

Light day of blogging at the Banter. Let’s call it a summer Friday.

Be back for the ballgame tonight.

[Photo Via: union square greenmarket]

David Bradford takes us all round the town.

Alexandra gives us a shaved zucchini and percorino salad.

“Lapeyrouse Wall” by Peter Doig via Je Suis Perdu.

Good gorsh, day game. I forgot.

It’s chuck-and-duck Phil Hughes.

1. Brett Gardner CF

2. Alfonso Soriano LF

3. Robinson Cano 2B

4. Alex Rodriguez 3B

5. Vernon Wells RF

6. Curtis Granderson DH

7. Eduardo Nunez SS

8. Lyle Overbay 1B

9. Austin Romine C

Never mind my tardiness: Let’s Go Yank-ees!

[Photo Credit: New York Explorer]

Over at Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York, check out this post on Jonathan Hertzberg’s NYC movie collage:

Groove.

[Photo Via: Think Different]