That's right. It's a 41mm tall "Queen" Hello Kitty worth about $95k.
2 days ago
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
ACK! Barabara!
Sounds like a dish or an island, doesn't it? Well I fixed the spelling. Sorry, Barb, my warrior queen.
The beginning of the school year
It's the start of the new semester. I had to wake up very early this morning . . . 6:30AM early. Anyway, I've always dreaded the coming of the new semester, but once it starts up, I get into a good solid rhythm of writing, reading, grading, and exercising. I think I need the structure.
In fact, it was rather hard generating work this Summer in what was a relatively structureless season. But now, with the onset of these early morning classes and full schedules, I'm making more time to read, write, and think about poetry.
I had my first class this morning. It was in Introduction to Poetry course. I get a lot of students returning to my classes which is both good and bad. On the one hand it makes it easier to remember the names. On the other hand, you can't reissue the same old assignments. So I'll have to put away my crusty old assignments and generate some new ones. This of course will make me a better person, right?
A
In fact, it was rather hard generating work this Summer in what was a relatively structureless season. But now, with the onset of these early morning classes and full schedules, I'm making more time to read, write, and think about poetry.
I had my first class this morning. It was in Introduction to Poetry course. I get a lot of students returning to my classes which is both good and bad. On the one hand it makes it easier to remember the names. On the other hand, you can't reissue the same old assignments. So I'll have to put away my crusty old assignments and generate some new ones. This of course will make me a better person, right?
A
Monday, August 30, 2004
Interesting article
On Pop Matters. I'm one of those CD snobs, you know. I have to have the latest hip CD, but you know . . . people are writing singles and not complete albums nowadays.
I think one other band out there who should get some recognition for making complete albums is The Roots. I love Phrenology and The Tipping Point. A lot of the more fringier Rap groups are making complete albums with a narrative arc versus the pre-fabricated made for radio types.
I think one other band out there who should get some recognition for making complete albums is The Roots. I love Phrenology and The Tipping Point. A lot of the more fringier Rap groups are making complete albums with a narrative arc versus the pre-fabricated made for radio types.
Grats to two sisters and a bro.
Congratulations to Ate M. Evelina Galang for winning the AWP Award Series in the Novel.
Also congrats to Aimee Nezhukumatathil and Patrick Rosal for the honor of being finalists in the 7th annual Asian American Literary Awards.
Also congrats to Aimee Nezhukumatathil and Patrick Rosal for the honor of being finalists in the 7th annual Asian American Literary Awards.
Friday, August 27, 2004
It's here! It's here!
At last! The Moroccan rug Meredith and I purchased in Fez arrived today, courtesy of the United States Postal Service. There was a lot of hucksterism when we were there in May, so we were a bit concerned that the rug wouldn't arrive.
Anyway, it's a beautiful piece! Let me try to figure out how to post pictures and I'll show you one.
Anyway, it's a beautiful piece! Let me try to figure out how to post pictures and I'll show you one.
School days, school days.
I'm still not ready to start the semester. I've got my course materials ready and all that, but I'm not emotionally prepared to hop into the classroom just yet. If only there was another month of summer. What I really should be doing is trying to write, you know? Instead, I've been sucked in to watching the Olympics. I've actually been watching it on Canadian television. They broadcasters on that network had a very interesting perspective on the US Men's basketball team. During the win, one of the commentators suggested lamented a lot of the antics by the Americans on the court. Certainly, it's a perception that's following US citizens in other facets of international interactions.
Anyway, got my contributor copies of North American Review. Barbara Jane's got a poem it. It's VERY cool.
I'll probably go see Supersize Me with Mere tonight. Though what I really want to see is Hero, with Jet Li.
Anyway, got my contributor copies of North American Review. Barbara Jane's got a poem it. It's VERY cool.
I'll probably go see Supersize Me with Mere tonight. Though what I really want to see is Hero, with Jet Li.
Thursday, August 26, 2004
Some fat to chew on . . .
Victoria Chang wrote a response to the managing editor of Fence regarding a poem by Alicia Ostricker. I'm not going to summarize the statements, since I've kindly posted a link with both Victoria's and Eduardo's thorough discussion of the drama.
Anyway, this brings up a very interesting discussion about writers/artists of color and the use of stereotypical images. Ultimately the trouble with language is that there is so much history invested in a particular position's ability to speak. Representations of "Otherness" no matter how artistically or aesthetically accurate are inevitably problematic when generated by a person/group who is gazing.
I do want to add one tidbit to this discussion, though, and that is the idea that this is not only a debate about ethnicity, but we must add that it's also a generational issue. Ostriker's valuable book, Stealing the Language, might be considered, by some, to be dated in its feminist position. But of course, depending on who you are, the issues in that book are still very contemporary.
I'm going to refer back to what Eduardo said, because that's the crux of my position as well. Eduardo elegantly stated that " . . . this poem doesn't problematize the body of colonial literature: creative work written by a member of the dominant culture about a subaltern culture. The images of Mexican field workers or studious Asians in Ostriker's poem are dangerous because these images are yoked with specific intellectual & emotional abilities. Mexican immigrants=field workers=coarse intelligence=base morals=primitive culture." He also said that "if the Ostriker poem would've been written by a writer of color [he] probably wouldn't be objecting to its stereotypical images. This troubles [him]".
So what are we to do as artists, knowing that there is so much force behind the images we create? Knowing this, wouldn't it offer us a wider canvas when we are more judicious with the language we use? Or is this a limitation of an artist's range of possible subject matter? Does this create self-censorship?
Inevitably, the value of Ostriker's poem for my community is that it gets us talking about ourselves as artists. It's problematic to me, but it really makes me think about what I'm doing as a writer. I'm still troubled, but it's good to know that I'm not the only one.
Anyway, this brings up a very interesting discussion about writers/artists of color and the use of stereotypical images. Ultimately the trouble with language is that there is so much history invested in a particular position's ability to speak. Representations of "Otherness" no matter how artistically or aesthetically accurate are inevitably problematic when generated by a person/group who is gazing.
I do want to add one tidbit to this discussion, though, and that is the idea that this is not only a debate about ethnicity, but we must add that it's also a generational issue. Ostriker's valuable book, Stealing the Language, might be considered, by some, to be dated in its feminist position. But of course, depending on who you are, the issues in that book are still very contemporary.
I'm going to refer back to what Eduardo said, because that's the crux of my position as well. Eduardo elegantly stated that " . . . this poem doesn't problematize the body of colonial literature: creative work written by a member of the dominant culture about a subaltern culture. The images of Mexican field workers or studious Asians in Ostriker's poem are dangerous because these images are yoked with specific intellectual & emotional abilities. Mexican immigrants=field workers=coarse intelligence=base morals=primitive culture." He also said that "if the Ostriker poem would've been written by a writer of color [he] probably wouldn't be objecting to its stereotypical images. This troubles [him]".
So what are we to do as artists, knowing that there is so much force behind the images we create? Knowing this, wouldn't it offer us a wider canvas when we are more judicious with the language we use? Or is this a limitation of an artist's range of possible subject matter? Does this create self-censorship?
Inevitably, the value of Ostriker's poem for my community is that it gets us talking about ourselves as artists. It's problematic to me, but it really makes me think about what I'm doing as a writer. I'm still troubled, but it's good to know that I'm not the only one.
Tuesday, August 24, 2004
Added some friends
Updated the linky links. You'll see our good friend Eduardo Corral and Victoria Chang added to the list. Welcome welcome!
Monday, August 23, 2004
Here it comes again . . .
Yes, it's time for the start of the Fall semester once again. Meredith and I just got back from Oregon this weekend and already I've got a ton of work to do. As soon as we got back, we called Morocco. While I was over there in May, I purchased a Moroccan area rug. It's a gorgeous thing . . . you can flip it over and it'll have a different design. Anyway, with the move and all, it's been a headache coordinating everything. The bottom line is that I paid a lot of money for something that is not in my possession at the moment. The rug dealer reassured Meredith (she's the fluent French speaker) that the rug will be at our place by the end of the month. So cross your fingers.
By the way, have you guys seen Napoleon Dynamite? YOU MUST. That is all.
By the way, have you guys seen Napoleon Dynamite? YOU MUST. That is all.
Friday, August 13, 2004
Home, Home on the Range
Meredith and I are off to Ontario, Oregon to visit my folks. She really wants to go inner-tubing down the Boise River, so I'll see what I can do. Outside of that, the temperature in Boise, ID, is slated to be in the 100's the whole time we're there! Yikes! I'm bringing my swim trunks and packing nothing but shorts.
By the way, our dear friend Pat Rosal has added links to his blogsite! Huzzah!
By the way, our dear friend Pat Rosal has added links to his blogsite! Huzzah!
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
KUDOS Ate Evelina!
You'll be hearing more about this soon, but FYI . . . her novel has found a publisher! More details to follow. Congratulations to you, Ate. Well deserved after many years of hard hard work.
Saturday, August 07, 2004
Saturday, Saturday
It's the last official day of the Kundiman retreat after a great many successes and a nice heap of stress. Here's a summary of some interesting things that happened during the retreat so far:
1. Marilyn Chin referring to Joseph's physique and couture as being "pornstar-like".
2. Seventeen fellows, three staff members, and four faculty members getting lost in a caravan through the streets of Charlottesville.
3. Gabbing until 3AM with David Mura over some Maker's while snacking on rice crackers and goldfish.
4. A gala reading with the editor of the new Norton Anthology of American Poetry in the house.
5. Mystery meals at the UVA dining hall . . . and then going up for seconds.
6. Several fellows falling in love with Jon Pineda, the patron poet of Margaret.
7. Bushra gushing about the Athletic Center's hot tub.
8. Chi's seven-year-old daughter's obsession with kitties and bunnies.
9. Ishle singing like a goddess.
10. Renee getting hit-on by a bar patron on her birthday.
11. Late night gossip sessions outside of Newcomb Hall after the gala.
12. Bizarre cheerleading drinking games at the Jabberwocky.
13. Getting lost on the way to Cabell Hall.
14. Cardinals.
15. Learning that Margaret at one time was a go-go dancer at a gay men's bar.
16. Rick Barot's Gray Goose and Tonic.
17. Copy card craziness.
18. Sarah's fun and glittery T-shirts.
19. Grande Marinier in the dorm rooms at midnight.
20. Junno bearing a striking resemblance to an Asian James Dean.
21. "Hey Kid/Listen to your uncle."
22. HAIKU SNOW CONE OVERDRIVE!!!!
23. Jon Pineda and Ron Villanueva jamming in my dorm room.
24. Impromptu poems at the Biltmore Grill.
25. David Mura thinking Sarah was cutting Joseph's steak for him.
26. 3AM sing alongs at the picnic table.
27. Group massage!
28. Ching-In's strange obsession with Rick Barot . . .
29. Rick Barot's triangles . . . schemes of making triangle T-shirts.
30. The Babe's of Asian American Poetry calendar idea.
31. My new identity as Papa de la Paz.
32. Stephen's pepper-spray narrative.
33. Again, Stephen . . . first on the list for the cafeteria.
34. Marilyn referring to all the male fellows as dudes.
35. Kenneth.
36. Hyper-air-conditioned dorm rooms.
37. Co-ed bathrooms between Gildersleeve and McGuffy.
38. "Keep your gold"
39. Four-hour workshops with Rick Barot.
40. Six-hour workshops with Ishle Yi Park!
41. The game of "Find Marilyn Chin" for mentorship Saturday.
42. US Air losing David Mura's luggage.
43. Marilyn's flight delayed until 3AM on the first night.
44. Ngoc Luu's poem at the gala.
45. Purvi . . . how she couldn't stop laughing at Stephen's Haiku.
46. Bushra and her campus map.
47. Hyoejin's sweet vehicle.
48. E-3.
49. Key-swapping . . . it's not what you think, right Sarah?
50. Talking constantly about Harold and Kumar going to White Castle.
1. Marilyn Chin referring to Joseph's physique and couture as being "pornstar-like".
2. Seventeen fellows, three staff members, and four faculty members getting lost in a caravan through the streets of Charlottesville.
3. Gabbing until 3AM with David Mura over some Maker's while snacking on rice crackers and goldfish.
4. A gala reading with the editor of the new Norton Anthology of American Poetry in the house.
5. Mystery meals at the UVA dining hall . . . and then going up for seconds.
6. Several fellows falling in love with Jon Pineda, the patron poet of Margaret.
7. Bushra gushing about the Athletic Center's hot tub.
8. Chi's seven-year-old daughter's obsession with kitties and bunnies.
9. Ishle singing like a goddess.
10. Renee getting hit-on by a bar patron on her birthday.
11. Late night gossip sessions outside of Newcomb Hall after the gala.
12. Bizarre cheerleading drinking games at the Jabberwocky.
13. Getting lost on the way to Cabell Hall.
14. Cardinals.
15. Learning that Margaret at one time was a go-go dancer at a gay men's bar.
16. Rick Barot's Gray Goose and Tonic.
17. Copy card craziness.
18. Sarah's fun and glittery T-shirts.
19. Grande Marinier in the dorm rooms at midnight.
20. Junno bearing a striking resemblance to an Asian James Dean.
21. "Hey Kid/Listen to your uncle."
22. HAIKU SNOW CONE OVERDRIVE!!!!
23. Jon Pineda and Ron Villanueva jamming in my dorm room.
24. Impromptu poems at the Biltmore Grill.
25. David Mura thinking Sarah was cutting Joseph's steak for him.
26. 3AM sing alongs at the picnic table.
27. Group massage!
28. Ching-In's strange obsession with Rick Barot . . .
29. Rick Barot's triangles . . . schemes of making triangle T-shirts.
30. The Babe's of Asian American Poetry calendar idea.
31. My new identity as Papa de la Paz.
32. Stephen's pepper-spray narrative.
33. Again, Stephen . . . first on the list for the cafeteria.
34. Marilyn referring to all the male fellows as dudes.
35. Kenneth.
36. Hyper-air-conditioned dorm rooms.
37. Co-ed bathrooms between Gildersleeve and McGuffy.
38. "Keep your gold"
39. Four-hour workshops with Rick Barot.
40. Six-hour workshops with Ishle Yi Park!
41. The game of "Find Marilyn Chin" for mentorship Saturday.
42. US Air losing David Mura's luggage.
43. Marilyn's flight delayed until 3AM on the first night.
44. Ngoc Luu's poem at the gala.
45. Purvi . . . how she couldn't stop laughing at Stephen's Haiku.
46. Bushra and her campus map.
47. Hyoejin's sweet vehicle.
48. E-3.
49. Key-swapping . . . it's not what you think, right Sarah?
50. Talking constantly about Harold and Kumar going to White Castle.
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
Joseph to my right, Sarah to my left . . .
I'm sitting in a computer lab on the campus of the University of Virginia at the moment. Sarah Gambito and Joseph Legaspi are with me, furiously clicking away at the keyboard. At the moment, they're giving me a lot of crap . . . teasing, you know.
We met Carolyn Micklem today. She's the executive director of Cave Canem. We gossiped over Southern food and many spirits. Joseph, of course, had two hurricanes (lush . . . j/k).
Anyway, we've been having a great time planning out this first Kundiman retreat. It's a lot of work and Sarah and Joseph have done an AMAZING job with it. We've got eighteen Asian American poets who'll be coming tomorrow for the workshops. I'll keep you all posted.
In the meantime, I'll try to stay cool. You do the same, okay?
We met Carolyn Micklem today. She's the executive director of Cave Canem. We gossiped over Southern food and many spirits. Joseph, of course, had two hurricanes (lush . . . j/k).
Anyway, we've been having a great time planning out this first Kundiman retreat. It's a lot of work and Sarah and Joseph have done an AMAZING job with it. We've got eighteen Asian American poets who'll be coming tomorrow for the workshops. I'll keep you all posted.
In the meantime, I'll try to stay cool. You do the same, okay?
Friday, July 30, 2004
Dear, Dear You,
In my keeping away from you, I've grown fondly tired of the mess I've made.
I've disassembled four bookcases. They were corrupted to the core. They are leering in a heap. I cannot eat them at the moment, although it may make me a stronger person . . . and don't I want to be happy?
All the condiments in the house have found their way into my eyesight. Mustard, ketchup, mayo, ranch, ranch, salsa. They are multi-hued saline drips.
I need an IV now.
My electrolytes are imbalanced and my head is spinning among my wreck.
I remember Coach made us drink Gatorade until we puked. He said, "Son, puking gets all the bad stuff out." I was convinced it was all the running up and down stairs bound in Saran wrap.
Many of us were puking, just to fit in. I told my mom about the puking and she reprimanded me. She said she hated the word "puke" and decided to cross it off my vocabulary. So then I stopped saying it and referred to it as "The Big P."
The conversion has made my life much more difficult. Now, in the moment when I am nauseous and feel "The Big P" coming on, it takes me just a little bit longer to alert others, including myself. It is syllabically challenged.
My house makes me feel electrolytically challenged. I've been climbing up and down stairs all day, sans Saran wrap.
Dear, dear you, this move has made me a challenged person. But as I said earlier, isn't all this, in the end, going to make me a better person? Isn't my keeping away from you going to tighten our belts? Won't we grin soon? Won't we blink?
I've disassembled four bookcases. They were corrupted to the core. They are leering in a heap. I cannot eat them at the moment, although it may make me a stronger person . . . and don't I want to be happy?
All the condiments in the house have found their way into my eyesight. Mustard, ketchup, mayo, ranch, ranch, salsa. They are multi-hued saline drips.
I need an IV now.
My electrolytes are imbalanced and my head is spinning among my wreck.
I remember Coach made us drink Gatorade until we puked. He said, "Son, puking gets all the bad stuff out." I was convinced it was all the running up and down stairs bound in Saran wrap.
Many of us were puking, just to fit in. I told my mom about the puking and she reprimanded me. She said she hated the word "puke" and decided to cross it off my vocabulary. So then I stopped saying it and referred to it as "The Big P."
The conversion has made my life much more difficult. Now, in the moment when I am nauseous and feel "The Big P" coming on, it takes me just a little bit longer to alert others, including myself. It is syllabically challenged.
My house makes me feel electrolytically challenged. I've been climbing up and down stairs all day, sans Saran wrap.
Dear, dear you, this move has made me a challenged person. But as I said earlier, isn't all this, in the end, going to make me a better person? Isn't my keeping away from you going to tighten our belts? Won't we grin soon? Won't we blink?
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Dear You,
I'm sorry I have neglected to write to you. There are stars here whose matters are more pressing than my own, probably because of their own gravity.
The magnets against my steel file cabinet have impressed upon me some secret: the yellow of the room I just painted is code for a childhood fault.
The brown of the living room turns blue at sunset. We did not paint the room blue, though some things seek their own form.
I've turned up the hallway rug and found the chemicals of a previous cat.
The basement is awash with the run-off of Summer rain. We've had to save many boxes of poetry. Some of you would mistake this as character building. It is not. Paper is sacred. Being sacred, we cannot put them to our mouths . . . though I had a dog, once, with a fondness for Phillip Levine.
Dear You, I'm sorry for losing track of time, as I am losing track of my many books. I am in a room with boxes, all of them talking to me at once. So forgive me if I cannot hear you.
The magnets against my steel file cabinet have impressed upon me some secret: the yellow of the room I just painted is code for a childhood fault.
The brown of the living room turns blue at sunset. We did not paint the room blue, though some things seek their own form.
I've turned up the hallway rug and found the chemicals of a previous cat.
The basement is awash with the run-off of Summer rain. We've had to save many boxes of poetry. Some of you would mistake this as character building. It is not. Paper is sacred. Being sacred, we cannot put them to our mouths . . . though I had a dog, once, with a fondness for Phillip Levine.
Dear You, I'm sorry for losing track of time, as I am losing track of my many books. I am in a room with boxes, all of them talking to me at once. So forgive me if I cannot hear you.
Monday, July 12, 2004
Weekend Parties and the Boilermaker
Well, the weekend came and went. I had a wonderful time and met some cool people from Hamilton College. But before I get ahead of myself, this past weekend was the weekend of the Boilermaker Race. I . . . slept through the whole thing, but I did hear military jets do a fly-by at the end.
Anyway, I'm in the process of THINKING about packing up. I'm moving at the end of the month into a new 2-family house. I hate moving and it's been hot. So if I'm away from y'all for a prolonged amount of time, you'll know why.
Anyway, I'm in the process of THINKING about packing up. I'm moving at the end of the month into a new 2-family house. I hate moving and it's been hot. So if I'm away from y'all for a prolonged amount of time, you'll know why.
Thursday, July 08, 2004
Things have gotten strange
I think this is a project doomed to fail. Apparently at the Siracha zoo, wild animals and domestic animals are taught to live together harmoniously from an early age in order to boost the number of visitors to the zoo.
It's good to see that the tiger is sleeping peacfully . . . but note the piglet. I highly doubt that piggy's going to sleep tonight.
It's good to see that the tiger is sleeping peacfully . . . but note the piglet. I highly doubt that piggy's going to sleep tonight.
Monday, July 05, 2004
Post 4th, Rainfall, Underworld
Well, Joseph Legaspi came and went. I hope he had a genuinely good time. There's not really a whole lot of stuff to do in my neck of the woods. His plan was to get out of New York City and certainly he achieved that goal when he came to visit. We talked poetry and Kundiman business. The Asian American Writers' Retreat is looking to be a wonderful event. Hopefully it won't be to muggy/hot in Virginia.
Last night it rained. I don't know if that dampened the spirits of the July 4th party-goers. We were too far out of range to see any fireworks from Meredith's deck in Remsen. Instead, Joseph and I watched the Radiohead DVD, "Meeting People is Easy". I made a quiche to dispose of some left-over veggies and some extra eggs. Unfortunately I used a graham cracker pie crust for the quiche, so it tasted strange. I should've skipped the crust. At least the quiche was good with Tabasco sauce.
After the quiche debacle, I plopped in "Underworld", my latest Netflix adventure. It's a truly awful film. I fell asleep right in the middle after several moans and groans about the bad acting. There better not be a sequel.
Last night it rained. I don't know if that dampened the spirits of the July 4th party-goers. We were too far out of range to see any fireworks from Meredith's deck in Remsen. Instead, Joseph and I watched the Radiohead DVD, "Meeting People is Easy". I made a quiche to dispose of some left-over veggies and some extra eggs. Unfortunately I used a graham cracker pie crust for the quiche, so it tasted strange. I should've skipped the crust. At least the quiche was good with Tabasco sauce.
After the quiche debacle, I plopped in "Underworld", my latest Netflix adventure. It's a truly awful film. I fell asleep right in the middle after several moans and groans about the bad acting. There better not be a sequel.
Saturday, July 03, 2004
A Visitor from the City
Joseph Legaspi's coming to visit me for the weekend. He stated that he had two requests: 1) Visit Target, 2) BBQ. I hope to meet all of these requests, quite possibly in the first day. Anyway, he couldn't have picked a more perfect weekend to come visit. The weather in the Mohawk Valley has been pleasantly warm and breezy. Supposedly there'll be fireworks this evening, but I'm not sure where they'll be and I'm not sure if we'll be able to see them from Remsen.
In other news, I saw "Spiderman 2" in the new Marquee Theatre last night. Prior to that, we went to Voss's hotdog stand. Apparently Voss's is a 50-year-old hotdog stand. I ordered a Chili-dog and a Mexi-dog done "All the Way". They were REALLY good. It's a shame that hot dogs are so terrible for you. When I was about four-years-old, I went through a phase where I'd eat nothing but hot dogs and Pringles until I overheard a news report that said the franks were hazerdous to your health. After, I appropriately told my mother that I had eaten four hot dogs and asked her if I was going to die. Anyway, if you're in the Utica area and want to pay me a visit, I'll take you to Voss's.
As for the movie and the movie theatre . . . thumbs up. The interior of the theatre looks cheaply made. Cinder block and cement line all the hallways. Cheap and gaudily bright carpet adorn the floors. Some brightly painted stars skirt the cavernous opening with a brightly lit and long concession stand. As the three of us entered, we saw an overhead projector playing trailers for the up and coming shows. "Spiderman 2" was playing on four of the twelve screens. Of course, I ordered a popcorn and a soda because I can't watch movies without popcorn. In fact, the whole experience of movie-watching is banal without having some for of salty/sweet snack at your fingertips. Anyway, when we got into the appropriate theatre, we could see that it seated around two-hundred people. Our worry was that because of the size of the complex from the outside, the actual screens would be tiny. This was not the case. The screen was slightly concave and relatively large. The stadium seats reached far back towards the wall with a partition sectioning off the area right below the projection window so that no one could put on a shadow-puppet show in the middle of the film. Dark curtains draped the sides to buffer the other theatres from the very loud sound system. If you're not a fan of loud action films, go to the other cinemas because the speakers were extremely crisp. Also, given that the film playing was an action film with a lot of screeching, crashing, and banging, you're liable to leave the theatre with slight deafness or ringing in your ears. I know Marijean's teeth ached after the film. Needless to say, I'm happy with the theatre overall. I saw that they were also showing "Farenheit 9/11" on another screen, so I think there's hope that more serious film buffs will have a better selection in the upcoming months.
Now, as far as "Spiderman 2" is concerned, I enjoyed it. I thought the characters were nice and round. Part of that, I believe, is due to Michael Chabon's involvement in the screen writing process. I also thought that Doctor Octopus was a superbe villain. I won't say anymore. I'm sure you'll hear about the film for quite some time.
In other news, I saw "Spiderman 2" in the new Marquee Theatre last night. Prior to that, we went to Voss's hotdog stand. Apparently Voss's is a 50-year-old hotdog stand. I ordered a Chili-dog and a Mexi-dog done "All the Way". They were REALLY good. It's a shame that hot dogs are so terrible for you. When I was about four-years-old, I went through a phase where I'd eat nothing but hot dogs and Pringles until I overheard a news report that said the franks were hazerdous to your health. After, I appropriately told my mother that I had eaten four hot dogs and asked her if I was going to die. Anyway, if you're in the Utica area and want to pay me a visit, I'll take you to Voss's.
As for the movie and the movie theatre . . . thumbs up. The interior of the theatre looks cheaply made. Cinder block and cement line all the hallways. Cheap and gaudily bright carpet adorn the floors. Some brightly painted stars skirt the cavernous opening with a brightly lit and long concession stand. As the three of us entered, we saw an overhead projector playing trailers for the up and coming shows. "Spiderman 2" was playing on four of the twelve screens. Of course, I ordered a popcorn and a soda because I can't watch movies without popcorn. In fact, the whole experience of movie-watching is banal without having some for of salty/sweet snack at your fingertips. Anyway, when we got into the appropriate theatre, we could see that it seated around two-hundred people. Our worry was that because of the size of the complex from the outside, the actual screens would be tiny. This was not the case. The screen was slightly concave and relatively large. The stadium seats reached far back towards the wall with a partition sectioning off the area right below the projection window so that no one could put on a shadow-puppet show in the middle of the film. Dark curtains draped the sides to buffer the other theatres from the very loud sound system. If you're not a fan of loud action films, go to the other cinemas because the speakers were extremely crisp. Also, given that the film playing was an action film with a lot of screeching, crashing, and banging, you're liable to leave the theatre with slight deafness or ringing in your ears. I know Marijean's teeth ached after the film. Needless to say, I'm happy with the theatre overall. I saw that they were also showing "Farenheit 9/11" on another screen, so I think there's hope that more serious film buffs will have a better selection in the upcoming months.
Now, as far as "Spiderman 2" is concerned, I enjoyed it. I thought the characters were nice and round. Part of that, I believe, is due to Michael Chabon's involvement in the screen writing process. I also thought that Doctor Octopus was a superbe villain. I won't say anymore. I'm sure you'll hear about the film for quite some time.
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