Hot Gun Spy, Signing Off

This post is the official last post on the Hot Gun Spy blog.

I have been struggling with this decision for several months now. It was a difficult decidion for me to make. I had felt vindicated by the e-mail I had received from artists thanking me for posting their work, but I found that the blog had begun to eat away the time I traditionally spent with other, more rewarding projects.
Since, I have had some time away from the blog, I can see more clearly the time it took from my day. I used to spend 2-3 hours a day online while maintaining this blog. Now, I spend about half an hour.

Also, after several months of posting multiple entires per day, I never really had the visitors that would make that kind of effort worth my time. I was really keeping the blog going for about a dozen people, and many of them would just happen onto the site through an irrelevent search on Google.

Afterall, blogging for me was just a way to consolidate my surfing into one site for like-minded individuals. Most of my posts have been politically motivated. It was politics that originally got me involved in the blogosphere. The problem is that I no longer want to contribute to the echo chamber of liberal politics. Certainly, the liberals had to become as morally toxic as the conservatives in order to compete in our current political landscape. But the level of toxicity intrinsic in both parties disgusts me.

The one thing I will miss is looking for new art to post. I hope that people discovered some good artists while I was actively posting.

Anyway, that is it. I will keep my archives up for the next few months, but eventually the site will be stripped and this site will become merely a personal site for me to post sporadic news about my upcoming projects.

If you are interested in checking out what I am looking at in the future, you can always visit my delicious links.

Sayonara.

Real Fuel Efficiency

I had to take a break from my vacation to post this story from Wired:

"Politicians and automakers say a car that can both reduce greenhouse gases and free America from its reliance on foreign oil is years or even decades away. Ron Gremban says such a car is parked in his garage.

"It looks like a typical Toyota Prius hybrid, but in the trunk sits an 80-miles-per-gallon secret - a stack of 18 brick-sized batteries that boosts the car's high mileage with an extra electrical charge so it can burn even less fuel.

"Gremban, an electrical engineer and committed environmentalist, spent several months and $3,000 tinkering with his car.

"Like all hybrids, his Prius increases fuel efficiency by harnessing small amounts of electricity generated during braking and coasting. The extra batteries let him store extra power by plugging the car into a wall outlet at his home in a San Francisco suburb - all for about a quarter."

Some of these experimental modified hybrid plug-ins have gooten up to 250 miles per gallon. Talk about efficient. That is outrageous.

This story should outrage everyone who is paying nearly 3 bucks for a gallon of gas. Our lawmakers obviously do not care enough about the American consumer to give innovation a realistic shot. They are too busy giving huge taxbreaks to mammoth oil companies.

I guess it is up to the innovation of the American citizen to begin weening us off big oil's teet. Thank goodness for the Ron Gremban's of the world.

HGS Vacation

Hot Gun Spy will not be posting anything this week. I am currently taking a much needed vacation from the site, and the internet in general. I will be back early next week, rested and ready to blog again.

If someone is interested in guest blogging on my site, please e-mail me and let me know.

Meet With Cindy

This from Cindy Sheehan on Day 6 of her Peaceful Occupation of Iraq near Bush's Crawford Ranch, where he is still, amazingly, on vacation:

"Since Congress is not holding George Bush accountable and the media is not doing their jobs and holding George Bush accountable, we the American people need to hold him accountable for lying to us to get us into a disastrous war. November 2, 2004 was not his accountability moment: today is. We are finished allowing him to get away with deceiving the American public and abusing his power.

"We are mad as hell and we're not taking it anymore."

http://www.meetwithcindy.org/

Patriots?

This is what you get with rich, Republican warmongers:

Staff Sgt. Jason Rivera, 26, a Marine recruiter in Pittsburgh, went to the home of a high school student who had expressed interest in joining the Marine Reserve to talk to his parents. It was a large home in a well-to-do suburb north of the city. Two American flags adorned the yard. The prospect's mom greeted him wearing an American flag T-shirt. "I want you to know we support you," she gushed.

Rivera soon reached the limits of her support.

"Military service isn't for our son. It isn't for our kind of people," she told him.

(via Kos and Atrios)

Celeste Najt

I have been trying to clean out my RSS feeds lately, and have found some really great stuff in the process. I re-discovered the collage work of Celeste Najt from an Art MoCo post I had been holding onto for a couple weeks.

This from Najt's site:

My work is based in the daily search for a meaning, beyond conventions, structure related

Basically, I'm mainly devoted to photography- unextinguishable food for life- and the recreation of it as a work of art.

The permanent search of the renovation based on experimentation compels me to be aware to the new elements, plastics or illusive; mobiles to reach the reconstruction of my myself and my daily reality.

Karen Armstrong Is Brilliant

When Karen Armstrong speaks we should all listen.

Here is a blurb from an article she wrote for the Guardian, "Unholy strictures, It is wrong - and dangerous - to believe literal truth can be found in religious texts":

"Protestant fundamentalists, for example, claim that they read the Bible in the same way as the early Christians, but their belief that it is literally true in every detail is a recent innovation, formulated for the first time in the late 19th century. Before the modern period, Jews, Christians and Muslims all relished highly allegorical interpretations of scripture. The word of God was infinite and could not be tied down to a single interpretation. Preoccupation with literal truth is a product of the scientific revolution, when reason achieved such spectacular results that mythology was no longer regarded as a valid path to knowledge.

"We tend now to read our scriptures for accurate information, so that the Bible, for example, becomes a holy encyclopaedia, in which the faithful look up facts about God. Many assume that if the scriptures are not historically and scientifically correct, they cannot be true at all. But this was not how scripture was originally conceived. All the verses of the Qur'an, for example, are called "parables" (ayat); its images of paradise, hell and the last judgment are also ayat, pointers to transcendent realities that we can only glimpse through signs and symbols.

"We distort our scriptures if we read them in an exclusively literal sense."

I have a feeling Armstrong is trying to stem the tide of any burgeoning extremism that might evolve from the terrorist attacks in London. She obviously has been watching what has happened in America since 9/11.

I have read some of Armstrong's previous work, and can't wait for her new book, A Short History of Myth.

(via bookslut)

Joel Sharp

When I first saw Joel Sharp's work I immediately thought about how similar it was to Gustav Klimt. However, when I looked closely at his work, it is not quite that simple, strict comparisons rarely are. Certainly, there are similarities, the gold leaf and the figrues above an array of geometry, but Sharp's work stands on its own in its strength and beauty. His characterizations are far different, possibly even more inviting to the viewer than Klimt.

Also, Sharp is not limited to a single style of painting, or limited to painting for that matter. He works in the abstract, as well as in sculpture. You can check out his work over at the Sharp Gallery.

The Social Power of Street

This is how I feel just about everyday in red state America.

This billboard is courtesy of Dr. D. You should check out more of his work. It is another great example of how street art can be a force for socail commentary.

(via Wooster>

Focus On The Family Hates Gays

Focus on the Family has a quiz on thier webpage, titled, "Is My Child Becoming Homosexual?" You have to go to the page to get the full view, but I will warn you that it is extremely offensive.

It is precisely this kind of rhetoric that makes me refuse to believe that evangelicals are caring members of our society.

(via Metafilter)

Vito M. Pinto

Vito M. Pinto's paintings have a movement that is rarely seen in figurative art. For me, Pinto's work embodies all that I love about the surrealists and the futurists. His work is the perfect marriage of dream and movement. He takes us into dreamscapes where the subconcious doesn't just stand still for us to admire but his world moves so that we might imagine where the figures are going. Perhaps, we even wonder if we might go with them.

This from Pinto's website:

His paintings now have evolved to higher level of identity with much more energy and passion. The constant need to express and to create is in his soul where the subconscious enables him, through his life experiences, to find fulfillment and inner peace. His subject may be of surrealistic, metaphorical or metaphysical elements.

His use of color moves his work through the linear, cylindrical patterns of his mind's eye and brings each piece to a new perspective reflecting the constant changes of his ongoing thought processes which comes from his past, present and his emotions. Surrealistic human shapes evolve from this change. It is like writing a novel, a poem about his life.

BushCo Gets Sacked

The guys over at Fudge Factory Comics have created an image of what we all secretly would like to see: the reactions of BushCo as, one by one, they catch a swift kick in the sack. Brilliant.

You can buy the book, or see more of the drawings here.

(via Wooster)

The Atari Flashback

Maybe, I was the only one that didn't know that Atari had released a retro console that included 20 classic Atari games. My problem is, very few of the 20 games offered on this console are of much interest to me.

Why can't any of these retro gaming sytems come equipped with all the best games? Where is the system with Pac-Man, Space Invaders, Donkey Kong, Frogger, or my personal favorite, Jungle King?

Update: Over at Protien, there is some talk about modifying the new Atari console so that it will accept all your old 2600 cartridges, that is if you still have any 2600 cartridges.

Enrique Lemus

Enrique Lemus' paintings harken back to a different time in the history of painting. There are obvious reminders of the Surrealists, specifically Dali, but there is something universal about the loneliness they express, regardless of time or genre. Also, there is a deep longing for spiritual understanding that fills every inch of his work, which adds a humanity that I felt was often missing in Dali's work.

This from Lewis' front page:

"Going from Heaven to Hell, from Temptation to sublime; He likes to clash reality and surrealism together, so that life can reach life. The life that lies in the back of our mind; in our conscience and by doing it, find the answer to our quests.

"'What should be the reason for a man to tear up his soul; break it, crumble and then re-define himself?….to expose just a glance of his dreams? or probably to reach some others souls out there'

"That could be the artist’s driving force, he finds concepts that portraits the whole variety of the spectrum of life, that can be a universal language to all. He is a constant finder, more than a searcher."

Hotel Des Arts

Imagine waking up in the Hotel Des Arts in San Francisco. The hotel is in the process of using local artists to paint the walls of their rooms. Thirty-six out of the hotel's fifty-six rooms have art painted directly onto the walls.

The hotel is getting a lot of well-deserved attention as well. It was recently featured on two of my favorite sites: Art MoCo and Wooster Collective.

Pack your bags and make your reservations.

Broken Flowers

Jim Jarmusch has always been a hit or miss director for me. I really enjoyed "Night on Earth", but was pretty well numbed by "Dead Man" and "Coffee and Cigarettes". So, my enthusiasm for "Broken Flowers", starring Bill Murray and Jeffrey Wright(I love Wright in everything), has been on-hold until recently.

After I heard it won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival, I was waiting to hear what the critics would say. Well, I have heard wonderful things about the movie, and Murray's performance.

Here are some critic's quotes from Rotten Tomatoes:

"The mix of humor and heartbreak brings out the best in Murray."
-- Peter Travers, ROLLING STONE

"A movie of uncommon sweetness and delight."
-- Lisa Schwarzbaum, ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

"One of the smartest, funniest and most touching movies of the summer."
-- Richard Roeper, EBERT & ROEPER

"Working in his typically idiosyncratic and episodic vein, Jim Jarmusch has nonetheless pitched the film slightly more toward mainstream tastes than usual for him, using excellent thesps in the service of accessible material."
-- Todd McCarthy, VARIETY

"Broken Flowers could break Jarmusch out of the art house, but admirers may question the film's overly conventional approach."
-- Kirk Honeycutt, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER

Can't wait to see it.

History of the Apocalypse

As someone who was brought up in a family of evangelical Christians, I am well aware of the perpetual anticipation of the apocalypse. I have family members who still talk about it from time to time. I am even related to a few people who still believe in the rapture and are followers of the Left Behind series.

So, you can understand why I was so interested when I found "A Brief History of the Apocalypse". This website shows us that doomsday theorists have been around well before Jesus and they have been as foolish as the ones that preach the endtimes today.

This from the title page:

"Is the idea that the End is near a recent phenomenon? Far from it. Indeed, Chicken Littles have crying doom since ancient times. The aim of this page is to debunk end-time prophecy by listing hundreds of failed doomsday predictions, allay the fears spread by end-time preachers, and demonstrate that doomcrying is nothing new. I also hope you will derive amusement from some of the more bizarre prophecies."

Go scan the site. I think you will enjoy it.

Is Chappelle's Show Done?

Some bad news for fans of Comedy Central's "Chapelle's Show".

This from the AP:

"Time to face the facts: Dave Chappelle's hit Comedy Central series isn't coming back, says one of its stars. '"Chappelle's Show" is over, man. Done,' comic Charlie Murphy told TV Guide. 'It took me a long time to be able to say those words, but I can say it pretty easy now, because it's the truth.'

"Chappelle's sudden 'spiritual retreat' to South Africa on the eve of his show's third season has left the series in limbo since May. About half of a new season had been filmed before Chappelle left, Murphy said."

It will take a little more time to be sure that Murphy is not just jumping the gun, but it doesn't look good. However, there are at least six episodes of skits left for Comedy Central to do something with. Can anyone say, "The Lost Episodes DVD"?

Nicholas Wilton

Nicholas Wilton. Bird in Blue, 2005

At first glance, Nicholas Wilton's work has a calming effect on the viewer, possibly even in an aesthetic design sense, but upon further review I think you will find that there is something spirtually calming about the works, something almost celestial that can not be simply described. They are, instead of simple designs, designs reflecting the force of nature.

Nicholas Wilton. Blue Memory, 2005

This from the Selby Fleetwood Gallery's website:

"Rich in color, texture and symbols, Wilton’s work references a personal vocabulary of botanical forms, patterns and abstract designs. He’s intrigued by both the complex and the simple nature of plant forms. In his paintings he presents both in subtle arrangements that allow the fragility and spiritual potency to be more easily seen. This also indicates the precarious harmony existing in moments of time."

Nicholas Wilton. Spring, 2005

Why Do Men Have Nipples?

I have been a big fan of Mark Leyner's ever since I read his novel, "Et Tu, Babe" a couple years ago. Well, he has a new book out, a collaboration with Dr. Billy Goldman called, "Why Do Men Have Nipples?".

Here is the blurb from the book's inside cover:

Say you're at a party. You've had a martini or three, and you mingle through the crowd, wondering how long you need to stay before going out for pizza. Suddenly you're introduced to someone new, Dr. Nice Tomeetya. You forget the pizza. Now is the perfect time to bring up all those strange questions you'd like to ask during an office visit with your own doctor but haven't had the guts (or more likely the time) to do so. You're filled with liquid courage . . . now is your chance! If you've ever wanted to ask a doctor . . .

-How do people in wheelchairs have sex?

-Why do I get a killer headache when I suck down my milkshake too fast?

-Can I lose my contact lens inside my head forever?

-Why does asparagus make my pee smell?

-Why do old people grow hair on their ears?

-Is the old adage "beer before liquor, never sicker, liquor before beer . . ." really true?

. . . then Why Do Men Have Nipples? is the book for you.

Compiled by Billy Goldberg, an emergency medicine physician, and Mark Leyner, bestselling author and well-known satirist, Why Do Men Have Nipples? offers real factual and really funny answers to some of the big questions about the oddities of our bodies.

Also, if you are curious about learning more about Leyner and his work then check out his short-lived audio collaboration, "Wiretap". It is definitely worth a listen.

What 's Up with Donnie Darko?

This from the Protein Feed:

"How did a low-budget film with a convoluted plot about time travel, arson, young love and a giant, imaginary rabbit go from box-office flop to indie film classic?"

The writer is talking about the phenomenon that is"Donnie Darko". I have heard a lot about this movie in the past few months. It was recently re-released on DVD in a Director's Cut edition, and I heard some publicity stories about it then. I have to admit that my interest in the movie has been growing, whereas I had barely heard anything about it when it was released in 2004.

Read the story about the movie from the Independent and you'll probably be ready to watch it as well, (assuming you haven't already seen it). Here is a blurb from the story:

"The 2001 debut from the writer and director Richard Kelly - he was 26 when he made the movie - has become one of the all-time indie cult classics, sparking debate and worship from the young and disillusioned everywhere. Initially a flop at the box office, this counter-culture story of a psychologically unbalanced teenager and his deeply terrifying imaginary friend, Frank the rabbit, is now so popular that an open-air screening to be held in London's Kensington Gardens on Saturday has set off a scramble for tickets."

So, I Panicked

I actually did figure out how to save all my old entries. However, they are in a different place now then they were before. You can find all my old entries under the sidebar title, "Archives B.C. (Before the Crash)." All of my new archives will be filed under the title, "Archives A.C. (After Crash)."

Yea, that's right. New archives, meaning I plan to continue the blog afterall.

I have to admit that I have lived the last week in techie hell. I was not a code-savvy guy before this week, but now I could spar with some of the lightweights of the code world. I learned more then I ever wanted to and it made me disgusted with computers and certainly this blog.

However, after a few days away from this blog and finally launching imakebooks.com, I think I am ready to blog again.

So, how's tomorrow?