Also today, I've put in serious effort on an art project. I can't reveal any details, as I think it would jinx things. Once it's wholly completed and dispatched, I'll tell a bit more about it.
Rest assured, it's cool.
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
Project / Pro-jector / Jester
Inside anime
I referenced AnimeNation in my review of Kiki's Delivery Service a few days ago.
I learned a day or two ago that the Web site has its headquarters -- and a retail store -- in Tampa. Max and I visited this afternoon. Fun place, though it seems most of the building is devoted to the Web business.
Picked up a copy of Cowboy Bebop -- Best Sessions, a two-disk set containing six episodes of the science fiction show. Back in December, I rented the set. This is what I wrote, back in the ancient past:
Cowboy Bebop is an "anime show about a bounty hunter's adventures in the future. Rented it on a whim last night, and have been watching through it this afternoon (this being my copy editor's Saturday and all).
It's beautifully done, albeit with the shortcoming I mentioned. The sense of style is unmatched, and the music is wonderful. Kind of a jazz/delta blues/pop mix."
What an insightful young man I was.
I learned a day or two ago that the Web site has its headquarters -- and a retail store -- in Tampa. Max and I visited this afternoon. Fun place, though it seems most of the building is devoted to the Web business.
Picked up a copy of Cowboy Bebop -- Best Sessions, a two-disk set containing six episodes of the science fiction show. Back in December, I rented the set. This is what I wrote, back in the ancient past:
Cowboy Bebop is an "anime show about a bounty hunter's adventures in the future. Rented it on a whim last night, and have been watching through it this afternoon (this being my copy editor's Saturday and all).
It's beautifully done, albeit with the shortcoming I mentioned. The sense of style is unmatched, and the music is wonderful. Kind of a jazz/delta blues/pop mix."
What an insightful young man I was.
Monday, April 28, 2003
Poloxamer 407 FTW
Ingredients in a bottle of Publix brand Antiseptic Mouth Rinse (Publix is, for non-Floridians in the audience, a chain of "rad" grocery stores).
Active Ingredients:
Thymol
Eucalyptol
Methyl Salicylate
Menthol
Other Stuff Thrown In For Kicks:
Water
Alcohol
Sorbitol solution
Flavoring
Poloxamer 407
Sodium saccharin
Benzoic acid
Zinc chloride
Sodium benzoate
FD&C Blue No. 1
Refreshing!
Active Ingredients:
Thymol
Eucalyptol
Methyl Salicylate
Menthol
Other Stuff Thrown In For Kicks:
Water
Alcohol
Sorbitol solution
Flavoring
Poloxamer 407
Sodium saccharin
Benzoic acid
Zinc chloride
Sodium benzoate
FD&C Blue No. 1
Refreshing!
Saturday, April 26, 2003
Poetry's place
For those of you who can't stomach the poetry I sometimes post here, rest easy.
I've started a new blog -- an online poetry scrapbook, really -- called Verse A Day. It will henceforth be the home of my online poetic rambles.
I'll add a poem each day. Stop by sometime.
I've started a new blog -- an online poetry scrapbook, really -- called Verse A Day. It will henceforth be the home of my online poetic rambles.
I'll add a poem each day. Stop by sometime.
Abundant animation attention
As promised, some musings on Kiki's Delivery Service.
The film is aimed at children, it seems, so the trope of many anime fanatics doesn't work in talking about it. That is, you can't claim it's for mature audiences and thus revolutionizes our narrow U.S. concepts about the potential of animation.
But that doesn't mean the movie is less inspired, or particularly similar to children's movies made by the Mouse House (who at least had the courtesy to buy up Miyazaki-san's work for worldwide release).
Kiki, the story of a young witch making it on her own in a new city, is an eloquent and touching story about growing up. It has an exciting dirigible crash, humor based on its characters, and a plot that doesn't go the way one would expect. Add to that a memorable score and pristine animation, and you have a little jewel of a movie.
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the film -- if not the most obvious one -- is that it's an alternate universe tale. Miyazaki sets it in 1950s Europe, but a 1950s Europe in which World War II never happened and where witches roam free.
It sounds strange, but it's handled with grace, delicacy, and the firm touch of experience.
I watched the English dub, which features an excellent performance by Kursten Dunst as Kiki, and an intermittently funny one by Phil Hartman as her pet cat (the dub was recorded in 1998).
Hartman's performance is too talky, though, and winds up changing the feel of the movie. I watched a chunk of the film in the original Japanese, and it's a much quieter -- and more powerful -- experience.
Still, the DVD gives you the option of watching either version, and they both have their charms.
It's difficult to write about Miyazaki in a coherent way. Do a web search about him and his films, and you'll find a lot of enthusiasm. You won't find much cogent writing about why his movies work the way they do.
They stir emotions that most movies don't consider. They combine images and story in a way that suggests abstract art more than a Disney opus. And they share an ultimate optimism about humanity that is too often difficult to muster in these times.
That being said, Kiki may not be the best Miyazaki movie to start with if you've never sampled his work. I'd try Spirited Away or Castle In The Sky, both available on DVD, first. Then move on to his other films.
More Miyazaki information:
Studio Ghibli (where he makes his movies).
The U.S. DVDs (released a couple of weeks ago).
More Anime information:
AnimeNation.
The film is aimed at children, it seems, so the trope of many anime fanatics doesn't work in talking about it. That is, you can't claim it's for mature audiences and thus revolutionizes our narrow U.S. concepts about the potential of animation.
But that doesn't mean the movie is less inspired, or particularly similar to children's movies made by the Mouse House (who at least had the courtesy to buy up Miyazaki-san's work for worldwide release).
Kiki, the story of a young witch making it on her own in a new city, is an eloquent and touching story about growing up. It has an exciting dirigible crash, humor based on its characters, and a plot that doesn't go the way one would expect. Add to that a memorable score and pristine animation, and you have a little jewel of a movie.
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the film -- if not the most obvious one -- is that it's an alternate universe tale. Miyazaki sets it in 1950s Europe, but a 1950s Europe in which World War II never happened and where witches roam free.
It sounds strange, but it's handled with grace, delicacy, and the firm touch of experience.
I watched the English dub, which features an excellent performance by Kursten Dunst as Kiki, and an intermittently funny one by Phil Hartman as her pet cat (the dub was recorded in 1998).
Hartman's performance is too talky, though, and winds up changing the feel of the movie. I watched a chunk of the film in the original Japanese, and it's a much quieter -- and more powerful -- experience.
Still, the DVD gives you the option of watching either version, and they both have their charms.
It's difficult to write about Miyazaki in a coherent way. Do a web search about him and his films, and you'll find a lot of enthusiasm. You won't find much cogent writing about why his movies work the way they do.
They stir emotions that most movies don't consider. They combine images and story in a way that suggests abstract art more than a Disney opus. And they share an ultimate optimism about humanity that is too often difficult to muster in these times.
That being said, Kiki may not be the best Miyazaki movie to start with if you've never sampled his work. I'd try Spirited Away or Castle In The Sky, both available on DVD, first. Then move on to his other films.
More Miyazaki information:
Studio Ghibli (where he makes his movies).
The U.S. DVDs (released a couple of weeks ago).
More Anime information:
AnimeNation.
Thursday, April 24, 2003
Not overstated at all
This is the best Web site ever.
http://www.lileks.com/
Go there and go there often. (Thanks to Sean, who so considerately e-mailed me about this site.)
As for "Kiki's Delivery Service," don't fret. A review of sorts is festering in my brain. Soon, it will fester here.
Wednesday, April 23, 2003
Hello there, sir
A great big shout out (or some perky greeting along those lines) to my buddy James, who reads this very blog from his comfy Chicago home. Hi James. Rest assured that Rant/Rave/Reassure is committed to serving your Clay information needs.
Those needs may, obviously, vary.
Tuesday, April 22, 2003
Can't stop
Purchased "Kiki's Delivery Service," another Miyazaki opus, today. I'll let you know how it is shortly.
Monday, April 21, 2003
In depth, indeed
Howzabout an intimate look into my "artistic" process? Oh come on. It won't be that bad. I promise.
I wrote this in the bathtub today. I had an idea for a poem, but what I wrote didn't please me. Okay, it sucked. I decided to try a bit of free-association. This is what came out.
N/N/N
Never
Notagain
No.
Policemen dance round the barricades
Where my mother slipped and fell.
But how can you tell
I don't like you?
All you know
My mouthwaterin chickpea
Is what's printed
In those scandal sheets
Of bubbles and pollen and sneezes
That follow rules no men make.
(No man that that I know. You?
Nope.
Thought so.)
Where does the blossom sprout
In the businessman's briefcase,
Where numbers foam --
On the beer head
(Use yours, Spinoza)
Or A.G. Bell.
Give 'im a ring
Or a zing zong
Diddly zing.
We expect so much
And so so little
For them.
The lines and ranks and file folders
Hanging in the box,
Top of the Pops.
And snap and crackled
And breathed dust for you,
As the day eats its young
And the night stammers fitfully.
So where does it end?
With warmth
And soap.
I wrote this in the bathtub today. I had an idea for a poem, but what I wrote didn't please me. Okay, it sucked. I decided to try a bit of free-association. This is what came out.
N/N/N
Never
Notagain
No.
Policemen dance round the barricades
Where my mother slipped and fell.
But how can you tell
I don't like you?
All you know
My mouthwaterin chickpea
Is what's printed
In those scandal sheets
Of bubbles and pollen and sneezes
That follow rules no men make.
(No man that that I know. You?
Nope.
Thought so.)
Where does the blossom sprout
In the businessman's briefcase,
Where numbers foam --
On the beer head
(Use yours, Spinoza)
Or A.G. Bell.
Give 'im a ring
Or a zing zong
Diddly zing.
We expect so much
And so so little
For them.
The lines and ranks and file folders
Hanging in the box,
Top of the Pops.
And snap and crackled
And breathed dust for you,
As the day eats its young
And the night stammers fitfully.
So where does it end?
With warmth
And soap.
Twin enthusiasms
Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Miyazaki.
Watched "Castle In The Sky" tonight. A two-hour burst of fun, energy and world-creation that the Disney folk only dream they could do. And that's why they bought the U.S. rights to all of Miyazaki's superb anime. "Castle" is available right now in a 2-DVD set. (One DVD has the movie, in English and Japanese, and the other has the storyboards for the movie -- drawn by Miyazaki himself -- accompanied by the soundtrack.)
Say You Will
As unfashionable and er -- white -- as this sounds, I bought the new Fleetwood Mac album Friday. Some good tunes on there.
Wednesday, April 16, 2003
Ghibli-d
Actually purchased "Miyazaki's Spirited Away" on DVD yesterday.
The film remains stunning. I wish, however, that some company other than Disney had the rights to the films for the U.S.
Why? I could do without the constant head shots of Disney employees in the bonus material, telling us how much they were inspired by Miyazaki.
Let's watch the movie. Please.
The film remains stunning. I wish, however, that some company other than Disney had the rights to the films for the U.S.
Why? I could do without the constant head shots of Disney employees in the bonus material, telling us how much they were inspired by Miyazaki.
Let's watch the movie. Please.
Monday, April 14, 2003
Whither Williams
Not to go all over-dramatic here, but I'm sad that Roy Williams is leaving Kansas.
Roy Williams was always part of the package when I thought about KU. He was by far the most famous man on campus, and his silver-haired presence was ubiquitous. He was always on television, in the newspaper, etc.
As someone that thinks sports receive far too much attention, I would have been the first one to grumble about this -- if Roy had ever been anything but gracious. Indeed, he just seemed like a classy guy. Year in and year out, he would assemble winning teams.
Of course, year in and year out he would fumble at tournament time and tears would be shed. But that was part of the charm. He seemed like a real guy. That's a quality midwesterners appreciate.
Imagining Lawrence without him is difficult. He will be missed.
Oh, Roy
Roy Williams will announce tonight that he's leaving KU for the presumably greener pastures of UNC.
Oh well. It's a good thing I don't care about sports, or else I'd be really crushed -- rather than just disappointed.
Middle-earth treat
Strange school lunch menu item of the day:
Oatmeal Elfin Bar
Sounds like something from the Lord of the Rings.
Oatmeal Elfin Bar
Sounds like something from the Lord of the Rings.
Sunday, April 13, 2003
Read all about it
Please note the new link to the right.
Roper in China is properly titled "Wrong Side of the Wall," and is a new blog starring my former co-worker and Daily Kansan photographer extraordinaire Jamie Roper. He's teaching English in China.
Read it. I command you!
Friday, April 11, 2003
Urgy burgy
That's Clay for "hi there."
Here's a poem I wrote a couple of days ago. No title, not for the blog version at least.
The dryer churns.
I walk back inside our apartment,
Pebbles clinging to my bare feet.
The air conditioner gasps.
I fold the frayed gray T-shirt,
Drop it on the uneven stack.
The ceiling fan rotates.
You sleep,
Covers drawn to blank out light.
There is nothing to add to this interval
In words or thoughts.
All we need is here --
In between our breaths
And the movement of our blood.
Here's a poem I wrote a couple of days ago. No title, not for the blog version at least.
The dryer churns.
I walk back inside our apartment,
Pebbles clinging to my bare feet.
The air conditioner gasps.
I fold the frayed gray T-shirt,
Drop it on the uneven stack.
The ceiling fan rotates.
You sleep,
Covers drawn to blank out light.
There is nothing to add to this interval
In words or thoughts.
All we need is here --
In between our breaths
And the movement of our blood.
Thursday, April 10, 2003
How many?
A midweek weekend has passed.
What did I do? Um. Cleaned up around the apartment, did seven loads of laundry and watched Tootsie.
And I drew some comic strips.
Monday, April 7, 2003
Reasoned response
I think I speak for KU fans everywhere when I say:
AUUUUUUUGH!
81-78, Syracuse. Wow. That hurts.
AUUUUUUUGH!
81-78, Syracuse. Wow. That hurts.
Game day
The KU basketball team is toughing it out at the NCAA championship game tonight. It's halftime now, and they're trailing Syracuse by an inexcusable amount.
I'm not a sports fan in general, 1.) because I can't play well and 2.) because it makes me nervous. However, as a KU grad, I've obviously followed the team here and there this season. They've made it to the championship. But now they have to win.
I'm rooting for them, but this is way too nerve-wracking. I think I'll wait until the game is finished. More then.
I'm not a sports fan in general, 1.) because I can't play well and 2.) because it makes me nervous. However, as a KU grad, I've obviously followed the team here and there this season. They've made it to the championship. But now they have to win.
I'm rooting for them, but this is way too nerve-wracking. I think I'll wait until the game is finished. More then.
Worthy of note
Salon has posted a painful, yet delicately observed piece about a suicide. Read it here.
Saturday, April 5, 2003
Start your engine
The silence can end.
I'm now the semi-owner (thanks to Redacted Financial Corp.), of a 1999 Saturn SL1 motorcar. It has four doors, 21,600 miles, and is white. It's the new Claymobile.
As I've said before, and as I'll doubtless say again: Whoohoo.
Friday, April 4, 2003
Military poetry
A poem by Donald Rumsfeld, our secretary of defense (thanks to Slate, which figured this out).
Clarity
I think what you'll find,
I think what you'll find is,
Whatever it is we do substantively,
There will be near-perfect clarity
As to what it is.
And it will be known,
And it will be known to the Congress,
And it will be known to you,
Probably before we decide it,
But it will be known.
— Feb. 28, 2003, Department of Defense briefing
Clarity
I think what you'll find,
I think what you'll find is,
Whatever it is we do substantively,
There will be near-perfect clarity
As to what it is.
And it will be known,
And it will be known to the Congress,
And it will be known to you,
Probably before we decide it,
But it will be known.
— Feb. 28, 2003, Department of Defense briefing
Profiled
Updating the obvious. It's time for the semi-sorta-regularly-recurring McCuistion profile.
Calm yourselves.
Name: Clay McCuistion.
Age: 23.
Height: 6'1.
Weight: 183 (according the scales at the doctor's office last week).
Occupation: Copy editor at a daily newspaper located in the steaming, sultry countryside of Tampa Bay.
Main goal in life: To finish that damned comic strip project I've been working on for two months.
Secondary goal: To arrange semi-sorta reliable auto transport.
Another random goal: To put paper in neat stacks.
Day by day
Howdy there. Just checking in.
Let's look at the calendar ... hmmm .... why, it seems to be April 4. What's that about?
I just came off my four-day vacation. I'll summarize it for you:
Day One (Sunday): Watched Spirited Away. A marvelous animated movie from Japan. Being released by Disney in the states. It won the best animated feature Oscar.
Day Two: I drive by some car lots, and walk past a couple of them too. I talk to my dad on the phone about possibly buying a car.
Day Three: Visit Ford, Honda and Saturn dealerships with Max. I picked up the DVD Brian Wilson On Tour. A nice collection of performances from the ex-Beach Boy.
Day Four: Take test drives of a couple of used Saturns and decide to take the plunge. Start working on financing.
That's the rundown. Today, I returned to the dealership and gave them more information. I'll be returning tomorrow. Let's hope for the best, eh?
Let's look at the calendar ... hmmm .... why, it seems to be April 4. What's that about?
I just came off my four-day vacation. I'll summarize it for you:
Day One (Sunday): Watched Spirited Away. A marvelous animated movie from Japan. Being released by Disney in the states. It won the best animated feature Oscar.
Day Two: I drive by some car lots, and walk past a couple of them too. I talk to my dad on the phone about possibly buying a car.
Day Three: Visit Ford, Honda and Saturn dealerships with Max. I picked up the DVD Brian Wilson On Tour. A nice collection of performances from the ex-Beach Boy.
Day Four: Take test drives of a couple of used Saturns and decide to take the plunge. Start working on financing.
That's the rundown. Today, I returned to the dealership and gave them more information. I'll be returning tomorrow. Let's hope for the best, eh?
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