11.20.2009

what I love today

http://www.amazon.com/Mobile-Office-WM-01-Laptop-Steering/dp/B000IZGIA8/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Read the comments.

11.08.2009

Excellent Costumes

OK, ok, ok.  So I am a week behind. 

These are some costumes we saw in our neighborhood last week.


Nun with a a case of beer.  Always good.  Especially if the nun is a dude.


Classic.  I asked him where his Meatwad was, and he looked a little offended.  Turns out he just liked the costume and is not an Aqua Teen Hunger Force fan at all.  

Nice yard decorations.  Not very energy efficient; there was no Energy Star sticker on it.  Californians prove to be all talk and no rock once again.


She said she was dressed as "Inner Beauty", which is a lovely concept.  I don't quite get the costume representation, but do love the idea and her attitude was bubbly and hilarious. 


This guy had an interesting concept.  On the outside he looks like a Tibetan Monk/ SoCal dude.  Then, his robe slips off and his "true" role is revealed. . .












Turns out he is in the creepiest panty- hose suit of all time.  He is dressed as a a  ridiculously well endowed porn dude.  The picture doesn't do it justice.  Out with the Tibetan Monk; that was just the set-up. 

I think it is funny how he drew on pectoral muscles, and they end far below his actual pecs, making him look a little droopy.






Pirates are big this year.



  This is our neighborhood buddy, Puppy, who dressed as a SWAT team cop. 












That's not light beer he's packing.  Watch out. 







Whole family trick-or-treating on Newport Ave. . .

. . . at the body piercing shop


The bee and the Pope are hanging out on the porch. . .
Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat.


IQ waiting for our table at Hodad's

Dead Elvis.


Son of God.


SoCal lady with HUUUUUGE fake breasts. Hilarious!


 Dirty Martini.


Count Dracula and his hippy dippy consort.  They seem to have the biting thing backwards. 

 Super Awesome Robot!!!  Bike reflectors for the eyes has a smashing effect in flash pics.  Well done, robot dude!



This was our waiter.  He made quite a show of dropping of our ticket.

Magnum PI.

 Possibly the most clever costume of the evening.

Nice Package.




Self portrait, the Ape and the Cheerleader.  It is a match made in heaven.


A Christmas tree!

Is the dude next to the Jolly Green Giant in costume?

Santa and Ms. Claus. 
These guys look JUST LIKE Hare Krishnas!!  They even have the harmonium, and were chanting and handing out little pamphlets.  They stayed in character ALL NIGHT, and even stay in character at other times during the week.  I'm all for stretching the taffy on a holiday, but guys, come on.






11.03.2009

More Amazing Painted Utility Boxes




This box has an Asian-esque theme, with the vaguely Shinto Shrine looking builidings, and the Karate Kid style sun.  Are those dolphins the now-extinct Baiji/ Yangtze River Dolphin?  Is the only place you can now see the Baiji on this painted utility box in South Park, SD?  Thanks a lot, China.



Weird samurai and snaky dragony adorn back side of the box.  They don't really tie in with the rest of the piece. 



 This lovely and vibrant box shows a representational, if not abstract, picture of people playing music.  The bold colours, wavy outlines, and simple graphics reveal that this utility box artist is strongly influenced of the European art greats of the late 1930's through early '50's.  There are echos of Compostion Fond Bleu   and of The Three Musicians .  This box photographed in Hillcrest.


















Just around the corner, we find another Matisse and Picasso inspired utility box, possibly by the same artist as the box pictured above.  The pipe smoker image on this utility box might be an homage to Magritte.  Ceci n'est pas un boite du utility.  It is a PICTURE of a utility box.

The utility box's neighbor box  is also nicely decorated in bold colors and strong graphics.  They did a nice job of not covering the important utility stickers and warning labels.










The artist's intention is a mystery to the viewer.  Is this supposed to look like brick?  Is it just a study in tone and pattern within the constraints of parallel lines?  Is it cubist camouflage? Photographed in North Park.



Some ideas are best left as ideas and not as actions.  Photographed in Hillcrest.


Cartoonish, strong-jawed glamorous lady who cleaned her plate.  Good for you, headless good eater!

On the other side of the headless cafe lady, we find some shadowy dudes in hats.  While it is the same box, I think it was different artists.  Box in Hillcrest



 
  Wow!  This monkey is meditating, while being served an umbrella drink by a crab, while his lovely lady friend demurely sips tea and the squid swings by with his top-hat on.   Fantastic!  Box lives in Hillcrest.





Hey, Coolaid!  Let's all play in a band!  Yeah! 





Is the blond cowgirl hitting the keyboard player with a pork chop?







































Very dreamy and full of luscious colours and organic lines.  The overall design concept seems muddy and lacking direction, but it is a bit more pleasant than a plain utility box.  Photograped in North Park.
















This most excellent utility box depicts schnauzers playing fiddles.  What can't these fine dogs do?  This utility box shows a nice use of background color to support, yet not distract from the image.  The expressiveness of the schnauzer's faces really holds the gaze of the observer.  Schnauzer box located in South Park.