Helvetica documentary clip - Erik Spiekermann

Type PORN :)

Sexual Politics, Corruption, Science and Rick Perry

Who out there is aware of the malestrom we have going on here in Texas concerning mandatory vaccination of young girls against HPV? The hope is that we reduce their risk of Cervical cancer by ensuring they do not catch HPV. Great, fabulous... lets go for it. Welllllll.... not so fast. Couple of problems, the long term risks of this vaccination have not been established. The efficacy of the drug is also a point of discussion. Our do-nothing Governer has finally decided to do something, which in and of itself raises red flags all over the place. Apparently my flags were not the only ones waving because after some digging it has come to light that Merck's PAC contributed to Perry's campaign.... hmmmm how odd. He denies it influenced his decision of course, but you wonder why a governor that has worked hard NOT to do a damn thing for almost six years suddenly take such bold action? Just a thought. So, today I innocently pick up the Dallas Business Journal in the hopes of finding some leads on clients.. and foolishly I read the Editorial column on this very topic. I want to emphasis, that I was reading the Dallas BUSINESS Journal...Where upon they touch on the above points briefly and then spend the rest of the editorial rambling on about how it is immoral to promote sexual activity in girls and how only abstinance can protect you. There is even a jab at the effectiveness of condoms. I can only repeat... THE DALLAS BUSINESS JOURNAL. Have you all sense? All Reason? Any effort to appear to be a publication focused on business? I want you all to ask yourselves... If there was a vaccine that would prevent boys from getting a STD that would lead to testicular cancer... would there be a converstion about abstinence? Women's health and health issues are by nature tied to sex and gender. The health community is structured to percieve the differences of womens bodies as skewing the results in studies... as if the default status is overy and breast free... Need I remind anyone how many women there are out there? I can't believe that we are STILL having this conversation. As I was venting abuot this whole topic today, the subject of the overall concern people have concerning what young girls are learning from all the recent high profile scandels involving startlets and other female celebrities. Again I ask you... why is the question about girls? Is the innocence of young boys so much less valuable? The problem is NOT that women are becoming more crass and coarse... it is that SOCIETY is more crass and coarse, emotionally vapid and intellectually vacant. We should all be worried about THAT.

The Boardwalk and Gowing pains

So, activity number one, was eating... I needed a cuban food fix, so I had a palomita, with rice and black beans, and maduros. Yum, my travel companion... ever the true Texan got chicken fajitas. As if Cubans really know a thing about fajitas... so of course, no tortillas. She was not unhappy with her meal. Chicken strips in a lovey tangy sofrito. It looked very good. My meal was all things cuban... yummy and simple. Althoug the maduros were not ripe enough. Lots of local working folkes stoping in, 100% spanish speaking. And a braless transvestite for good measure! It would have been rude to take a pic. But 5:00 shadow and breasts have always disconcerted me. Although I wish my body was a pretty as hers. Then for a stroll on the boardwalk. The plan was to walk down to the Lincoln street mall and meet my Dad. but I headed off in the wrong direction and my travel companion wore out and had to go and rest. So off I went for overpriced drinks with Dad on the beach. It was a lovely walk. The beach is really one of my favorite places on the planet. Although Miami beach is undercontruction. So don't look inland or you will see scenes like this:
































Instead of this:

Story Numero Uno

So day one in Miami: We arrive and I of course! am rearing to go the beach. Not all parties (read my travel companion) were excited about this prospect. So we go to the hotel... check in and it is a little down on the heels but really quite cute. I recommend it for affordable accomodations in Miami Beach. Not in the heart of things, but all in all nice. It is not AS nice as the website makes it seem. But I enjoyed my stay there. The rooms are small, because this hotel although updated is still basically the way it was in the heyday of art deco... complete with GORGEOUS wooden ceiling in the lobby, antiquated elevator, bathroom in the hall, tiny bathrooms, tiny closests and old-timey flavor. We had the suite, so we had much more space than average, Two bathrooms (so tha smallness we not a factor) and two closests. No hangers in mine however. The restaurant, was surprisingly good, although all I had was appetizers and a drink. It was a loverly interlude by the pool. I highly recommend the grilled pita with three spreads. The tapendade was good, the goat cheese was better and the red pepper hummus (I think it was hummus) was stellar! The Visit them at: http://www.indiancreekhotel.com/index.html.

My Trip to Miami Part One!

So, after almost two years I made it back to Miami for a visit. Well a work related conference. The Creative Suite Conference no less... for all of you that are intrested in Graphic Design.... spend the money and GO to this conference. Visit them at http://barrycon.com/

Anyway after learning all I could at the conference, I got to enjoy being in the heart of Miami Beach and I do love the beach!
and the Art Deco Buildings! I also got to see a ton of the family; the brother with the broken jaw; all the Aunts, Uncles and Cousins and in addition to the family, I also got mediocre food with really great entertainment and Macarena's And then the EVERGLADES... I love the Everglades in the winter!

So that is a sampling of blogs to come...I was going to post pics but blogger and Safari are not playing nice at the moment. I promise I will tell you a story or two in blogs to come and there are lots of PICS!