Moscow's First Gay Pride Parade

While Memorial Day was celebrated here over the weekend, a holiday on which we remember and honor the servicemen and women who have fought for our freedoms, in Moscow a group of daring activists managed to stage the first Gay Pride Parade.  Unlike New York's parade goes on for five hours plus, this parade lasted about 10 minutes.  But that was a huge step forward considered the history of such events there recently. 


The city of Moscow's police and politicians have been incredibly hostile to gays and lesbians in recent years and all previous attempts to stage a Pride Parade have been disbanded, some ending in violence.  But on Saturday, a group of roughly 30 determined gays and lesbians, evaded the police and, through the magic of digital video and the Internet, you can watch their brave and determined efforts below.  This dramatic video  is from the Band of Thebes blog and there is is full coverage at Towleroad with more photos and behind-the-scenes videos.


I've often heard people here in the city bitch and moan about the Gay Pride Parade....that it's too long, it's too flamboyant, and, as someone recently tried to explain to me, it's "unnecessary". For those who wonder why we still march on gay pride day, this is a stark reminder that the fight for equality goes on.

Justin Bieber and Jeremy Renner for MTV

This is a funny little promo for next Sunday's MTV Movie Awards which makes fun of 3D, Justin Bieber and Jeremy Renner all at once.  

MTV Shows

Mapping the NYC Subway System

After more than 10 years, a new version of the NYC Subway Map is coming out next month.  There is a write-up in today's TIMES talking about the changes to the new map; Manhattan is 30 percent wider, no more weekend schedule info (which was often wrong), less detail on bus connections.  But overall, the map sticks with the approach the MTA took starting in the late 1970s, after years of complaints about the iconic and somewhat modernist map by Massimo Vegnelli (pictured here).


Of course, this being the age of the Internet, the MTA does not have the last word on it's own maps anymore.  There is a competing map, downloadable to your iPhone, which has more than 250,000 fans of it's somewhat retro approach.  Using the Vegnelli design as a starting point, the Kick Map goes back to the future while also adding some of the more familiar surface references too, like streets and landmarks.  In fact, it's an admitted compromise between the two warring map factions.


In some ways, it is curious that NYC is the only major US city that takes the topographical approach.  The argument is that there needs to be a more direct connection to the street because there are so many tourists and new arrivals from all over the world.  However, tourist-stricken Washington DC has stuck with it's own modernist map since the system debuted in 1976.  Despite the MTA's improvements, I think the Kick Map has got the right idea for clarity and ease of use.  Now all I need is an iPhone....

Whitney Biennial Pulls 3 All-Niters

Starting at midnight last night, the Whitney Museum will be open 24 hours a day until Friday at midnight.  It's the final days of the museum's Biennial exhibit, featuring the work of more than 100 artists.  


The all-niter concept was the work of an artist too: Los Angeles conceptual artist Michael Asher. His art consists of altering the hours of operations of museums and other institutions....really.  So he made the proposal to have the Whitney be open for a whole week but the museum couldn't afford the staff for that sort of operation so they cut it down to three days.  Still, it should be a unique experience to stop by the museum at 4am to see the latest the art world has to offer.  And admission is pay what you want. 

NetPix: The Men Who Stare At Goats

Last November, a weird little movie called "The Men Who Stare At Goats" was released in the annual run up to awards season.  Unfortunately, it didn't hit with audiences or critics.  It had a A-list cast (George Clooney, Kevin Spacey, Ewan McGregor, Jeff Bridges) with a  Z-list premise; a story about the history of pysch-ops in the U.S. Army from the 1970s to the war in Iraq.  Not exactly the stuff that Oscar dreams are made of. 

However, I'm happy to report this quirky little movie is a real treat.  It tells a mostly true story about the bizarre goings-on in the post-Vietnam era Army which led to the formation of a unit of so-called Jedi warriors who thought they could win battles with their minds.  Apparently, President Ronald Reagan was such a fan of their "work" that he kept the unit going even after it hit some seriously Congressional skepticism.  

As for the movie, it's kinda like a very modern Bing Crosby-Bob Hope road movie....On The Road to Baghdad. It has a certain shaggy dog charm and is surprisingly entertaining.  Expertly directed by first-timer Grant Heslow, the film follows a journalist (played by McGregor) and a former Army psychic kook (played by Clooney) as they make their way from Kuwait into the war zone.  It's all inspired by the true story of the Army's pysch-ops as reported by Jon Ronson in his 2004 book .

The best thing I can say about this movie is that I had absolutely no clue where it was all going, which is a total rarity in mainstream American filmmaking these days.  The movie is filled with surprises, and laughs and even some genuine emotion.  It's also beautifully shot by cinematographer Roger Elswit, who has made some stunning images for many of Paul Thomas Anderson's movies. And yes....George Clooney does kill a goat by staring at it.  He also kills the audience too.  Is there any role this guy cannot handle?    

LOST and The Final Episode Conundrum

There is an inherent problem with final episodes of TV shows--they usually suck.  OK, so maybe that is a gross generalization but seriously, can you think of a final episode that was universally loved?  Maybe the wrap-up for "The Mary Tyler Moore" show, but that was what....almost 40 years ago?  Since then its been a history of train wreck swan songs....from "Seinfeld" to "Sex and The City" to "Will and Grace".  


Anyway, as LOST fans bitch and moan this week about questions answered, unanswered and essentially ignored (not to mention the big dopey reveal at the end), I have to say that the problem is not with LOST itself but with the way American television operates.  I say American because in the UK, where series usually don't last more than 2 or 3 six-episode seasons (other than Dr. Who & East Enders).  Their system works beautifully because the shows are more like mini-series.  But series creators in the UK don't have to deal in the harsh capitalism that drives American broadcasting.  Here, if a show is a success, it must then run for at least 5 seasons so there are enough episodes for syndication.  Then, once a show is generating so much cash it's hard for the network to turn that faucet off so shows often outlive their premises by many years.  For example, "Friends" was fresh and funny for about 3 years...but by season 10?  It was staler than 10 year old bread. 


The essential nature of American TV shows is that you get to hang out with the same group of characters week after week and nothing really changes.  Witness the success of "The Simpsons" going strong after 20 years.  But, if a series has to end, that is often a massive change which often forces shows to operate totally outside their comfort zone.  Remember the mawkish finale of "MASH"?  It was so far removed from the average, hilarious episode that it might as well have been another series entirely.  


One show I can think of which had a beautiful ending lasted only 13 episodes; Judd Apatow's 80's flashback "Freaks and Geeks".  Apatow knew the show was doomed so he was able to craft a final episode that worked and still felt like an episode of "Freaks and Geeks".  As for the LOST team, they knew they were doomed in an opposite way. They admitted that they had no grand scheme for the show when it started so when it became a worldwide mega-hit, they, like their characters, got stuck on that island for five more years than they had planned.  So, like most TV writers, they have been making it up as they went along and I mean that in a good way.  They were very creative and clever as they turned 13 episodes into 113.  So I'd cut them a little slack on number 114.

Animation Ad for Olympus Cameras

This is a really extraordinary animated ad for Olympus digital cameras that was supposedly made with images shot on an Olympus.  Even though it's essential a commercial for Olympus it's a cleverly conceived and beautifully made film.  I wonder how long it took to film....one very sunny day or multiple, equally sunny days.  There wasn't much info on the video at YouTube other than the details that 355 pictures were printed to make it and the director is guy named Takeuchi Taljin.  Enjoy!  

Goldfrappe's Awesome New Video: Goths v. Spandex

A good friend of mine who knows my taste for 80's Spandex, glitter and all things Xanadu sent me this new Goldrappe video yesterday which is totally awesome.  It's a battle to the death between aerobics instructors lead by a messianic ONJ figure with a massive blonde, vintage perm.  Needless to say Spandex wins as her feather-haired minions turn into glittery vampires after being zapped by faux Olivia's animated Xanadu-esque neon beams.  Genius!  And the song's not too bad either....  ;)

Worst Sexy Album Covers Of All Time

This is a funny feature from Cracked.com.  Remember Cracked magazine?  It was MAD for teenagers back in the day.  Except I thought it had gone the way of glitter iron-on tees.  I didn't know it was still around.  And maybe it isn't.  Except for this website. 


But the list they've compiled here is very funny and has some astounding images in very bad taste. You have been warned.  Semi-NSFW.

Gentlemen, Start Your Tunnel Boring Machine

More than 6 stories underneath 2nd avenue, a massive 50 ton Tunnel Boring Machine has started its slow march south from 92nd Street to 63rd.  The link above to Second Avenue Sagas has some great pics and video that Ben shot at the official ceremony last Friday.

I've posted before about the Launch Box for the TBM and now, it's on its way....chewing up a dozen yards of earth a day as it makes it's 30 block journey south.  The downtown tunnel will arrive at 63rd Street in December of 2011 and then they will go back and do the uptown tunnel.  Trains will be running in 2016 and, of course, we'll believe that when we see it.  But this is a huge step forward in the long-delayed expansion of the NYC subway.