Archive for September, 2007

HCwDB, a primer

Thursday, September 27th, 2007

If you’ve already stumbled across the absolutely horrific/amazing car crash of plastic beauties and the worst dudes ever, known as hotchickswithdouchebags.com, then I imagine some of the following images will not be new to you. If you’re not famliar with the site, then be prepared to have your corneas scarred for all eternity. I spent some quality time with the site yesterday, and laughed more than I have in a long time.

The concept is that people wade through the muck and mire of myspace, facebook, and other photo sites in search of the greasiest, nastiest, most mind melting douche bags, juxtaposed alongside sexy, scantily clad, heavily made up ladies and send the photos to the site’s editor, who posts the photos with his commentary. The editor’s idea of “hot chick” seriously differs from mine, though his radar for douche bags is second to none. Over the brief period of the site’s life, he has developed a stringent set of rules that define a douche bag, and has single-handedly introduced a new nomenclature to classify the different douches.


This is Cro-’bagnon, who inspired a rash of haikus from readers, my favorite being from The Douche of Earl:
No fake ‘n bake, that.
Mandana usurped by gel.
Love your geico ads.

Pictures go up constantly, and an increasingly growing number of readers and commenters have joined the HCwDB democratic society, helping to name the douchebag, his arm candy, and pointing out what makes the photo particularly douchey. Each week a vote is made, and a douche is elevated to the status of “Douche Bag of the Week.” At the end of the month all the ‘bags are pitted against each other, and a new “Douche Bag of the Month” is crowned.


Here’s Donkey Douche. His purple lips, absurdly orange skin, open necked shirt complete with fake dog tags, and ludicrous tough face made him a popular favorite from his first appearance. He ascended quickly from ‘bag of the week to ‘bag of the month, crescendoing with a coveted position in The Douchebag Hall of Fame.


“Warthog” is a personal favorite of mine, though he was never able to crack ‘bag of the week status, despite possessing many classic hallmarks of the douche bag. Check the Jesus bling, mandana, guyliner, bleached hair, orange skin and shiny shirt. He’s got everything going for him.


These two, like The Warthog before them, did not go far, but I find them to be particularly hilarious. Seriously, just look at those faces. The greasy dude on the right has by far the most amazing set of follicles and plugs I saw on the whole site, and the rock horns of his companion speak volumes.

And then there was The Trainwreck, the douche that everyone could agree on.


Words cannot do this man justice.

So instead I’m going to give the last word to someone who I believe is a true “hot chick,” Joanna Newsom. Joanna, what do you make of all this?

On bridges

Sunday, September 23rd, 2007

After receiving a bike in the mail I was quickly reminded that some of my best thinking happens when I’m exloring new areas, such as Queens.


Here’s the esb from the Pulaski Bridge, which connects Brooklyn to Queens.

I rode around without any destination in mind, and eventually found myself on the Queensborough bridge, which about halfway across I realized was headed for Manhattan.


It was near this point that it became very obvious I was not going to Brooklyn.

I rode on and tried to find a bike path along the water. It took me awhile, but eventually I found it. I took this down to the Williamsburg bridge:

And then made my home.

Night Sky

Wednesday, September 12th, 2007

Last night I found myself atop an old abandoned building in Brooklyn, staring out across the East River at one of the most amazing views of Manhattan I’ve ever seen.


Photos by my friend Dan.

To get to this spot, Dan led me on a path through a hole in two fences, along a three foot wide ledge, then up a gigantic staircase that led to the roof.

Conscionable

Tuesday, September 11th, 2007

Recently, Chelsea Peretti, one third of the comedienne coven variety shac, started a series on superdeluxe exploring her failed relationships called “All My Exes,” that, after two episodes, is now one of my favorites. I highly recommend watching these (nsfw language).



Hollywood doesn’t like liars

Monday, September 10th, 2007

It appears my finding output in New York is not just limited to photos, clothes hampers, and “Inside the Actor’s Studio” vhs tapes. While walking home from the grocery store, I saw a familiar fro lurking in a pile of trash.


It was a perfectly playable telesync bootleg of “Knocked Up,” and the quality was surprisingly good. Here’s a screenshot:

I could get used to this. The humidity here, on the other hand, is not something I’m used to. It’s so oppressive that it’s raining outside and I am sweating inside (literally).

Lost and Found

Friday, September 7th, 2007

While walking by Prospect Park I discovered this photo:

And yesterday, while on a trip to Foodswings (vegan fast food!), this photo crossed my path:

A week ago I found a hamper full of clothes hangers, both items I was in need of:

Inside the hamper were some videotapes. Not in my wildest dreams would I have guessed that they would be editor’s copies of “Inside the Actor’s Studio” with Juliette Binoche and Kathy Bates, but that’s exactly what they were:

And here’s some pics from the last week:


Prospect Park


You couldn’t even see the city from certain spots.


The peppermint building

Celeb Count: 2

Tuesday, September 4th, 2007

In the spirit of Gawker Stalker, I give you my recent sightings:


Jemaine Clement
172 Bedford Ave.
From the best show currently on television. Was shorter and older looking than on television, rocking a lot of grey hairs in his lengthy sideburns. Walked by him, we locked eyes, then both looked away. Am currently kicking myself for not telling him how much I like the show and doing my Murray impression (”Jemaine, come in”). Seemed very humble.


Todd Solondz
Washington Square Park
About 10:45 at night and the director of “Welcome to the Dollhouse” was walking around by himself, looking dazed. Was tempted to call him “weiner dog.” Seemed very weird.

Red Lobster

Sunday, September 2nd, 2007

At every subway stop in New York I’m greeted by the beaming, beatific, well-coiffed vision of reality TV star Tim Gunn. Bravo has plastered Gunn’s visage from Brooklyn to Broadway to promote his upcoming television show, and I for one couldn’t be more pleased. Tim’s familiar face has proven to be a source of solace as I’ve attempted to navigate New York’s labyrinthine subway system, and this slightly altered ad made me laugh out loud, despite the fact that they misspelled Andrae’s name.

Yesterday, as I was carting my belongings to the 4th Ave stop, a rail thin Latino man in obscenely short shorts sashayed his way towards me, barking at what appeared to be a caretaker/companion by his side. While his clownish, hip shaking gait could be spotted from nearly a mile away, it was the booming, bull-frog like voice emanating from his larynx that came to define him. Imagine if Tom Waits and Mario Cantone somehow spawned a child and you still wouldn’t come close to the horrific sounds this man produced. As he walked by a child, he pointed a spindly finger in its face and laughed, a sort of modern day Cruella DeVille with a flamingly homosexual twist.

I thought that I was done with this man, but as I was leaning against my luggage waiting for the train, I heard his unmistakable voice echoing from a nearby staircase. He emerged red-faced, and took a beeline for an empty seat next to a Latino father and his children. Throughout this whole time he was spewing forth a non-stop mix of Spanish and English. One of the kids just sat there, mouth agape, staring at the man like he was a monster. Then a Thai homosexual couple entered his line of sight and he stopped his incessant chattering and began sizing them up. They noticed his lecherous gaze and moved to another area. The man whispered excitedly to his companion, “Chinas locas!” and then called after them, “Where are you going sweeties?”

The train finally arrived and we all got on. At the next stop the Thai couple exited the train at a full gallop as a discordant, disembodied voice yelled, “You couldn’t handle me!”

Later in the day, I was waiting for the G train to arrive and a Mexican family sat on the bench next to me. The daughter, about three, would not stop crying and the mother would not stop yelling “cállate” at her. Their call and response went on for what seemed like ten minutes.

Finally, the mother led the little girl behind a nearby trash can and the crying stopped. I couldn’t figure out what was going on until I heard the unmistakable sound of trickling water and noticed a yellow puddle slowly oozing out from behind the trash can.

Today I travel on foot.