This is for my Homies

I have begun to delve into the world of photoshop, this is my first project. This was inspired by M.F.J. Coleski  who is the H.M.F.I.C from H.I.  to N.Y.C.

Who the hell can read when Season 2 is just around the corner?

Roq La Rue is the best gallery ever

OK, maybe I need to see more galleries before I make that bold proclamation, but it is pretty fucking cool. I was in there last night for a show of Travis Louie, who asks the question; What do monsters do on their day off?

                                        They dress up and take Victorian style portraits. like gentlemen.

The Library is No Place for Stoners.

If M.C. Escher and Stanley Kubrick had a a baby and then fed that baby a radioactive plutonium rod then it would be the Seattle downtown public library. I just  ventured there today and wandered around it like a lost child. The escalator to the top made my synapses explode leaving me with only one thought; how the hell can people read in here?
i had gone to the library with intent, with a purpose. I wanted to better myself, but instead was distracted by the dizzying view of the lobby from the perch on the top floor.
Any way I am on board for the cannonball read this summer and am trying to get a solid book list together. I already plowed through two books by Chuck Palahniuk that were supposed to be on my list. What can I say I am a premature reader; always have been and I am comfortable with it. I need to go to the small more conservative library in Ballard.

Einstein Optical Illusion

Another open post, this time hosted by Einstein's inside-out face.  Which is just like his regular face.  Because you can't even tell and I'm like, WOAH.

Watch this magnet blob eat a cube of metal.

DUDE.

This is Gentlemanly: Quit Smoking

I am so absolutely goddam friggin' lucky that, at 14, when my terribly impressionable mind and unreasonably pure bloodstream was first introduced to nicotine, I wasn't introduced to heroin instead of cigarettes.  I'd likely be dead by now, if the tenacity and intensity of my addiction to cigarettes serves as a model of my addiction behavior.

This Is Gentlemanly: Learn A Language

I'm working on my German.  When I was a kid, I went to German school.  We spoke in German, learned things like math and science in German, and generally just spoke friggin' German.  Hence the moniker "German school."  I learned Spanish in high school, enough so that when I eventually moved to Washington Heights after college, I could get along in my neighborhood with a small shred of dignity intact.  I took German in college, and it absolutely mystified me.  It's a tough language.  It never really stuck.  Anyway, so I've been using duolingo to try to do my ancestors proud.  Gentlemen, perhaps you've got a knowledge of fine wine and fabrics with a high thread count, the finest in hipster music and a penchant for history's more interesting moments.  Want to bed that feller or lady, though?  Foreign language, bitches.  Work that brain.       

Spoken poetry and cheap wine. What could possibly go wrong?

Even this bottle has to lay down and take a nap at the idea of enduring a night of poetry and wine. 

You know what?  A lot could go wrong.  A lot.  Back in NYC, I went to the Nuyorican Poets Cafe poetry slam more than a handful of times, fancying myself some kind of New York Intellectual who

Sunday Gentlemanly Pursuits.

It's simple, but it's true: a clean house is a gentlemanly thing to have. I enjoy Unfuck Your Habitat as a motivational reminder because reading it reminds me of just how much of a lazy ass broad I am. Here I come, dishes.

This Translucent Gentleman Steals The Body of A Jellyfish And Uses It As A Mobile Home

I think the salient takeaway from this video is that the deep sea is full of jelly, ass-produced laser light shows, and thieving shrimp.

Power Pop for Faith, Heartbreak and Restoration

This is one of my favorite playlists right now.  I was reminded of it when I heard "September Gurls" by Big Star at The Wandering Goose today.

The Gentlemen's Summer Reading Room

Andy and I prepare for The Gentlemen's Summer Reading Room by visiting our local Half Price Books.

Greetings Fellow Gentlemen!  Here in Seattle we actually had the spring sun shining today, which leads me to (falsely) believe that the toasty days of summer are just around the corner!  A few weeks ago, while discussing our reading lists, I was reminded of one of my favorite yearly events, Pajiba's Cannonball Read.  Basically, a bunch of very talented bloggers read 100 books in one year and commit to writing about each one.  Since our day jobs keep us occupied for more hours in the day than we'd like, we've whittled the concept down for the clubhouse to a mini summer version, The Gentlemen's Summer Reading Room.  Three months, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and eight books.  Write about each book you read on your Facebook page, blog, heck, you can tweet about them if you prefer.  There are a few ground rules:

1.  Each book must contain WORDS (I'm looking at you, World War I Photography book), and at least 100 pages of them.

2.  Books read in the Reading Room must be new to you - you mustn't have read them previously.

3.  You can read fiction, non-fiction, textbooks, self-help, whatever you want.

4.  Write about what you've read, and then let us know by hitting us up here at the Clubhouse.  We like 750words.com, if you're looking for an online diary sort of thing for this.

5.  Once a month for the duration of the Reading Room, we'll get together and talk about what we've read and also a bunch of other unrelated stuff because talking is awesome.

So there you have it.  Borrow, buy or scavenge up eight books and all of your prep work is done.  Get ready for a summer of cultivating your giant brain!      

Welcome to The Gentlemen's Betterment Society.

Look at this handsome-ass gentleman, wouldya.

Welcome to the Gentlemen's Betterment Society Clubhouse.  Our mission is to enhance the gentlemanliness of our members by experiencing cultural activities with like-minded individuals.  Through these actions, we aim to gain knowledge, skill, charm and grace. The Gentlemen's Betterment Society is an open membership group for both women and men that requires only a willingness to participate.  Group activities are to be chosen by members and participation is optional.  We value honesty, open-mindedness, creativity, and above all, classy behavior.

So what does that all mean?  Well, it's worth mentioning that we like to look good like our friend Peter Venkman up there.  We will always take the opportunity to compliment another gentleman on his or her sense of style or grace - gotta bring each other up, it's just what we do.  We're readers.  We're going to spend time talking about books.  We work to educate ourselves in the areas of science, linguistics, art, humanitarian endeavors, culture and history.  We will not be discussing politics at the clubhouse.  Wrong blog if that's what you came for.  We drink.  We converse.  We listen.  We fancy unique pursuits.  In fact, as we speak, our Gentlemen's Sporting department is finalizing the details on fencing lessons for our members.  But most of all, we look every day for another chance to better ourselves, and our main focus will be on that.      

We are just tickled pink to be opening the doors to the clubhouse today.  Here at GBS, we are constantly striving for ways to better ourselves.  Later tonight, we'll be announcing our inaugural activity, the Gentlemen's Summer Reading Room.  Our Board of Directors will be posting here at the clubhouse periodically, sharing knowledge, news, planned activities, drunken musings both fictional and non-, recipes, shaving tips and all of the other trappings of a True Gentleman.  So grab your finest brandy, slip into your comfiest smoking jacket and relax a while... you're in good company.