Michael Williams, RIP
A moment of silence, please, for Judi Dench's late husband, who died on Thursday after a battle with lung cancer.
Saturday, January 13, 2001 11:16 a.m.

crush.nu
Is there anything better, more delicious than a crush? Maybe a root beer flavoured sno-cone, but it's a tough call. After years of struggling with crushes that never went anywhere, I realized that this is the very point of crushes: they are supposed to be all potential and no follow-through. The satisfaction is found not in some dramatic confession of feeling and the discovery that one's crush object kinda, sorta likes you, too, but in the simple act of harbouring those feelings, nurturing them like forced flower bulbs that you never intend to plant outside. Words at crush.nu are by Christine, who you may know from maganda, and Lisa, who is new to me, but maybe not to you. The design is by the famously romantic Jack, and lovely drawings are provided by my main art crush, Claire. Read it. It'll do your sarcastic, secretly sappy heart good.
Thursday, January 11, 2001 06:31 p.m.

crushes, crushes everywhere!
Now that I've found crush.nu, I'm seeing them everywhere I look. Even rug is afflicted. In a good way, of course.
Thursday, January 11, 2001 06:30 p.m.

Bonnie Cashin Designs

I really have to send a big thank-you to Enokiworld for introducing me to the late Miss Cashin, and for providing me with peeks at her designs. Here's a wool felt and leather skirt, and here's another simple yet luxe skirt, this one in mahogany lambskin, lined in silk crepe de Chine. Yum. This classic trench screams sophistication, while this handbag, designed for Coach, is just too adorable for words.
Thursday, January 11, 2001 06:18 p.m.

619-239-KING
Ok, one more Elvis link. 619-239-KING (now the number of a law firm in San Diego, I think) is a song by Mojo Nixon and Skid Roper. You may remember them from such fine musical offerings as "Debbie Gibson Is Pregnant With My 2-Headed Love Child" and "Don Henley Must Die". They're funny guys. Back when the song first came out, you could actually call 619-239-KING (now enjoying a new incarnation as the telephone number of a San Diego business establishment) and hear Mojo's brief, hilarious message, which ended with an otherworldly howl along the lines of, "I feel neurotic, psychotic, and SPAZmodic! Talk to me, speak to me, TELL me where the King is, Yeeaaah!"
Wednesday, January 10, 2001 02:15 p.m.

Celebrate (Belatedly) With Elvis
It was The King's 66th birthday on Monday. I missed that memo. Thank goodness, then, for the Saucy Folklorist, who is on top of these things! She sent me the above link to the (un)Official Elvis Homepage. It's a true treasure trove of info.
If that's not enough Elvis for you, look no farther than the truly awesome catalogue of Archie McPhee to cater to your needs. Are you a gambling (wo)man? You may want to invest in a set of Elvis Impersonator Cards. These fine playing cards each feature one of 54 impersonators, who keep the King alive through their creative reinterpretations of his messages of hip shakin', fine fashion, and true showmanship.
Let's say you're more of a purist, though. In that case, you might be more interested in The Elvis Collection, which is basically a big box of King memorabilia. This product takes an historical approach, presenting Elvis swag from his humble beginnings through "the grand finale days of sequins and jumpsuits." A must for the true fan.
Wednesday, January 10, 2001 01:57 p.m.

Vic-tory, Baby!
The good people of Georgia decided last March to honour the cultural and musical contributions of Mr. Vic Chestnutt. You can read the resolution here. I haven't heard his music yet; he always seems to be on my List of Singers I Should Check Out But Always Forget Once I'm At The Record Store. (Thanks for the link, Marcus!) Speaking of Vic Chestnutt, now would be a good time to alert you fine folks to whatsername's highly selective and always entertaining links liked by me. She tends to update in stealth mode, so either check back frequently, or sign up for her fab notify list, workbook.
Wednesday, January 10, 2001 01:51 p.m.

Aaaagh! My Eyes!
Via Matt, who seems to be getting his silly on of late. Hee.
Wednesday, January 10, 2001 01:49 p.m.

Oscar Watch 2001
No, the nominations haven't been released yet. I just like to get an early start. If you're curious about where, exactly, Frances McDormand stands as a contender in the Best Supporting Actress race for her two lovely performances in Wonder Boys and Almost Famous, you could check up her stats, which change daily. It's a pretty cool feature for the obsessed.
Tuesday, January 9, 2001 09:38 a.m.

Steven Soderbergh Interview
It's no secret that I love Steven Soderbergh. Well, more accurately, I love his movies. The man has been on a serious hot streak ever since Out of Sight, with The Limey, Erin Brockovich, and the recent, accolade laden Traffic as very worthy follow-ups. Every single one of these films has been a cinematic gem - tautly paced, well acted, beautifully shot, and crackling with real emotion. If you click on the link above, you will hear a fantastic interview of Soderbergh, conducted by the equally amazing Terry Gross, of NPR's Fresh Air. She asks the best, most interesting questions. Maybe if this whole librarian thing doesn't work out, I can apprentice myself to her.
Tuesday, January 9, 2001 09:28 a.m.

Levi-Strauss Does The A-List Tribe
Not the jeans manufacturer, the anthropologist. This article isn't new, but it's quite amusing, and it also provides a round-up of the Year In Celebrity Gossip. The method to the madness? It's an ethnographic approach to the mating habits and rituals of Hollywood's A-List Tribe. Hee.
Tuesday, January 9, 2001 09:25 a.m.

Russel Wright
This month's featured article at Space has Matt's name all over it, baby. Mmm, minimalist dishware. But there's not enough photos accompanying this article - I want more graphics, dammit! Give me my vintage design porn!
Monday, January 8, 2001 08:57 a.m.

Lynda Barry On Hiatus
She's roadtripping and novel-writing. Bon Voyage, Lynda! I'll be checking the mailbox obsessively for that postcard from the road.
Monday, January 8, 2001 08:55 a.m.

Victorian Sex Cry Generator
How can I resist? Via pearls.
Monday, January 8, 2001 08:54 a.m.

New York Times Magazine Appreciation Issue
This is consistently one of the best issues of the NYT Magazine - it's always full of well-written, thoughtful elegies to people who contributed something to the world -- culturally, politically, scientifically, artistically, -- and who have died in the last year. When the articles are good - as in the cases of those written about Julie London, Barbara Cartland, Bonnie Cashin, Gwen Verdon, or Wayne McAllister - they are inspiring. I want to learn more about Cashin's designs, London's vocal technique, McAllister's architectural training. I want to blow up that portrait of Barbara Cartland and hang it in the back of my closet so I can peek at its insane, over-the-top pinkness whenever I want and shut the door on it immediately afterwards. But who told James Ellroy that he still has the goods? His piece on Marilyn Monroe stalker guy Milo Speriglio is five kinds of shrek. Is he trying to parody his patented, hard-boiled LA-speak? Because it reads like a one-page example of every annoying writerly tic you're supposed to avoid. Feh.
Monday, January 8, 2001 08:51 a.m.