David Remnick Quote on Vladimir Putin

From his Talk of the Town piece in the 8/26/13 New Yorker, which focuses on the current and terrible state of affairs in Egypt -

"What is Vladimir Putin if not the scowling visage of history, a secret policeman who mocks the earnest ambitions of liberty?"

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Bryan Daniel Working With an IBL Photograph

My original photo appeared in these very pages earlier this week, on 8/25/13.  Very pleased with what Bryan did with it.  I prefer it to the original...

To see another alteration of Bryan's in these very pages, please revisit an entry from a year ago, 8/25/12...

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A Photo By Peeber

You start drinking the IBL Kool Aid you too will see crosses everywhere...

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"My Life Would Make A Damn Good Country Song"

Original IBL art - crayon and lipstick on paper, 12 x 9 inches, 8/18/13.

Oh this just popped into my head, it did, and I'd like to do one much larger than this, maybe 4x as large or in that neighborhood.  But I wanted to get a sense of what it might look like on something bigger than a coaster or cocktail napkin.  And now I know.

Tim Tebow Is Left-Handed

I only recently discovered this fact and it pleases me way more than it should, I have to say.  Our crack IBL research team tells me that Satan is often portrayed as being left-handed.  A cautionary tale? That's not for me to say.  I just hope Mr. Tebow minds the company he keeps, that's all...

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(Untitled)

An original IBL photograph taken August 20th, 2013, sidewalk in front of Quarter Lounge, First Hill, Seattle.

(Untitled)

An original IBL photograph taken August 21st, 2013, alley, High Point, Seattle.

Benoit, S (17)

"NW Corner of NE 55th St. and 43rd Ave. NE, Seattle, WA"

An original IBL photograph taken August 22, 2013, in Seattle.

Last Night - Veras, S (1)

And, yes, it WAS a cheap save, no doubt about it.  And, also, he had 19 saves when he was on the Astros earlier this year.  But I'm only tracking the Tigers' saves here, so bear with me...

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Kate Glahn at the Little Red Hen

So I found this picture in my phone the other evening and, you know, why wouldn't I give a great big IBL shout-out to Kate Glahn, one of the loveliest people Danielle and I have ever had the pleasure to meet.  We hadn't seen Kate in ten years at least, maybe a bit more, when we were still living in San Francisco and she came out to visit.  This snap of Kate bellied up to the bar at Little Red Hen in Green Lake, Seattle is from March of this year.  She was here on business and we were only with her for about an hour, but a great hour it was, and has lead to a lovely re-connect...

Cheers to you, Kate Glahn...

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Clyde and Your Humble Narrator at the Little Red Hen

One night last week Danielle and I were in the Little Red Hen, Green Lake, Seattle (yes, I know - shocking), when a regular named Charlie stopped by with his cousin Clyde and Clyde's son Jon, both visiting from Denver.  It was their last night in town, and also Jon's birthday.  Over some Wild Turkey and cold beer we learned that Jon was very interested in relocating to the Pacific Northwest.  He was also quite taken with the Hen, and I imagine likely to become something of a regular himself if he were to move.  Obviously, Danielle and I encourage this kind of activity whole-heartedly.

At one point in the evening Clyde said to Jon, "Hey, get a picture with me and Michael."  Jon obliged, then forwarded it to me.  Little Red Hen - the gift that keeps on giving...

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Keith Olbermann on Gay Marriage

Because, on occasion, I think it's nice to revisit this fine piece.  Ah, but then you know about us already, don't you - we're the Everybody In, Nobody Out crowd.  Well, that's what comes from being raised a good Christian, I guess...

Keith Olbermann on gay marriage...

Standing on the side of love, we remain, humbly...

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Cory Booker

Danielle and I rarely give money to political candidates, opting to go with social services agencies instead.  That being said, we made an exception this year and sent a few dollars to Cory Booker, mayor of Newark, New Jersey, who three days ago won the Democratic primary and hopes to become the next senator from the Garden State.  Mr. Booker is smart and fuck all charming, he cares about poor families and supports equality pretty much across the board.  Haven't read anything negative about him (though I'm sure something's out there).  He also, as part of his day, might shovel snow off an elderly couple's sidewalk or, you know, run into a burning building to save somebody.  And, as if that wasn't enough, he's currently consulting on a fresco restoration project at the Sistine Chapel, because that's just the kind of guy he is...

In any event, we here at Infection By Light were proud to support Mr. Booker's campaign, and wish him well in the final election...

Everybody in, nobody out...

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Benoit, S (16)

Benoit, S (15)

"Copper Hen"

An original IBL photograph taken late July, 2013, at Little Red Hen, Green Lake, Seattle.

18 Year Old Israel Hernandez Tasered to Death by F-L-A Police

No, he likely should not have been spray painting that empty McDonald's - it was not his property to do so.  Yes, he probably should have complied with police commands and surrendered.  On the other hand, it's not like the police in this country have a spotless reputation for absolute courtesy when making arrests (especially with regard to non-white suspects), so maybe that was in his mind, who knows.  Or maybe he was just frightened.  In any event, the bottom line, to me, is this - whatever procedures the police are using are NOT working correctly when an 18 year old kid with NO weapons is spray painting a VACANT building and does not confront the police, he heads the opposite direction, and somehow manages to wind up dead.  I mean let's say he was charged with a crime, some type of vandalism - I'm pretty sure the sentence wouldn't have been Tasered To Death (though this is Florida; har).  What I'd like to believe is that, right now, at least one of those officers is saying, "It wasn't that big of a deal - why didn't we just let him go?" Too late for Mr. Hernandez, of course...

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Onward, Cowboy...

LAST NIGHT OH YES - Benoit, S (14)

Benoit, S (13)

Down 2-0 entering the 9th in Cleveland (the team right behind them in the standings), the Tigers come up with a 4-spot off the Indians' ace closer, capped off by Alex Avila's opposite field three run jack.  Me? I like it...

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"My Name Is Rio"

Original IBL art - ink and lipstick on Sorrento Hotel note paper, 5.5 x 4.25 inches, 8/2/13.

George Jones Playing Cards

Why yes I did get George Jones playing cards in the mail a couple weeks back from Geoffrey Bankowski.  I must be living life right...

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Last Night - Benoit, S (12)

Baby Isaac Came to Town...

... along with his parents Raul and Liz.  Isaac is five months old, and it was a pleasure to make his acquaintance.  (He also REALLY liked my hair.)  Photo by Danielle...

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Benoit, S (11)

"Do You Remember", Cumulus

On 3/30/13 in these very pages I described meeting three exceptionally charming Seattleites on election night in a bar on Capitol Hill.  All three play live music; one of the three, Alex, is in Cumulus.  Danielle and I were pleased to support the Cumulus Kickstarter campaign Mark Baumgarten of the Seattle Weekly describes in his short piece a bit further down the scroll (7/30/13).  Following this paragraph, please find a link to the gorgeous song and the equally gorgeous video.  Cheers to Alex and everybody else in Cumulus on their full length debut...

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Video for Do You Remember...

Only a few months ago, Alexandra Niedzialkowski and her Cumulus bandmates launched a Kickstarter with a charming video, in which they all cook omelettes and ask for money to help put the finishing touches on the band’s debut full-length, previously recorded at Phil Elverum’s Anacortes studio, the Unknown.

Since then the band met its goal, got picked up by Chris Walla’s Atlantic imprint, Trans Records, and apparently filmed one of the most impressive music videos I’ve seen this year for quick sing-along single “Do You Remember.” As you can see above, the genius of the video is all about light, and the song is fittingly bright with Niedzialkowski whoa-oh-oh-ing between verses lamenting the loss of youth. “Do you remember when young meant invincible,” she sings, and you melt.