Author Archives: bicyclemark

Je crois que j’ai jamais commenc? un blog en Fran?ais. Donc voila, la premiere foi, m?me si vous ne comprenez pas. – Hugh inspired me with his blog opening in French, and therefore despite my poor spelling (in all my languages) I thought it would be a nice change of pace. Another change of pace is that I’m blogging from DeBalie, the electronically hip cultural space in Leidseplein, Amsterdam. I’ll sit here for hours, considering I just spent 5 euro of apple juice and pie. I see nothing wrong with eating both together, you can never overdo apple.

So before I go OLYMPic, I should first discuss the good governor’s resignation in my home state of New Jersey. First off, it’s true that I’m a bit out of the loop with New Jersey news. I spend so much time reading newspapers from all over the world, chatting with Blondebutbight, and trying to clean the white tiles of the kitchen floor, that I don’t notice much on the New Jersey font. Still I do know quite a bit about Jim McGreevey and I’ve always felt the last governor pretty much booby-trapped the job with budget troubles before he arrived. I guess it could also be, as the D-Rock has pointed out, that McGreevey has been surrounded by scandal since the start. My only thought about this whole thing is that he should not have resigned, at least not yet. I feel that this story will be remembered as “McGreevey announces he’s gay and resigns.” Thereby legitimizing being gay as a reason someone cannot hold office. A simple yet effective way to set civil rights back a decade or two. I would have much preferred that he announce he’s gay and stay in office, bearing the brunt of whatever charges or troubles loomed ahead.

Now lets go Greek. I confess… I watched more than two hours of he opening ceremony last night. I’ll confess even more- I liked it. Maybe its the google olympic logo that charmed me, but as critical as I am of the money spent and wasted on stadiums and silly stuff, I’m now digging these Olympic games. I learned all these fun facts about countries like Palau and Gabon, not to mention the enjoyment I got from the BCC announcers dry humor. Then this morning I was fascinated by Judo, Rowing, and Cycling. I was surprised to see Jan Ulrich biking in the olympics. And while I’m a former martial-arts instructor (YES I AM!) I’m still dumbfounded by the rules of Judo. Anyway I can’t wait to watch the other wacky events, especially TABLE TENNIS!

Today’s Music: Vinicious Cantuaria – self-titled

First things first, I’m back in the driver seat of my bloggy, and I’d like to say thanks to my brother for being an interesting and active guestblogger. He has just started his own blog, which I’m proud to be the god-father of, and I’m adding to my blogroll. I like to think I’m like “Cheers” and he’s “Frasier.” (If you live somewhere where that cultural reference doesn’t work, basically its a spinoff)

I had a whole list of thoughts at different points during the tail-end of my voyage, and they’ve gotten all jumbled up since returning. So let me put them into lists right now.

Thoughts during my last day in Lisbon:

-It’s amazing how a country that doesn’t invest real money in its rail system, has an extensive and efficient bus network that would make greyhound blush.

-I love being the savior of all tourists, my own self-appointed public tourism service, you look lost with a map in your hand, I will stop and direct you.

– I must visit South Africa, because I’ve learned so much about it in the last 3 years.

– Apparently the best Arabic teachers are Egyptian or Syrian, everything else – according to my buddy at the Libyan Embassy – is too fast and sloppy for me.

Thoughts during my journey back to the ‘Dam:

– Air travel is the biggest hassle everywhere and some rules have no explanation at all.

– I hope my luggage is hanging out in the cargo bay with those cute Dutch girls’ luggage.

– Schiphol airport is the most efficient and home-feeling airport I’ve ever known.

– Man I hate having luggage, I want to travel with just a plastic sack from now on.

But enough of these happy thoughts. The journey has ended, and shit is hitting the fan all over the world, as usual. One of my oldest journalist friends put me on to a horrendous situation at my one-time employer the Village Voice. It’s bad…. real bad. They are firing in the name of cost-cutting and organizational strategy changes. The list of casualties is astounding and I’m deeply disturbed: Richard Goldstein, Cynthia Cotts, Alisa Solomon… My most loved alternative paper has indeed become some obscure money-making rag. I will keep reading it, because quality journalism still goes on there, but the managing editors and corporate bosses have poisoned that place. Worst of all, I can’t find a peep about it with any of the Voice Media Papers, they’ve lost the power to be critical of their own paper. Talk about needing a revolution, I volunteer to fly back and help barricade the doors and take back the once glorious newsweekly. Maybe Norman Mailer and Jack Newfield can join.

Note to Self: Talk about BlogMaverick’s new project

Also thoughts on seeing Cry Freedom on TV

Today’s Music: Jimmy Eat World – Clarity (or as I call it, the sing-along album)

“Just don’t forget our deal, Lois. I sit through this and later tonight I get anal. You hear me? No matter how neat I want the house you have to clean it.” – Peter Griffin on the Family Guy

I joined Netflix this week and, low-and-behold, my first three movies came in the mail. For me, this is a godsend. Since the birth of my little boy Alexander, Xander for short (unless your Mark then you call him A-Ren), going to the movies is no longer an option. At least now I can see films without having to take a 2 mile drive to Blockbuster with a cellphone to discuss with my wife which movie we want. I digress.

So in the mail I got Once Upon a Time in Mexico, The Whole Ten Yards, and The Cooler. I wrote before that I kind of enjoyed Once upon a Time, but only as a stand alone movie. I feel that it really moved away from El Mariachi and Desperado not only in the writing, but in the acting as well. If anyone here has watched all three, as I have, would you drop a comment. Something really just feels wrong with it and I cannot wrap my brain around it. The Whole Ten Yards was ok. Those that saw the first movie, and you had to have seen The Whole Nine Yards to understand most of the movie, you will probably shrug your shoulders and figure it was wasn’t too bad. Sort of a “blah” feeling going on. The Cooler was the best of the three. William H. Macy, Alec Baldwin, and Maria Bello were amazing in their portrayals. I don’t even want to tell you too much about the movie. The premise is that Macy is a “cooler” in Las Vegas. His luck is so rotten that he is hired to play at tables where people are winning by the casino director, played by Baldwin, to stop their winning streaks. Bello plays a casino waitress that falls in love with Macy. The movie ends weird, but the performances more than make up for it. Great little rental folks.

You may be wondering what any of this was to do with my post title. Here it comes…

I sat down to watch The Cooler with my wife and mother-in-law. A few minutes in we’ve got a cursing tirade that would make a cab driver blush (only if he spoke English). Twenty minutes in we’ve got a very explicit sex scene between Bello and Macy (man ass, sim-sex, hands holding genitalia, watch it you’ll understand) and it wasn’t the last one mind you. I am squirming. So here comes my question. What needs to be in a film or TV show to make you uncomfortable around your parents, your in-laws, other family members, etc.? I can deal with cursing, but the second Macy is being mounted by Bello I’m shifting in my seat. I was amazed we made it through the whole movie. Am I just being weird? Bah….







Today’s Music: Tanya Donelly – Whiskey, Tango, Ghosts (I’ve got a thing for rock chicks)