In case you haven't seen it:
Check out B.Mc.'s artful manipulation of TomKat's appearance on O (via national watercooler). Just boggling. StinkyLulu's grandmother saw the original broadcast & commented: "Can you believe -- just silly. A grown man. Silly and obnoxious."
You tell him, gramma.
Ponders the myriad pathologies of pop culture.
Obsesses about actressing at the edges.
Loves grilled cheese.
ARCHIVE OF SUPPORTING ACTRESS SUNDAYS & THE SMACKDOWN
5.31.2005
5.21.2005
Hot Times / Summer in the City (if ABQ counts as a city)
It was really hot today.
But that didn't stop The Stinky Gang from getting some cultcha on.
~ First, a quick bite in Old Town at Church Street Cafe. StinkyLu's green chile chicken tortilla thing was good, but the table did seem to agree that our server was the tastiest morsel. (QueLinda's appetite was especially whetted.) On the way back to the car, the Stinky Gang popped into the excellent Saints & Martyrs, a total must for ABQ visitors. But -- truth be told -- Albuquerque's Old Town district just pisses StinkyLulu off. Not sure why...
~ Then, the Stinky Gang tooled over to Kenny Chavez' Folk Art Hootenanny (scroll down a bit). A nifty collection of really cool contemporary folk art. StinkyLu really liked the Virgen de Guadalupe pez dispenser & MrStinky almost got a really neato piece of pie art. (QueLinda was the only one to actually score with a piece by one of her favorite artists, whose name StinkyLu totally spaced.)
~ Finally, caught a screening of Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room -- Alex Gibney's really smart & stylish doc about corporate culture in the Clinton/Bush era. Gibney's really good at what he does. This film is critical, intelligent, thorough, great looking, funny without being fatuous (hi Michael Moore!)... and if you haven't seen Gibney's The Trials of Henry Kissinger, put it in your netflix queue NOW. So. Check out this Enron flick -- just what a lefty doc should be...
Good day. Hot. But good day.
But that didn't stop The Stinky Gang from getting some cultcha on.
~ First, a quick bite in Old Town at Church Street Cafe. StinkyLu's green chile chicken tortilla thing was good, but the table did seem to agree that our server was the tastiest morsel. (QueLinda's appetite was especially whetted.) On the way back to the car, the Stinky Gang popped into the excellent Saints & Martyrs, a total must for ABQ visitors. But -- truth be told -- Albuquerque's Old Town district just pisses StinkyLulu off. Not sure why...
~ Then, the Stinky Gang tooled over to Kenny Chavez' Folk Art Hootenanny (scroll down a bit). A nifty collection of really cool contemporary folk art. StinkyLu really liked the Virgen de Guadalupe pez dispenser & MrStinky almost got a really neato piece of pie art. (QueLinda was the only one to actually score with a piece by one of her favorite artists, whose name StinkyLu totally spaced.)
~ Finally, caught a screening of Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room -- Alex Gibney's really smart & stylish doc about corporate culture in the Clinton/Bush era. Gibney's really good at what he does. This film is critical, intelligent, thorough, great looking, funny without being fatuous (hi Michael Moore!)... and if you haven't seen Gibney's The Trials of Henry Kissinger, put it in your netflix queue NOW. So. Check out this Enron flick -- just what a lefty doc should be...
Good day. Hot. But good day.
5.19.2005
The Culture (of Fearing For One's) Life
Criticlasm sent an email today, announcing a new project:
"I was talking with friends last night about the current culture of fear --
the news pushing paranoia, the government pushing legislation
through fear, etc. I saw a teaser for the news the other day saying
"Could you possibly be exposed to GYM GERMS?!", and I thought,
"Now, it's just ridiculous." My friend, who is a mother, was talking
about paranoid emails she gets forwarded to her about everything
from toys to bottles to car seats being dangerous according to this
or that study, but no background to how the study was done or what
the actual conditions or reason to worry are."
Criticlasm's sent out a call, inviting submissions (of any kind of writing) that address "how constant overload and paranoia are affecting our lives." Innersting project...Got StinkyLulu to thinking about an incipient fear that's been threatening lately...
See, just a couple weeks ago, while visiting a Premium Outlet Mall just outside of Palms Springs, StinkyLu picked up a kicky pair of new summer sandals (in brown, not black). Anyway, ever since, StinkyLulu's become reacquainted with the always surprising and often quite painful experience of static electricity -- almost exclusively when getting out of the car. So, StinkyLulu got to wondering: Is it the shoes? Will removing the carpet floor mat on the driver's side help? Is StinkyLulu's stubborn addiction to air-conditioning while driving to blame? Will StinkyLulu spontaneously combust while pumping gas?
But here is where StinkyLulu's experience of the "culture of fear" might be a little off. StinkyLulu tends not to succumb to paranoia overload, despite being an essentially fear-driven creature & being totally enmeshed in contemporary media culture. Rather, it's as though -- on the crowded playing field of fears that is StinkyLu's brain -- the attacks by inchoate Panic or Hysteria are block tackled by the all-star defensive team of Cynicism, Malaise and Denial before getting anywhere near the end zone. (To use an ill-crafted football metaphor -- football itself being a long-standing source of fear for StinkyLulu.) Which means that -- in the case of StinkyLulu's fears of static electricity causing an explosion at the Pump'n'Save -- said fears don't arrive to the front of StinkyLulu's fear registry brain-screen until StinkyLulu's well into the process of pumping gas. Which would be so totally way too late to prevent a fireball fatality. Which begs the question: Are StinkyLulu's gas pump anxieties symptomatic of our contemporary culture of fear, or are they the feelings of one who suffers from an emerging condition affecting many in today's society -- Putative Experience of Near Immolation Syndrome, or P.E.N.I.S. StinkyLulu's unnerving P.E.N.I.S. encounters remain to be fully understood, awaiting further P.E.N.I.S. studies by expert P.E.N.I.S. researchers.
Whatever the ultimate diagnosis, it does seem to StinkyLu that Criticlasm's project is certainly a worthy one & something that promises all kinds of interesting tidbits. (Like the revelation that the color-coded terror alert system is all a big scam perpetrated by the Republican noise machine. 'Magine that.)
"I was talking with friends last night about the current culture of fear --
the news pushing paranoia, the government pushing legislation
through fear, etc. I saw a teaser for the news the other day saying
"Could you possibly be exposed to GYM GERMS?!", and I thought,
"Now, it's just ridiculous." My friend, who is a mother, was talking
about paranoid emails she gets forwarded to her about everything
from toys to bottles to car seats being dangerous according to this
or that study, but no background to how the study was done or what
the actual conditions or reason to worry are."
Criticlasm's sent out a call, inviting submissions (of any kind of writing) that address "how constant overload and paranoia are affecting our lives." Innersting project...Got StinkyLulu to thinking about an incipient fear that's been threatening lately...
See, just a couple weeks ago, while visiting a Premium Outlet Mall just outside of Palms Springs, StinkyLu picked up a kicky pair of new summer sandals (in brown, not black). Anyway, ever since, StinkyLulu's become reacquainted with the always surprising and often quite painful experience of static electricity -- almost exclusively when getting out of the car. So, StinkyLulu got to wondering: Is it the shoes? Will removing the carpet floor mat on the driver's side help? Is StinkyLulu's stubborn addiction to air-conditioning while driving to blame? Will StinkyLulu spontaneously combust while pumping gas?
But here is where StinkyLulu's experience of the "culture of fear" might be a little off. StinkyLulu tends not to succumb to paranoia overload, despite being an essentially fear-driven creature & being totally enmeshed in contemporary media culture. Rather, it's as though -- on the crowded playing field of fears that is StinkyLu's brain -- the attacks by inchoate Panic or Hysteria are block tackled by the all-star defensive team of Cynicism, Malaise and Denial before getting anywhere near the end zone. (To use an ill-crafted football metaphor -- football itself being a long-standing source of fear for StinkyLulu.) Which means that -- in the case of StinkyLulu's fears of static electricity causing an explosion at the Pump'n'Save -- said fears don't arrive to the front of StinkyLulu's fear registry brain-screen until StinkyLulu's well into the process of pumping gas. Which would be so totally way too late to prevent a fireball fatality. Which begs the question: Are StinkyLulu's gas pump anxieties symptomatic of our contemporary culture of fear, or are they the feelings of one who suffers from an emerging condition affecting many in today's society -- Putative Experience of Near Immolation Syndrome, or P.E.N.I.S. StinkyLulu's unnerving P.E.N.I.S. encounters remain to be fully understood, awaiting further P.E.N.I.S. studies by expert P.E.N.I.S. researchers.
Whatever the ultimate diagnosis, it does seem to StinkyLu that Criticlasm's project is certainly a worthy one & something that promises all kinds of interesting tidbits. (Like the revelation that the color-coded terror alert system is all a big scam perpetrated by the Republican noise machine. 'Magine that.)
5.16.2005
Creme de la Ru
For 3 weekends now, MrStinky & StinkyLu have roped unsuspecting friends and family into attending quite suspect "entertainments." Two weeks ago, the Ramona Pageant in Hemet, CA; last week, Charo at Casino Hollywood at San Felipe Pueblo. This week? Creme de la Do -- a benefit for New Mexico AIDS Services -- right here in Albuqueerque!
Truth be told, StinkyLulu was a tad reluctant to partake -- correctly anticipating Creme de la Do to be "A Queer Epic of Amateur Proportions," a particular genre of "benefit" entertainment/performance to which Albuqueerque has been subjecting StinkyLu for nigh on two decades. (A decade -- as the emcee of last night's Creme de la Do was careful to point out -- "means ten years, guys! That's alot!!!") But the event promises to be a "hair show" & RuPaul was scheduled to perform, so StinkyLu packed in the attitude and headed over to the Hyatt (where StinkyLu's presented at 2 Conferences de la Academentia)...
MrStinky & StinkyLu (along with friends who we'll call QueLinda & ChaCha) awaited entry, crammed into a vestibule along with a couple hundred sissyboys and chubbygirls of all make and model. (All told, it seems that 1300 folks attended this year's Creme de la Do.) Smells of sloshing cocktails mixed with the nearly visible odor of so much hair product as the sissyboys and chubbygirls hooted and honked, succumbing only occasionally to a surreal hush as one particularly muscular young man or another pressed through the cawing cackling throng, likely lost on his way to or from the backstage fluffing zone... Then the show.
Creme de la Do gives runway to 7 or 8 area salons to create a concept for a hair/fashion show of some kind. And a bunch of prettygirls & sissyboys strut while the occasional musclelunk galumphs & poses. Some entries create concepts -- like ABQ Hair Studio which stuck twigs, sticks and feathers all over kids from the local John Robert Powers franchise, creating the effect that (a) these children had been sleeping in the chicken coop or (b) they were on loan from a middle school production of The Lion King's Greatest Hits . Other entries simple create a vibe -- like Ace Barber Shop which put a bunch of hipster kids (possibly already high school grads, possibly not) in nifty threads from Infiknit. The best entry came from 2nd-Hand threads retailer/resaler Buffalo Exchange -- which had the kids staggering around in some early 80s thrash style which was fun but didn't really make sense until the "Free MJ" posters were revealed & most of the models snapped into a kicky riff on the zombie dance from "Thriller." But Fusion Hair & Skin offered the most effective entry -- with a twisty turny concept number ripped from EnVogue's "Never Gonna Get It." Female models lapdanced on hunky suited guys then stripped the guys down to their undypants. The whole number sorta really worked -- despite the stripper style & steroid chic -- though looking at video from last year's entry from Fusion (it's toward the very end) makes it seem that the bumping & grinding might be Fusion's signature moda...
During the show, however, The Stinky Gang suffered some defections. QueLinda lasted about an hour; ChaCha not quite two. But MrStinky & StinkyLu were bound and determined to stick around to see at least a little bit of RuPaul. Two numbers in, after an audiotracked introduction by Shirley Q. Liquor , RuPaul was clearly turning in a quite competent performance of this prerecorded set, obviously prepared for RuPaul's 2005 gaybar/pride circuit tour . Unfortunately, the tightly tracked numbers left next to no room for the banter that Ru does so well (and which StinkyLulu loves best). So, when MrStinky turned to StinkyLu and said "I liked Charo better," StinkyLulu had to agree. So, barely clearing the 3 hour mark of this Amateur Epic (not counting the hour and a half of preshow waiting), The Stinkys cleared out.
Whew. Hafta wonder what dubious theatrical adventures The Stinky Gang will have next...
Truth be told, StinkyLulu was a tad reluctant to partake -- correctly anticipating Creme de la Do to be "A Queer Epic of Amateur Proportions," a particular genre of "benefit" entertainment/performance to which Albuqueerque has been subjecting StinkyLu for nigh on two decades. (A decade -- as the emcee of last night's Creme de la Do was careful to point out -- "means ten years, guys! That's alot!!!") But the event promises to be a "hair show" & RuPaul was scheduled to perform, so StinkyLu packed in the attitude and headed over to the Hyatt (where StinkyLu's presented at 2 Conferences de la Academentia)...
MrStinky & StinkyLu (along with friends who we'll call QueLinda & ChaCha) awaited entry, crammed into a vestibule along with a couple hundred sissyboys and chubbygirls of all make and model. (All told, it seems that 1300 folks attended this year's Creme de la Do.) Smells of sloshing cocktails mixed with the nearly visible odor of so much hair product as the sissyboys and chubbygirls hooted and honked, succumbing only occasionally to a surreal hush as one particularly muscular young man or another pressed through the cawing cackling throng, likely lost on his way to or from the backstage fluffing zone... Then the show.
Creme de la Do gives runway to 7 or 8 area salons to create a concept for a hair/fashion show of some kind. And a bunch of prettygirls & sissyboys strut while the occasional musclelunk galumphs & poses. Some entries create concepts -- like ABQ Hair Studio which stuck twigs, sticks and feathers all over kids from the local John Robert Powers franchise, creating the effect that (a) these children had been sleeping in the chicken coop or (b) they were on loan from a middle school production of The Lion King's Greatest Hits . Other entries simple create a vibe -- like Ace Barber Shop which put a bunch of hipster kids (possibly already high school grads, possibly not) in nifty threads from Infiknit. The best entry came from 2nd-Hand threads retailer/resaler Buffalo Exchange -- which had the kids staggering around in some early 80s thrash style which was fun but didn't really make sense until the "Free MJ" posters were revealed & most of the models snapped into a kicky riff on the zombie dance from "Thriller." But Fusion Hair & Skin offered the most effective entry -- with a twisty turny concept number ripped from EnVogue's "Never Gonna Get It." Female models lapdanced on hunky suited guys then stripped the guys down to their undypants. The whole number sorta really worked -- despite the stripper style & steroid chic -- though looking at video from last year's entry from Fusion (it's toward the very end) makes it seem that the bumping & grinding might be Fusion's signature moda...
During the show, however, The Stinky Gang suffered some defections. QueLinda lasted about an hour; ChaCha not quite two. But MrStinky & StinkyLu were bound and determined to stick around to see at least a little bit of RuPaul. Two numbers in, after an audiotracked introduction by Shirley Q. Liquor , RuPaul was clearly turning in a quite competent performance of this prerecorded set, obviously prepared for RuPaul's 2005 gaybar/pride circuit tour . Unfortunately, the tightly tracked numbers left next to no room for the banter that Ru does so well (and which StinkyLulu loves best). So, when MrStinky turned to StinkyLu and said "I liked Charo better," StinkyLulu had to agree. So, barely clearing the 3 hour mark of this Amateur Epic (not counting the hour and a half of preshow waiting), The Stinkys cleared out.
Whew. Hafta wonder what dubious theatrical adventures The Stinky Gang will have next...
5.10.2005
GlamYalies
Who said Yalies had no style?
Is this the work of vigilante fashion geeks (after all, this chalking did happen at the entrance to Sterling Library)? Or is it just another case of designer knockoffs being peddled on the sidewalks of chi-chi neighborhoods?
Is this the work of vigilante fashion geeks (after all, this chalking did happen at the entrance to Sterling Library)? Or is it just another case of designer knockoffs being peddled on the sidewalks of chi-chi neighborhoods?
5.09.2005
Charo ROCKS!
It's been a busy couple weeks for StinkyLulu. But the highlight happened just this past Saturday night...
StinkyLu's sister -- hereafter referred to as StinkySis -- had her birthday last monday, but StinkyLulu and MrStinky were still on their way back from the fabulosity of Palm Springs and the glamor, spectacle and sheer entertainment thrills of The Ramona Pageant (possibly more on that in a future blog). So, because StinkyLu & MrStinky missed the carnivore delight of StinkySis' birthday dinner -- they went to one of those South American Steak-On-A-Stick places -- MrStinky & Lulu made plans to treat StinkySis to sushi the next weekend...
THEN MrStinky discovers that Charo's playing at a casino between Santa Fe & ABQ.
The only night we can go is Saturday. Luckily, StinkySis is into adding some cuchi-cuchi to her sushi. (cuchi-sushi?) Ultimately, even the sushi gets chopped from the itinerary, as the whole Stinky gang go up to Santa Fe for a pre-mother's day brunch of pie (Frito & Diabetic Cool Whip Pie, respectively). Finally, MrStinky & StinkyLu whisked StinkySis off for a bit of KMart Blue-Light Special-ing -- breathe deep, that's the glamour of FantaSe -- before dinner at the amazing/incredible/delicious & quite cute Mu Du Noodles.
(Brief side note about dinner: MrStinky had the chicken special, StinkySis had the lamb special & StinkyLu had the duck special. All were f'n incredible. MrStinky noted that the meat -- all organic, farm-raised -- is consistently good at MuDu Noodles, perhaps suggesting that -- despite the restaurant's name -- the meat dishes are the real specialty at this noodle shop. StinkyLulu's dish -- described as a duck pizza (?!?!) -- was actually just a pile of really tasty slaw with shredded duck & mushrooms atop a flatbread, the whole thing slathered in hoisin sauce. The hoisin sauce was a touch rich when allowed to soak into the flatbread, but tasty. The hilarious owner lady -- in yoga pants, bedhead & really expensive specs -- even asked StinkyLu's thoughts on the dish, apparently appreciating StinkyLu's hoisin opinions enough to skidoo back to the kitchen promising to adjust the hoisin portion. StinkySis' lamb sate was garnished with a great steamed sweet stickyrice thing, which became a pre-dessert for the whole table. The actual dessert was basil ice cream, some other fancy strange chai ice cream & rice pudding cake. Boy howdy. Tasteeeeeeeee. Stinky Thumbs Up to MuDu Noodles!)
The Stinky Gang rolled down the highway to Casino Hollywood at San Felipe Pueblo, where for some reason tickets to the shows are FREE if you sign up for their players club thing & schlep all the way out to the middle of nowhere to pick them up in person. So, rolling in to the performance venue (just a teensy upgrade from a large black box set up, stackable chair seating, this place is surely available for your next wedding reception), the Stinky Gang's got seats in the 4th row. Viva la Casino Hollywood! The crowd is definitely AARP-eligible, 95% hispanic or Indian. The Stinky Gang appear to be the only people under 40 who came to this event entirely of their own accord, without parents, grandparents or in-laws to blame.
Finally: It's Charo Time!!!
The 80minute show has three acts -- aka 3 Outfits -- with two dance breaks -- aka 2 costume changes. Act/Outfit 1 -- a red, green & black mini-gown, with bugle beads in every cranny -- was a longish comedy set, with a couple musical numbers. Yes, Charo sings & Charo dances but Charo really brings on the funny. An astonishingly skilled comedian, Charo creates a stage persona whose charming naivete is belied by her savvy (and often quite "blue") malapropisms and commentary -- "Please don't misconscrue me when I saying..." -- which play off her basic schtick of a strange girl in a stranger land. It's really an effective persona & Charo's clearly figured out how to get an audience in the palm of her hand and to her substantial bosom.
Speaking of Charo's substantial bosom:
Act/Outfit 2 (pictured above) -- a pink & white jump suit -- was a more musical set, featuring Charo actually offering her vocal stylings of such latin-flavored classics as "Fernando", "Eres Tu" & -- of course -- "Livin' La Vida Loca." Charo lived her vida loca among the audience, salsa dancing among the crowd. At one point, not far from where the Stinky gang was seated, Charo executed what can only be called "The Booby Bop" -- holding the head of a male audience member still as she bopped her bosom repeatedly into his face. (No bugle bead lacerations were visible.) After the first & extended execution of the Booby Bop, Charo made her way down the row, eyed MrStinky's clear pate. Charo winked at StinkyLu as she grabbed MrStinky's bald head and squeezed it into her boobs, before moving down the row to embrace StinkyLu & StinkySis with her breasts. Quite a memorable encounter with a quite remarkable bosom.
And then Act/Outfit3 -- a sequined tuxedo, the only undeniably circus-y outfit of the evening -- for a set of some chatter, a teensy bit of singing, but mostly Charo playing flamenco and classical guitar sets. "For many years, the cuchi-cuchi was showing me the way to the bank. But this" -- she gestured to her guitar -- "is Charo." Charo played a sizable handful of fairly familiar songs -- "Bolero" & "Malaguena" and the like -- masterfully, at once impressive and satisfying, before rounding out the evening with some requisite encores, introductions of her dancers and band (each and every one "numero uno" and "a shtar"), and sending everyone home happy. A truly excellent set, showing her expertise at the cabaret/nightclub form. So much better than StinkyLu anticipated and all that StinkyLulu could have wished for from an evening with Charo.
StinkyLu's sister -- hereafter referred to as StinkySis -- had her birthday last monday, but StinkyLulu and MrStinky were still on their way back from the fabulosity of Palm Springs and the glamor, spectacle and sheer entertainment thrills of The Ramona Pageant (possibly more on that in a future blog). So, because StinkyLu & MrStinky missed the carnivore delight of StinkySis' birthday dinner -- they went to one of those South American Steak-On-A-Stick places -- MrStinky & Lulu made plans to treat StinkySis to sushi the next weekend...
THEN MrStinky discovers that Charo's playing at a casino between Santa Fe & ABQ.
The only night we can go is Saturday. Luckily, StinkySis is into adding some cuchi-cuchi to her sushi. (cuchi-sushi?) Ultimately, even the sushi gets chopped from the itinerary, as the whole Stinky gang go up to Santa Fe for a pre-mother's day brunch of pie (Frito & Diabetic Cool Whip Pie, respectively). Finally, MrStinky & StinkyLu whisked StinkySis off for a bit of KMart Blue-Light Special-ing -- breathe deep, that's the glamour of FantaSe -- before dinner at the amazing/incredible/delicious & quite cute Mu Du Noodles.
(Brief side note about dinner: MrStinky had the chicken special, StinkySis had the lamb special & StinkyLu had the duck special. All were f'n incredible. MrStinky noted that the meat -- all organic, farm-raised -- is consistently good at MuDu Noodles, perhaps suggesting that -- despite the restaurant's name -- the meat dishes are the real specialty at this noodle shop. StinkyLulu's dish -- described as a duck pizza (?!?!) -- was actually just a pile of really tasty slaw with shredded duck & mushrooms atop a flatbread, the whole thing slathered in hoisin sauce. The hoisin sauce was a touch rich when allowed to soak into the flatbread, but tasty. The hilarious owner lady -- in yoga pants, bedhead & really expensive specs -- even asked StinkyLu's thoughts on the dish, apparently appreciating StinkyLu's hoisin opinions enough to skidoo back to the kitchen promising to adjust the hoisin portion. StinkySis' lamb sate was garnished with a great steamed sweet stickyrice thing, which became a pre-dessert for the whole table. The actual dessert was basil ice cream, some other fancy strange chai ice cream & rice pudding cake. Boy howdy. Tasteeeeeeeee. Stinky Thumbs Up to MuDu Noodles!)
The Stinky Gang rolled down the highway to Casino Hollywood at San Felipe Pueblo, where for some reason tickets to the shows are FREE if you sign up for their players club thing & schlep all the way out to the middle of nowhere to pick them up in person. So, rolling in to the performance venue (just a teensy upgrade from a large black box set up, stackable chair seating, this place is surely available for your next wedding reception), the Stinky Gang's got seats in the 4th row. Viva la Casino Hollywood! The crowd is definitely AARP-eligible, 95% hispanic or Indian. The Stinky Gang appear to be the only people under 40 who came to this event entirely of their own accord, without parents, grandparents or in-laws to blame.
Finally: It's Charo Time!!!
The 80minute show has three acts -- aka 3 Outfits -- with two dance breaks -- aka 2 costume changes. Act/Outfit 1 -- a red, green & black mini-gown, with bugle beads in every cranny -- was a longish comedy set, with a couple musical numbers. Yes, Charo sings & Charo dances but Charo really brings on the funny. An astonishingly skilled comedian, Charo creates a stage persona whose charming naivete is belied by her savvy (and often quite "blue") malapropisms and commentary -- "Please don't misconscrue me when I saying..." -- which play off her basic schtick of a strange girl in a stranger land. It's really an effective persona & Charo's clearly figured out how to get an audience in the palm of her hand and to her substantial bosom.
Speaking of Charo's substantial bosom:
Act/Outfit 2 (pictured above) -- a pink & white jump suit -- was a more musical set, featuring Charo actually offering her vocal stylings of such latin-flavored classics as "Fernando", "Eres Tu" & -- of course -- "Livin' La Vida Loca." Charo lived her vida loca among the audience, salsa dancing among the crowd. At one point, not far from where the Stinky gang was seated, Charo executed what can only be called "The Booby Bop" -- holding the head of a male audience member still as she bopped her bosom repeatedly into his face. (No bugle bead lacerations were visible.) After the first & extended execution of the Booby Bop, Charo made her way down the row, eyed MrStinky's clear pate. Charo winked at StinkyLu as she grabbed MrStinky's bald head and squeezed it into her boobs, before moving down the row to embrace StinkyLu & StinkySis with her breasts. Quite a memorable encounter with a quite remarkable bosom.
And then Act/Outfit3 -- a sequined tuxedo, the only undeniably circus-y outfit of the evening -- for a set of some chatter, a teensy bit of singing, but mostly Charo playing flamenco and classical guitar sets. "For many years, the cuchi-cuchi was showing me the way to the bank. But this" -- she gestured to her guitar -- "is Charo." Charo played a sizable handful of fairly familiar songs -- "Bolero" & "Malaguena" and the like -- masterfully, at once impressive and satisfying, before rounding out the evening with some requisite encores, introductions of her dancers and band (each and every one "numero uno" and "a shtar"), and sending everyone home happy. A truly excellent set, showing her expertise at the cabaret/nightclub form. So much better than StinkyLu anticipated and all that StinkyLulu could have wished for from an evening with Charo.
1st Draft of "The Charo Paragraph"
For a long while, StinkyLulu's threatened to write the Charo paragraph. Here's a first draft:
Charo is truly the inheritor of both Carmen Miranda's burdens & blessings. Each a skilled musician & performer, Charo and Carmen both became notorious for their persona -- a sexually extreme latina clown, mangling the English language as they mangled the image of appropriately desirable femininity. These personas -- detailed constructions of gifted comedic actresses at the height of their form -- were naturalized within U.S. popular culture as their identities, in a fashion familiar to female performers and performers of color. Indeed, each woman's name iself became a jokey cliche, a singular label for a vast collection stereotypes -- about latin women and about the excesses of U.S. popular performance and culture. The passage of time since Carmen's death has permitted some scholars and fans to rediscover, to recuperate and to redeem Carmen Miranda. Perhaps such a project is beginning for Charo. However, the Charo lesson for historians of U.S. popular performance remains. As scholars and fans alike, we remain obliged to think beyond the veneer of "the new" & "the next" so readily marketed by the U.S. entertainment industry and to look toward these historical phenomena of replication, for it is in these revivals that the most intransigent practices of repression (and resistance) might be found.
Charo is truly the inheritor of both Carmen Miranda's burdens & blessings. Each a skilled musician & performer, Charo and Carmen both became notorious for their persona -- a sexually extreme latina clown, mangling the English language as they mangled the image of appropriately desirable femininity. These personas -- detailed constructions of gifted comedic actresses at the height of their form -- were naturalized within U.S. popular culture as their identities, in a fashion familiar to female performers and performers of color. Indeed, each woman's name iself became a jokey cliche, a singular label for a vast collection stereotypes -- about latin women and about the excesses of U.S. popular performance and culture. The passage of time since Carmen's death has permitted some scholars and fans to rediscover, to recuperate and to redeem Carmen Miranda. Perhaps such a project is beginning for Charo. However, the Charo lesson for historians of U.S. popular performance remains. As scholars and fans alike, we remain obliged to think beyond the veneer of "the new" & "the next" so readily marketed by the U.S. entertainment industry and to look toward these historical phenomena of replication, for it is in these revivals that the most intransigent practices of repression (and resistance) might be found.
4.17.2005
Looky Lulu's Links + "Do The Schiavo!"
StinkyLu really likes this blogspot template, despite the unfortunate fact that it doesn't offer an easy/reliable way to post links. So, today, Lulu's kicking off a new semi-regular feature -- LULU'S LINKS -- in which Lulu'll list the links Lulu looks at lots lately...
Lulu's Featured Link of the Moment:
Do The Schiavo! Web-based performance art at its most genius. (Your Mom brought this to Lulu's delighted attention.)
See also...
:: Daily Fug -- ineffable genius. MrStinky just can't get enough.
:: Towleroad's delicious daily dose of gay culture & politics.
:: PageSixSixSix. Slurpy evil gossip. Yum.
:: Lady Bunny's Blog -- StinkyLu recently got hooked into this through Nico Icon's humans.
That's prolly 'nuff for now. And, remember, Lulu loves to link ya, baby!
Lulu's Featured Link of the Moment:
Do The Schiavo! Web-based performance art at its most genius. (Your Mom brought this to Lulu's delighted attention.)
See also...
:: Daily Fug -- ineffable genius. MrStinky just can't get enough.
:: Towleroad's delicious daily dose of gay culture & politics.
:: PageSixSixSix. Slurpy evil gossip. Yum.
:: Lady Bunny's Blog -- StinkyLu recently got hooked into this through Nico Icon's humans.
That's prolly 'nuff for now. And, remember, Lulu loves to link ya, baby!
4.04.2005
"All Pope, All The Time"
Ding Dong. The Pope Is Dead! Which Old Pope? The... Well, you get the idea... First, it was contant coverage of the "To Insert The Feeding Tube Or Not To Insert The Feeding Tube" drama. Now, it's The Interregnum Conclave! A Cardinal Collegial Confabulation! It's POPE-APALOOZA!!! And StinkyLulu's going just a little crazy. This morning -- in a fruitless attempt to avoid the early morning Poperama -- StinkyLu was reduced to watching The 700 Club where Ken Mehlman, the big homo who's currently Chair of The Republican National Committee was on, flapping his gums about the moral clarity and vision of the current administration. Blah blah CULTURE OF LIFE blah blah blah OWNERSHIP SOCIETY blah blah blah LEADERSHIP OF THIS PRESIDENT blah blah blah CLINTON = EVIL blah blah blah.
All this hooey. Makes StinkyLulu really glad for Wacko Jacko's trial & the impending nuptials of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles. Between them, MissTerri & the Pope-athon, WBush's Social Security FearMongering Tour is not even on the news. And Iraq is. Cuz casualties are still happening & DaPope was against the Iraq war... Hmmm.... One wonders how an DaPope's anti-war stance stacks up against his sustained active promotion of genocidal AIDS policies in Africa... Or next to DaPope's decades-long campaign of vicious condemnation of homos while simultaneously maintaining policies of righteous silence regarding sex abuse by priests around the globe.... Hmmm... FEH!
From here on out, StinkyLulu'll be wondering what Camilla Parker Bowles will be wearing on her head this friday... Maybe Michael Jackson has an idea or two...
All this hooey. Makes StinkyLulu really glad for Wacko Jacko's trial & the impending nuptials of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles. Between them, MissTerri & the Pope-athon, WBush's Social Security FearMongering Tour is not even on the news. And Iraq is. Cuz casualties are still happening & DaPope was against the Iraq war... Hmmm.... One wonders how an DaPope's anti-war stance stacks up against his sustained active promotion of genocidal AIDS policies in Africa... Or next to DaPope's decades-long campaign of vicious condemnation of homos while simultaneously maintaining policies of righteous silence regarding sex abuse by priests around the globe.... Hmmm... FEH!
From here on out, StinkyLulu'll be wondering what Camilla Parker Bowles will be wearing on her head this friday... Maybe Michael Jackson has an idea or two...
4.01.2005
Patricia Williams' OPEN HOUSE
StinkyLulu writes this from Westchester County, NY. Been a busy coupla days... Yakyakyakyakyakyakyakyak. That's pretty much all that StinkyLu's been doon'...
But on the plane, the headphones didn't work so StinkyLulu had to miss the audiotrack of the inflight screening of the recent (and celebrated) film, Fat Albert. Gratefully, StinkyLulu had a good book to read:
Patricia Williams' new book Open House.
Not everyone loves the prose stylings of MsPW, but Lulu does...a lot. And this entry is her funniest book yet. O'course -- the book's mostly about the complex history of the black midddle class since slavery so there's plenty of pieces that edge into sadness, madness & even tragedy. But PW's swirling meditative prose is at its strongest here, demonstrating an unapologetic clarity of purpose in describing the way-too-many things a really smart woman who cares passionately about her world and her family -- the way-too-many things she thinks about, just cuz. StinkyLulu really identifies with Patricia Williams. Not the part about Patricia Williams being black and a sorta famous law professor and a single mother. No. The part where a person's a little too clever for their own good & has a few too many thoughts stuffed in their noggin & sometimes worries that their head just might pop. That part. That part StinkyLulu really connects with...
But on the plane, the headphones didn't work so StinkyLulu had to miss the audiotrack of the inflight screening of the recent (and celebrated) film, Fat Albert. Gratefully, StinkyLulu had a good book to read:
Patricia Williams' new book Open House.
Not everyone loves the prose stylings of MsPW, but Lulu does...a lot. And this entry is her funniest book yet. O'course -- the book's mostly about the complex history of the black midddle class since slavery so there's plenty of pieces that edge into sadness, madness & even tragedy. But PW's swirling meditative prose is at its strongest here, demonstrating an unapologetic clarity of purpose in describing the way-too-many things a really smart woman who cares passionately about her world and her family -- the way-too-many things she thinks about, just cuz. StinkyLulu really identifies with Patricia Williams. Not the part about Patricia Williams being black and a sorta famous law professor and a single mother. No. The part where a person's a little too clever for their own good & has a few too many thoughts stuffed in their noggin & sometimes worries that their head just might pop. That part. That part StinkyLulu really connects with...
3.29.2005
Betty Bowers' Further Thoughts On Faith...
Stop everything. Read this.
Betty Bowers comments on The Terry Schiavo Show.
(Betty at the Betty best -- the most hard-edged, but hilarious, commentary on recent events....)
Shout out to HeyJane aka Ma for introducing StinkyLu to BettyB lo so many moons ago...
Betty Bowers comments on The Terry Schiavo Show.
(Betty at the Betty best -- the most hard-edged, but hilarious, commentary on recent events....)
Shout out to HeyJane aka Ma for introducing StinkyLu to BettyB lo so many moons ago...
3.25.2005
Ham of God
MrStinky flew away again this weekend; this time to Boston. StinkyLulu was 'sposed to hold on to the library copy of a certain book so MrStinky could read it on the plane but StinkyLu got confused... The book went back to the library & MrStinky has to survive without Annie Lamott's 
Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith for the whole weekend.... Alas. Alack. Alloo.
StinkyLulu really does love Anne Lamott when she writes about faith. Traveling Mercies stands as one of the few books that StinkyLulu's read and reread in the last coupla years -- with each reading being an almost entirely new experience, each encounter providing a welcome kick in the head. Lamott's Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith enters into Lamott's spiritual journey as an aging sober born-again hippie parent & offers -- in addition to Lamott's signature style/humility/humor -- her impassioned struggle of faith and principle living under the Bush.
StinkyLulu read "Ham of God," the first story in Plan B, about 6 times last weekend. (That's not mentioning the 4 or 5 times StinkyLulu retold the story to anyone who happened to pass by.) So...as we enter into Easter weekend, StinkyLulu encourages you to make your own Easter snack of "Ham of God". Go to Border's or Barnes&Noble or wherever. Pick up Lamott. And read "Ham of God." Be sure to read to the end...
Blessings.
Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith for the whole weekend.... Alas. Alack. Alloo.StinkyLulu really does love Anne Lamott when she writes about faith. Traveling Mercies stands as one of the few books that StinkyLulu's read and reread in the last coupla years -- with each reading being an almost entirely new experience, each encounter providing a welcome kick in the head. Lamott's Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith enters into Lamott's spiritual journey as an aging sober born-again hippie parent & offers -- in addition to Lamott's signature style/humility/humor -- her impassioned struggle of faith and principle living under the Bush.
StinkyLulu read "Ham of God," the first story in Plan B, about 6 times last weekend. (That's not mentioning the 4 or 5 times StinkyLulu retold the story to anyone who happened to pass by.) So...as we enter into Easter weekend, StinkyLulu encourages you to make your own Easter snack of "Ham of God". Go to Border's or Barnes&Noble or wherever. Pick up Lamott. And read "Ham of God." Be sure to read to the end...
Blessings.
3.24.2005
Whew. Whatta week...& StinkyLulu's Many Discoveries...
Whew. Whatta a week (or so) StinkyLulu's had... Lotsa craziness. While a late spring snow storm snowed StinkyLulu OUT of the adobe abode for nearly five days StinkyLu stayed at MrStinky's TV-Free (eek!) apartment, while MrStinky was gallavanting with yoga-buddies in Mexico, while StinkyLulu's teaching gig gasped & wheezed its way to spring break, while StinkyLu started a cash gig scoring the SAT, while two NYC area colleges called StinkyLu for interviews, while the SAT scoring company pooped out and laid-off StinkyLu and all the SAT scorers, while... well, you get the picture...
In the midst of all the cuckoo hooha, StinkyLulu discovered a few things. To whit, StinkyLulu discovered:
1: The delights of PageSixSixSix. Bookmark it. And while you're at it, add the Daily Fug to your daily delights. You won't regret it.
2: That the pleasures of romantic melodramas -- ala Bride and Prejudice and Diary of a Mad Black Woman -- are like grocery store cake. You know? How grocery-store-cake tastes really good at first & then -- after you've had a piece or two too many -- it starts to make you feel like your mouth needs a'scrubbin' just as your stomach starts to cavort around what feels like a tuna can? You know how that is? Well, StinkyLulu basically liked both flicks but, in quick succession, a bit of an overdo.
3: That the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was really important. Now, StinkyLulu knew this very well already but, upon seeing the really quite extraordinary recent documentary Home of the Brave, StinkyLulu was reminded of the core passion that compelled StinkyLulu to be a pollworker in the 2004 election. Reactionaries/conservatives tend to proclaim that voting is not so much a right to be ensured (from such things as systemic disenfranchisement) but that voting is a privilege that must be protected from abuse/fraud. The story of Home of the Brave reminded StinkyLulu just how recently the balance tilted toward universal enfranchisement. And it underscored the cynicism of our current reactionary/conservative The Powers That Be...just as "democracy" is championed in Iraq, republican legislators in states like New Mexico are working hard to elaborate voting requirements, ostensibly to "prevent voter fraud"...
4: That a "Culture of Life" must be avoided at all costs. The recent Schiavo debacle underscores just how cynical the Bushies are in their use of "Life" as a marketing strategy. WBush had no problem deferring to the judgements & rulings of state courts when, as Texas governor, his administration authorized the execution of 152 inmates on Texas' death row. It seems that when WBush asserts that "the executive branch ought to err on the side of life" some "life" is more valuable... Surprise, surprise.
Whew. Whatta week.
In the midst of all the cuckoo hooha, StinkyLulu discovered a few things. To whit, StinkyLulu discovered:
1: The delights of PageSixSixSix. Bookmark it. And while you're at it, add the Daily Fug to your daily delights. You won't regret it.
2: That the pleasures of romantic melodramas -- ala Bride and Prejudice and Diary of a Mad Black Woman -- are like grocery store cake. You know? How grocery-store-cake tastes really good at first & then -- after you've had a piece or two too many -- it starts to make you feel like your mouth needs a'scrubbin' just as your stomach starts to cavort around what feels like a tuna can? You know how that is? Well, StinkyLulu basically liked both flicks but, in quick succession, a bit of an overdo.
3: That the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was really important. Now, StinkyLulu knew this very well already but, upon seeing the really quite extraordinary recent documentary Home of the Brave, StinkyLulu was reminded of the core passion that compelled StinkyLulu to be a pollworker in the 2004 election. Reactionaries/conservatives tend to proclaim that voting is not so much a right to be ensured (from such things as systemic disenfranchisement) but that voting is a privilege that must be protected from abuse/fraud. The story of Home of the Brave reminded StinkyLulu just how recently the balance tilted toward universal enfranchisement. And it underscored the cynicism of our current reactionary/conservative The Powers That Be...just as "democracy" is championed in Iraq, republican legislators in states like New Mexico are working hard to elaborate voting requirements, ostensibly to "prevent voter fraud"...
4: That a "Culture of Life" must be avoided at all costs. The recent Schiavo debacle underscores just how cynical the Bushies are in their use of "Life" as a marketing strategy. WBush had no problem deferring to the judgements & rulings of state courts when, as Texas governor, his administration authorized the execution of 152 inmates on Texas' death row. It seems that when WBush asserts that "the executive branch ought to err on the side of life" some "life" is more valuable... Surprise, surprise.
Whew. Whatta week.
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