Monday, April 21, 2008

Live Through This

My friend Sabrina Chapadjiev has been working her butt off for at least the past year getting this amazing book together, and it's finally done. I went to one of the reading release parties here in New York a few days ago, and the presentations by contributors Cristy C. Road, Nicole Blackman, Fly, Silas Howard, and Bonfire Madigan Shive were just amazing. Do yourself a favor and check this out:
Live Through This: On Creativity and Self-Destruction.

Here is a quote from the back of the book jacket (which, by the way, includes endorsements by Janeane Garofalo, Lydia Lunch, and Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara, among others):
"...(Live Through This) is a collection of original stories, essays, artwork and photography. It explores the use of art to survive abuse, incest, madness and depression, and the often deep-seated impulse toward self-destruction including cutting, eating disorders and addiction..."

Full list of contributors: Nan Goldin, Patricia Smith, bell hooks, Eileen Myles, Inga M. Muscio, Diane DiMassa, Fly, Cristy C. Road, Annie Sprinkle, Elizabeth Stephens, Nicole Blackman, Stephanie Howell, Daphne Gottlieb, Carolyn Gage, Carol Queen, Anonymous, Kate Bornstein, Silas Howard, Toni Blackman, and Bonfire Madigan Shive.

I am so proud of my friend and so thankful she has put this amazing book out into the world.

Monday, April 14, 2008

My weakness for bad game shows

I am going to admit something. I love the television show Deal or No Deal. There, I've said it.

Why do I love this crappy show hosted by a bald ex-comic and populated by life-sized Barbies in matching mini dresses? I am not sure.
I will say that my fascination with the show has waned a tiny bit as I've slowly let myself accept the fact that the contestants/contests may very well be rigged. (Aren't a disturbing number of "reality," or reality-type shows scripted? So what is real about it? The writing?).

I think I just love numbers, and odds, and chance. And maybe I get a little thrill out of watching someone stupidly throw away a good offer, when their chances of doing better are obviously next to zero.

I do have a least favorite part of the show, however. I really dislike it when Howie gets into the details of the contestants' personal lives, 'cause that's when the show seems most scripted. And, frankly, I don't really care about the personal lives of the contestants, real or not.
I'm a Deal or No Deal bitch.