MODNIGHT at SPACE Gallery

MODNIGHT was a night of firsts, marking my introductory foray into SPACE Gallery parties, and my first feeble humble at flash/event photography.

The night was a riot. Everyone was having a great time (except for the girl I overheard crying outside, whose ex-boyfriend had apparently spilled beer on her hair and slashed her tires. She wasn’t having a good time; he probably was, because he was clearly a jerk). I hope I was able to capture how much fun everyone was having, except for the beer-sodden ride-less gal, who I don’t think is in any of these photos anyway.

Kudos to SPACE Gallery for hosting such an great event. My fingers are crossed for this becoming a regular thing, like ’80s night at Asylum, but better.

Comment with any thoughts/ideas/suggestions/compliments(?), especially if you’ve got any tips on flash. Hope you like it.

How Journalists Incite Violence, Courtesy of Sarah Palin

Yesterday, Politico ran a story about how Republican 2012 hopefuls are responding to the shooting Saturday of Democratic Ariz. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (among many others) in Tuscon. She wrote,

“Palin, for her part, has practically gone underground since posting a message of sympathy for the victims on her Facebook page and removing the target map from her website.”

Map from SarahPAC, depicting target districts for the 2010 election, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords'.

That was the story yesterday regarding Sarah Palin. Despite being at the eye of Hurricane Rhetoric, Palin all but ducked. (The target map mentioned can be seen above. SarahPAC depicted target swing districts with a rifle’s crosshairs, including Rep. Giffords’ district).

But that was yesterday. Today, Palin released  her video response, “America’s Enduring Strength” (catchy title, huh?). In it, the Mama Grizzly rejected the idea that violent or heated political rhetoric could contribute to actual violence, saying:

“Acts of monstrous criminality stand on their own. They begin and end with the criminals who commit them, not collectively with all the citizens of a state. Not with those who listen to talk radio. Not with maps of swing districts used by both sides of the aisle. Not by law-abiding citizens who respectfully exercise their first amendment rights at campaign rallies.”

Later in the video, Palin says:

“Within hours of a tragedy unfolding, journalists and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence that they purport to condemn. That is reprehensible.”

So there you have it: Rhetoric from Sarah Palin cannot possibly contribute to violence in society. That unique power is the sole propriety of journalists.

</logic fail> </insanity>

What the fuck is a ‘Washington, D.C.’?

From McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. Via Eryk Salvaggio, I think. If it wasn’t via Eryk Salvaggio, that’s OK because he’s been in McSweeney’s and that’s cool.

In closing, I’d like to share with you a conversation I had with my six-year-old granddaughter just the other day that I think pretty much sums it up. She asked me: “Grandpa, why aren’t the empty suits in Washington, DC doing anything to help regular folks like us?” And do you know what I told her? I said: “Sweetheart, what the fuck is a ‘Washington, DC’?”

— excerpt from “An Anti-Washington Candidate’s Stump Speech,” by Pete Reynolds

Please read the whole thing. Because it’s hilarious, that’s why. And vote today. For whomever may or may not hate Washington, D.C. that you think might do an OK job of whatever it is you think should be done.

Scarcelli and Franco-Mainers

According to the 2005 American Community Survey,  4.47 percent of Maine’s population speaks French. In Louisiana, that number is only 3.19 percent, making Maine the most French-speaking state per capita in the country.

In an effort to target Franco-American voters, Rosa Scarcelli is airing radio ads in French out of WEZR in Lewiston, according to an AP wire story from the Bangor Daily News.

This is at least the second attempt from Rosa to reach out to Franco-Mainers, after her campaign pushed out this video in early May. The video features a Franco-Mainer discussing the plight of Francos in Maine and voicing her support for Scarcelli. She even throws in a little French for good measure, but I’m not sure the video does a great job explaining why Franco-Mainers should support Rosa.

Chat archives with gubernatorial candidates

Sorry for my lack of posting over the last few days, folks. But here’s something great, courtesy of the Kennebec Journal: You can see the archived gubernatorial chats that have already been conducted and keep up with the ones coming soon. Click here.

I haven’t got to read them all yet, but kudos to the KJ for finding new, creative ways to bring readers in and involve them in the gubernatorial race (and the news). The KJ is keeping up with the chats, and will finish all the candidates in the coming week. starting with Les Otten today, Bruce Policquin tomorrow and independent candidate Elliot Cutler on Wednesday.