Tuesday, April 22, 2014

NY Portals

Well, this is how we started wasn't it?

For free.

On blogspot.

Web 1.0.

I owe a lot to the internet. I won my first March Madness pool as a kid reading The Sporting News for free online. I saw a photoshopped naked Daisy Fuentes in an AOL Chat Room thanks to the internet. And I bought my first plane ticket to New York using the internet...

But this week, I'm leaving. By 6pm Friday, I'll be living in Venice. I've been really fucking angry about leaving for a few weeks now but I woke up today and finally realized why...

I got an email from Kim's Video announcing a closing sale. For those that live in the city and run around downtown, you know that Kim's is one of the last remaining landmarks of the East Village. It is the CBGB's of video stores. The Mecca of Clerks. The Sultan of Cult. When I came to the city 109 months ago, I had no idea what Glenn O'Brien's TV Party or High School by Frederick Wiseman were, but Kim's put me on. I browsed the aisles, talked to the people, and got put on to sub culture I never knew existed. Most of my life, I'd been seeing things that the matrix allowed me to see. The things that studios had the money to put in front of a kid growing up in Orlando, Florida. Kim's was the antithesis and stood for every thing democracy should be but isn't.

At Kim's every film was represented. If you wanted Michael Bay films, they had a section, but so did Frederick Wiseman, Werner Herzog, and Maya Deren. There were signs pointing to employee favorites, cult films, German Cinema, East Asian Cinema, every thing screaming at you to get weird and give it a chance. I imagined each of these directors like neighborhoods being subsidized by Kim's. In the outside world, none of them had a chance in today's globalized capitalism, but at Kim's with the right curation, affirmative action, and cultural welfare they got the attention they deserved. I walked in as a kid that got lost after buying a hetzi-hetzi (half and half falafel/shwarma) at Mahmoun's down the street with no idea what I was walking into, but democracy in the form of Kim's worked. Every employee had a different opinion, they lobbied for different films, but inevitably with the wealth of information and guidance I made my own informed decisions. After much deliberation, the first film I ever bought at Kim's was Black Orientations starring Avena Lee and Nautica Thorn. Clearly, this choice was evidence that the education gap between Orlando and the East Village was a chasm one visit to Kim's couldn't cross.

But eventually, with a lot of hard work and several visits to Kim's a bridge was built. I actually listened to the clerks and paid attention to the signs and symbols. I resisted going past the red curtain and started buying films intended for viewing without a sock on your penis. The movies were just the beginning because a lot of the cultures and scenes depicted were right here in the city. As I walked around, I recognized certain landmarks, stores, restaurants, streets, and even people. The films opened up worlds to me that I dove into further and further until I forgot how I even got there. 9 years later, I look back and realize that Kim's was this portal into New York City I never came back from. Every thing in my life, I can somehow attribute to finding Kim's, but the saddest part is that this portal is closing.

I know that as one portal closes, another one opens and that the weirdos in the matrix will constantly create new rabbit holes, but we have to remember the things that got us here. I'm sure there are thousands of kids like me that stumbled into Kim's and never came back. That can't even remember who they were before encountering that store and the things that it represented. Whether it was Kim's or Amoeba or Burkina, these stores changed people's lives because they provided the first moments where things felt real. We saw works that were raw, irreverent, and untouched by the matrix. They were stores that dedicated themselves to representing the cultures forgotten by capitalism because most stores understand it's easier to sell you the high fructose nutrient vortex bull shit you already want. They preach to the choir and don't make it their job to educate you. They feed you the best marketed soma at the lowest possible price until it fucking kills you and every thing you care about. #Poison

What's most upsetting about leaving the city is that I won't be around to defend it. When you love something as much as I love the city, you want to be there when it needs you. And frankly the city needs all of us right now. (The only reason I agreed to leave is because hopefully I can do something by being on the other side debating the dominant culture that put us in this predicament, but I don't want to talk about my project. This post is all about the city.) It's constantly under attack and none of our blocks look the same day to day. Every where I look, scaffoldings stare at me like the plague descending on the city that made me who I am. I've thought about this a long time and there are three things that I believe we can do.

1) SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESS - fuck internet business. I've been guilty of this as well and I have gone to Kim's, looked at videos, and bought them cheaper on the internet but I stopped years ago. You have to pay respects to the businesses that put you on and serve as ambassadors of culture and the neighborhood. Pay the extra couple bucks because once we give our neighborhoods up to the internet, we'll never get them back. Slowly, the internet has turned the entire world into one giant Walmart that sacrifices every thing for falling prices. Conscious consumption is one of our last tools because god knows $ spent at the right place counts more than a vote these days. Nothing is free and if you like something pay for it cause other wise it'll be gone.

2) BUILD YOUR OWN PORTALS - if you don't like the shit businesses in your neighborhood, do something about it. Represent for your culture through commerce. There is a difference between commodifying or appropriating a culture and making it viable. Being viable in the market place allows your culture to survive in 2014. You can absolutely make your voice valuable without compromising it. That's one of the biggest problems with counter culture is this belief that getting big is selling out. It's not. You can absolutely grow with the ideals you came with if you fight the vultures every single day. It's harder, but its necessary.

3) STOP BEING IRONIC NIHILISTS - If you walk around with your eyes open, there's a lot to be upset about, but we can't be nihilists about it forever. Yes, I feel like we are powerless at times and left with the proverbial bag here, but it's not over. THE JEDI WILL RETURN MOTHER FUCKERS. But it starts with us and it sounds cheesy but if you see wack mother fuckers supporting Walmart, AMC, or McDonald's say something. Support the independent theatres, shows, and venues. It's not fucking funny to eat McRibs even though I post it on my IG when it returns, I don't actually eat it but I promise this year to not ironically promote the return of the McRib because genetically engineered water added rib meat is going to kill all of us.

Don't cry for me Argentina. Just consider this my White Men Can't Jump moment where the city lent Rosie Perez to Venice. JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE UR BOY WILL COME BACK LIKE THE 18TH LETTER... BAOHAUS LIVES

71 comments:

  1. This -- Conscious consumption is one of our last tools because god knows $ spent at the right place counts more than a vote these days.

    I never knew to put it in words but you are absolutely right.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For friends who wanna windows 7 product key,visit this site:
      www.onlinekey.net Fast delivery, and the keys are genuine!

      Delete
  2. Talking about portals, this piece reminded me of one of my own, Grand park in Chinatown. I loved watching the Puerto Ricans and Chinese people playing handball, intense handball. It was like a stage to me; a place where I can wear my request or jnco's (lol) among others that understood the fashion. When thirsty, you can always go to the grocery store kitty corner of the park for a big ass bottle of water for a dollar.
    Whenever I go back, I still feel a bit of nostalgia. It's one of the places New York transplants still don't fucks with for the most part.
    I haven't lived in nyc for a good ten years. It has definitely changed. I really miss the days when nyc looked like "Kids" and the radio bumped tribe called quest on the top40 station. When handball courts disappear, then I will truly be hit by the new york minute.
    Sorry to hear about your portal closing down. I'm sad to say this but at the rate nyc is going, I feel like it will be one large Walmart, filled with a bunch of clowns. Maybe neighboring cities will hold some nyc-like elements then. I pray ;p

    ReplyDelete
  3. It's understandable that you have an emotional connection to that video store but you have to realize this is what technology is. As a young person in his 20's I grew up with the Internet and can't remember the last time I bought a film. Maybe this is because of our age gap. If we don't adapt to technology, technology will leave us behind. Welcome to LA.

    ReplyDelete
  4. europe ain't ready, but i hope you're set.

    ReplyDelete
  5. When you get to LA - check out EDDIE BRANDT'S SATURDAY MATINEE.... It's a massive cinema k-hole, deep and dangerous, just like Kim's, but it's LA.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Welcome to LA. Hit up your Taiwanese homies in SGV.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Do you ever confront that you are bitter physically repulsive racist whose views are little different than Donald Sterling? Although your bogeymen are the evil "whites" who somehow have tried to keep you down even as they gave you innumerable jobs in journalism, publishing, and now television, and were the bulk of clientele at your shitty restaurants?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Can you please suggest me any party space nyc venue which should be good in all aspect. In terms of food and accommodation both. Please suggest if anyone have idea.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Get Hourly profit for 200 hours on every hour without any risk and without any work, best business plans ever
    AllTimeProfit.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Tampa had Million Movies, it completely filled an old grocery store. So very cool, movies from every region of the world, silent movies to current ones. Not so much political crap, but a true love of cinema. Every Shaw Bros movie ever made! The Spaghetti Western section was thorough and complete. I spent more time looking for movies to watch than watching them.

    ReplyDelete
  11. شركة المثالية للتنظيف

    شركة المثالية للتنظيف بالمنطقة الشرقية - خبراء النظافة الشاملة

    اسعار المثالية للتنظيف

    ReplyDelete

  12. هل تبحثون عن شركة تنظيف متخصصة ؟ هل تريدون الحصول علي خدمات تنظيف بجودة فائقة واسعار رخيصة ؟ هل تعانون من مشاكل التنظيف ؟ اليكم الحل الامثل الشركة التي تقدم خدمات تنظيف شاملة لجميع اركان المنزل وكل ما يحيط به من والي مع التعقيم والتلميع للجدران والسيراميك وتنظيف وتعقيم المجالس والمفروشات وبارخص الاسعار وهي شركة تنظيف بالقطيف والتي من خلالها انتم دائما في امان فمع افضل شركة تنظيف منازل بالقطيف تحصلون علي منزل نظيف امن خالي من الحشرات والامراض والاوبئة تسطيعون ايضا الحفاظ علي صحة اطفالكم وتكسبوا منازلكم المنظر الراقي المبهر مع شركة تنظيف منازل بالقطيف فتوفر الشركة جميع خدمات التنظيف التي يبحث عنها اهالي محافظة القطيف وهي تنظيف الشقق والفلل والمجالس والكنب والسجاد والموكيت والمفروشات بجميع انواعها فنولكم

    شركة تنظيف شقق بالقطيف
    شركة تنظيف مجالس بالقطيف

    شركة تنظيف كنب بالقطيف
    شركة تنظيف خزانات بالقطيف

    شركة المثالية للتنظيف بالقطيف
    المثالية للتنظيف بالقطيف
    شركة المثالية لمكافحة الحشرات بالقطيف

    كما توفر الشركة خدمات مكافحة الحشرات ورش المبيدات الالمانية المستوردة ذات التاثير الفعال في ابادة الحشرات نهائيا وبلا رجعة فاذا اردتم الحصول علي خدمات مكافحة الحشرات وخاصة النمل الابيض لا تترددوا في الاتصال بشركة المثالية للتنظيف بالقطيف

    شركة مكافحة حشرات القطيف
    شركة مكافحة النمل الابيض بالقطيف

    ReplyDelete
  13. Did you know that you can create short urls with AdFly and receive $$$$$$ from every visitor to your short links.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Searching for the Best Dating Site? Create an account and find your perfect date.

    ReplyDelete
  15. هل تبحث عن شركة متخصصة فى خدمات التنظيف بالطائف بافضل المعدات والسوائل وثقة تمة فى العمل ودقة فى النتائج كل هذه المميزت توفرها شركة الخليج الشركة الافضل والامثل فى الخدمات المنزلية بالطائف وبما اننا الشركة الافضل والامثل بدون منافس سوف نسعى لتوفر افضل الخدمات باقل تكلفة وبقدر كبير من الاهتمام والدقة عزيزى اينما كنت فى اى منطقة ا وحى تابع لمدينة الطائف اتصل بنا وسوف نصلك فى الحال شركة الخليج للخدمات المنزلية شركة تنظيف منازل بالطائف
    شركة تنظيف فلل بالطائف
    شركة تنظيف خزانات بالطائف
    شركة تسليك مجارى بالطائف
    شركة رش مبيدات بالطائف
    شركة مكافحة نمل ابيض بالطائف
    شركة مكافحة حشرات بالطائف
    شركة عزل اسطح بالطائف
    شركة عزل خزانات بالطائف

    ReplyDelete
  16. نقدم لكم بعض الخدمات فى الاعمال المنزلية الممثله فى التنظيف الشامل للمنزل ومكافحة الحشرات وعزل الاسطح وكشف تسربات المياة ونقل الاثاث بكل انوعه كل ذلك يساعد فى الحصول علي مظهر رائع بواسطة افضل الفنيين والمتخصصين فى هذا المجال باستخدام احدث المعدات.
    شركة عزل اسطح بابها
    شركة كشف تسربات بابها
    شركة تنظيف خزانات بابها
    شركة مكافحة حشرات بابها
    شركة عزل اسطح بخميس مشيط
    شركة كشف تسربات بخميس مشيط
    شركة مكافحة حشرات بخميس مشيط
    شركة تنظيف منازل بالطائف
    شركة نقل عفش بالطائف

    ReplyDelete

  17. Hello!! my lovely Friends, My name is Jasleen Matharu. I provide Newly Teenager Hot and Sexy girls for full Night party and romance and I also provide to you HouseWife, Modal Stars Girls, College Girls any where only on one click on my link and find out the Lovely Hotness Call Girls on tha door step deliver without any risk.

    \\Lucknow Escorts\\
    \\Puri Escorts\\
    \\Cuttack Escorts\\


    \\Escorts In Jaipur\\
    \\Bhubaneswer Escort\\
    \\Jaipur Escorts\\


    \\Jaipur Escort Service\\
    \\Escort Service In Guwahati\\
    \\Jaipur Call Girls\\

    If you are interesting for rommance with hot girl you can contect me any where. Thanku for visited I love you too who loves me.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Indiancallgirlsinmalaysia.com Give u best escorts girls in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. I' ll give u brilliant escorts in Malaysia, Indian escorts in Malaysia and much more.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Công ty dịch thuật miền trung - MIDtrans có trụ sở chính tại 02 Hoàng Diệu, Nam Lý, TP Đồng Hới, Quảng Binh là doanh nghiệp có tư cách pháp nhân với MST: 3101023866 đươch cấp 09/12/2016 chuyên về dịch vụ dịch thuật chuyên nghiệp. Công ty luôn . Sự cống hiến và tận tụy luôn được đền đáp một cách xứng đáng trong mọi công việc, đặt biệt trong ngành dịch thuật một ngành cần sự tỉ mỉ nhẫn nại và sự kết tinh của trí tuệ.
    Chúng tôi cam kết gọi lại trong 5 phút Phục vụ Quý khách hàng là niềm hạnh phúc và vinh hạnh của chúng tôi. Trân trọng cảm ơn Quý khách hàng đã liên hệ và ước mong sẽ có cơ hội được phục vụ Quý khách.
    Gửi cho chúng tôi dự án của bạn ngay hôm nay !
    Hotline: 0947.688.883 – 0988.598.386
    Email: info@dichthuatmientrung.com.vn
    ĐC: 02 Hoàng Diệu, Nam Lý, TP Đồng Hới, Quảng Bình

    ReplyDelete
  20. Very Good way of attracting your reader's attention is to write blog like you. Please do contact me on genuinehotelescorts@gmail.com for
    Jaipur call girls
    Jaipur call girls
    Jaipur call girls
    Delhi call girls
    Guwahati call girls
    Guwahati call girls
    Guwahati call girls
    Guwahati call girls

    ReplyDelete



  21. Are you looking for CALL GIRLS in Jaipur and escort service? independent call girls in Jaipur.
    https://escortservicesinjaipurcity.com/
    https://escortservicesinjaipurcity.com/escort-service-in-jaipur/
    https://escortservicesinjaipurcity.com/jaipur-escorts/
    https://escortservicesinjaipurcity.com/jaipur-escort-service/
    https://escortservicesinjaipurcity.com/jaipur-call-girls-service/
    https://escortservicesinjaipurcity.com/contact-us-jaipur-call-girls/

    Jaipur Escort


    ReplyDelete
  22. You can book call girl in Guwahati or escort Service in Guwahati for incall facility
    oroutcall Facility as and when required.To book Guwahati call girls
    you can visit the following links
    Guwahati Call Girl
    Guwahati Escort Service

    ReplyDelete
  23. Explore the profiles of guwahati escorts, guwahati call girls, call girls in guwahati
    and escorts in guwahati for female companionship in top rated hotels.
    Get affordable escort services in guwahati hotels now.
    College escorts in Guwahati |
    Housewife escorts in Guwahati |
    Assamese call girls in Guwahati |
    Nepali call girls in Guwahati |
    Female escorts in Guwahati |
    High profile escorts in Guwahati |
    Russian escorts in Guwahati |
    College call girls in Guwahati |

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hi there to every body, it’s my first go to see of this webpage; this blog carries amazing and genuinely fine data designed for visitors. Feel free to visit my website; 토토사이트

    ReplyDelete
  25. I wanted to thank you for this excellent read!! I definitely loved every little bit of it.Cheers for the info!!!! & This is the perfect blog for anyone who wants to know about this topic. Feel free to visit my website; 카지노사이트

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hi there!

    That's a very nice article and blog, I found it informative and useful, hope to read more nice posts like this one around here,

    Keep sharing the best content,

    Your follower

    Salvatore from Visite Foz do Iguaçu e Conheça as Cataratas do Iguaçu Compre seu Ingresso Online no Tour Cataratas.

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  27. Your blogs are truly awesome. Keep it up. 토토사이트

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I truly appreciate your efforts and I will be waiting for your next post thank you once again. 바카라사이트닷컴

    ReplyDelete
  29. Either way keep up the excellent quality writing. 파워볼사이트닷컴

    ReplyDelete
  30. I enjoy kinds very own post. It will be respectable to get a single narrative inside and outside of the core of this distinctive core specialized niche will likely be commonly knowledgeable. Feel free to visit my website; 야설

    ReplyDelete
  31. Everyone loves what you guys are up too. This type of clever work and coverage! Keep up the great works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my own blogroll. Feel free to visit my website;한국야동

    ReplyDelete
  32. I accidentally searched and visited your site. I still saw several posts during my visit, but the text was neat and readable. v

    국산야동

    ReplyDelete
  33. I will quote this post and post it on my blog. Would you like to visit my blog later? Feel free to visit my website;
    일본야동

    ReplyDelete
  34. To improve your blogging skills. Very informative content thanks for sharing with us. https://www.studylearngrow.com

    ReplyDelete
  35. Great blog. Your post is awesome and content is very readable I will definitely share this with my colleague! 스포츠중계

    ReplyDelete
  36. Your information is helpful for me thanks for sharing the valuable information… 스포츠토토

    ReplyDelete
  37. Here you will learn what is important, it gives you a link to an interesting web page: 파워볼사이트

    ReplyDelete
  38. I am very glad to be here.It is so amazing and interesting.I wanna tell you that it is very helpful for us.Thanks for sharing such an awesome blog with us.I want to visit again. 먹튀검증

    ReplyDelete
  39. We absolutely love your blog and find almost all of your post’s to be just what I’m looking for.
    Simple but very accurate info? Thank you for sharing this one. A must read post!
    Appreciating the hard work you put into your site and detailed information you present.
    Wonderful read! I want to write like you. I hope you can read my post and let me know what to modify.
    My writing is in I would like you to visit my blog토토사이트

    ReplyDelete
  40. Thank you for sharing valuable points here...
    How to find out the Golf Cart Manufactures in India with Reviews Golf Cart Manufacturers in India
    Checkout the more update s about Kitchen Sink Online ..
    Kitchen Sink Manufacturer in India

    ReplyDelete
  41. I have been suffering from Herpes for the past 3 years and 8 months, and ever since then i have been taking series of treatment but there was no improvement until i came across testimonies of Robinson buckler on how he has been curing different people from different diseases all over the world, then i contacted him as well. After our conversation he sent me the medicine which i took according to his instructions. When i was done taking the herbal medicine i went for a medical checkup and to my greatest surprise i was cured from Herpes. My heart is so filled with joy. If you are suffering from Herpes or any other disease you can contact Robinson buckler today on this Email address:_________________________Robinson.buckler@yahoo.com……………….

    ReplyDelete
  42. Nice post thank you Kevin

    ReplyDelete

  43. Picture subtitle,s foundation conservative lawmaker to back the unpredictab
    파워볼전용놀이터

    ReplyDelete