I don’t mind confusion in the face of Mulholland Dr (or any of Lynch’s films) but I can’t stand the attitude (and it does exist) that implies Lynch is some kind of “make it up as you go along”, pretentious, pseudo, chancer – laughing his way to the bank as po-faced “art house” lovers kneel in worship.

There are (need it be said?) hundreds of earnest, pretentious, self-satisfied directors/writers out there (Sundance anyone?) who serve up curry chips and call it…er…foie gras, but Lynch is about as far removed from their company as Hitchcock is from Michael Bay. He’s the real deal. A real artist. A real film-maker. And I’ll bate the head off anyone who says differently!

Having said all that he’s not without his faults. I think Wild at Heart is hugely overrated and the closest he comes to being a poor man’s version of himself. It has saving graces of course – the most notable being the astonishing Laura Dern, one of Hollywood’s most under-appreciated actors. She’s well overdue a Jeff Bridges style reappraisal.

my father gave me a numerologic that is an exponential of 10 (he was very much a mid-20th C. scientist type) — it’s obviously very powerful in terms of force, but doesn’t offer me much flexibility

As my own father always says, “Nothing as vexing as a numerologically inflexible exponential of 10″.

‘Tis true for him.

I had my sanity shattered as a result of watching David Lynch’s Inland Empire after a marathon ten-hour painting session, and I’m only just returning to (relative) normality now.

Inland Empire is the Lynch film that separates the men/women from the boys/girls. It’s seriously hard core.

If someone mentions to me that they hated Lost Highway or Mulholland Dr I cheerily tell ‘em “Wait till you see Inland Empire! It’ll melt your head”.

http://cdn.nextsmallthings.com/coolchaser.com/image-7329266.jpg

http://oldgrandpa.com/catalog/images/3-digit%2007%20old%20grandpa.jpg

right now, you and Jess are probably considering about 1001 alphabetic names,
BUT please don’t forget that it’s very important for a new baby to also have a numerologic name (that is, a sacred number that is part of its subjective identity for life )

for my own kids, I chose five-digit primes, though if I were doing it again, I think I might’ve gone with just a single-digit (and given them the same one)

my father gave me a numerologic that is an exponential of 10
(he was very much a mid-20th C. scientist type) — it’s obviously very powerful in terms of force, but doesn’t offer me much flexibility

remember, you don’t have to stick to base 10 number systems (though binary has perhaps been over-used)

caitriona, This, I suppose, is what passes for my “big anouncement” post! Many congrats to the pair of ye. Great minds and all that…

Niall, If it were Frank Miller’s Chilbirth then the expectant mother would (after being brutalised by lowlifes and junkies) have become a ruthless vigilante killing machine. Here she’s pictured washing off the blood of another night on the prowl through the scum-filled streets.

A reactionary classic.

Thanks Niall!

The title of this post reminded me of Human League’s “Dignity of Labor,” but there’s clearly none of that to be found crying in the shower. That picture’s a dose of some grim reality, like Frank Miller’s Childbirth or something.

(I just looked at your site, C., you have a wonderful eye for color,
IRA in new york city)

and I also visited kind-I-like.com
aha! February! that’s good, lots of cold evenings in front of a toasty fireplace, holding a newborn on your lap

well, big big congrats to you two! i hope jess is feeling well. it looks like it’s blogger reproducing season as we’re also expecting early next year (mid january). maybe we should get a word in with damien to get a creche sorted for the next awards?

(maybe you’re already a father, are you?)

As for the domestic abuse graphic novella, a definite must-see in the ‘Misery Lit’ section in Easons…and totally in keeping with the cultural waste recycling theme o’ this here blog.