Michael Hughes: Giving us a reason to buy kitschy souvenirs since 2003.

A fellow named Michael Hughes takes some pretty amazing photographs. He has one collection of images he calls "souvenirs". It's an ongoing project I like to check in on from time to time and today I thought I'd give it a nod.

The premise? Foreground: cheesy souvenir. Background: actual thing it represents. A great idea that makes for fun images. Here is the slide show.

Light Graffiti

This light is tight. Found this image here; original gallery plus video here. (The video is spectacular! Watch it!)



(In fact, LICHTFAKTOR's entire portfolio is amazing.)

Three cheers for Mona Shaw!

While most of us may never feel this emboldened by the lack of respect and courtesy denied to us by most customer service departments of most companies, let us join and live vicariously through the actions of Mona "The Hammer" Shaw who decided to show Comcast just how infuriating this lack of actual customer service can be. One mid-August day, this brave senior wielded her trusty hammer of justice and made the employees of her local Comcast office take notice: she smashed keyboards, monitors and phones in the name of decency.

She also ended up with a suspended sentence for disorderly conduct, a $345 fine and a restraining order keeping her from this Comcast office, but no matter. Let her hold her hammer high!

I am reminded of Orville's t roubles with Comcast. Jordan's email exchange with the dim-witted Dona at Blockbuster. And M.C. Hammer. Thank you, Mona, for giving disgruntled customers everywhere a reason to cheer! Thank you for being a patron Saint of Tightness! May you be immortalized on a tee shirt with your picture (holding that hammer, of course) with the phrase "Hammer Time!" across it. Say, I should look into making these shirts . . .

Genius Grants: Keepin' it Tight

What's tighter than a "genius grant"? Awarding it to a great musician. Denver native, Bates graduate and current C'ville resident Corey Harris is a recipient of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation grant in which he will receive $100,000 over the next 5 years. Two Tight-Nods to the Foundation and for Mr. Harris for always keepin' a wrench at the ready.

Here is a list of all the recipients. Here is Harris' MySpace page. And here is Harris performing "Honeysuckle":

Tight? Indeed.

A gorilla. High-fiving a shark. In front of an explosion. Sufficiently tight.