The Gross National Cool

New Post.

2012-01-26T02:03:00.000-08:00

A newspaper falls on the grass...

Strummer

2012-01-17T01:14:00.000-08:00

Poor twisted child..

2012-01-17T00:19:00.000-08:00

A hostage of kindness to the wheels underneath her...

We wish you a Mozzer Xmas..

2011-12-14T21:56:00.000-08:00

Charming, isn't it? My entry to the ugly Xmas sweater contests.

Waikiki AM...

2011-10-21T17:30:00.002-07:00

2011-10-21T17:30:00.001-07:00

Zakim Bridge BAHSTON!!

2011-09-07T04:19:00.000-07:00

The Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge (or Zakim Bridge) is a cable-stayed bridge across the Charles River in Boston. My favorite bridge of all time.

Abbe May..

2011-09-02T23:15:00.000-07:00

I love you..

Dim Sum with friends..

2011-09-01T23:38:00.001-07:00

Dim Sum is a Cantonese term for snack. Those of us who are familiar with Dim Sum know this. Yet, in no uncertain terms, "Dim Sum" is a culinary CONSTITUTION to some who take this awesome dining experience for exactly what it is, or what has become. A congregational culinary experience... Either that or a mighty cure to a "wicked" hangover due to the previous nights antics..

That being said, based on where I live and operate I like to think of myself as somewhat of a Dim Sum aficionado. Then.. 6 weeks ago I met a worthy match in Philly thanks to my good friend Joann Chang, Carts were full. Service was good. Yet this weekend Masshole institution takes the cake.. When there are 10 old asian ladies waiting on you with push carts with a dining room scene straight out of Drunken Master, what can you say??

A mid morning snack for 10 after a long nights feast, or a mid morning snack to provide the fuel for the rest of the day? Either way, well played Boston..

Never let me down..

2011-09-01T23:08:00.000-07:00

Went to an industrial / electronic club recently with several friends in Boston and inadvertently reacquainted myself with this song.

And the pumpkins version:

Union Square. NYC.

2011-09-01T22:56:00.000-07:00

E 14th St & Park Ave. Hanging right here before crazy thunder and lighting. Definitely disturbed the breakdancing circle.. Boo hoo.

Stumbleine..

2011-09-01T22:33:00.000-07:00

The Smashing Pumpkins - Stumbleine (April 17th 2010) from MonteLDS on Vimeo.

Billy played Stumleine for us acoustic before this. Good times. Long gone...

We'll turn Manhattan into an isle of joy..

2011-08-29T22:01:00.000-07:00

Well maybe not on a day this hot. Upper east side heat a week prior to the "hurricane"... Take it away Blossom...

Chinatown!

2011-07-30T16:21:00.000-07:00

One thing I love about the Chinatown's in the major US cities is that they all have unique gates. This one in Philadelphia is one of my favorites.

It's HOT in Philly!!

2011-07-30T16:15:00.000-07:00

Only in PA can you have thunder, lightning, heavy rain and it's 113 degrees outside. Next week should be better. Then NYC and Boston in August.. Man, it's going to be a hot, humid, sticky summer.

The Chairman..

2011-07-21T00:54:00.000-07:00

If your Mom loves you. You're winning......

The Wailing Wailers - It Hurts To Be Alone

2011-06-14T23:53:00.000-07:00

A great BOB song. And so great for tonight..

EZ..

2011-06-04T11:52:00.001-07:00

One thing you can't hide...

2011-05-29T05:15:00.001-07:00

Are you?

Thrift Store Score!!

2011-05-27T16:53:00.001-07:00

Latest thrift store purchases. One: vinatge Indonesian medicated skin powder tin. One: Teddy Roosevelt ceramic bust full of old Avon musk cologne. All in all, a win.

2011-05-27T16:53:00.000-07:00

Ziggy....

2011-05-16T21:46:00.001-07:00

Sans electric.. :)

Etta....

2011-05-15T01:37:00.000-07:00

I'm so in love with her voice. Over the last 10 years I've finally amassed the complete Etta James collection. Sigh......

Band on the run!!

2011-05-06T19:33:00.000-07:00

I have to say this is totally awesome...

Say NO to Crack!!

2011-04-15T11:11:00.001-07:00

Tomino thinks... you should have been an office lady too..

2011-04-09T18:25:00.000-07:00

I took this pic from the transparency used for the Tshirts + white in transparency + static ridden tube television..

OK, so for those of you who don't know who Tomino is, here is a bio:

YOSHIYUKI TOMINO

From Matt Alt's blog:

Tough Love, Tomino Stlye

Image was derived and Tshirst were created from THIS thread:

Tomino on TBDX!!

God Mars circa 2011..

2011-04-09T18:21:00.000-07:00

OK. So, I got this AMAZING "mission impossible" SOC God Mars case from Hong Kong and just had to Brog about it here:

GM SUPER CASE

Now I can take my SOC on the run..

Sweet suite!!

2011-04-09T17:07:00.000-07:00

So, I tried to upload this awesome video, but blogger sucks... All I have are these 5 crappy pics. This place is great. INCREDIBLE suites and villas. We got a Jr. Suite. Mediterranean? UH, yeah. We walked the grounds after breakfast and it's pretty much on the mark. Gourmet breakfast is very good in the dining room, lunch and dinners served in your suite. Dining table in your room which they will tablecloth and set up for you for dinner. 3 courses for $50 per person or order off the room service menu. Everything was delightfully delightful..

Top notch and only 10 min tops to Bodega Bay. Full spa with massage, happy endings etc (kidding), a 9 hole putting green which is awesome right outside your front door. Sorry about the sad pics, but like I said blogger won't except my vid.... Ugh..

BTW, the bath rooms have this amazing walk in granite shower. I give it a 4+ star rating.

UPDATE:

Looks like I could upload this "mini" vid:

SONOMA COAST VILLA

Tiger Mask - タイガーマスク

2011-04-03T17:27:00.000-07:00

Bad ass.. Japanese Lucha circa 1971.

The wind cries Mary..

2011-04-03T00:09:00.001-07:00

Probably one of the best lyrics ever written.

A broom is drearily sweeping
Up the broken pieces of yesterday’s life
Somewhere a queen is weeping
Somewhere a king has no wife
And the wind, it cries Mary

Otis Redding. I've Got Dreams To Remember.

2011-04-02T23:21:00.001-07:00

馬鹿は死ななきゃ治らない

2011-02-22T05:10:00.001-08:00

Baka wa shinanakya naoranai.

Literally: Unless an idiot dies, he won't be cured.

King Joe (キングジョー)

2011-01-19T18:09:00.000-08:00

We're going to a party. It's a white party darling. And we love you very, very, very, very, very, very much. 1,2. 1,2. 1,234...

Thus Spake Zarathustra..

2010-12-29T16:02:00.000-08:00

‎"Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster.

And when you look into an abyss, the abyss also looks into you."

-Friedrich Nietzsche

李小龍

2010-12-27T21:01:00.001-08:00

Christmas!!

2010-12-25T12:00:00.000-08:00

THE WIG (2005)

2010-12-20T21:55:00.000-08:00

See THIS!!!

Buger King!!

2010-11-23T05:11:00.000-08:00

At the Orpheum the other night, in an intermission during West Side Story I took this shot... Buger King. Look carefully.... YEAH!!!

In the name of the Father, the Son and Elvis' ghost..

2010-09-25T22:11:00.001-07:00

Another one of a kind Vegas find.... Man this one is SICK. The king is king.

JUMBO Swatch Watch!!

2010-09-25T22:00:00.001-07:00

We were shopping in "The Forum" shops at Caesar's Palace Las Vegas last night and I scored the greatest Swatch EVER!! Can't believe this was even available. It will hang proudly in our "hipster" home... Yawn.......

St. Moz

2010-09-21T19:26:00.000-07:00

Tetsujin..

2010-09-21T19:25:00.000-07:00

My guy.

NEKO CITY!!

2010-09-19T15:17:00.000-07:00

Taken at UW's office in Boston. A lil' vinyl like this could have a lot of fun in an architectural firm...

Moz...... Ugh.....

2010-08-28T18:33:00.001-07:00

"Outside there is a pain. Emotional air raids exhausted my heart. And its safer to be inside"

Morrissey

Joe Higgs!!

2010-07-30T09:43:00.000-07:00

Bandai HQ

2010-07-22T11:27:00.000-07:00

Compliments of HK..

Stencil Grafting!!

2010-07-19T20:29:00.000-07:00

So here we go. All over my neighborhood..... Banksy has now inspired a whole new generation of assholes stenciling shit all over my hood and others all over the world. Don't get me wrong, I love the medium, but it BETTER not be found on my front stoop... If I found a guy doing this on my stoop, I would honestly hit him with the 9 iron hiding behind my front door..

An underwater adventure: Maui 2010

2010-07-17T12:21:00.001-07:00

Just a taste of the millions of different aquatic residents of Maui.. Thanks to my friend and omocha colleague Dr Chris Mah of the world renowned Smithsonian Institute for getting me interested in the deep and above all my incredible wife Ez for having the experience and encouragement to make it a reality for me. I'm a changed man...

Kihei Tiki!!

2010-07-17T12:11:00.000-07:00

I've passed by this guy every year we go, but really took a liking to him this year. He TOTALLY reminds me of some Tokusatsu Kaiju compliments of Tsuburaya-san or some such.. There are so many kaiju influences over here in the islands.. This big guy lives on S Khihei Rd. Mahalo Tiki!

Flyin' HIGH!!

2010-07-06T10:23:00.001-07:00

I can see clearly now..

2010-06-17T19:39:00.000-07:00

Taken at Tokyu Hands in Ikebukuro. Wow...

Super 7 Stormtrooper "Super Shogun" Jumbo / Sjoen Jumbo Machinder Exhibition 06.12.10

2010-06-15T12:40:00.001-07:00

Well, it's official. The Jumbo Stormtrooper is available for purchase. A 3 year labor of love. So, that meant there needed to be a party with free beer on the hottest day of the year here in San Francisco's historical Japantown.. As this was a monumental event, we thought it right to match it with a monumental exhibit of vintage Jumbo Machinders so that customers could view the lineage of the StormTrooper Jumbo. A glorious time was had by all.

The winner of the ST Jumbo raffle:

You can see more at the site HERE

My vintage JUMBO MACHINDER colleciton from front to back. It's hard to get an angled pic that has it all in the shop.

The 501st troopers getting ready to police Post St.. I snuck outside to stand out in line with all the other fans so that I could get my raffle prize. ;)

Ha ha! Brian and Glen looking surprised.

An early crowd.. By 7pm it was packed and 100+ in there..

The 501st holding a last gen prototype..

The "making of" case. You can see my pink prototype there on the right:

It was only 110 degrees in the shop. Ez and I, and the other hundred or so folks who were standing outside were hot, hot, hot.... Hence the half in half out pic.

"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...."

Kyu Sakamoto!!

2010-06-15T11:50:00.000-07:00

Kyu am love..

Little Willie Johnson!! Uh huh....

2010-05-28T13:56:00.001-07:00

Jim Kelly RULES!!

2010-05-26T19:50:00.000-07:00

After seeing Jim Kelly in Enter the Dragon as a kid, he became THE Black action hero for me. Loved him in everything I ever saw him in regardless of just how fucking terrible it was. Like I said, I'll never forget him and John Saxon making bets on the martial arts fights in Mr. Hans back yard... Haaaaa!!

Oh yes.. You know he is. I can't get him out my mind.

Star Wars / Zatoichi: In Japanese

2010-05-26T19:37:00.001-07:00

"Life's dirt sticks to everyone..."

Kaiju Shakedown SF!!

2010-05-20T15:00:00.001-07:00

OK! So thanks to August and Patrick, Viz New People was super cool about throwing up the Gojira films this last week. All the original 35mm prints. Love this theater. Saw Matt give a presentation here last summer on Yokai. Seeing this with my boy Dylan was SICK! Love how "Star Wars" the theater is before the movies get "fired" up.... Yeah boy!

OK. So this just so happens to fall in line with one of my new scores from Bullmark. Read about it HERE

Banksy BOMBS Chinatown..

2010-05-20T08:38:00.000-07:00

From 04/22/10. Grant and Commercial Sts..

This must be heaven..

2010-05-20T08:20:00.001-07:00

Found on Venice Beach..

Candy!! キャンディ!!

2010-05-20T08:19:00.001-07:00

1961 Morris Minor!!

2010-05-11T20:01:00.001-07:00

You're in a laundry room. Conclusion came to you..

2010-05-10T16:26:00.000-07:00

Honestly. I was in the laundry room yesterday when it came to me..

Golden showers bring May flowers..

2010-05-10T09:59:00.000-07:00

鉄腕アトム = Tetsuwan Atom = Astro Boy

2010-05-10T09:55:00.000-07:00

Nothing like the vintage.

Some of my latest artwork!!

2010-05-10T09:35:00.000-07:00

Bandai SOC GX-49

Tracy Tracy of the Primitives circa 1988

2010-05-06T21:55:00.001-07:00

I LOVE Sam Wo!!

2010-05-02T20:07:00.001-07:00

The first time I visited Sam Wo was 1988.. Skateboarding at the "China Banks" aka the Chinatown Hilton bridge right on Majong square.. Throughout my highschool career we would take copious amounts of drugs and go here late at night as they were open until 3am. A drive worth the freak show... You can still walk across the street, buy a 6 pack of beer and walk up to the 3rd floor. Totally HK style. Not enough of these places left in ChinaTown. Ah well..

When Conan visited our fair city he even had a fun poke at the SAM WO:

Awwww yes..

Meka Gojira 2!!

2010-04-30T08:55:00.000-07:00

Reissued by Bullmark/M1-Go!. The original MekaGoji 2 Missile Vinyl. Yuji Nishimura must have put blood sweat and tears into this.. Such a beautiful toy.

KAMEN RIDER POP MACHINE IN LA!!

2010-04-25T14:35:00.000-07:00

Found this in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo tucked away in a corner yesterday. It was the one famously pictured in the Joey Ramone picture from back in the day.. SO COOL!

Revenge of the Ninja (1983)

2010-04-17T08:55:00.000-07:00

Take REVENGE HERE

Probably saw this about 100+ times between 8-10 years old..

New TV..

2010-04-15T23:03:00.001-07:00

Hey! Why not?

East vs. West..

2010-04-15T22:59:00.001-07:00

Mifune.

Vs.

Clint.

When I did these, all I could see was how these two guys were total parallels.. Seriously.

Kaiju shots..

2010-04-14T11:30:00.000-07:00

Viking lens. BlacKeys super grain.

2010-04-14T10:38:00.000-07:00

Apple support..

2010-04-09T19:03:00.001-07:00

Thanks Boner..

Just read this on the internets: For those who don't know - that's a bit o' Apple trivia - the "bite" in the apple is not a bite; it's the dent from hitting Sir Isaac Newton's head. No ipad for Ez or I yet.. The Japanese scooter craze in Tokyo is enough for now. That's a LAME enough concept..

Kaiju..

2010-03-31T22:52:00.000-07:00

My Mom's house rules..

2010-03-26T13:10:00.000-07:00

Love this vintage record player. Need to figure out who can repro a door for it. So cool.

Crime just don't pay..

2010-03-25T23:51:00.000-07:00

Ness.. Sing your life.

Diane Arbus..

2010-03-24T11:41:00.000-07:00

(above is a collection of working shots from "Child with Toy Hand Grenade in Central Park, New York City, USA")

OK. I LOVE Diane Arbus' work. I sometimes really feel like one of her subjects. Misfit. Degenerate. Drunk. Asshole. Outcast.. Self loathing is never appealing, dear... She says..

All she ever wanted was to go where she had never been. I see it differently, but alas that's just "art" isn't it?

-ES

Black Celebration..

2010-03-19T17:43:00.001-07:00

Thanks Bert!!

Arbeit macht frei!!

2010-03-19T12:45:00.000-07:00

WORK MAKES FREE. Sadly, I feel like this daily. Our own personal hell is our own greatest tragedy according to Freud.. Well, I feel better....

At Auschwitz:

At Dachau:

At KZ Sachsenhausen, Berlin:

Chaiman Sjoen..

2010-03-19T12:09:00.000-07:00

Recently, unbeknownst to me, I was featured on an episode of "Some Assembly Required". But.. Not in person, but via Tshirt..

Mao Zedong 毛泽东

2010-03-19T12:04:00.000-07:00

Mao (December 26, 1893 – September 9, 1976) was a Chinese revolutionary.

The future of Korea!!

2010-03-18T21:06:00.001-07:00

Taekwon V (Korea's Mazinger Z rip off) circa early 80's?? Great pic!

The Faces - Ooh La La (1973)

2010-03-16T17:50:00.000-07:00

What a great tune. This beauty is sung by a somewhat sober Ronnie Wood, of Rolling Stones fame, way back in 72'-73'. He was featured on Howard Stern's Mammary Lane today and it got me thinking about this old song. I think I became familiar with it via Wes Anderson for some reason, but I just cant put my finger on it. Anyway, great tune, and totally true....

Grizzly Bear??

2010-03-15T09:54:00.000-07:00

Found in NYmag's Brooklyn top 40. TWO WEEKS??? I knew an Austrian guy named Julius who used to say that really funny. TWOOO VEEEKS?? I kind of dig it.

This one "Knife" is pretty OK as well:

Aloe Blacc is..

2010-03-14T22:53:00.000-07:00

A very personal version of Sam Cooke's classic:

Postcards from the edge..

2010-03-13T12:45:00.000-08:00

Thank you Randall for you recent postcards. I haven't had a postcard relationship since my father in the 80s. Keep em coming. I especially like the used ones.

Someone is ALWAYS watching..

2010-03-13T12:37:00.000-08:00

For some reason I really love this picture. I took this outside of my friend Kozaki's bar "Gojira-Ya!" in Koenji on a rainy night. Maybe it's the girl on the bike looking back at me above the neighborhood watch sign.. I also like how it somehow turned out like a black and white with color. Something about the settings the camera had endured rustling around in my purse gave this and a couple of other shots this same look. Something about it makes me very nostalgic and sad. I like it.

My City by the Bay..

2010-03-12T13:27:00.001-08:00

Love me some San Francisco.. Nice Spidey shirt! Thanks MOM!

Kikaider 人造人間キカイダー MENKO AM LOVE!!

2010-03-12T13:25:00.000-08:00

A pretty damn cool Kikaider Menko card.

The Flying Nun (1967 - 1970)

2010-03-11T11:03:00.000-08:00

KOFY is playing this everyday this month at 11am. Such an odd show. When people were still civilized and God made crazy shit happen like flying nuns...

Skeeter Davis - The End Of The World (1963)

2010-03-09T13:19:00.000-08:00

None of the live versions have the reverb and overdubs that give this song the creepiness that makes it so good.

My Buddy Holly Stratocaster..

2010-03-09T12:05:00.000-08:00

Nothing like a rosewood fretboard, the 1957 pick-guard and that metallic dark blue (chrysler-esqe) body color. Sooo BH. I guess my honking Ray-Bans don't hurt either. Funny picture..

Tom Jones - Till (1973)

2010-03-09T11:46:00.001-08:00

Sing it sausage pants..

Decca did so many great records over the years. I'm on the fence about TJ. Although, this song seems to have some redeeming something in it. Just can't put my finger on it. Tiiiiiiiiilllll!!! Ha ha ha!

Panic switch..

2010-03-05T11:28:00.001-08:00

Ronnie Kray do you my name??

2010-03-01T17:01:00.001-08:00

GREAT footage about Ronnie Kray's death circa 1995:

The Detective (1968)

2010-03-01T16:51:00.000-08:00

OK, you've got Frank, Lee Remick, Jacqueline Bisset, Jack Klugman and Robert Duvall.. Nuff said. Hard to believe only 40 years ago gay people were still on the cross and looked at like social deviants..

Info HERE

High E

2010-02-26T18:28:00.000-08:00

My guitar mechanic unfortunately took his life last year (RIP Rich Collopy) so I'm destined to do my own work from now on... I suck at it. Pictured here is a replacement tuning peg for a high E on my favorite piece of shit. Peg stolen from some random crappy electric no name brand junk. Fit PERFECT. Yay me!

Broken Bells - VAPORIZE

2010-02-26T18:27:00.001-08:00

Thank you James Mercer and Dangermouse, you guys KILL it.