That's no bull

I was an art history major, so I have a greater appreciation for out-there art than many people, but this is, um, interesting. To my eye it is a bull-like (also potentially a sheep or dog) sculpture with a giant meat cleaver splitting it in half from the front. The position of the cleaver kind of makes it look like it has eyes and even a trunk.

What does it mean? Is this some commentary on carnivorous habits, an evocation of butchering, or just a funny-looking table with leg-like legs and a meat cleaver embedded in the front? Is the presence of this public sculpture at a NJ government services complex a commentary on the bureaucratic process?

All I can say is that I'm intrigued and disturbed by this sculpture when I pass by from time to time. Adding to the incongruity is that smokers from this building are usually leaning on the thing in oblivion, like it's just some random wall or ledge. Don't you people realize you are leaning on an evocation of butchered meat?? It took several visits for me to get a shot of it all by itself.

Just watching Larry King, again

So, we have toxicology results and Michael Jackson is finally being buried, 70 days after he died. Despite the stated excuse that the family couldn't decide where to bury him, I kind of wonder whether his being kept out of a permanent resting place has to do with potentially needing to retrieve his body for further testing in the homicide investigation.

I'm not sure I really want to ponder the mortuary technology needed to prolong the pre-interment phase this long, unless someone reveals evidence that he's been stashed in a freezer all this time. In my particular line of work, I have colleagues who have exceptional knowledge of historic mortuary practices, which means I know way too much about the minutiae of coffin construction and other macabre trivia. I know way too much about the reasons why, prior to modern mortuary practices, rural Americans in the South usually buried family members in a small family cemetery out back rather than in a church cemetery at a greater distance. (And I found this book absolutely fascinating.)

This also solidifies my intention that when I die, I will be cremated. Along with averting embalming and later decomposition of my earthly remains, I want no possibility of digging me up decades later to see what really killed me.

It does seem sort of odd to hear Larry's almost breathless coverage of this "historic evening." I'm all for further Jackson fanfare, but after Ted Kennedy's beautiful memorial service and funeral this past weekend, this coverage just seems so...not respectful. Despite the supposed no-fly zone, through the magic of helicopter coverage, we can watch Elizabeth Taylor being wheeled in while Deepak Chopra interviews with Larry.

I watched Ghostbusters last night, for the first time in probably 20 years. Gotta love those free movies On Demand! Despite the length of time since I last watched it, I still know that movie so well that I can anticipate many of the lines. "There is no Dana, only Zooool!" Yes, this is unbelievably lame. This movie was part of wayyyy too many 6th grade birthday slumber parties. It was like, pizza, cake, too much soda, Mad Libs, Ghostbusters, "light as a feather, stiff as a board." Every time.

But the reason I mention this is that I noticed something new in the movie: Larry King has a cigarette-smoking silhouetted cameo in the movie. I had no idea who Larry King was back in the day, and Casey Kasem was the only cameo I recognized (well, at least his voice - I was a devotee of Casey's American Top 40). It's sort of funny to look back now, and realize that Larry has had so much "work" done since that 1984 appearance that he doesn't look much different now.