Arnold has been sick recently and has been admitted to the hospital for observation and tests. Because of that, he is currently offline and regrets that he is not able to read or respond to email or comments here for the time being.
Notice to readers
October 18, 2026The alpine chamois, aka isard
September 19, 2026From a note about my late friend Steve Isard:
his family name before was Issersky or Isserski, altered on immigration [to Isard]
But the name Isard was not just picked out of a hat; isard is the name (in several languages) of an actual creature, an alpine goat, fleet of foot:
The Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica) is a goat-antelope that lives in the Pyrenees and Cantabrian Mountains of Spain, France and Andorra, and the Apennine Mountains of central Italy (from Wikipedia) — named isard in Catalan, Occitan, and French
The gang of four
September 16, 2026A follow-up to yesterday’s posting “Certified queer”, a riff on a t-shirt that I posted about in 2022; the message on it is the playful 100% Certified Queer, and it has the the label QUEER in it.
Today’s posting focuses on four tees recently acquired or on their way to me soon: three with labels on them — GAY, PANSY, FAIRY — and one with gorgeous pansy flowers, the label being merely implicit. The gang of four.
What’s your number?
September 15, 2026I am late for the Rosh Hashanah / New Year train; my life is overfull, but I press on, with brevity to the max:
5787 Shana Tovah!
Certified queer
September 15, 2026The first of two postings about message-bearing t-shirts. This one is a riff on a tee that I posted about in 2022; its message is the playful 100% Certified Queer, and the label QUEER in it turns out to be a many-layered thing.
The posting to come later focuses on four tees recently acquired or on their way to me soon: three with labels on them — GAY, FAIRY, PANSY — and one with gorgeous pansy flowers, the label being merely implicit.
The group birthday card
September 13, 2026Arriving a bit after the day itself (9/6), a big (two 8 x 12 panels) greeting attached to the handle to the front door of my apartment. Signed by many of the other residents at Avant. None of whom I have met by name (though we might have exchanged friendly hellos in the elevator). But a sweet gesture towards someone who sticks out as wildly different from the rest — gay spice, as one of the staff calls it.
I’ve mounted it temporarily with artist’s tape on the open door of the linen closet, so I can see it from the worktable where I labor with computer.
Sensuous pleasure
September 11, 2026A little work of postcard art sent to me by Ann Burlingham as sexy, juicy fruit!:
Bright blackberry juice, crushed in the fingers, runs down the palm of the hand and then the arm
