Chris Vacano, est. 1972

Photo_9.jpgFirst, they ignore you. Then, they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.

-- M.K. Gandhi     

All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men do nothing.

-- Edmond Burke     

Welcome to the web site of Seattle artist and designer,
Chris Vacano. The second quote above may have been more appropriately paraphrased in one of my favorite movies, Boondock Saints: "... there is another kind of evil which we must fear most, and that is the indifference of good men." This has been the character of my state of mind lately. We live in very perilous times, and are daily confronted with the decision to confront the danger or bury our heads in the sand and hope it goes away on its own. If we don't chose the first, we have no right to complain about the rewards we reap. I still cling desperately to the belief that people, for the most part, are good. I challenge you to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.

You can view my artwork here, and read my ramblings on art and being an artist, among other things. Feedback is always appreciated, so I've set up a page where you can post comments, or you can email me. I'm more likely to respond to emails, but I try to keep on top of comments, too.

As an aside to the denizens and owners of a certain nightclub/dj crew in the UK (you know who you are), you can take your "Official" and stuff it where the sun don't shine. I was born with this name and have been using it since 1972. Moreover, my family's been using it for well over 700 years... quite a bit more than your sad little Johnny-come-lately establishment. When did you open? 2005? 2006? Piss off, wankers.


In Case You're Wondering...

Yes, I took down the entry titled "Tilling Up the Past." Apparently, it made the individual I was speaking to really uncomfortable, which was not at all my goal. Evidently, she's still as bitter and out of touch with reality as she was when we last crossed paths all those years ago. It's also abundantly clear that the time we spent together meant something very different to me than (she represented) it meant to her.

It's sad, really, and she has my heart-felt sympathy.

Note to self: poking around in the past can get messy. Doing so on one's public journal can get REALLY messy. Good intentions don't change this fact. Point taken. Lesson learned: examine your past in a dark, isolated place where nobody else can see or hear, lest you offend someone involved in that past.

Back to your regularly scheduled life.
 


Staking out a position

obama_08.jpgOkay, I normally don't give such public endorsements to presidential candidates, after all, who am I to recommend anything to anyone? I'll be the first to admit that anybody who turns to me for political advice is probably out of their minds. However, this is a little different, for a couple of reasons:

 1) As a nation, we're in some deep deep shit (thanks a lot, George!) and the choices we make in the coming months are going to have profound effects for many years to come;

2) This is the most exciting presidential candidate that has come along in my lifetime. I happily cast my first ever presidential vote for Bill Clinton, but Barack is in a whole different league;

and 

3) As of this weekend's caucus in Washington State, I'm a delegate for my precinct (and am going to take a shot at going all the way to Denver).

Democrats/Liberals/Progressives are really lucky this year: we're being asked to choose between good and great! The fundamental question is: do we need an efficient and effective manager in the Oval Office, or do we need a transformational president... a visionary... someone who is going to change the direction of this country and show us a new way to think of ourselves and our place in the world? Obviously, I think we need the latter.

Dare to Hope. (click the image to learn more and maybe join the movement)
 


Wow.

The Yoshida Brothers. These guys are amazing. A friend turned me on to them yesterday, and I am TOTALLY HOOKED.


Start It Over

Woo hoo! Start It Over is finally out!!! (I've been waiting all summer) Here's a funky little video Reggie shot for the first track, "Know Your Name":


M-Video from Reggie Watts on Vimeo.

If you don't know Maktub, check them out here. These guys have a reputation for being even better live... I love them both live and on CD. Definitely check out Khronos and Start It Over. I also love their first album, Subtle Ways, but it ain't for everybody.

Full disclosure: their bass player, Kevin, is a friend of mine, dating back to my days at ASU. Am I biased? Maybe.


Food for Thought

While it may not be absolutely precise, it's pretty damned close, given that the data is pulled from a variety of sources (including the UN, the EPA and the US Census Bureau). In any case, it's good food for thought...


Poodwaddle.com


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