Yes, as Tyler reminded me, there is a Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival, held each Labor Day weekend. I’ve never given it much thought — ordinarily, I’m preoccupied with Southern Decadence around that time, or maybe a hurrication — but this year…

Well, you can see where that’s going.

If you’re a Tumblr user — and I know some of you are — you might’ve noticed that the website went black over the weekend. Not black as in “went down”, but changed its color scheme. Personally, I thought it was an aesthetic choice (that blue was getting a little old, no?), but it’s actually part of a campaign to raise awareness about the BP oil leak and raise money for recovery efforts.

If you have a Tumblr account, click over to your dashboard, and right below the “tracked tags” field you’ll see a “donate” button. Just like the widget says, for every $5 you send to Save Our Gulf through that widget, Tumblr will also send $5. And as a professional fundraiser, lemme tell you: a 1-to-1 match is nothing to sneer at.

If you don’t have a Tumblr account…well it’s free, and it’ll put you in touch with 95% of all bears and teenage girls in America. Surely that’ll pay off down the line.

Photography is a funny thing, and advertising is even funnier.

Here’s the story that French shoemaker Buggy wanted to tell: Buggy sneakers will help you express your independence, even in the face of crushing, military conformity.

Here’s the story that I, a half-witted homosexual, prefer to see: Buggy sneakers will offend four-star generals, but their assistants will go wild-eyed with lust. Bring condoms.

That’s a lot of storytelling for a pair of dull, ugly-ass shoes to be doing.

“Buggy: Declaration of Independence”

…so if you happen to live near of one of the world’s five oceans, go for it.

Meanwhile, those of us along the Gulf of Mexico will continue avoiding the water lest we be arrested or covered in sludge or both.

Good news: I just received an email indicating that America’s largest accrediting body for hospitals has passed a new regulation that requires all hospitals to have an LGBT non-discrimination policy before they can be accredited.

Bad news: There’s no speedy timetable to force state hospital associations to enforce the mandate, meaning that it could be several years before it’s widespread.

Good news: You can help by sending a message to your state hospital association, urging them to fast-track the process. All you have to do is click here. I can’t give you a lollipop when you’re done, but I promise, it won’t hurt a bit.

Want more info? Have at it.

I’ve never really been a “theatre person”. True, I’ve spent good bit of time on and off the stage since fourth grade. And yes, technically, I have a degree in the field, but it’s academic (an M.A.), not fine arts (an M.F.A.). I would never consider myself a “theatre artist”, because to me, it’s always been a pastime, a leisure activity — even though the pace has not always been leisurely.

However, while studying for my degree, I did take some fine arts classes. There was no getting around it: I was the only M.A. candidate in the theatre department, so there wasn’t a full curriculum for me to take. (Universities aren’t really keen on paying profs to teach classes for just one student.) Out of necessity, I had to enroll in courses meant for students in other degree programs. And apart from some independent studies and a handful of classes in English lit and criticism, most of the courses I took were the ones meant for M.F.A. candidates in directing and design. I was totally out of my element.

But one thing I did enjoy — and almost understood — was the emotional collage. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a collage of images, textures, music, or whatever else helps describe your response to a play. Sometimes, the items are literal (e.g. you’ve just read Uncle Vanya, and you’re suddenly obsessed with samovars), and sometimes they’re not (e.g. Twelfth Night might inspire thoughts of purple).

And so, my emotional collage for me. Today.

[via Sissydude]

[Michael Gordon: “Light Is Calling”]

[Air: “Le Soleil Est Pres De Moi”]

I mean, seriously:

Thank you, Mr. Goldenberg. Thank you.

…because tonight is opening night for The Really Desperate Housewives of Stepford Parish.

Yes, I am a little overwhelmed.

Yes, I am a little underslept.

Yes, I will get a little better.

But only if you COME SEE OUR DAMN SHOW.

(I’m good with the soft sell, no?)

Which is too bad because:

HAPPY FRIDAY.

P.S. There is more where that came from.