Jeff likes to report back on all the things he learns about me from surreptitiously reading my blog on a regular basis; but he told me that he's too shy to actually post any comments, since everyone who does is on a "nickname" basis. But then I thought "You know, all Jeff needs is a little encouragement."
What do you say, fellas? Can we all chime in and let him know there's nothing to be afraid of? Tell us what's on your mind, Jeff!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Why We Might Have Turned the Corner as a Society
In at least these few instances...
Where but a few years ago big media conglomerations threatened the end of the independent film, Netflix has ushered in its new golden age.
Ditto big media conglomerations with respect to the independent musical artist. Enter digital music.
Half a decade ago, we thought email was threatening the end of grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure in the written word. Now, nearly every one of millions of bloggers are suddenly holding their writing to a higher standard.
Of course, there's still war, disease, and poverty. But perhaps this bubble is actually bursting because it got poked by the top of Maslow's Pyramid, and the residual hope for the world has to trickle down the sides.
Where but a few years ago big media conglomerations threatened the end of the independent film, Netflix has ushered in its new golden age.
Ditto big media conglomerations with respect to the independent musical artist. Enter digital music.
Half a decade ago, we thought email was threatening the end of grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure in the written word. Now, nearly every one of millions of bloggers are suddenly holding their writing to a higher standard.
Of course, there's still war, disease, and poverty. But perhaps this bubble is actually bursting because it got poked by the top of Maslow's Pyramid, and the residual hope for the world has to trickle down the sides.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Jumping In on The Movie Review Haiku
This, being the most recent movie I've seen; and in homage to the Mixdorf sensation that is sweeping the web:
Also, since it's been a recent topic of discussion...
Being John Malkovich
Funniest first half
In my recent memory
Most depressing last
Also, since it's been a recent topic of discussion...
Napoleon Dynamite
Teen misfit goes wild
Laugh yet pity to sweet end
Hmmm...Sixteen Candles?
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Love Letters
The name of our next Reader's Theatre production, in which I have a co-starring role. In the words of our company:
Written by A.R. Gurney, the play follows a lifelong string of correspondence between staid, dutiful lawyer Andrew Makepeace Ladd III and the vivacious, somewhat unstable painter Melissa Gardner. From second grade through middle-age, the details of their poignantly funny friendship and ill-fated romance emerge from what is written- and what is left unsaid- in their letters.
So-poignant romantic comedy. I'm a little outside of my normal comfort zone of sketch comedy, playing a bit of a starched-collar go-getter, but it's that sort of new realm that I am really seeking in my born-again acting life. We know I can play a spaz, but how do I tackle the the meaty, tearful delivery? Reader's Theatre is really cool, because so much depends on the delivery. Not hiding behind technical wizardry or even blocking. The audience hangs on the words, going up for the highs and being brought down with the actors for the lows, moreso than in any other theatre I've seen. I'm so excited to take on the challenge of not only playing a character that is a bit outside myself (though one to which I can relate for a couple of different reasons, not the least of which is my own personal history with love letters to Paraguay), but a character at all ages of his life between eight and 55.
We had our first readthrough Tuesday night, and I'm paired up with a couple of pros (literally); in the director and female lead, both of whom have an employment resume that includes Minneapolis' Brave New Workshop, a place in which I have at one time or another considered "plying my sketch comedy craft."
More on this show, undoutedly, as the rehearsal process continues.
Written by A.R. Gurney, the play follows a lifelong string of correspondence between staid, dutiful lawyer Andrew Makepeace Ladd III and the vivacious, somewhat unstable painter Melissa Gardner. From second grade through middle-age, the details of their poignantly funny friendship and ill-fated romance emerge from what is written- and what is left unsaid- in their letters.
So-poignant romantic comedy. I'm a little outside of my normal comfort zone of sketch comedy, playing a bit of a starched-collar go-getter, but it's that sort of new realm that I am really seeking in my born-again acting life. We know I can play a spaz, but how do I tackle the the meaty, tearful delivery? Reader's Theatre is really cool, because so much depends on the delivery. Not hiding behind technical wizardry or even blocking. The audience hangs on the words, going up for the highs and being brought down with the actors for the lows, moreso than in any other theatre I've seen. I'm so excited to take on the challenge of not only playing a character that is a bit outside myself (though one to which I can relate for a couple of different reasons, not the least of which is my own personal history with love letters to Paraguay), but a character at all ages of his life between eight and 55.
We had our first readthrough Tuesday night, and I'm paired up with a couple of pros (literally); in the director and female lead, both of whom have an employment resume that includes Minneapolis' Brave New Workshop, a place in which I have at one time or another considered "plying my sketch comedy craft."
More on this show, undoutedly, as the rehearsal process continues.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Sure, It's Good For The Kids and All...
But, in the heat of the various monetary stresses involved with Sharon quitting, it's easy for me to overlook some of the more subtle benefits that, now that I sit down for a lunch of squash chili and homemade cornbread leftovers, don't seem quite so subtle.
Monday, January 15, 2007
NSE
From the wildly successful show my theatre company put on Friday night (great reaction from a sellout crowd) to pulling off a somewhat last-minute booked visit by T-Clog, this past weekend was Non Stop Excitement in its purest form.
First-I had been sweating out the situation with the Reader's Theatre show, since we'd had a glitch in our mass email system and had reason to believe a vast majority of our contact list did not receive two email that were sent out in the runup to the show. So, we really didn't know what to expect. But whether it was the exposure we got via the huge turnout we got for our Christmas Show or that our audience base is growing as a result of word-of-mouth from our small but deep set of "regulars," the community was out in full force. We literally had to turn a couple of people away when we topped out our seating capacity at 50. I was overwrought with nerves, prior to the show. Performing does not bug me in the least; but the prospect of "winging it," as I was expected to do in some pre-show remarks, was making me a basket case; as was the prospect of hitting all my technical cues (a light flip, sound) at the right time. I just hate doing that stuff-my brain is not hard-wired to pull that type of thing off very well. But everything went about as smoothly as possible, and after the show I was awash in what is becoming a familiar blend of relief and satisfaction.
Then, late Saturday morn. Hanging out at the coffee shop with my family; one T-Clog stops in, as per the arrangement. And, from that point on, a potentially delicate balancing act between a Daddy-starved family and a friend who has made a journey to visit was pulled off by all parties with grace and good cheer. The Clog and I remained around enought to ease my daughters through some of the touch-and-go moments of the day and, in fact, performed the "nighttime ritual" that night; Lucy's 2nd story read while sitting on the lap of a close friend of mine in just over two weeks! Things didn't get too raucous over the weekend-it was "NSE" of a rather domestic sort, but we all understood that going in. Activities included checking out a few local haunts (including two coffee shops), "forest football" actually played on a nearby jogging path, a visit to the "zero-G" slide that was built in local park, beer, pizza, Mouse Trap, Trivia Pursuit, a couple of Star Trek episodes, some good conversation, YouTube exploration, my first viewing of Napoleon Dynamite and...I'm sure I'm forgetting something...
Thanks for the visit, Clog.
First-I had been sweating out the situation with the Reader's Theatre show, since we'd had a glitch in our mass email system and had reason to believe a vast majority of our contact list did not receive two email that were sent out in the runup to the show. So, we really didn't know what to expect. But whether it was the exposure we got via the huge turnout we got for our Christmas Show or that our audience base is growing as a result of word-of-mouth from our small but deep set of "regulars," the community was out in full force. We literally had to turn a couple of people away when we topped out our seating capacity at 50. I was overwrought with nerves, prior to the show. Performing does not bug me in the least; but the prospect of "winging it," as I was expected to do in some pre-show remarks, was making me a basket case; as was the prospect of hitting all my technical cues (a light flip, sound) at the right time. I just hate doing that stuff-my brain is not hard-wired to pull that type of thing off very well. But everything went about as smoothly as possible, and after the show I was awash in what is becoming a familiar blend of relief and satisfaction.
Then, late Saturday morn. Hanging out at the coffee shop with my family; one T-Clog stops in, as per the arrangement. And, from that point on, a potentially delicate balancing act between a Daddy-starved family and a friend who has made a journey to visit was pulled off by all parties with grace and good cheer. The Clog and I remained around enought to ease my daughters through some of the touch-and-go moments of the day and, in fact, performed the "nighttime ritual" that night; Lucy's 2nd story read while sitting on the lap of a close friend of mine in just over two weeks! Things didn't get too raucous over the weekend-it was "NSE" of a rather domestic sort, but we all understood that going in. Activities included checking out a few local haunts (including two coffee shops), "forest football" actually played on a nearby jogging path, a visit to the "zero-G" slide that was built in local park, beer, pizza, Mouse Trap, Trivia Pursuit, a couple of Star Trek episodes, some good conversation, YouTube exploration, my first viewing of Napoleon Dynamite and...I'm sure I'm forgetting something...
Thanks for the visit, Clog.
Thursday, January 11, 2007
The Producers
Actually, the Producer: me.
In trying to spread the load a bit in our current Reader's Theatre season, the other two members of my theatre company have picked up producing duties from our artistic director. I've never truly been in this role before and, though I can't say I'm surprised by the number of things to try and stay on top of, actually being in this position definitely gives me an appreciation for it all. Producer is basically in charge of making sure everything comes together for a production. That there is someone for every role, onstage to off (consider: actors/director, sound, lights, tickets, etc. etc. etc.); that all logistics are coming together (from a cash box for the ticket booth to designing & printing all promotional materials and programs to making sure a buttload of chairs get loaded into the performance space a day before the show). And so much more.
So, tomorrow night is the performance. My load is lessened significantly by the fact that this is Reader's Theatre, and every so more slightly by the fact it is a one-man show, starring our Artistic Director, Jeff. You can read a little about the show here.
Of course, I wouldn't know what to do if I wasn't scrambling about like a duck on speed. After the whirwind visit by T-Clog this weekend, I'm back to having a company meeting Monday night and then doing the first read-through of our February show (in which I return to the stage) on Tuesday night. This is all in and around care for two-month-old Rose (to the extent I am around to offer it) and self-imposed pressure of Project 365, and various other projects that hang over my head, like music recording and CMC. Oh yeah, and that Beatles tribute recital in which I will play guitar and sing to help out music teacher friend and former bandmate Krista in March.
Zowie.
Anyway, tonight is dress-rehearsal. There is a distinct possibility that P-365 will feature theatrically-related photos over the next couple of days, if shots present themselves.
In trying to spread the load a bit in our current Reader's Theatre season, the other two members of my theatre company have picked up producing duties from our artistic director. I've never truly been in this role before and, though I can't say I'm surprised by the number of things to try and stay on top of, actually being in this position definitely gives me an appreciation for it all. Producer is basically in charge of making sure everything comes together for a production. That there is someone for every role, onstage to off (consider: actors/director, sound, lights, tickets, etc. etc. etc.); that all logistics are coming together (from a cash box for the ticket booth to designing & printing all promotional materials and programs to making sure a buttload of chairs get loaded into the performance space a day before the show). And so much more.
So, tomorrow night is the performance. My load is lessened significantly by the fact that this is Reader's Theatre, and every so more slightly by the fact it is a one-man show, starring our Artistic Director, Jeff. You can read a little about the show here.
Of course, I wouldn't know what to do if I wasn't scrambling about like a duck on speed. After the whirwind visit by T-Clog this weekend, I'm back to having a company meeting Monday night and then doing the first read-through of our February show (in which I return to the stage) on Tuesday night. This is all in and around care for two-month-old Rose (to the extent I am around to offer it) and self-imposed pressure of Project 365, and various other projects that hang over my head, like music recording and CMC. Oh yeah, and that Beatles tribute recital in which I will play guitar and sing to help out music teacher friend and former bandmate Krista in March.
Zowie.
Anyway, tonight is dress-rehearsal. There is a distinct possibility that P-365 will feature theatrically-related photos over the next couple of days, if shots present themselves.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Monday, January 08, 2007
The Undiscovered Country
Well, it's official. Sharon just called in and announced her resignation. She is officially a stay-at-home mom.
The thing that's really nuts about it is how she had pretty much one of the most idea set-ups in the world: working part-time only in a job she loved (taking kids on nature hikes-are you kidding me?). But staying home with Rose and keeping her out of the day care mill, as well as the idea of helping to keep our collective lives a little less crazy, just won out in the end. And, of course (to add nuts to nuts), I continue on in Barad-Dur.
It would be an understatement to say that we're dialing back our budget a few notches. For anyone who comes to visit and wonders why I balk at going out for a "night on the town," consider that we weren't quite keeping our heads above water as it was, and we just lost a net income of around $15k a year.
The thing that's really nuts about it is how she had pretty much one of the most idea set-ups in the world: working part-time only in a job she loved (taking kids on nature hikes-are you kidding me?). But staying home with Rose and keeping her out of the day care mill, as well as the idea of helping to keep our collective lives a little less crazy, just won out in the end. And, of course (to add nuts to nuts), I continue on in Barad-Dur.
It would be an understatement to say that we're dialing back our budget a few notches. For anyone who comes to visit and wonders why I balk at going out for a "night on the town," consider that we weren't quite keeping our heads above water as it was, and we just lost a net income of around $15k a year.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
DDS
Are there any library science theorists out there trying to improve upon the Dewey Decimal System? I mean, a system for cataloging books that dates to 1874? Structured to categorize all areas of human scholarship in order "...from the divine (philosophy and religion) to the mundane (history and geography)." It's such an old-world view of knowledge and fields of study that it would be laughable if it weren't currently holding hostage our nations' books.
Book lovers? Your thoughts?
Somehow, the general acceptance of this obsolete holdover reminds me of our Minnesota law whereby you can't sell alcohol on Sunday. WTF?
Book lovers? Your thoughts?
Somehow, the general acceptance of this obsolete holdover reminds me of our Minnesota law whereby you can't sell alcohol on Sunday. WTF?
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Underground!
So it seems that I've come full-circle. Or maybe half-circle-as we're talking a hundred & eighty degree turn.
After being hailed by Stephen as one of the most open & revealing bloggers he's seen (in terms how I've tended to blog about my personal life), I have decided to remove The Oliopolis from the public blogroll. Off Blogger's listings, and out of my profile view. The more I think about it, the more I realize that my various thoughts & mini-essays are really intended for a small audience; those who know me & generally share my perspective. I may wish to preserve my "bloggins" at some point in the future for my own personal satisfaction, but I have no particular need to shoot everything that occurs to me out the the world at large. If and when I produce something in this forum that I wish to "take public," I'll look for the appropriate forum. Till then, I'm generally satisfied with my "readership," and can point "2nd tier readers" to specific posts if & when it seems appropriate.
The turning point, really, was my Project 365. Link from this page is one way, baby. It occurred to me how it is possible that there are those people in my life that I may wish to point towards this photographic endeavor that I wouldn't want within 50 miles of some of the rantings that go on in The Oliopolis (I'm thinking of work associates and family in Iowa in particular, here).
Anyway, for the others in this particular corner of the Blogosphere - I'm sorry this is not going to turn out to be the traffic generator you expected.
After being hailed by Stephen as one of the most open & revealing bloggers he's seen (in terms how I've tended to blog about my personal life), I have decided to remove The Oliopolis from the public blogroll. Off Blogger's listings, and out of my profile view. The more I think about it, the more I realize that my various thoughts & mini-essays are really intended for a small audience; those who know me & generally share my perspective. I may wish to preserve my "bloggins" at some point in the future for my own personal satisfaction, but I have no particular need to shoot everything that occurs to me out the the world at large. If and when I produce something in this forum that I wish to "take public," I'll look for the appropriate forum. Till then, I'm generally satisfied with my "readership," and can point "2nd tier readers" to specific posts if & when it seems appropriate.
The turning point, really, was my Project 365. Link from this page is one way, baby. It occurred to me how it is possible that there are those people in my life that I may wish to point towards this photographic endeavor that I wouldn't want within 50 miles of some of the rantings that go on in The Oliopolis (I'm thinking of work associates and family in Iowa in particular, here).
Anyway, for the others in this particular corner of the Blogosphere - I'm sorry this is not going to turn out to be the traffic generator you expected.
Monday, January 01, 2007
Beatles Anthology, Part IV?
Sugn by Lucy in real-time, as I type...
He's a real nowhere man/
He lives in Ashraka eating all the mines/
He'll eat you, if you try/
He's a real nowhere man.
He's a real tri-minute/
He does a lot of things/
His mom says he's not a nice man/
He lives in Ashraka, eats a lot of food/
He doesn't know what to do, a lot of things/
He's knows of a bread of your friend/
You know his mind, you would even say it glows in the dark.
He's a real nowhere man/
He lives in Ashraka eating all the mines/
He'll eat you, if you try/
He's a real nowhere man.
He's a real tri-minute/
He does a lot of things/
His mom says he's not a nice man/
He lives in Ashraka, eats a lot of food/
He doesn't know what to do, a lot of things/
He's knows of a bread of your friend/
You know his mind, you would even say it glows in the dark.
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