I like my friends.

I had my belated birthday party last night at mi casa. A shared party with JRW and LRL, so there was a nice diverse group of folks. I, personally, had a great time and I sure damn hope everyone else did.

I have to say on the the best things was waking up hungover to discover that certain fantastic folks had cleaned up for you. YAY!

Thanks again to all who came last night. I haven't had a birthday party in seven years and this one was awesome.

It's not easy being green or Trent Reznor.

NSFW if you are a Muppet.

Thank you! Come again!

Eleven 7-Eleven's across the country are (or might) be made into Kwik-E-Marts in a cross promotion of the upcoming Simpson's movie. Cute idea. I might even be tempted to by a squishee, especially if I can get all all syrup one. Or a chuntney squishee

But the wisdom of this promotion seem dubious. One of Kwik-E-Marts key factors is its wild over pricing. But, hey, I give them props for having a sense of humor.

(via Boing Boing)

Beyond Improdome

Teammate JR was going to the PIT last night to do Beyond Improdome. It's an open mic, 3-person improv competition thing. Only 7-ish minutes, audience votes by ballots at the end. I said, "Sure! I'll come." Just the two of us so has we walked up to stage a random third person (Cole) stepped up to join in.

And we just attacked it. Played very aggressive, fast edits, being physical, looping back, making connections.

Seemed to work. We won. Apparently a blowout. Woot.

(We won't have a picture up on the MySpace page because they didn't have a camera.)

What does Justin have in that box?

So I'm watchin' some tv and see an ad with Justin Timberlake. He is hosting this year's Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards. As soon as the ad comes one I think to myself, "Oh, I bet he won't be doing Dick in a Box on Nick." The ad continues to play, exhorting Justin's numerous skills... one of which is "gift wrapping." And there is a shot of him holding out a gift wrapped box.

Insert "SpongeBob wardrobe malfunction" joke here.

In other random tv related notes:
-LOST has finally kicked into high gear this season. Now there is a magic box that allows you to conjure whole people... that you can then torture.
-Battlestar Galactica's season 3 ended last night and it was a doozy. No new episodes until 2008, but we get a tv movie so that's something.
-The This American Life show has started on Showtime... but I don't have Showtime... BUT the first episode is streamin' on the web here (for a limited time)... AND I now have an inside conection to TAL, so I'm gonna get hooked up.
-Joss Wheadon is writing the new Buffy the Vampire Slayer comicbook which is being called "Season 8." The first issue was great, like coming home.

Dr. Shrinker

I have spent a large portion of my life trying to convince people that this show ever existed.

YouTube: Proofing SixSider isn't crazy since 2006.

Band Madness!

I'm a bit late on this but whatever.

Band Madness!

If you couldn't give a crap about basketball and love music, head on over. Or if you just like music. Or whatever reason you want. The ultimate music bracket ever. Work it.

More palindrome goodness - in Polish

Może jutro ta dama da tortu jeżom.

"Maybe tomorrow this lady will give cake to the hedgehogs."

solutomaattimittaamotulos

A Finnish word meaning "the result from a measurement laboratory for tomatoes." Notice it is a palindrome.

Barbara Boxer: "You don't make the rules anymore"

I heart Senator Barbara Boxer. Watch the video.

Link.

Weird Animal of the Week

Glaucus atlanticus.

"Oh, fire... That... that's not for white people."

Kasper Hauser has a wonderfully dead on This American Life parody.

Will 2008 be fought on YouTube?

YouTube didn't even become public until May 2005. It didn't officially launch until six months later. I am not saying that YouTube is a real source of political change, but it is hard to ignore its impact on the distribution of ideas.

Most of it is fluff and ignorable. But the fact video editing is now simple and easy and cheap, and the fact that you can now deliver it to the world almost instantly, has changed things.

The amount of attention being given to the pro-Obama/anti-Clinton Apple "1984" ad mashup is pointing towards something.

This was posted two weeks ago. There are numerous video responses to it. It is being covered by much of the mainstream press. Obama's people have even made a statement about it.

This "ad" isn't by any official campaign. Who really knows who is responsible. If can be made for practically nothing. And these "ads" can say anything they want. As the campaign moves forward we will be awash in these things... and many will get very ugly. Sure, a lot will be creative and witty and even intelligent. But we are going to get a lot of what we once referred to as "attack ads"... except that there will be no limit on what will be said in them.

And many will be ignored. But certain once will be mentioned in the press. Some will be mentioned because they are just good. Others because they are extreme. Blogs will cover them and then the media will cover the fact that blogs are covering them. People will see them and talk about them and campaigns will have to think about whether or not to give a response.

Sure, in 2004, the Internet was around. Sure, there were bloggers who could say whatever they wanted. But, let's be honest. People, in general, don't like reading all that much. But they like videos. We complain and complain about how television has changed how national campaigns are run. About how tv plays too big a roll. How campaigns are now geared towards sound bites and images.

Well, this time around that may, in some part, be taken out of the campaigns hands. For better or worse, it is going to be in the hands of the people.

(Small note: blogger.com's spellchecker doesn't know "bloggers.")

An added note to the last post.

While poking around for links for the last post, I came upon Jen Wang's Touchfood.

Again, just an amazing artist with a wonderful mind. Touchfood also reminds me of some of the relationships I've had, for better or worse.

B-Day Gifts: Art & the amazing Jen Wang

I have a birthday coming up. My parents, being super super thoughtful, gave me a bunch of artto hang on my bare walls.

Eight stills from Bashki's Lord of the Rings that MamaSix found in our old stuff. Pretty cool. I need to group them all together somewhere. I think the yellow room.

A bunch of PapaSix's photos. He's getting pretty darn good. Some amazing stuff. I have no idea where to put them or how to group them. I have hung on over the bed already.

But the most mind blowing piece they gave me has a bit of a back story... a back story very related to this blog. Months ago I made a post about the artist Jen Wang and how much I dug her work. In fact, I even said that if someone wanted to get me something super cool, I would love one of her originals. Well, Papasix contacted her and commissioned her to do something based on the ol' blog. He sent her links to some posts and she also took a gander around. And she settled on one from last February. Well, one sentence from that post:

Going out to dinner with 2 couples tonight. There will actually be 7 people at the table as both women are "with child." Ah, the world of bumps.

And here is the amazing piece she made for me.

(Sorry the picture isn't better. It is already very nicely framed.)

Isn't that just wonderful? I love how the two men are just shadows and how the "bumps" are little hearts... and how the whole composition approximates a heart. Now, I've haven't worn a sweater vest in probably 20 years, but I think it is a good look on me. And, anyway, the look on my face is priceless... and very very accurate.

Again, thank you Papa & MamaSix. And thank you, Jen Wang.

(I also got a Nabaztag/tag. I'm still trying to figure out what it is. It's cool... just weird... and, um, buggy.)

YDKJ: The Return

You Don't Know Jack was just a magical computer trivia game. It was around for awhile and then disappeared. Now it is back. Yeah, it is only web-based and single player and super short. They are doing daily DisOrDat questions and now weekly "episodes." Still high quality fun stuff.

I can only hope they can get enough backing to start doin this for realsies again. Maybe a console version with regularly available downloads available. Seems like a good opportunity for a continual money maker. Sell me a retail disc with 500 questions and then do monthly downloads for $4 t0 $5.

Anywhozits, here's the link.

(Note: You may want to wait a few days to try it out. Right now the site seems to be sluggish.)

I miss the Apple Pan

While New York is starting to get some decent burger places, I still have fond memories of the Apple Pan in L.A.. Great burgers, great pies.

Link.

(via The Gothamist)

Mega64

Mega64 is just wonderful videogame/guerrilla theater goodness. Most of their sketches will make no sense without a relatively deep videogame knowledge (for example if you are unfamiliar with Ico, this video will make no sense). The Tetris one will make sense to most people at this point (and is somehow oddly touching).

I've finally gotten around to playing Dead Rising so the following video is very funny to me.


But the reason I bring them up today is their special GDC (Game Developers Conference) Super Mario Bros. video.

While the chance that Mario is familiar to you is pretty high, your recognition of the Japanese fellow* is slight... and in there lies all of the humor. That and Link.

*He is Shigeru Miyamoto.

Sick

I'm a touch sick today. I think it is just the fact that it has been brutally cold and all moisture has been sucked out of my body. I don't know where it goes when it is this cold. But clearly my body it trying to lube myself up with mucus.

To sooth my soul PapaSix link me to The Comics Curmudgeon. Basicaly just some simple daily commentary about newspaper comic strips. Fun stuff.

LittleBigPlanet

This was just announced by Sony for the PS3. It's hard to understand how neat this game is from watching this little clip... especially if you haven't been playing platformers for 20 odd years. But watch the video... and then realize that this isn't just the game. The game is actually a complete level editor. In fact you could re-edit that level on fly. All four of you.

This is just fun.

Second Life and Age Play

As I've stated before, it was only a matter of time. The Lindens have laid down the law of age play in Second Life: No more.

This is clearly a premptive move before the media and/or legal forces start moving in. It will be interesting to watch how users respond.

Western? Check. Zombies? Check. Puppets? Check, check and check.

It Came From The West
(warning: extreme puppet violence)

Push Button, Receive Bacon

I wish I live in this world... (via SupersizedMeals)

Serbian vampire hunters drive 3ft stake through Milosevic's heart... just in case.

From The Register:

...the politically-motivated Van Helsings, led by Miroslav Milosevic (no relation), gave themselves up to cops after attacking the deceased despot in his grave in the eastern town of Pozarevac. Milosevic popped his clogs back in 2006, while on trial in a UN war crimes tribunal for various unsavoury activities connected with the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia.

Miroslav Milosevic said "he and his fellow vampire hunters acted to stop the former dictator returning from the dead to haunt the country". His team explained that the wooden stake had been "driven into the ground and through the late president's heart".

Points for being proactive.

More of Awkward Boy

Link.

"Clowns can look rather intimidating if you see a lot of them in one place."

Look, I am not a religious man. I respect religion and I certainly try not to mock religions for no reason.

But I have to say I am loving GodTube.

Christian Clown Training pt. 1

"I'm a Christ Follower" "And I'm a Christian."

Baby Got Book

NWA for the kids.

(via Neatorama)

Back on the movie stick.

I like movies. A lot. I like small movies. I like big ol' bloated movies.
I need to see Zodiac and Black Snake Moan. I am looking forwad to 300 this coming weekend (IMAX, definitely). I will not be seeing Wild Hogs so don't ask.

Anyway, since I always seem to forget the movies I plan to see, I need to be more diligent. So here is a partial list of what I plan to see this coming year:

• 300
• The Host
• American Cannibal: The Road To Reality
• TMNT
• Grindhouse
• Penelope
• The Reaping
• Hot Fuzz
• Spider-Man 3
• 28 Weeks Later
• Paprika
• Pirates of the Caribbean: AT World's End
• Knocked Up
• Ocean's 13
• Evan Almighty
• Live Free or Die Hard
• Martian Child
• Ratatouille
• Sicko
• Transformers
• 1408
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
• The Simpsons Movie
• The Bourne Ultimatum
• Black Sheep
• Stardust
• Sunshine
• Across the Universe
• 30 Days of Night
• Beowulf

Okay. That is the rough list. Not including movies I haven't heard about. And, yes, most of these will probably blow.

Most Awkward Boy in the World

Chris Gethard and Zach Woods (and a cornucopia of UCB folks in cameos) have made a series of videos. Enjoy.

Cobra bites DC

Refocus

After my retreat, I am taking a look at everything I've been working on. My body has been telling me that I need to take better care of myself and my brain has been reeling a bit. I also just took a look at a separate blog I had a year ago. I was writing more interesting things back them. It was a tighter audience and I was more focused. I can say that about a lot of things in my life.

So I am going to make some changes. Nothing grand. Just minor things. Now I am trying to resettle things, reconnect. All is good.

I am also allergic to Montgomery (the cat). He (sometimes) gives me huge welts on my arms and (oddly) hips. I am committed to him but he and I need to figure out new ways to live together. This is new. There was one other cat in the world that I had a bad reaction to and that was a sinus thing. So sad. But we'll work it out.

A couple of movies I want to see

The first is Paprika.

29 year old Dr. Atsuko Chiba is an attractive but modest Japanese research psychotherapist whose work is on the cutting edge of her field. Her alter-ego is a stunning and fearless 18 year old “dream detective,” code named PAPRIKA, who can enter into people’s dreams and synchronize with their unconscious to help uncover the source of their anxiety or neurosis.

Why can't the US start pushing animation? Although I doubt we'd ever name an 18 year old detective after a spice used on deviled eggs.
The second is Black Sheep.

On a vast New Zealand sheep station, a reckless genetic engineering experiment goes horribly wrong, turning sheep into bloodthirsty killers.

I mean, come on! How can that not be great?

Swiss Invade Liechtenstein!!! World on the brink of war!!!

Link.

I'm sorry, I just find this funny. I wonder what side Luxenburg will take.

I'm back!

I took a minivaction. Spontaneous and and out of the blue. Got back late last night. Went to Western Mass. and spent two and half days writing my heart out. It was good and needed.

Now I'm back and sorting through piles of emails. Apologizes to all who missed me.

Cat

I have the new cat. He is hiding under the bed and I must run to my show, so photos will have to wait until tomorrow.

No name yet. His finder called him Simon so that shall be his middle name. I may call him Montgomery Fleamarket Simon Minimall. Or I shall draw something from tonight's show. We shall see.

Things to do this NYC when not quite dead

In case you don't want to do things that support me and my ego (*wink wink*), here's other stuff.

Friday:
The Hungry Marching Band & The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus @ Peter Jay Sharp Building (30 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn): If you haven't had the treat of either of these, you need to before you die. Yep. It is that simple. There will also be some burlesque and DJs and generally the sort of Brooklyn hipster stuff that makes other folks nausious. 9:30pm. Free.

Saturday:
Whack people with a pillow. Union Square. 2pm. Free.

March is RIAA Boycott Month!

I'm going to give this quick shout out without going into the details. I'm not a big music comsumer, so this will be easy for me. There are others out there reading thais that I know it will be more difficult. And, yes, I am skeptical about boycotts in general... especialy something on this scale, with such a little understod issue. But it's worth a shot.

I'm going to quote pretty much wholesale from Gizmodo:

Gizmodo is declaring the month of March Boycott the RIAA month. We want to get the word out to as many people as humanly possible that we can all send a message by refusing to buy any album put out by an RIAA label. Am I saying you should start pirating music? Not at all. You can continue to support the artists you enjoy and respect in a number of ways.

Firstly, I encourage everyone to purchase music from unsigned bands and bands on independent record labels. There are tons of great artists out there, many of which you're probably already a fan of, that have nothing to do with the RIAA. Buy their records at eMusic, an online store that sells independent tunes in beautiful, DRM-free MP3 format.

Secondly, you can still support RIAA-signed bands without buying their music. Go see them live and buy their merchandise; they get a hell of a lot more money from that then they do from album sales. And hey, you could benefit from getting out more, couldn't you?

So direct your music money elsewhere for March. Use it as a chance to expand your horizons. The current system is pretty god awful.

Gotham City Improv! Tonight! UCB! Tomorrow!

Just a little ol' reminder...
Thank You, Robot will be at Gotham City Improv (48 West 21 St Street, 8th floor, between 5th & 6th Ave, Buzzer 13) with Bombardo and Creek Weasel. 10pm. $5.

My final 401 class performance is tomorrow at 1pm at UCB. Also 5 smackers.

Oh, and earlier tomorrow you can find me Matt Little Presents: Nerdcore Comedy! at New York Comic Con. (I should have posted this way earlier.)

Jacob Javits Center
Fri, Feb. 23 - 5 PM
Sat, Feb. 24 - 11 AM
Sun, Feb. 25 - 11 AM
@ NY Jedi Stage
FREE! (It's in the main entrance lobby, where a badge isn't required)

Oh, and it looks like in 4 hours I will have a cat again.

"Does he look like a bitch?"

I love typrography.
I really like Pulp Fiction.
This little film makes me smile. (NSFW, language)

(via Boing Boing... yet again)

SecondLife, Age-Play, and the Flood Gates

The virtual world SecondLife is easy to dismiss by most folks. To many it appears just to be EverQuest or World of Warcraft without a real game attached to it. But is coming a fascinating experiment of what people do given almost total freedom.

How will the economy develop? (It is all about owning land.)
Who owns something when it is virtual, when the concept is virtual? (That is still up in the air. I would love to see a survey of "creators/sellers" in SL and how they feel about DRM on music and movies and such.)
When vandalism and anarchy become relatively easy and non-punishable and anonymous, will everything slip into anarchy? (A bit but in general folks like order.)
What will people do will freedom to act out their fantasies?

Turns out the answer to that last one is that some people will "play" at child-adult sex.

This should surprise no one. I am going to pass on making statements about sexual fantasy roleplay and how it is healthy in some cases... if everyone is one the same page and everyone is a consenting adult. I'm not going to talk about the dangers of not actually knowing who the person behind that virtual avatar of an eight-year old is.

But I have been expecting for awhile that SL was just a media uproar in the waiting. Companies and musicians and artists have been running to SL as the "next big thing." And so have politicians. It was only 2004 when the media became amazed at Howard Dean's use of the Internet. Three years later politicians see SL as a relatively cheap way to reach people. I am just not aware how many of them realize what also goes one there and that when the media gets their mitts onto it what will happen.

Well, apparently the Dutch have noticed and are looking to take legal action. The Netherlands has laws about virtual child pornography. It's hard to say where this lands. Is there a difference between disturbing pictures/video of adults pretending to be children (and perhaps not telling the viewer it is an adult) and two consenting adults roleplaying? But I imagine that distinction will not be debated with much coherency. As the media, especially the U.S. media start to pick up the story, SL is going to be seen in a whole other light.

It shall be interesting to see how it is covered and how it effects the SL community.

Best Song of the Day

I have to fly to my last 401 improv class, but I just had to post the song I just heard. I'm in the Tea Lounge in Park Slope. A 4-year old girl is standing by the cocktail table Ms. Pacman. Suddenly she stands on the stool and sings at the top of her lungs:

"I love being a princess!
I love being a princess!
I love being a princess!
Do you have any quarters?!"

Artistry. I wish I could do that spontaneously in my improv scenes.

Chivalry is not dead... just mistake

"It had nothing to do with him. I didn't even know if he was there. It was the woman. I thought there was a woman... So I grabbed the cavalry sword and ran upstairs..."

Porn might not make you go blind. Unless your neighbor stabs you in the eyes.

Bacon Mints

From Archie McPhee:
"Each one of these mints tastes like a delicious slice of crispy bacon with just a hint of mint flavor to give it that extra punch! It may sound weird but once you taste it, you'll see that mint and bacon is a match made in China."

(via Neatorama)

"But why did she marry K-Fed in the first place, Daddy?"

Walking through Park Slope, I was just behind a father and his eight-ish daughter. I, as I am want to do, listen in...

Dad: "Well, people go to to rehab to learn how to not take drugs, I guess. With drugs, it is sometimes very hard for people to say no if drugs are available to them. In rehab, they can stay away from all of the drugs and learn to live without them."

Daughter: "But why did she leave the first rehab place?"

Dad: "I don't know, sweetie. Sometimes the desire for drugs is stronger than the desire to stay off them."

Daughter: "Did she shave her hair because of drugs?"

Dad: "I don't know, sweetie."

Daughter: "What about her baby? Who is taking care of her baby? Do they let the baby in rehab?"

At this point I could tell that Dad was really really hating tabloids, E!, the Internet, and each and everyone of his daughter's friends.

My RSSes have asploded again

I don't know how most RSS readers work. I use Safari so it's all built in. If I have a RSS bookmarked, I just look at my bookmark bar thingie and in parenthesis after the name is a number. That is how many new article are in the feed. And if I have numerous bookmarks in a bookmark folder, it adds them all up. As soon as I look at a feed, the number disappears. Very easy to tell when something has been updated.

I have slightly less than a hundred feed in my bookmark bar, all organized into folders and subfolders. Now most of those aren't updated all that often. Many personal blogs that I once followed have probably been abandoned by their keepers. Other sites, like Fark or Digg, are constantly updating. But I have it all set up so that it is easy to keep track of and so I don't spend a tenth of my day just checking the same sites over and over.

But sometime the system fails me. For whatever reason, Safari decides I haven't read any of the sites... ever. Suddenly all the numbers shoot up and the whole system becomes useless. I them have to go through each one and look at the site, affectively "resetting" it.

That's what I am looking at now.

George Takei

George Takei has certainly embraced officially coming out. It makes me proud that every sci-fi show on the planet still wants him to cameo in their shows (recently he played Hiro's father on Heroes).

(via frakin' everywhre but I saw it on Faithful Hearts, Faithless Money first)

There is a light that never goes out

I don't know who Zoë Woodbury-High is but here she is covering The Smiths' "There is a light that never goes out."

Apparently she's from Portland.

My dreams look something like this

nfctd.

I don't know what it stands for. I am certainly not sure what it is. But it is fascinating. Sometimes flash becomes art. Not often, but sometimes.

"Well, we have an eagle suit and an ugly bird puppet... Let's make a car ad."

(via Boing Boing)

Just so you know, I'm still here

Yeah, yeah. I haven't posted a couple of days. I've been doin' stuff. Wouldn't you like to know what. Tough.

What am I doing coming up?

Well, tomorrow night I shall be trying my hand at some 3 person improv at the PIT's Improdome. Now just so you know this is an open mic type thing, so there isn't even a guarantee we'll be goin' up. But it is free. It is also at 11pm.

Then on Friday night, Thank You, Robot shall be at Gotham City Improv with Bombardo and Creek Weasel. That should be pretty kick ass. You should definitely come to that. Especially if you missed us last Friday. (Why did you miss us last Friday? What was your damn excuse?) It's at 10pm and will set you back $5. But $5 gets you robots, weasels and bombardos. And of course love.

So what are you doing Saturday at 1pm? I know what you are doing! You are coming to UCB and see me in my final 401 class performance. Yes, you are. Yeah, I know it's 1pm on a Saturday. Not the funniest time of day. But what else are you going to do at that time? Laundry? Come on! It is also $5. Think of it as giving to the cause. What cause? Make up your own damn cause.

Mmm. What else? I think that may be it. I am going to see This American Life. Live. On stage. Yes, I am paying money to see a radio show live. Shut up. Sarah Vowell makes me swoon.

Too much improv

I overloaded a bit this last week.

Class on Wednesday, show on Friday night, 3 person practice group Saturday, Thank You, Robot practice to day 12 to 3, and then a somewhat random practice group from 4 to 7 today. I had plans to go to a music think at 9pm, but that was apparently cancelled. Now I am wasting time in Starbucks before a thing at 10pm. (There is one persn out there that will admonish me for this evenings plans. Yeah, yeah. But my other plans fell through and if I just went home, I was going to be depressed. Better into the lions' den than to hide in the corner. Besides I'm feeling kind of strong.)

Anywhozits, I've had yet another brain switch with improv this weekend. Nothing huge, but I am seeingthings more three dimenstionally. Imagine that I have spent the last 2 months staring at a square. I've been staring and staring, and I feel I understand the sqaure in total but my hands just can't quite hold on to it. On Friday night I saw something strange about the square, something that didn't quite make sense. On Saturday, I was shown the other side ofthe square, the mirror image. It was disorienting at first to see this other square that was in fact the first square but entirely different. Today someone gently proded me to turn my head. And I suddenly saw that it wasn't a square at all. It's a damn cube! Now I can see three sides of the cube, some sides clearer than others. The sides are all part of the same object, all the sides are connected and rely on the others, but they are different. And I can only see three sides. There is another three I have never even seen (assuming that it is actually a cube and not some more complicated type of object... god forbid that it might be a four-dimenstional cube!).

Yes, stupid analogy, but that's as close I can get.

The novel continues apace. It took me much longer to getto the body than it should. I am going to have to cut a lot of my flashback stuff. The problem is that (1) the flashback stuff is easy to write because I can just expand on the first portion of Genesis, and (2) I have been thing about the flashback stuff for going on 15 years. Not all the time when I first became fascinated with the story of Lilith, Eve and Adam. I think back now to how one dimenstionally I used to think of the story. Ah, the heady days at college! The story means a lot more to me now... and no longer reads like a sensitive straight white boys rant against the patriarchy.

I just need to devote time to the "present" portion of the book. I got to the body too far in. The next thing is that I need to get to Eve. I've been riminating on her for awhile. She used to be so hard for me to concieve of. On the surface she seems so weak compared to Lilith's strength. But now she appeals to me. Both of them share a deep sadness, and their is a kinship bewteen the two. I have been thinking that Eve would only be in one scene, but I am thinking that she my come along for the investigation.

Adam is still dodging me. He needs to be there, he is very important, it is just hard for me to get past what a sheep he was/is. All of his choices seem so shallow and passive. I know that the hook is him as father. (Admit it, he has to be a crappy husband/lover.) His moment has to come from his love for his sons and his attempt to be a good father... and we know how that turned out.

There are some other major points I haven't quite figured out. Like who actually killed Cain. Yeah, the thing that the whole novel hinges on. Sigh.

Neil Gaiman (yes, two Gaiman mentions in one day) recently commented on finishing the first chapter to his new novel.

And today I finished writing Chapter One of The Graveyard Book, and it's a real book. I know it's a real book because there are all sorts of things I don't quite know yet, and I can't wait to find them out.

Happiness.

It's so nice to know that the feeling continues.

Year of the Pig

Ah, my year! I suppose this is my 4th year of the Pig, the first being the one I was born in. I have no idea if that has any importance or not. Neil Gaiman points out that pigs are "loveable, brave, noble and intelligent animals who have adventures." Man, do hope to live up to that this year.

Quicky

Super quick post before I pass out.

The show was good. Made me very happy. I am always my worst critic, but even with in that we made ourselves proud. I was a great first step on a lomg haul to... what? I'm not sure. But the show and myself and TYR made me proud.

Little Bits of Nerves

I slept badly. Not horribly. Just badly.

The reason why is obvious. Thank You, Robot's first show is tonight. This is the first time I have performed in a non-class show of any sort since something like 1994. And certainly my first non-class improv show.

It isn't a big deal. Really. I mean, it is a tiny space. We will only be on stage for 15 to 18 minutes and I am sharing that time with 7 other people, all of whom are talented and funny. It's improv and audiences that come to see improv are (usually) very very generous. They want you do be funny and know that you are making it up as you go along and are ready to appreciate anything you throw at them. It will be over in a flash.

But class shows have that extra level of excuse that it is just a class show. Tonight is something we chose. We chose each other and have the vanity to think that we are funny enough to go on stage and ask for money. In a class show, you can still say, "Well, I took the class and the show is part of it... but it isn't about the show." Here is is. We no longer saying, "Come look at my hobby." We are saying, "Come. We will make you laugh."

But we are funny. We can be insanely funny. We can also have bad shows in practice... but we also all bring it when we have an audience. It really does change everything. Man, I hope people show up.

So, yet again... Under St. Marks. 10:30pm. Thank You, Robot, Tantrum & fwäwnd.

V-Day Bonus Track: This is how I feel for you

First I don't think I could say it better. Secondly, this is the best choreography ever conceived by man. I am pretty sure this was inspired by Grease. And maybe a bad ham sandwich.

"I wanna love you tender."


(via Neatorama)

So many things to do!

So how has your Saint Valentine's Day been so far? Yeah. Me too. But what can you do?

You need something to do on Friday (Feb 16th)? Say around 10:30? Come on over to Under St. Marks (94 St. Marks Place). See some improv from Tantrum and fwänd. I also hear there is another group opening for them. Something something Robot. It's only six bucks. It won't kill you.

What about Saturday? You need something then? How about a dance party? Rench is hosting one. Starts at 6 pm. 941 Washington Ave, Brooklyn. No cover.
What about something on Friday, 23rd. You could head over to Gotham City Improv and see Bombardo and those Robot people at 10pm. That's just $5.

Or you could go to Hank's Saloon in Brooklyn (46 Third Ave at Atlantic Ave.) to see Rench. It is kind of a celebration of his CD "Life In Mean Season" (which is pretty amazing). Full band. Special guest Sarah Hawker (of Lonesome Sisters) and Chicken Teeth. Also at 10pm. (Damn it for me. I may try to dash from Gotham City to Hank's.)

Al Franken

I ahve to say, elections in Minnesota were always more entertaining than anywhere else I've lived. Well, I wasn't in California for the 1000 Canidates for Governor Race that got them a drug-using muscle-bound letcherous Austrian pseudo-Kennedy action star Republican. But I am certainly going to try to catch all of the Minnesotan debates.

Good luck with that, Al.

Happy V-Day! Hearts to all of you!

Birdhouse In Your Soul by They Might Be Giants

I'm your only friend
I'm not your only friend
But I'm a little glowing friend
But really I'm not actually your friend
But I am

Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
Who watches over you
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it:
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul

I have a secret to tell
From my electrical well
It's a simple message and
I'm leaving out the whistles and bells
So the room must listen to me
Filibuster vigilantly
My name is blue canary
One note, spelled L-I-T-E
My story's infinite
Like the Longines Symphonette
It doesn't rest

Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
Who watches over you
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it:
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul

I'm your only friend
I'm not your only friend
But I'm a little glowing friend
But really I'm not actually your friend
But I am

There's a picture opposite me
Of my primitive ancestry
Which stood on rocky shores
And kept the beaches shipwreck-free
Though I respect that a lot
I'd be fired if that were my job
After killing Jason off
And countless screaming Argonauts
Bluebird of friendliness
Like guardian angels it's
Always near

Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch
Who watches over you
Make a little birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it:
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul

While you're at it
Leave the nightlight on
Inside the birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it:
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul

(Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch) While you're at it
(Who watches over you) Leave the nightlight on
(Make a little birdhouse in your soul) Inside the birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it:
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul

(Blue canary in the outlet by the light switch) While you're at it
(Who watches over you) Leave the nightlight on
(Make a little birdhouse in your soul) Inside the birdhouse in your soul
Not to put too fine a point on it:
Say I'm the only bee in your bonnet
Make a little birdhouse in your soul

Countdown to V-Day: Not a love song. I just love it.

Bunny Show Jumping

I oddly have a large readership that owns bunnies. Seriously. I don't know why. So far most of my bunny reference have been, well, goulish. So with is for the bunny lovers out there. Also in honor of the damn dog show in town.

This is not the blog you are looking for

Here is some more of the fantastic keyword searches that brought people to Twang in the last 24 hours:

• abducted by the daleks youtube (from Google France none the less)
• photo gallery nakedness and finnish sauna teen love style (wow, that is specific)
• money laundering made simple
• japan idiotarod (oh, please tell me they are doing one in Tokyo)
• mr tangerine and chicago
• jolie 1 blogspot insane supergoddess (this is going to make someone very happy or very scared)
• samantha desperate (this is either a band I don't know or I feel bad for Sam)
• lesbian buffy / horror movies and t.v fanfic (I really can't believe I popped up early on this list)
• backwards record whirlpool
• kill valntine's day (funny thing is that they folowed that spelling three times)
  
• valentine jokes electrian (again, very specific)
  

Buy me this

Please?

(via Crave)

Countdown to V-Day: Sometimes it can't be denied

Ring of Fire by June Carter

Love Is A Burning Thing
And It Makes A Fiery Ring
Bound By Wild Desire
I Fell Into A Ring Of Fire

I Fell Into A Burning Ring Of Fire
I Went Down, Down, Down
And The Flames Went Higher

And It Burns, Burns, Burns
The Ring Of Fire
The Ring Of Fire

I Fell Into A Burning Ring Of Fire
I Went Down, Down, Down
And The Flames Went Higher

And It Burns, Burns, Burns
The Ring Of Fire
The Ring Of Fire

The Taste Of Love Is Sweet
When Hearts Like Ours Meet
I Fell For You Like A Child
Oh, But The Fire Went Wild

I Fell Into A Burning Ring Of Fire
I Went Down, Down, Down
And The Flames Went Higher

And It Burns, Burns, Burns
The Ring Of Fire
The Ring Of Fire

I Fell Into A Burning Ring Of Fire
I Went Down, Down, Down
And The Flames Went Higher

And It Burns, Burns, Burns
The Ring Of Fire
The Ring Of Fire

And It Burns, Burns, Burns

The Ring Of Fire

The Ring Of Fire

Envy

We had TY, Robot had practice yesterday. I had a good day. I'm starting to think simpler, cleaner. There are a bunch of skills that I am having trouble with (specifically specifics... man, I just suck at that and I know it would help so much). But in general my goal of not thinking so much is helping a lot.

Later, I went to see the class show of six in the group. They are good. Very good. On one level, I am envious of their class itself, as they are a darn talented group. But I am also envious of my teammates as performers. They were all fantastic yesterday. I've been feeling like the weak link lately. I don't say that as a bid for sympathy or as an invitation for "Oh, no, Six! That is not true!" True or not, it is a feeling I've had for the last month plus. I definitely have my strengths. For example, I think I'm pretty good at making connections. But my scene work has felt weak lately. Again, I'm not worried about it. I don't think I am blocked or at my peak. I am getting better everyday.

But I watched them yesterday and they rocked. And it crossed my mind, "Why can't I do that NOW?"

Life In Mean Season

Last night I finally got Rench's album Life In Mean Season. I'm listening to it now.

I am not done. Only five tracks in. But it is a haunting beautiful thing. This is that ground where country hits sorrow and regret and pain and memory. It is also joyous in its way. It is very much America, complex and unique.

I'm doing it no justic. Heck, go read what Rench was trying to do with this album. I think he succeeds greatly.

I will write more when I have had some time to process it, but go take a listen. And go buy a copy. And grab yourself a beer, go sit on the pack porch at sunset, and thing about those yesterdays that are gone forever.


(Yes, there is a Helen Keller tag on this. There is a long quote from her in the liner notes.)

Countdown to V-Day: Simply... sex

Sex-O-Matic Venus Freak by Macy Gray

Superlove is something that they say is very rare
In the dark, In your world it's everywhere
And I feel like an x x rated movie star
It's the way you love me down
It's the way you love me down
Everytime we kiss you bring out the woman in me
Everytime you holler out my name you set me free
I am a sex-o-matic venus freak when I'm with you
And I will stop it only when you tell me to
I am the automatic easy freak all over you
And I will stop it only when you tell me to.

Superlove
Gimme some, some, some.
We are the genius of love
Feel like an x x rated movie star
It's the way you love me down
It's the way you love me down
Everytime we kiss you bring out the woman in me
Everytime you holler out my name you set me free
I am a sex-o-matic venus freak when I'm with you
And I will stop it only when you tell me to
I am the automatic easy freak all over you
And I will stop it only when you tell me to.

When we seek and hide
When my hands are tied
69 positions and
whip cream all over my skin
lick you from bottom to root
love to get down with you
I am a sex-o-matic venus freak when I'm with you
And I will stop it only when you tell me to
I am the automatic easy freak all over you
And I will stop it only when you tell me to.

I *heart* COBRA

Really that is all I have to say.

COBRA is really pretty amazing. For example, last night I sat on the floor of a basement being interviewed for French television (by a woman named, curiously, France). Their were four of us being interviewed at once. Very few questions were asked. We just talked and talked. Man, do we like to hear ourselves talk!

Later, more of us talked about the Idiotarod, the police, Bulahla, and god knows what else.

I want to write more but I must rush off to Thank You, Robot practice. But I will just leave you with this one thought, specifically for those out there who feel that they don't have anything to belong to:

No matter how weird you think you are, there are like minded weird folks out there. You just need to open the door and seek them out. And a willingness to look a little stupid helps.

Countdown to V-Day: I've been on both ends of this stick (w/ obvious gender changes)

Narcissus by Alanis Morrissette

Dear mommas boy I know you've had your butt licked by your mother
I know youve enjoyed all that attention from her
And every woman graced with your presence after
Dear narcissus boy I know you've never really apologized for anything
I know you've never really taken responsibility
I know you've never really listened to a woman

Dear me-show boy I know youre not really into conflict resolution
Or seeing both sides of every equation
Or having an uninterrupted conversation

And any talk of healthiness
And any talk of connectedness
And any talk of resolving this
Leaves you running for the door

(why why do I try to love you
try to love you when you really don't want me to)

Dear egotist boy you've never really had to suffer any consequence
You've never stayed with anyone longer than ten minutes
You'd never understand anyone showing resistance
Dear popular boy I know you're used to getting everything so easily
A stranger to the concept of reciprocity
People honor boys like you in this society

And any talk of selflessness
And any talk of working at this
And any talk of being of service
Leaves you running for the door

(why why do I try to help you try to help you
when you really don't want me to)

You go back to the women who will dance the dance
You go back to your friends who will lick your ass
You go back to ignoring all the rest of us
You go back to the center of your universe

Dear self centered boy I don't know why I still feel affected by you
I've never lasted very long with someone like you
I never did although I have to admit I wanted to
Dear magnetic boy you've never been with anyone who doesn't take your shit
You've never been with anyone who's dared to call you on it
I wonder how you'd be if someone were to call you on it

And any talk of willingness
And any talk of both feet in
And any talk of commitment
Leaves you running for the door

(why why do I try to change you try to
Try to change you when you really dont
Want me to)

You go back to the women who will dance the dance
You go back to your friends who will lick your ass
You go back to being so oblivious
You go back to the center of the universe

Rise of the Thank You, Robot

You already know about next Friday's Thank You, Robot opening for Tantrum and fwand (Under St. Marks, 10:30pm, $6). But did you know that they will be performing with the wonderful women of Bombardo on Febuary 23rd? Gotham City Improv. 10pm. $5.

What that does mean is that I probably should have seen The Stepfathers last night. Now I won't be able to see Silvija Ozols pay with them. Ah well. But I needed the rest. It was a well derserved on last night.

I am going to now get up out of bed, put on some clothes, and have a eggs and toast and bacon. And then clean the house.

(Yes, I'm now one song back. Luckily for me The Smirking Valet posted one in my comments section last night at 11:47pm. Nice to know someone has my back.)

Waltz (Better Than Fine) by Fiona Apple

If you don't have a song
To sing you're okay
You know how to get along
Humming
Hmmm

If you don't have a date
Celebrate
Go out and sit on the lawn
And do nothing
'Cause it's just what you must do
Nobody does it anymore

No I don't believe in the wasting of time,
But I don't believe that I'm wasting mine

If you don't have a point to make
Don't sweat it
You'll make a sharp one being so kind
And I'd sure appreciate it
Everyone else's goal's to get big headed
Why should I follow that beat being that I'm
Better than fine

Countdown to V-Day: Breaking

Window by Fiona Apple

I was staring out the window
The whole time he was talking to me
It was a filthy pane of glass
I couldn't get a clear view

As he went on and on
It wasn't the outside world I could see
Just the filthy pane that I was looking through

So I had to break the window
It just had to be
Better that I break the window
Than him or her or me

I was never focused on just one thing
My eyes got fixed when my mind got soft
It may looked like I'm concentrated on a very clear view

But I'm as good as asleep
I bet you didn't know
It takes a lot of it away if you do

So I had to break the window
It just had to be
Better that I break the window
Than him or her or me

So I had to break the window
It just had to be
Better that I break the window
Than him or her or me

Because the fact in fact
Whatever's in front of me is covering my view
So I can't see what I'm seeing in fact
I only see what I'm looking through

I had to break the window
It just had to be it was in my way
Better that I break the window
Then forget what I had to say

So again I've done the right thing
I was never worried about that
The answer's always been in clear view
But even when the window's clean
I still can't see for the fact
That when it's clean it's so clear
I can't tell what I'm looking through

So I had to break the window
It just had to be
Better that I break the window
Than him or her or me

I had to break the window
It just had to be it was in my way
Better that I break the window
Then forget what I had to say

I had to break the window
It was in my way
Better that I break a window
Then forget what I had to say

Or miss what I should see
Or breaking him or her or me

Stuff I've Seen

First, I know the second and third and fourth parts of my Idiotarod observations are way way late. They are still coming. I have just been plowing hard into my new novel. I caught the wind and once I do it is hard for me to focus on much else.

I have been working on a large Idiotarod project that the vast majority will never see. I'm proud of it and I hope it is appreciated. It has been a great way to think about the entire thing. Sorry I can't go into it right now. (Doesn't really matter since you'll never see it.)

As I mentioned before, I saw a mass load of improv this week.

On Saturday I had my class show but I already mentioned that. I tried to see Asssscat 3000 on Sunday, but after waiting in line for over an hour in the icy winter air, they cancelled the 9:30 show. But I also talked about that.

On Monday I saw the sketch shows Making Lemonade and KROMPF: The Ol' Factory. A very very small audience which can kill many a show. But both were good. Making Lemonade is a fairly standard one man show. Five characters, one messed up family. Nothing too ground breaking but well done. KROMPF is of course on of my big improv crushes, so I was very interested in seeing their sketch. Even with the small audience, I still laughed hysterically. Part of that is that they are just my type of comedy. Very much the Kids In A Hall melancholy/absurdity. I think my only regret is that I would love to see them explore characters more, but that would basically require they be given an hour show. Anthony King, give KROMPF a full hour. Anyway, go see it. You probably won't like it as much as I do, because it is hard for me imagining that anyone could.

Tuesday I went to Harold Night, as I often do. UCB has joined the usual two Harold Night shows, allowing them to include a fifth team each Tuesday. I hope it stays (although it ended at 10:57 this week so it might just be to tight). It was a good night. Creep impressed me. I just love their playfulness. Watching them is a bit like the joy of watching children play. That my sound like an insult, but far from it. Fwand, of course, awed me. Of all the Harold teams right now, they are doing the most exciting stuff. Watch their transitions. Their seamless version of the Harold is just gorgeous. I am very very happy that Thank You, Robot is opening for them and Tantrum on Feb. 16th. You remember that right? Under St. Marks. 10:30pm. See my first non-class improv show EVER. There is only one first.

Tonight I am off to see Gravid Water. Everyone is sick and tired of me talking about that show so I won't. But it is definitely the most overlooked show at UCB right now. I may stay for Cage Match.

I thought long and hard about seeing The Stepfathers on Friday as it has been a long time and Silvija Ozols is playing with them all month. I can't go next week (Under St. Marks, 10:30pm, $6)... but I am oh, so close to improv overdose. I think I desperately need a night NOT going out. It has been too damn cold for all of these trips to Manhattan.

Next week will a non-improv week. Except Sunday. I have a class show to go watch (6 of the Thank You, Robot folks). Maybe Harold Night on Tuesday.

Class

My improv class was fun last night. Yet another struggle, but fun. We worked on monoscenes last night. Think of it as a continous scene in one unchanging location in real time. I think I really got it by the end. I'm still not being funny... but I am locking very well onto the idea of a having a solid point of view. When I do that, I stop thinking of all the rest of it and just commit to the character. Now the problem may be that I'm just not that funny. Maybe that will come. But I'm much happier with me playing "true" and not funny than "funny" and not true.

In the rest of the world I am having diffculty being classy. I pulled it off for a week and then I just stopped. I'm just not classy, I guess. I don't know. I feel like I stumbled into a bunch of webs and I tried to stand there and look cool. "What? I have spiderwebs in my hair? No biggie. I'm cooool." But then I suddenly yelled, "My god! Get this crap off me! Get it off!" And I waved my arms in the air and ran around in circles for a few days.

Well, now the webs are off for the most part. I'm standing there, surrounded by broken webs, feeling a bit sheepish. Back to square one, I suppose.

Countdown to V-Day: Why do we seek those who can't return it?

Stacy's Mom by Fountains of Wayne

Stacy's mom has got it goin' on
Stacy's mom has got it goin' on
Stacy's mom has got it goin' on
Stacy's mom has got it goin' on

Stacy, can I come over after school? (after school)
We can hang around by the pool (hang by the pool)
Did your mom get back from her business trip? (business trip)
Is she there, or is she trying to give me the slip? (give me the slip)

You know, I'm not the little boy that I used to be
I'm all grown up now, baby can't you see

Stacy's mom has got it goin' on
She's all I want and I've waited for so long
Stacy, can't you see you're just not the girl for me
I know it might be wrong but I'm in love with Stacy's mom

Stacy's mom has got it goin' on
Stacy's mom has got it goin' on

Stacy, do you remember when I mowed your lawn? (mowed your lawn)
Your mom came out with just a towel on (towel on)
I could tell she liked me from the way she stared (the way she stared)
And the way she said, "You missed a spot over there" (a spot over there)

And I know that you think it's just a fantasy
But since your dad walked out, your mom could use a guy like me

Stacy's mom has got it goin' on
She's all I want, and I've waited so long
Stacy, can't you see you're just not the girl for me
I know it might be wrong,
but I'm in love with Stacy's mom

Stacy's mom has got it goin' on
She's all I want and I've waited for so long,
Stacy can't you see your just not the girl for me,
I know it might be wrong but oh oh
(I know it might be wrong)
I'm in love with (Stacy's mom oh oh)
(Stacy's mom oh oh)
I'm in love with Stacy's mom