Now What? I guess go see Will Franken at Ars Nova

This Video Gives Me Great Pleasure

Vacation Bible School Video

My second video project was commissioned by my mother for her church. This summer, scores of little well behaved, God-fearing children came to Vacation Bible School's theme park themed "SonWorld" (where "Son" refers to that of "Father, Son, and Holy Spirit") and learned how to believe, obey and choose Jesus as their savior. I was there with my trusty video camera to capture all the fun. Believe it or not, the voice-over is actually me!

High School Drawings

I used to doodle a lot during class in High School. I wasn't very good at drawing, technically, but somehow a lot of them were pretty funny. I would draw on my class notes, book covers, homework assignments, and quizzes and tests that I got back from teachers.

I decided to scan them all into an electronic format to show others. In so doing, I felt that if I erased out the notes that surrounded my odd collection of images then you the audience (well, me) would appreciate the pieces more. But now it occurs to me that I should've left them as they were. The contrasting subject matter of the notes I was taking down at the time seem to make the drawings funnier somehow.

OK, so here is a video I created featuring my drawings, with an unrehearsed, unedited narration by yours truly to help explain what's going on.

I suppose this has the potential to be the most boringest movie you've ever seen, or if you're high, the most hilarious. Please pack a bowl now, if you are so inclined...

Musings and Reflections

I keep forgetting that I have this blog and that I should write in it. I keep coming up with interesting ideas or experiences that I should document but don't due to laziness. It's been like this all my life. It's my legacy or the cycle that I am tasked to break.

I had a great picture of the neon sign at the Chelsea Hotel from the terrace of a room below. My evidence that I hung out there this weekend. It was in Bob Dylan's old room. I was supposed to post it up on this, but I deleted it from my computer. Now I gotta sync my IPhone again.

Anyway, the person who lived there was a bit of a (self-confessed) slob and when we all arrived he said to straighten up the place. There was quite a bit of clothing and such laying about so I said aloud, in everyone's good humour, that there were a lot of Jackson Pollacks in this Chelsea Hotel apartment. I was rather pleased with myself that I was able to bridge the gap between rock and roll, art savvy New York, and trite, potty humour obsessed suburbia. But I did have to explain what I meant by "Jackson Pollack", which to my relief got a laugh from everyone. Upon further reflection, I was somehow delighted to know that I would've gotten the same curious, blank reaction from a contrasting audience in a suburban setting. But now I'm realizing that people just don't get me anywhere I go.

Here's the picture:


I also had a dream where I was a middle aged business executive in a nice suit in Midtown Manhattan. I was in the center of a great city-block expanse of freshly poured concrete and it was my job to get people off of it so they don't muff it up. As I was chasing after everyone and shouting at them, I was making a big mess of it myself. I think I have an interpretation for what this dream means.

Side Two of Abbey Road

Will Franken just released the final installment of his podcast series "Things We Did Before Reality". It is called "Side Two of Abbey Road". Will chose this to be the title for two reasons: one, because it has always been his favorite side of his favorite album by his favorite band; and the other because since it was the twelfth and final installment of the Beatle's collaboration, it was fitting to use as the backdrop for the twelfth and final installment of his podcast series.

The way he blends the music with his life story is amazing, even going so far as to synchronize the beat of his dialog around the lyrics, guitar licks, and breaks in the songs. The piece really pays homage to the brilliance of the Beatles and as such is by far the most reverent piece of work I've ever heard.

Listen to it now at:
http://cdn2.libsyn.com/willfranken/sidetwoofabbeyroad.mp3

Goodbye New York

OK, well I gave New York City a go and it didn't work out. I tried and now it's summertime again and I'm broke. I couldn't land that cushy midtown deskjob. I didn't catch the eye of a wealthy cougar over a martini paid with my ever-bulging credit card. Now I am back at my parents' house in South Jersey. For the first time in 10 years. I thought I was pathetic enough to crawl back to my parents house at the age of 25. Since then I was somehow able to make something myself. I had a nice-paying job, living in San Francisco, driving a nice car, with a great circle of friends. Now I'm back to square one. Am I burning off some bad karma or what?