Why Have I not been doing this

When I started this blog I explained my objectives in doing so

I have once again had to focus on the need to get employment again over the last year but that isn't only it. You see, I do still write things I just haven't been sharing them, at least not with everyone. While I do still hope to actually write for profits as a living, it isn't that I don't want to share what I've got for free, it's more like  I have a few conflicts with myself about content.

1- "Sharing my world, through my eyes, as warped as it might be"

Ah March 2010 self, how prolific this line would be. The problem with this is in three and a half years the world has changed, or perhaps things have stayed the same but the public has become more aware. Everything is out in the open in our 24 hour, non stop information universe.  And I have thoughts about all of it- thoughts that are not necessarily popular or mainstream, and thoughts that people would consider crazy if they choose to be blissfully unaware. I get it, trust me there is something to say about the freedom of staying blissfully unaware and for the first time I am understanding all of those people throughout history whom I criticized for turning a blind eye to things or not questioning things. However, I am inquisitive always have been and unfortunately now have a million things to say about things that I don't need everyone I know and even more I don't chiming in on.  To put things simply, once you see a supposedly dead celebrity walking down the street a few times you become very leary of anything you see on the news- be it liberal bias, conservative bias, or the ones that claim no bias. 

From time to time my unpopular views will come out but I have done a lot of self censoring myself lately. 

2- Journalism 101: Know your crowd

This was supposed to be a lifestyle blog, a hodgepodge of my thoughts and my ideas, etc. That is fine but my mind circles around ideas of what I would write if  I had a book deal, an editor at a magazine or web-zine, or a talk show (or talk show segment.)  My lack of having any one of these is not for lack of material.  I could easily write a book on parenting (or do a show about it or weekly article) along the lines of NANNY KNOWS BEST which would be a hit because people love being told how to live their lives- I am sorry but it is true.

Then there is the fiction/ non fiction family tales that could rival David Sedaris in both humor and ernesty; you cannot imagine how many TV shows and movies made of books where I, and family members, have openly stated, "They have nothing on us."  Now both of these are great ideas but do they belong on this blog? Not really. Do I start another blog or site for them?  I don't know and am honestly looking for suggestions 

Lastly, there is the cooking and living Gluten Free thing. Simultaiously the least creative and yet probably easiest thing to cover. There is a market for it and yes,  I do have the blog about it but unfortunately I don't seem to be able to crack in to the market. 

So that is basically it. I'm looking for suggestions on what to do and where to go from here.  I am not giving up the blog but kind of feel my readers and myself deserve more than a few movie reviews here and there, picture blogs and the occasional celebrity rant. 

On the subject of the TWERK trend

Jaime and Tim Get Married

Congrats to my beautiful cousin and cousin in law Image by the groom's brother Ted Hospodar

Happy Birthday Sweet G

Fire down the block

Last night, or should I say early this morning, it sounded like an air raid was above my house.  By that point there had been about an hour's worth of sirens- both police and fire- zooming around the neighborhood.  It's New York so the sound isn't really all that uncommon and there is an ambulance station a few blocks away so as long as I don't see the lights flashing by the window, it doesn't really phase me. Helicopters, however, get my attention and even more so when there are no search lights lighting up the streets.

Looking out the window I found the bottom of my block was nothing but a cluster of flashing lights. The two ladies next door were heading toward the chaos and yelled up that it was a fire, "A lot was burning."  Clearly Graham needed to go for a midnight walk so I through a sweatshirt over my pajamas and headed towards the sirens. The avenue was covered in rescue vehicles in every direction. Apparently around 11pm fire started in one of the twenty eight local bars- Behan's Pub and had spread to Emerald Pharmacy next door. It took fire fighters over two hours to subdo. Seven People, six of them fire fighters, were treated at hospital but the injuries weren't serious. And as if this wasn't enough excitement for one neighborhood, rumor has it the bar was a drug cover because apparently the Irish were playing Breaking Bad the home game.

*Though I took photos, all of these are courtesy of Eye Witness News.

In Honor of Lefties Day- Left Handers Lament

Lyrics (or watch the video! http://youtu.be/im8YaWrYjBA )

Here's the story of my life,
I've had fun but there's been strife,
For I was born left-handed, but I'm proud
To be one of the elite, right-handers we can beat
We're the 10% that stand out in a crowd!

Ah but as a little lad, oh the problems that I had
Winding clockwork toys was just a mystery
Tying laces was a pain, couldn't get it in my brain
Everything was back-to-front it seemed to me

Chorus
We're the Cack-Handed Kings, we're the LEFTIES
You right-handers just don't have a clue
'Cos if you'd been through what we've been through
Then maybe you would feel superior too!

At 5 I went to school and I was treated like a fool
Being left-handed I stood out from the pack
And trying to learn to write was not a struggle - more a fight
For I had my left hand tied behind my back

"You just get it in your head" the sympathetic teacher said
"You use the right and not the Devil's side"
Those supposed men of vision caused me pain and such derision
Is it any wonder often times I cried?

Chorus
We're the Southpawed Princes, we're the LEFTIES
You right-handers just don't have a clue
But if you'd been through what we've been through
Then maybe you would feel superior too!

Time then came when my voice dropped
And my face was one big spot
But I was glad when my teenage years arrive,
Because I use my left, I was different from the rest
And the girls saw me as something of a prize!

And I learned some handy tricks in the back row of the flicks
It used to drive my girlfriends all berserk
For their eyes would keep apace of my right hand - just in case
And they never saw my left one go to work!

Chorus
We're the Scammy Handed Heroes, we're the LEFTIES
You right-handers just don't have a clue
But if you'd been through what we've been through
Then maybe you would feel superior too!

Well I'm married now, worst luck
But my wife she's given up
Asking me to do the chores like peeling spuds,
Or trying to cut the bread, I'll get a 4 by 2 inch wedge
Lose three fingertips and half a pint of blood

And I'd love to be a dad, but I've hit a kind of snag
If you can help please tell us what to do
The problem simply said, is that I'm a left-hand thread
But my wife you see, now she's a right-hand .....OH, YES WE'RE THE

Chorus
We're the Cuddy Wifter Winners, we're the LEFTIES
You right-handers just don't have a clue
But if you'd been through what we've been through
Then maybe you would feel superior too!

So now we reach today, where you sit and watch me play
And yes, I play right-handed it is true
For the very simple fact is that I've had to adapt
Something all us southpaws have to learn to do

We have trouble tying ties, writing cheques out, using knives
and scissors that were made for your right hand
And when it comes to sport once again we are left short
For in hockey and in polo we are banned

Chorus
We're the Cack Handed Kings, we're the LEFTIES
You right-handers just don't have a clue
But if you'd been through what we've been through
Then maybe you would feel superior too!

Now I'll finish off my song and as you move along
Please bear in mind the things I've had to say
And please show some respect for your friends who use the left
Thanks for listening to me this Left-Handers Day.

Copyright: Ian Radburn, 2004

 

Mercury Lounge

As my birthday present, Lauren bought me a ticket to the Friday night finally of Ryan Star's week long New York City takeover.

Selection of videos:

 

 

Ryan Star returns

On Monday, Ryan Star released a brand new ep. called Animals and as a celebration of such an event, Ryan put together a New York City takeover. Four days, four shows in four bars that he started in. 
When I heard about it in early July, I planned going every night- you know because I am rational like that. Sadly, for me but great for Ryan, tonight was the only one with door tickets available. 
Rockwood is, however, like his second home and it was an amazing show because of it.

Zero Theorem preview at Comic Con

The lucky people at San Diego Comic Con were lucky enough to get a preview of Terry Gilliam's latest masterpiece and, very kindly shared the experience.

"Terry Gilliam is the director of science fiction classics Brazil and 12 Monkeys, and he debuted the first ten minutes of his latest weird vision, The Zero Theorem, at Comic-Con this afternoon. It stars Christoph Waltz, looks like a cross between Blade Runner and Sesame Street, and will blow your mind. Though Gilliam couldn't be at Comic-Con, he included a goofy, maniacal personal message with the footage. "They've trapped me in here without access to the internet until I finish this movie!" he said, gesturing at what looked like an editing suite in his house. "I'm relying on fans at the NSA to record everything I'm saying and pass it on to you." His cheerful paranoia was the perfect introduction to The Zero Theorem, which is about a man who is sort of like a software developer of the future — his bosses at Mancom (a horrific amalgam of Facebook, the NSA, and Google) call him a "our greatest number cruncher," when in reality his job is a lot more complicated than that. All Waltz wants is some disability leave, or at least be allowed to work from home. But his superiors at work don't believe his claim — that "we are dying" — partly because he's only one person, and partly because he's in perfect health. In those first minutes of the film, it was already clear that this is another of Gilliam's meditations on the life of talented but psychologically unhinged bureaucrats who yearn for more meaning in life. Oh, and he's also waiting for a mysterious phone call to arrive on a Gilliam-esque contraption on his desk, next to glowing vials of information and swirling images of outer space."
Fullarticlehere

Birthday Dinner

To celebrate my 27th birthday tomorrow, my parents took me to a hibachi grill for dinner. I had looked at the menu online and found some great Gluten free options, or at least I thought I had. Turns out that the dinner came with noodles but luckily my wonderful mother snuck out during the meal to get me an enzyme suppliment that supposedly lessens the effect if you eat gluten. I have tried it and it doesn't make it 100% better but does make it so much more bearable. No migraine, no incurable hiccups, and only slight stomach issues if any. How awesome is my mother for doing that?!

God's Pocket

Phillip Seymore Hoffman was back filming near my home Wednesday night, after the last time how could  I resist a trip to the set! This time, I managed to get a video of filming.  I 

Happy Independence Day

From Huffington Post: just another reason to love Anderson Cooper

Anderson Cooper Thanks Cher For Putting Up With His 'Creepy Behavior' (VIDEO) Jul 03, 2013 Anderson Cooper loves Cher so much that he dedicated a segment on his Tuesday night CNN show to thanking the diva for putting up with what he called his "creepy fan girl" behavior. Last week, Cooper rushed downtown after taping his CNN show so he could see Cher, who was appearing on Andy Cohen's Bravo show, "Watch What Happens Live." Sure, the CNN host's enthusiasm for the world wonder that is Cher was on full display -- what with his dramatic faux fainting, dropping of his Cher impersonation and giddily wondering if the icon was a sister of sorts. Viewers understand, AC. You were talking to Cher! Emotions were running high! Time was limited! We get it. But Cooper seemed to think that he had some explaining to do, even though he appeared on the show quite a few nights ago. It's possible that the CNN host has been slowly coming to terms with his encounter since then and was only able to put it into words days later. "What can I say," he said. "You try keeping a 46-year-old gay man away from Cher." Cooper made fun of himself for showing up to see Cher in a T-shirt (a valid statement) and displaying what he described as "borderline creepy behavior" (another valid statement). He also said that he would totally braid Cher's hair if she let him and made this face, so that kind of negates the whole "sorry for acting totally obsessed,"

Happy Birthday Mommy

Happy Summer!!

My "Michelle Williams" letter to the editor

Last week I wrote a letter to People Magazine about Michelle Williams. However, Kim Kardashian had a baby the next day, stopping the world from reporting anything else, and my letter wasn't printed. Luckily, I am sharing it here.

-------- Original message --------
Subject: Michelle Williams
To: "editor@people.com"

In the June 24th issue you praised Michelle Williams' most recent relationship with Artist Dustin Yellin.  I believe it was in PEOPLE's cover story Love Gone Wrong Over Drugs, where unknown "friends" of Michelle Williams were quoted as saying that Michelle kept Matilda away from Heath in his final months of life because of his drug abuse. You, the most trusted celebrity magazine never wrote a retraction to this when there was never any evidence, nor did you mention when you reported on the Vanity Fair article where his friends reported Heath's side that Ledger said it was incompatibility that led to the relationships demise or that he had not had so much as an alcoholic drink in months. However, what really irritates me is Williams continues to play the poor lonely widow, who wants nothing but the best for her daughter over five years later after Ledger's death.  The reality is before Ledger's death she was dating dating Spike Jonze, who admittedly
does drugs. Then last Spring she had no problem leaving her daughter with a guy she had been dating only for a few months and who is reportedly an alcoholic (Jason Segel) while she was in another city, nor did she have a problem living with him. Now after a few months post Segel, whom Matilda had reportedly become very attached to, she has introduced her daughter to yet another boyfriend, Dustin Yellin who has a rather shady history involving drugs, overdoes and even stabbing. As recently as an April 2013 interview he even freely acknowledged dropping acid to get inspiration for his art.  I'm not judging these men's lifestyles and, as a 32 year old, Michelle is free to date whomever she chooses. However, her continuing to introduce her young daughter to all of these men, who inevitably leave her life forever, is surely detrimental to the child's psychological development. 

Happy Fathers Day

Heath Ledger's Joker Diary

When talking about his upcoming roles as the Joker to Empire Magazine way back in 2007, Ledger mentioned having kept a dairy as the character as part of his getting into the role process.

"I sat around in a hotel room in London for about a month, locked myself away, formed a little diary and experimented with voices - it was important to try to find a somewhat iconic voice and laugh.

I ended up landing more in the realm of a psychopath - someone with very little to no conscience towards his acts.

'He's just an absolute sociopath, a cold-blooded, mass-murdering clown, and Chris has given me free rein. Which is fun, because there are no real boundaries to what The Joker would say or do. Nothing intimidates him, and everything is a big joke."

It made me excited about the movie and, after Ledger passed I have often wondered if the diary would ever be published. Last year it was revealed by Ledger's father Kim during an hour long documentary about the actor for a German series called "Too Young to Die."

I managed to find the entire episode on YouTube this past winter, and tough I couldn't understand all of it, it was enjoyable. For some reason, today the internet was all a flutter about the clip with the Joker diary so I figured I'd share here.

http://youtu.be/j04X3B9-dLU

TRANSLATION:

"This is the Joker's diary.

In order to inhabit his character, he (Heath) locked himself up in a hotel room for weeks.

He would do that. He liked to dive into his characters, but this time he really took it up a notch."

"The hospital scene is interesting because when he was a kid, his sister Kate liked to dress him up as a nurse. He was really funny like that. He also was in the movie.

This is a make-up test which was done eight months before. Before the end of the shooting he wrote "bye bye" on the back of the page. It was hard to see this.'