"Larry was okay, but Penny drove me nuts. She had long red hair and was a dance therapist. Whenever she felt threatened by the conversation because it was beyond the reach of her tiny intellectual powers, she would go off in a corner and dance, throwing that hair around expressively. The highlight of this endless weekend we had spent with them was that we went soaring in gliders somewhere in Sullivan County." - Julia Phillips, You'll Never Eat Lunch in this Town Again
Conceptually and aesthetically, I have a hard time of thinking of places more beautiful and encapsulating than the American West. I really dig outer space, mountain stretches and coastlines, but all-in-all, the American West is the dream. Let's Chat (I will not be including Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, or the Dakotas - probably because I have never ventured to such lame places).
Texas: Texas has it all. Mountains, hills, plaines, pines, beaches, metropolitan, rural, lakes & rivers. Lots of healthy economy and professional sports. Lots of red meat and history. Cool towns like Marfa, Austin and Lukenbach. J. Frank Dobie, Guy Clark and the Alamo.
New Mexico: Cheaper skiing than CO/Utah. When you drive in to New Mexico from west Texas, your body and eyes experience this feeling of elevation and it's suddenly as if you've been lifted on to earth's next platform. It always seem surreal. Taos, Santa Fe and Roswell. I almost when to Military School in Roswell. That would've really blown.
Arizona: Ah, one of my favorites. Truly 'Out West.' 3:10 to Yuma, crater like cities (Phoenix). Northern Az is also awesome. I visited a school in Flagstaff called Northern Arizona University. Would've been a great option. Skiing to the North, desert to the South.
California: Big state. Has some flaws along with some really exceptional characteristics. Geographically diverse, the land of Steinbeck (East of Eden), San Fran, San Diego, Monterey Aquarium, a plethora of pro sports teams, the film/TV industry. Cons: Smog (mainly LA), overpopulation, traffic.
Colorado: Lots of recreation in CO. Rafting, biking, hiking, skiing, beer drinking. Elevation. Beautiful Spring Season. The Great Divide. A passionate sporting culture and mountain peaks that go higher than 15,000 feet.
Alaska: The real land of the big rock candy mountains. This place murders the competition from the wildlife standpoint. Moose, elk, whale, fish. I love it. But you fools, don't take an Alaska cruise. Cruises just give you the Mom & Pop Shop tour. Unacceptable. Get out there and get your hands dirty.
Utah: Cons: Mormons (sorry). Pros: Salt Lake City, Mountains, Moab, Zion Nat'l Park. Utah Kills!
Nevada: ....
Idaho: Recreational paradise. Smokejumpers for forest fires. Totally underrated state.
Oregon: I have family in Oregon. My cousin lives in Portland. One side of his house faces downtown metropolitan Portland. The other side faces Mount Hood.
Washington State: Orcas Whale Watching (x3). Seattle, Rain, Culture, Coffee, Fish, a ferry to Canada, and big, tall Mountains.
Montana & Wyoming: Chinese Wall (Bob Marshall Wilderness), Wind River, WY.
The era of unemployment has ended. I officially join the ranks of the working force on the 16th of March. My work entails using mediums like Twitter & Facebook to talk to the American consumer about their technological products. I am also working on joining the US Coast Guard Reserves. Because of this, I have to wake up and be at Fort Sam Houston tomorrow at 5am for an extensive physical. Until then, I plan to do the following: 1) Finish 2001: A Space Odyssey followed by Network. I also need to continue to edit a short film I'm currently working on. Somewhere in there I hope to eat 2 bacon/egg tacos along with some oatmeal raisin cookies. For dinner, I hope to consume Naples Pizza. Unemployment. It's been good. It's been real. I have left you guys with a decent amount of decent tracks today. Stay cool and don't use audio guides at museums.
Lot of music today that doesn't really go together; figured I would make it an 'eclectic Monday.' Just FYI: If any of you are gonna be doing the SXSW Film section, look for me. I am working for the New York Film School as a Representative. Let's get cinematic.
Saw Rango tonight. Hans Zimmer did a lot of the score composition. The 2nd song I posted is "The Blue Danube." You'll recognize it. Very famous piece. Essentially an Austrian Nat'l Anthem. It totally kills and I can't stop listening to it. Anyhow, it was fused in with a bunch of other cool prolific pieces during one part of the film. You'll have to see it. I am really tired. Saturday was spent entirely under the influence of tall beers. Hope Everyone had a great weekend. Tomorrow is MONDAY. Boom.
"I don't have to tell you things are bad. Everybody knows things are bad. It's a depression. Everybody's out of work or scared of losing their job. The dollar buys a nickel's worth, banks are going bust, shopkeepers keep a gun under the counter. Punks are running wild in the street and there's nobody anywhere who seems to know what to do, and there's no end to it. We know the air is unfit to breathe and our food is unfit to eat, and we sit watching our TV's while some local newscaster tells us that today we had fifteen homicides and sixty-three violent crimes, as if that's the way it's supposed to be. We know things are bad - worse than bad. They're crazy. It's like everything everywhere is going crazy, so we don't go out anymore. We sit in the house, and slowly the world we are living in is getting smaller, and all we say is, 'Please, at least leave us alone in our living rooms. Let me have my toaster and my TV and my steel-belted radials and I won't say anything. Just leave us alone.' Well, I'm not gonna leave you alone. I want you to get mad! I don't want you to protest. I don't want you to riot - I don't want you to write to your congressman because I wouldn't know what to tell you to write. I don't know what to do about the depression and the inflation and the Russians and the crime in the street. All I know is that first you've got to get mad. You've got to say, 'I'm a HUMAN BEING, Goddamnit! My life has VALUE!' So I want you to get up now. I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window. Open it, and stick your head out, and yell, 'I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!'"
I watched Man on Wire yesterday. The 2nd conquest in the film comes when Philip conquers the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Wire-walking is one of the pinnacles of human achievement, it's just a shame that so few attempt/succeed at it. This instrumental track, by Fleetwood Mac, is the song that plays when Philip is walking atop the wire during the SHB conquest. It was a pretty cool moment where film and music meet.
2:00 a.m. cst. For those of you who have been active readers of Orcas, you might have become acquainted with one of my actors, Pat Berger. Pat is currently formulating a blog himself, which I expect to revolve around well-written reviews of metallic music and delicious food. Tonight, Pat told me about a delicious dish he made for dinner this evening. Some kind of meat and potatoes configuration. Meat and potatoes. Quality on a Sunday.
While I was showing Pat some of the latest short-film material (which will be released sometime early this week), Mr. Berger took it upon himself to show me some quality music. Some of it cannot be shared here, for I plan to use it later for a certain documentary. However, he did tell me about SUN KIL MOON. I know not enough to further delve in to the history, power and precision of this group - so I won't. Atleast not now. But, I would like to share with you all one certain thing that Pat shared with me. The entire album is about boxers (yes, those in the ring) who died tragically, be it within the ring or outside of it. What a beautiful concept. With regards to a boxer - and for the purposes of the aforementioned album - the idea that these were men who would punch, fight and scrapple for a living is honorable in every sense of the word. What further elevates this concept is that they died clawing, fighting and ultimately pursuing something.
Give this song a listen. It's likely not for everyone. But if anything, listen for the surprise in the back end. It's a little drum tap that finally kicks in and gives the song the wings it truthfully doesn't need. Nevertheless, it's like waiting around to open Christmas presents, while everyone else is asleep. And then suddenly, towards the end of the morning, the surprise arrives and the cheeks curl up in to a smile. JB, Out.
See Bill, the Thespian: Top Left. This picture is ridiculous, as he is holding a man-purse. But this story needs telling, so let me be:
For the last couple of weeks, Mr. Bill has been a co-star in a local San Antonio theatrical production entitled Marrying Terry. I have yet to see the play, but I expect to enjoy it. He is a moderately good actor. When I was younger, he was the lead in a famous play called Our Town (a local production), in which he played a lawyer - go figure. But seeing your own Dad on the stage is kind of a trip - because he somewhat takes on the roll of someone else. My immediate thought is, 'Who is this guy?'
Once on a BOY SCOUT trip to ALASKA, we stopped in with our group at a local production house to see a small-musical at a theatre in SKAGWAY. By the way, Alaska kicks an incredible amount of ass. Pristine and somewhat still untouched. It's one of the last places where you can drive on the road and see three grizzly bears getting their grub on.
Anywho, Bill was called up on stage to be a participant. I was weirded out, and proceeded to put on my aviator shadiators. After the production, one of the actresses came up to me and said: "You know it's rude to wear shades inside a theatre while a production is going on." I apologized, but all I could think of was how sorry I wasn't sorry, because it's just weird watching someone be someone else, even if for a hot minute. So moral of the story, wear your shades whenever and wherever you want. Do what you want to do.
I am going to see the play this Saturday. Apparently Bill plays somewhat of a jerk in the production. Maybe I'll post a review of it another time. But most likely I won't - - because I am too busy trying to find awesome tunes like this one: BAM.
People of the World: We gotta talk. First, I want to suggest you all try and cook up some Chicken Marsala. It is one of my favorite dishes and I find myself without hesitation when thinking of returning to the counter for plates 2, 3 & 4.
Secondly, bike riding with headphones is in. Running on concrete? Not gonna happen. If I haven't gone for a run in awhile, and I try to hammer out a 4-miler, my shin's will hate me for the better part of a month. So - biking it is. And it rocks. On recent bike rides, I have been listening to: Marc Cohn's 1970: Listening Booth (Marc Cohn is awesome, btw. He was the originator for 'Walkin' in Memphis').
I have also been listening to the latest single from the Fleet Foxes, "Helplessness Blues." I posted it a couple days ago. The song is very, very large in scope. And to round it up, some People Under the Stairs. Additionally, my good friend is attempting his first marathon soon. Follow his journey here: thetarahumarakid.blogspot.com .
Third: If you ain't on LinkedIn, change that. We gotta network, people. Help a brother out.
Fourth: NBA Trade Thoughts: Surprised that K. Perkins is out in Boston. And Nate Rob in an OKC jersey? Could be fun. He was never essential to the C's anyway.
I'm Not surprised about Melo. I don't have an Eastern team, but if I had a gun to my head - it would be the Knicks. I love Chauncey Billups. He goes hard in the paint and keeps getting looked over by figurehead sports analyst. Holla at me, Wilbon. Final East Prediction (s): Chris Paul is out of New Orleans after his contract. Who do I like in the East? After tonight, Chicago.
Let's Recap: Chicken Marsala, Biking with headphones (mountain bikes are more comfortable), LinkedIn, NYK may be back & Chicago looks solid. But Viva Los Spurs. Always. Enjoy these funk astroid jams. I gotta get some sleep.
Spike Jonze's Being John Malkovich was a solid add to my 'instant' queue on Netflix last night. I remembered reading a review on the film by Roger Ebert shortly thereafter in which he states - 'The first 30 minutes keeps you guessing, just as much as the last 30.' Something to that tune. But Ebert is spot on. When John Cusack auditioned for the lead role of Craig, it was because he loved the script, having immediately fallen in love with it. While this film is merely 15 years old, it is a fine, fine piece of cinematic art - and even ranks on many top 100 lists. The film essentially deals with identity, being someone else, and becoming something of true significance. Check the lineup: Cusack, Cameron Diaz (who looks nothing like her self in this - frizzy, red hair, frumpy jeans, etc.) Catherine Keener (a woman who continues to be in decent pictures, while maturing gracefully) and J.M. himself.
For my generation of pop-culture feeders, Malkovich goes essentially unrecognized as an iconic man of the theatre and the silver screen. Don't let Burn After Reading fool you - Malkovich is the man, pulling off an incredible transformation in the film from himself to Craig, who inhabits his body through puppeteering. I'm not here to deliver a synopsis, but rather pay homage to a great piece of cinema that totally and completely came out of nowhere! We need more films like this...
