Zoomin'

What a great video.

I was digging through a bunch of old Partizan music videos (the company I used to intern at) and I stumbled upon this gem.

I can't remember if I've posted it on my blog before, but either way, I need to share it with you guys again.

It's simple, it's fun, and it's by Michel Gondry and his brother Olivier, who are two of the most creative directors in the business today (and possibly ever).

This makes me want to do the drive again. Maybe this summer....

Cold Rush

When life was moving too quickly and she needed a minute to calm herself and collect her thoughts, she'd always return to that one bench, along the bike trail deep within the woods.

She found winter supported the best visits.

As she lay there, she'd let the cold wash over her. It'd touch her skin and bring her to another place, steal her breath, remove her from her body. She'd float there, above herself, mind vacant, drifting in the frigid breeze.

Nothing mattered to her.

A frosted touch was all she needed to escape.

If You Slow Down, Everything Just Looks Better

Let's be honest - slow motion just makes everything more beautiful.

Especially liquid. Most certainly the beach.

It's just so damn relaxing and mesmerizing.


High Speed Reel 2011 from Charles Bergquist on Vimeo.

Aurora

It felt a gentle breeze was blowing through her mind, drifting between her ears. Not only could she feel it, but she could here it - something foreign, unlike anything she had ever heard. It was if it was made up of hundreds of voices, speaking a tongue she didn't recognizes, noises she didn't even think existed.

When she opened her eyes, everything around her was a dark haze. She had hoped that when she woke up, the voices would stop, but they didn't. Instead, they intensified, continuing to flow through her mind, deep within her conscious.

Nothing seemed right. Her body ached, but in a way that she almost couldn't feel it. She couldn't move and she was certain it was because she was restrained, lying on some cold metal table. Moving her head left and right she couldn't see much, except for the edges of the surface she was on. Not far beyond, everything faded into black. A deep, misty black, but she could feel something was back there, watching her, moving around the table.

All she remembered was driving down a back road in her town, on her way home, when a bright light fell down before her. It was so brilliant she couldn't continue driving. Her last memory was slamming on the breaks, fearing she was going to crash into whatever had descended in front of her. As she dug as deep as she could in her brain, trying to surface any other memories, thats when the lights began to float by her.

Above her, brilliant pinks and blues hovered, some remaining stationary while others slowly drifted by. It was strange, she could feel each aura, deep within herself. Whatever they were, they were the ones drifting in and out of her mind, trying to speak to her, in a language she didn't know.

They were so beautiful - radiant, like the spectral heavens had opened up above her.

She didn't know what they wanted, why she was there, or what they were going to do with her. She was scared.

But at that moment, all she could do was stare up at their brilliance.

Prometheus

A prequel to the film, Alien?

Yes please.

Atmospheric?

Mhm.

Dark?

You betcha.

Scary?

Almost guaranteed.

I know Batman is coming out as well, but this may well be the sleeper hit of the summer. I'm already hooked with the "they went looking for our beginning, what they found could be our end" line. And don't worry, this isn't some Hollywood plea for money, Ridley Scott, the director of the original film (as well as Gladiator and Black Hawk Down) returned to direct this film.

What do you think!?

Caffeinated Dreams

It was on those days that her mind wasn't fully awake in the morning, when it hadn't yet caught up with her body that she would let herself go. Slip into a day dream.

It always happened when he was leaning over her coffee - the rich aroma rising up into her nose. It had the power to take her somewhere.

She'd sit there, looking down in the reflection of her glass, the world around her blurring. In amongst the caffeinated liquid, she'd see the reflection of her world, except it was different.

It wasn't her world. It was another.

She'd imagine herself in this reflected world - amongst others she didn't know, places she didn't recognize, and smells that didn't register.

It was these kind of mornings that she would fall asleep the night before hoping for.

Forever

Sometimes he loved to be lost. That feeling of having helpelessness. No clue where to go, who you'd meet along the way, or where you could end up.

Today was one of those days.

The sun was hung high in the sky while the clouds drifted lazily below it, casting long shadows along th desert floor.

He was content as he drove forward - leaving a dust trail behind.

He hoped the road ahead of him stretched on forever.

Holidays

I'm announcing it now - until Monday the 26th, I'm unplugging myself from the Matrix (for those of you who don't get that film reference - I'm stepping away from the blog).

Vacation, as limited as it is for me, has started, and I'm going to use it all I can.

So I bid you a du for a while - but to all of you out there, Happy Holidays (Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, etc)! May your time be spent with those you love :)

I'll leave you with a little gift, one of m favorite scenes from arguably one of the greatest Christmas movies ever (there is just something so damn charming about it, maybe it's the music...).

Enjoy.

Edge

As he sat there, he couldn't help but let his mind slip. Float to wherever it wanted to go - wander to where it felt right.

What would happen is he dropped one of his shoes? He'd surely have to walk down and grab it, hoping that in the process he didn't get torn up by the thorn bushes that lay entwined below him. After he made i through those, he'd have to navigate further down the cliff wall, trying his best not to lose his footing and fall the rest of the way down. But, the worst case scenario, by far, would be that once he reached the bottom, he'd only realize that his shoe had made it through the thorn bushes, down the cliff, and landed at the bottom with such speed that it flew into the ocean. What a waste of effort that would be.

What would happen if the ledge that he was sitting on suddenly began to crack below him, only warning him with the slightest of groans. He'd only be starting to move back when it would give out below him, plummeting past the before mention thorns, slamming off the rock wall, into the ocean. There would be no way he'd be concious. He'd probably drown. But what if he just narrowly got off the ledge in time and watched it top end over end, down the slope, off the rock at the bottom, and crash into the water below. Would it give him a new outlook for life? Would he change how he lived? Meet new people, move in a new direction?

It'd sure suck to be pooped on by a seagull.

He wondered if somewhere, out there, across the sea if someone was sitting on a ledge, staring back at him. Was directly across Hawaii? China? Japan? Maybe Fiji. He always wondered in that bottled water really came from there. Who knew.

Thats when his mind stopped working and completely disappeared.

He didn't really care.

All he knew and all that mattered was that he was content. Right there, in that moment - legs dangling in the air, breeze brushing his face, and the waves crashing below.

With this, he didn't need to be thinking about anything.

Mal Dives

I think I'm already in vacation mode - I know I have to stay here in LA and work when everyone has the next week and a half off, but I can already see my writing slipping.

I've become complacent....lazy.

But don't worry! While I may stop for the usual break on Thursday, I will write next week since it will be only me (and and empty house) - but its good, since I can sit down, blare some music, and just get in the zone.

But for now, I'll post this little piece. This one is for you mom.

Why do you ask? Cause it's all about women (who are doing awesome athletic stuff)!!!

I few things attract me to this video - it's beautifully shot (women), the location is absolutely breathtaking - I think if I ever make it on a honeymoon, this is where I want to go (Mal Dives - in the Indian Ocean), and it's just so much damn fun! How can you watch this and not want to be there with them? Toes in the sand, in the crystal clear water, basking in the sun. Mmm. Perfect.

They all seem to be having so much fun.

It also doesn't help that the women in it are all so damn cute!

But seriously - I'm all for the camera work in this. I think anything shot in, around, or focused on water automatically makes it beautiful.

Especially when you put athletic, tanned, bikini clad blondes and brunettes in it.


Maldives Taster 2011 from Billabong Girls on Vimeo.

Best Fails

On a less serious, not-so-Batman-filled post, lets laugh a little together shall we?

Please enjoy the best fails of 2011 - I think a lot of these are pure gold (you'll also find a lot of Darwin award candidates throughout as well...dumb f*cks).

The Dark Knight Rises - Addiction

Alright, I will be the first to admit, I'm addicted to this film. It honestly is probably the single most blogged about thing on this site and I still can't get enough of it.

I'm sure you're thinking to yourself "What now?"

Didn't I use up my resources for it? Well no, I haven't, since the official trailer came out online today and it is a doosey.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a fan of Batman - for any of you who know me, I'm strictly a SpiderMan kinda guy (X-Men too). The character never sucked me in that much. He was just a rich guy with toys. Big whoop. But this movies take hold of me, bring me into their world and its all because of Christopher Nolan and cinematographer Wally Pfister. This films have two things going for them - phenomenal scripts, that bring the characters into a real world, believable setting, and gorgeous cinematography (some of the best I have seen).

But, I've talked about this kind of stuff in the past, so why did I mention the trailer today? It's perfect. It's dark, it's haunting, it teases us the audience just enough that we want to know more. It makes us want to know what it going to happen in a film that is still 8 months away (most trailers only come out a few months in advance). This trailer is strong enough that it grabs you that early and doesn't let go. The lack of music, the slow pacing, even the reveal of the villain (played by the very very talented, up and coming Tom Hardy - who you should check out in any film you can) all draw you in.

Another thing it has going for it is the theme. It's clear this is a politically charged film. The opening sequence with the star spangled banner, the mayor "letting go of a war hero/police commissioner" during a time of peace, and obviously the 99% vs 1% "how you could live so large and leave so little for the rest of us." Bruce Wayne (Batman) is a billionaire afterall...hm...

But quickly back to the shots - the cinematography is breathtaking. The use of lighting in this trailer is amazing. The highlights and low lights - the panning city shot - ugh, wonderful. And please, I know it is aided by CG - but you can't not be left somewhat speechless after the football field scene. Um, hello.

Acting is also something to look out for. Everyone in this trailer seems to nail their spot (sure it's only a trailer, but lets look at the facts) - Christian Bale is coming off his Oscar, Michael Caine is always good (his tearful voice at the beginning really hits home), Anne Hathaway seems very ominous as Selina Kyle (aka Catwoman) and Tom Hardy, while only speaking two lines "When Gotham is ashes, then you have my permission to die," guarantees to bring a physical presence to the film that we haven't seen before (this is a man coming of numerous acting awards and respectable film roles - be sure to look out for him).

To be honest - I've blabbed on long enough. Watch it and enjoy it.

Even if you're not excited for the movie, I hope you can at least agree it is an effective trailer.

(pardon it not fitting the frame of the blog - but you need to see it in all of it's glory)

Matt Damon the Man

Well, I don't want it to get into a routine here - but again, Thursday late night!

Got back from work a little while ago so I'm not going to delve into the story realm, but I am going to post a video that I saw today that really caught my attention. It stars Matt Damon, who I knew was very passionate about the world and helping others, but I never knew he was this much into it.

I love how good he is with the children, how he makes jokes with them, and how he still tries and even manages to instill some knowledge in them.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. It's a really nice message to be sending out during the holiday season.

Cresting Tails

This was her safe place. No one else knew about it - for she hadn't told anyone.

Just when the sun was beginning to burn in the sky, ready to fall beneath the waves, and the waters began to calm, before it'd turn to glass, that's when she would see them.

Out there, cresting amongst the dying swells.

Fins, scales, life.

This was the time the people who lived below the waves would surface.

Organic Conduit

When he was growing up, he'd always hear stories about the tree deep in the forest that was connected to life. He never understood what that meant until he visited it, perching himself on its roots.

They stretched far beyond him, reaching deep in the forest, snaking amongst other trees and rocks, eventually diving into the soil, only to continue further away from the base of the tree. As soon as he sat on the roots he knew the stories he had heard were true.

People had always said the tree was alive, that it'd speak to you, that it was so vast that it could even reach those who had left this realm. He had always believed those tales to be something coming from grandparents who wanted to entertain the children of the town.

But, now as he sat there and the sun began to fall below the horizon and the mist began to creep along the forest floor, he swore he could hear whispers in his ear.

The Dark Knight Rises

Tonight I was one of the few privileged to see the opening sequence of Christopher Nolan's next movie, The Dark Knight Rises.

To say I'm a little amped is an understatement. For the sake of those out there and how fast my heart is (still) racing - I won't go into length about what I saw, but just a quick description of the technical side of it.

The ENTIRE thing was shot in IMAX format. For those of you who may not know, normal film (in a regular theater) is 35mm. IMAX is 70mm. The screen it is projected on is almost 4 stories tall. What you see before you is breath taking.

Not only is the format of this impressive, but the cinematographer, Wally Pfister, who is coming off his first Oscar for his work in Inception is responsible for the imagery of the film. Now, I only saw 6 minutes, but everything I saw was gorgeous. Every shot was beautiful. IMAX cameras are notoriously loud, hindering their ability to shoot close ups since the audio recording would usually pick up the noise of the camera, yet, in this footage, they even shot close-ups.

I really can't describe at this time what I saw. It was an action sequence that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Things were filmed that I didn't even know were possible. It was truly something I had never seen captured on film before.

I'm literally speechless.

I'm sure I can describe it better in the future (and I'm sure I will) but make sure you see the opening sequence - whether that means in theater before Mission Impossible, or online once it makes its way there.

I literally cannot wait for July now. It's a gigantic tease that the film comes out so far away.

Wow. Just wow.

Dragon Born

The elders used to say, beyond the rolling green hills a pastures, down the winding, weed-hidden oath, past the gnarled rock formations, the winged beasts roamed - ruling the land.

Today he wanted to see if it was true.

He walked into the billowing fog, fear in his heart, but curiosity wouldn't let me turn around.

Interesting Weekend

Well, this weekend was interesting to say the least.

Friday was the Trailer Park Holiday party at the Roosevelt Hotel in downtown Hollywood. Based on how fun last years party was when I barely knew anyone at the company, I was extremely stoked for this year. It had to be better in every way, and boy, it sure was.

It was even more extravagant than last years - walls draped with clothe, blue lights illuminating the dance floor, finger foods being served, there was a shot station, and a couple open bars. Yup, you guessed it, I took advantage of the shots and open bar(s). Did I get out of hand? No. But, I did enjoy myself. It was so much fun getting loose with the people I never thought I would from work. Sure, today I was a little embarrassed hearing stories from the night, but it was all in good fun - everyone laughed, it was pure good memories.

Once the "indoor" party shut down, we moved out to the pool area/bar. We kept drinking, laughing, messing around with one another. The end result? A very very very drunk friend from work, mistook my leaning towards him to talk to him as a move to push him into the pool. So what did he do? Spin me and knock me into the pool instead. Now, nothing bad, I was lucky to land in the pool stairs, but sadly, my phone drowned in my pocket.

Whats that mean? I've become one of the many iPhone users. Even better? The guy is paying for it (and I wasn't even due for an upgrade). Thank you Adam for your drunken follies. I wasn't even made - it was pretty funny actually. After all, it was only a phone.

So Saturday could be summed up in a simple explanation. I went to Verizon, jumped through their hoops to get the phone, then go to Best Buy and buy a case for it.

Saturday evening though was another story. I'll spark note it - but while standing at a table at a bar, a group of people, rather rudely shuffled by us, knocking us into the table. Not long after they passed (bumping into US mind you) one guy turned around and threw his hands around my friends neck and slammed him into a booth table, "Did you slap my wife's ass?!" Now, this was a BIG, rather fat hispanic man, so size wise, no one matched up with him. Not only that, but as soon as he began his shit, his 8 other friends went after our friend as well. I got in between my friend and the big dude, pushing the attacker against a booth (surprisingly it isn't that easy to push a fatass) when he's got weight and you have the muscle.  I was calm, saying "calm down" and what did he do? Start trying to choke me and throw some punches. So, what did I do? Being in the better position, throw some back, landing quite a few before the bounces came in and split everyone up.

It was so dumb, we left out the back and just came home - but it was so frustrating having to deal with that kind of shit when nothing was remotely our fault. Drunk people suck. But it was awesome that the three of us took on 8 guys and none of us were hurt.

I'll admit it was scary, and I never look for a fight at bars, and after this, even if it isn't our fault, I don't want to take part in it again.

(Sorry mom, but no worries, I'm safe).

So all in all - I'd say it was an interesting weekend.

Dead phones, december swimming, and bar brawls.

Yeehaw - exciting if I'd ever say so.

Kids Are Doing Everything These Daya

Extreme pogo sticking?

Sure why not.

All you need to do is get a pogo stick, do some reckless stuff with it, strap a camera to it and you have an internet sensation. Is there a lot of meaning or depth to this video? Absolutely not. But, it is pretty damn cool and being on the stick, as it soars and flips through the air is pretty darn cool.

Enjoy.

Dusted Seating

It had always been his favorite spot to watch the first snow fall of the season.

He couldn't remember why - but he was drawn to that row of old, rickety iron benches that lined the inlet. Ever since he was a small boy, he had enjoyed sitting alone on the worn wood, watching as the world around him was covered with a fine layer of white.

He always marveled at how the world around him never stop proceeding. While he would make sure to stop, sit, listen, and watch, everyone else kept going. The joggers kept running. The children kept laughing. The pets kept playing as far as their leashes would allow. While he enjoyed the peace a quiet of the benches, seeing the world continue always made him smile. It made him feel alive.

He loved looking up - amongst the falling flakes, leaning back and forth, side ti side, dodging them as well as he could - catching the occasional one of his tongue. It felt good when a flake would out maneuver him and landed on his cheek, instantly melting. It brought a chill to his face - a cold tickle that would run from his face all the way down to his toes.

Most times after sitting out on the bench, he'd have to prepare himself for the coming winter - for living on a coast, they were often times harsh and drawn out. But, today he wasn't worried. Looking ahead at the inlet, he saw the usual flock of ducks bobbing up and down in the water, drifting lazily wherever the current would take them. If they hadn't gone yet, he knew he didn't have to worry about winter arriving anytime soon.

With that thought pushed out of his mind, he smiled and looked up at the sky again, sticking his tongue out - waiting to taste the falling frost.

Bright Opportunity

He had to admit, when he stumbled out of his apartment, into the street to find it laying there, looking so helpless, glowing in the gutter, the first thing that registered in his head was money.

Who wouldn't want to see this thing? He assumed it was from the stars. Who wouldn't pay for that? No way could it have been man made. It felt like nothing he had ever touch before, it made no noise, and it had no scent. He figured if it was powered by batteries or another form of electricity, it would become warm to the touch, but even that didn't happen. It always glowed.

Whatever he had literally stumbled upon, could easily be monetized.

But as time wore on and he tried to tell his friends about it, many of which would laugh off his pleas, he began growing tired of the thing.

Every night he tried to sleep with it, he couldn't. It was just too bright. He already tried putting it in another room, wrapping it in a blanket - anything, but it still shown through the cloth and under the door, illuminating the frame and the entire room. The strange thing about it too was the further he moved it form him at night, the brighter it seemed to get, so he was stuck here, now, with it next to him, the dimmest it could be.

Until he figured out what to do with it, he'd have to deal with the many sleepless nights, it laying next to him like a giant, cresent night light.

He wanted dearly to discard it, dump it behind his apartment in the trash, hope some other schmuck would pick it up - but the thought of money persuaded him to keep it.

Why'd it have to be so damn bright?

Stupid moon rock.

Rule #1

The first rule he always taught anyone about wilderness survival was to never eat a berry or fruit that hasn't been eaten by the animals.

It's a perfect sign - if they aren't eating them, then you shouldn't be either.

Why did he teach this first? He learned the hard was as a kid.

Story Tomorrow

Just a quick fill in for why there is no story this evening (or morning depending on where you're reading this from):

As I'm writing this (and the previous post with the video) from work, I know I won't be getting home until late tonight and I also don't have the time to sit a write something lengthy while at the office.

So, as you've heard so many times before, I'll get back to the usual postings tomorrow.

Hope all is well with all of you!

Das Tub!!

Das Tub from Media Design School on Vimeo.



Man, does this bring me back to my early years in the tub with my net of toys having in the corner. Although, I will admit that I strictly used SpiderMan toys. No vehicles or astronauts for me.

Is this video kinda weird and quirky? Absolutely.

But it does have one great thing about it that makes it stand out - a great, surprise, extremely funny twist ending. Don't lie - I know you didn't see that coming!

Staring Contest

There was just something about those stupid birds that bothered him. He couldn't tell it it was their beady little eyes, head bomb, or dumb little strut, but something rubbed him the wrong way.

It wasn't fear that got to him - but how they looked at him, almost gazed right through him. No matter where he walked, he could feel them, eyes on him. They could be strutting away from him, but he could still see their eyes, focused on him.

Maybe it was a sign. Maybe they wanted something. They were playing some sort of game with him.

Today he wasn't about to lose this staring contest.

He had been practicing for days at school for this. He was focused - ready.

He picked one out of the group and gazed at it - the battle had begun.

First Finish

Well, to day was an exciting day for me.

I got to prep for "finishing" a spot I had been working on the last couple of days.

What exactly does this mean? Well, for those who don't know, I'm an assistant editor at a film trailer company. When a spot is prepped for finishing, that means it is going into syndication and needs to be properly prepared to the industry standards.

Yay! I finished my first spot. But originally, it wasn't by choice. An editor had walked away from the cut requested by the client, so I was approached to do it. It was nothing special - only a radio spot. What's that mean? No picture, only sound, since it plays on the radio (duh).

The other bummer? It's an international spot - so all of those in the good old U.S. won't hear it. Womp womp.

But, for those of you who are out there in foreign lands (I'm counting on you Paige), you have an chance to hear it!

Just keep your ears tuned for a J. Edgar spot to play on the radio - most likely it is mine.

Happy hunting!

Hopefully this means in the near future I'll be getting some actual TV spots finished. Wouldn't that be nice...

Dino Saurs

How long has it been since I posted a cool video?

Like, a legit, cool video. I know the last one posted was of the devil girl, but, that wasn't necessarily cool - it was just cute and funny.

So lets step back a moment and reflect on what I'm about to post. There are two main things you should know about it:

1. It's stop motion - and extremely well made at that
2. It's about the history of the planet

That's all you really need to know.

I've been trying to figure out how the people who filmed this actually did it. All I've come up with thus far is that it must have taken them a very long time, they were extremely careful, and they have an amazing eye for this kind of work.

Tickle me pink - I'm impressed by this piece.


Kalle Mattson - Thick As Thieves (Official Video) from Kevin Parry on Vimeo.

Remembrance Trance

It had been so long. Seconds had turned into minutes. Minutes turned into hours. Hours turned into days, weeks, months and years.

And he still remembered.

The softness of her hands, how they fit so well within his, the shape of her fingers, how they felt entwined with his. The shape of her body, how it personified the perfect hour glass, curving in all the right ways. The curls of her hair, cascading down her shoulders, never falling over her face - it knew to well not to hide her beauty. Her laugh. He remembered it so fondly, how her nose would scrunch up in the middle of a giggle, the dimples of her cheeks as they'd rise, showing her flawless smile.

He missed her energy. Everything was at ease when she was around. The world would just fade into a dull hum lost in the background. All that mattered was them.

He worried that it had been too long. Would things have changed? Could it be possible that his memories had played tricks on him?

He knew from the moment that he walked in the room, everything was as it should be. There, against the backdrop of lights, he could make out her outline.

Everything came rushing back.

Even though it was just her outline, he could make out the shape of her nose, cheeks, her full vibrant lips, how the nape of her neck curved so slenderly into her shirt.

He had to catch his breath.

When she looked over at him and he couldn't do anything by smile. He felt like he was seven again, embarrassed by the opposite sex - butterflies fluttering in his stomach. She was as magical as he remembered.

His world hadn't changed.

Fall Antiques

There was something about the fall air that always warmed her heart - to the core, as deep as she could possibly feel it.

It could have been a combination of things - the brisk air, the smells of the decay that rose from the forest, or the lack of colors in the leaves that remained on the trees. She always felt at peace, almost somber - as loose as one could be while still in control.

She loved walking through the woods when it was this time of the season - the leaves crinkled below her feet, crunching and snapping, letting her know that soon the dark clouds would be approaching and bring forth the walls of white that would drench the forest. Maybe it was that she felt safe in the woods. The dull colors harbored her, surrounding her with browns, oranges, and deeps reds, like one giant blanket that was coiled around her, hiding her from everything else.

Deep down though, she knew what she loved - the look that came with dusk. It happened when the sun began to set early, casting a brown haze over everything it touched, blurring the outlines of shapes, dulling the vibrant colors of the trees.

It made everything look old, delicate, worn out.

Except for her. It made her feel as alive as ever.

Fast Forward

It was his favorite spot to run.

His friends would always want to play tag behind his house. They'd play for hours, laughing and cheering each other one as they ran, pursued by whoever was it. From sun up to sun down, they'd be in the yard, zig zagging, back and forth, running from one another - not a care in the world.

He loved it, how the wind would howl in his ears, pushing his hair back away from his eyes as his legs pumped below him like pistons in a revved up motor.

He was never worried. Not many could catch up to him and for those who could, he'd run to his spot. The edge of the property where the trees made a enclosed path, like a hallway.

He'd sprint as fast as his little legs could carry him, darting in and out of the trees - sometimes doubling back, but always returning to the center, to run pure and free, gain as much speed as he could.

There was no greater feeling for him than to be charging down that leaved, mossy tunnel, the wind whooshing, trees whipping by - that's when the world seemed to blur around him.

That's when he felt invincible.

Dreamscapes

Whenever she closed her eyes, she would make sure she'd end up where she wanted to be - in her world, alone, left to wander the hillsides, tiptoe across the streams, and lay in the bright sun.

In her dreams she could end up anywhere. But she always ended up in the same pink field. She never got tired of it - never felt alone. She was always content, relaxed, lost amongst the bright hue of the grass that sprouted around her, rolling through endless hills - waves of magenta.

It was soft to the touch. Not like normal grass. She could lay in it for hours, breath in it's sweet scent. The streams that meandered through the hills were bright and clear. The most vibrant aqua she had ever seen. The water was cool to her bare skin, but never cold - the perfect temperature to take her first breath away, but never powerful enough to make her uncomfortable. It would lap at her ankles, tickle the back of her calves - coax her to flow downstream with her.

Sometimes she wanted to - lay back and let the current taker her down, around the bends, to wherever it flowed - hidden beyond the horizon.

But she never could - the grass held her close.

It was what she looked forward to every night as she lay in her bed and shut her eyes.

Pools

There was something about her eyes that sucked him in.

Those large, perfect brown eyes - edges tinted with green. He'd have to always be careful, otherwise he'd fall in and be lost for days.

Growing up, people always told him that "eyes are the windows to the soul".

When he looked into hers, he knew he was home.

Nicotine Dreams

It was something about how the smoke drifted out from between his lips and danced with the fresh air in front of his face that calmed him.

Many thought it was the nicotine, seeping deep into his pores, flowing through his system, numbing his brain. The haze before him was what lowered his heart beat, brought him down, relaxed his core.

The long day of work seemed to drift behind him, forgotten amongst the swath of smoke. His back didn't hurt anymore, the dirt lodged under his fingernails didn't matter. Deep inside his lungs, the smoke churned, coating everything it touched - he'd begin to drift.

With a Marlboro between his lips - he could take on the world.

Dark Side

I want it.

Minus the diapers, food spills, and probably crying all night long.

I hope this video cheered all of you up.

I'm tired. I'm getting over a cold. I promise I'll write a story or two tomorrow.

Two Coins of Your Eyes

I'm in a mellow mood.

Chillin' out. Relaxed.

I've been cutting spots all week while at work - trying to get notice, get some practice in. Move up to editor status and I'm really content from it all. It's weird that only after a few, I can feel myself growing, stylistically and visually.

To sum up how I feel, I'm going to simply post a song. It's very serene. The lyrics are beautiful and the melody just carries you away.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Happy listening.

Two Coins by DISPATCH

(Yes - by clicking the play button, and pop-up window appears - but no worries. Trust it! It'll play you the song!)

Sea Foam

It was always the first thing he woke up to in the morning.

The smell, lingering in the air, thick and ever present hung outside his home, waiting for him to begin his morning walk around the village.

Every morning he knew it'd be there, ready to invade his nose and pull him towards the coast. Light and frothy - it was never overwhelming. Rather comforting.

He didn't need to hear to rolling waves in the distance, crashing against the wharf to know it was there.

All he had to do was take a deep breath to know the sea foam had rolled in on the tide.

Dark Passage

Every time she walked down the road that cusped the village, it felt like she was in a nightmare.

As she wandered further into the wood, the colors seemed to fade from around her - bleeding out to the world that lay beyond the gnarled, tangled tree limbs.

The light at the far end of the road was all that ever kept her going.

She'd hold her breath as made her way through - waiting for the sunlight to fall again on her skin.

Walking Haze

Many of her friends were scared of it.

It'd creep along the ground, following them as they briskly walked down the soggy road. Pace quickening to get home.

They didn't want it to catch up to them. They could feel it, catching up to them, on the back of their necks, grasping their ankles.

When they had a choice, many of them avoided this section of the woods.

She loved it. Walking down the path, the haze made her feel welcome, like someone was traveling with her.

She'd drop her hand low enough and she could feel it, coiled between her fingers - letting her know she wasn't alone.

Four Paths

Sometimes he'd just like to walk down the dusty road - kicking and churning the dirt below his heels, letting it waft up into the air.

He'd walk until he'd reach the four corners, up the road a ways from his house.

There was no plan, no map laid out before him, but he knew one day he'd pick one of those roads and he'd follow it.

He wasn't sure where it one left, but maybe thats what was so appealing to him.

Unsure of what lay down each one, the only thing he knew was that it'd lead him to a new life.

Who Did It?

I know it's a long way away - but someone (I'm not going to name drop here) already planted the seed in my head for a perfect time to return to Ithaca...

For that one final trip.

In May, my birthday happens to fall during their senior week - when I'd be able to see my best friends from school graduate with the doctorate in physical therapy, and my other undergrad friends graduate with their degrees.

It's a long way off and there are many factors that lead into it.

But I'm not going to lie - that little seed, sitting in the back of my mind is certainly going to grow.

And boy, it will most likely grow into something massive.

Ithaca Reboot

Let me start off by saying I am a blessed person. I'm not one to brag about how things are in my life or how lucky I feel, but in this instance, I will.

This past weekend may very well go down in my memory as my best weekend thus far alive. Now, I know it seems like a stretch, but it really isn't.

Everything about Ithaca was perfect.

I'm not going to go into detail about everything I did - but rather, why I feel so lucky.

I have an amazing support system of friends. I arrived in Ithaca earlier than I planned, around 9 am, and I already had a friend waiting at the airport to get me - one who had class later in the day and was still willing to wake up early and drive to get me.

My friends that are still at school - almost all of them tennis, then allowed me to stay in there home for four days - no questions asked. Seriously? Let me crash that long? They are such wonderful people.

On top of that, my entire "house" from my senior year, those who I lived with, heard I was coming back to Ithaca and all met me there Friday night for the weekend -traveling from Rochester, Buffalo, Long Island, and New Jersey. It's not often that people would be willing to drive those distances for such a short period of time. It really touched me. I'm lucky to have the friends that I do.

Speaking of traveling, then there is my Mom, who drove up late Thursday night, to only spend Friday with me, to drive all the way back to Boston. That's 12 hrs of driving, in less than a 24 hour period. That's not just dedication, that's pure love. Even though we had such a short amount of time together, we walked the campus, shopped in the commons, but most importantly just sat and talked...the whole day. It honestly felt like I had never left home. We just clicked and caught up. What an amazing woman. I can't wait to do it again.

I also got to see someone who is near and dear to me. During my senior year, in the second half of it, I grew close to a woman on the tennis team and I built a strong bond with her - to the point that I felt robbed that I only got to hang out with her for a number of weeks before school ended. I don't know why we hadn't clicked before but to me, it felt like a cruel joke since everything was just so easy with her. Hanging out, laughing, doing absolutely nothing - it still all felt right. Lucky for me, she was one of the people I was staying with. So, we caught up, and nothing more than that happened, but hearing her future plans, how well she is doing in school and on the team just made me so happy. As much as it sucks knowing that if I was a year younger, I would have had more time with her - it's nice knowing I was given to opportunity to create that kind of bond.

And finally we come to Les, my main man. Best friend shall I say? Absolutely. We picked up right where we left off, with a hug. We never had said our goodbyes when I graduated, but only a "see you later." My mom had always been right. College friends are the ones who stick with you. The ones who matter. Who last. Even though it had been a year and a half since I had left school, and I was living 3000 miles away, it felt like I had been hanging out with him the previous night. We laughed, we horsed around, we drank together. It made me feel like I had never left school. I have no doubt in my mind that we will always be friends and I hope at some point we can live close to one another. With all sincerity, we talked about it - aside from our respective brothers, we will be each other's best...best men at our weddings. He'll always be a life long friend and there is no greater feeling than what I felt the moment I walked into his apt and saw him - knowing that no matter how long we haven't spoken or seen each other, all the distance that had ever separated us, will automatically disappear. He's like family to me. I love the kid.

So what happened next? I had to leave and it was probably the single worst feeling in my life. The weekend was my love letter to Ithaca - after this year, all the remaining people I know will be gone so I essentially will have no reason to return, but that alright - I had my 4 years there, it is time that I let someone else have theirs.

It's also tough knowing I may never see some of my friends I saw this weekend again, or that by leaving,  I knew the bond I shared with Becky would always be there, but the opportunity would most likely be forever gone.

Sure - all these feelings suck. Some of the worst I've ever felt. But reflecting on the weekend, I know that I have those lifelong friends you always dream of having. I know I have a mother who will literally do anything for me, who loves me unconditionally, and will always be there for me.

More importantly, I know that Ithaca was the right choice for me.

It gave me the life I lead and the people that populate it.

East Coast Bound

Well, I've been talking about it for a while - who would have honestly thought it would have taken me over a year to make it back East.

That's right - I'm returning home...well, not my real home, but one of my many homes - Ithaca, New York.

I'm really excited to go back. The main reason being one of my best friends from my time at school is still there as a grad student and the second reason being that it is Cortaca weekend. It's the big rival football game between Ithaca and Suny Cortland, so we'll have a good time going to it.

It also helps that while I am there for 4 days - my mom is coming up for one of them. It'll be the longest I've gone since seeing her - by a lot. It'll be a short, but well worth, and well deserved visit with her. Plus we'll squeeze in a meal at Joe's :)

Another good addition is that my entire house from senior year is coming up during the weekend to visit me as well, driving in from everywhere from Rochester, NYC, and even DC. It's going to be so great seeing everyone. Hell, hopefully I'll even get to catch up with my old tennis coach while on campus.

To be honest though, I am a little scared. I haven't travelled alone in 3 years and I havn't been on a plane in almost that long. Don't get me wrong, I love planes and I love traveling, but since it's been so long, I feel like I'm going to forget something important.

Oh well, if I do, it's part of the adventure right? I'll have my credit cards and ID - so I could make it anywhere if need be.

But on that note - I need to go to bed and make sure I'm well rested for tomorrow. I have a red-eye to Newark then up to Ithaca for 9:26am.

Wahoo!

Oh right - this also means I'll be on a little bit of a hiatus until next week.

Catch you then!

Disappear

She loved coming here - sitting on the cool shale sticking out from the glistening sand.

She'd pretend the Sun was a giant eye, watching her the entire day. And when it slowly began to set over the horizon, her escape would soon arrive.

For when the darkness fell, she could just disappear.

Up Here

Was it even possible for them to see that high?

It was something she always did when she was a kid while staying at hotels - standing on the windowsill in her underwear.

Still, today, she wondered if anyone below could see her.

Would they like it if they could?

Down Clouds

She loved falling onto her down comforter.

There was something magical about it. No matter how high she threw herself, the moment her skin touched it's surface, it felt like she'd float down into the bed. It'd cushion her, envelope her. It smelled soft and light.

It soothed her after the longest and hardest of days.

It made her feel like a little girl again.

Haulin'

Did she feel guilty?

Of course she did. She really wished there was a way she could isolate it. Really personalize it. But, she couldn't, so she just rode with it.

It was after those nights when the neighbor's kids would stay up late, yelling and running through the house, uncontrolled by their parents that she'd bust out her bike.

It was her form of payback - tearin' ass down the street, peddling as fast as she could, roman candles whistling through the early hours of the morning, leaving a smoking, crackling trail behind her. They never seemed to figure out it was her.

On some level she felt bad for what she was doing.

But it just felt so good.

Post Halloween Fun

Sure, most of these kids (in my mind), especially the older ones (one even reminds me of Andrew Allen...mom) come off as brats, but at the same time, this video is completely cute and endearing.

Don't worry - the last video makes everything worth it:

Video Extravaganza!

It's official.

I'm turning grey.  Work has done it...pushed me over the limit. One of my coworkers pointed it out to me. I have legit grey hair(s).

Noooooooooooooo!!!!!! Alas, but tis the life of an assistant editor.

Anywho - I'm home late since I was at work doing some overtime, editing together a sizzle reel, which was really really fun. Not really "assistant" work since they let me edit some of it to make it into the finished product.

So...wahooo!!

But on a fun note - let's watch some more fun videos shall we?

Everyone love the beach, and water, and beach bums, and awesome camera tricks - so why not enjoy this video?


More Surfing Videos

How can you not love Conan?! He's back in New York (yayaya) and he's up to his old shenanigans:



Awesome montage of "God's view" shots in movies.  How many do you recognize? I'd say I probably recognize about 75% of these:

Spiked Animation

I can feel it creeping up upon me. That time of the week where it is hard to drag myself out of bed in the mornings. When it is hard to keep my eyes open at work depending on the time of day.

Ugh....feel.....so...lazy. Don't...have........energy.....to....write.

I don't plan on making this a routine - so don't worry. But, some weeks just reek havoc on my body (this week being one of them).

So what do I have to offer you today? How about some good ol' felt stop-motion animation. Exciting right?  Sound pretty straight forward? Well, it isn't. This short film is by Spike Jonze.

And if any of you know me - you're aware of how I worship the ground he walks on. So when I discover something like this little jewel - my mind is blown. How in the world does he manage to come up with such crazy ideas? Not only that - he executes them so damn well.  It's beyond me how he managed to manipulate the felt as much as he did.

Just and FYI....this pice might be a little NSFW (aka felt skeleton sex - nothing too graphic, but suggestive).

Enjoy!


Spike Jonze: Mourir Auprès de Toi on Nowness.com.

Baby Boomers

Today we're stemming away from the typical stories and creative world.

Instead we're going to (briefly) talk about world population.

The following video essentially sums up everything in a neat little video presentation, but I was surprised with all I had learned by the time it had stopped playing.



I really can't believe the rate and which we've been growing. It's absolutely nuts. It's also scary thinking about how crowded the planet is getting - we're already in a sense killing the Earth, so as we continue to grow as a population, we're going to keep damaging our home. It'll be a major problem we will have to face down the road.

On a completely different note - how friggin' cool is the device they built? Whoever came up for the schematics for it deserves a pat on the back. While I doubt it is extremely accurate - it's a genius way to use water to easily depict population growth.

While I can't say I have a solution to combat our growing numbers - I hope this video made you stop and think about it. It's something we haven't seen the last of.

4 Minutes

As he stood there, he could feel a slight tingle deep within his gut, hidden away, tucked beneath his stomach, coiled in between his innards, behind his instestines. It was the feeling that something wasn't right. It was the kind of nervous that lay dormant, only rearing forth to shock and make aware of unseen danger. He was nervous.

A magician should never be nervous.

Tonight was supposed to be his grandest spectacle - his last performance before he slid into retirement, disappearing from the public eye. Becoming a myth amongst his followers. His tricks would live on through word of mouth, tantalizing those who's ears it'd meet. It was supposed to be special that his last show - his most daring performance, was on Halloween. His manager pleaded against it, swearing it was a bad omen. Spirits walked free that night he'd warn. They liked to cause mischief.

As the crowd waited for him to perform his final trick, he noticed how the smoke lingered in the theatre air, dancing amongst the lights. Swirling endlessly. Hovering. Waiting. It made him uneasy. He felt it watching him, ready to encase him at any moment and whisk him away. He knew he had to push it out of his mind and so he did. Nerves couldn't play a roll in the last trick. He couldn't afford it.

It was a variation on Houdini's water tank. When he pulled off the curtain hiding the container, the crowd immediately began cheering and applauding. They waited with held breathes as his slowly lowered himself in. First his feet, than his lags, finally his waist. His hands and ankles were bound by thick rope, tied in knots that appeared to be impossible to tackle.

As many times as he had practiced it before, every time he lowered himself into the water, it took his breath away. This time was no different. It immediately reached down his throat and pulled the air out of his lungs. As he settled in, he mentally prepared himself. Four minutes. That was the magic number. He knew how long he could last. He'd counted in his head before, practiced with the lid off. Slow movements. Work the knots until they slipped free. From there he could slip out and stand to the side of the stage, waiting for the big reveal. He felt ready and glanced up at his stage hand, nodding. As the lid closed over his head, he slipped below the surface of the water. The liquid immediately filled his ears, muffling the noise of the theater. All he could easily make out was the rhythmic beating of his heart.

Once the curtain dropped, shrouding the tank, he began his escape. He sat for a minute, counting, lowering his heartbeat - letting his muscles relax. His knees hit the bottom of the tank and he drifted freely. The two minute mark passed in his head and he began slowly moving his wrists back and forth, loosing the ropes. He did so for the next thirty seconds. Once his hands were free, his ankles would be easy. By three minutes, his hands should be free, but they weren't. There was a problem. The ropes, even with the rocking back and forth of his wrists hadn't loosed. They felt tighter. The water had drawn them closer to the skin, pinching it. He began to move his arms more violently, ignoring the goal of remaining relaxed.

This was when feeling deep in his gut began to creep into the back of his head.

He was nearing the fourth minute and he still had made no progress. By now his mind was hazy from fear. He had lost count. He just wanted to get out of the tank - not allow the audience to see him slowly drowning.

That's when the curtain came up. He floated there, in front of the crowd, still bound, shaking in the tank. People gasped. Parents turned their children away from the sight on the stage.

They could see the terror in his eyes.

He opened his mouth once to let out a gargled scream but stopped before he wasted any air. The stage hand was next to the tank, climbing a ladder, key in hand to unlock the top, when the magician saw it, through the haze of the water, fall down to the floorboards, skipping across the wood until it disappeared between the slats. It was over.

People in the crowd were now screaming. Hystarical. He could see their mouths moving, but his ears were ringing, as if a train was barreling down a set of tracks straight for him. His lungs screamed. He could feel the vessels in his eyes beginning to burst.

The world around him was closing in. The edges of his sight were becoming black.

Thats when he saw the smoke wafting towards him, closing in on him. He was hoping he'd drown before it reached him.

He swore he reached six minutes before his world faded to black.

*******

When he woke, he sat straight up in bed. Shaking and coughing. Reaching over, he turned on the light next to his bed.

His whole bed was soaked through - the sheets clinging to his body.

Looking down, thats when he almost threw up.

Around his wrists was the perfect, still red indentation of ropes.

Zonked

My god has this week been long. Not in the sense that it has taken forever for Friday to roll around, but regarding my tired level.

I am absolutely BUSHED and I apologize for it.

Per usual when I am falling asleep at my keyboard, I'll just load this post up with some videos and get back to the real writing monday.

Talk to you soon.



People are awesome:




Touching and sad - but it drives home a great point:




If I I ever work at a douchebag (there's your word mom) company or have an asshole bob, I am certainly going to quit like Joey:




Hope you enjoyed the videos - have a great weekend and I'll write to you all on Monday!

Don't Chu Worry

And for those of you who were waiting for a story this evening...

Don't you worry, I'm cookin' up something for the holiday that's right around the corner.

I Wish

Peoples' talents just amaze me.

I used to draw as a kid, a lot, like, all the time. If I wasn't outside romping in the forest or playing some kind of sport, you can bet I was inside drawing - mostly monsters (mainly Godzilla or Alien), or anime, or animals.

Something about drawing just sucked me in and relaxed me. I never considered myself a "good" drawer in the sense that I need something to look at in order to draw it well. I was never good at just reaching into my mind and letting that image flow from my mind, through my body, down my arm, into my hand, and out of the pencil tip and onto the paper. I needed something to look at. Mimic. To in a sense, copy, which, on some level, really isn't respectful drawing since it could be seen as plagiarism.

But, thats where I excelled and I did it often. In school I'd be the kid who would copy animals out of National Geographic, or characters from my favorite comic book (Spider Man....duh) and my classmates would love it. I'd be asked to draw for them, my teacher would ask for me to add to the decorations in the room. Of course, I never had a problem with this. I loved it. It was nice hearing from others that I was good at something.

I had one rule though - never...never ever use color. I was strictly a black and white artist. There had been times when I'd attempt to add some shading and the picture would always come out wrong, looking worse. I'd be disgusted with it and ultimately stuck with it, since you can't just easily erase colored pencil.

It only happened a few times. I learned quick.

So by this point, I'm sure you're sitting there, wondering why the hell did I just ramble on about all this? Well, the following video to brilliantly explains why I brought you to this point. Even with my history of drawing, when I see a real good artist or piece, I'm still amazed by the skill involved.

So, the video below blows my mind. For two main reasons.

1. There is no color. I love that there is no color. It's like how I used to draw. It just feels cleaner to me, while also, somehow dirty - probably from shading with the pencil.

2. While there are clear aspects that are copied from other pop culture work (such as characters or scenes or themes - just like my old ways) - there clearly was no reference piece to this. It is all hand drawn and it is long. I can't imagine the man hours poured into this in order to complete it.

This is a level I would never be able to reach. This is the kind of talent you have to just be born with.

Impressive just isn't strong enough of a word to describe it:

Autumn Remembrance

As he stood there, his nose tingled. Not from the chill of the autumn air or the breeze that had wrapped around him. It was that smell. The unique scent that wafted from the ground as Mother Nature was tucking herself into bed, ready to hide away for the remaining month of the year, to escape the oncoming snow. She'd drop her leaves, like clothes to the floor, and slip away, waiting to be enveloped by the snow, to hide beneath it.

Her aroma was his favorite part.

She smelled sweet. Like the blossoming leaves in her forests. Thick and pungent, coating the inside of his nose. It reminded him of his mother's perfume, when he was younger, sitting on her lap, or as she leaned down close to kiss him on his forehead to say goodnight. He felt connected to her - through the pollen in the air and the freshness that escaped her leaves.

He also loved how she smelled of rot. The leaves that had fallen - the pieces of her that she had shed in order to bare herself to the snow. It smelled organic - real. It was the kind of smell he couldn't escape even if he tried. It lingered in the air, ready to bombard those who tread outside. It surrounded him, hugging him, reminding him that Autumn had arrived and that the frost on the leaves would soon turn to inches on the ground, and the patches of clouds overhead would soon turn into a blanket of grey - Mother Nature was preparing him for her departure.

He was always sad when she left at the end of autumn. As much as he loved her sweet and her rot, he loved her because of the memories the two smells brought back when they mixed in the air and entered his lungs. They reminded him of his mother. She'd so delicately hold his hand as they hiked through the woods, finding the brightest leaves on the ground - the "screamers." They'd stop and listen, picking out the animals that were scurrying around them. When the breeze picked up, she'd bend down and pull his collar up around his face, protecting him. He always felt safe with her - even in the middle of the woods. They'd collect their findings and bring them home and laminate them, decorate the house with them. During winter, even with absence of life outside, those few pieces reminded him that spring was on its way.

As he stood there, he smiled. He had no memories with the shiny slide ahead of him. That he didn't care about.

All that mattered was the smell of the air. Every time he took a breath, he was with his mother.

As if he was lost deep in the woods with her again, his hand enveloped in hers.

Weekend Recap

My god, what a whirlwind of activities.

Don't worry, I do remember them all - alcohol wasn't that present in the visit.

Lets do a little recap shall we?

Thursday Night:

Chris and Will strolled in to the house and within 10 minutes, we were on our way to In N Out to grab dinner. That's right - who could think of a better way to begin the trip. We all over indulged just a little bit - animal style burgers, animal style fries, and milkshakes. Mmm mmm. This set the tone for how poorly we would be eating for the remainder of the trip.

We then went to the local Ralphs (grocery store) and Chris and Will loaded up on what they call "craft beer". AKA not the usually crap I drink - Coors Light. They bought a bunch of European beers that I had never heard of and were damn good. We drank a couple and stayed up playing Xbox since there isn't a whole lot to do on a Thursday evening.

Friday:

We awoke at the early hours of 11ish to shower and begin out day. First stop? Roscoe's Chicken N Waffles. Yup, that's right - the best combination of food I had never had up until that point. Imagine, southern friend chicken, next to a stack of waffles, topped with gracious dollops of butter and dishes of syrup. Not only were they good separate, they were even better when you ate them together.

Dayum straight son.

So then we drove through downtown, so Will could soak in how tiny "downtown" actually is. Being the New Yorker he is - he wasn't impressed. We then proceeded to the Hollywood sign. While he didn't hike the hill, he did get to view it (it was smoggy so we opted out of the hike). We then proceeded to downtown Hollywood, basically right in front of Trailer Park and caw the Walk of Fame and the Chinese Theatre...the usual touristy things. Following this, we drove down Santa Monica Blvd and through West Hollywood to see the "club scene" and "dive bar" scene. It didn't take us long to end up in Beverly Hills where we oodled the houses, driving down Rodeo blasting Rage Against the Machine. They scoffed at all the 17 year olds driving Bentleys.

By the time we got home, we were a little tired and recouped before heading out for the night on Main Street Santa Monica where we hit up a great Irish bar, O'Brien's, eventually shifting to a clubish place called 310Lounge.

Saturday:

We woke up late again and found our way to a great Mexican place called Taco's Por Favor, where Chris and Will were in heaven (Chris opting for the Mole burrito). We literally ate so much that by the time we came home, we just lounged until 3ish, at which point we started getting ready for a "beer party" Will had found in downtown LA. So, we got ready and headed there for a bit, sampling a wide variety of local micro brews. After a while, we left and made our way to the main event...Roller Derby. With my brother visiting, this is now kind of an annual thing, so this was my second time and I have to admit, I absolutely love it. Not because of the women pummeling each other, but because of the energy in the arena. It's such a blast...oh, and the 6 dollar "tall boy" mexican beers don't hurt either.

Once that was done we went to the after party and a bar downtown, and while I was DD, Chris, Will, and I really had a blast. Mingling with the women, laughing, talking about LA, and the sport. Someone heard in a passing convo that I'm an Assistant Editor and offered me volunteer time to edit together the league videos and I'm considering it since I get to go to the events for free. There's just something about those kind of women and their tattoos...hm...

Sunday:

Chris met with his old Roommate Alan for lunch and Will and I went to a "build your own burger bar" called the Counter, which Bravo (the TV channel) highly recommends. And now I understand why.

While that isn't my burger...mine had Gruyere cheese, grilled onions, green chilies, cole slaw, sprouts, avocado, and a fried egg on it, with a side of Russian dressing. I'll admit it - it was a bastard child, but it was so damn good.

We then made our way to Santa Monica where we met up with Chris and walked the beach and pier.

Coming home, we decided we needed frozen yogurt, so we stopped and loaded up on our probiotics. We then just hung out and let our stomachs digest...only to then go to a local Mexican place "El Super Taco"around 9pm for a late night snack.  Hell yeah.

We all turned in for bed, Chris Will and I saying our goodbyes since I needed to leave for work before they woke up.

It was a great weekend. Great times, great memories, great meals, a whole lot of laughs, and a much needed "vacation" for me, since I took my first day off from work since starting there (Friday).

While my calorie count for the weekend was much higher than I would ever had hoped it would go, I have no complaints.

I just with the weekend was longer.

Brosiff

Brother is in town!

Wahoo!

Day off tomorrow!

Wahoo!

Brother brought his friend Will!

Wahoo!

Roller Derby!

Wahoo!

It'll be a great weekend.

Talk to you on Monday.

A New Dimension Of Pictures

Don't ask me how they did it, because, well, I'm not exactly sure. So please don't ask me. I'd like to try and explain it to you, but the truth is, I can only bullshit so much before you realize that I'm just blowing smoke up your asses and have no real idea what I'm talking about.

Anyway...I digress.

There is this new start-up camera company, Lytro, and they are claiming they have created something that will revolutionize the camera market (and from what I've seen so far, I'd agree with them). Dn't get me wrong, their technology can be faulty and turn out worse than they currently predict, but, for now, I've been sippin' on the Kool Aid and I like the way it tastes.

So what exactly did Lytro create? Well, they call it a "full light field/spectrum" camera. Let's see if I can explain it the best I can, as simple as I can (although I don't fully understand all the science behind it). Normal cameras only capture certain light in the light field/spectrum, basically whatever the camera is focused on. This new camera somehow captures all the light - the intensity, the color, and the direction. Beyond this explanation, I can't really off anymore insight.

But, what does it mean?

Well - somehow, because you're capturing all aspects of light within the picture, it allows you to focus after the picture is taken. Again, I don't know how this works, but it's honestly mind blowing. Let's say you take a picture, but you don't like how the foreground looks - simply click on a section of the photo you want in focus, and you can shift the depth of field, bringing background into focus while obscuring the foreground. Don't like the background? Click on something in the front of the photo and watch the back fade out of focus. Or, why not just click something in the middle of the picture to find a happy medium.

Pretty trippy shit right? If you don't understand what I mean - try playing with the photo's below. They are a perfect example of how this technology works.







Unfortunately these don't really serve much of a purpose for moving images (since you wouldn't want to change focus of a movie while it is playing - although it would be cool to try). And I know what you're thinking - it's some kind of gimmick. Well, maybe it is, but I've never seen technology alter an image this well before.

When you play with the photos make sure you really explore them. See how close you can bring the focus. Find the furthest part in the picture and focus on it. The range is jaw dropping.

It's still just unbelievable to me. A camera that allows you to shift focus endlessly. After you've taken the photo - cementing it in time. I'm seriously contemplating getting one.

God I love technology.

https://www.lytro.com/

Click the link if you want more info on it - or if you want to play with more, full size images.

Barstool Condolences Pt.5

All she had wanted to do was breath. Leave it all behind, break free.

She was stuck in the gloom.

Her picturesque life had tricked her. She hadn't found the perfect man. The house they shared wasn't really where she wanted to be. It didn't feel like home. All of it felt alone.

At first she was happy. They had met innocently, randomly, and seemed to just click. Days turned into weeks. Weeks into months. Months into years. She didn't believe what she had lived. Looking back on it she saw it all as a lie. The arguments. The torment. The inevitable smell of alcohol lingering in the air when she'd arrive home from work. His eyes would be bloodshot the times they were still open, hair tussled, shirt color cocked to an angle. She'd have to coddle him, take care of him, walk him upstairs after gently prying the bottle from his slack fingers. She knew what it meant to be a mother, without ever giving birth, watching first steps, or letting go of a hand as the first day of school began.

She didn't like it. She wanted a baby. Not a grown man who would drink himself into a condition that wearing a diaper would be useful.

What had expired early in the evening only drove the final nail deeper into the coffin, sealing it shut from any hopes that what lay within would ever be resurrected. She hated herself for putting herself through it all. Verbally and physically abused, she retreated, running into the night, unaware of where she would end up.

The last couple years had been a swirl of black, churning and building, swelling at the surface, tumbling endlessly - a tide that only continued to rise, never ceasing to fall. Keeping her down. Below the brackish liquid, her lungs burned, pleading for air, clawing at her insides, wanting to swim to the surface themselves.

Just when everything began to fade and she felt like she was ready to give up, his hands broke through, plunging deep down to grab her and pull her to the surface. It was amazing. Rebirth. Her head broke the surface and the air invaded her, assaulted her. It tasted so good. Refreshing. It tasted like ozone. It t tasted like rain.

She couldn't make sense of how she got there or how he found her - alone, desperate, at a random bar.

It had been so long.

All she knew was that she was happy.