Same Shit, Different Day

The Arthur Project

ryanl812 — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 16:10:17 GMT

Wow - I have not blogged in while. Been so busy with work, as well as a play I'm working on that I feel like I'm buried in a hole. Well, even in that hole, I still wanted to put up some pics I took a while back. Here's a great set of a buddy of mine - he was getting his head shaved and wanted me to shoot it. I keep meaning to put together a flash piece for this, but can't get the free time. Later this spring.... I'll post it when I do. http://www.rawtography.com/galleries/arthurproject/

Erase November 30th From Your Calendar

ryanl812 — Wed, 23 Nov 2005 22:19:36 GMT

Can we talk for a moment about the status of November 30th? I realize that it's a day. And I realize that, at this point, you are planning to accept its existence. However, I would like to discuss some reasons - make an argument if you will - for it's immediate and complete removal from our calendar. Now you might be wondering how this would happen - and I would love to tell you, but for now, that will have to remain a secret. Instead I would like to discuss why this should happen: 1) November 30th is “Computer Security Day” – Get ready for it by start protecting yourself and your family today! P4 Books has released a new ebook to help everyone fight back against the creeps and crooks that operate online and announce a free test to see how clued up or clueless everyone is about online security. http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/11/prweb305625.htm 2) Government Expo - people that want to create technology to SPY ON YOU!!!!!! Mark your calendars for GVExpo2005 November 30-December 1, 2005 Washington DC Convention Center It's the meeting place for those who want to learn, look for the most cutting edge products and services, and network with industry leaders. Visit the show floor with over 300 leading vendors. 3) THE GREAT RAILWAY MANIA DAY - Never had there occurred, in the history of joint stock enterprises, such another day as the 30th of November 1845. It was the day on which a madness for speculation arrived at its height, to be followed by a collapse terrible to many thousands of families. 4) AGON FILM FESTIVAL - submission deadline November 30th Accepted: archaeological films, documentaries, fiction, animation, reporting, educational etc. produced by either public or private organizations, or individuals from all over the world. The subject is the Archaeology of the Mediterranean area in its wider sense, i.e. Antiquity, Middle ages, or even industrial archaeology, popular art and traditions. Archaeological films dealing with other areas of the world are accepted for participation in the informative section of the festival. Contact: Mrs Maria Palatou, e-mail: mpalatou~at~arxaiologia.grr NO MORE ACRHAEOLOGICAL FILMS!!!! That's all.

Goodbye

ryanl812 — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 01:51:54 GMT

Most doctors will tell you that Goodbyes are hard to overcome - harder than "Hellos", more difficult than "Happy Discord", and in a completely different league than "Uncomfortable Silences". They often cause patients to cry, sweat, and engage in long hugs with people they wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole. It's a very hard thing to watch, but it must be stopped. So you're probably asking yourself, "How does this guy know they have The Goodbyes?" Well, being a trained specialist in the G-B's, I can see behavior that may not be apparent to the average human eye: 1) Throwing A Going Away Party 6 Times: That's right, once you hit the 5 party threshold, it's usually too late. How many of you showed up at their last "going away" party, only to disover that they were not a) going away, and b) even having a party. Had I not flown 6,000 miles for the engagement, perhaps it wouldn't be quite as big of a deal. Perhaps I wouldn't have to write such a sad letter. 2) Not Actually Leaving Had they faked the party and still actually gone on their trip, this would be more a case of "Toy With Your Friends' Emotions" - a much less dangerous condition. Instead, they decided to hang around the country they live in, and laugh it up as everyone wondered, "Are they ever going to leave?" 3) Watching Old Kung Fu Movies Okay, I'm not completely sure if they do this or not, but it's third and most dangerous symptom. My guess is, you stop over to their place on any given weeknight, and you will find some Bruce Lee in the DVD player. In Conclusion: I can't speak for anyone else here, but I really hope this is the last letter about this. I hope it's not another trick, attempting to get me to fly to England to provide the "Goodbye" they so desperately need. While I want to support you through your illness, I need you to know that I have a limited emotional capacity to handle a lot of Goodbyes. So, please, go on your trip. Experience new things and have a hell of a time. But whatever you do, please don't sneeze on any of your friends... it would be sad to have to say goodbye all over again.

The Mechanics of Fear

ryanl812 — Wed, 02 Nov 2005 03:16:07 GMT

Just got my first feature article on Hollywood.com... below is the beginning of it. Visit the link to check out the whole thing: The Mechanics of Fear “You're probably wondering where you are. I'll tell you where you might be. You might be in the room that you die in.” -- Saw, 2004 We all like to be scared, right? Well, okay, some of us more than others. Based on box office results from the past few years, however, it appears that number is growing. Usually shot at break-neck speed, with low budget in mind, horror films are now reaching out to wider audiences--expanding beyond their long-time core teen audiences to a more diversified population. Horror flicks have long been one of Hollywood’s safest bets. From low-budget Corman-esque slashers to studio-friendly, supernatural, Japanese remakes, these films consistently fill theater seats without breaking the bank. Take, for instance, the 2004 Halloween hit The Grudge, the picture ended up being made with its cost around $10 million. And, after a successful Halloween-season run, it raked in upwards of $110 million. Along the same lines, the teen-friendly Final Destination boasted a modest budget of $25 million, and doubled its worth at the box office--bringing in over $50 million. And we’re not even counting what these films did overseas, on DVD, or on cable. But perhaps the horror genre’s most impressive trait is its ability to reinvigorate franchises over the course of time--just look at movies like The Fly or The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. A recent 2003 remake of the grisly 1974 original took Leatherface to new heights--bringing in a whopping $80 million and generating an entire new generation of fans. The franchise not only survived the long break, but it actually flourished. Film business folks have long been aware of this upward trend--just look at other successful franchises such as Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street--and most recently, Saw, a claustrophobic thriller surrounding the frenzied solving of a puzzle. Within a year of Saw’s reported success, Saw 2 is already making its way to the screen. And, in each of the three noted franchises, the original film has successfully spawned a sequel release within the last two years. In fact, two of them teamed-up for a super-sequel: the lucrative 2003 double-punch installment, Freddy vs Jason, in which the horrific leading men face-off. http://www.hollywood.com/content/feature_detail.aspx?id=3466642&p=1

Osgood up to no good.

ryanl812 — Tue, 25 Oct 2005 17:37:17 GMT

Just wondering who put the good in Osgood? I mean for fucks sake, that guy hasn't done anything good in a long time. Oh, what, he works for The Children's Hospital? He likes to give out flower seeds at open air markets? He sings in a church choir during Christmas season at convalescent homes? Well, if Osgood was so good, then why did he steal my red blankey? Why would he come into my house, and extract the one thing that makes me feel secure at night in this deep, heartless soul of a city we know as Los Angeles? Probably because Osgood is up to no good. That's right. I've got news for you - your old pal uses his volunteer time at the Special Olympics to cover for the fact that he does devious shit like stealing red blankeys. He likes to smile and say nice things to people because he is a theft. Don't believe me? I have proof. Here it is: He stole my red blankey because it is the best red blankey anywhere. Ever. So whatever, I'm not going to press charges. I mean, I am not that much of a wussy, or a whistle-blower to fall into his little "Feel Sorry For Me" trap. He'll go cry to everyone and they will go, Oh, Osgood, we're so sorry for you. And I definitely don't want that. No way. So, Osgood, I'm going to do the one thing I know how - tell you that you should be named Osbad. YEAH - THERE! TAKE THAT!

Chaka Khan

ryanl812 — Sat, 15 Oct 2005 01:10:53 GMT

Okay, I have not written anything in a while. I have been so fucking busy with work and such that I feel like all personal life has gone the way of handbag at a klepto convention. But there is something I think is important to discuss today: Chaka. Now, we all know her as the wild woman from the 80's with pretty whack songs. But I know her as something much more - she is another artist that launched and sustained a career off generating songs with really generic lyrics. Now I'm certainly not a music historian, but I think lyrics can often help an audience get in the head - at least somewhat - of the person performing them. You can feel John Lennon's yearning for peace, right? Or you can really hear Syd Barret's madness, eh? And the angst in Kurt Cobain - diggin' deep. So, you may be asking - why am I writing about this. Well - I'm not totally certain there's a point here. But... I happened to be browsing Chaka Khan lyrics recently on http://www.lyricsfreak.com/c/chaka-khan/ - and one thing i noticed is how damn generic everything is. Now, they are certainly sexy and filled with double meaning, but in almost every case they only deal with surface issues. Now I don't need to dig deep inside the head of Chaka because... well, because I just don't. But, come on - take a look at the lyrics below - they are straight up old-school Safeway generic brand. Can you feel it, can you feel it Don’t you feel it, can’t you feel it Can you feel it *give me your hand, I’ll give you mine Fire and water mixed up in one sign My temperature’s rising And it’s not surprising When you’re close to me, baby So tantalizing I can’t help myself I get so excited Why do I act in this fashion Why can’t I control my passion Start to freak out **some call it soul fire I call it hearts desire Come on baby, gonna take you higher I’m gonna give you the warmth Guaranteed to inspire ***when we meet, feel the heat Ain’t it sweet, feel that body heat (*** repeat 3x) I feel your body heat, I feel your body heat I feel your body heat (*repeat) Oh, I like it, I like it a lot Come on baby, give it all you got I’m getting warm, but wait till I get hot I’m a genie non-fiction Rub me till you feel my friction

mistaken Identity

ryanl812 — Fri, 16 Sep 2005 07:20:25 GMT

You ever have the feeling someone saw your picture from when you were about 6 or 7 and decided they wanted to claim it as their own? Not just the photo itself, but the identity of the picture. You know, like - hey, i think i am going to make that me. Well, recently i was thinking about doing this. There is this guy at my office that looked like a perfect me when he was little. I mean, we looked different - he has dark brown hair, i had blonde. He had blue eyes, mine were hazel. But there was just something about his second grade photo that screamed Ryan. So i thought, what if i just started saying it was me? Sure people may not believe it at first. I could hear people say, "Ryan, that doesn't look like you at all - that little boy's African American." Or even, "Hey, nice one Ryan, that's really funny. He's missing his left eye - where'd you get yours?" But the cool part about it would be the fact that i could assume that identity and if i believed it enough, no one could ever take that away from me. even him. he'd be like, "no, dude, that's me." And i'd be like, "no, dude, it's actually me..."

Shot The Fock Op

ryanl812 — Wed, 14 Sep 2005 18:24:06 GMT

Let me give you an example of my day so far: For some reason I am getting the following error after the transaction is complete. However, when you click directly in, I don’t get the error. Do you know what might be causing it? ******************* Microsoft VBScript runtime error '800a0005' Invalid procedure call or argument: 'InstrB' /nsc/showdownreg/clsUpload.asp, line 235 ******************* BULLSHIT!!!!!

Alligator Love

ryanl812 — Fri, 19 Aug 2005 17:29:20 GMT

"LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - More than a week after a man-sized alligator stunned authorities by surfacing in a murky Los Angeles lake, the fugitive reptile has already become a folk hero in the gritty neighbourhood where he continues to outwit wranglers and elude capture. Dozens of residents gathered on the shore of Lake Machado on Thursday, sitting in lawn chairs or scanning the water with binoculars as park rangers with nets waited for the 7-foot (2 metre) alligator to rise out of the muck." What the hell? We have alligators in this city now, too? Damn, LA just isn't the beauty spot it used to be. But maybe they'll start doing Animal Police L.A. on Animal Planet. I love that show. And, here's an episode idea... Two Animal police trying to get a gator out of a local LA pond, find themselves in the middle of a cajacking and end up on Cops. While Cops is taping, the new LA version of the Apprentice happens to be selling lemonade on that street corner. And during the lemonade selling, a Bachelor with fifteen women flanking him walks up and orders the entire jar. Only to give it to the shmucks that are about to fly to Walahbi-tutu for the newest installment of Survivor. YES!!!

Good vs. Evil - blurring the lines

ryanl812 — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 21:15:05 GMT

"At least two thirds of our miseries spring from human stupidity, human malice and those great motivators and justifiers of malice and stupidity, idealism, dogmatism and proselytizing zeal on behalf of religious or political idols." --Aldous Huxley Friend jason recently let me borrow the first season of The Shield - FX's gritty crime drama with Michael Chiklis. This comes on the heels of becoming addicted to HBO's Deadwood, another gritty drama - this time set in the old west - about good and evil. In checking out both of these excellent television shows in a tight time frame, I couldn't help but notice the common themes running through them. Both really call into question that middle ground between good and evil - what's really good and what's really bad? This strikes me as an interesting trend in our society right now. A lot of things - media and non-media - point to this same notion. Perhaps the most notable is our invasion of Iraq. But that certainly isn't the only notable one out there. We go in as the "Good Guys", but are we really? Or are we just an invading country? While I certainly think it's an excellent topic to mull over, my real thoughts turn to the very notion of good and evil. At some point, society chose to determine a right and wrong side to everything - I guess as a measure to help promote sound morals to progress human civilization. But what does Good and Evil really MEAN? What are their definitions? Dictionary.com: Good - Being positive or desirable in nature; not bad or poor: a good experience; good news from the hospital. 1. Having the qualities that are desirable or distinguishing in a particular thing: a good exterior paint; a good joke. 2. Serving the desired purpose or end; suitable: Is this a good dress for the party. 3. Not spoiled or ruined: The milk is still good. 4. In excellent condition; sound: a good tooth. 5. Superior to the average; satisfactory: a good student. Evil: 1. Morally bad or wrong; wicked: an evil tyrant. 2. Causing ruin, injury, or pain; harmful: the evil effects of a poor diet. 3. Characterized by or indicating future misfortune; ominous: evil omens. 4. Bad or blameworthy by report; infamous: an evil reputation. 5. Characterized by anger or spite; malicious: an evil temper.

Human Hamster Cages

ryanl812 — Sun, 14 Aug 2005 19:18:39 GMT

I was in a pet store recently and couldn't help but notice how humans like to cage things. The little dogs, the little kitties, the fish, and even ourselves. Trapping and controlling life. But that makes sense, right? We're an aggressive and oppressive species - using the earth how we need to use it, and then discarding that which becomes unnecessary. I mean, those animals in the cages are disposable, right? They wouldn't be there shitting on themselves and desperately begging for release if they weren't. Right? Last night we were talking about US' prison overpopulation issue and I couldn't help but relate it to our need to cage things. Obviously. But when you really stop and think about how we cage people, it makes you wonder if we're really accomplishing anything, or if we are simply doing for our own sick desire to try and control other entities. It seems that our caging system is grossly failing. Possibly the largest development project in the in the US, the prison system generates revenue and has done little to make me feel any safer in daily life. Truth of the matter is that there are more prisoners than ever, more crime than ever, and more prisons than ever. So, I had an idea. What if we decided to build two giant hamster cages... you know, with the big yellow tunnels and lots of spinny wheels. One hamster cage with lock down the bad people, whole the other will be accessible to the good people with overbearing carnal desires. The great part about this system is that there's room for people to move. They can go from one room to another, feed from the little mini-troughs, and even run around in circles for days. I know it sounds kind of juvenile, but isn't it better than what we currenltly have? Seriously.

G-Spot Salad

ryanl812 — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 18:38:04 GMT

There's something about a gorgonzola salad. Like the soft back of a baby goat. It just seems to make me happy. Some people call it the G-spot salad. I call it G for Grrrrreat salad. A restaurant near my office, Fritto Misto, has the best G Salad ever! You can order it with Pasta, meat, whatever. Just order it! Speaking of Fritto Misto, I saw a strange interraction in there the other week. These two people sitting in a back corner table, were holding hands across the table, and just staring into each others' eyes. No speaking, and certainly no awareness of other people around them. I definitely respect their love for each other - at least that's what it appeared to be - but isn't that weird? Just silent staring... Fritto Misto also has different waitresses every time I go in there - which is quite a bit. It seems that when you frequent a joint, you'd get to know the staff. But this place hires new people constantly. Maybe that's why I never feel that close to the restaurant itself. I mean, I love the food, the G salad, and even the tables (nice distressed wood), but the staff - I really wish I knew them better. Oh well, guess you can chalk it up to that salad. Makes people do funny things. Staring blankly at others, losing your mind and quitting your waitressing job, and yelling things at the top of your lungs in the restaurant.

How Tapey is Made

ryanl812 — Thu, 04 Aug 2005 17:44:55 GMT

From someone on the Internet. Don't even know what this drink is, but I think I will try to make some in the future: TAPEY - The Most popular Igorot Alcoholic beverage! Ingredients: 200 grams Rice Yeast or "Fufud"/"Bubod" - This are yeast made from rice. They look like rough, round biscuits. These are normally sold in small markets (You have to ask). My mother acquires hers from an old lady who hails from Guina-ang, Mountain Province, and prefers these from those that come from Tucucan and Kalinga. In the different parts of the Cordilleras, There are some markets/locations well-known for good Fufud. My apologies, if I don't post the recipe for this. I simply do not know. I only know that old Fufud and ground rice are part of it, but I do not know the process. The old woman that sells me Fufud won't tell me exactly how. In the US of A, try the Ground yeast sold by Thai/Indian/ Indonesian Stores. In the absence of these, use the same amount of commercial yeast, but expect a less sweet, and less alcoholic effect. 1 kilo of Gluteinous rice, known as "tsayaket", "dayaket", "diket", "malagkit", preferably the red variety. The more gluteinous, the better. The best type are the ones that are around three months old from the time the palay was harvested. The Palay that was stored for long or "baak" is not good. Banana Leaves - The banana leaves should be prepared this way... Wash the banana leaves. Heat the leaves over fire, where the heated parts have turned greener. Wipe the leaves clean with a clean damp cloth. Container: Either a gourd container, A wooden container, or a Glass container or an earthenware container should be used. Do not use Plastic or metal containers. Preparation of Tapey Cook the Gluteinous or sticky rice as you would with normal rice, but with less water than normal. After all the water has been absorbed, but it has not been thoroughly cooked, remove from the heat. Work in a cool dry place, where there it is not too breezy. (A purely supertitious notice: Igorots make Tapey with some stuff in mind: 1. No one must disturb the maker. 2. It must be done in a very silent surrounding, where there is no sound whatsoever, and no one talks. It is better if the maker is all alone. The reasons why these are done are varied from place to place, but one thing for sure sticks out: the Tapey will get sour if the superstitions are not followed.) Prepare a clean flat surface, and cover it with the banana leaves. Spread the rice over the banana leaves, and let it cool and dry a little bit.While waiting, get the Fufud, and pound it into very fine powder. Now mix it evenly with the Rice. Mix it as evenly as possible. An uneven mixture may produce a sour taste. After mixing, put it in your container, and seal tightly. Put it in a warm place. If you are planning on aging it for a long time, Put it in a dark Place. I have seen many Tapey containers stored in cool, dry, and dark places. Why? I really don't know why, but it is practiced. The Tapey is usually ready as very light wine in four days. You will notice that there is liquid within the container. However, It is a lot better if you open it after six to seven days. The liquid that you produce is sweet, but the sweetness will gradually lessen as it ages. The color will change from white to Yellow to brown. HOW THEN DO YOU DRINK IT Remove the liquid - That is what is drunk. An easy way to do this if the rice is floating is to use a dipper, and press slowly downwards into the mixture. Let just the liquid spill over the dipper. transfer this into your cup. Others like to eat some of the grain, so in serving add a little grain(adding a little makes your serving more authentic). I love drinking this when the liquid has been cooled off in the freezer. You might want to try it. I have seen men in the "Ator" sing "Faya-u" while drinking in front of a container that must contain 5 gallons or more. CONSIDERATIONS Never assume that you can hold your drink with Tapey. The alcoholic effect is a little bit more long-lasting than gin. Perhaps because the sweetness hides the alcoholic taste? I really do not have a scientific explanation. Perhaps one of the readers can write to me and explain why?

Two Tickets To Paradise

ryanl812 — Wed, 03 Aug 2005 16:57:59 GMT

The other day, Litvak was getting beat up on email because he spammed Duddie's birthday party list, trying to sell Erykha Baddu tickets. And while I am all for some good, ruthless marketing of undesireable goods, I think Litvak had the headbashing coming... as he often does. Even if blatantly spamming your friend's email list was acceptable, would anyone on that email ever really want to go see Erykha Baddu and friends in Vegas? Scratch that... anywhere? So, as that controversy boiled, I looked for something witty to say, because I am kind of a whore for that kind of attention-grabbing opportunity. And I came up with the unique idea of saying I have Two Tickets To Paradise and then posting the Eddie Money lyrics. No one wrote back in complete displeasure, so I'm sure I garnered the usual slight snicker, followed by DELETE. But, as I was researching the lyrics (okay, I just ran a Google search), I discovered Eddie's personal web site - http://www.eddiemoney.com/index2.html - which lists concert information, CDs, etc... What' also on there, however, is campaign headquarters for him to get into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Now, while I am no true Eddie Money fan, I wrote his web site a letter asking what I could do to help. Below is what I wrote - I'll let you know if they write back. "Dear Eddie, I think you should be in the Hall of Fame. Rock and Roll, Baseball, Cricket... whatever. You are just a Holl of Fame sorta guy. So, I wanted to drop you a line to see if you needed my help. I am a good letter-writer, and a persistent son of a bitch on the phone. Additionally, I believe I can design a quilt for you that will up your chances, should you send it to the folks in charge (they like to be warm, too). Anyway, plesae write me back and let me know what being a rock star is like and if I can come backstage sometime and watch you in action. Thanks and good luck, Ryan Williams "I'm Eddie Mone-fied"

Lee and Tony's Wedding

ryanl812 — Wed, 27 Jul 2005 05:23:32 GMT

At a wedding this weekend in a penthouse in downtown LA. It was an amazing spot with a gorgeous Los Angeles sunset. I had to forgo Rebecca's barbecue to be there in order to snap some pictures. I heard it was a lot of fun, though. It was one of the first weddings I had been to as a true photographer and I noticed something that I'd never seen at those I normally attend... There is a rhythm to the event. A rhythm to the ritual. Almost like a body of water that's run through the land - people just seem to know the path they are supposed to take. Even at its most hectec moment, the crowd's ability to flow in and out of one another was beautiful. I think when we are caught up as drops of water in that stream, we sometimes forget, or maybe miss, its very beauty. But Sunday, I was able to stand on the banks of the river and look in. And I really enjoyed the beauty of the ritual.

What My Palm Pilot Says:

ryanl812 — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 22:21:00 GMT

1. Control Your Anger: Watch for the next instance in which you find yourself becoming annoyed or angry at something trivial or unimportant, then practice letting go - make a conscious choice not to become angry or upset. Do not allow yourself to waste thought and energy where it isn't deserved. Effective anger management is a tried-and-true stress reducer. 2. Breathe: Breathe slowly and deeply. Before reacting to the next stressful occurrence, take three deep breaths and release them slowly. If you have a few minutes, try out breathing exercises such as meditation or guided imagery. 3. Slow Down: Whenever you feel overwhelmed by stress, practice speaking more slowly than usual. You'll find that you think more clearly and react more reasonably to stressful situations. Stressed people tend to speak fast and breathlessly; by slowing down your speech you'll also appear less anxious and more in control of any situation. 4. Complete One Simple To Do: Jump start an effective time management strategy. Choose one simple thing you have been putting off (e.g. returning a phone call, making a doctor's appointment) and do it immediately. Just taking care of one nagging responsibility can be energizing and can improve your attitude. 5. Get Some Fresh Air: Get outdoors for a brief break. Our grandparents were right about the healing power of fresh air. Don't be deterred by foul weather or a full schedule. Even five minutes on a balcony or terrace can be rejuvenating. 6. Avoid Hunger and Dehydration: Drink plenty of water and eat small, nutritious snacks. Hunger and dehydration, even before you're aware of them, can provoke aggressiveness and exacerbate feelings of anxiety and stress. 7. Do a Quick Posture Check: Hold your head and shoulders upright and avoid stooping or slumping. Bad posture can lead to muscle tension, pain, and increased stress. 8. Recharge at the Day’s End: Plan something rewarding for the end of your stressful day, even if only a relaxing bath or half an hour with a good book. Put aside work, housekeeping or family concerns for a brief period before bedtime and allow yourself to fully relax. Don't spend this time planning tomorrow's schedule or doing chores you didn't get around to during the day.

Harry Potter-head

ryanl812 — Fri, 22 Jul 2005 14:50:59 GMT

Recently it occurred to me that Harry Potter may be putting an evil crack-like spell on children. Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy the tales of wizards and and witches and pre-teens struggling through uncomfortable voice-changing episodes. But why do so many damn people really like that book? Well, I think it can be equated to a spell I call Dorkifus Changicus. Basically, this spell brings out the nerd in everyone - the nerd that dreamt about having magic or being able to fly when they were young. It allows the oldest of kids to reach back into their whimsical past and exist in a time when everything was Harry. Or at least we wanted it to be. But the real magic in Harry isn't just the way he weaves his dorky spell, it's the fact that he gets everyone stoned. Okay, I am now going to push the limits of the average Harry fan in saying this, but I believe this magic spell over the public is weed related. With Pot as a major part of his name, the mystical creatures that exist in his world, and kids that are always trying to get to a big dining hall to eat - I would have to say this is unequivocally the case. More important, it falls somewhere directly between other classic drug-induced books - Wizard of Oz, Lord of the Rings, and Trainspotting. Anyway, that's enough of this pointless essay. I still think you should read the books and probably smoke pot while doing so. But then you may not be able to read. But whatever, their pretty predictable stories anyway. My point is this, though - why would she name him Harry Potter if he wasn't a stoner?

Michael Murphy

ryanl812 — Thu, 14 Jul 2005 21:44:59 GMT

The other night at a barbecue, we caught up with our friend in NY, Michael A. Murphy. The greatest bald, almost deaf, Irish gay marathon runner you'll ever meet. He's now working for a major airline and California is all the worse now that we have lost him. But... Talking to him did get me thinking about another Michael Murphy that I was best friends with between the ages of 7-9 in Apple Valley, CA. I'm not sure whatever happened to him - we lost touch after I moved. Perhaps the reason I even thought about it in the first place is tied to the fact that there's this great post on the BM Tribe about uncanny coincidences. You see, when I was young, I always felt I would somehow meet up with the young Michael Murphy again. And now that I am older and a bit more pessimistic, I have my doubts of such a chance meeting... but realized that I did stumble across another really great Michael Murphy. And although he isn't the same guy, I may have already rediscovered that friendship in some ways. Now I know this is ethereal... but - the other night I found a pin from Tom Bergins that Angie handed to me one night that read "Save Michael Murphy." Michael Murphy is a common name, but isn't that a little uncanny? What's even stranger is that this guy - http://www.michaelmurphy.com/ - isn't either of the Michael Murphys I know.

Rockford Files

ryanl812 — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 18:08:36 GMT

so this morning at 8:00am on KDOC los angeles, as I'm getting ready for work, i found myself engrossed in the first part of a two part Rockford Files episode. james garner helps this weird, long-faced fellow set up a sting against a local rich guy to pay him back for some bad things he did to his father. as i watched, it really took me back to a time when there weren't as many media choices. when you stuck through a show like this because there wasn't much else to watch. luckily this weird local tv station has a number of these shows - little house on the prairie as well. if you haven't had a taste of the grainy 70's vibe in a while, i strongly suggest checking it out.

Cub Scouting

ryanl812 — Tue, 12 Jul 2005 20:54:41 GMT

so it looks like there may be a camping trip in my future. and in doing some research, i found a good set of rules to go by. please take a moment and look over these very important thoughts and consider them anytime you are organizing a future cub scout trip... a savior, i'm telling you. i think it's important for me, at this juncture, to clarify that cub scouts were pretty freakin' sweet when i was young. it was before there was a lot of standard boy scout memorization and skill sets to learn. and there was this kid corey that would always fart then blame it on this other kid sam. but we always knew it was corey. so, anyway... print them out, pin them up, do what you need to do: Camp is the best way to keep a summertime Cub Scout program active. Thank you for representing your Pack. You have the opportunity to bring a great deal of fun and adventure into the life of every Cub Scout in your Pack, and into the lives of some of your parents, too. 1) Make the decision now to help every boy in your Pack enjoy a Cub Camping experience this summer. 2) Make note of the key deadline dates. 3) Consult with your Cubmaster and Pack Committee to select the Camp location most convenient to your Pack. 4) Enlist the support of others! Ask Den Leaders to talk about camp with their boys and parents. 5) Ask your Cubmaster to help you recruit enough adult leadership. 6) IMPORTANT: Do not list Cub Scout Day Camp and Webelos Day Camp on the same pack registration. Use separate sheets. CUB SCOUTS!

The Return of Igor

ryanl812 — Mon, 11 Jul 2005 23:23:19 GMT

well, the new restaurant was unveiled and we were able to see Igor for the first time in a long time. chocolat on melrose and approx crescent heights - across from fred segal's. with much of the same crew as back in the orsini days, but a much nicer patio, and a great staff - the one and only Igor showed us all how things are done. if you have never met igor, i suggest you plan for a night out at this restaurant/bar, go in, and introduce yourself. what you will gain is eternal. he truly is our spiritual leader...

Tiger Dreams

ryanl812 — Fri, 08 Jul 2005 16:19:39 GMT

i dreamt last night that i was attacked by a tiger. it somehow got loose from a person's house, and hunted me through a series of labrynths. funny that something like this can be so desperately scary in the middle of the night, when it is one of the most unlikely things to happen to me EVER given where I live. i think it goes to show that instincts are still very much a part of our internal game - fears handed down from millions of years of humanity and used representatively for something in present day. or at least that seems to make sense.

London Burning

ryanl812 — Thu, 07 Jul 2005 17:24:33 GMT

a friend of mine was right near the bomb blasts this morning in central London. he is fine, although stuck in his building with his ex-girlfriend. another dangerous moment in an increasingly unsettled world. but then i saw the governor of New York give a press conference. i understand officials state-side have to say something, but the governor of NY? wishing people in there the best - an amazing city...

Alan Watts & Supercuts

ryanl812 — Wed, 06 Jul 2005 17:27:07 GMT

i have been reading some Alan Watts because a friend of mine is really into him. his ideas are great. i like his hair even better. i saw a picture of him and think he's got some really cool hair. not that philosophers need to have cool quaff. but it's nice to see one. ironically, one of the the most valid philosophers i ever met was a hair-stylist in supercuts santa monica. ge was also a yoga teacher and a poet - he gave me a book of his poetry right there. i read verses to him as he cut my hair.

Wedding Weekend

ryanl812 — Wed, 06 Jul 2005 01:38:38 GMT

was best man in my high school best friend's wedding this weekend. weddings are tough, but rewarding. don't smoke crack. or suck a lot of helium.