18,000 Bhat Fine + Maintenance + Thanks

I did not receive the fine pictured here and I am not even sure what country it is from (Thailand, maybe?) but it looked interesting, so here it is, world.

Also:
Updated the Golden Globes post with Ricky Gervais-sanctioned video [thanks to Tim N. for pointing out the original was down]. Also added the poster for Suddenly Last Summer to the puppets post.

Mainly, thanks to Tim N. for letting me know that someone is actually looking at this blog from time to time.

Check out Recession This! for links to making your own ringtones for free!

One Hit Wonders of Sundance

Being an actor, I thought it might be a good idea to keep an eye on the new prodigies coming out of this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Then I got an e-mail from Sundance listing the 25 Top Directors Who Haven't Done Anything Since They Were All That in Park City (or something like that).

On the one hand, this justifies any laziness on my part; on the other, it's a little saddening.

Also: don't forget to check out Recession This!

Photo by Pedrojperez via Morguefile.com

More Machinima + Mommy's Not a Pole Dancer, Sweetie

More Machinima
I made some corrections to the Señor Nugget post, since GamePlay HD is no more. It now has a link to the YouTube page where most of the sketches ended up.

I see machinima everywhere now. Even my pal, Kevin Tor, is in on it. Check out this video someone did of his comic version of Hey There, Delilah (though I still like Tom Jones's version better):

And here's Kevin's original video:


Mommy's Not a Pole Dancer, Sweetie
Alright, when I started this I told you (you = the one or two friends of mine actually reading this blog) it was going to consist of other stuff I found. (I'm not lazy, I'm busy. No, really.) Anyway, I found this hilarious post on Non Fat Venting With Whip (which I found because she also follows Kevin Tor's blog).

Yes He Could, Even Then

President Obama is foregoing the brush-clearing in Crawford, TX and instead heading right into the brush-clearing in Washington, DC. My sister made me aware of these college photos of student Obama. [via Time]

Also, check out yesterday's Recession This! blog post.
Photo by kakisky [via Morguefile]

NoBuddies Pilot Premieres Today!

Click on the logo for the official NoBuddiesTV web site. Enjoy the premiere and tell your friends!

Puppets for Grown-ups

I don't know anything about this guy, but I just learned Dan Hurlin will be doing a puppet show at St. Ann's Warehouse about "portrait photographer Mike Disfarmer, who for decades shunned his family and neighbors while operating the only portrait studio for miles around Heber Springs, Arkansas."
It looks intriguing, and reminds me of a show I did in Minneapolis years ago with Broken Mind Theater, a company formed by Sesame Street on Ice puppet builders. We did a production of Tennessee Williams's Suddenly Last Summer and I played Mrs. Venable via a bunraku puppet. It was a great experience.

It's not funny or anything, but to get a feeling for Hurlin's work, check out the video:

Senor Nugget

My pal, Tom, is the creative genius behind Señor Nugget [formerly] on GamePlay HD [R.I.P.]. You can check out some episodes here, or check out his genius Machinima Rock Opera Breakaway.

Oh, I drew the logo. So it's still about me, too.

Watch for a new webseries I'm in and directed coming out Thursday.

Golden Global Tacos

The wife and I had some of the Urban Tribe - Queens contingent over for Taco Night and to watch the Golden Globes. It was actually more entertaining than I had expected, especially Ricky Gervais. I am not a slobbering RG fan, but his impromptu bit as a presenter was pretty hilarious. The only video I could find is kinda crappy and does not include the whole bit, but it gives a taste:


[thanks to Tim N. for pointing out the old video was down]

Also, check out Recession This! to learn how to get the latest book from Suze Orman for free.

Face on the Wall

This is a picture I took at the Smith & 9th Streets G stop (get your mind outta the gutter).
I think it looks like a shadowy, sinister drawing of a man's face peeking out from behind the peeling paint. But it's just paint/mold in randomly occurring patterns.
Consider your mind blown.

Puppy Dogs & Energy Savings

Check out this funny video about the sequel to Marley & Me by Kevin Tor on YouTube. And, to make up for his heartlessness, here's something so cute your spleen will rupture. (I am posting cute clips on my 2nd blog post. It is the beginning of the end already.)

Kevin and I will be shooting more webisodes this Saturday, and the first episodes will start posting later this month. Watch for them.

Also check out the Recession This! blog that I contribute to for some simple tips for saving money on your energy bill.

Alarm Bells & Wacky Germans

All right, new year, new blog. I'll try to keep them short and hopefully you will find something of interest in each one, whether they're my thoughts or (more likely) things I find interesting to link to.

Like this one. Foreign Policy magazine's "Think Again" section is a pithy dissection of popularly held beliefs on various topics. This issue's topic is one important to me: Climate Change. Read it -- the parts about the Arctic ice melt that is decades ahead of predictions, the coming wars for food and resources -- and you won't think we can sit on our hands any longer.

On a lighter note: even though I studied German and speak it and like things German, this New Year's I was surprised to learn of the German tradition of watching Dinner for One on New Year's. Go figure.
picture © Nicolas Raymond