broomryder

Never mind the fact that Dirty Dancing came out when I was in middle school - right when I was discovering my sexuality which probably helped me to become the sex fiend that I am today, I think one of the things I will most remember Patrick Swayze for was his portrayal of Vida in "To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar".

But I will also remember him for "North and South", the TV miniseries from the 80's. Because I'm sure that's how he would want to be remembered.

Just like me and my man!

Speaking of which, he has been very hard at work on an big prop for a video game company. It's going to look awesome and I'm so proud of all the great work he's put in to it. Thanks also go out to the sis for her part in it (sewing the flags) and to all of my coworkers and family for tolerating me while I go on and on about it.

Not too long ago there was some really crappy footage going around the intarnets that looked like it might be the new Tron - it was obviously taken from a hand held at some sort of convention or lecture hall. Well, it's resurfaced again, this time as an official release from Disney in the form of a teaser trailer for the movie now called "Tron Legacy". Not much of a storyline to speak of here, but there are lots of great visuals, Jeff Bridges makes an appearance, and you get a teensy tiny hint of what the Daft Punk soundtrack might end up sounding like.  Also, they're saying it will now come out in 2010 instead of 2011.  What's your guess - will they try to make it a summer blockbuster or holiday hit?

Oh, and one more thing: It's going to be in Imax 3D. Check the teaser out here!

Also, this YouTube clip below.  The comments from the dude who took the footage is pretty intense: "At Flynn's Arcade at the viral event for TRON: LEGACY at Comic-Con 2009, a secret door opened up and led down a hallway to reveal a full-size model of the SPECTACULAR new lightcycle design. Also notice the music in the background -- possibly part of the new Daft Punk score?"  Apparently, he video'd the whole thing so there's more to see on YouTube if you so desire.

I have decided to finally come out and admit it - I've been watching Celebrity Apprentice all season. Now that it's over, I don't feel so bad about it because... (ahem) it was for charity! But really, as much as it totally frustrates me, I tend to like reality TV a lot because the editing is so great and this season had a lot of really great characters. Andrew Dice Clay, Tom Green, and Dennis Rodman? Add a dash of Annie Duke, the cutthroat poker player who you love to hate and her catfight-to-the-death-match with Joan Rivers and you have TV magic! Joan Rivers won for a reason, but she was a fan favorite because of this:

Seriously, I just tried to embed this image in several different ways and was unable to do so. EPIC FAIL.

Thanks go to all of my friends who pointed it out to me and I apologize for not believing you right away.  After all, I don't usually believe in miracles or fairy-hoaxes like religion.... 

The next Tron movie is finally going ahead and Daft Punk is scoring it.  It comes out in 2011.

I may be more excited about this than my own wedding.

My gold-digging ways may have finally paid off.  My boyfriend got what I think may be his first real mass-production job!  It's a custom made piece that he designed for a large touring performance group.  He did a prototype for them to approve as a proof and they liked it so much they decided to use it in two places on the uniform and double their order ~ yippee!  If he keeps up like this, he may become a thousandaire really soon... I'll have to come up with a reason to "borrow" some money. 

There have been rumors going around basically forever that Julie Taymor's next project was going to be a stage musical version of Spider-Man.  I am not making this up, nor was anyone else, and it is true - with financial backers and a Broadway theatre scheduled and everything (although an opening date has not been set).  According to official publicity and casting call announcements, the music has been written by Bono and The Edge and will not include the famous theme song from the cartoon.  No word as to whether they will incorporate the adapted "Spider-Pig" version from The Simpsons Movie.  The book is being written by Julie and although it uses the basic plot of spidey, it will draw heavily on a greek mythology format, complete with characters (and a greek chorus) native to that genre.

Scuttlebuts abound as to rumors for casting but the latest ones say that she has chosen two Across The Universe cast members:  Jim Sturgess (to play Peter Parker) and Evan Rachel Wood (to play Mary Jane).   Some bloggers have reported seeing some of the prototypes techniques they might use for flying, special effects, scenery, and it sounds pretty exciting. 

I know that many Spidey fans and comic purists must be really upset by this news but I really couldn't care less about defacing the Spider-Man myth/genre.  What the hell, even if it sucks, it's Julie Taymor so it's going to be pretty.  When this comes out, I might have to just drop whatever I'm doing and go to NY to see it. 

This video came to me via a listserv in regards to kid industry stuff. But then I realized that this is the guy/kid who does Potter Puppet Pals. And that he's really young but that he is pretty intelligent and crazy for one so young (he has a song called "Ben Bernanke"). He's also quite prolific - there's a section on one of his websites that includes his repertoire from ages 12 to 16!!!  Also, he's performing at Youmacon.

But anyway, about the video... I can't decide what I love best.  Song about fake food?  Listless stare on top of a lithe body?  Old school cassette recorder?

I was so tired this morning, I put two contacts in one eye.

It's baby steps, people.

It's been pretty clear to me since I became cognizant that life is fucked.  Ergo, if you are alive, you are also fucked.  

While I have never seen a Monster Trucks show, I can confidently say I'm not a fan - it's just not my cup of tea.  But I am kind of a safety wonk, especially when it comes to entertainment events.  So when I heard about a child being struck in the head and killed by a flying car part at a rally in Tacoma, Washington I thought, "Wow, that must have been a pretty freak incident. Maybe they should put nets up or something to keep that sort of thing from happening."  And I forgot about it.  But a week ago, the local paper did a story about a different company bringing a Monster Truck rally here this weekend and they questioned the safety of the events.  George Eisenhart (the show's promoter) assured us all that their events were safe:

"Eisenhart, who has sponsored monster truck shows in Madison and other Midwestern communities for 16 years, said of five monster truck show fatalities over the years, none occurred at his events. He said the only injury at one of his shows was someone slipping on stairs.

'It's still wonderful fun,' Eisenhart said. 'You're far more at risk of getting injured driving to the event or home with your seat belts on and driving the speed limit. '

Eisenhart, who has two daughters ages 9 and 12, said show promoters have upgraded safety standards since monster truck shows began about 25 years ago. A car part flew through the air several years ago at one of his shows, but didn't hit anyone. He said the area between the trucks and spectators was increased after the incident.

'I'm sure there are (show) producers that don't follow all of the safety standards,' he said.

So it is a truly ironic and fucked up thing to learn that George Eisenhart is also the show's announcer and he was killed at yesterday's performance of the Monster Truck show - the same show that he assured us was safe.  I would like to clarify that to Eisenhart's credit, there were no audience members injured in the show and his death seems to be a result of a tragic choreography mistake on the part of one of the monster truck drivers, who ran over him.  

There are many safety precautions that might have prevented George Eisenhart's death.  For all we know, someone tried to place an emergency cue light in the cab of the vehicles, an electronic mapping system to show where all of the people are on the stage, or a headset communication device with a "spotter" there call out if there was any danger.  Maybe someone had proposed these types of measures and the drivers rejected it, calling it "silly" and "unneccesary" or perhaps the management dismissed it because it was too costly.  If anything good can come out of George Eisenhart's death, maybe it will be that all interested parties will be open to and invest in safety precautions that could be put into place to avoid the same type of thing from happening again.       

The two points I need to make here are once again to point out that life is fucked.  The other is that safety is not a joke or an inconvenient barrier to be worked around.  I get a lot of flak at work and in shows because I'm always pointing out that something isn't safe or that it is against regulations.  When I really need to go for the dramatic to get my point across, I sometimes point out that almost all of the major safety regulations (especially those regarding fire exits and egress, OSHA work safety regulations, and the use of pyrotechnics in entertainment) are rules that were WRITTEN IN BLOOD.  Big business and government bureacracies do not lightly or quickly step into self-regulation and in order for each and every one of those guidelines or rules to come into being, it most likely took the death of not one but MANY individuals (and probably some lawsuits to boot).  So have some mercy for the ones that have passed and think of them the next time you consider neglecting the safety precautions.

Because I've had several partners-in-crime in my self indulgence over the past year, I gained back almost all of the weight I lost a couple of years ago. But I'm tired of being fat again so I'm back on the weight loss wagon. With the help of the intarnets, I shall be less of a person by this time next year! I shall publicly humiliate myself with this sort of button:

"I want to wake up in the morning with that dark brown taste..." How can you not love her?

I'm pretty upset today because my bf is going to move out.  There is not enough room and not enough patience for three people and four animals.  I know that it's something that is beyond our control but I just feel that there's an irony to the whole situation that makes me really bitter about it. 

Not a whole lot has happened since I last wrote, except a lot of time has gone by. We managed to make it through the staffing upheaval at work and things are beginning to settle down now, although business is actually picking up. Things at home are a little stressful. This house is too small for three adults, four animals, and all of our stuff. On top of that, we are all starting to get concerned about money and have been sick for months, coughing with no end. These attributes put together are giving the homestead that TB-infested tenement feel that we all strive for. But we shall overcome it with optimism and pluck, as though our squalorous* life were straight from the Hooverville scene in "Annie" (POT LID). I am going to be going back to school in January, which should provide absurdity enough for a few laughs.

*I just made it up so there!

Here's a tip for job seekers: When a job listing says "No Phone Calls, Please", it does not mean that you should be daring and creative by stopping by for an unscheduled interview!

If someone has posted a help wanted ad, it is usually because they are short staffed. This generally means that they will be busier than normal, not less. So if an ad clearly states that they do not want to field phone calls about the position, one could surmise that they also do not want unscheduled face-to-face inquiries, no?

I am through being nice and have instead begun being briefly dismissive to those who come in without an appointment. If an applicant (or job placement officer) is not courteous enough to respect my time by making an appointment or following the clearly outlined process for applying, then they are obviously not a good candidate. I cannot allow anyone to waste my time at this point so if you do, prepare to be brushed aside!

Unless you come with food.