I enjoy this part of the game. Here are my picks. Anyone want to bet me?
McCain picks Pawlenty as his VP, and Obama picks. . . Wesley Clark.
I pretty confident about the Pawlenty one. And somehow it hit me that I think Wesley Clark is the best pick. So I'm banking on the Obama campaign being as smart as I think I am.
I like the chess game of it. Seriously -- 5 or 10 bucks? Anyone wanna bet? Maybe we can start a pool.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Religion and Art
I wonder whether you can be an artist and an atheist?
If you're an atheist, how do you understand the transcendent, altered state you feel when you create something? The feeling that probably made you want to be an artist in the first place?
Unless, narcissism made you want to be an artist. Then, you'd have to an atheist.
If you're an atheist, how do you understand the transcendent, altered state you feel when you create something? The feeling that probably made you want to be an artist in the first place?
Unless, narcissism made you want to be an artist. Then, you'd have to an atheist.
Monday, August 04, 2008
Life is Good
When I initiated this blog, back some months ago in the middle of winter, I think, I was desperately tossing about for some place to expunge the trivial but insidious thoughts that race around my head sometimes. I was also, in the middle winter, a bit at a loss in a lot of ways. A blog out there in the ether seemed like some kind of way to scream. In theory people read it but in reality who really cares? So, here I'll put these things I wish I didn't care about but do and maybe get them off my chest for a while. I figured that anyone I knew who stumbled upon it would recognize it like the rants I would sometimes do in a bar -- and maybe get a nostalgic pain.
But, I kind of think I was right to look at these ideas as less than important thoughts. I like talking about politics -- it's dramatic and important -- but I don't think its always worth getting red-faced and crazy about. At the very least, getting red-faced and crazy isn't helpful. . . I think that certain observations about the theater world are somewhat accurate, if phrased in an overheated way, but -- again -- overheating is not helpful.
Something about the semi-public nature of the blog made it seem somehow more theraputic to shout these thoughts here rather than to a private journal. The impulse, I guess, when you're lost is to shout and try to follow the sound of the echo toward something solid. . .
But, now, I also think that the constant noise of the internet, the fire hose that won't stop, the drip, drip, drip, pour, and the general desire to be heard that results in a race to shout louder rather than consider and speak clearly -- now I think that isn't a very healthy thing either.
I'm amazed suddenly at the way in which adulthood involves so much editing. Shay, the farmer I worked for, used to say that you have to prune the roses in order to keep the rose bush alive. I liked that. When I was kid, when we're all kids right?, we think that we can do whatever we want when we're adults. And we can. Yet, when we become adults, it becomes more obvious that there are many different ways to want things -- instant gratification vs. thoughtful consideration, instinct vs. you-get-it, what we actually want vs. what is easiest to get -- and adulthood requires that you often keep yourself away from some things simply because you know its bad for you. . . Please forgive me for articulating this as a 35 year old. My understandings ebb and flow over time.
Anyway, the point is that I'm no longer interested in continuing a blog full of complaints about the theater and political worlds (hey, are they even different?). Just cause. It's not helpful. To those worlds or myself.
Plus, I now know that a few people who actually do know me actually do read this blog -- and that changes the dynamic entirely. After, my last two angry angry rants, I finally realized that people who know me who are reading this blog might think I'm going nuts. . . I'm not.
Life is good. It really is. I just finished acting in a great part (or parts) in a fantastic play called 3 days of rain. It was summer stock theater, so after I finally memorized this very wordy play (good words all), I got to spend my afternoons on the lake beach before performing for reasonably good audiences every night. It really is good work if you can get it.
I've finally started writing real writing again.
My wife and I are starting a small business together. That's pretty exciting.
My wife is wonderful. She loves me and I love her. The weather is great. our new apartment is great. Our dog is great.
From what I know, my family is in reasonably good shape. As good as you can get anyway.
I have beautiful nieces and nephews, and I basically like people. Am interested in people.
Also, somehow, I've rediscovered the joys of reading fiction -- which I lost somewhere and didn't realize how much I missed. Anyone have any good recommendations for books? Philip Roth's "The Plot Against America" blew my mind. really. That is some real good writing. Good writing. Anyone?
So -- just so the couple people I know who read this don't think I'm completely nuts now -- everything is great. Honestly. So great in fact that, I hope, I'll leave the angry ranting on a blog to other people from now on.
Thanks. Much love.
But, I kind of think I was right to look at these ideas as less than important thoughts. I like talking about politics -- it's dramatic and important -- but I don't think its always worth getting red-faced and crazy about. At the very least, getting red-faced and crazy isn't helpful. . . I think that certain observations about the theater world are somewhat accurate, if phrased in an overheated way, but -- again -- overheating is not helpful.
Something about the semi-public nature of the blog made it seem somehow more theraputic to shout these thoughts here rather than to a private journal. The impulse, I guess, when you're lost is to shout and try to follow the sound of the echo toward something solid. . .
But, now, I also think that the constant noise of the internet, the fire hose that won't stop, the drip, drip, drip, pour, and the general desire to be heard that results in a race to shout louder rather than consider and speak clearly -- now I think that isn't a very healthy thing either.
I'm amazed suddenly at the way in which adulthood involves so much editing. Shay, the farmer I worked for, used to say that you have to prune the roses in order to keep the rose bush alive. I liked that. When I was kid, when we're all kids right?, we think that we can do whatever we want when we're adults. And we can. Yet, when we become adults, it becomes more obvious that there are many different ways to want things -- instant gratification vs. thoughtful consideration, instinct vs. you-get-it, what we actually want vs. what is easiest to get -- and adulthood requires that you often keep yourself away from some things simply because you know its bad for you. . . Please forgive me for articulating this as a 35 year old. My understandings ebb and flow over time.
Anyway, the point is that I'm no longer interested in continuing a blog full of complaints about the theater and political worlds (hey, are they even different?). Just cause. It's not helpful. To those worlds or myself.
Plus, I now know that a few people who actually do know me actually do read this blog -- and that changes the dynamic entirely. After, my last two angry angry rants, I finally realized that people who know me who are reading this blog might think I'm going nuts. . . I'm not.
Life is good. It really is. I just finished acting in a great part (or parts) in a fantastic play called 3 days of rain. It was summer stock theater, so after I finally memorized this very wordy play (good words all), I got to spend my afternoons on the lake beach before performing for reasonably good audiences every night. It really is good work if you can get it.
I've finally started writing real writing again.
My wife and I are starting a small business together. That's pretty exciting.
My wife is wonderful. She loves me and I love her. The weather is great. our new apartment is great. Our dog is great.
From what I know, my family is in reasonably good shape. As good as you can get anyway.
I have beautiful nieces and nephews, and I basically like people. Am interested in people.
Also, somehow, I've rediscovered the joys of reading fiction -- which I lost somewhere and didn't realize how much I missed. Anyone have any good recommendations for books? Philip Roth's "The Plot Against America" blew my mind. really. That is some real good writing. Good writing. Anyone?
So -- just so the couple people I know who read this don't think I'm completely nuts now -- everything is great. Honestly. So great in fact that, I hope, I'll leave the angry ranting on a blog to other people from now on.
Thanks. Much love.
Friday, August 01, 2008
OK. I'll Play.
Everyone else does this, so what the hell --
Here's what the Obama campaign should do. . . or. . . whatever. Thoughts that race through my mind because I have, unfortunately, been checking political websites the last few days.
The press will continue to play the Britney/Paris thing over and over and over again BECAUSE it has Britney and Paris in it. They are the most overexposed people in our culture for a reason and the press will keep playing it. It's brilliant.
And the Obama campaign should fucking embrace it. They should run the same commercial and then add a tag to it.
"If its true that Barack Obama is a bigger celebrity than Paris Hilton or Britney Spears, isn't that great? He doesn't sing or dance like Britney. He doesn't do whatever Paris does. . . he talks about Iraq and the price of gasoline and the economy and he gets all these people to pay attention. Does it finally mean that we're done with all the shallow nonsense? Millions and millions of people are now FANS of a serious man from a serious party with real ideas to help put things on the right track. If John McCain is right, and a polician, a community organizer from Chicago, can become a huge celebrity. Bigger than Britney, then isn't it possible that each of those individuals can come together to bring about the change we need? if you're sick and tired of shallow nonsense, vote Barack Obama. It's a vote against John McCain and, Britney Spears and Paris HIlton."
O, and in answer to the question about whose ready to lead. Barack Obama is talking about serious issues and exploring real solutions. The McCain campaign apparently is applying for the job of publisher of US Weekly. Is that the kind of leadership they mean?
Because, the great thing about McCain's ad -- besides the brilliant name drop of people the press loves to name drop -- is that its true. Barack Obama is a huge celebrity. Embrace what it means that a man who wants to be president with a message of hope and change is a becomes a celebrity by talking about issues. You can't deny a truth.
And speaking of which, by the way, Barack Obama is black. This seems to surprise the press every week. Do they think he plays the race card every time he walks in to a room? When he said that he doesn't look like the people on the dollar bill of course he was in part talking about his color. he doesn't look like anyone else on the dollar bill. It's fact (nevermind the fact that they're green on a dollar bill). . .. That's not the same as the race card. Whateverthefuck those two fucking word means. . . But I guess I shouldn't expect intellectual rigor and, you know, even recognizing the obvious from the freakin' press anymore.
I real have to stay off the internet. I think it's driving me insane.
Acting, however, is keeping me sane. . . If there were more better plays out there, I think I would have stayed an actor. Everyone should do it occasionally. It's very healthy.
Here's what the Obama campaign should do. . . or. . . whatever. Thoughts that race through my mind because I have, unfortunately, been checking political websites the last few days.
The press will continue to play the Britney/Paris thing over and over and over again BECAUSE it has Britney and Paris in it. They are the most overexposed people in our culture for a reason and the press will keep playing it. It's brilliant.
And the Obama campaign should fucking embrace it. They should run the same commercial and then add a tag to it.
"If its true that Barack Obama is a bigger celebrity than Paris Hilton or Britney Spears, isn't that great? He doesn't sing or dance like Britney. He doesn't do whatever Paris does. . . he talks about Iraq and the price of gasoline and the economy and he gets all these people to pay attention. Does it finally mean that we're done with all the shallow nonsense? Millions and millions of people are now FANS of a serious man from a serious party with real ideas to help put things on the right track. If John McCain is right, and a polician, a community organizer from Chicago, can become a huge celebrity. Bigger than Britney, then isn't it possible that each of those individuals can come together to bring about the change we need? if you're sick and tired of shallow nonsense, vote Barack Obama. It's a vote against John McCain and, Britney Spears and Paris HIlton."
O, and in answer to the question about whose ready to lead. Barack Obama is talking about serious issues and exploring real solutions. The McCain campaign apparently is applying for the job of publisher of US Weekly. Is that the kind of leadership they mean?
Because, the great thing about McCain's ad -- besides the brilliant name drop of people the press loves to name drop -- is that its true. Barack Obama is a huge celebrity. Embrace what it means that a man who wants to be president with a message of hope and change is a becomes a celebrity by talking about issues. You can't deny a truth.
And speaking of which, by the way, Barack Obama is black. This seems to surprise the press every week. Do they think he plays the race card every time he walks in to a room? When he said that he doesn't look like the people on the dollar bill of course he was in part talking about his color. he doesn't look like anyone else on the dollar bill. It's fact (nevermind the fact that they're green on a dollar bill). . .. That's not the same as the race card. Whateverthefuck those two fucking word means. . . But I guess I shouldn't expect intellectual rigor and, you know, even recognizing the obvious from the freakin' press anymore.
I real have to stay off the internet. I think it's driving me insane.
Acting, however, is keeping me sane. . . If there were more better plays out there, I think I would have stayed an actor. Everyone should do it occasionally. It's very healthy.
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