A Bowl

I was walking around Union Square today just for kicks (I was bored, I didn't have class, others did), enjoying the scenery, taking advantage of the seasonally warm (55 degrees) weather, working through my own thoughts etc. I was deep in thought somewhere near the Virgin Records store, contemplating going and browsing movies and music, (I want to pick up the new Foo Fighters CD) and decided to NOT go back to Whole Foods today. On a recent trip there, I figured out that healthy food is really rather expensive. I bought some turkey breast slices, pepper jack cheese, multi-grain bread, and some Fuji apples (which are probably what did it...this things are HUGE!). I had originally gone in to buy some Hazelnut Butter/Spread, but alas, could not find any. All in all though, I ended up dropping $35 at the place, but the food is really good, and I guess good for you if you like clichés.

That's my tea (coffee) cup next to the GIANT APPLE. They're the SAME SIZE!

In any case, as I was walking I heard an "excuse me!" but didn't bother turning around, as it was one of those attention grabbing ones, not the kind that lets you know you did something outside of a social norm, and I figured it belonged to someone else. Almost instantly though, I felt a tug at my jacket, and looked down to my left to see a girl about a third my height, in a sweater that either had a high school, or college name on it. I made brief eye contact and was greeted with, "do you know where I can find a bowl?"
This is where my Communications courses should come in, in that I should be able to explain the encounter more academically than "I just knew what she wanted", but alas, I can not. For those not yet with me, she wanted weed.
I mean,

• She was young
• Was in Union Square (near NYU, the New School, Pace, and a host of other Universities)
• I have hair down below my shoulders
• I was in a leather jacket

And of course all these things flew through my head in a split-second, but to be sure I just wasn't mis-hearing the girl, I asked "what?" "A bowl," she replied. Confirming to myself that she wanted pot, and I had none, nor knew where she could find some, started to walk way while saying "sorry man, can't help ya," or something to that effect. I don't quite remember (but yes, I did say 'man').

It kind of caught me off guard, the whole thing. I guess now that I think about it, I am walking around looking like a hip, young dude, with long hair, and I can see how one would think I would have, or know where to find grass. Most people, for that matter, would know, and probably do have Mary Jane, or at the very least look like it.

To the Lady Handing out Jesus Pamphlets to us Trick-or-Treaters...

I ran across this story while reading the Craigslist "best of" section.Incredibly funny, well written, and enlightening. Click read more to read the story.

Excerpt:
I mean really, why would anyone think that on Halloween people are open to being converted into believing in some invisible sky fairy that magically grants wishes if you beg it hard enough and donate some of your money to its church? Do you not even understand the point? Again, thanks for nothing.

read more | digg story

Over the Hills and Through the Woods...

... more like left on to the insterstate, and through the miles of nothingness... to Grandmother's house we go.

But alas, today is T-Day so I can deal; there will be plenty of pie. Pie makes things better.

Balmy 19 degrees outside, with light snow flurries...joy.

Yeah, I really just woke up, and not much to say, as not much happened. Just breakfast.

I'm just not sure if there is blog access where I'm going, so just being safe.

Anyway, here's what's playing on iTunes right now:

----------------
Now playing: Barenaked Ladies - Be My Yoko Ono (iTunes Originals Version)
via FoxyTunes

mmmm..PIE!
-Matt

South Dakota

First day in South Dakota.
Not bad really, got a chance to see my uncle and my aunts.


But overall, not much to blog about.

Flight Day

Sitting in the Newark Liberty International Airport, on my way to South Dakota for the wonderful, gluttonous holiday we call Thanksgiving. With 3 major airports in the NYC area, on top of busy regional airports to the west and north, and the fact that all 3 major airports pack it tighter than a can of sardines, its to be expected that we are delayed. With luck I'll make my connection to South Dakota, but it will be tight.. we're talking less than 20mins.

But I don't want to be too gloomy, I'll save my rant on the TSA (Thousands Standing Around) for later.

Instead, here is a link to an awesome Space Mountain enthusiast site.
They had some videos made up, recreating the entire ride in RCT3.
Very Awesome.

Testing mobile blogging.

Just testing out mobile blogging so I can blog from the road.

Sent from iPhone

-Matt

Making Up for Things

So I was in Boston this weekend, and it was a blast.

And I did fall behind on the blogging....


I'll do some extra posts to make up, and perhaps build a stockpile as I will be in South Dakota, and no telling when or if I'll be able to blog...

The Village Vanguard pt.2

So I apparently need to write another Jazz review.

So off to the Vanguard!

Short Film

For whatever psychological, subconscious reason, I continue to have difficulty in completing classwork in a timely manner. This is not to say that it does not get done, rather that I have emense difficulty getting it done over the entire period of time assinged to do it; in short: I do it during the proverbial 11th hour.

This is nothing new, by any means, but I have the feeling that getting good grades on papers done literally an hour before class time is re-enforcing the bad behavior.

The annoying part is that I fully recognize the problems, and the problem areas. I also recognize how I am doing things, and how I SHOULD be doing things. The disconnect is in the line that links the too. I have tried several different approaches to doing work in a timely manner, yet I never seem to quite get it right.

In any case, while recently procrastinating, I started to brainstorm about a paper I needed to write, and this lead to fantasy about film directing.
Well, it actually first lead to memory of stage play direction, and then lead into thoughts about great cinematography, and THEN led to the brainstorm about creating a really cool film as an experiment with the camera.

I've always loved great camera work, and I am a particular fan of the long take (Wells was a master of this, as evidenced by Citizen Kane, or Touch of Evil).

In any case, this brainstorm continues to pester me, and I'm considering investing in a small, but good DV camera to start shooting some shorts.

But first, I will glue myself to this fucking chair and get this paper done.

Other Life Notes:

• Going to Boston on Friday
• Going to South Dakota on Tuesday
• Back in NYC on Saturday
• Back in LA hopefully by the 20th of December
• Major: Declaring Communications with a Film and Screen Studies minor, or a double major in Communications and Film and Screen Studies
• I need to take a Science course next semester. I'm looking at Biology or Chemistry.

Trains, Planes and Automobiles.
-Matt

DRANO

It works.

My shower drains were clogged before I used them, and I finally got around to clearing it out.
Glad I did.

Now...to get working on my paper....

maybe....
hopefully...



...

Pie

I. Love. Pie.

I simply adore pie. Apple pie, blueberry pie, cherry pie, key lime pie, pecan pie, choclate pie, pear pie, cream pie, lemon meringue pie, all types of pie.

More importantly, I like the things I associate with pie: Autumn, Diner's, Cafés, Noir, Jazz, Coffee, friends, late nights...

It kind of sucks that I associate good times and socializing with food, but, there could be worse things.

The Cake Pie is a Lie

No Time

Writing papers...would love to blog more in depth today, but must try and focus. I'm having tons of trouble actually starting the work.

Oh, going to Boston next weekend too.

Crossing Bridges

I was walking just after dark, down to what is known around here as the “promenade.” While many may think of a shopping mall like atmosphere, this is in fact a large plaza here in Brooklyn, built hanging over the Brooklyn-Queen Expressway (BQE), and looks out over Lower Manhattan. And while you probably still don’t know what or where I’m talking about, if you have ever seen a low angle shot of the Twin Towers, or Lower Manhattan since then, it was most probably taken from the promenade.
I introduce the setting here, because I like to walk down there often, and let my mind wonder. On this particular evening, I walked the 2 blocks to the place and was instantly caught up in “what am I going to blog about tonight?” My thoughts quickly wondered into friendship, and self-doubt. That is to say, I started to feel lonely. I’ve never been good with making friends, and I certainly have had a world of trouble really clicking with the people around here. Not to say I’m isolated, I’ve met quite a few people, and have friendly interactions with many, but there are really only 1, maybe 2 people I can call a “friend”. I started thinking about fiends back in LA, who I wanted to see, people I’ve met over the years, and who has become a life-long friend, and who has become “someone I hung out with in High School?”
It was at this point in time I reached my destination and started to see the downtown skyline, the lights, the buildings, the bridges… part of me wanted to cry. I feel I have prefaced this point with the wrong thing. I wasn’t feeling this way because of my lack of friends (I’ll elaborate later), but I can’t quite specify what it was either. Perhaps the constant wind was causing my eyes to water, perhaps it was the beauty of downtown, the happiness I was feeling for just living in such a wonderful city, some other random reason, or perhaps a mixture of everything.

It sucks that you can’t bring your friends with you where ever you go. Even with the internet, and all the on demand communication methods, the picture sharing, the blogging, the podcasting, nothing replaces doing things with those you know, and sharing experiences. It’s interesting how you can know so much about a person, yet only have been with them in person 3 or 4 times.

I called this blog entry Crossing Bridges because I was going to talk about the different ways people cross the bridge from “We hang out” to “We’re friends”.
I just don’t think I’ve been able to fully develop the thoughts I wanted to lay out. I guess I just kind of have gotten home sick, and it is affecting me more than I thought. I’m not cut off from the world, far from it, but there is something that you just don’t get from video chatting or IMing.

One of these entries is going to be devoted to either politics or poetry, so look out for that.

Oh, and just to tidy up Chicago so I get it off my mind:
Bob played great, Amos is an awesome dude to hang around, already said I need to check out more Elvis Costello, while I’ve been out with people at 4 in the morning, I’ve never been standing outside of a hotel with 4 guys over 50, ordering a pizza, and having it delivered not to a room, not to the lobby, but to “5 guys on the bench in front of the hotel,” Chicago is an awesome city and I can’t wait to go back in March, and I overall had an awesome time. Even going out for steak at 1 in the morning on the morning of my flight back that was due to depart at 8… that morning….

WGA Strike

I thought I would cover it a little bit. I'm wholly on the side of the WGA, and rather than giving a long and boring explanation, I thought I would show you this video I ran across: (plus, its a great use of Apple's Keynote software!)

The Village Vanguard

I ended up in the Village last night for the jazz club. For $20 I suppose it was worth it, but I must say the set felt very lackluster and generic. I do enjoy jazz, and some of the musicians in the group last night were fucking fantastic, but overall I was underwhelmed.

On a separate note, I was super healthy yesterday, having a salad for lunch, and a vegetable platter for dinner. Time now, to just get committed to doing the sit ups (30 a day, and increasing every week). I did 15 last night before bed, so I'm hoping to do 45 tonight to make up.

Other notes: its raining again, I wrote some fantastic analysis for Citizen Kane but I think I trailed off too much, and hopefully I can re-write it for a better grade when it comes back as a B or B+ (as I did with my North by Northwest paper when ended up with an A when all was said and done).

Jazz

Off to a Jazz club tonight. Should be good, will give a report.

Keeping Track

I should let you all know that I've been collecting google analytics data for a while, and I finally found out some interesting things.

First off: I found an outlier in the search engine data. Most of you were looking for me, but it seems one person was looking for information on Chicago Gypsy Cabs.
Not the strangest search string, but still interesting that I was the top of the 2nd page.

I've also discovered that I've received readers from Spain, Japan, China, and Canada with the US making up the majority of hits. According to analytics, I've been visited from 2 cities in Japan, one from China (Beijing), 1 from Spain, and 2 from Canada. Pretty good I think.
One of my favorite pieces of data is this though: (click for larger version)

Chicago...again

Images! Yes, I figured I should add some more Chicago photos from the trip the other week. I saw Bob for 2 of the 3 nights at the historical Chicago theater, and while I took many shots inside the place, I think the ones of the Marquee came out the best overall. It really was a great time, and I look forward to going back in March for QC.

In other news I've been trying to keep up on the school work. I almost think I have too light of a load this semester, and its hampering my ability to focus. I'll have to see. I go in for a meeting with an advisor in the morning, and I'll be declaring either a double major in Communication Studies and Film Studies or a Major/Minor combo with those two. I haven't decided exactly what I want to do yet; I feel though, that these two majors cater well to my interests and should be quite enjoyable.

While I don't exactly want to go into a film profession, I have always loved the medium, and I look forward to taking the opportunity to learn more about it. Communication Studies for me offers a broad range of topics, that fit into my perspective on the world, and while I still have no real occupation in mind, declaring COM sets me up nicely for any job I wish to pursue in the future.

On an unrelated tangent, as I look at the picture on the right, I can't help but notice how awesome the iPhone camera is. I have to say, that is quite a good shot, if the scaffolding wasn't there it would be fantastic, perhaps I should invest in a good digital camera like I've been meaning to. Perhaps a copy of Photoshop to help with some of the cropping. But I must say, the lighting was great. I'm glad I went outside to take the shots when I did.

Back to Chicago though. Dylan was playing with Elvis Costello and Amos Lee as his openers. Elvis was doing this awesome solo acoustic thing, and it really turned me on to his stuff, I'll definitely be checking it out. Amos was also great, as always, and if you haven't heard him, I suggest you check him out. He writes some solid stuff, and it sounds fantastic, not to mention he's a really cool dude. He also featured some new songs he hasn't recorded yet in his set, which is always a plus for me, it means that the artists is still working and perfecting, and not trying to milk out his 'hits' for all they are worth.

In other news, if you haven't seen (but most of you have), Ze posted a new video which is highly amusing.

Otherwise, I'm out of things to talk about.

Peace, Love, and FUCK PAD THAI,
Matt

Video Chat

Seems my younger (14) brother has dicovered the wonders of iChats, video chatting features. He won't stop bugging me with video chat requests. I guess that's a + overall (love and all that). But to be honest, vagina jokes, and faux wigger-gang humor is only funny for so long.

or...is it?

muahahaha


Right, I promise I'll get back to Chicago one of these days!

Study

This Jazz thing is driving me more nuts than it should...

Jazz

I need someone to go a Jazz club or restaurant with. I need to write this firggen paper by Monday... crap....

Shitty Shit Shit

I completely forgot that I agreed to help someone sell t-shirts tonight... It takes up too much of my time, and I'm not really getting paid, but I have a policy of helping people when I can (and if they deserve it), so here I am doing this favor.

last time though, I CAN'T STAND doing this type of work.

*sigh*
-Matt

More Chicago

Got on plane, good flight, landed, went to hotel.

There, nice n' neat.

Tidbits:
Approached by guy looking for money using cover story of "trying to see his grandmother." It was a believable story, but it felt too much like an act. He approached, but kept his distance at first, saying under his breath: "Bullshit! Bullshit, man! Bullshit!" although, I hadn't expected for him to actually ask for money at first. His story his long and boring, and I could tell he was trying to be personable by asking my name, shaking my hand, and saying "oh, hey, I met another Matt at the bus stop!" And while believable, (he was dressed appropriately, flashed a student ID card), his story just didn't quite strike me as worthy of my time. Perhaps this city has been too rough on me, and made me too skeptical about people.
On that note, he also was asking for way too much money, so perhaps he was telling the truth (the pros here in the city are good at reading people, and generally ask for low amount, usually between 50 cents and a dollar, sometimes 2 dollars if they are going for the "I just need to go home on the subway" approach, but only really go for anything more if they think the person they have is a tourist, or gullible, or both). He asked me for $10 or thereabouts, which while I have and could give, wasn't impressed enough to actually do so. I gave him a buck (my usual rate), and wished him luck, and departed to find my ride.

Wow...little elaborate for a tid bit. I'll keep the rest of the brief...

I've now been to every location featured in the Alfred Hitchcock film, North by Northwest. Completing the quest I didn't know I was on, by staying at the Ambassador Hotel in Chicago (link is to the wikipeida page for the hotel's restaurant: the Pump Room.)

I was at the launch for Apple's OSX 10.5 Leopard at the Chicago Apple Store, and while I didn't actuallyy buy the new OS there, I did get a free t-shirt! I apologize if the images are not the same size, I tried... In any case, after playing with Leopard for an hour or so, I walked outside only to find that it was now pouring rain outside, and I had a 20 block walk back to the hotel, and while the walk was not very long (5-10min), it was about to seem like an eternity. So I called Cody Walker. I figured he would be entertaining enough to keep me distracted from what was essentially a second shower for the day.
I eventually did get back to the hotel, and dried off.


So...tidbits turned into a full on blog post...hope you weren't too bored..

Hopefully I'll have some pics of the theater for tomorrow, and talk about some of the shows.

PAD THAI FOREVER!
-Matt