Project365, #32: Jones Bridge Park

Even the parks in the suburbs are devoid of visual interest. I struggled to find something worthwhile. First off, I fed my rust fetish with this old, weathered bridge. Then I found this lone fence, coming from and going nowhere.

Project365, #31: Peeking Through

Project365, #30: Don't Judge

Okay, look. I'm gone during most of the daylight hours and since I can't take my camera with me during work/school, I'm resigned to:

1. Pictures of the inside of my house which require high ISO (and therefore grainy shots) or the god awful flash. Though to be honest, there isn't much interesting inside here.
2. Pictures of the area immediately surrounding my house, which just happens to be gorgeous right now.

No camera for 10 hours of daylight and it's beautiful and colorful outside. I'm taking pictures of flowers. Suck it.(Three more after the bump)

Project365, #29: SCAD

For an art school, and knowing the amount of talent that comes from it, this tunnel was pretty bland. Really hoped they would encourage some students to add some art to it. (two more pictures of stuff around SCAD after jump)

Trees after a fire.

Follow the White Rabbit

Project365, #28: HITLER PUNCH!

Once again, a fucking amazing weekend. So good it deserved that F-bomb. Nearly two months ago I purchased two pairs of tickets to the Zap! Pow! Bam! Exhibit at the William Breman Jewish History Center downtown. I have always been fascinated by the Golden Age of comics. Stylistic perhaps it no longer has a wide appeal (though it does for me), but the one thing everyone should latch on to is its historic relevance. In the late 30s to the 50s, comics were dominated by Jewish writers and artists. The fact they were Jewish would be irrelevant if not for some important events that occurred during most of that time. These artists were urging the government, by swaying popular opinion with comics book, to intervene in what would be World War II. It may seem simple, but it is true. Below are works from greats like Jerry Robinson, Mort Meskin (a personal favorite), and the legendary team to Joe Simon and Jack Kirby. And consider yourself lucky that they have an area to draw, because you will get to see some sketches from two dear friends and incredibly talented up-and-comers, Jackie Lewis and Erin Gladstone.

Anyhow, in a word: awe. All by hand, changing the world and creating icons that we take for granted. Damn I love comics. (for many more see my Flickr)

Captain America #1 cover by Simon/Kirby

Detective Comics #69 by Jerry Robinson

Green Lanten #1

Propaganda poster by Mort Meskin

Erin Gladstone's perfect capture of our reaction to seeing the exhibit

Jackie Lewis's amazing take on The Joker

REVIEW: King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

This is partly a review. I was asked, as part of my film class, to write about a documentary. King of Kong was the natural choice. So if you read on, be prepared for mild spoilers and, well, a read more like a class paper. Either way, thought it might interest someone.

King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters

On the surface, Seth Gordon’s The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters seems like a joke. It follows two men, both involved in the world of competitive classic arcade gaming. It has already alienated a good sample of the potential audience with that choice. However, upon viewing you realize there is so much more. It may be about nerdy adults and Donkey Kong, but it serves as a microcosm for some surprisingly universal ideas. Its themes are so much a part of the American experience that, regardless of bias, prejudice, and assumption about its subject matter, it is hard to not love.

REVIEW: I Saw the Devil

I am a seasoned moviegoer. I own nearly 3000, see about 150 in theaters a year, and watch just as many at home. Duration, subject matter, depravity. They may keep some away, but not me. However, then I saw I Saw the Devil. My feelings are still complicated. I find it equal part exploitation and genius. Yet I'm not comfortable to define it as both.

South Korea is producing some of the most unique, invigorating, and.... disturbing films in recent memory. There seems to be a penchant for revenge. Oldboy / Park Chan-wook's Vengeance trilogy, Memories of Murder, and Mother all honor and subvert the revenge genre. They are also beautiful films, both in message and aesthetic.. Their film eye is sharp, vibrant, and always unique. Thus my expectation of I Saw the Devil. Certainly intriguing visually, I still battle with the potential message. I struggle because I am not even sure there is one. I think I'm latching on to it but quickly wonder if I'm just imposing an idea on it to explain the horror I am seeing.

REVIEW: Cedar Rapids

Cedar Rapids is a film about conflict. May not seem that way, but essentially, it both extols the virtues of small town naiveté while also warning about the motives of its "real American" inhabitants. It would seem like a tricky idea, but they pull it off effortlessl.

A by-product of the political polarization of the past decade has been the romanticization of the so-called "common man" and the "small-town." Infamously, Sarah Palin called this "the real America." Ed Helms's Tim Lippe is from there. Lippe is an amazingly sheltered young man who has been selling insurance since he was sixteen. After a bizarre accident, he gets called up to the “big” city, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for the "big" insurance convention. As always, Ed Helms is oddly adorable. He is simple, but you'd never call him stupid. He is so innocent that you have to root for him. Though, there is evidence of the dangers of his lack of experience. He is so blissfully ignorant that he is untainted by common vices and by proxy living with integrity. Wholesome is his middle name. In many ways, he is an ideal of a life without meaningless distractions.

Project365, #27: Crawfish Shack Review

Last February, on Fat Tuesday, was the last time I had a crawfish boil. As anyone who has had one knows, a year is far too long between sucking on some heads. (Pause for "that's what she said") My friend Annie, a fellow lovers of all thing from the sea, had heard of Crawfish Shack. It was fairly new and featured on Scoutmob, which is quite an endorsement if you ask me. Busy schedules and such kept us from going in February, but the fateful day came. Oh yes it did.

There a few "truisms" I have found with good food. First, if it is in an unexpected place, it is going to be good. Sketchy looking buildings in the industrial part of town. The lone restaurant in a strip mall. Typically not a place one imagines to have good food, but that is wrong. The best chefs are often going out on a limb and cannot find the financial backers needed. So a locale that is cheap and/or off the beaten path will suffice. The second is simple: if there is Sriracha, better known as "cock sauce," on the table, start getting excited. As you can tell, Crawfish Shack fit both.

The four of us ordered: one pound of crawfish, a soft-shell crab po'boy, a fried oyster po'boy, and a combo order of catfish fillets and fried shrimp. Even better, all the prices were good. Even better better: the food was out of this world. I am a sucker for a po'boy. If it is on a menu chances are it will be my choice. The fried oysters were anything but gummy (as many can be when prepared poorly), the soft-shell crab made me want to eat spiders, and the crawfish were as tasty as they were pretty.

Anyhow, I'm not 100% but I think the place is BYOB. And be prepared, the line was steady the entire time and at typical peaks times I would prepare for quite a wait, both to order and to recieve your food. Such is the price for greatness.

You may notice that I only have a picture of the crawfish. The second I saw the po'boys there was no stopping me. The remoulade on them.... no words. I would drink it.

(4337 Buford Hwy, Suite 170 Atlanta, GA 30341)

REVIEW: Paul

The trio of Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and Edgar Wright has proven to be the triumph of nerdity. From Spaced to Shaun of the Dead to Hot Fuzz, their work has been reference heavy, both embracing and subverting genres and the fanboy identity as a whole, all the while reaching critical acclaim and financial success. With success they began to work separately, seeking their own path and perhaps attempting to establish an identity outside of their creative partners. It became clear to me that the largest talent lay with Edgar Wright. Perhaps it is just a matter of better choices, but his film, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World overshadows the multitude of mediocre and, frankly, identity-less projects Simon Pegg has done. He seemed to be the spark while Pegg/Frost were the timber. 

Project365, #26: Work?

As part of my job (Behavioral Specialist), there are many required annual trainings. Being an incorporated company there is a wealth of paperwork and liability issues. Today, I was told I needed to sign that I took the following courses:

I'm a super-villain in training!

Project365, #25: La la la

One of the children I work with is the daughter of an up-and-coming music producer. He won a Grammy earlier this year and things seem to be taking off, evident by the construction of a studio in his basement. As he puts it, you don't need much to produce now. I agree. The days of ten-foot long mixing boards seem to be on their way out. Anyhow, once I got into the booth I saw this beauty.

Project365, #24: Askew

Spring won't let me nap.

Project365, #23: Guitar

Attemping to write songs again. It has been over a decade. The greatest obstacle is the disparity between my taste in music when I was last in a band and now. I've written certain kind of songs before, but they do not seem like a good match for my current music sensibilities. It's not that I haven't been playing. I am certainly a better guitar player and singer than I was a decade ago. I just think the parts of my brain I used to write a melody have atrophied or are taking their time waking from slumber. Either way, reawakening my musical side and rebuilding callouses. My favorite way to spend a quiet evening. (Three pictures after the jump)

Project365, #22: AllerGEEZ

Look for headline: POLLEN KILLS MAN!

Project365, #21: Uniform

Not sure which came first: the beard or the plaid. I've basically looked the same way for nigh on a decade. Jeans, Chuck Taylors, comic book/band t-shirt. The past few years though I've developed a thing for plaid. Again, not sure if I started wearing plaid and it seemed only natural to beard it up or if the hair on my face brought out my inner lumberjack. Maybe it's my subconscious seeking a way for me to connect with my Irish roots by wearing styles similar to my clan tartan. I don't know, but either way it has become my uniform of sorts. Red plaid especially. Hence it being my username everywhere.

Don't change your horse mid-stream and don't change your shirt mid-trend. Ugh.

Project365, #20: Museum Delay, Blokus Fail, Food Win

There has a been a winning streak of amazing Saturdays for a few months. The plan this Saturday started with a trip to the William Breman Jewish History Museum's exhibit on Golden Age comics. Fortunately, perhaps, about an hour before we had planned to be there, it dawned on us that: 1) Saturday is the sabbath for followers of Judaism and 2) this was a JEWISH history museum. It was indeed closed. However, our improvisation was solid. Again I went yarn-shopping and such, but it certainly paid off. Aside from the lovely weather and lovelier company, we found ourself in downtown Decatur, each with a bowl of joy from The Yogurt Tap.

The remainder of the day was open, as the "knitting party" was not for hours. And thus back at some of the friend's apartment I was introduced to Blokus, an exercise in visual-spatial planning on par with Tetris, but with the added benefit of being an asshole to your friends. The main reason I enjoy board games to be honest.

Blokus, Uno, and an epic game of short Nerf darts at everyone. At this point, we all have headaches induced by an abundance of laughter.

Onward to "knitting circle" at a circle member's boyfriend's house. The grand surprise there fit perfect with the theme establish by the past Saturday of Win: foooooooooooood. Grilled oyster, burger, and chicken with curry dipping sauce. Oh yes, and a giant ass cast iron skillet cookie. I must have done something to please Hestia, the Greek goddess of cooking.

I can hardly wait for the next weekend of food, Binge Saturday if you will. Hope it becomes a regular thing.

Project365, #19: Experimenting

Playing with effects and settings while using the same subject (two more after jump):

Project365, #18: Spring?

 After a month of teasing, with warm sunny days followed by dreary, gray rain, I think Spring is finally here. My thermostat topped at 80 degrees today and with a sky that blue....I think I'm ready for a little warmth. That is, until summer gets here and I'll be begging for snow.

Project365, #17: Rust

I would love nothing more than to be an urban explorer in the areas of "Forgotten Detroit." Something about an abandoned building, the vacuum left from where there was once business, activity, and life. I find it all eerily beautiful. The rust and decay, unique to each place. Time and isolation create such bizarre variety.

Project365, #16: Skein

For as long as I can remember, I have always been better friends with women than men. The typical "guy" things do not appeal to me. I am not a big sports guy. I only follow one team and everything else could disappear for all I care. I don't know, I'm a dude like Lebowski is a dude. Not like frat guys are dudes. I digress. My friends, mainly women, have started a knitting group. I have no desire to knit, but if I want to hang out with them, I may have to make the small concession of sitting in on a knitting circle. Or in this case, going yarn shopping. For those uninitiated, let me tell you: it becomes an addiction. Like food, drugs, or fucking Farmville, once you start to knit, it seems you can never have enough yarn. An abundance of colors and patterns or you will not be prepared come the Yarn-aggedon.

Writer's Block: Day 4544156465

In my second post I predicted the next would be about how I want to create but likely never will. So here comes the ramble:

I'm starting to see the creative process, regardless of medium, as a battle. For the longest I've referred to myself as a "binge writer." The screenplay that was feature in a previous post took me a full year to write. However, the first seventy of so page (out of the final 120) were written in about a week, maybe less. The last eighty took their sweet time. I would go months without writing and then it hit me and the ideas started again, as furious as ever. It was that romantic ideal I latched on to; something as lofty as "when it is time, it will come." So that is what it became: a sporadic act of expression.

I listened to an interview with a screenwriter who had the following quote that I wish I could remember the origin....anyhow it was "I don't outline because if I have no idea where the story is going, how will the audience?" I still like that idea of crafting a surprise that organically, but again, it justified my choice to simply wing it. In contrast, there were other screenwriters who made it a routine, setting a quota each day of how many pages to complete or making a writing appointment for three hours in the morning. The idea here being two-fold. First, at least you are making something. It may be shit, but then you can edit or re-write and there is potential for something to come from that. The other reasoning being that is essentially becomes muscle memory. By forcing the pen to the page, you eventually coax the "creative juices" out and evolve the ability to turn it on at will.

At this point, I have tried both. My concern is that my hang up comes from within. Deep within. There is a history to it even. I play guitar and sing but very few have heard it. Seriously, I could count on one hand who has experienced either. I was once a painfully shy child and teen, however, I am no longer. I have very little shame and do not embarrass easily at all. So why the hesitance? I have experienced failure of such a magnitude that any harsh criticism of something I have made or done will pale in comparison. So once again, why the hesitance? I have claimed that the writing and the music is for me. I do it for reasons of my own I will say.

Bullshit and this blog is proof. I want to share my efforts with the world. The photography is the gateway drug. I do not have a lot invested in it. It is a hobby and fun for me. What I have written however is a passion that, in my current mindset will atrophy. Expect, hopefully, scenes to appear on this blog. Anyone interested? Anyone there even?

...Ramble Complete....

Project365, #15: Film Nerd

Found a few (yes these are only a few) of my film resource books, textbooks, manuals and the like. That's right. I read cinematography manuals for fun. I generally only use these when editing a script, opting to instead write something without the filter of "can this practically be done." Only after I have somewhat finished project in front of me do I consult some a few of these.

Public?

Today I "released" this blog. I had been keeping it to myself for the time being, not sure what to do with it. Since absolutely no-one was reading it, I decided it was time to share the link and add myself as a follower of my friend's blogs. I know it is nothing special, but I've never blogged before and always appreciate a forum to share things both trite and dear. Facebook has become a clutter of funny links and brief, oftentimes, ambiguous confessions. It lacks the ability to express ideas/opinions at length and is certainly no place to share stories.So this is my insignificant space on the internet. Enjoy? Maybe?

Project365, #14: Cliché

As soon as anyone gets a camera, they fancy themselves burgeoning artists and immediately start taking photos of flowers. Well, I have been stuck at home all day and had limited opportunities to take shots. However, it has been a gorgeous weekend and the fetal stages of Spring are starting show. So cliché though it may be, my backyard is beautiful today and here I go being "pretentious photog."  (Three more after the break and, as always, click the photo for high-res)

Project365, #13: I'm Too Old For This

Today was MomoCon, an Anime and CosPlay convention, here in Atlanta. Poorly executed in practically every way, I'm pretty certain it disappointed us all. It was, though, a learning experience. I am a comic, movie,  music, and science nerd. There was a time where the only classification necessary was nerd/non-nerd. After today, I am but a drop in dork sea.

Personally, I am not an anime fan, so despite not knowing who anyone would be dressed as, I was excited to take hundreds of pictures of insane costumes. Instead, I left with only a dozen pictures, only one of which I really wanted to share. However, the masses of teenagers in their pseudo-costumes seemed interesting enough.

Project365, #12: Sorted

Project365, #11: Words

In sixth grade, when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I replied, "A novelist." I wrote short stories all of the time. Stories about spies hunting down IRA bombers. Rangers traversing a fantasy landscape for a magic spell. Heavy, heavy nerd shit. With age came responsibility and work and school moved to the forefront and the well of creativity seemed to run dry.

In college, as my taste in comic books matured with the discovery DC's Vertigo imprint and edgier indie comics, I fancied myself a comic book writer, the desire to form stories and forge characters returned . Twenty-five issues of a man who discovers a life he had forgotten. Four issues and wealth of character background about a team up third-string superheroes tired of taking other super-teams' leftovers. Life became a challenge, the ennui of post-graduate life took hold, and again, the drive to write faded.

2007. Mistakes changed my life for ever and in the end for the better. However, to make it through and accept the confusion, anger, sadness, and remorse, I turned to the catharsis of writing. Battling agoraphobia, I harnessed that fear of the public into a story of survival in a world where people feed on people. Resolute in addressing my problems with the truth, I began writing a story of a con-man who becomes lost in his lie. Lastly, following the greatest of heartbreaks, the story of two men, lost and without direction in place unfamiliar.

From passion to discovery to understanding, writing has always been integral in my life. Witnessing the nearly unbearable creativity and talent of my friends, I feel that, more than ever, the need to create has been lacking in life. This picture is of that tale of survival written above. The first draft was completed in 2007. Other first drafts have been wrapped up in 2008, 2009, and 2010. It's time to make more.

Project365, #10: Rainy Day

Something about the water on the window and the screen on the outside made the the out of door look like a painting. (click the picture for the full-size, high-res image)

Project365, #9: Friendly Face