Shakespeare's Hokey Pokey - 'tis what its all about

Alas that venerable bard, Shakespeare hath invented a language of its own and 'tis become great sport to translate the language of the common masses unto its rules (or lack thereof)

Had Shakespeare written that childhood classic song and dance, the Hokey Pokey, it might have gone something like this....

O proud left foot, that ventures quick within
Then soon upon a backward journey lithe.
Anon, once more the gesture, then begin:
Command sinistral pedestal to writhe.
Commence thou then the fervid Hokey-Poke,
A mad gyration, hips in wanton swirl.
To spin! A wilde release from Heavens yoke.
Blessed dervish! Surely canst go, girl.
The Hoke, the poke -- banish now thy doubt
Verily, I say, 'tis what it's all about.

10-Commandments for Theatre

I. The Director is God. Thou shalt not take notes from friends nor family, coaches nor critics.

II. Thou shalt not take the name of thy producer thy angel in vain, for he shall sign thy checks.

III. Remember thou keep holy the half-hour; keep in mind that an actor is never on time, an actor is always early....

IV. Honor thy author and thy composer, for in the beginning were the words and the notes.

V. Thou shalt not kill laughs nor step on lines; still, thou shalt pick up thy cues.

VI. Thou shalt not adulterate thy performance, for thy stage manager is always watching.

VII. Thou shalt not steal scenes nor focus nor props.

VIII. Thou shalt not bear false witness in thy bio nor résumé; indeed, thou shalt be truthful in thy entire performance.

IX. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's lines; for truly, there are no small parts, only small actors.

X. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's good fortune; for in fact, all actors must pay their dues.

This above all: The Show Must Go On

A Prophetic 1944 Interview

Norman Mattoon Thomas (November 20, 1884 - December 19, 1968) was a leading American socialist, pacifist, and six-time presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America. He said this in a 1944 interview:

The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of "liberalism," they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without knowing how it happened.... I no longer need to run as a Presidential Candidate for the Socialist Party. The Democratic Party has adopted our platform.

This statement reveals several key ideas:

The first is that a third party can win support for its policy positions without winning any elections if one of the two main parties adopts its positions.

The second is that it is a winning political strategy to advantage a small segment of the voters at the expense of a smaller segment. Do that for enough small segments and eventually you will have socialism.

The third is that it is a winning strategy to avoid allowing your ultimate objective, or the constitutional implications, to be framed as the question to be decided by the voters. People wouldn't vote for socialism, or for violating the Constitution, if the question were framed in those terms, but will vote for incremental steps toward it, and fail to understand the opponents when they try to explain to voters what those steps lead to, or that they are unconstitutional.

The problem for libertarians is that liberty doesn't sell as well as government benefits. People don't really appreciate liberty until they have lost it, and too often they will not even realize they have lost it, or they will attribute the loss to something other than their own past election choices. It is easier for most people to imagine a prospective financial gain or loss than a loss of liberty. Money can be counted in a way that liberty can't.

The same may be said of constitutional compliance. Few politicians make it a leading issue in campaigns. Most people don't understand it and have come to think that calling the opponent's position "unconstitutional" is just rhetoric. The few who do understand usually don't have enough influence over the others. The number of people who can understand what is and what is not constitutional is fairly small, and always has been. The only time in history it was large was during the first three American revolutions: the War for Independence, the ratification of the Constitution, and the Election of 1800, the last of which entrenched the Jeffersonian position on constitutional interpretation for the period from 1800 through 1824, and then to a declining degree for most of the rest of the 19th century. But even during the ratification debates it is unlikely that the majority of the people really understood the proposed Constitution in its entirety. Some focused on particular provisions that seemed dangerous, and opposed it until their fears were alleviated. Most probably supported it because George Washington did, demonstrating that the way to get complicated reforms is not to educate all the people but to get the support of charismatic personalities the voters like and trust.

"Bait and switch" works in political selling as well. Voters are offered some charismatic personality or government benefit and never told that either represents a violation of the Constitution. Some will argue that the people have voted for the departures from constitutional compliance and thus ratified them in some sense, but that is deceptive, because the people were deceived by not having the constitutional implications of their choices explained to them. They did not vote for violation. The issues weren't framed to them that way.

That doesn't mean it is not a productive activity to educate people on constitutional compliance. We need to create a learning environment in which some of those charismatic personalities can "get it" and then bring their insights with them when they take office. We have to spread the education around because it is not always easy to discern who will be the charismatic personalities of the future, and because such people are herd animals like any other who are going to want the reassurance of like-minded people before they will venture forth with constitutionalist positions. The trick is to both educate those individuals and enough of the individuals around them.

What we learn from the study of the diffusion of innovations is that most people don't adopt new things because they learn about them from some kind of broadcast message. They are influenced more by the examples of those they look to as role models, and that chain of influence tends to sort itself into levels, with "early adopters" at the top, "secondary adopters" below them, "tertiary adopters" below both, and "quadranary adopters" below the first three. We also learn that most people don't adopt new things in long leaps or from single exposures to messages or examples. Except for the early adopters people generally adopt in small steps spaced over a period of time in response to repeated messages. That means you need to target people who are ready to take the next step, figure out where they are and how far you can get them to go on that occasion, then move on to others, but return to the first before they go cold and move them on to the next step, repeating the process until you get many people recruited. Then you need to keep them recruited with positive reinforcements, because most adopters won't stick to a new things unless it rewards them in some way, and because there are usually competing innovations that may win them over if you neglect to hold them.

Facts about Alton Brown

* There is no theory of evolution. There are merely lists of organisms that Alton Brown allows to live so that they can be made into good eats.

* Alton Brown doesn't need a panini maker; he simply looks at the sandwich and commands it to flatten.

* When giving Alton Brown oral sex, women always swallow because he even ejaculates good eats.

* Alton Brown doesn't need a cake stand; he forces the earth to rotate around the cake that he's frosting.

* Alton Brown doesn't stuff his turkeys because the breath he exhales is more than enough to fill the turkey's cavity with tasty goodness.

* Alton Brown doesn't churn butter. He spends half an hour telling cows about the value of butter and they squirt it out for him.

* Alton Brown doesn't wash his clothes; he brines them.

* Alton Brown is not the culinary equivalent of Einstein. Einstein is the physicist equivalent of Alton Brown.

* Kosher salt is named as such because God approves of anything that Alton Brown uses.

* Alton Brown does not teabag the ladies. He (true) yams them.

* Alton Brown grinds his own peppercorns. With his teeth.

* Alton Brown's chili cheese fries are healthier than raw carrots. Even after he adds the bacon and lard.

* Alton Brown brushes his teeth with wasabi and gargles with pickle brine. But still his breath smells like lemon merengue.

* Alton Brown can boil a three-minute egg in thirty-seven seconds.

* When Alton Brown was born, he collected the hospital slop they'd left for his mother and made it into an zesty, appetizing goulash. The dish fed the entire maternity ward for a week.

* In the first, as-yet-unaired episode of Iron Chef America, Alton Brown single-handedly defeated an all-star team of Bobby Flay, Cat Cora, and Hiroyuki Sakai. The secret ingredient was 'whimsy'.

* Alton Brown doesn't reduce sauces. He demoralizes them.

* Alton Brown prepares his fugu blindfolded, with one chopstick and a plastic spork. Alton Brown ain't afraid of no chump neurotoxin.

* Alton Brown's blender has four speeds: 'stir', 'mix', 'frappe', and 'plasmify'.

* Alton Brown can split a pineapple in half using only his pinkies. For coconuts, though, he has to use his thumbs.

* Alton Brown knows where capers come from. And he grows his own, on a Chia pet in the pantry.

* On Rachel Ray's show, she shows people where to eat for less than forty dollars a day. When Alton Brown eats, people pay him.

* Alton Brown slices ham so thin, it can only be seen using an electron microscope.

* Some knives can slice through a tin can and still cut a tomato. Alton Brown's knives can slice through a Pontiac, and still cut a tin can.

* Grown men have been known to weep for joy in the mere presence of Alton Brown's vinaigrette. His hollandaise sauce can kill a man from sheer ecstasy at forty paces.

* Alton Brown can eat just one Lay's potato chip. If he ever bothered to eat food he didn't make himself, that is.

* Alton Brown once got carried away slicing carrots, and julienned his cutting board. Undaunted, he sauteed the splinters in olive oil and spices -- and they were delicious.

* Every Burger King Alton Brown has walked into has immediately closed forever -- try as they might, they simply can't 'do it his way'.

* Alton Brown can pair a wine with any food -- including hot dogs, ice cream, raw eggs, Alpo, sawdust, and soylent green.

* Alton Brown's cakes don't rise. They ascend.

* Some meats are so tender, they seem to melt in your mouth. Alton Brown's meats are so tender, he's had entire turkeys vanish into thin air.

* Alton Brown's no saint. But if his chicken Kiev cures one more kid's leprosy, the church will reconsider the evidence.

* Alton Brown doesn't whip potatoes. Alton Brown's potatoes whip themselves, if they know what's good for them.

* Alton Brown's other car is the Wienermobile.

* Alton Brown's show is called 'Good Eats', because 'Multiple Shuddering Mouthgasms' didn't play with the network's target demographic.

* Alton Brown's freezer operates at minus-twenty-seven degrees. Kelvin.

* Alton Brown once prepared shrimp gumbo for a cooking competition, using only salt, water, canned Spam, and a packet of Arby's 'Horsey Sauce'. He took second place. He would have won, but one of the judges was allergic to shellfish.

* Alton Brown can fit three hundred and forty-two cookies on a standard-sized baking sheet. Without any touching.

* When Alton Brown slices onions, the onions cry.

* Alton Brown was once asked to participate in a blind orange juice taste test. He was the only person able to successfully identify the brand, style, vintage, temperature, pH level, distance to the orchard, age of the grove trees, and the names of the workers picking the fruit. Including the one who needs to start washing after bathroom breaks.

National Health Care - Pros & Cons

It's no secret that health care costs are spiraling out of control in this country. On average, we now spend more per person on health care than both food and housing. Insurance premiums are multiplying much faster than inflation, which prevents economic growth and leaves businesses with less money to give raises or hire more workers. While the quality and availability of medical care in the United States remains among the best in the world, many wonder whether we'd be better off adopting a universal government-controlled health care system like the one used in Canada.

The number of uninsured citizens has grown to over 40 million. Since health care premiums continue to grow at several times the rate of inflation, many businesses are simply choosing to not offer a health plan, or if they do, to pass on more of the cost to employees. Employees facing higher costs themselves are often choosing to go without health coverage. No health insurance doesn't necessarily mean no health care since there are many clinics and services that are free to indigent individuals. However, any costs not covered by insurance must be absorbed by all the rest of us, which means even higher premiums.

Health care has become increasingly unaffordable for businesses and individuals. Businesses and individuals that choose to keep their health plans still must pay a much higher amount. Remember, businesses only have a certain amount of money they can spend on labor. If they must spend more on health insurance premiums, they will have less money to spend on raises, new hires, investment, and so on. Individuals who must pay more for premiums have less money to spend on rent, food, and consumer goods; in other words, less money is pumped back into the economy. Thus, health care prevents the country from making a robust economic recovery. A simpler government-controlled system that reduces costs would go a long way in helping that recovery.

Medical professionals can concentrate on healing the patient rather than on insurance procedures, malpractice liability, etc. Doctors have to take classes now simply to understand all the insurance plans out there; they are often restricted by insurance practices, such as what tests can be ordered. Doctors must practice defensive medicine to avoid getting sued. Some physicians are even leaving the profession rather than deal with all these non-medical headaches. A simplified universal health system would allow doctors, nurses, and other medical professions to simply focus on doing what's best for the patient. Medicine is a complex enough subject as it is. Our current system just adds to an already mentally-draining profession.

There isn't a single government agency or division that runs efficiently; do we really want an organization that developed the U.S. Tax Code handling something as complex as health care? Quick, try to think of one government office that runs efficiently. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? The Department of Transportation? Social Security Administration? Department of Education? There isn't a single government office that squeezes efficiency out of every dollar the way the private sector can. We've all heard stories of government waste such as million-dollar cow flatulence studies or the Pentagon's 14 billion dollar Bradley design project that resulted in a transport vehicle which when struck by a mortar produced a gas that killed every man inside. How about the U.S. income tax system? When originally implemented, it collected 1 percent from the highest income citizens. Look at it today. A few years back to government published a "Tax Simplification Guide", and the guide itself was over 1,000 pages long! This is what happens when politicians mess with something that should be simple. Think about the Department of Motor Vehicles. This isn't rocket science--they have to keep track of licenses and basic database information for state residents. However, the costs to support the department are enormous, and when was the last time you went to the DMV and didn't have to stand in line? If it can't handle things this simple, how can we expect the government to handle all the complex nuances of the medical system? If any private business failed year after year to achieve its objectives and satisfy its customers, it would go out of business or be passed up by competitors.

Government-controlled health care would lead to a decrease in patient flexibility. At first glance, it would appear universal health care would increase flexibility. After all, if government paid for everything under one plan, you could in theory go to any doctor. However, some controls are going to have to be put in to keep costs from exploding. For example, would "elective" surgeries such as breast implants, wart removal, hair restoration, and lasik eye surgery be covered? Then you may say, that's easy, make patients pay for elective surgery. Although some procedures are obviously not needed, who decides what is elective and what is required? What about a breast reduction for back problems? What about a hysterectomy for fibroid problems? What about a nose job to fix a septum problem caused in an accident? Whenever you have government control of something, you have one item added to the equation that will most definitely screw things up--politics. Suddenly, every medical procedure and situation is going to come down to a political battle. The compromises that result will put in controls that limit patient options. The universal system in Canada forces patients to wait over 6 months for a routine pap smear. Canada residents will often go to the U.S. or offer additional money to get their health care needs taken care of.

Patients aren't likely to curb their drug costs and doctor visits if health care is free; thus, total costs will be several times what they are now. Co-pays and deductibles were put in place because there are medical problems that are more minor annoyances than anything else. Sure, it would be nice if we had the medical staff and resources to treat every ache and pain experienced by an American, but we don't. For example, what if a patient is having trouble sleeping? What if a patient has a minor cold, flu, or headache? There are scores of problems that we wouldn't go to a doctor to solve if we had to pay for it; however, if everything is free, why not go? The result is that doctors must spend more time on non-critical care, and the patients that really need immediate help must wait. In fact, for a number of problems, it's better if no medical care is given whatsoever. The body's immune system is designed to fight off infections and other illnesses. It becomes stronger when it can fight things off on its own. Treating the symptoms can prolong the underlying problem, in addition to the societal side effects such as the growing antibiotic resistance of certain infections.

Government-mandated procedures will likely reduce doctor flexibility and lead to poor patient care. When government controls things, politics always seep into the decision-making. Steps will have to be taken to keep costs under control. Rules will be put in place as to when doctors can perform certain expensive tests or when drugs can be given. Insurance companies are already tying the hands of doctors somewhat. Government influence will only make things worse, leading to decreased doctor flexibility and poor patient care.

Health care equipment, drugs, and services may end up being rationed by the government. In other words, politics, lifestyle of patients, and philosophical differences of those in power, could determine who gets what. Any time you have politicians making health care decisions instead of medical or economics professions, you open a whole group of potential rationing issues. As costs inevitably get out of control and have to be curtailed, some ways will be needed to cut costs. Care will have to be rationed. How do you determine what to do with limited resources? How much of "experimental" treatments will have to be eliminated? If you're over 80, will the government pay for the same services as people under 30? Would you be able to get something as expensive as a pacemaker or an organ transplant if you're old? Would your political party affiliation or group membership determine if you received certain treatments? What if you acquire AIDS through drug use or homosexual activity, would you still receive medical services? What if you get liver disease through alcoholism, or diabetes from being overweight, or lung cancer from smoking--will the government still help you? You may or may not trust the current president & Congress to make reasonable decisions, but what about future presidents and congressional members?

Removing the medical sector from the free enterprise system tends to reduce the overall quality of health care. Study-upon-study has shown the quality of health care is typically higher in the U.S. than in any other nation, including those with nationalized health insurance. The United States has lower breast and prostate cancer mortality rates than New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, France and Australia.

In short... there are good arguments for, and good arguments against a nationalized (or socialized) healthcare plan. And, as I tend to believe in most things, I feel that the truth lies somewhere in the middle. I don't know where in the middle it lies on this issue... I just know that both sides are wrong, and blatantly mis-representing both the pros and cons of this issue in their own favor. It's as if Americans have become incapable of independent, rational thought, and rely solely on what political or religious leaders tell them to believe or say. Stop it! Use your brain!

Cease & Desist Letter for Monday

Monday
Dies Lunae

REF: Account # 06012009


Dear Monday:

1. You are hereby notified under provisions of Public Laws 110-468, also known as the Outlaw of Mondays Act, that your services are no longer desired.

2. You and your organization must CEASE & DESIST all attempts to bring an untimely end to my weekends. Failure to comply with this law will result in my immediately filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and the Texas Attorney General's office. I will pursue all criminal and civil claims against you and your organization.


3. Let this letter also serve as your warning that I may utilize recording devices in order to document any encounters that we may have in the future.

4. Furthermore, if any attempt to introduce a Monday to my life is made by your agency after receipt of this notice, this will cause me to file suit against you and your organization, both personally and corporately, to seek any and all legal remedies available to me by law.

5. Since it is my policy neither to recognize nor deal with Mondays, I will consider this matter settled.

Give this matter the attention it deserves!

And have a nice day.


David A. Dunlap

Dangers of the Political Parties

I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.

This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.

The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.

Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.

It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.

There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in governments of a monarchical cast, patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume.

George Washington - 1796

Sordid Lives - Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You!

That is... if you live in Austin, Round Rock, or surrounding areas. Rehearsals are well under way, and for the most part going very well. The set is nearing completion, the props are making their way into the actors' hands, and the costumes are appearing on the hangers in the greenroom. I am excited to see it all coming together, and it looks like we will have some really good houses. As of this morning, we have 146 reservations. Since the theatre only seats 50, and we have 14 performances, simple math tells us that we are 20% sold with two weeks to go to opening. Simple logic says... get your reservation now at http://www.sambasstheatre.org!

This has pretty much consumed my free time for the last few week, thus the absence of posts. But I have managed to teach myself some string tricks (ie - Jacob's Ladder, teepee, et al), find jeans that can be removed on stage over my boots, and acquire some removable facial hair. If you need a good laugh, and enjoy silly humour, come on out. I look forward to seeing you!

Acting Up & Speaking Out - May 1st & 2nd

The date is drawing close. My friend, CiCi, will be doing her one-woman show at Sam Bass Community Theatre this weekend. Shows are Friday, May 1st and Saturday, May 2nd at 8:00 pm. She has worked very hard to put together a great evening of entertainment and education about the ups and downs of her life with Crohn's Disease. After the show, there will be a small reception with CiCi and her friend Alex to answer any questions, or just to mix and mingle with your fellow attendees. Tickets are $15 each, and 100% of that total will go to the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America. You can make a reservation by emailing my13miles@gmail.com. If you are unable to attend, but would like to contribute to the cause, you can do that too at: http://www.my13miles.com.

Secession Talk & Economics (Political Rant)

Let me start by saying that I am not necessarily a supporter of Texas secession. While Texas could certainly survive, and likely thrive as an idependent nation, there are more pros to remaining in the union at this time. Those that mock our governor for his "secession talk" need to listen to what he actually said. His words were more of an affirmation of the 10th Amendment limitation of Federal Governmental powers. "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people." On April 14, Perry expressed his “unwavering support for efforts all across our country to reaffirm the states’ rights affirmed by the 10th Amendment.” OUR COUNTRY = The United States, not Texas! He also noted that he and “millions of Texans are tired of Washington, D.C., trying to come down here and tell us how to run Texas.” Are such views “extreme”? Do they not, rather, reflect mainstream and historically accurate sentiments? After all, is not the resolution Perry supported simply a reaffirmation of the very words of and the philosophy underlying the 10th Amendment?

Now, don't get me wrong, I am not a cheerleader for, or even a great supporter of our Governor, but I dislike those that attribute sentiments to anyone in office that have not been expressed by the politician in question. This is the same thing as those that call the President a terrorist sympathizer. In short, people need to take off their partisan glasses and look at what is best for the country and its citizens. Neither party has it right at this point, and the infighting is only going to make things worse.

Obama's "stimulus" packages have been sold as a way out of this crisis, but simple high school economics tells you that you cannot spend your way to recovery. Supporters of this idea think that "taxing the rich" will pay for it, but taxing those that create jobs has been proven time and again to deplete the number of available jobs. Think of it on a household level. If you have someone coming to maintain your lawn for $150 per month, and your income drops (for whatever reason) by $300 per month... You are not only going to cancel the lawn service, but find other ways to cut to maintain your lifestyle. You have just added another person the the unemployment rolls. Does this make you evil? No! You are simply being pragmatic. "The rich" are where they are in life (in general) through hard work and pragmatism.

While many people disagree with the principles of "Reaganomics", the reality is that it has never been tried or given a chance to work. The partial implimentation in the 80s still resulted in historical economic growth. In general, there are four principles that must be applied:

1. reduce the growth of government spending,
2. reduce income and capital gains marginal tax rates,
3. reduce government regulation of the economy,
4. control the money supply to reduce inflation.

In the past, the marginal tax rates have been reduced, and are now climbing back up, resulting in lower revenue collections as we pass the critical point. Government regulation of the economy is at record highs, as are job losses, and this is not a coincidence. I am not saying that complete de-regulation is the answer either, as that would result in atrocious working conditions and run-away inflation... or worse yet... Carter era "stagflation". What is actually needed is simple regulation/oversight, with the freedom to let capitalism actually work. Right now, the noose is so tight that the free markets are unable to function, and the crashes in the economy are the natural result. Control of the money supply to reduce inflation will never happen as long as the Federal Reserve is in charge of the monetary policy. Since this is an extra-governmental agency, it is outside of the control of those that need to be able to control it. That's why the constitution specifically grants CONGRESS the power "To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures". Congress has un-constitutionally ceded this right to the Federal Reserve, which operates under an appointee of the Executive branch, and this needs to be fixed.

Finally, "the reduction in the growth of government spending"... This has never been tried, and frankly is the key to getting the nation back on track. Earmarks, pork, automatic annual budget increases, and generally out of control spending by both parties must stop. Many people are blaming the current spending spree on President Obama, while others are blaming President Bush. The reality is that they are, or are on track to be two of the most fiscally irresponsible Presidents in US History! It is not a partisan issue, but a financial one. If your expenses at home go up, you cannot go to your boss and write yourself a check for the difference, but this is exactly what is happening in Congress. It has now spread to bailing out large private companies, because everyone involved is paranoid of another Worldcom or Enron. While GM, Chrysler, and AIG may not be the result of corruption, the result of failure would be the same. Another smaller company (or companies) will expand and fill the gap left, and the American people will dust themselves off, and move on. Our ability to do so is what makes this country great, and why our Republic has stood the test of time for over 200 years under the same governing documents.

Returning to secession... Texas could survive secession, and in all likelihood would thrive. The map at the left is interesting in that it places each state in perspective with respect to national GDP of various countries. It does not address population, but I'll cover that in a minute.

Texas' annual GDP is roughly equivalent to that of Canada, which is considered a fairly prosperous "First World" nation in its own right. They are the 13th largest GDP among nations, and sit at around 10% of US GDP. This means that if Texas were to leave the union, we would immediately take that spot (and roughly 10% of the US economy) with us. When you address the per-capita aspect, Texas is at roughly 2/3 of the population of Canada, making per capita GDP about a third higher for Texans, if secession were to happen. Texas also happens to be home to one of the largest military installations in the free world (Fort Hood). Obviously, equipment would transfer to the US, but Texas would quite likely maintain a pretty significant military strength, so the weak argument that we would "lose the protection" of the US military just doesn't hold water. Frankly, we could pretty quickly turn ourselves into a powerful nation both economically and militarily. There would be no issue with maintaining our independence, and becoming a presence on the world stage.

Now... Is this what I want to happen? Is this what is best for Texas and the US? Short answer... Heck No! There are far more intricate issues involved than the simplistic economic picture that I have painted above, and military power can only go so far in carving your place in the world. What needs to happen is a return to sanity and responsibilty from both our Federal and our State representatives... And, I'll say it... Sanity among the voters that keep putting these clowns in office just because they have an R or a D behind their name. Stop voting party, and research the issues! You may still end up voting for a straight party ticket, but it will be an educated opinion. Don't vote based on wanting to stick it to the rich or put something in your own pocket (either through tax cuts or government handouts). History has shown that balanced policies work far better than extreme partaisanship. But the new administration seems hell-bent on deriding the "failed policies of the past"... and the previous administration was just as tenacious in their single-mindedness. If this sort of back and forth extremism continues, we are doomed to failure... and we deserve what we get.

Sordid Lives Rehearsals Begin Tonight

I have been cast in my next play. Sordid Lives by Del Shores, and directed by Frank Benge. We open May 15th at Sam Bass Community Theatre in Round Rock, and I will be playing Odell Owens. I have been trying to get a bit of insight into my character, since being cast, and have managed to find the following quote on an old, archived website:

"Jacob's ladder, witches hat... two tricks in one. Oh, sorry, I was in the middle of one of my string tricks. That's my hobby. String tricks. I'm Odell. Odell Owens. I started doing string tricks after the accident, about twenty years ago. See, I used to be the postman in Winters, Texas. It was a good job, paid good and had good health benefits. But then one day, a pitbull that was tied up by these trashy folks' trailer -- their name was Winkler. They lived out on Route 5 in the Shady Grove Trailer Court. Anyway, this pitbull named Killer got lose, chased me down the road and bit off half my left butt cheek. It left me scarred, inside and out. I'm sorry. Give me a minute. The memory of that pitbill named Killer biting about one quarter of my ass still haunts me. So, I'm on disability. I can't work. It's a psychological thing."

The character is the type that has a story for everything... although the relation to what's going on may not make sense to anyone but himself. And every story has shaped or scarred him in some way. I'm really somewhat excited about this play for several reasons. 1 - I've heard great things about Frank as a director, and am really looking forward to learning some things from him. 2 - It's an extremely funny story... "A Black Comedy About White Trash". 3 - This character is very different from anyone else that I have played in a long time. I have recently been playing either authoritarian figures or working class Joes, but always someone with all of their mental faculties. The chance to "turn off" my brain a bit seems fun to me. 4 - I've worked with some of the other cast members before, and they are a talented bunch. I'm looking forward to being a part of a great, energetic, and enthusiastic cast.

All in all... this has the makings of one of the funniest shows that you will have a chance to see this spring. I highly encourage you to put it on your calendar. Go to http://www.sambasstheatre.org to make a reservation (and people are already making them) or to read more about the play.

Last Weekend for Human Sketches

"Rebecca Guare is a single mother and a college dropout trying to make ends meet. Leticia Martindale is a successful and acclaimed New York artist who finds herself at a creative standstill. Rebecca desperately needs a purpose. Leticia desperately needs inspiration. Two women from wildly different lifestyles try to find what they need in each other, and ultimately find much more than they originally bargained for. Human Sketches, an original contemporary play by local playwright Trey Deason, is a heartfelt and moving depiction of the unique bond between artist and model. This beautiful story demonstrates how pain can inspire, how art can heal, and how so much humanity can be contained within a simple sketch."

I've seen this play twice now. The first time at the end of the rehearsal process, and the second time this past weekend. It is a truly great play, and an Austin original to boot! The cast really brings these characters to life: from the vulnerability of the struggling mother to the aloof, worldly artist to the confused, but good-hearted boyfriend. Each character has a story to tell, and at times you feel the pain and joy of each of their lives. In the end, you understand that this play is a sketchbook of sorts for the writer, and that the "human sketches" are the people we meet on the street every day.

There are three more chances to see it. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8:00 pm at Sam Bass Community Theatre in Round Rock. Make your reservations online at http://www.sambasstheatre.org, and DO NOT miss your chance to see this!

Is Obama Too Bright To Be President?

More Roosevelt… Less Jimmy Carter… that’s what this brand needs!

Folks, there’s been a lot of scrutiny of President Obama in these first 100 days. It goes with the territory. The attention is brutal no matter who’s in the Oval Office and it always will be.

Exposure is something most marketers covet . . .but over-exposure especially of the wrong features can be deadly for a personal brand.

That is why, Barack Obama had better stop behaving like Jimmy Carter and start emulating Roosevelt.

In the last week and a half, he’s said and done things and appeared in ways that could lay the foundation for a negative brand image that no one will be able to reverse.

I can hear the peanut gallery objecting: “But President Obama isn’t oozing Carter-sque doom and gloom.” Fair enough. But he’s oozing something worse: he’s oozing too much intelligence.

Yes, too much intelligence. Intelligence is not a bad thing, but a president should never put too much of it on display.

Jimmy Carter’s mistake wasn’t really the doom and gloom, it was his professorial, uber-competence and his legendary micro-managing. The doom and gloom was an inevitable product of his putting too much intelligence on display.

Basically, it was his publicly-aired honesty and wandering intellect that got him into trouble. These traits obscured the sacred/universal qualities of the presidency and the need for strongly directed leadership. It actually diminished the presidency in the electorates’ eyes.

Instead of seeing assured leadership, the American people saw Hamlet — a bright guy constantly re-evaluating and refining his positions (something that presidents and all other effective leaders should basically do behind closed doors and well out of sight). Bottom line: Lincoln delivered The Gettysburg Address from a podium, he didn’t do his famously complicated brooding there.

Americans like to know their presidents are bright; they just don’t need to be part of the intellectual roller coaster that comes from being bright. And they don’t want details, they want results.

Most of all, American’s want a president who instills confidence. When I heard that President Obama was considering planting a vegetable garden at the White House I became worried — this was classic Carter. Do something wonky that seems to fit with an important issue the president values (i.e., the environment) but actually comes across as a little too makeshift and nitty gritty for the President of the United States. Remember how the press turned Jimmy Carter into a peanut farmer? Enough said. President Obama, forget the vegetable garden.

And beyond vegetable gardens, watch out that you don’t appear to be micro-managing the GM situation. Wagoner’s departure might be necessary, but avoid looking as if you now want to run the auto industry down to its most minute details –a President offering warranties on cars is something I simply never thought I’d hear.

The additional problem with appearing too intelligent is that when policies and initiatives go wrong as they inevitably will in Washington, it begins to look like your high intelligence (read, tendency to waffle) is responsible for your legislative and policy failures. In other words, the whole presidential package gets poisoned.

Last week’s press conference only served to emphasize our professorial president.

President Obama answered a wide-range of questions with minute detail. Bravo. But did he instill confidence in his leadership in his Target Market, the American people?

I doubt it, since after the event even The New York Times called him a lecturer and noted that he has a kind of intellectual distance that might make it hard for people to really embrace.

And while I applaud the Leno appearance as a bold poli-marketing attempt to reach the Target Market in new ways, I don’t think those kinds of appearances are the answer either because they run the risk of exposing more negatives about the president (witness his Special Olympics gaffe).

Let’s face it, a president should probably be rarely heard and seen and then only strategically. There’s a reason why the Wizard of Oz stayed behind his curtain. There is something about the office of the presidency that just doesn’t do well with too much accessibility and too much of a human touch. Ronald Reagan understood this and played the presidency with the right doses of warmth, balance and gravitas.

But it’s not Reagan who President Obama should take a page from. Obama is a crisis president and one crisis president should follow the lead of another: FDR.

So how did Roosevelt strike a balance?

Two words: Fireside chats. Roosevelt’s fireside chats let the people in, but just enough and only to show what he wanted to show. The people knew he was bright, but they didn’t want or need to hear all the backroom deliberations and wavering. Most important, they came away comforted because they knew Roosevelt was in charge.

In contrast, the Leno appearance forced President Obama to share his brand with a famous comedian (another brand) and by extension the many celebrities who have occupied the guest chairs. It risked diluting his brand and exposed him to boot, but it didn’t do anything to make him appear presidential or seem to be confidently leading us. Yes, folks, less really is more.

Apparently, President Obama tried to do some confidence instilling at his Internet-based town hall meeting -again, he earns points for the dynamic poli-marketing, but needs to be cautious because there is too much room for error and over-exposure (again, it’s not-Rooseveltian).

At the end of his press conference last week, President Obama likened America to a huge ship that can’t be turned around on a dime. Things will take time, he conveyed. Now this was Roosevelt, the master of lowering expectations while instilling hope.

President Obama should apply his ship example to his presidency. A presidential brand can go in either a good or bad direction. It does this gradually, mistakes or triumphs gradually mounting up. If the negatives are not kept firmly in check from the beginning, a toxic image can be created that might never be erased.

No president wants this and now’s the time for President Obama to make some course corrections and stick to them.

And remember, it’s always easier to understand politics (and almost everything else in life) when you keep marketing and branding in mind.

Memory Foam Shoes? Cult Wear Part 2!

People are truly idiots, and will buy just about anything. I've already had a nice little rant about the snuggie, and just exactly what I think of that. It's strange how a "freakin' bathrobe" has been such a huge success. And now... the perfect shoes to wear with your snuggie! May I present, Memory Foam Slippers.

"Just imagine how good it would feel if you could have custom slippers. These memory foam slippers let you experience that level of comfort because they conform to the shape of your feet from heel to toe. And since they don't constrict, they offer relief from painful heel spurs, bunions, arthritis, gout, swollen feet or other foot problems. Faux suede uppers, nylon tricot lining and flexible, skid-resistant indoor/outdoor soles."

Just what everyone needs for their feet! Faux suede, faux fur, and skid resistant indoor/OUTDOOR soles! This means that they actually expect people to wear these things out of the house. Certain clothing items have a limited purpose, but society clearly has lost sight of setting real limits. This should be clear by the sheer number of people that leave the house looking like they just rolled out of bed. Slippers, by definition, are house shoes... for the house... not the grocery store! And do we really need memory foam in shoes?

I could go on about other shoes that anger me, like Crocs.... but that would take far to long. Screw it, put on your cult shoes, and start chanting the mantra of the masses... What was it again?

LIfe Update

Well, it's been way too long, so a quick update on me. I have started a new job with a company called Texas Custom Audio Video, as the Austin branch manager. This should be a goo thing from what I have learned about them in the last couple of weeks. Most of the homes that they are doing seem to be in the $2.5 - $3 Million price range, so just your basic starter home (right?).

In other news, The Shadow Box has closed, and I had a lot of fun doing it. As the reputation of the show supports, this is pretty much an "actor's show", with some really good dialog and a chance to explore you emotions. To me, it was a chance to explore, not the death aspect, but the life messages. Embrace every minute, and enjoy life, because you only get to go through this roller coaster once. So that is my message to you. Go do something silly... walk barefoot through the mud, play in the sandbox, take an afternoon drive to a small town to watch the sunset, kiss a few pigs, get a little chicken shit between your toes... Life is to be lived, not endured!

The Reviews are In

Well, we've got one week under our belts, and two reviews posted online. From the looks of things, people seem to be liking the show, so join us this weekend (Thursday, Friday, Sunday) or next weekend (Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday). You can make your reservations online at http://www.nxnwtheatre.org.

Review from Austin Live Theatre:
http://austinlivetheatre.blogspot.com/2009/02/shadow-box-north-by-northwest-theatre.html

Review from Ronnie:
http://ronnisrants.blogspot.com/2009/02/shadow-box.html

100 Truths About Me

Alright... This is one of those things going around Facebook, but I don't really feel like posting it there, so... here it is:

001. Real name → David Allen Dunlap
002. Nickname(s)→ Dave, Frank
003. Zodiac sign → Libra
004. Male or female → Male
005. Elementary → Lee Britain
006. Middle School → Bowie
007. High School → Nimitz
008. Hair color → Brown
009. Long or short → Short
010. Loud or Quiet → Depends... Typically Quiet
011. Sweats or Jeans → Jeans
012. Phone or Camera → Phone
013. Health freak → Sometimes
014. Drink or Smoke?→Yes
015. Do you have a crush on someone?→ Not Currently
016. Eat or Drink → ? Yes, Please
017. Piercings → None
018. Tattoos → Back and Left Arm

HAVE YOU EVER?
019. Been in an airplane→ Yes
020. Been in a relationship → Yes
021. Been in a car accident → Yes
022. Been in a fist fight → Yes

FIRSTS:
023. First piercing → Never
024. First best friend → Christopher
025. First award → Public Library Summer Reading
026. First crush → Elaine White
027. First sport → Soccer
028. First big vacation → New Mexico/Colorado Camping Trip

LASTS:
029. Last person you talked to → Donna
030. Last person you texted → CiCi
031. Last person you watched a movie with → Nip
032. Last food you ate → Soup
033. Last movie you watched → Hancock
035. Last thing you bought → Coffee
036. Last person you hugged → Amy

FAVES:
037. Food → Italian
038. Drinks → Guinness
039. Clothing → Jeans & Button Down Shirt
040. Flower → English Lavender
041. Animal → Basset Hound

042. Colors → Green, Blue, Orange, Red
043. Movies → Monty Python & The Holy Grail
044. Subjects → Theatre & Ancient History

IN 2008..... I

045. [X] kissed someone
046. [X] celebrated Halloween
047. [X] had your heart broken
048. []went over the minutes on your cell phone
049. [X] questioned someone's sexual orientation
050. [] came out of the closet
051. [] started a new relationship
052. [X] ended a relationship
053. [X] done something you've regretted
054. [X] broke a promise
055. [X] hid a secret
056. [X] pretended to be happy
057. [X] met someone who changed your life
058. [] pretended to be sick
059. [] left the country
060. [X] tried something you normally wouldn't try and liked it
061. [X] cried over the silliest thing
062. [] ran a mile
063. [] went to the beach with your best friend(s)
064. [X] got into an argument with your friends
065. [X] hated someone
066. [] gone to disneyworld

CURRENTLY:
067. Eating → Nothing
068. Drinking → Coffee
069. I'm about to → Work
070. Listening to → Food Network on TV
071. Plans for today → Pub Quiz at Fado
072. Waiting for → Godot

YOUR FUTURE:
073. Want kids? → No
074. Want to get married? → Maybe some day, but not in the near future
075. Careers in mind → AV Consultant

WHICH IS BETTER WITH GIRL/BOY?
076. Lips or eyes → eyes
077. Shorter or taller? → Shorter
078. Romantic or spontaneous → Romantic
079. Nice stomach or nice arms → Stomach
080. Sensitive or loud → Sensitive
081. Hook-up or relationship → Relationship
082. Trouble-maker or hesitant → Trouble-Maker

HAVE YOU EVER:
083. Lost glasses/contacts → Yes
084. Ran away from home → Once
085. Hold a gun/knife for self defense → Yes
086. Killed somebody → No
087. Broken someone's heart → Yes
088. Slapped someone → Yes
089. Cried when someone died → Yes

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:
090. Yourself → Yes
091. Miracles → Yes
092. Love at first sight → No
093. Heaven → Yes - In some form
094. Santa Claus → No
095. Sex on the first date → Typically, No
096. Kiss on the first date → Yes

ANSWER TRUTHFULLY:
097. Is there one person you want to be with right now? → No
098. Are you seriously happy with where you are in life? → Getting There
099. Do you believe in God → Yes
100. Did you lie on any of your answers above → No

The Shadow Box - Opens This Weekend!

I will be appearing in the production of "The Shadow Box" that opens this weekend at the City Theatre here in Austin. I play the role of Joe, one of three terminally ill patients, who along with their loved ones, must come to grips with closing the final chapter in their lives. While the subject may seem like a downer at first glance, the message of the play is one of hope, and enjoying life while we have it. As one of the characters states in the last act, "If I am dying, I must still be alive!"

---

The Shadow Box by Michael Christofer

The Shadow Box is an honest and frank play that won a Tony and the Pulitzer Prize in 1977 for it’s groundbreaking examination of the experience of death and making sense of it. The Shadow Box paved the way on the subject for other powerful pieces that fill the landscape of theatre such as Angels In America and Marvin’s Room. Representative of a breakthrough in both subject matter and form, The Shadow Box is the story of three different families and their journey with the touching and real experience of closing the inevitable final chapter in their lives.

Location: The City Theatre - 3823 Airport Blvd., Austin, TX
Admission: General: $20, Seniors/Students/Military: $18, Groups: $15
Dates: Friday, Feb 6th, 2008 through Sunday Feb 22nd, 2008, excluding Feb 14th.
Please Note: We are unable accept credit cards at the door. Cash & checks only please.

Visit http://www.nxnwtheatre.org/ for more information.

I am Single... Again!

As the title may suggest, my divorce was finalized today at 2:05 pm. Many people are unsure how to react to that. Regret, congratulations, confusion... probably some of all would be appropriate. It's not exactly an event to celebrate, but neither is it an event to mourn. It is the end of a life chapter, and worthy of a toast that it has concluded. I may now proceed with my regularly scheduled life... such as it is right now.

Blasé

Frankly, I have been feeling a bit indifferent for the past week or so. I have many things to do, and need to focus, but I just can't seem to do it. I have projects for work to price out and get started on. I have lines to learn for Shadow Box. I have shows to prep for My Bugatti Story. On top of it all, I have the day to day minutiae to consider... cooking, cleaning, taking care of the dog, laundry, etc... I know that this is not exciting news, but it is just where I am this week.

I started a new diet a little over a week ago, and as of this morning, I am down 10 lbs from my start weight of 232. I am shooting for a target below the 200 lbs mark, which would be the first time since high school that I have been there. In other news, my court date to finalize the divorce is set for next Wednesday at 1:30 pm, so... by Wednesday night, I should officially be single. Not that I feel ready to date right now anyway, but I can close this chapter of my life and put it up on the shelf. Anyway... that's all I've got for now... sorry to be so boring, but... that's real life sometimes.

Theatre Stuff

Well the Frontera Fest piece for which I am running tech, My Bugatti Story, opens tonight at the Salvage Vanguard Theatre. It is a decent play, directed by a really good director, and presented by a very talented cast... with one weak spot. Since this is a public blog, I won't go into details, but there is a weak link that has everyone in the cast worried to death. We are all hoping that we will be pleasantly surprised this evening, and for the remainder of the run. I have gone over tech in my head as many times as I can stand, and will give it my all this evening within the limits of the technology given to me. With only one 2.5 hr slot in the theatre to practice on Saturday, we are as prepared as I think we can get, and that other part of me is really looking forward to seeing how it all turns out.

On another note, rehearsals for The Shadow Box are going well, and I am amazed by the talent that I am surrounded by each rehearsal. I feel like I am just not progressing in the role like I should be. However, once I get the script out of my hand, I think it will free me up to play with it a bit more. That one opens at City Theatre on the 6th of February, so I hope to see as many of my friends there as can make it.

Josephine Dunlap (1996-2009)

My female basset hound, Josephine, finally lost her battle with heart and lung problems today. She has had a "leaky valve" in her heart for most, if not all, of her life. This causes the blood to back-flow into the heart, and has been slowly stretching the heart for years. Just like stretching a piece of clay, it finally reached a point where it is too weak to handle the pressure, and breaks.

Something told me to stay home, and wok from the home office today... probably the same something that told me to stay home last night instead of going out drinking with friends. Thus, I was able to be with her at the end. She ate her breakfast this morning, albeit slower than normal, and went outside to do her business. Anyone that knows her, knows that she would never miss a meal or any opportunity for food. She had lost some weight recently, but not for lack of eating... she just seemed to not be absorbing it as well. Around 1 pm, I went outside to change the water, and she was laying on the patio sunning herself. She stood up to come to me, and stopped about one step in and collapsed. I got down to her, and within about a minute, it was over. Without getting into too many details, it was clear that the heart had given way, and she probably died almost instantly. While it is hard to lose her, I am glad that she did not suffer with her passing.

Josephine came to live with me and (then wife) Alexi in the spring of 2006, so she was already a senior citizen when we got her. She cam with a full list of medical issues, such as the heart murmer, skin conditions that required bathing 3 times a week, allergies, a thyroid condition, and probably a few others that I can't remember right now. Through diet, and a lot of care, we got her off of all of the medications, with the exception of the heart pills, and she lived a pretty happy and vibrant couple of years. In the last couple of months, she has been struggling more and more with her breathing (a result of the heart crowding out the bronchial passages and lungs), and has had to start taking medications to help her at least take in a bit more oxygen with shallower breaths. She then started losing weight, and the last couple of weeks has been very slow and in obvious discomfort. Today, she finally let go, and I know that she is no longer suffering.

Even Dumber Than the Snuggie

So... I've actually found an invention to mock this week that may even rival the Snuggie. It is in somewhat the same vein, and is called the Laptop Body Sweater Wool Privacy Curtain. I can only assume that the purpose is to be ultra secure that no one is looking at your laptop screen, while giving you full ability to view and type. Just think of the possibilties... surf porn in public, play World of Warcraft without being mocked (for the game anyway), get strip searched by TSA for suspicious activity when using it at the airport, get all of your stuff stolen around you because you've got your hear shoved up some dumb sweater for your laptop.

All I can really say to this is that people are idiots, and will buy absolutely anything!

Why Obama Won

In honor of the certification of the election results, and the impending innauguration of Barak Obama, I am reposting a blog from my MySpace account from November. As most of you may or may not know, I am not in any way shape or form a supporter of Obama. Politically, I tend toward the right side of the middle of the road most of the time... However, that rant is for another time. So... here it is...

Obama won, on the immediate surface, because he inspired the population. His chief opponent, McCain, did not. However, neither candidate has shown a sound understanding of the economy, while the population today lacks a solid footing in the basics of civil society.

The underlying problem that led to this abysmal slate of candidates is that our society has consistently failed to educate our youth, who have slowly become our adult population, about what it takes to run both a successful democracy and a successful capitalistic economy, and the true virtues and potential pitfalls of each. This, coupled with a lack of instilling in our youth, as a whole, the virtues of the work ethic, honesty, and humility, has resulted in a greedy population that does not care who they hurt as long as they get what they individually want.

Our people, and especially the politicians, have learned that in a representative republic, you can vote yourself monies from the public coffers. Politicians all use this fact to buy votes, and the masses are rallied to support them. Without the self-restraint of morality, this will result in the downfall of our system of government. Allowing non-citizens to fairly easily cast votes for our government officials is a case in point as to what is wrong with this picture.

Additionally, in capitalism you need to spread economic opportunity (not money) to all, but not allow the hoodwinking of others by either business or government with regard to the true economic nature of the transactions. Encouraging and strong-arming lenders to make risky loans, and then allowing derivatives that consist of bundled risky loans to be sold in such ways that the lender is divorced from the borrower, have brought us to this point. That shareholders in companies would allow CEOs to make millions as these very companies go out on a limb financially is another example.

We have not taught our population how to be good citizens, and what this entails. Nor have we instilled in them basic morals that make for a civil society. Instead we have created a generation of adults that is no longer asking what they can do for their country, but what their country can do for them. This will bakrupt us, both figuratively and literally. The only question remaining is, "When?"

10 Things About Me

A good friend emailed her version of this list to me, so... it seems a good way to spread some useless knowledge about myself...

1. I cannot sleep unless everything in my bed is just right. Sheets pulled tight at the feet, pillows not too thick or too thin, on the correct side of the bed (on the right if you're in the bed), sheet and blanket over me.

2. I can play oboe, English horn, saxophone, trombone, and percussion.

3. I secretly like and listen to British "feel good" pop music. (ie - Lily Allen)

4. While I believe that mankind can and does have an impact on the environment, and a responsibility to treat it with respect, I do not believe that "global climate change" is man-made. There have been far too many climate cycles throughout history without our help, and the evidence is just not convincing.

5. I love to cook... I hate washing dishes, especially pots and pans.

6. I find the experience of being tattoed to be more relaxing than painful. It's my own form of therapeutic catharsis for life changing tension.

7. In my professional life I have been all of the following: high school teacher, security guard, delivery truck driver, pyro-technician, animal wrangler (snakes, lizards, scorpions, tarantulas, etc), pharmacy technician, camera clerk, grocer, audio engineer, camera operator, lighting operator, AV designer, and church youth pastor (Baptist).

8. I wear a size 8 hat.

9. I'm a bit of a germaphobe. I tend to use a paper towel for anything I might need to touch in a public restroom, and clean things in a hotel room before I will sleep there.

10. I pluck my eyebrows and/or have them waxed.

80s Night

Well, I had my housewarming party last night, and the friendship shown by those that came really did help to warm up the place. Of course I made way too much food, and I think I was actually left with more beer in my fridge than I started with. I also drank far more than I should have, but that's fine, as I was able to sleep in this morning.

Since it was 80s theme, many people showed up in their best memory of that decade's fashion. You can see my attempt to the left (photo courtesy of Veronica Prior). We saw everything from Dynasty to Goth, and quite a few things in between. The entertainment consisted of a DVD of music videos from the 80s, a Michael Jackson DVD (Thriller), and a random workout VHS tape that I remembered toward the end of the night (Bubba Until it Hurts). All-in-all I had fun opening my home up to my friends, and hope that they enjoyed their visit... even if the neighborhood was a bit scary for some.

The Snuggie = Cult Wear

I just saw an infomercial for the "Snuggie", which is a blanket with sleeves. Do we really need a blanket with sleeves. Is it too hard to throw on a $5 sweatshirt and a pair of socks? Apparently it is. Watching the infomercial, however, I was struck by how much it looks like the cult-wear or typical clothing that you see in the movies for the evil armies.

The Snuggie Itself

Lots of them in secret conclave

Emperial Guard Snuggie

Reflections on 2008

I'm not even sure where to begin with my reflections of 2008, other than to say that it's over and I am SO glad. 2008 began with my wife and I hosting an exchange student from Korea for three months. Frankly, a 10 year old has no business going to school abroad, and especially not one that has no self control. January, February, and March were a complete bust due to him, and we had a really crappy Valentines day and her birthday.

April, May, and June were a bit less strenuous in that regard, but still not that enjoyable. We were each living our own lives, and just sharing an apartment for the most part. In July we took a trip to Michigan for her family reunion, and each of us had fun, but we didn't really do much together while we were up there.

After we got back, Alexi began making her plans to go to Korea to work for a year, and we pretty much agreed that it would be a separation for us. She left in Spetember, while I was working on Romeo and Juliet at SBCT. In November, we decided to just go ahead with the divorce. We had lived together and apart with very little change in the feelings that were there. In all truth, we have been nothing but friends for probably the last couple of years. It's best to get out of it now, while we are still friends, and before we start to hate each other.

Thanksgiving was the first holiday with my family since the divorce had begun, and was very bizarre to say the least. My parents seem to be trying to purge every last vestige of Alexi from their house. Every picture, every scrap, etc...

December was Christmas, and I went to a few parties and then home to see the family for the actual holiday. I've also moved from the apartment that I had been sharing to a duplex in Round Rock with an extra bedroom and a yard. Last night rang in the new year with new friends... none of whom I knew a year ago... Maybe this is the fresh start that I need to move on. I'm at a very awkward, difficult place in life, but it's a crossroads that I must make my way through. I can only hope that I come out the other side a better person for it.

To my new friends from 2008... You mean more to me than you know. To my old friends... you have been there for me through good times and bad. To all of you... I am truly thankful to have you in my life.