So recently I got written up in the Palo Alto Weekly. I didn't blog about it because I felt weird about that, but I just decided that I ought to. Since no one reads my blog anyway, I'm safe!
Here's the bigger version, sans photo of me in fur bikini/close-up of schnoz and gap tooth.
The interviewer calls me "gregarious and funny," and says, "It's not uncommon for English teachers to spark a lifelong love of the theater in students. But not all students repay the favor by writing their educators into a play."
That's what I did in my play, "Seventh Grade Freaks." It's available for pre-order on Amazon.com. Just go here. If you get it eventually (it supposedly comes out in January) please let me know what you think!
OK, so, I am a bit agog in my admiration for LiLo and her girlfriend Samantha Ronson. They are so cute together. But more importantly, they're not stupid!
In case you haven't heard, Lindsey and Samantha wrote a blog about Palin in which they unloaded pretty harshly against the right wing psycho. OK, so maybe quoting Pamela Anderson saying, "She can suck it," isn't going to earn them any credibility among the intellectual community, but I have to say that they are really acting quite bravely by speaking out, not only about their relationship, but also about their political views. I think Lindsey Lohan had a lot at stake when she decided to subtly come out of the closet about her relationship with Samantha, but she is also being very public in her expressions of affection on myspace, and now, writing her political views boldly for all to see. Frankly, I'm kind of in awe of her, and would go as far as to say she's my new hero. Is that weird? I kinda feel weird about that. Ok- I'm letting it go. Moving on.
But think about it this way: she has had a reputation as one of Hollywood's hottest starlets, since in addition to booking leading roles with various established celebrities, she's also bedded (sorry, Sam) some of the hottest men in Hollywood. So I have to believe that their relationship is real precisely because her reputation as a heartthrob starlet could have been in jeopardy by speaking openly about her girlfriend. Well, that, and she admitted it. Why else would she admit it?
"During a discussion about energy, McCain punctuates a contrast with Obama by referring to him as 'that one,' while once again not looking in his opponent's direction (merely jabbing a finger across his chest). That's not going to win McCain any Miss Congeniality points. Nor will it reassure any voters who believe McCain is improperly trying to capitalize on Obama's 'otherness.'
This goes beyond refusing to look at Obama in the first debate. With this slightly dehumanizing phrase, McCain may have just played into the emerging narrative of Obama-hate that has been sprouting at McCain-Palin rallies.
Darren Davis, a professor at Notre Dame who specializes in the role of race in politics, sent a comment to the Huffington Post about McCain's 'that one' remark. 'It speaks volumes about how McCain feels personally about Obama. Whomever said the town hall format helps McCain is dead wrong,' Davis wrote.
A few minutes later, Obama spokesman Bill Burton placed his foot on the pedal ever so slightly. In an email blast to reporters, he asks: 'Did John McCain just refer to Obama as "that one"?' No other commentary followed, nor did any mention of race. But expect the post-debate analysis to get a little focused on whether McCain just made a regrettable faux pas.
The Politico has the McCain camp's spin on the line:
'The most memorable line of the night belonged to John McCain. McCain pointed out that "That One" vote for the 05 energy bill. Look for Republicans to note in coming days that "That One" also voted for higher taxes at least 94 times; "That One" has associations with unrepentant terrorists, etc...' "
Ellen DeGeneres appeared on The Tonight Show last night and voiced her opposition to Proposition 8, the California ballot measure that would ban same-sex marriage.
DEGENERES: "They are trying to stop gay people from marrying, like somehow Portia and I staying at home watching Dancing with the Stars is affecting anybody..."
LENO: "I come from Massachusetts, and they've had it in Massachusetts for a long time, and it's fine. The world doesn't collapse. You know, I go to West Hollywood — people know that it's the gay area. The nicest area, the cleanest area, the safest area. The economy is falling apart, I don't care what you do!"
DEGENERES: "That's exactly right. I look at the people who are losing their homes and they're foreclosing, and people in Texas who have lost homes. There are so many people that need money right now – and if you’re raising millions of dollars – give it to those people, please, because you don’t need to promote hate."
I have donated money before to the NCLR, Obama, and now to NO on Prop 8, but one of the things I've never done is volunteer for a political campaign or Proposition. This week I felt so inspired I went to volunteer and phonebank at the NO on 8 headquarters in the Castro. If ignorant and unloving people in Utah making phone calls that are persuading undecided voters, and these Utah callers are going to dictate the rest of my life- then how can I become a bystander in what could be the biggest fight of my life? If people in UTAH are going to determine whether I can or cannot marry the person I love, how can I sit here and complain and say I did everything I could, if I, in fact, did not? The answer is, I can't. I cannot sit here and watch as my future and my legal rights get stripped away from me. Rights that have been granted by the State Supreme Court of California, and which we've had for a mere four months!
So I went out. I made phone calls. I gave money on Sunday to the proposition. I spoke to several undecided people, as well as some who were supporters of the NO on Prop 8 stance.
But seriously, we need to stand up for our rights. If not, we'll be restricted to figurative the "back of the bus" in terms of our civil liberties, and we don't want that, do we? VOTE NO ON PROP 8!
On August 9th, Vickie, Kina, Rich and I went to see a fantasy double feature of Labyrinth and The Neverending Story at the Castro Theater. Moral: movies that you once loved as a child are still equally dazzling as an adult. And why? Yes, the bizarre and outlandish characters, are part of it, see Sir Didymus, at right, the fox terrier who believes he is a chivalrous and heroic knight, which is a fine caricature of a creature with delusions of grandeur.
Also fantastic is the fact that puppets create this world of fantasy.
But at its core, these movies take us to a place of make-believe in which fantastical characters would engage our imaginations and sense of play.
In some ways, to relate these films back to consciousness, it's as though they allowed us to believe in an alternate reality. We know talking puppet foxes riding dogs aren't real, but they allow us to suspend our disbelief and invest in these creative Henson imaginings. They are the essence of faith. What do I mean by that?
For some who study consciousness, there is the belief in alternate realities. Like some people believe in aliens. Fantasy films allow people to engage not only their imagination, but their sense of "what if something I can't see really exists?" Something called Blind Faith? Could it be that fantasy and faith are somehow intertwined? I am not suggesting that there are races of puppet people out there who are shaped like Jim Henson creations, but merely allowing for the possibility that perhaps these fantasies, in which foxes can speak, and so forth, I mean-- sorry-- even look at the film Babe. I love that film. Something about talking animals and goblins and other things that talk resonates with people. But why is that? Think about it, and get back to me. Please. I don't think it's a simple a thing as just anthropomorphism.
Remember the quote from Babe that said (and I am paraphrasing here), "Ad the pig knew that in those ideas that nagged, and niggled, and refused to be forgotten, that in them, lie the seeds of destiny."
Have I gone too far out here? Let me know by posting a comment.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Hey, I found this image of Jesus riding Falkor. Apparently I'm not the only one who would like to ride Falkor. Jesus too? This is from an artist named Joseph Griffith, more works can be found on www.peachstapler.com.
As you know I have gone by the Riding Falkor handle for a while now on myspace, which I chose due to my fascination with the theme song from The Neverending Story. Have you listened to the theme song recently? It's fantastic. I was able to download it from Limewire a while ago, it's by Limahl.
But seriously, check out that dude's hair. Seriously.
I also have the end credit music, which plays at the end of the film, when Bastian finally gets to ride on Falkor's back. That one is called "Bastian's Happy Flight," and seriously, it's uplifting.
The reason I resonate with this moment of the film is because of the sense of freedom and joy that I derived from watching it as a child. OK, so I am a super dork, but this moment has to get you. Anyway, I took it as my handle because, hey, who wouldn't want to be riding Falkor?
And what's with the & Falconry?
Well, the word Falkor (I've been misspelling this for several years now, but it's actually spelled with a "k," and not a "c" as I had thought) and the word falcon-- are not dissimilar. And frankly, falcons are my favorite animal. When I was little I dreamt of being a falconer after watching the incredible Ladyhawke with charming and goofy Matthew Broderick and the then ethereal hawk/woman played by the luminescent Michelle Pfeiffer. Wow. She and the wolf/man, played by the sexy and stoic Rutger Hauer, had serious chemistry. Talk about delayed gratification! Hot!
I also wanted to take fencing (which I never did), shoot bows and arrows (which I did), and was generally obsessed with all things medieval.
So, I had to dedicate this page not only to Falkor, but also to falcons and the art of falconry.
The name of the blog doesn't reflect its content, however, as I intend to brooch subjects as broad as creativity, consciousness, psychology, the entertainment industry, my family, general issues related to relationships as I have recently become a "relationship expert"-- and of course, riding dragons (especially if they are called Falkor) and falconry.
So recently I got written up in the Palo Alto Weekly. I didn't blog about it because I felt weird about that, but I just decided that I ought to. Since no one reads my blog anyway, I'm safe!
DEGENERES: "They are trying to stop gay people from marrying, like somehow Portia and I staying at home watching Dancing with the Stars is affecting anybody..."
