Here's what I am facing every day at work [I'm trying to figure out my new digital camera]... Really happy that my office comes with a nice little view.
By the way, I'm headed out to L.A. this evening... More pics on the way... Happy Friday!!!
Friday, February 29, 2008
a room (er... office) with a view
It's a gorgeous day out -- cold but sunny.
Here's what I am facing every day at work [I'm trying to figure out my new digital camera]... Really happy that my office comes with a nice little view.
By the way, I'm headed out to L.A. this evening... More pics on the way... Happy Friday!!!
Here's what I am facing every day at work [I'm trying to figure out my new digital camera]... Really happy that my office comes with a nice little view.
By the way, I'm headed out to L.A. this evening... More pics on the way... Happy Friday!!!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
a dream deferred
A few weeks ago, courtesy of The New York Times TimesTalks event series, I was fortunate enough to catch a preview, as well as a cast panel discussion, of a 3-hour television movie adaptation of A Raisin in the Sun, which is airing Monday night on ABC at 8 p.m. ET.
I first recall reading and watching the play in Mrs. Lemke's 9th grade English class over at my then- predominantly white and privileged prep school, Chaminade. But many years later (and wiser), the work takes on a whole different meaning that is just as relevant today as when it first appeared on Broadway in 1959. The play was written by Lorainne Hansberry, who became at age 29, the youngest American playwright, the fifth woman and the only African American to date to win the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play of the Year.
The opening of the movie includes a narration by Morgan Freeman of the Langston Hughes poem that was inspiration for the play's title:
Starting with a screening at Sundance, critical acclaim and media attention towards this project remains high. Oprah even interviewed castmates Sean Combs and Phylicia Rashad yesterday. I wonder what sort of reception it will get from kids today.
Despite his strong yet small role in Monster's Ball, I'm not a huge fan of Sean Combs or his bravado, but he is perfectly cast in this production (although it's a bit ironic). I only wish I was able to catch the Broadway run in 2004.
Thanks to Teeth for attending the preview with me. Sorry, you were unable to take your turn questioning Diddy (blame it on the cute little girl -- shoot, even she got to go to Sundance!).
I first recall reading and watching the play in Mrs. Lemke's 9th grade English class over at my then- predominantly white and privileged prep school, Chaminade. But many years later (and wiser), the work takes on a whole different meaning that is just as relevant today as when it first appeared on Broadway in 1959. The play was written by Lorainne Hansberry, who became at age 29, the youngest American playwright, the fifth woman and the only African American to date to win the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play of the Year.
The opening of the movie includes a narration by Morgan Freeman of the Langston Hughes poem that was inspiration for the play's title:
A Dream Deferred
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
Like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore--
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over--
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
--Langston Hughes
Starting with a screening at Sundance, critical acclaim and media attention towards this project remains high. Oprah even interviewed castmates Sean Combs and Phylicia Rashad yesterday. I wonder what sort of reception it will get from kids today.
EW cast photo from Sundance... Yep, that's Uncle Jesse, Clair Huxtable, Diddy, Brown Sugar and Addison's BFF!
Despite his strong yet small role in Monster's Ball, I'm not a huge fan of Sean Combs or his bravado, but he is perfectly cast in this production (although it's a bit ironic). I only wish I was able to catch the Broadway run in 2004.
Thanks to Teeth for attending the preview with me. Sorry, you were unable to take your turn questioning Diddy (blame it on the cute little girl -- shoot, even she got to go to Sundance!).
Friday, February 22, 2008
cutting room for a cause
Met up with some friends last night at Chris Noth's bar and music venue The Cutting Room for JaxKabat's Birthday Celebration for a Cause. All proceeds from the open bar went to Gilda's Club, an organization formed in memory of SNL comedienne Gilda Radner. Their goal is to provide an emotional and social support community for people with cancer and their families and friends. More specifically, the funds received will go towards assisting those with cancer in making videographies of their lives in a safe nurturing environment.
Unfortunately, there was no sighting of Big!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
labors of love -- happy valentine's!
From the NYT -- click on this pic to check out interesting bits such as: Love Letters -- Love Has Pruned the Alphabet to Only U & I (gag!)
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
twice the fun
Woo hoo... I'm so psyched... Just got word that my cousin Dale and his family will be visiting the East Coast next month. It'll be cool to hang out with my favorite twins, Chip and Dale.
Monday, February 04, 2008
super week
After last night's most excellent ending to Super Bowl Sunday, we have Super Tuesday tomorrow which (hopefully) will be just as fun. Here's an NYT blog post that I'm reposting from The McLaughlin Group -- one of favorite my weekly TV rituals... Don't forget to vote, and have a "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Tuesday"!
NEW YORK TIMES
February 3, 2008, 7:06 pm
Super Tuesday: It’s All About the Name
By The McLaughin' Group
Well, Super Tuesday is finally upon us, and it must be comforting to Democrats in their 22 primary states to know that their votes will, you know, count. As you’re no doubt aware, Florida and Michigan, also known as “the bad boys of statedom,” moved their primaries ahead of Feb. 5 to gain influence and campaign dollars. Tragically, they were punished by the Democratic National Committee by having their delegates denied seats at the party’s national convention. (Even more tragically, they lost the chance to sample D.N.C. chairman Howard Dean’s homemade ice cream in either of its two flavors, Facial Pink and Grassroot.) But all this could have been avoided if Michigan and Florida hadn’t miscalculated the real reason that Super Tuesday carries so much clout: its cool name.
If states want higher-profile primaries, they don’t have to violate D.N.C. rules by moving up the dates. All they have to do is give them exciting new titles (what today’s youth call “rapper names”). So in an effort to help streamline the nominating process in 2012, we are offering the following primary day names on a first-come, first-served basis. States, belly up to the bar!
Ruby Tuesday: Would guarantee high voter turnout because everyone who votes is eligible for unlimited salad bar, provided they also order an entree.
Two-Fer Tuesday: Twice the Classic Rock hits all day long at the polls. Two times the Stones! Two times the Zep! Those two songs by Foghat!
Übertuesday: Every single elected position in the country, from town councils to the presidency, is on the ballot. It sounds confusing, but luckily Diebold machines are keeping track.
Tuesducken: Voting takes place in a ballot booth tucked inside a duck that has been crammed into a turkey.
Tuesday With Morrie: Everyone is the state takes an 80-year-old to the polls and has to listen to his stories about Alf Landon.
Tuesday in the Park with George: All balloting takes place in a beautiful park, while Mandy Patinkin sings about his ambivalence.
Ladies’ Night: It works for everything else.
The Fresh Tuesday of Bel-Air: “I’ll tell you how I became the president of a town called America.”
Tuesday-O: Harry Belafonte serenades you as you enter the voting booth, and then denounces the election as a fraud.
Terrible Two’s Day: The only primary where preschoolers can vote — and run for office!
Bat-Tuesday: It may not be as strong as Super Tuesday, but Bat-Tuesday has a much better costume — and a dark side.
Stupor Tuesday: Everyone gets totally loaded on Bloody Marys at breakfast then goes out and spends all day voting for crazy stuff “just ‘cuz it’d be hilarious.” The country wakes up on Wednesday morning with an all-monkey Congress.
Monday: By the time the other states figure out what happened, you’ve already voted!
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Tuesday: Voters must come dressed as a nanny or chimney sweep. The upside: everyone who votes for Hillary Clinton receives a spoonful of sugar.
Whose Day?: All voting is call-and-response.
Remember Tuesday?: Everyone says this on November 6, 2012, two years after the last American asset has been purchased by China. Now we call it “Xing Qi Er.” Also, there are no elections.
Supra Tuesday: The only primary brought to you by the 4-door sedan with the highest gas mileage in its class, a 4-star safety rating, and standard front and rear crumple zones.
Confuseday: Voting actually takes place on Wednesday.
Supertramp Tuesday: Only dudes with hair down to here can vote. Results will be announced in the form of a harmonica solo.
A note to Guam: if any of these titles goes unclaimed, you’re welcome to it. But your votes still won’t count.
NEW YORK TIMES
February 3, 2008, 7:06 pm
Super Tuesday: It’s All About the Name
By The McLaughin' Group
Well, Super Tuesday is finally upon us, and it must be comforting to Democrats in their 22 primary states to know that their votes will, you know, count. As you’re no doubt aware, Florida and Michigan, also known as “the bad boys of statedom,” moved their primaries ahead of Feb. 5 to gain influence and campaign dollars. Tragically, they were punished by the Democratic National Committee by having their delegates denied seats at the party’s national convention. (Even more tragically, they lost the chance to sample D.N.C. chairman Howard Dean’s homemade ice cream in either of its two flavors, Facial Pink and Grassroot.) But all this could have been avoided if Michigan and Florida hadn’t miscalculated the real reason that Super Tuesday carries so much clout: its cool name.
If states want higher-profile primaries, they don’t have to violate D.N.C. rules by moving up the dates. All they have to do is give them exciting new titles (what today’s youth call “rapper names”). So in an effort to help streamline the nominating process in 2012, we are offering the following primary day names on a first-come, first-served basis. States, belly up to the bar!
Ruby Tuesday: Would guarantee high voter turnout because everyone who votes is eligible for unlimited salad bar, provided they also order an entree.
Two-Fer Tuesday: Twice the Classic Rock hits all day long at the polls. Two times the Stones! Two times the Zep! Those two songs by Foghat!
Übertuesday: Every single elected position in the country, from town councils to the presidency, is on the ballot. It sounds confusing, but luckily Diebold machines are keeping track.
Tuesducken: Voting takes place in a ballot booth tucked inside a duck that has been crammed into a turkey.
Tuesday With Morrie: Everyone is the state takes an 80-year-old to the polls and has to listen to his stories about Alf Landon.
Tuesday in the Park with George: All balloting takes place in a beautiful park, while Mandy Patinkin sings about his ambivalence.
Ladies’ Night: It works for everything else.
The Fresh Tuesday of Bel-Air: “I’ll tell you how I became the president of a town called America.”
Tuesday-O: Harry Belafonte serenades you as you enter the voting booth, and then denounces the election as a fraud.
Terrible Two’s Day: The only primary where preschoolers can vote — and run for office!
Bat-Tuesday: It may not be as strong as Super Tuesday, but Bat-Tuesday has a much better costume — and a dark side.
Stupor Tuesday: Everyone gets totally loaded on Bloody Marys at breakfast then goes out and spends all day voting for crazy stuff “just ‘cuz it’d be hilarious.” The country wakes up on Wednesday morning with an all-monkey Congress.
Monday: By the time the other states figure out what happened, you’ve already voted!
Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious Tuesday: Voters must come dressed as a nanny or chimney sweep. The upside: everyone who votes for Hillary Clinton receives a spoonful of sugar.
Whose Day?: All voting is call-and-response.
Remember Tuesday?: Everyone says this on November 6, 2012, two years after the last American asset has been purchased by China. Now we call it “Xing Qi Er.” Also, there are no elections.
Supra Tuesday: The only primary brought to you by the 4-door sedan with the highest gas mileage in its class, a 4-star safety rating, and standard front and rear crumple zones.
Confuseday: Voting actually takes place on Wednesday.
Supertramp Tuesday: Only dudes with hair down to here can vote. Results will be announced in the form of a harmonica solo.
A note to Guam: if any of these titles goes unclaimed, you’re welcome to it. But your votes still won’t count.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
desiderata [latin for "desired things"]
Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.
--Max Ehrmann, Desiderata, Copyright 1952.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
relationships are occasions for freedom, not restriction
Stumbled upon that phrase as I was surfing the Net... Definitely food for thought when it comes to all personal relationships...
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
feliz 2008
Belated Happy New Year...
Let's just say that, overall, my experience in Spain was quite SOMETHING... a story to be told ~~ preferably over drinks as it took over a week to recover and I’m only now able to [sort of] laugh over the whole ordeal.
After a stressful evening at JFK, I arrived in Malaga on Sunday, Dec. 30 and had to deal with an unplanned $95 cab ride to the resort... not so great a start, right? Our travels included the consumption of a lot of jamon, queso, tortilla, patatas fritas, Rioja, Rioja, Rioja (and the occasional vino blanco or Moscatel), flamenco, the rock, walking, shopping, fiestas, siestas, " experiencing first hand "rain in Spain," art, religion, hiking, arguing over directions to a Tryp or Macarena, trying to fit 6 people in a car for 5, driving in circles, wondering how it’s possible to be in Europe yet there’s a Chinese restaurant on every other corner (what?!), Gorki, being treated to a special chef's tasting menu, and feebly searching for the fabled Nikki Beach.
Here’s a map detailing our trek through Andalucia:
To follow are some pics and video detailing what we did during the first week of the New Year. We spent New Year's Eve in the beachy town of Marbella and made our way to Seville (with a quick stopover in Gibraltar). The rest of our visit was spent exploring Pablo Picasso's hometown of Malaga. Unfortunately, the chartered boat trip to Morocco fell through due to stormy weather and choppy waves the night before we were set to sail.
MARBELLA
GIBRALTAR
SEVILLA
MALAGA
And lastly, some silly shots...
Hasta luego, mi amigos! Feliz 2008!
Let's just say that, overall, my experience in Spain was quite SOMETHING... a story to be told ~~ preferably over drinks as it took over a week to recover and I’m only now able to [sort of] laugh over the whole ordeal.
After a stressful evening at JFK, I arrived in Malaga on Sunday, Dec. 30 and had to deal with an unplanned $95 cab ride to the resort... not so great a start, right? Our travels included the consumption of a lot of jamon, queso, tortilla, patatas fritas, Rioja, Rioja, Rioja (and the occasional vino blanco or Moscatel), flamenco, the rock, walking, shopping, fiestas, siestas, " experiencing first hand "rain in Spain," art, religion, hiking, arguing over directions to a Tryp or Macarena, trying to fit 6 people in a car for 5, driving in circles, wondering how it’s possible to be in Europe yet there’s a Chinese restaurant on every other corner (what?!), Gorki, being treated to a special chef's tasting menu, and feebly searching for the fabled Nikki Beach.
Here’s a map detailing our trek through Andalucia:
To follow are some pics and video detailing what we did during the first week of the New Year. We spent New Year's Eve in the beachy town of Marbella and made our way to Seville (with a quick stopover in Gibraltar). The rest of our visit was spent exploring Pablo Picasso's hometown of Malaga. Unfortunately, the chartered boat trip to Morocco fell through due to stormy weather and choppy waves the night before we were set to sail.
MARBELLA
GIBRALTAR
SEVILLA
MALAGA
And lastly, some silly shots...
Hasta luego, mi amigos! Feliz 2008!
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