December 31st 12:49PM
I'll take two
Scientists have invented a robot that powers itself by eating flies. I love it! I hate flies so much...
I love this, too: "The EcoBot II uses human sewage as bait to catch the insects. It then digests the flies, before their exoskeletons are turned into electricity, which enables the robot to function." I can see the lab now - "Hey Phil, can you come dump a log in the robot, so we can send it on the mission?" "Hrrnnngg...! I'm contributing to the frontiers of science! Nnggaahh!"
December 31st 7:49AM
Tree of life, my ass
Thomas Elm was killed when a fir tree fell upon his vehicle.
No word whether Marla Maples, Thora Birch, or Neneh Cherry have gone into hiding to avoid similar fates.
December 29th 12:55PM
An excellent Christmas
Christmas was great - I got lots of good stuff, including the DVD "Comedian," with Jerry Seinfeld and Orny Adams. It is a very good documentary of comedy. I also got another DVD, some books, and juggling hackies from my wife, plus other good stuff from family & friends. Rockin'.
Certainly better than many Christmases past, when I lived too much inside my own head, and made myself miserable. This year, I didn't have time to torture myself, and had a great time, enjoying my family. Nice.
Onward, in matrimony
Stand-up beckons
On Sunday, I spent some of the most rewarding time in weeks, chilling out and watching the "Comedian" DVD I got for Christmas, and typing up notes for my blog that have yet to make it into the blog. Still, I had a great time, just listening, thinking, and writing.
Last night, I spent another golden 30 minutes to myself, just writing up ideas for jokes. I am amazed at how good it felt to just sit and think and write for a few minutes. I even came up with a minute or two of useful material for my next open mike. Awesome.
December 23rd 12:28PM
French reporters free, finally!
Georges Malbrunot and Christian Chesnot returned to France late on Wednesday, after being held hostage in Iraq for four months. What a relief. The hostage-taking has got to be the most vile and troubling tactics of the evil bastards in Iraq.
December 23rd 12:23PM
Head still spinning
Amazing - the friendly folks over at sheckymagazine.com saw fit to post my brief account of last night's stand-up event, as an example of a first-timer's experience. I wish I had written a more descriptive accounting, but I was "tired" with low sleep and stricken with the green-bottle flu this morning, and did not know when I wrote it that my letter would be more than a private communication. Of course, I am thrilled that they found it useful enough to post! They rock!
December 23rd 7:49AM
For today, I am my own hero
Last night, I did my first open mike stand-up comedy routine, at the Fat Cat in Modesto. It was bizarre, but I did it.
It was ... not bad. I remembered my set, didn't flub the wording (which I was worried about, although I had practiced quite sufficiently), and made it through with no tossed tomatoes. My delivery felt more wooden than I would like, but I can work on it. My material was fairly strong, and I got scattered laughs. I also got some encouraging feedback from others present. I know that if my stage presence were more fluid, people would respond better. There is hope.
It was some consolation that the crowd was small, and even the most comfortable and poised among the performers did not harvest roaring belly laughs. While I am not cheering a lackluster night, at least my performance wasn't the albatross of the evening.
I made some good contacts, and celebrated with a few drinks and was supportive of the rest of the show (meaning I stayed, watched, and laughed).
But most of all, I tried something new, something I wasn't sure I could do. It wasn't easy, but I took my best shot at it. That ain't bad.
December 20th 12:49.8PM
Forgot to mention, Atkielski's site down
My favorite (and only), rarely-updated Paris blog and all-around good other Paris stuff website, www.atkielski.com is down. The owner of the site complains constantly about his poverty, but also has mentioned recently being busy and having client's so one can only wonder if it's down fue to poor funding. Too bad - once a month, when he updated it, it was an enjoyable read.
December 20th 12:49PM
Not much / too much going on
Whew! I had a busy weekend, with not much to talk about. I need to get more for bang for the buck when it comes to my free time. I did get my wife's final Xmas presents bought, studied precious little French.
I've got a big night coming up this week - I'm nervous but not paralyzed. I am fairly well-prepared, I think. I will let you know how it goes.
Baby talk
My son continues to improve his coordination - he can get his hands to his mouth, turn his head where he pleases. Soon, I am hopeful, he will be able to keep his fingers out of his own eyes.
December 15th 12:49PM
The Show Must Go On
Queen rock band plans new tour
Pretty cool. Joe-man sent me a link to a precursor of this event, way back in the day. It's funny, I was wondering just within the past week if there was anything more to this story. And it turns out there is. Thrilling!
I wonder if they'll tour the U.S.? Write a new album?
December 14th 12:49PM
Hari Kari in Paris?
Here's an interesting article about the tendency of some Japanese expatriates to become depressed and even suicidal months after arriving in Paris.
Apparently, there is a culture shock specific to some Japanese who come to live there, due in part to a "need to forcibly express one's self to be noticed - seen as vulgar in Japanese society - and exposure to a humour sometimes seen as offensive," and "Japan's ideal of collectivism, or putting the group first, as a barrier for some of the immigrants who suddenly find themselves in a Western society based more on individualism."
Interesting. It makes me consider my own romantic ideal of the Paris we visited for 9 days, spending money like we had it to burn, contrasted against the real Paris where people live and die everyday, with racism, unemployment, hopelessness and the crush of millions of people. Just like any other big city, I suppose. But I still love it.
December 14th 7:49AM
I bow to the pretension within you
I got an e-mail yesterday from a business issociate (uh... yah), addressing some mundane details of our professional relationship, including some information I asked for, and a good time for a meeting later this week. All was normal, until the signature at the end of the e-mail.
Instead of "sincerely," or worse, "regards," the signoff that preceded her name was: "Namaste." "Namaste?" Have I been insulted? Seduced? I hadda look it up. Turns out it means something along the lines of: Traditional (Hindu) greeting with hands joined at heart, eye contact and brief bow - "I bow to the divinity within you"
It strikes me as pretentious that someone would dig up a word that nobody else in my sphere of contacts/known associates knows, and toss it in with no context, like a tofu sculpture at a barbecue, or plastic novelty vomit at an art museum. In retrospect it's kind of funny, if it didn't come off as so elitist.
I picture the sender chuckling over an overpriced apple martini, bemusedly imagining the confusion of the unworthy pig to whom she just sent this nugget of spiritual wisdom.
Anyway, like any new twist in my life, I was immediately suspicious and expected the worst, so in a passive aggressive/smartass mode, as is the way of my people, I wrote back a perfectly nomal e-mail, confirming info and meeting times, and signed off: "Mazel tov." I'm not sure how it will be taken, but I can't imagine it being received incorrectly.
December 13th 7:49.9AM
That's funny
Cool, it looks like Manteca's Chamber of Commerce will host a stand-up comedy event in February, according to the Manteca Bulletin. The quick facts:
- Saturday, Feb. 12 2004
- Geoff Brown and Jeff Applebaum performing
- The event takes place at the Manteca Senior Center, 295 Cherry Lane
- Tickets are $15 each and are available from the chamber by calling 823-6121.
December 13th 7:49AM
I live like a jester, but I eat like a king
My wife and I put together a terrific meal last night: I made escargot, and she made lobster, battered chicken and shrimp. I had escargot (snails in butter) and lobster (in butter), with red wine (no butter).
By the end of the meal, and had this strange, mellow euphoria, a very pleasant sense of well-being that I initially chalked up to the reminiscence of our trip to Paris that the escargot promoted. A short time later, I realized it was more likely due to my entire digestive system shutting down in the face of a meal composed entirely of butter, wine, and some very unusual meat, as far as my guts were concerned.
Still, it was rich, delicious, and I regret nothing.
Whistling more
The highs and lows of my life are on the upswing lately, a moderate but welcome change from the funk I've been in for a few weeks. I attribute that to a more aggressive approach to life - I've been trying more new things lately, and trying a little harder at the things I already have embraced.
For example, new things include a willingness to consider writing and performing stand-up comedy. Existing things include persistent efforts at studying French, cooking, and the occasional flick o' the wrist at MantecaStuff.com.
So few activities give returns on the effort I put into them, it's a relief to know that some things don't just sap away the work thrown into them.
December 11th 5:40PM
Place d'Italie
For some reason, I am strangely drawn to this webcam in Paris. Maybe it's the brief glimpse at all those little lives zipping by in the city, but I am captivated and entranced. Sounds gay, but whatta ya gonna do?
I love the Eiffel Tower cam too.
December 10th 12:49PM
Plus d'escargot, bon marché
I mentioned recently that we were happy to see escargot at the CP World Market in Tracy. I have also noted they're available via Internet from igourmet.com. What I didn't note is that they're comparatively a ripoff from igourmet.com! Holy crap, they're available at half the price from markys.com, and bizrate.com. That doesn't account for brand, quality, shipping prices or customer service, but double the price for the same product is definitely notable.
December 10th 7:49PM
What disappointment
Due to an ongoing enthusiasm for stand-up comedy, I had put together a five-minute set, and had planned to take the stage at an open mike hosted by a local cafe. As far as I know, it is the only such offering in my hometown. I had practiced, got my material and delivery down smooth enough where I was comfortable with it, and I took my wife to the cafe for Open Mike Thursday night.
We arrived to about thirty women playing Bunco.
Apparently, the core group of open-mikers, who had been the base of this little effort, recently abandoned the idea, and so Open Mike Night died a suffocating, apathetic death. I arrived a few Thursdays late to make my debut.
The Fat Cat in Modesto is hosting one soon, or so I recall from an e-mail I got recently from them. I just looked it up, it's December 22nd, doors open at 6pm, show at 8pm. Maybe I can horn in on that. The only other options I know of are in Sacramento. The thought of me skittering off all night to Sacramento chills my wife's bones (and other anatomical parts), so that is a troublesome possibility.
December 9th 12:49PM
I am not dead
Wow, it's been quite a week. A lot has been going on, and I haven't blogged a minute of it. But I expect I will, as soon as I can catch my breath.
December 1st 7:12PM
Best laid plans
On my way home, I had planned to pursue an ambitious amateur project like video editing or writing, but after a stop at the store, starting some household chores and the last few nights being too ambitious already, I'm taking it nice and easy.
I got some "Speakeasy" IPA beer at the local Long's (where I would rather have bought Kelly Brothers' "Four Towers IPA," but they were out), and a wee nip of The Glenlivet Scotch. I like how they call it "The Glenlivet," like in DC Comics, Batman is called "The Batman." It is a ballsy marking of territory, and you have to admire it on some level.
Did I mention I've been drinking? See ya early, for my BNI chapter meeting. Egads, what a thought...
December 1st 12:49PM
Band Aid indeed
There's an audacious article in Time magazine regarding the Band Aid charity effort, and the real causes that keep Africa in need of help.
