I needed to post something. The last week and half I have been in the grasp of the very powerful “YouTube/NetFlix/Movieclips.com” Worm Hole. So I need get back to the writing.

I am also a bit frustrated by my mail box. I am getting more junk in the e-mail box than ever before. My postal box is filled with crap too. I would love to meet the losers who think their job of actually creating this shit is actually bringing about a better world. Especially the ones who bombard this page. Any response that includes only the phrases “Nice post” or “I found this interesting” and their URL goes back to site just peddling BS is deleted.

HERE IS A TIP. If your product or service has real value then I will find you.

And the telephone has been much better. The people I need to return the calls don’t. And ones I rather not deal with seem to always get through. I rather ignore those but the reality is I have to deal with them. I did notice the more phone numbers and e-mail accounts one has the harder it is to get a hold of them. Modern day with its vast array of communication methods doesn’t seem to be bringing about any more information than in the past.

In the YouTube wormhole. I found this clip from the movie Where the Buffalo Roam. It is the movie where Bill Murray plays the legendary writer Hunter S. Thompson. This is the opening scene of the movie. It is kind of extreme example of writer who even when he is alone he has to deal with a lot of “disruptions”. Some of them are external and the others are self made. Why is necessary for “Creativity” and “Chaos” to exist within the same moment?

There are days in which I wish I had enough money to shoot my computer. And there are days, in which I had my superpower that would enable to reach through the phone and smack the person on the other end. Oh! To Dream.

I needed to clear this off the idea notepad.

More to come. Soon.

I was again find myself behind in keeping the blog updated. I am working at it. The last two posts I attempted to write ended up in the “trash bin”. I got to the point where I realized too many innocent electrons had already died for no reason what so ever.

And I had some other chores I need to accomplish. And at this point I should have finished by now. I think I need to find a way to increase my personal income. My goal is not to buy a bigger house or sports car. Why waste money trying to cover up the obvious when it comes to personal measurements? My first goal would be to have enough to hire on a support staff. I need really need one at this point in my life. And there is no way I could convince an “intern” to do it for free. In return, for a good entry on a resume. Plus who would want to go on a job interview with a paper bag over their head?

Anytime lately that any computer function tells me it is time to “download the latest update” I break out in cold sweat. I have been very “unlucky” lately. And my blood pressure has paid the price. 

My MP3 player last week decided it was not going to let me place any new material on it. I spent a whole night trying to troubleshoot it. Reinstall drivers for it did not work. Luckily, it was still under warranty. But I had to go back to the “big box store” where I bought it. I had to explain “I am not an idiot it does not work.” While getting the look from “Geek Tech” thinking “That is what they all say.”

So I just wanted to post that I am still at work on this blog.

Stay tuned. It shouldn’t be much longer.

I have gone back to this podcast episode a couple of times. It is a great conversation. However, let me warn you it is not for the “sensitive” types. It does hit some points on working through “creative frustrations”.

The Joe Rogan Experience featuring Adam Carolla

My computer/website issues of the last week or so (although it feels longer than that) took too much out of me. And the writing part suffered a bit because of it. I just need to keep writing in order to keep moving forward. However, at this point I really had nothing for a “big idea”. 

So I came up with a new category to post under for the blog. It is called “Brain Fried”. It will be a semi regular update on what I reading, watching, listening to, etc. They may be things that lead to something for future postings. Or not. Hopefully, writing them out will get me closer to “breaking the code”. It is just another way to keep readers aware that there are things “cooking in the noggin”.

 This week’s sample platter includes:

• ·         The article Zen and the Art of Ninja Productivity

• ·         Writer’s Digest March/April edition had an article entitled “50 Simple Ways to Build Your Platform in 5 Minutes a Day”

 It led me to Grader.com to use as tool to grade the effectiveness of my blog. It gave me 61 out of 100. It recommended I put in better link tools to interface with Facebook and I should add a Twitter account to the page. I am not sure about the Twitter platform. It seems to me I would need more regular Internet access to make that a viable tool. I do not own a cell phone and my employment blocks use of such sites. But I am not ruling it out. I just need a plan on how to use it. I am not about to just use for the reason of “because” and “everyone else is”.

• ·         2 albums in heavy play for me this week.

The Dropkick Murphys new album Going Out in Style. You cannot listen to their music with a passive ear. And if you are going to go “walking out towards the sunset” this is the soundtrack. Go out “Rocking!” There is subtext to this album for me that has been on my mind lately and that is the dilemma of nostalgia. Just because something is or was. Does not mean necessarily that it should be. Nostalgia can be a very thick smokescreen.

The other album is Born Free by Kid Rock. There are some days you just want to listen to a straight forward rock album.

And finally I came across this quote from comedian Ted Alexandro.

“I am 42 years old, single, never married, no kids. I did it! I made it through the maze. Let me tell you something, if you are in your twenties or thirties, just hold on because it is beautiful on the other side of that rainbow. You don’t hear enough about it. You don’t have enough role models. It’s pretty much me and George Clooney, I think.”

I never thought I would be looking George Clooney as a role model for my life.

I live a strange life.

My format problems are being caused by a conflict with Microsoft Word. I came to this conclusion because the last post was written directly in the WordPress Dashboard. And the format on that page alone turned out to make the page format appear the way I wanted it to.

And my web search has lead to a whole bunch of pages about MySQL and such. And I do not have a clue about that. But I know if I start guessing with it then I am going to be into even more shit.

The problem is my job does not allow Internet access for personal sites. In fact, you can be fired immediately for checking your own e-mail account on their servers. So when I have a chance I type up my posts on my laptop using Microsoft Word. And post them to site when I get home. Word has a function to allow direct blog postings. And then al I had to do was adjust the hyperlinks.

So it looks like for now “copy and paste” will have to be the way I write posts. Because WordPress is a web based tool.

Maybe a better answer will come my way.

Come to think about. I want to be rich just so I can hire people to fix things for me. My goal is to have a support staff of my own. This “One Man Army” gig is too tiring.

I have been trying to fix how my blog page is laid out. “The About” page displays the way I want it to. However, the Main Page and individual posting pages seem to want to put the sidebar links at the bottom. i am trying to find the solution.

The problem is my web host links to Word Press and allows you to update through them. However, since it is not their program they provide no support for it.

Word Press does not provide any direct support either unless they are hosting your site.

It seems I have found the Internet equivalent of “No Man’s Land”.

Seems like it is the continuing chapter of my life that is entitled “No One Wants to Claim Me”.

Hopefully, the next update of Word Press resolves the issues I am experiencing.

The other day, I came across this book in the library stacks as I was picking up my weekly reading material. It was titled, Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee’s Wisdom for Daily Living written by Bruce Lee himself (edited by John Little). This is book I may want to acquire some day for my own collection. It is a book that you read in small doses because it gives you plenty of ideas that you need to take time in order to process them. I just started reading it but I came across two passages from Bruce Lee that I wanted to share. I have come across quite a few but I do not want to come off sounding like I have OD on “fortune cookies”.

    A teacher is never a giver of truth; he is a guide, a pointer to the truth that each student must find for himself. A good teacher is merely a catalyst.

  We have more faith in what we imitate than in what we originate.
 

January 17 is designated as “Ditch New Year’s Resolution Day”. I think the problem is people makes resolutions and etch them in stone. It is an “all in deal” and any minor flaw the whole deal is done. I am beginning to realize that any type of resolve needs to be more flexible. Your conditions are going to change. The knowledge you have will change as you gain more information. And also the calendar as a benchmark can be very ominous. Father Time comes off looking like Darth Vader.
To left is a picture of what was known as “Checkpoint: Charlie”. It was the infamous crossing point between East and West Berlin, Germany during the Cold War. And it existed until the Berlin Wall fell down in 1989.

I think the history of this image in an indirect (meaning more symbolical way) relate to art in whatever medium you choose to create it in. The divide that exists between the “artist” and the “audience” caused by those who feel the need to be the “gatekeepers” (Studios, labels, lawyers, agents, etc.) in between the two. The argument of who needs who in this “Trinity”.

However, the Internet has risen to a point where the role of the “gatekeeper” has become diminished. Trent Reznor of t he band Nine Inch Nails a few years ago made the biggest statement when he announced his end with dealing with major record companies.

Kevin Smith is also going outside of the studio system to release his new movie Red State. He stated he was done with the system to release his films. He was tired of the overpriced marketing that went with them. Along with the over reliance on box office totals to determine the value of a film. It is an outdated system that is bloated and obsolete in this day. He also released a series of podcasts to talk about his film. If you are a fan of film and want to learn more about how they are made then take the time to listen to this series. This a better way for fans to discover a movie than the 5-10 minute “puff” pieces on the talk show circuit. The film also has a teaser trailer for it. And this is how movie trailers should be made. Show you the movie. Get you interested. And most importantly DO NOT give away the whole story.

There is growing complaints from the “Gatekeepers” of a soon to be past that the Internet is allowing to take place. And they are complaining that this is causing anarchy that will lead to the downfall of society. The reality is the old guard is being replaced at a quicker pace. And they have themselves to blame. They are more of a roadblock. They did not listen to what people wanted and what the artist wanted to get them. After years of frustration these two groups want to get away from the middle man between them.

This is the model I am trying to figure out for myself. Although I do not necessarily want to do it by myself. The reality is that I don’t want to do it and at this point I do not have all the resources to be able to. I am not sure of the complete step by step plan. So it is a work in progress. Remember this blog is not called “Some Assembly Required” for nothing. It is one ongoing experiment. And when you use the term “experiment” people tend to get very nervous. And the voice of Nancy Reagan comes into their heads reminding them “To Just Say ‘NO’”. Plus the term “experiment” scares anyone in parental role. And this is why I do not talk about this with my own. It also scares anyone who has managerial role. No manager will allow “experimentation”. All results must be guaranteed or else they will not approve it. The problem with presenting any formal plan is that you spend too much time over explaining points. And usually over explaining to people who will provide little but most likely no assistance. However, those people feel your “mea culpas” need to go through them.

Another problem is it is award season. And people will also use the works that get nominated as a benchmark on what you are trying to create. So if that is what is getting awarded then that is what I should be doing too. And I am tired of explaining of what I want to do is not necessarily what they did. I want to create my thing even though I may be inspired by what they did. I want to create. I have no interest in being a human Xerox machine. I am not sure how big my audience could be or should be. I need to keep the experiment going. I have absolutely no control over the response of others.

What do I want?

I came across this posting from the blog Gaping Void titled “the book does not matter. the conversation does.” A conversation gives both sides a chance to engage a “work” and present their side. It also gives a chance to change their minds about it. A chance that things can move on to another level. Buzzword: Synergy. Everyone wants to be “engaged” in their endeavors. One way criticism is not a conversation. It is like news postings on the Internet. You need to stay informed. But if you want to read some of the most worthless replies then scroll down to postings below it. Any site that allows people to post under made-up screen names is a waste of time. Ignorant rants will never lead to positive action. Please do not engage these postings. It is amazing that in comics the hero wears a mask so he can go into action against the evil in society. However, on the Internet people create masks a.k.a. screen names in order to just talk shit.

How to deal with it all? How to deal with the “roadblocks of the useless”? I will refer to a scene from the movie Office Space. (I was not able to find the clip itself) Fans of this film will know what I am referring too. There is manager Bill Lumbergh who is a typical soul sucking boss who is more interested in arbitrary company rules then doing something that is actually productive. He wants to talk to Peter who is just skipping out of work lately. Instead of being direct with Peter, Lumbergh decides to stand in his way to get him to stop so they can talk. Peter just walks around and keeps going without saying a word. There is a lesson in that.

Yesterday, I watched the movie Gran Torino. It is a story about acceptance and transformation leading to some form of ultimate salvation. This is a perfect film that feeds into the idea underlying a New Year’s weekend.

Usually, I link to some music that I am listening to while I am writing a blog posting. However, I am listening to a full album today. The Who’s 1971 classic Who’s Next. It is a complete album because none of the songs on the album exist as just “filler”. It has one of the best opening songs for an album ever with “Baba O’Riley”. (OK. I linked to one song. However, do yourself a favor and get the whole album.) It is kind of sad that now a day’s many music artists cannot construct an entire album’s worth of songs. The ability for many people to listen to an album as a whole seems to be a fading memory too. Channel surfing in the digital Internet age is too easy and also too arbitrary at the same time.

I am like many people at this time year trying to figure out how to make a fresh start to the year. And how to achieve that break through you desire. I am not going into the details of a few events that happened to me in late November through December of 2009. It was hard enough. The other problem is that I cannot write anything in detail that would provide any noticeable insight or any ultimate wisdom that was acquired. All I can hint at is that my perception of things that I have held on to for a long time may not be actually true. Or they really may be true. It is a conundrum. (Yes. I had to look that word up.) Sometimes when looking at the equation of your life you have to remove yourself from that equation. Sometimes your own ego is a killer in the equation.
I also need to recharge the mental battery a little bit while I am going about things. I have been reading the book. Ignore Everyone and 39 Other Keys to Creativity by Hugh MacLeod. He started by making comics on the back of business cards. He also posts on the site GapingVoid.com. He had one of the biggest downloads with “How to Be Creative” and it form the basis of his book. I got back into checking out his website recently. He is very insightful on how to use the Internet to promote your creative endeavors. It is good to know there are resources out there to look to for support. Even if you are just a “browser”. I recommend this site for anyone trying to be “creative” and needs some insight.

He posted this comment on his FaceBook page.

“What’s the one thing that ALL of the SUCCESSFUL artists I know personally have in common…? They crank the shit out like short order cooks.”

This is a key to me throughout this year. I need to be more prolific in my postings. It is like exercise. You cannot get stronger if you do not keep exercising the muscles. I need to put out more content. Hopefully, it will lead to more opportunities. It is better way than using fast food to expand my horizons.

In the picture is a small notebook I carry around with me through the day at work. I make notes of any thoughts I may have that may help at some point in my writing. I make notes from various podcasts I listen to. There may be books I need to read. Films I should watch. I note websites I need to check out. I have been asked from time to time about how I know some much “weird” shit. I just watch and listen. But more importantly I make notes.
I then need to get to writing out on the notepad on the clipboard to expand out the ideas I noted. And make them appear on the website.

I also need to clean up the home office. But that is another sad story. I wish I had enough money to pay for a “support” staff. I wish I could outsource the petty things I need to accomplish so I can get to the major items on my “to-do writing list”. Sadly, “No man is an island”. However, I have made a good case for a man being a “landfill”.

It has been a while since I have been posting to this blog. I have been in a lot of deep thoughts and other issues over the last 2-3 months. For example, I was wondering this thought. Whatever happened to Steve Guttenberg? And the Internet provided the answer. My mind does wander to some REALLY strange thoughts for time to time.

I have been studying this chart I found that also mimics my own personal evolution (or lack thereof).

(It is a pretty simple explanation.)

I have also been watching movies lately. They have made me think more about making a career change. I want to become a pizza delivery guy. It is refreshing to know that there are women out there who appreciate good prompt service. And they are willing to give a nice tip. Finally, when the transaction is completed they do not have any appearance of regret. Just admiration. Life seems so grand in the movies.

The reality it seems that I have been doing a series of experiments in order to have submissions for “F My Life”. I will spare the details. This is not the forum for them.

I write with music playing in the background. I may come off as a quiet person. I just do not deal well with silence. I usually link to a clip to link to in order to play will you are reading the post. I know I have a wide range of taste when it comes to music. I have been putting this blog off for way too long. However, it does not mean I have not been thinking about this posting. It has been a long time. And that means the music list grew long. So this posting is your choice if you choose to listen.

MUSIC: Dream Theater, Perfect Circle, Sponge, Rollins Band, Husker Du, Pearl Jam, Mastodon, The Headstones, Moist

Now I need to deal with the “Elephant” in my apartment. It begs the question. And given the place’s current condition. How the hell did he find any place to stand? And why can’t he at least be useful while standing there?

The “Elephant” here is my writing. And it needs more on the output side.

I am trying to get back to writing. I have started to carry a small notebook with me during the day. I use to write down ideas. I also use it to make notes about thinks I see and hear during the day. Books, websites, podcasts etc I need to remember to check out. It is basically, a copy of my own Rorschach test of what is going on in my head.

I have always had a problem with getting feedback and acknowledgment of my writing works. However, I cannot control that aspect at all. It is an external factor. I can control (or at least attempt to) the internal need to write ideas out. I may not achieve great vast recognition. The problem is when I am not writing then I am denying myself. And this has been going on for way too long.
I going to paraphrase a passage from PJ O’Rourke‘s book Driving Like Crazy. An adventure has two great parts to it. The beginning and when it is all over with at the end. It is the middle part that can and most likely scares the crap out of you. This sums up my website at the moment. I am not sure where it is going to end. I had energy at the beginning. But right now I am in the middle. And needless to say I am bit confused at the moment. I just renewed the site. But part of me was wondering why. I wanted the site to create opportunities. The thing is I wish I was a bit more on the clever side than I am perceived to be. I wish I could create something that I can at least put on a t-shirt and sell. So you are asking is what I am doing all about “merchandising”. I just want to be able to make a living doing something other than the current source of my income. My website is the “door” to that reality.

This is why I need to go back to drawing board. I need to and I am in the process of rethinking my website.

And I need help to do it.

I am looking for someone who is able to reformat the look of the site. I need a completely new template from which to work with. If that means an entirely new program to work with for the site then that is fine with me. I am willing to learn. I just need to find someone who is capable and willing to teach.

I want to take my website to the 2.0 version.

       www.foleywrites.com

I need suggestion. But I also need guidance in how to make them happen. It can be very frustrating sitting alone with a computer manual trying to figure out how to do it. Yelling “What the Fuck?!” at the computer screen has yet to provide any real technical answers.

My first priority is to write.

I need help to implement the writing into a better website presentation.

I guess you do get a chance for a “do over”. Staying the course seems to only apply to bad foreign policy and stimulus packages. But I do not want to go there.

I can create the “Second Act”. And if need be the third, fourth, fifth and so on.

MOVIE SPOILER (DO NOT read on if you have not seen) There is a scene near the end of the latest Star Trek movie. The Young Spock meets up with the future and older Spock. Young Spock has spent the whole movie trying to come to terms to which ideology he is going to live his life by. He is trying to come terms to being half human, half Vulcan and on top of it a member of Star Fleet. The future and older Spock tells him to basically take the whole idea of an all encompassing ideology and “throw it away”. In other words, to have a full life he must learn to “just enjoy the ride” but remember there will always be challenges.

I am not looking for an all encompassing ideology for my writing.

I just need a better idea about it.

And yet a better to present it.

If you can and are willing to help then please contact me.

MUSIC: Rolling Stones

As I have said in previous posts that I listen to variety of podcasts and music on my MP3 player. In fact, if it ever fell into the wrong hands it could be held against me at the hearing for my mental competency. There is no way a sane person would ever possibly put those together on the same MP3 player. They say, “Variety is the spice of life.” So maybe you should try it on your own MP3 player, IPod or whatever. One the podcasts, I listen to on a regular basis is NPR’s On Point. There are many times that I have no idea about the topic but I will listen to it anyways. It is a chance to broaden my perspective on things. I know many people who need to try something like this. I listen to this show the other day on Randomness. It is about mankind’s perspective on how events happen to them. How mankind tries to predict and control the outcomes to events. It also had some points on picking good movies. This story is takes an approach similar to Freakonomics to the topic. It talks about statistics without going heavy into the math behind them.

My circumstances like many of you are finding out for yourselves are changing. The rhetoric about that is getting worse every day. This being a Presidential election year only makes it worse. I used to feel it was required for a person to be aware of current events. I am beginning to rethink that policy. The problem is the rhetoric is becoming the equivalent of high fructose corn syrup. It may be very filling. But it was no real nutritional value to it. To sum it up, I am totally burned out by the news. My recommendation is watch or read the news in moderation. Better yet watch it at a bar. Homer Simpson said it best. “Better the cause of and solution to most of life’s problems.” Change is always with us. For example, I was looking forward to a vacation at the end of July. However, current economics and logistics are slowly making that slip away for this year. It is disappointing. But I have to accept the honesty of living within my means and capabilities. And I want a life within those means at the same time. So that most likely means staying close to home. And that is not necessarily a bad place to spend some time. There are a few projects I have put off too long. I guess this summer is beginning to look like it is more based on re-creation rather than recreation. This opportunity is the undertone to American society when you think about it.

The big thing is I need to figure out how to improve and grow this website. I have been looking at the stats meter on both my website and my blog. Sadly, I wish I was getting more traffic and feedback for both of them. I have been trying to figure out how to gap the divide between myself and the readers. And please DO NOT think that I am mad at anyone who takes the time to read and go through my site. I am just trying to figure what is hitting and what is missing. I am going paraphrase Stephen King who said, “First Draft the door is closed”. The door is open for everything else after that.” In a way it means in the beginning tell no one but then you have to show everything to some degree.

I have also posted my latest script entry from MoviePoet.com. It was my April entry. The script could not contain any dialogue or narration. This means the story had to be told using only visual action. My script is entitled “Last Call”. And here are the comments on it. As I have said before my writing is very much a work in progress. It is very much a learning process that keeps going. I have to said, I became somewhat disappointed on the results for this entry. I need to get back to the “grindstone” and rework this script. I wished I had come across much better than I did. Please Do Not be offended by the following term. I call this being “artistically autistic”. I am trying to create or in this case write something. However, I came up short or failed in trying to communicate this “idea” in my writing. And typo errors seem to be like ants. You never seem to be able to kill them all. In the end, I have still have to keep that chair in front of the “grindstone” or in this case the computer. Hopefully, my May entry of an adaptation of an Edgar Allan Poe short story does better. June entry may be tough for me. It has to be a family friendly script. I am definitely not a “G-rated” person.

Finally, I have to pass this along when it comes down randomness. Check your Junk E-mail folder carefully before you delete the contents of the folder. I found a pleasant surprise in it last night. I do not want to go into details about it at this point. I feel that if I talk too much about it then I will over analyze it. And that can lead to it becoming “cursed”. I am trying to get into the “Zen” of it. In other words, I am going to try to “go with the flow” on this one. Let it be what it is. And hopefully see what it may be become. I hate (I really do) to be vague but I am trying to manage the expectations of it by not getting wrapped up in the hype.

I would like to start with an observation here. Do you ever find that when you are in a “hole” and asked for help? The first thing you are handed is a shovel and told to dig yourself out. It is kind of like when you are drowning and the lifeguard reminds you of the importance of staying hydrated during heavy physical exertion. It is just the wrong time for a lecture. And the wrong “tools” for the job.

I bring this up because we live in a time where it seems like most of the people want to buy themselves out of a “jam”. No one wants to work themselves out of it. Work smarter. They seem to throw money at the problem. The problem exists in the plan. It is not necessarily in the funding. But trying telling that to government officials and those in public education. For your safety avoid them when at all possible. Money does not insure quality. Watch Basic Instinct.

I was trying to find an affordable copy of Final Draft program. I realize that I needed a screenwriting tool. I learned a hard lesson in some of my screenwriting reviews. Format counts. I did not realize that a margin or indent than may be off by 1/8 of inch would be a problem. But remember “close” counts in horseshoes,hand grenades,thermonuclear war and the time I missed the tree and peed on my friend’s shoe. I could use the dreaded credit card thus digging into that “hole” just a little more. I was reading my reviews last week. I came across a recommendation for using a free scriptwriting program called Celtx. I was a little hesitant at first. I was thinking if it free than I was getting a low grade version that would wind up frustrating me. And so far, it has not been bad. I am slowly working my way through with it.

I wrote a short script using it. This script was just a short project just to get some ideas out. It is just one scene. Let me say a few things first. I was trying to write something. So I took some inspiration from by surroundings. I am trying to be a better writer. I do own an apartment building. And there four people living there. I am interested in what makes people coexist with each other. I also like stories with a cross section of people in it who under normal circumstances would never be together. I also like attempting to write (and I hope I do) interesting dialogue. I have known people who talk like this. I swear. I also like trying to find balance between comedy and drama. I think they can be interlaced. If you ever have a chance watched a MASH episode on DVD but turn the “laugh track” off. You will see what I mean. I am not sure if this scripted scene will lead to something. As I said I was just trying to write something.

Here is the link for the latest script. And feel free to send me a review.

I have also been re-reading Robert Rodriguez’s “10 Minute Film School”. Learning and Re-learning is a never ending cycle.