Posted on March 6, 2002 at 2:02 pm | No Comments
Ah, the weariness of a long, long Wednesday. Has time actually stopped dead? Lemme check my watch…
Went to see George Pelecanos read from his new mystery ‘Hell To Pay’ yesterday at the Borders in downtown Boston. An excellent author, and I’m excited to actually find the time to read this new one, along with his previous book ‘Right as Rain’, which awaits me on my nightstand. A couple years ago I saw him read, randomly, at a little bookstore on Connecticut Ave. in Washington, D.C. Had never heard of him until I walked into that place, and I inhaled five of his books within a matter of weeks. Here his is, along with fellow mystery writer S.J. Rozan, at Borders yesterday…
I learned yesterday that my most beloved ‘graphic story’ (ok, comic book), Preacher, is getting closer and closer to becoming a feature film. I don’t know how I feel about this. I’ve read the script (by the original author, Garth Ennis), but so much of the meat, the character development, the beauty, is cut right out of it. There’s only so much of a 66 issue series that you can fit in there, though. For a new article on what Preacher is all about, go here. That series brought me more joy than I can possibly lay down in words.
The Michael Essany Show starring Michael Essany
This past weekend, on CBS’ “Sunday Morning” program, this aspiring 19 year-old late-night talk show host was profiled, and he was a riot. He’s been filming his very own talk show, Wayne’s-World-style, right in his parents living room… and he’s somehow convinced guests like Kevin Bacon, Weird Al, and Mario Cuomo to stop by his place in Indiana and be interviewed. The kid has energy, ambition, and braces. Amie and I emailed him to see if he had a website, and if he was on in Boston, and he dropped us this very kind note in return…
Dear Amie and Brad,
Thank you for taking the time to watch and write. Your kind words are greatly appreciated.
My show isn’t in your area yet, but I’m confident that it will be one day. And when it is, I promise to work hard to earn your viewership.
My show website is still in development, but a cool site about my show – designed by my best friend, Mike – can be found at : www.angelfire.com/celeb/mikerandazzo.
Thank you so much for writing, Amie and Brad. I wish you all the best of happiness and success!
Warmest Regards,
Michael Essany
The personal touch is key. Very cool of him.
Something I never knew about, and probably should’ve…
The Internet Archive:
This site actually catalogs websites. You can go there, type in a URL, and check out old versions of pretty much anything. Hell, even my site is up there… and boy did it look like complete ass this time last year. Yikes.
Posted on March 5, 2002 at 11:19 am | No Comments
I have returned. One week since a real blog entry and no real excuses… just haven’t been in the mood, or have been far too busy with work to care about touching my computer during free time. Work busy-ness is a good thing, though. I’m struggling with my rusty Unix skillz, trying to bring them back after locking them away in my brain for the past couple years. That’ll teach me to take a management position again. But I digress. Wait, this whole blog thing is a digression. Nevermind/
This most boring of winters drags on. Not boring in the ‘nothing going on’ sense, but boring in the weather sense. Middle of the road temperatures, higher than normal, but wholely unremarkable. I know I’d be bitching if it was freezing, but I just want snow, dammit. And I can’t believe I’m saying that. I want a blizzard, I want people freaking out, slip-sliding (but not dying in pileups, thank you), staying indoors, shoveling sidewalks… I want the whole ball of snow. Like Buffalo snow. Just once. Ok?
Ok, so I need to work on curbing my internet use at work. That could be part of the reason for less blogging? I try to justify my occasional browsing by the fact that I generally don’t take full lunches… usually about 15-20 minutes… and by the fact that we supposedly get 15 minute breaks in the morning and afternoon… which I never take either. So I surf. But sometimes, in between doing the things I’m supposed to do, I think I make with the clicky too much… and I know why. My last job was so, so slow for the final six months that it’s what I spent most of the time doing… I got hooked on it. Near web-addiction. There was just so little work as we neared the end (thus explaining the end)… and it was the only way to pass the time and stay sane. But here… there are things to do, things to learn, constantly… and so I’ve been trying to pull back. The surfing, the multi-tasking, really has to go, and the 15 minute breaks need to be spent doing the band email thing. My admittal of this is made slightly more awkward knowing that my boss might read this (hi Tim). But hey, there it is. Just throwing it out there. If you see less entries, you know why.
And when I say ‘you’, I can no longer sheepishly pretend that I’m only talking to one or two people (who I’m either married to or in a band with). I’ve been paying attention to the traffic tracking and web counter on this page (which jumped from 5000 to 6000 in less than a month!), and I know you’re out there. In my head, I’m committed to continued updates, and to really fleshing out the content in the links to the left. In reality… who knows.
I’m going to barrel through some links here, as my little break is nearly up…
My Own Sweet mp3s
A little treat from My Own Sweet. The best music you’ve never heard. Download over 20 songs from this excellent band that Chris from the also-rans used to be in. Catchy, energetic rock with stand-out lyrics. Go get it.
Modern Tales – Professional Webcomics
A site worth supporting… subscribe and get monthly web-comics from some very talented folks. Lea Hernandez, James Kochalka, Scott Kurtz, many more.
Midnight Oil
I was so into this band, a long, long time ago. I fondly remember an incredible live show at the Orpheum… what must have been 12 years back? So they have a new album, and longtime fans are calling it an amazing return to form. I must investigate this…
HomeStarRunner Comics
The flash design on this site is phenomenal. I’ve been too distracted by it to check out the actual content!
the Late Riser’s Club Radio Show
Quite simply one of the best college radio shows out there. Weekdays 10-Noon on WMBR, Cambridge, MA. And you can listen through the web here.
Phone Giants May Shake Regulation of Internet Access
So the House has voted to pull back regulation of the monster phone companies’ internet power, therefore shutting out lots of little internet providers, ensuring less competition and higher prices. What the hell? Let’s hope the Senate doesn’t go along with this. For reasons why, check out this article here…(Study Urges Defeat of Tauzin-Dingell)
The Sports Guy’s Grammy Diary
A very-funny-at-times play-by-play of the recent grammy telecast. This guy cracks me up.
Article: The future of music
An interesting take on the rise of mp3s, and where things might go from here.
Lachima Films
My old friend, filmmaker Alex Johnson, has new website for his burgeoning company. It’s not quite done, but it’s looking real nice.
Seth Green Online
Seth Green adds a little bit of coolness to whatever he’s in. Raises things up a notch.