Into the Black

Did a good bit of reading this month. Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was very good, but a bit slow to get going. The first 1/3 is a chore to get through, the second 1/3 is really good, and the last 1/3 is impossible to put down. Also read the Hunger Games trilogy, and once I started I couldn’t stop reading those. The first one was extraordinarily good, and while I didn’t like the others quite as much, they were still great books. I just wish the third book had less of Katniss being either emo or unconscious.

Movies
• 50/50 (2011)
• Killer Elite (2011)
• Warrior (2011)
• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Undead (2009)
• Whip It (2009)
• Smokin’ Aces (2007)
• Mission: Impossible III (2006)
• Kangaroo Jack (2003)
• Highlander (1986)
• The Name of the Rose (1986)

Video Games
• Assassin’s Creed: Revelations (Xbox 360)

Books
• Infernal Devices by K.W. Jeter (in progress)
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• The Hunger Games: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
• The Hunger Games: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Music
• Amos Lee – “Better Days”
• Eyes Set to Kill – “Let Me In”
• Ghost of the Robot – Murphy’s Law
• I Can Make A Mess Like Nobody’s Business – “Lame Duck”
• Thriving Ivory – “On Your Side”

Theatre
• It’s a Wonderful Life at American Theater Company (Chicago, IL)
• The ‘Verse: Another Firefly Story at iO (Chicago, IL)

This is a music video I shot, edited, and co-directed/produced to celebrate the return of the NBA.

I noticed a pattern tonight. Had to make an image to spread this conspiracy TO THE WORLD.

As if Rick Perry hadn’t already done enough damage to his campaign, his recent “Strong” ad pretty much put the final nail in the coffin of his candidacy.

Here’s the thing. I’m a Christian. And this talk of a war on religion that’s been prevalent for the last several years has really gone too far. Last I checked, we’re still the majority religion in this country. That doesn’t mean we have free license to force Christianity on everyone else, nor should it. As far back as I can remember, I have never felt like I’ve been oppressed as a Christian in this country, and I have a feeling that most people who say they have don’t know the meaning of the word oppression.

As far as his facts, here’s a parody ad by a teacher that responds with the truth about Christianity supposedly being banned in schools:

Here’s another parody addressing Perry’s assertion that gays shouldn’t be allowed to serve openly in the military:

And my personal favorite, starring DC Pierson of DERRICK Comedy as Jesus.

The moral of this story? Christians aren’t an oppressed minority in America, no matter what anyone says. If you really want to talk about someone being oppressed, you’d have better luck looking at that group of people Perry claims shouldn’t be allowed to serve openly in the U.S. military.

The Playstation 3 really is a dream system for fans of Japanese RPGs. No, it’s not a dream system because it has lots of great JRPGs coming out for it; sadly there aren’t too many of those these days. It’s a dream system because of how many classic PSone games are available for download on it for $6-10 each. This is good in its awesomeness, but bad in the sense that I really wish I had a couple hundred dollars I could blow on games right now.

What’s available? Try this on for size:

• Alundra
• Arc the Lad Collection
• Breath of Fire IV
• Chrono Cross & Chrono Trigger
• Final Fantasy V-IX & Tactics
• Front Mission 3
• Grandia
• Legend of Mana
• Parasite Eve I & II
• Saiyuki
• Suikoden
• Threads of Fate
• Vagrant Story
• Vanguard Bandits
• Wild ARMs I & II
• Xenogears

Seriously, about all they need to complete that list is Suikoden II, Vandal Hearts, the Lunar games, and Breath of Fire III. God help me if they decide to start adding PS2 JRPGs as well. The only ones I’ve picked up so far are Suikoden & Xenogears (Suikoden out of principle, and Xenogears because I loaned my copy to someone and never got it back), but once I get some income I plan to fill out that collection.

Everyone, go watch The Muppets in theatres. It’s fantastic, and makes me feel like a kid again.

Movies
• The Muppets (2011)
• I Love You, Man (2009)
• ThanksKilling (2009)
• In the Mouth of Madness (1995)
• Rumble Fish (1983)

Video Games
• Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (Xbox 360)
• Red Dead Redemption (Xbox 360)

Books
• Ghost Story by Jim Butcher
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (in progress)

Music
• Brett Dennen – “Sydney (I’ll Come Running)”
• Childish Gambino – Camp
• Childish Gambino – “Heartbeat”
• State of Shock – “Used To Be”

Theatre
• Hit the Wall (staged reading) at The Den Theatre (Chicago, IL)
• The ‘Verse: Another Firefly Story at iO (Chicago, IL)

Just finished the move to Chicago! Should have a new post on all that & the filming of Uncommon Law soon. Now that I’m starting to get settled in and things are calming down (minus the need to find a new job in a new city), I’m going to start posting more often again. In the meantime, something that takes no effort on my part: a list of the movies/music/books/etc that have kept me occupied this month.

Movies
• From Paris with Love (2010)
• Killers (2010)
• The Crazies (2010)
• Bigger, Stronger, Faster* (2008)
• The Ant Bully (2006)
• Zombie Wars (2006)
• 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover (2004)
• Proof of Life (2000)
• Sleeping with the Enemy (1991)
• Big (1988)
• Ghostbusters (1984)
• An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)
• Halloween (1978)
• The Long Goodbye (1973)
• Unfaithfully Yours (1948)
• The Mark of Zorro (1920)

Video Games
• Borderlands (Xbox 360)

Books
• Dresden Files: Ghost Story by Jim Butcher (in progress)
• The City and the City by China Mieville

Music
• Butch Walker – “Closest Thing to You I’m Gonna Find”
• Coldplay – “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall”
• Jack’s Mannequin – People and Things
• Jack’s Mannequin – “My Racing Thoughts”
• State of Shock – Rock N’ Roll Romance
• State of Shock – “Have a Nice Day”
• The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – “Dive Too Deep”
• The Rocket Summer – Bryce Avary, His Instruments and Your Voice
• The Rocket Summer – “Never Knew”
• TV on the Radio – “Will Do”

Theatre
• The Shebang Show at Gorilla Tango Theatre (Chicago, IL)
• The ‘Verse: Another Firefly Story at iO (Chicago, IL)

I missed Butch Walker’s concert in Atlanta last week because I was originally supposed to have moved to Chicago by then, and it was already sold out by the time I realized I would still be here due to delays in filming my movie. Fortunately, he announced an acoustic in-store performance at Criminal Records, and I was able to make it to that with my friend Jenna last Sunday! He played four tracks off his new album, The Spade: “Dublin Crow,” “Closest Thing to You I’m Gonna Find” (my favorite off The Spade,) “Synthesizers,” and “Summer of ‘89.” It’s always great seeing Butch play live, even if it’s only for a few songs.

What made this one really cool was they had a photobooth set up to help raise money for Criminal Records, where you could get your picture with Butch. And, of course, I did. Pics below!

Butch Walker at Criminal Records

Butch Walker & the Black Widows

Photobooth pics with Mista Butch Walker!

Movies

• Contagion (2011)
• Dance Flick (2009)
• Old Dogs (2009)
• The Flying Scissors (2009)
• 2012 Doomsday (2008)
• Dance of the Dead (2008)
• Sex Drive (2008)
• Camille (2007)
• BloodRayne (2006)
• You Tell Me (2006)
• Dreamcatcher (2003)
• eXistenZ (1999)
• Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
• The Basketball Diaries (1995)
• Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
• Hoffa (1992)
• Married to the Mob (1988)
• Full Metal Jacket (1987)

Books

• A Dance With Dragons by George R.R. Martin

Music

• Alpha Rev – “Phoenix Burn”
• Brett Dennen – “Comeback Kid (That’s My Dog)”
• Butch Walker – The Spade
• Cavo – “Cry Wolf”
• Every Avenue – “Only Place I Call Home”
• Every Avenue – “Someday, Somehow”
• The Cab – “Bad”
• The Cab – Symphony Soldier

Earlier this month I was out in San Francisco to be a groomsman in my friend Adam’s wedding. Adam’s been one of my best friends since high school and it was awesome seeing him marry an amazing woman, and to see how incredibly happy they are together. I had a great time, and met some really cool people while I was out there.

Here are a few pictures from the wedding; the full set is on my Flickr. I couldn’t bring my 7D, but I picked up a Canon PowerShot SX230 specifically for the trip so I could at least still get some decent shots.

He's King of the World!

Me & Adam on the way to the chapel

Adam & Sofia

Those who lasted until the end of the night

In the limo after the wedding

Leaving to start a new life