Reading this Will Make Your Love Life Better!!

HA! The title worked! Advertising is like that sometimes. It's not exactly the truth*. It's amazing what some people print these days and the horse crap that is driving the sales pitch. I won't go into specifics because I'm an advertiser, but if I had to use a case-in-point, I would say "Head On, apply directly to the forehead." If you don't remember that annoying ad then I'm sure you know of another.

So in tradition with this blog, I will now change directions and write something completely out of place.

I'm reading books. Yes, plural, as in more than one. I just finished an online version of "A Knock at Midnight: Inspiration from the Great Sermons of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr." I was looking for a quote from MLK but couldn't find it in these sermons so I kept looking. Another book I'm reading now is "Failures of the Presidents" which is a factual book about some of the decisions America has made. Both are very interesting reads.

It's starting to snow in Atlanta. I'll be driving through it up to Pennsylvania tomorrow so wish me luck.

*The truth may vary from business to business and does not include batteries. Facts sold separately.

Avatar!

Whilst on my adventure to the territory known as "Florida" my brother in law concocted a simply wonderful idea. James Cameron's Avatar in 3D Imax!!! Whilst surviving the whirlwind of presents and yelling and Ryan peeing on different individuals there was a glorious window of peace.

My brother [in-law] James and his friend met me in Altamonte Springs for the movie of the year. It is hands down the top sci-fi movie of 2009. I would say more but a lot of people would argue about film and acting and drama and blah and blah and you get the point.

So, having said all that, I can go back and explain how happy I was to go to Florida and visit with my relatives and friends. I didn't get to spend enough time with Gloria and Bryant. Gloria is my best friend and Bryant looked really great in the 80's (i saw the modeling pictures!) I took some time to relax in Tampa with Robin's Dad and got into some shenanigans with a pizza manager at Robin's moms' house. I did have a good time but the drive down took a serious toll.

WARNING! AVATAR PLOT LINE AHEAD!

So don't read this unless you are dangerous like a panther prowling through the jungle out of it's mind on a heroine binge. No seriously, go see the movie instead of listening to me pick it apart. There was applause in the theater at the end of the movie if that says anything.

The 3D was done well. It wasn't in your face gimmicks, but rather it flowed with what was happening in the movie and seemed more realistic. The opening scene of soldiers and volunteers or mercenaries set the tone for the whole movie. The perspective was that of a floating view in zero gravity of people waking from hyper-sleep (hyperspace?) The main character was to take his brother's position as a sort of diplomat for an alien race. Being a Marine, he didn't know the alien language or traditions and so was ordered to supply security. Sigorney Weaver plays a supporting role and I was hoping to see her sweaty with a flame thrower for old times sake.

The whole idea is that the Marine controls an alien bio-clone through telepathy-like computer signal. He becomes more and more entranced with the alien surroundings as well as the culture of the aliens themselves. After being hazed and befriended he gains their trust and finds out that the Marine command is gunning for action regardless of diplomacy. After falling in love with an alien, he decides to fend for the aliens instead of the greedy settlers. The good guys win in the end. Er, good aliens.

The aliens were all CGI. But there was a lot of talk about how Cameron waited for the technology to catch up to the movie. His wait was worth it. It was beautiful and bright as well as technically different than any other CG movie I've seen. This movie will set a milestone for other directors to try and top. I think the contrast between the corporation settlement and the alien tribesmen was also well illustrated. New and dangerous creatures and wildlife added the finishing touches to a film that can not be ignored. Bravo!

To Florida and Back

My wife and I went down to Florida last week for the Holidays. First we stopped in Leesburg, then made our way to Deltona. After visiting with my parents we packed our things and made our way down to St. Petersburg. Robin's friend lives there so we stopped by to visit briefly and then made our way to Largo. From Largo we went to Tampa where her dad lives. After a night there we came home to Atlanta.

All this with a 5 month old isn't easy.

But Christmas was great and we got to do the presents thing with everyone. I was so tired Christmas morning that I tried to get more sleep in the car outside. That never works. Sleeping in a car is awful unless you bring some sort of padding. I got a funny picture of my son with a bow on his head and he looks totally goofy.

I'm sad to say my photo shoot at Sonics wasn't what I'd hoped it to be. I haven't heard back from the manager about doing family portraits so that didn't work out and I didn't get any emails or calls from him to go shoot the high school.

I got a chance to talk to my buddy Tij today on the way to get lunch. He is hilarious. When we get together, things get pretty crazy. We reminisced about the New Years of 2002. We were in Las Vegas with his wife and his brother Ajay. We had so much damn fun. If you want to have a good time and really make some stories, go to Vegas with people that are nuts and enjoy a few drinks. It turns into an adventure. I told Tij that my New Years resolution is to stop making fun of the Snuggie. I've joked around about how extremely insane the Snuggie is only to find out the present company owns one. I always feel stupid when I tell a joke that is offensive to people. It sucks.

Hope 2010 is as good as 2009 and I hope we all get to 2011!

Holiday Shoot

I had a photo shoot at a local spot here in Woodstock. It was fun and I enjoyed myself in 34 degrees. I could see the people I worked with were cold and perhaps they even lost their patience but they were troopers every one of them. I went to the shoot with some ideas in mind but I first let the client do what he wanted to do. At the end I had the photos on the laptop and I was showing the client his group shots.

That might have been a mistake. But I learned from it. I will have to be more careful about showing off work before it is done. The problem is I get excited about what I do and I love working with art. It’s exciting to me because there is so much more that can be done with art than could be done 20 years ago. I remember what I was doing with a computer 20 years ago. It was an Apple IIc. I can remember putting the floppy disks in the drive and thinking, “computers are so damn cool!”

Here’s a shot that might bring back memories for all you peoples out there not reading this blog = ]

Back to the photography. I’m happy to report that I was able to edit everything and have it back to the customer in 2 days. It was on a customized/printed disk with matching sleeve for the CD case. I had a lot of fun photoshopping one of the employees and a corporate icon together. It gave me flash backs of working with Disney! This week I might meet back up with the customer to take photos at a high school at a basketball game. Round and round I go.

Maybe if I’m motivated I will post some of them on my FLICKR site sometime this week…

Please Remain Calm

If you believe in UFOs and you live in Norway, your greatest moment just happened. As you walked out the front door of your igloo and looked up into the sky before mounting your snow-mobile you would have noticed something different. Just slightly different.

Considering the ship was cloaked, Oslo the Norwegian fisherman, was only able to see the tractor beam/ray/light (or “what-have-you”). Instead of boarding the S.S. Sminskster that morning, Oslo immediately went back inside his house to call his friends Oggle, Fuggfort and Dergle. And panic would soon follow.

This is pure nonsense at it’s best. No one is going to believe the BS our government is putting out. “A failed Soviet missle?” Are you serious? Come on! I’m not just going to just sit back while Dergle and Oslo get probed by the very same “beings” that are responsible for Mad Cow Disease.*

We, as Americans, need to be ready. We need to regroup and focus on what is important. We need to keep a level head and be responsible here.

We need to stockpile weapons.

Usually I would go out and buy an assault riffle or an automatic shotgun during these situations. However, I don’t believe it will help us if these “beings” decide to use a death ray or proton torpedos. Nah, I think I’ll be purchasing a hellfire missle with a guidance system and a whole bunch of concrete mix for my new bunker. If I had the money, which I don’t, I would also invest in a helicopter. I don’t know how to fly one nor do I think I really need one, but it sure would be cool.

Bragging rights in the neighborhood: I would just park it in my driveway. No more comments from the H.O.A. They would poop [censored for your protection] themselves something fierce if they knew who they were messing with. I’m imagining myself now talking to a reporter:

ME:

“Yeah, I knew this was going to go down. I have a hard time believing a government that allows cable television the right to air shows like “American Idol” and “Little House on the Prairie.” My wife is with her folks up in the hills. She’ll be safe during the war. How does my hair look?”

REPORTER:

“Sir, I can’t use that statement because of our sponsors. Did you see the space ship before launching your AGM-114? And where did you learn how to operate this equipment?”

ME:

“Damn your sponsors ma’m. We’re at war with aliens that want to hide stuff in our orifices and all you can think about is Clay Aiken?” WTF? Anyways, the missle ain’t hard to fire, I’ve practiced a few on Cuba.”

REPORTER:
“What’s with the helicopter?”

ME:
“Sexy, ain’t it?”

*This comment needs support. I'm trying to hint at cows being abducted by aliens. If this does not make sense [title of blog] please watch old episodes of South Park until you get the humor. That is all.

Battle of the Birds

Wow, what a game. I just came from a game I won’t forget for a long time. It is easily the most interesting game I’ve ever attended. Not for the game factor but for everything that revolves around the actual NFL game itself. I don’t get to see many games but my dad and I have attended quite a few over the years. Each time we test security with hidden food. My dad got French fries into the Georgia Dome this time.

The game wasn’t supposed to be won by the Falcons in the first place. The Eagles had a better team and Atlanta has a lot of second string players on the field. That’s not the interesting part. What amazed me was the venders selling Atlanta Falcon Michael Vick jerseys outside of the stadium. That was strange considering he now plays for Philadelphia. He was booed when he took the field and there was also cheering. But as the Eagles continued to pound the Falcons, the fans started to the leave. They cried before they left but they left all the same.

It was rough. Now that I’m a Falcon fan, I have a hard time seeing my team being lambasted like that. But it is even worse with the politics of Vick and the fans loosing heart. I felt like a passenger on the Titanic. All in all I enjoyed the game and I’m really glad I could take my dad.

Commader in Briefs

Well I don’t know where to start with President Obama’s speech. I will say with confidence that I have mixed emotions. I’m not totally sold on Afghanistan. What will we accomplish there? What will be the end results if we do restore their country? What will be the ultimate cost? Who will Tiger Woods sleep with next?

I’m sorry. That was rude.

I would like to apologize to my family for that last joke. It was a transgression. The media is to blame for my behavior but I have let down my fans. I am so truly sorry and I apologize not only to my wife but also my son and the neighbor’s cat for my childish and selfish acts of stupidity.

I bet he feels like a big dumb chubby kid, caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

I saw 2012 over the Thanksgiving break whilst avoiding traffic horrors. The typical main character tried to avoid being killed by disasters caused by the end of the world. This movie relies on heavy special effects. I, however, rely on chocolate.