I've learned something in the last year.
If someone you know says "hey, you want to be an extra in a movie/ music video, I can make it easy for you to do so" or words to that effect - say "yes".
And not because it will be the coolest thing you've ever done,because while you're doing it you CERTAINLY won't be thinking this; or even because you'll end up being able to say "see, right there! there I am!"
Because I've no idea, at all, if I'll be able to say that.
But you should still say yes.
Friday night, about 75-100 people took part in shooting footage for a video for the Smashing Pumpkins' song OWATA.
Billy Corgan's a big fan of wrestling, and is tight with the local indy group AAW. I've a friend who's heavily involved in that group, and I've been to a few of their shows.
So I already knew where the Berwyn Eagle's Club was located.
Yep, video was shot at a sorta run down Eagle's Club, similar to a VFW hall.
Cuz rock and roll is GLAMOROUS!
Stood outside for way too long, then we were finally ushered in. Our job there was very simple. There would be wrestling, we'd cheer and boo and act like a rabid wrestling audience.
Over, and over, and over.....
Was by far the most diverse wrestling crowd I'd seen at the Eagle's club, given that over half were Pumpkins' fans.
There were...women in the audience, just to mention one BIG difference from the normal crowd.
I do not know the premise behind the video, the storyline if you will. They had been filming for 8 hours already by the time we were allowed in to "watch" the wrestling.
Cameras rolled for the main event - Two well known (if you're into that sort of thing) women wrestlers going at it for "the belt".
do not ask me whose belt.
We were given our instructions, and then watched and reacted to the match.
It was actually a pretty good match, the wrestlers were talented.
Then it was over, the cameras stopped, we were told to hang out for 15-20 while they rested, so that they could film it again.
They moved some of us around to the side where most of the filming would likely take place, gave us further instructions as to who EXACTLY we were supposed to be cheering and booing, and started everything back up.
We watched the EXACT same match a 2nd time, cheered and jeered and booed enthusiastically, were not at all surprised by the outcome of the match, the cameras were stopped again, and.... They told us that they were going to have the match ONE MORE TIME.
My friend, Phil, and I looked at each other, looked at our watches, thought about our wives and little girls at home, and opted out of the 3rd viewing.
Still, it was cool, I have a new tale to tell, and maybe, just maybe, I'll be in the video; waving a sign provided by the crew over my head, or pretending to be outraged by heel tactics on display in the match.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Physics
I've a confession to make.
I managed to graduate both high school AND college, without ever taking a physics class.
Which is a shame, because at this point in my life, I'm pretty clear on how my brain works, what it focuses on, and I think it would have really enjoyed physics classes.
I was feeling the physics ignorance awhile back, so picked up a book that highlights and briefly explains 50 laws of physics.
Cool.
Same people also published similar books dealing with philosophy and other fields of study.
Smart Stuff for Dummies, in other words.
Perfect for me.
Besides the fact that it seems like a bunch of guys became famous in their fields for stating the obvious, I've found a lot of what I've read to be very interesting.
I came across a little bit of physics in-fighting the other day.
A genius version of Biggie vs. Tupac, Elton vs. Madonna, Axl Rose vs.... everyone.
Only.... for nerds.
Historical nerds.
Law # 1:
Copenhagen Interpretation:
Neils Bohr was hanging out in Denmark, partying with a bunch of scientists in a mansion donated by the Carslberg brewery folks; thinking deep thoughts and staying away from Nazis. He came up with the notion that an object is not fully formed, until you observe it, and that by observing it, you dictate the form it will take.
Light's both a particle AND a wave, for instance, but will adapt it's form to how the observer wishes to measure it.
If that's not enough, the ACT of observing alters what is being observed, because the act of observation "involves the transfer of some energy and momentum."
In coming up with this, he introduced a bit of philosophy into physics, which really cheesed off some of the other scientists.
(This happened decades before folks realized that you CAN mix chocolate and peanut butter, for the betterment of mankind.)
This theory caused a guy named Schrodinger to go all east coast vs. west coast on Bohr's ass.
In part to mock Bohr's Copenhagen Interpretation, which he thought was ridiculous, he came up with own.
A cat, in a closed box, may or may not have been poisoned, and may or may not be dead...
(Sidebar: Schrodinger had some serious issues...)
Schrodinger's Cat indicates that the only way to determine if the cat's alive or dead, is to open the box; but that the cat's obviously not both alive AND dead at the same time, waiting for us to peek inside and determine it's fate.
(Did I mention that it seems like a bunch of guys became famous in their fields for stating the obvious?)
He equates a possibly poisoned, possibly dead cat with light waves/particles.
This is what happens when brilliant nerds get bitchy.
Schrodinger, when not talking about torturing pets, left a trail of illegitimate children across europe and the UK.
Yep, this physics stuff is pretty fascinating.....
I managed to graduate both high school AND college, without ever taking a physics class.
Which is a shame, because at this point in my life, I'm pretty clear on how my brain works, what it focuses on, and I think it would have really enjoyed physics classes.
I was feeling the physics ignorance awhile back, so picked up a book that highlights and briefly explains 50 laws of physics.
Cool.
Same people also published similar books dealing with philosophy and other fields of study.
Smart Stuff for Dummies, in other words.
Perfect for me.
Besides the fact that it seems like a bunch of guys became famous in their fields for stating the obvious, I've found a lot of what I've read to be very interesting.
I came across a little bit of physics in-fighting the other day.
A genius version of Biggie vs. Tupac, Elton vs. Madonna, Axl Rose vs.... everyone.
Only.... for nerds.
Historical nerds.
Law # 1:
Copenhagen Interpretation:
Neils Bohr was hanging out in Denmark, partying with a bunch of scientists in a mansion donated by the Carslberg brewery folks; thinking deep thoughts and staying away from Nazis. He came up with the notion that an object is not fully formed, until you observe it, and that by observing it, you dictate the form it will take.
Light's both a particle AND a wave, for instance, but will adapt it's form to how the observer wishes to measure it.
If that's not enough, the ACT of observing alters what is being observed, because the act of observation "involves the transfer of some energy and momentum."
In coming up with this, he introduced a bit of philosophy into physics, which really cheesed off some of the other scientists.
(This happened decades before folks realized that you CAN mix chocolate and peanut butter, for the betterment of mankind.)
This theory caused a guy named Schrodinger to go all east coast vs. west coast on Bohr's ass.
In part to mock Bohr's Copenhagen Interpretation, which he thought was ridiculous, he came up with own.
A cat, in a closed box, may or may not have been poisoned, and may or may not be dead...
(Sidebar: Schrodinger had some serious issues...)
Schrodinger's Cat indicates that the only way to determine if the cat's alive or dead, is to open the box; but that the cat's obviously not both alive AND dead at the same time, waiting for us to peek inside and determine it's fate.
(Did I mention that it seems like a bunch of guys became famous in their fields for stating the obvious?)
He equates a possibly poisoned, possibly dead cat with light waves/particles.
This is what happens when brilliant nerds get bitchy.
Schrodinger, when not talking about torturing pets, left a trail of illegitimate children across europe and the UK.
Yep, this physics stuff is pretty fascinating.....
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Camo is the new black.
just got back from 3 days of fishing in Wisconsin. Things i've learned.....
1. Camo is the new black.
2. Sunburn's for people in a hurry. WIND burn takes way longer, but is just as unpleasant.
3. If the rain's blowing hard enough, you CAN actually get rain all the way into your ear canal.
4. You have fried fish on your menu? Really? It's tonite's special? what's your other specials? Other kinds of fried fish? Tough call... I'll go with the fried fish, I think. Oh, definitely want the fries with that....
5. OOPS. Sorry, I didn't see you there, what with all the camo and all. You blend right in.
6. Critters Sports advertises indoor archery range and full bar. All thisi time, I just assumed they were in the same room... I stand corrected.
7. I don't want to own a camo painted boat. I'd never find it.
8. Beer is so very cheap. and it goes great with fried fish.
9. leeches are nasty. Yeah, I didn't JUST learn this, but was reminded of it continually for three days. However, they're like...fried fish to the fish, so I endured it.
10. Pontoon boats and high wind and swift current do not go together nearly as well as...say.... fried fish and a 30oz mug of beer.....
Fishing wasslow, but steady. And the company was... AWESOME.
1. Camo is the new black.
2. Sunburn's for people in a hurry. WIND burn takes way longer, but is just as unpleasant.
3. If the rain's blowing hard enough, you CAN actually get rain all the way into your ear canal.
4. You have fried fish on your menu? Really? It's tonite's special? what's your other specials? Other kinds of fried fish? Tough call... I'll go with the fried fish, I think. Oh, definitely want the fries with that....
5. OOPS. Sorry, I didn't see you there, what with all the camo and all. You blend right in.
6. Critters Sports advertises indoor archery range and full bar. All thisi time, I just assumed they were in the same room... I stand corrected.
7. I don't want to own a camo painted boat. I'd never find it.
8. Beer is so very cheap. and it goes great with fried fish.
9. leeches are nasty. Yeah, I didn't JUST learn this, but was reminded of it continually for three days. However, they're like...fried fish to the fish, so I endured it.
10. Pontoon boats and high wind and swift current do not go together nearly as well as...say.... fried fish and a 30oz mug of beer.....
Fishing wasslow, but steady. And the company was... AWESOME.
Thursday, May 12, 2011
New adventures of a man and his dog
Wednesday, 7:15pm.
The man and his dog head out into the evening.
There were reports of bad weather in the area, but it had all missed the man's neighborhood thus far.
He looked to the western sky, and was not pleased.
But - he was not worried, either.
They began their route.
They had not yet traveled a full block, when the previously-light breeze turned into a wind. By the time they reached the school, the wind was really beginning to assert itself.
They turned west, into the wind, and kept going.
The sky that had not worried him, mere minutes before, was now quite ominous, and much, much closer.
The man mentally shook his head and grinned ruefully.
"Why the hell not?" he thought to himself as the weather continued to deteriorate at an alarming rate.
"This is how I roll."
But then an amazing thing happened.
He came upon a flowering tree, resplendent in tiny purple blooms. It smelled wonderful.
As the strong wind blew through the tree, it picked up thousands of tiny purple petals.
The man stood immediately downwind from the tree, and, grinning with awe and childlike delight, stretched his arms out wide as he stepped into a blizzard of tiny flowers.
He was sublimely happy, and made no effort to continue on their way.
The dog, a simpler creature perhaps, was not as impressed with the spectacle, and began to whine at the first flash of lightning and rumble of thunder .
The moment had passed.
"You make a good point." The man said to the dog, turning away from the tree and the flowers.
The headed across the field, the man's gaze turned downward to avoid the flying dust and dirt.
Their pace quickened as the wind began to howl, and the first splatters of rain struck them. They ran the last half block, and were inside before the rain began in earnest.
The man found his wife and daughter on the back porch, rocking gently on the porch swing as the storm became fully involved.
"You beat the storm!" The man's wife said with relief.
"Just barely." the man replied as he sat down next to them, and his big, brave dog slunk under the swing and laid down.
"But the coolest thing happened..."
The man and his dog head out into the evening.
There were reports of bad weather in the area, but it had all missed the man's neighborhood thus far.
He looked to the western sky, and was not pleased.
But - he was not worried, either.
They began their route.
They had not yet traveled a full block, when the previously-light breeze turned into a wind. By the time they reached the school, the wind was really beginning to assert itself.
They turned west, into the wind, and kept going.
The sky that had not worried him, mere minutes before, was now quite ominous, and much, much closer.
The man mentally shook his head and grinned ruefully.
"Why the hell not?" he thought to himself as the weather continued to deteriorate at an alarming rate.
"This is how I roll."
But then an amazing thing happened.
He came upon a flowering tree, resplendent in tiny purple blooms. It smelled wonderful.
As the strong wind blew through the tree, it picked up thousands of tiny purple petals.
The man stood immediately downwind from the tree, and, grinning with awe and childlike delight, stretched his arms out wide as he stepped into a blizzard of tiny flowers.
He was sublimely happy, and made no effort to continue on their way.
The dog, a simpler creature perhaps, was not as impressed with the spectacle, and began to whine at the first flash of lightning and rumble of thunder .
The moment had passed.
"You make a good point." The man said to the dog, turning away from the tree and the flowers.
The headed across the field, the man's gaze turned downward to avoid the flying dust and dirt.
Their pace quickened as the wind began to howl, and the first splatters of rain struck them. They ran the last half block, and were inside before the rain began in earnest.
The man found his wife and daughter on the back porch, rocking gently on the porch swing as the storm became fully involved.
"You beat the storm!" The man's wife said with relief.
"Just barely." the man replied as he sat down next to them, and his big, brave dog slunk under the swing and laid down.
"But the coolest thing happened..."
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