We gave our landlady a written confirmation that we are moving out in September. We did that at 1:30p.m. on the 1st, when we paid our rent. Yesterday, between the hours of 5 and 7, she showed the house to 10 different interested buyers, and we saw at least two more stop by the sign and jot down the number.

Clare had cleaned the place to a stellar extent. Even I was impressed when I walked in. She had also framed the posters from my previous shows and my certificate recognizing my proficiency in quarterstaff. The place looked clean, spacious, well-lit and homey. And it was then that I realized how much I am going to miss it.
(more…)

Last night, after almost a year of anticipation, I received a set of DVDs from my second workshop in Vegas. Naturally, I hastened to play the videos and see how I fared. I knew that I had passed and that many of my friends had heaped praise on my performances, but I wanted to see for myself. I did well. I say that with appropriate sincerity. If I thought I had been of higher or lower quality than simply above average (within my groups of peers) I would have said. I could use the boost. No. I did well.

As with the previous year, I will put the videos up on youtube so other people can put in their two cents. My enthusiasm made me show some of my co-workers my videos. They watched mainly to be supportive. These videos, I think, are not particularly impressive to “outsiders.” For one, they are filmed versions of theater fights, so they don’t seem particularly fast. For another, they are staged without much flair, just blank stages.
(more…)

In most science fiction to which I have been exposed, humanity is always the plucky little upstart. We are painted as a civilization whose resourcefulness and adaptability are our main strength. Meanwhile, the alien races are always far more advanced than us in one way or another, and we must borrow their technology to keep up. I find this notion a little strange, considering its dominance in the genre.

Rather, I tend to think that humanity might be the most advanced culture in the universe and that our first contact with alien species will be rather disappointing to us. We might be the ones lifting barely cognizent cultures from the muck. If anyone knows of a science fiction novel with this premise, I’d be interested in reading it.
(more…)

Teaser from Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog on Vimeo.

Stolen from Tim, who was given it rightfully by BB.

Tomorrow, I begin teaching a stage combat class for a bunch of strangers. Young strangers who will be semi-conscripted by their parents into something about which they have only vague notions. They will have been told about my credentials, perhaps, or to expect a fun summertime distraction which might give them some skills or inspiration useful in upcoming theatrical productions. While this is only a small step for me toward my greater goals, the responsibility is large.
(more…)

I have been trying not to view writing as a chore. I really do enjoy it. I have a hard time pulling myself away from other hobbies to do this, though, and writing at work is no easy task these days. Strangely, agencies always pick up in the summer. So, when the weather is conducive to being outside away from computers, clients always seem to want to work, but in winter when coding is not so much penalty as pastime, we end up sitting on our hands. But at least our hands are warm.
(more…)

I did not write today.
I deserve no forgiveness
and no shame.
I did not write today.
Another day less fettered
I will put thoughts into words into bytes into ether into eyes into thoughts.
I did not write today
and the world stayed the same.
I did not write today.
But I wanted to.

I don’t know what to say other than a staunch WTF? It does not appear to be a joke.

Last night was a good night for technology in my house. I put together the Hackintosh, which booted nicely and I set up the ol’ BIOS. I still need to test whether Leopard will work on it, but if nothing else, I will have an uber powerful PC for gaming and media. If it does work, I should be able to dual boot Mac OS and Windows onto two different hard drives, which is something I’ve been wanting since about 1998.
(more…)

If you haven’t heard or seen Mitchell and Webb, as they are difficult to get hold of here in the states, I recommend you rectify that situation forthwith. Perhaps with a viewing of what may be my favorite tiny sketch of theirs: Can people levitate? I’ve been listening to their radio show and watching clips of them on youtube for some time. BBC, please give us in the U.S. access to these guys in DVD form, won’t you?
(more…)