Three Automobile Racing Thoughts:

1) in motorsports, there is nothing better than a Formula 1 race in which rain interferes with a portion of the race. Yesterday was the Monaco Grand Prix, usually very much a processional race where there is no passing. Usually whomever makes it to the first corner of the first lap is the winner of the race, and the rest of the field follows suit, all in order.
But start the race in rain which continues for a good third of the race, and then continue through the rest of the race with a drying track but still with the threat of rain, and you've got a humdinger of a race. One of the better F1 races in recent years (at least in terms of keeping my attention).

2) I try to enjoy NASCAR. I really do. But 4 hours of driving around in a circle is just too boring. Yeah, it's close car to car action, and there's a lot of overtaking, but it's all rather unnecessary until the final 100 miles.

3) It's a shame that the Indianapolis 500 has become irrelevant. What will it take to get a good open-wheel series happening in North America? One that isn't comprised solely of oval-course racing? I long for the days of CHAMP car back in the early 90's. It was like the perfect amalgamation of the speed and excitement of F1 and the frequent-passing of NASCAR. Too bad they went and ruined it.

Three Automobile Racing Thoughts:

1) in motorsports, there is nothing better than a Formula 1 race in which rain interferes with a portion of the race. Yesterday was the Monaco Grand Prix, usually very much a processional race where there is no passing. Usually whomever makes it to the first corner of the first lap is the winner of the race, and the rest of the field follows suit, all in order.
But start the race in rain which continues for a good third of the race, and then continue through the rest of the race with a drying track but still with the threat of rain, and you've got a humdinger of a race. One of the better F1 races in recent years (at least in terms of keeping my attention).

2) I try to enjoy NASCAR. I really do. But 4 hours of driving around in a circle is just too boring. Yeah, it's close car to car action, and there's a lot of overtaking, but it's all rather unnecessary until the final 100 miles.

3) It's a shame that the Indianapolis 500 has become irrelevant. What will it take to get a good open-wheel series happening in North America? One that isn't comprised solely of oval-course racing? I long for the days of CHAMP car back in the early 90's. It was like the perfect amalgamation of the speed and excitement of F1 and the frequent-passing of NASCAR. Too bad they went and ruined it.

Don't Eat Your Desk

More funny stuff from the Onion News Network. If you're not watching the video segments from ONN, you're missing a lot of really funny things.


Diet Book Author Advocates New 'No Food Diet'

Don't Eat Your Desk

More funny stuff from the Onion News Network. If you're not watching the video segments from ONN, you're missing a lot of really funny things.


Diet Book Author Advocates New 'No Food Diet'

Send In le Bouffon

Today on my Facebook page, I saw a notice that Trilby Jeeves (one of the best names ever!) is holding a 2 day Buffoonery workshop, June 21-22 at The Kier Gallery.
This notice immediately brought back a wash of great memories for me because 20 years ago (that sounds like an impossibly long time ago to be talking about and not referencing my childhood) I and a bunch of theatre friends took a 2 day buffoonery workshop from Trilby. We did the workshop at the old Off Stage theatre (now City Cinema).

It was a fantastic workshop. I was never a fan of clowns (those blue-wigged, face-painted, big-shoed circus clowns) but was told that le bouffon was a different kind of clowning from that stereotype. Basically, buffoons love to entertain their audience by any means necessary. Buffoons are the ultimate approval-seekers. However, they usually fail in gaining the approval they seek through their own character flaws. That is where the entertainment comes from. I fell in love with this style of clowning, and am so glad I was shown it.

Anyway, the workshop was fantastic, and even now, 20 years later, I find myself utilizing techniques and ideas I was taught and discovered that weekend. it was one of the most valuable "acting" workshops I ever took.

It was also one of the most fun.

After the workshop was done, a group of us produced a few clown shows for kids (and grownups too) and had a blast doing them. Some of the most enjoyable performing I've ever done.

If you're an actor and you'd like to learn to be more comfortable on stage; to be better able to get to the "truth" of the characters you play; to have tons of fun and learn a new (old) performance style, you should take this workshop.

Reading the words above probably won't make anybody say "yeah, I gotta do this" (if anybody even still reads this blog), but know this: I don't endorse many things, and generally keep my opinions to myself, but the buffoon workshop was one of my favourite 'theatre' experiences and I heartily encourage anyone and everyone (actor or not) to take it.

You'll love it.

Send In le Bouffon

Today on my Facebook page, I saw a notice that Trilby Jeeves (one of the best names ever!) is holding a 2 day Buffoonery workshop, June 21-22 at The Kier Gallery.
This notice immediately brought back a wash of great memories for me because 20 years ago (that sounds like an impossibly long time ago to be talking about and not referencing my childhood) I and a bunch of theatre friends took a 2 day buffoonery workshop from Trilby. We did the workshop at the old Off Stage theatre (now City Cinema).

It was a fantastic workshop. I was never a fan of clowns (those blue-wigged, face-painted, big-shoed circus clowns) but was told that le bouffon was a different kind of clowning from that stereotype. Basically, buffoons love to entertain their audience by any means necessary. Buffoons are the ultimate approval-seekers. However, they usually fail in gaining the approval they seek through their own character flaws. That is where the entertainment comes from. I fell in love with this style of clowning, and am so glad I was shown it.

Anyway, the workshop was fantastic, and even now, 20 years later, I find myself utilizing techniques and ideas I was taught and discovered that weekend. it was one of the most valuable "acting" workshops I ever took.

It was also one of the most fun.

After the workshop was done, a group of us produced a few clown shows for kids (and grownups too) and had a blast doing them. Some of the most enjoyable performing I've ever done.

If you're an actor and you'd like to learn to be more comfortable on stage; to be better able to get to the "truth" of the characters you play; to have tons of fun and learn a new (old) performance style, you should take this workshop.

Reading the words above probably won't make anybody say "yeah, I gotta do this" (if anybody even still reads this blog), but know this: I don't endorse many things, and generally keep my opinions to myself, but the buffoon workshop was one of my favourite 'theatre' experiences and I heartily encourage anyone and everyone (actor or not) to take it.

You'll love it.

Thought For Tuesday May 13: If I Had Tits

I think, if I was a woman, and I had basically the same personality traits as I have now as a man, I'd be rather self-conscious of my breasts. I'm pretty sure I'd be one of those girls who hunch their shoulders forward to keep their bosoms from sticking out. Also, I'd be mortified anytime my nipple bumps would show through my clothing.

Yeah, I'd definitely be a hunch-shouldered sweater girl.

Thought For Tuesday May 13: If I Had Tits

I think, if I was a woman, and I had basically the same personality traits as I have now as a man, I'd be rather self-conscious of my breasts. I'm pretty sure I'd be one of those girls who hunch their shoulders forward to keep their bosoms from sticking out. Also, I'd be mortified anytime my nipple bumps would show through my clothing.

Yeah, I'd definitely be a hunch-shouldered sweater girl.

Manbabies

Is it creepy? Take a photo that contains a man and baby, swap their heads. Sounds not too creepy. But I think the results are generally creepy. And funny.

Check out some more at Manbabies

GET MORE AT ManBabies.com!

Manbabies

Is it creepy? Take a photo that contains a man and baby, swap their heads. Sounds not too creepy. But I think the results are generally creepy. And funny.

Check out some more at Manbabies

GET MORE AT ManBabies.com!

American Idol - Top 4

Theme: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Top 500 Rock and Roll Songs.

Two song performances per contestant.

David Cook sang "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "Baba O'Riley". An okay vocal performance on Wolf, but he looked liked he didn't care; like he was doing a sound check performance. Also, in his pre-song clip he talked about how he changed it (the song arrangement) up, but I didn't see any evidence of that. While he was singing it, I was wishing he'd have taken the song and turned it into a torch ballad or something. That might have been interesting. This performance wasn't. It was OK, but nothing more. His Baba O'Riley was much better, but again, there was an energy and excitement missing from behind his eyes. Also, I found the arrangement a bit off. It took too long to build through the first part, and then plateaued and spent too long at the same energy as he sang "teenage wasteland" over and over again. Maybe not the right song to try and interpret in the 2 minutes or whatever he has to sing.

Syesha Mercado sang "Proud Mary" and "A Change Is Gonna Come". My problem with Syesha isn't the way she looks. My problem is that when she sings, she never seems convincing enough in conveying the emotion she's portraying. She plays the emotion instead of feeling the emotion. In other words, I think she's not that good an actor. I felt that way with her Proud Mary performance. Good but somewhat dishonest. Her version of "Change" seemed honest and true, though, and while not the best vocal I've heard from her, it was her most powerful. Like Randy said, she did too much with the song, adding too much to it, and it would have been better if she remained truer to the original. Points off for that, but points on for emotions that appeared honest (during the song, I mean. The crying after the song was obviously an honest display.)


Jason Castro sang "I Shot the Sheriff" and "Hey Mr. Tambourine Man". Last night was the night when I became firmly convinced that Jason is a bit of a dim bulb. Previously, I'd been thinking it's just his laid back 'whatever comes' attitude that would sometimes come across as dimwit. But I think dimwit is the predominant character trait now. Sheriff was a terrible performance. Terrible. An awful arrangement, a lazy performance. I just didn't get it. Tambourine Man, despite the terrible faux pas of messing an entire verse of lyrics, was actually a pretty good Jason song. Like Syesha, I find he has trouble being "real" when he sings, and while he dipped in and out through the song, I thought he had some very good moments during the performance. It was just inconsistent, and when it wasn't good, it was bad. Jason Castro, I'm SO over you!! Omigod, I can't believe I liked you once! Squeal!! Gross!!

David Archuleta sang "Stand By Me" and "Love Me Tender". After weeks of middling, boring performances, David nailed both songs tonight. I can't decide if Stand By Me was the 2nd best performance of the night, or if Syesha's "Change" was, but there's no question that "Love Me Tender" was leaps and bounds better than anything else performed. Just when I was wondering whether David had entirely lost the spark he showed early on in the contest (before final 12), he came back big time this week. He's absolutely the hands-on favourite to win.

Aw, who am I kidding. Vocal talent has little to do with it anymore. It's personality and fan-base at this point. Great performances are important, but not as important as those cheek-dimples whenever Archuleta smiles.

Who leaves this week? I'd only be shocked if Archuleta gets booted. I'd be amazed if that happens. Castro deserves to leave, as I think he's the weakest (mind) of the four. But I'm ready for any of them other than Archuleta to leave. Who can predict the Idiotic Masses of America (tm)?

I'll say Castro leaves.

American Idol - Top 4

Theme: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Top 500 Rock and Roll Songs.

Two song performances per contestant.

David Cook sang "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "Baba O'Riley". An okay vocal performance on Wolf, but he looked liked he didn't care; like he was doing a sound check performance. Also, in his pre-song clip he talked about how he changed it (the song arrangement) up, but I didn't see any evidence of that. While he was singing it, I was wishing he'd have taken the song and turned it into a torch ballad or something. That might have been interesting. This performance wasn't. It was OK, but nothing more. His Baba O'Riley was much better, but again, there was an energy and excitement missing from behind his eyes. Also, I found the arrangement a bit off. It took too long to build through the first part, and then plateaued and spent too long at the same energy as he sang "teenage wasteland" over and over again. Maybe not the right song to try and interpret in the 2 minutes or whatever he has to sing.

Syesha Mercado sang "Proud Mary" and "A Change Is Gonna Come". My problem with Syesha isn't the way she looks. My problem is that when she sings, she never seems convincing enough in conveying the emotion she's portraying. She plays the emotion instead of feeling the emotion. In other words, I think she's not that good an actor. I felt that way with her Proud Mary performance. Good but somewhat dishonest. Her version of "Change" seemed honest and true, though, and while not the best vocal I've heard from her, it was her most powerful. Like Randy said, she did too much with the song, adding too much to it, and it would have been better if she remained truer to the original. Points off for that, but points on for emotions that appeared honest (during the song, I mean. The crying after the song was obviously an honest display.)


Jason Castro sang "I Shot the Sheriff" and "Hey Mr. Tambourine Man". Last night was the night when I became firmly convinced that Jason is a bit of a dim bulb. Previously, I'd been thinking it's just his laid back 'whatever comes' attitude that would sometimes come across as dimwit. But I think dimwit is the predominant character trait now. Sheriff was a terrible performance. Terrible. An awful arrangement, a lazy performance. I just didn't get it. Tambourine Man, despite the terrible faux pas of messing an entire verse of lyrics, was actually a pretty good Jason song. Like Syesha, I find he has trouble being "real" when he sings, and while he dipped in and out through the song, I thought he had some very good moments during the performance. It was just inconsistent, and when it wasn't good, it was bad. Jason Castro, I'm SO over you!! Omigod, I can't believe I liked you once! Squeal!! Gross!!

David Archuleta sang "Stand By Me" and "Love Me Tender". After weeks of middling, boring performances, David nailed both songs tonight. I can't decide if Stand By Me was the 2nd best performance of the night, or if Syesha's "Change" was, but there's no question that "Love Me Tender" was leaps and bounds better than anything else performed. Just when I was wondering whether David had entirely lost the spark he showed early on in the contest (before final 12), he came back big time this week. He's absolutely the hands-on favourite to win.

Aw, who am I kidding. Vocal talent has little to do with it anymore. It's personality and fan-base at this point. Great performances are important, but not as important as those cheek-dimples whenever Archuleta smiles.

Who leaves this week? I'd only be shocked if Archuleta gets booted. I'd be amazed if that happens. Castro deserves to leave, as I think he's the weakest (mind) of the four. But I'm ready for any of them other than Archuleta to leave. Who can predict the Idiotic Masses of America (tm)?

I'll say Castro leaves.

The Best Clock Radio Ever

Honestly. If you need a dual-alarm clock, this is the best clock radio you could ever own:

The Sony ICF-C180 Clock Radio with Auto Time Set.

What makes it so great? Let me tell you:
My wife and I, we're a two alarm type of morning crew. With previous dual alarm clock radios, it was always a bit of a guessing game as to what the two alarms were set for. Usually, one has to press a button or two to see what time one alarm is set for, and/or press another button to see what the other alarm is set for. With this clock, the alarm times are easy to read and always visible.
With previous clocks, setting an alarm at night usually consists of some type of finger dexterity, pressing one or two buttons, hoping in the dark they're the correct buttons. Is it set for AM or PM. Is the alarm even set at all?? Sometimes it's so hard to tell.

See those two orange sections at the bottom of the window in the picture? Each one indicates what time each alarm is set for, in big, bright (but not too bright, you can adjust) numbers. (If no alarm is set, you don't see the orange, it's just black, indicating no time is set).

To set each alarm is super easy. On each side of the clock is each alarm's dial. It's big and easy to operate. Advances in either time-direction (forwards or backwards), first advancing minute by minute, then advancing in ten-minute increments. Each alarm has it's own activation button. You can see them on the front of the clock in the picture. Press the left button and the orange comes on showing (in the picture) the 10am alarm. Press it again, and the orange is off, indicating no alarm is set. Same for the right alarm. Late at night, when the room is dark, it's never more than a glance to know if "your" alarm is set, when it's set for, and to change the time an alarm will go off if needed. It really is a wonderful setup.

Another perk: There's two buttons on the top (one for each alarm), where, if you press it, it switches to a "weekend alarm", which glows green instead of orange. This way, if you've got an habitual time to get up weekdays and one to get up on weekends (or whenever), you just press that button to switch between the weekday and weekend setting.

The snooze button is nice and big and easy to find with fumbling tired hands in the morning. The snooze is set for 10 minutes (took me a bit to get used to that after being used to years of 7 or 8 minute snoozes with other alarm clocks). If you press the snooze button twice, it will snooze for 20 minutes; three presses means a 30 minute snooze, etc.

There's a button to press to switch to and from Daylight Savings Time. You don't have to manually change the time twice a year, just press the button (not a big deal, but a nice little feature to enjoy twice a year).

In fact, with the internal lithium battery, you never have to reset the time. Even after power outages, your time and your alarms are maintained.

Yep.

I haven't bought many things online, but this is one of the few. And I'm totally happy with it. 100%.

The Best Clock Radio Ever

Honestly. If you need a dual-alarm clock, this is the best clock radio you could ever own:

The Sony ICF-C180 Clock Radio with Auto Time Set.

What makes it so great? Let me tell you:
My wife and I, we're a two alarm type of morning crew. With previous dual alarm clock radios, it was always a bit of a guessing game as to what the two alarms were set for. Usually, one has to press a button or two to see what time one alarm is set for, and/or press another button to see what the other alarm is set for. With this clock, the alarm times are easy to read and always visible.
With previous clocks, setting an alarm at night usually consists of some type of finger dexterity, pressing one or two buttons, hoping in the dark they're the correct buttons. Is it set for AM or PM. Is the alarm even set at all?? Sometimes it's so hard to tell.

See those two orange sections at the bottom of the window in the picture? Each one indicates what time each alarm is set for, in big, bright (but not too bright, you can adjust) numbers. (If no alarm is set, you don't see the orange, it's just black, indicating no time is set).

To set each alarm is super easy. On each side of the clock is each alarm's dial. It's big and easy to operate. Advances in either time-direction (forwards or backwards), first advancing minute by minute, then advancing in ten-minute increments. Each alarm has it's own activation button. You can see them on the front of the clock in the picture. Press the left button and the orange comes on showing (in the picture) the 10am alarm. Press it again, and the orange is off, indicating no alarm is set. Same for the right alarm. Late at night, when the room is dark, it's never more than a glance to know if "your" alarm is set, when it's set for, and to change the time an alarm will go off if needed. It really is a wonderful setup.

Another perk: There's two buttons on the top (one for each alarm), where, if you press it, it switches to a "weekend alarm", which glows green instead of orange. This way, if you've got an habitual time to get up weekdays and one to get up on weekends (or whenever), you just press that button to switch between the weekday and weekend setting.

The snooze button is nice and big and easy to find with fumbling tired hands in the morning. The snooze is set for 10 minutes (took me a bit to get used to that after being used to years of 7 or 8 minute snoozes with other alarm clocks). If you press the snooze button twice, it will snooze for 20 minutes; three presses means a 30 minute snooze, etc.

There's a button to press to switch to and from Daylight Savings Time. You don't have to manually change the time twice a year, just press the button (not a big deal, but a nice little feature to enjoy twice a year).

In fact, with the internal lithium battery, you never have to reset the time. Even after power outages, your time and your alarms are maintained.

Yep.

I haven't bought many things online, but this is one of the few. And I'm totally happy with it. 100%.

American Idol - "You're Out. Now Sing!"

No, this isn't a post about how unfair it is to make the person who just got booted out of the competition to sing one last song. This post is about how that one last song often turns out to be the performer's most emotionally honest performance.
Last night's final performance by Brooke was, of course, a mess as she sang through tears and snot and little walls tumbling inside her brain. Yet, there were aspects of it that made it a wonderfully touching performance, despite the wrong notes, the missed lyrics, etc.

If I was ever in a position to instruct the performers, I'd constantly be telling them "when you perform your song, you need to find a way to get to that emotional place you'd be in if you've just been booted off the show. Inform your performance with that emotion."

American Idol - "You're Out. Now Sing!"

No, this isn't a post about how unfair it is to make the person who just got booted out of the competition to sing one last song. This post is about how that one last song often turns out to be the performer's most emotionally honest performance.
Last night's final performance by Brooke was, of course, a mess as she sang through tears and snot and little walls tumbling inside her brain. Yet, there were aspects of it that made it a wonderfully touching performance, despite the wrong notes, the missed lyrics, etc.

If I was ever in a position to instruct the performers, I'd constantly be telling them "when you perform your song, you need to find a way to get to that emotional place you'd be in if you've just been booted off the show. Inform your performance with that emotion."

Ken MacCaull

I barely knew him, but he had one of those personalities that made you feel like you were among his best buds. Easy to talk to, easy to laugh. Genuinely friendly.

I first met Ken MacCaull when I did some voice-over work for the animated Eckhart tv-series in his Westmanor studio in Slemon Park. He was the guy who did the recording. He seemed to be very good at his job.
When I went there the first time to record, I was nervous already. The professionalism of everyone involved made me even more nervous because that professionalism implied "this is a real thing." (as opposed to the half-assed, low-budget, seat-of-your-pants projects I'd been used to up to that point in my life). Everyone involved was great at making the experience pleasant and enjoyable. Ken, though, was the guy who, by his very being and nature, made me feel the most comfortable.
I got the sense that he took a liking to me. I suspect that a lot of people felt like that around him.
I was flattered when he told me that I was good at what I do and very professional and easy to work with. Flattered because he seemed honest about it, and his opinion seemed to be to respect.

After Eckhart, I'd see him occasionally, in passing on a street, or something like that. He'd always take the time to catch up on what I was doing, and vice versa. The last couple of years, we'd been working in the same building, so these casual stop-and-talk meetings had become more frequent.

The last time I spoke with him, we were talking about how great it'd be to give it all up and just go traveling. He said that's what he hoped to do when he retired.

Ken died unexpectedly last month. I was sad to hear that. Even though we were by no means close, he made me feel like we were closer friends than we were.

This is a picture of Ken, taken from The Buzz website:

Ken MacCaull

I barely knew him, but he had one of those personalities that made you feel like you were among his best buds. Easy to talk to, easy to laugh. Genuinely friendly.

I first met Ken MacCaull when I did some voice-over work for the animated Eckhart tv-series in his Westmanor studio in Slemon Park. He was the guy who did the recording. He seemed to be very good at his job.
When I went there the first time to record, I was nervous already. The professionalism of everyone involved made me even more nervous because that professionalism implied "this is a real thing." (as opposed to the half-assed, low-budget, seat-of-your-pants projects I'd been used to up to that point in my life). Everyone involved was great at making the experience pleasant and enjoyable. Ken, though, was the guy who, by his very being and nature, made me feel the most comfortable.
I got the sense that he took a liking to me. I suspect that a lot of people felt like that around him.
I was flattered when he told me that I was good at what I do and very professional and easy to work with. Flattered because he seemed honest about it, and his opinion seemed to be to respect.

After Eckhart, I'd see him occasionally, in passing on a street, or something like that. He'd always take the time to catch up on what I was doing, and vice versa. The last couple of years, we'd been working in the same building, so these casual stop-and-talk meetings had become more frequent.

The last time I spoke with him, we were talking about how great it'd be to give it all up and just go traveling. He said that's what he hoped to do when he retired.

Ken died unexpectedly last month. I was sad to hear that. Even though we were by no means close, he made me feel like we were closer friends than we were.

This is a picture of Ken, taken from The Buzz website: