ALF actor Dead

Who knows what his name was...but he's gone from us too. The wee actor who played the furry Gordon Chumway racist-ly renamed by us as ALF is gone from this planet. Which, by the way, press overlooked a massive opportunity to make puns here. Too busy with bigger names. I, for one, as a half-ass journalist (hahahaha) want to get things right NOT get things first.

This damn world is losing out so much on our pop icons. Reluctant as they may have been, we loved them. Which is why we'd go see them at a convention. The Hollywood Show attracts more celebs than you realize. Where else can you get Erika Eleniak with Joyce DeWitt in same room.

Anyways...I wish the best for all you out there living your dream like ALF did. Or the guy who played ALF. Whatever his name was. Oh shit...it may have been a lady. Fuck your fact checking. Whoo hoo!

2017 Odd Years

I'm not a fan of odd years. Don't ask why. Only that...they seem like a throwaway year. Which it seems a lot of people can use as 2016 seems tonhave rocked a bunch of people.

I guess with Trump as prez, a lot of whiners are dreading the new year and hating the previous one. Kinda sandwiched into it. I feel for people who don't look forward to anything. It sucks if all you have doesn't amount to a life worth living. SO, I implore all of you to set goals. Realistic or not, something to set your sights on. Something good that will make you feel better you lived to this age. Anything. Could be pretty girl you've been wanting to ask out. Or dropping weight. Or even eating a lobster dinner at the most expensive restaurant in your town. It helps to look forward to something.
Happy 2017...good luck to you all.

Debbie Reynolds R.I.P.

See what happens when you curse this year.
I still consider them luckier than us.
A great star who endured a lot. Royalty in the entertainment sense.

What can I say...? I love Debbie Reynolds because she was a sweetie. Lovely and classy even after heartache at the abandonment of Eddie Fisher. Did she die of heartbreak? I think so. It is real. Most people will dismiss it as hoi paloi.

Just live life to the fullest. Never give up.

Cursing 2016

You assholes who are doing this...
...stop.
First, it's not cool.
Second, you're next (say it in a creepy voice).

Cursing the year because deaths occurred is dumb. Because, quite honestly, I consider them the lucky ones. They don't have to worry about a ton of shit anymore. Least of all, listening to political strife and terrorism bullplop throughout our pitiful Earth.

Y'know, I use to shit on those people who whined about how we are killing ourselves. Truth is...we are. This beautiful place populated by people who want to kill each other. That's awful. Yet, we chalk it up to nature.

What is our nature if it isn't for self-preservation. You have it, I want it. Or I have it, you want it. So protect, protect, protect and fear of loss. I've experienced it. But have gotten much more philosophical. A lesson learned.

Then we just live to get on with dying. Or...here's an "or"...how about you assholes stop being petty and start doing shit.  Making shit. Stop complaining and barrel forward. Cursing 2016 is the surest way to do nothing in 2017. Instead, count the ones who are still in front of you. Think of it as The Oregon Trail. Those who died of dysentery, you must move forward or more will die.

Embrace 2017 and remember 2016 as the past full of the shitpants'd dead.

Carrie Fisher R.I.P.

When she went into ICU, everyone suspected something wrong. What will we find out. I'm not sure it matters.

I will say...I never saw Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia, as many did. I saw her as a brilliant writer. I know, I'm being a contrarian to go against her most legendary role. But I was always fascinated by what she was able to fix and write. For instance, she fixed a few lines for "The Last Action Hero." To me, that is amazing. The fact that she was the offspring of two legendary Hollywood stars was also amazing. She led a short BUT amazing life.

I'm so deeply saddened by this lost. Not but a few days after George Michael passed, we hear another great one go. She is great, in my book, for enduring the garbage of this business and still going with it. If I take anything from her life, it's that we can endure in the face of the ridiculousness which is entertainment.

I'm not going to leave with any weird "Star Wars" saying that stuck to her like stink. Instead, a special thank you for having the chutzpah to tell it like it is. No matter how painful.

The Death Of George Michael

When I found out he was gay, it wasn't that shocking. When I heard today...on Christmas, that he died...that one hurt. With Prince earlier this year,  Carrie Fisher in hospital and this...we're losing a lot of my generation's pop history.

I would say George Michael made a bigger impact than the others mentioned. Because David Fincher directed a style bending music video of "Freedom 90" A song that I've done as a karaoke staple.

I'm certain a lot of guys aren't going to mourn the death of a homosexual man. That's fine. Most young people won't even know who he is since he stopped making waves in culture. I would say he would be on the Mt.Vernon of 80's style.

Herbie Doesn't Like To Make Toys

Rankin/ Bass's "Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer" is pretty amazing. Anti-conformity and vanity message abound. These assholes assumed the Bumble wanted to kill them. In reality, he just had a tooth ache. Rudolph's shiny nose had a purpose after being mocked.
What can you take away from this holiday movie? Let's not be too hasty with people.

You think there's any Islamic movies that express the same? Maybe...please point me out to them. I'd like a crash course in religion.

I think the major lesson above all is, it's okay to be a misfit toy, you will find a purpose. Hopefully the purpose isn't to blow yourself up. I think most people forget that...even though you are a mis-matched toy, you have to discover the good in which you can do the community.

Jolly Soaring XMas, Guv'nor

The middle aged management guy shuffled into the dark room where I was doing a project. We chit chatted until the topic came up as to where he'd gone for the last two weeks. I noticed his absence simply because he is annoying when he is around. His return did have a slight change in his demeanor. Though small, something was different.

He shared with me the story of his father-in-law who was out riding his bicycle in a New York suburb when a car ran a light. In which it was too late for him to stop. He hit the car, and went head first into the pavement. Died instantly.
Tragic. And I sat there in shock. A death never sat well with me.
Though shocking it wasn't until I gathered all the details to observe to the casual nature of how he told the story. It was matter-of-fact. And...well... facts. He seemed not necessarily moved by the accident, but convincing himself this is what a man does to show strength. It wasn't just the nervous nature of the tale that hit me immediately, it was also the follow up. He went on to tell me how he has a terrible relationship with his own father. What seems like a hard mean self-centered guy who could care less he had a son. This upbringing conditions man to show no sympathy and have no empathy. That isn't human.

Father and son dynamics are fascinating. My Dad was the coolest. As you probably read. People who met him instantly liked him. The calmness of Buddhist. His own father was a stern unfriendly guy. Business man who failed a lot and let his frustration absorb my aunts and uncles. My Dad grew up fast but never without a happy-go-lucky philosopher. It frustrates my Mom, since she is a high-strung harpie like me.

What I'm getting at is this...you aren't tough if you can tell a tragic story without breaking down. We aren't trying to be robots who can't compute in our cores something awful to another living being doesn't effect us. I've now seen it more times than not, the silence of which men cannot express grief. And, well...that window has now closed. I'm not saying we are weak sad snowflakes that bitch and whine about tragedy. I'm saying allow yourself to be human for a split second. Perhaps that's what this dude at work was trying.

I feel we should learn to take the flaws of being thinking feeling beings. Instead of feeling as if that is wrong. Different times.

A Time Of Giving

"Hey man, you got a cigarette?" the bum sat in the alley, without shoes calling out to me. Dirty shirt. The sky looked like it was going to rain.

"I don't smoke" I spat out at him. I don't.

As I stopped off at the 7-11 to get my fried chicken wings. A twinge of something hit me.

"A pack of Marlboro mediums" I asked the attendant.

"Mediums?" she shrugged. And got a pack of Marlboros for me. It'd been so long, what I got weren't the brand I use to smoke many years ago. But whatever.

I walked back to my office. And passed the homeless man again. I handed him a pack of cigarettes. The look on his face was priceless. Like Natalie Wood when she found out there IS a Santa Claus. He was very thankful and I went on my way. What a great feeling.

Should I have bought him food? Or given him my chicken wings.

I think around this time, it's not giving people what they need, but it's giving them what they want.

Merry Christmas.

Terrorism At Christmas

A Russian Ambassador was gunned down.
A truck runs into a crowd of Christmas revelers and shoppers in Berlin.

You know what kept these animals at bay.

Movies with Chuck Norris and Ah-nold. And to a lesser extent, Van-Damme.

See, we're all not as bright as you think we are. So the invention of the internet sort of caused us to have more power than we think we have. I know no one reads my shit, but it's fun to post these rants. But, should anyone take me seriously, I've no recourse only to say...how dumb are you?

That said, terrorists are now using the same thing we use to watch porn, to recruit monsters. Monsters have no moral compass. So they rely on people to tell them to do things. Mental things. Things society would never consider. Unless, they are mentally ill and think these political anger angle works. Which is seems to do. Obama needs to stop with the repetitive forgive and forget. Because he's seriously looking like the biggest idiot on the planet.

Good will and all that doesn't work. In this world. Instead, this opens the flood gate to worse. And that's just really stupid. How many times do we need to go down this tragic well before it is finally acknowledged that certain people in this world are out to murder all of us.

Fuckin sad times during holidays.

Charlie Brown's Xmas

I'm watching this on a loop. Not sure why...only that it's pretty fuckin awesome, even as background noise.

I've seen it plenty of times, but somehow this year seemed much more poignant. Sad sack Vince Guaraldi music is classic. And makes shit feel better. THAT I can't explain. No one ever mentions that decades later this has been linked to Christmas. As much as the Anglo Xmas tunes. That's an accomplishment, considering most Xmas music is too modern. At least Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas" sounded like vintage Motown.

If you're my age, you tend to miss those Christmas specials with Kenny Rogers in some studio built log cabin singing his favorite Christmas songs.

Guaraldi most likely doesn't get the recogniton as you can't carol them without sounding like children. I miss carol'ers.

Boy, did I grow up in an idyllic world.

Merry Xmas Assholes

I hope you all get to see your family this holiday season. Warmest wishes to you all, and I pray for happiness and world peace.

No One Owes You Anything..

...and you're not required to do anything either.

I think once you get locked in with family and kids, all these sentiments get tossed away. Pride means nothing. Which is why, if you decide to get into movie business, the creative side, you have to come to terms with the idea...you may end up lonely and at the mercy of those who keep you afloat in this town.
Is it possible to juggle both? Yes. However, there is always a shakeup and uncertainty that you have to be okay with. The older you are, the less you may feel okay with. I work with 60 year old dudes who are cranky because of uncertainty.  In post production, which is suppose to be certain. They've grown tired and weary and tossed around to end up in something a little more secure. I'm in my 40's and end up here.
It's probably the same in most professions. Office politics constantly dictate the mood. Though, when you put together washed-up former dreamers, the results can be disastrous.

Let's be honest here, we're all desperately trying to get by with more happiet days than sad. Damage control or panic stabs us deep into that core of the happiet days. People may get married and have kids assuming to have better days away from the ones at work. Entirely possible. But, I think the odds tend to be that you tack on more stress.

I have a co-worker who is the complete opposite though. He'd got two kids and a wife and a house, same age as me, and I've not seen him worry much. Even though he's got money issues and job dissatisfaction. Maybe he just doesn't speak of it openly. Which, I guess wouldn't be all that professional. He goes with the flow.

But, the band still played on the deck of the Titanic. So....what can you do.

Alan Thicke R.I.P.

Fuck dude. Mr. Seaver died.
Don't know who he was?
Fuck you, dummies.
This guy (when not being a Canadian cornball) bang more young ass than a swinging door at a whorehouse. He nailed Heather Graham in her prime. Know that hot piece of ass on "Growing Pains" Joanna Kerns??..fuuuuck...she was too old for him.

Guy made a huge living being a sitcom actor and a singer. All while being...decent. aside from young ass, he was...normal. Not a surpriae from Canada, but damn....what a bummer. And here I am staring at my season 7 of "Growing Pains" dvd.

So unfair.

Why Do People Hate Jesus

The cool kids don't like Jesus Christ. As Christian teens desperately spread "The Word" through rock music or rap...forget it Jesus is square. But once a year...we do seem to dig Jesus...hos birthday.

Anyway, what bugs me is if any Jesus freak declared war on any other religion, people would be against that shit. Shut that fucker down. In fact may would blame Bible thumping weirdos. When, say the San Bernardino shooter claims Muslim, it's not cool to claim Islam is for shit.

All religion to me is shit. But if your religion is dopey, you don't get a pass. Keen on Jesus is lame. Keen on Allah is badass. I mean, in terms of the nerdiness of followers. We got Kirk Cameron, they got sweaty jewelry wearing Drakkar noir scented zealots. That's sexy..bahaha.

Jesus is cool with me.

Something Is Off

I was at the movies today and felt like I was about to have a stroke. The right side of my face went numb, my head rushed and I nearly vomited on myself. Not sure how I remained upright. But I'm worn out and tired. Know what the problem is? I sure don't. But something's not right. Doctor don't know what's wrong. I don't have the correct emotions. And I feel constant pain. And light headed. Ugh.

That is the state of health care folks. If they don't know...you have to nag them. I am still unsure why..but it stems from the neck and sinuses. Though tests showed nothing wrong. I considered thyroid. Nope. And now I'm forcing a film shoot. The thought makes me ill. Bah. Though I can't imagine my co-worker in his 60's suffering a hernia and requiring surgery. No one cares if you're younger than 50.

Silently suffering!

Strange Twist Of Fate

In an odd twist...management that use to oversee me is now...training under me. To be specific, a young manager who treats people douchey and is a company snitch is now shadowing me, in hopes of staying employed.

Times are rough for dailies. Essentially, it's a arms race. Each company attempts to underbid each other for the job. What ends up happening is that numbers don't add up. A deficit occurs and people STILL go broke. Promise of loyalty is different from loyalty. That said....a few things about being a mensch. A word I learned from my favorite movie of all time. Being a human means doing the right thing for others. Which is good for your soul. I decided after he is trained up, that I would take the night shift. Why the dreaded night shift? Because he has a wife and kid. Am I a martyr? Nope. Or a company man? Possibly. What it is...really, even though this dude annoyed the fuck out of me as management? Because it's the only way I know I'm human.

See, Hollywood is a town of animals. Cutthroat and sick. People believe you have to be in the mud to survive. Fuck that. You have to give light to those who live in darkness. Not in no biblical sense, only that without reward, I can still do a good thing. The remaining manager thinks me a boneheaded for doing something kind for someone who is not a kind person. To me, this doesn't change the dynamic, but maybe shows him not everyone in this world is despicable. Shakespearean in that sense.

We need to help each other survive this shit world. It's really hard already. We can't fight each other AND the grim hand of nature. Perhaps I am naive. But...if it meant doing something good for someone, it is its own reward.

Oakland Fire

The warehouse known as "The Ghost Ship" housed artists and...well...squatters. On that night, a rave was on the second floor. When the fire started...it seemed the only way out was the first floor. 33 confirmed dead...so far.

At first I thought "Good...filthy hippies." Then it occurred to me..the bay area is super expensive. These people had to live stacked because these fucking asshole landlords have jacked prices so high, it's not only poor people who live like this anymore. California...which one are you? They vote liberal but we're fighting money grubbing jerks. Which one is it? Can we be honest with ourselves?  For instance...be honest that Oakland doesn't welcome poor artist. JUST BE FUCKING HONEST. You don-t want artists in that town. Don't pretend you're progressive. You risk more idiots thinking California will help you.

Let me help some of you thinking about coming to Cali..."fuck off (unless you're already rich)"

Dakota Access Pipeline

Indians and water well wishers are blocking an oil pipeline that is at the edge of rolling through their land. The contracts are signed and work is being done. And this...like some oddball Hollywood movie.

You know what bugs me most about this? The concept that America will never fix the injustice of the indigenous people but...we all refuse to live less in regards to doing our part. What is the solution now? Leave and go back to our respective country leaving it all to Native Americans? Would that make them happy? Of course not. Seriously guys, as cynical as I am of the powers that be, we are still reaping the rewards of genocide. To that...you're all a bunch of fucking hypocrites. There is no way these sekf important folk would give up comforts. I mean, give them up forever. Nope...fuck that. You're scum like the rest of America regardless of you camping to stop oil piping.

What is the solution? Profit from it. Which is what this is about. Payoffs. And then what? Indian casinos and booze did worse damage than small pox blankets. And here we are again...the victors attempting to placate the dominated people. There's a reason for the loss. Are these really the people who know better? 

Black Santa

Does it really fucking matter? People are losing their damn minds over an imaginary guy. If your kids are bummed their Santa is Black, I would think you have bigger problems in life. Such as...who has the time to think of these things besides dummies?

"How do I explain why the Santa is Black?" How about the same way you would the drunk White one. "Santa can't be everwhere, dummy. Specifically, White Santa is too scared to stop off on Lenox Avenue." You figure it out based on how little you think of your kid.
Also..
Black Jesus? No one...and I mean NO ONE follows Jesus as the Black community. He SHOULD be Black. Black Jew like Yaphett Kotto or Sammy Davis Jr. Because that's uber-rare. And Jesus should be different and unique.

America Is Racist

When Trump won the election the Black population wasn't surprised. There was a "Saturday Night Live" skit that had Dave Chapelle and Chris Rock laugh at their white friends. As if America could ever change their racist mind. This is stupid beyond belief. America isn't racist. LIFE is racist. AMERICA is the only place that would listen to the whining. Because that is really the only population that realizes the hypocrisy of the imbalances. No other nation has taken this amount of effort in righting a wrong. Consider that...slaves made the pyramids. Don't you think this building base on turmoil and pain be destroyed as s reminder to the ancestors of those who suffered? Nope. I mean imagine if we set up gift shops at slave plantations and marveled at the fields. If anyone who should feel shame...it would be the Egyptians. Instead, America is saddled with guilt. So, these idiots from within constantly remind us we're oppressed people.
America is sick of being the escape goat. And the people who are politically fatigued did something about it. Even if it meant Trump. It meant telling you oversensitive snowflakes...life is going to get rough, so toughen up.

Britney Spears Birthday

Britney turned 35 years old. Aside from the fact that she is of U.S. presidential age, it also marks the 18th year since I was at A Band Apart (now disbanded) as a production assist on the "Sometimes" video. In 1999 there were some badass directors. Nigel Dick directed a a few of them. Now hidden away in some corner of Hollywood. He's a really cool dude. Nice guy who didn't speak down to us minions even though he was pretty much a rock star.

Call me a fag, I actually like Britney's earlier bubblegum shit. It makes me feel good. It's been a while since I listened to it, but I just spun through that whole album recently. Man...what a doll. People may criticize her shit, but it was somehow...different. Corny as the lyrics and music may be, it reminded me of time when I had huge dreams of wanting to direct music vids. But I was poor and not connected to a band. And I wa stuck in older blues and rock. The guys who made those vids hung out like rock stars. Britney...what can I tell you, except she gave you a boner. Not just because she had a sweet innocent look for debauchin' but because she seemed to not know that my cock...I mean...a cock could do damage to her. Male fantasy, without knowledge seems to amp that shit up. She was before the planes hitting the World Trade. ..if that gives you an idea of where we were. That pop doesn't fly today. Not are we happy and much more cynical.

I think a feminist would be confused at her now. Say, if she were just introduced in 2016. You know you couldn't blast her for her sexuality. But, since the new world is much more raw, she wouls be too tame for even girls today.

Britney...was the last of that sweet southern pecker perker. Girls now have too many tattoos and super angry. Which...maybe it will cycle around again. This resurgence of sex kitten or boy band will come again, history insists on it. By then, perhaps it will be interactive. I miss those days of...just having...a defined goal.