Dave: The Series

Beantown deserted! Total lack of film at 11!

reverend_dave — Sun, 18 Dec 2005 20:51:28 GMT

So... the three days that I'll be in Boston, everyone I know there will be out of Boston?

I'm making my "sad and lonely" face now.

This post isn't overlong, this post won't overwow

reverend_dave — Mon, 28 Nov 2005 22:27:22 GMT

Has anyone on my f-list ever sold anything online that wasn't via Ebay? Especially something electronic and/or computer related? I'm thinking most specifically about Craigslist here, but I'd consider something else.

What I'd like to know is:
-How did you arrange for the buyer to see the item first?
-How did the buyer demonstrate that they had the money?
-Did you accept check, or insist on cash?
-Most importantly, how do I avoid sketchy people?

Thanks.

The Modern Lexicon

reverend_dave — Thu, 06 Oct 2005 23:14:58 GMT

That article that was linked all around LJ and on linguistic sites, about specialized words in foriegn languages, has got me thinking:

There should be a word to express the feeling you get when you were absolutely positive someone would put up a torrent of an episode you missed, and now you can't find it on any of your regular sites.

God put me on Earth to see a million faces, and rock them all. The rate I'm going, I may never die

reverend_dave — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 03:33:33 GMT

• So yeah, when you exist on LJ solely to haunt your friend's page and drop mad science in the comments and then forget to update your own page, it shouldn't be a surprise when you run across friends you haven't seen in a while and they're like "David! Are you still in Delaware?"

• Here's a revelation: had a job interview today with Showtime to be temp office help with the accounts promotion department. What that means is, helping the people whose job it is to promote Showtime movies and TV shows to awards groups - Emmys, SAG Awards, Writer's Guild Awards, Golden Globes, etc. - and festivals. They're in desperate need, and said they'd get back to me by Friday. Which is more than I can say for you, BAM Cinematek!

• Did I mention I took lots of pictures in San Francisco? Enough so that I can one day post a photographic guide to find the grave of Emperor Norton?

• It's one thing when you can give money to Katrina relief. It's even better when you can go to a benefit concert with four indie rock bands that normally you'd have to pay, what, about $80 to see individually? A (long and) happy night at Southpaw.

• While I'm here, hello to xtine, who probably has no inkling just how big her Wrens documentary project might become. I mean hell, Dig! made it all the way to Sundance, and that movie was about the Dandies.

• Serenity screenings Friday night: Joss Whedon is my master now. Who's interested?

reverend_dave — Sat, 30 Jul 2005 23:20:51 GMT

-Song Airlines utilizes a Barry White sound-alike recording to deliver the pre-flight safety instructions while smooove R&B plays. Awww yeah.

-On the flight to LA, I was sandwiched in between two burly frat-boy types who didn't know each other, yet both of them decided to deal with pre-flight anxiety in the same manner
Quoth the one on my right: "Me and my buddies drank a twelve pack in the airport parking lot"
Quoth the one on my left: "Man, I was hoping I'd sit next to some hot chick from California!" (said v. loudly)

-Was blessedly able to change to a seat with more leg room, where I sat next to an Orthodox Jewish kid who couldn't be older than 11. Believe I accidentally introduced him to Adult Swim via the built-in TVs (specifically, Robot Chicken and Harvey Birdman). Grateful not to receive the future therapy bills.

-Same young boy enlightened me as to a particular plot point in the ending of Harry Potter 6.

Frisco bound

reverend_dave — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 19:43:00 GMT

So, in a few days I'll be going to a family thing in California. Once that's over, I'll have a few days in San Francisco (namely Monday through early Thursday next week) to do touristy stuff. So:

What is there to do in San Francisco? Keep in mind I'll be with my mother and sister, so anything involving the words "leather", "bathhouse" or "painless implantation beneath the skin" are out. Also, do I know anyone there? In a friend-of-a-friend sort of way, even?

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Also, I may or may not be the only person here who watches the TV show Lost, but you don't have to know the show to giggle at the silliness of this: Britain's Channel 4 gets music video director David LaChapelle to film a promo for the show's UK premiere that contains no actual show footage, but rather the entire cast slow dancing and swooning around flaming wreckage to the tune of Portishead's "Numb". Laugh and laugh.

Flying the unexpected skies

reverend_dave — Sun, 24 Jul 2005 23:00:57 GMT

Has anyone ever flown standby because they had a loose schedule? What I mean is, I'll be joining my parents for a few days in California next week. I know what day I'm returning, and from where, but I don't need to return at any particulat time that day. So, is it true that I can save some money by flying standby on whatever plane has an empty seat that day? Has anyone ever done this, and should I expect to be given the rubber glove tratment by airline security?

On the home front, four red pimples have set up shop on my face like a half-assed constellation.

Also: I am now prepared to discuss the new Harry Potter book. Am v. disappointed that the Half-Blood Prince was not, despite all my carefully-laid analysis, Prince himself.

To celebrate my nation's birthday, I....

reverend_dave — Mon, 04 Jul 2005 01:39:33 GMT

...have absolutely no plans. How 'bout you all?

However, I have a job interview lined up this week of which won't speak just yet.

Why is meat on fire?

reverend_dave — Tue, 28 Jun 2005 03:22:40 GMT

Here's a cross-cultural train-wreck in progress:

My mother's cousin is visiting from Sweden with his wife and three kids. The children are 11, 8 and 7. The oldest, a boy, speaks enough English to talk to us. All three are still a little out of sync with the local clocks, and they've taken to flipping thorugh our cable channels late at night, looking for cartoons.

Smart boy already learned which channels are Nick, Disney and Cartoon Network. And now I'm faced with the possibility of explaining ATHF to a young Swede.

"Um, so this Dr. Weird lives in New Jersey--" No.

"He's got this gem in his back, and--" No.

"They solve mysteries, except, um, they suck and mostly they explode and play mean tricks on each other. And Carl."

Translate that into the six U.N. languages, whydontcha.

Classic PC - free to loving home

reverend_dave — Tue, 21 Jun 2005 18:06:07 GMT

So, while house cleaning, we found my first PC, about 12 years old. Anyone into classic computing?

20 Mb RAM (I think)
CD-Rom (the newest part on it)
3 1/2 floppy drive
5 1/4 floppy drive
Keyboard that pre-dates PS/2 connections

It works, but I think it lacks boot instructions.

Any takers?

picking your friend's nose

reverend_dave — Thu, 09 Jun 2005 01:49:13 GMT

I have got to start hanging with some sharper comedians. These Brooklyn International Film Festival types are great people, and we're all working hard, but it leaves so little time for them to admire my humor, dammit.

I went around all yesterday telling folks that I play in clubs under the name DJ Tanner, and not a single person called me on it.

Current mood: very loud cursing

reverend_dave — Fri, 13 May 2005 03:26:16 GMT

My favorite Bittorrent site just got nastygrammed by the MPAA. It's gone already.

Blerg.

In other, sexier news

reverend_dave — Thu, 05 May 2005 17:50:15 GMT

On May 20th, at an uptown skate park, girls will put on cute uniforms and skate around, knocking into and brutalizing each other. And it's for charity!

Anyone want to join me?

reverend_dave — Thu, 05 May 2005 17:18:07 GMT

Recent and upcoming trips by several friends have caused me to ponder my own job search. eidetekerroad-tripped down the Eastern U.S. to toast Joe's wedding, while tckma is even now planning to carve a wider swath westward. amalthya will leave in two months (?) for Africa, where she'll train chimpanzees how to come to America, and make good money as waiters, butlers and secret agents. But before she goes, I'll be at her party this weekend, and taking the opportunity to also drop by the Maryland Film Festival.

Now that volunteering for Tribeca is done, the job search will pick up again after the Maryland trip. And once again, I've promised the empty air that May will be a screenwriting month. Perhaps this time a blood oath will be needed to motivate my lazy ass.

tom_kiper was hospitable to me two days ago, when I was Forlorn In The City (tm). To say nothing of rosefox and sinboy, who opened up their home for Milk & Cookies & Reading & Matzah. Namaste.

I can't be the first person to imagine "Frank Miller's Sim City", can I?

reverend_dave — Fri, 01 Apr 2005 06:57:27 GMT

You mean this isn't a movie where people with green diamonds in their heads babble in an incoherent tongue? Screening CANCELLED.

No, I was always bad at April Fool's. Honestly, do I look like a trickster?

Tonight (Friday) - 9 PM - Sin City -- AMC Empire 25 -- buy your tickets ahead of time or risk shame.

"the old days, the bad days, the all or nothing days"

reverend_dave — Thu, 31 Mar 2005 05:31:29 GMT

Due to the overwhelming response to my suggestion (TWO PEOPLE commented!!!!!elevenone) I'm continuing my plan to go see Sin City with a large group.

The AMC Empire will have many, many screenings beginning April 1st, beginning at noon and running all the way until 1245 AM. The Chelsea Clearview will actually do a midnight screening tomorrow (Thursday) night, but I doubt that would have any takers.

Who's interested? Streak now or forever hold your piece.

New and shiny

reverend_dave — Sat, 26 Mar 2005 05:30:13 GMT

I don't know what Eideteker Laboratories is cooking in their underground compound, but there are fumes hovering overhead. And Dodongo hates smoke.
--------------------------------------------
Also, if I ever said a bad word about the people at Applecare, or speculated on the promiscuity of their mothers, I recant them. They took a three year old Powerbook with screen failures, about to expire out of warranty, and said "Well, we can't fix this, so we'll just have to send you a brand new Powerbook."

And so they have.
--------------------------------------------
SIN CITY (it just looks right in caps) is out April 1st. I want to see it on a large screen, with a large group. Who's down?

Edit: N@'s surprise is unrelated to Sin City. Probably. I mean, it'd be cool if it was related, but don't depend on it.

An immutable chain of events

reverend_dave — Sat, 19 Mar 2005 15:36:31 GMT

If I hadn't known this fellow soulchanger, I wouldn't have found out about Fiona Apple's third album, "Extraordinary Machine". It was actually completed in 2003, but her label decided they didn't hear "a single" from it, and has thus far refused to release it.

Well, the joke's on them, because it's out anyway.

And if I hadn't been shown the album, I wouldn't have followed other links from that page to discover another 2.6 Gb of MP3s, courtesy of the SXSW Music Festival. The torrent for the gargantuan musical 'splosion is over yonder. Those of you in Texas can thank Bram Cohen himself at his SXSW panel discussion.

20 GOTO Breach

reverend_dave — Tue, 08 Mar 2005 04:45:38 GMT

Tomorrow I make the fateful call to the Hamptons Int'l Film Fest and begin the job search all over again. And I might as well unpack, because between the things I brought from my Delaware apartment and left in boxes before the Israel trip, and the piling and shuffling I did for the trip itself, my room looks like a warehouse.

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Who's free Wednesday night? Want to see a depraved tale of child abuse and truckstop prostitution at the NY Underground Film Festival? It's a real date movie!

Sun, fun, and an early dawn border crossing

reverend_dave — Mon, 28 Feb 2005 08:46:08 GMT

Eilat is a southern Israeli city marvelously divorced from all historical references. No Crusaders settled here, no Roman streets buried under rubble, no miracles of the Bible happened within a 25 klik radius.

Nothing to do but sit poolside in the warmth, listening to the overwhelmingly Gallic tourist population chatter away in their ridiculous language.

Wednesday, my mother still insists we will cross the border into Jordan to see Petra, the ancient city of stone and more stones. One last "must see" before the 13-hour flight home. So if I drop of the radar on Thursday, scrape together a respectable ransom for the mujhaddin, willya?

It's costing me serious shekels to keep up with your lives, I want you to know

reverend_dave — Wed, 23 Feb 2005 22:04:33 GMT

I thought this was going to be the long entry, but my father's feeling under the weather -- He: "If I die, at least I can be buried in the Holy Land" Me: "Yeah, 'cause I'm not hauling your dead ass home." -- and I'll keep it short.

On my most extreme days, I'm a closet atheist. More often, I'm a lapsed Conservative Jew. I know what I should be doing, but rarely perform. Even so, when your tour guide says something like "We are now 300 feet away from the Center of the Temple, where the Ark of the Covenant was kept" I had an overwhelming urge to check if my fly was open.

Spiritually speaking, I suppose it is.

Phone Post

reverend_dave — Mon, 21 Feb 2005 21:47:26 GMT

reverend_dave — Fri, 18 Feb 2005 16:12:01 GMT

Every time I intend to update my own journal, I use up all my time at the Internet cafe reading all yours. We are all living in interesting times, apparently. Poor bastards we.

Only have a few moments before heading back to the hotel to shower and change for Sabbath dinner. So, the past few days have given me:

A variety of museums showcasing details of Israeli history which were completely unknown to me
A tour of one of the oldest continually inhabited cities on Earth.
A visit to deep, dank caves.
A night of drinking with Israeli cousins.
A 1:25 scale model of Israeli landmarks
AYCE sushi in Tel Aviv!
A jar of bee pollen

Here's a detail that will sometimes jar me: Armed guards at every tourist location. Israeli teens spend up to three years in mandatory government service (usually the Army), and even when they aren't out on maneuvers somewhere, they keep their guns handy. Also, since the infantry is open to men and women, this means there are Israeli women walking around in uniform, with semi-automatic weapons slung on their back like large cumbersome purses.

Women. In uniform. Armed.

Do I need to explain how hot that is?

PS: Postcards are away! Anyone else who wants one, holla!

Phone Post:

reverend_dave — Tue, 15 Feb 2005 18:48:25 GMT

Ain't nothin' but a Jew thang.

reverend_dave — Sun, 13 Feb 2005 19:39:31 GMT

Just about a half-hour away from the trip to JFK now. I still haven't done more then glance at the itinerary, so I only know that we arrive about noon Israeli time, which is 0500 NY time. Followed by a nap, and the first of many dinners with relatives.

I will take pictures, but probably can't post any of them until I return. But we're taking an Israeli cell phone with us, so phone posting is an option.

If anything happens to me, I bequeath my MP3 collection to eideteker. They are about 550 CD-R's worth. That is not a typo. They're in five CD holding books on the top-left shelf of the bookshelves in my room. Oh, and my actual CDs, too, they're in the garage. The all-world DVD player goes to lampbane, it's on the third floor of my house. You'll know it because it has it's own separate volume knob, and the S-Video output is goofy, so you'll have to use component-video. My G5 iMac goes to whoever finds it (I have cleverly hidden it in case we're burgled).

Anyone who wants a postcard from Da Holy Land, comment below. Comments will be screened, so post your address, even if you think I already know it.

See everyone March 5th!