The Blog

Sitting Here, Not Doing Anything

2009-02-08T01:14:00.003-05:00

So I figured I'd hammer out a quick blog post.

Saturday: nothing really accomplished, spent most of the day on twitter really. Got a change to go the Apple Store, bought myself a WesternDigital Harddrive, 320GB. That should keep me going for the next few years as far as Hard Drive space goes, unless they invent some new lossless file format that I suddenly really really feel like using. In other news, there is no other news. Class is going alright, life is chugging along, and the cold New York winter is leaving me.

I'm gonna try and get really intellectual with a few of my blog posts, and I'll put cross posting those to web.me.com/pilot3033 so...look out for that, I guess.

-Matt

Cross Posting

2009-02-05T12:37:00.000-05:00

I continue to maintain the iWeb blog at web.me.com/pilot3033 , But I will try to cross post everything to the blogger account.

-Matt

Blogger is Back

2009-01-22T12:29:00.003-05:00

I'm taking COM297D, Writing for Convergent media. Time to re-open the Blogger blog. I haven't updated .mac anyway :P

-Matt

More .mac Updates

2008-03-10T03:00:00.001-04:00

I've updated the .mac blog if you're interested.

http://web.mac.com/pilot3033

.mac

2008-01-26T14:56:00.000-05:00

I've added some pretty cool Brooklyn Pics to the web galleries, you should check them out at web.mac.com/pilot3033
You can look through the various blog posts for links, the seth posts have a couple, and I'll add some redundant ones to "beautiful brooklyn."

Post 100

2008-01-23T16:32:00.000-05:00

I hate to spend post 100 plugging my other blog, but what the hell?

http://www.web.mac.com/pilot3033

I've even added a huge long thoughtful (sort of) post, with more pictures!
-Matt

The Fancy Blog

2007-12-30T14:38:00.000-05:00

I've started using iWeb and iPhoto '08, and am doing some test blog posts on my .mac account.

You can check it all out at http://web.mac.com/pilot3033

-Matt

(Lots of photos!)

Its Fucking Cold

2007-12-05T21:29:00.000-05:00

Its a mere 30 outside, but it feels more like 0.

Wind Chill factor has much to do with this, but it sucks because I love walking around this neighborhood, especially when it has snowed, or is snowing (as it is currently, and when I was just outside).

Alas, no gain without pain as they say.

Who 'they' is remains to be seen, but 'they' seem to be spot on a fair amount of the time.

Snow Pics

2007-12-02T19:11:00.001-05:00

Snow

2007-12-02T13:45:00.000-05:00

Day 2 in December, and snow has fallen.
It took me a second this morning to make sure I wasn't still asleep, and that it was in fact freezing outside, evidenced by the layer of frozen raindrops.

It's going to be a fun fun winter, now that I've got my wool socks on.

A Bowl

2007-11-27T19:15:00.000-05:00

I was walking around Union Square today just for kicks (I was bored, I didn't have class, others did), enjoying the scenery, taking advantage of the seasonally warm (55 degrees) weather, working through my own thoughts etc. I was deep in thought somewhere near the Virgin Records store, contemplating going and browsing movies and music, (I want to pick up the new Foo Fighters CD) and decided to NOT go back to Whole Foods today. On a recent trip there, I figured out that healthy food is really rather expensive. I bought some turkey breast slices, pepper jack cheese, multi-grain bread, and some Fuji apples (which are probably what did it...this things are HUGE!). I had originally gone in to buy some Hazelnut Butter/Spread, but alas, could not find any. All in all though, I ended up dropping $35 at the place, but the food is really good, and I guess good for you if you like clichés.

That's my tea (coffee) cup next to the GIANT APPLE. They're the SAME SIZE!

In any case, as I was walking I heard an "excuse me!" but didn't bother turning around, as it was one of those attention grabbing ones, not the kind that lets you know you did something outside of a social norm, and I figured it belonged to someone else. Almost instantly though, I felt a tug at my jacket, and looked down to my left to see a girl about a third my height, in a sweater that either had a high school, or college name on it. I made brief eye contact and was greeted with, "do you know where I can find a bowl?"
This is where my Communications courses should come in, in that I should be able to explain the encounter more academically than "I just knew what she wanted", but alas, I can not. For those not yet with me, she wanted weed.
I mean,

She was young
Was in Union Square (near NYU, the New School, Pace, and a host of other Universities)
I have hair down below my shoulders
I was in a leather jacket

And of course all these things flew through my head in a split-second, but to be sure I just wasn't mis-hearing the girl, I asked "what?" "A bowl," she replied. Confirming to myself that she wanted pot, and I had none, nor knew where she could find some, started to walk way while saying "sorry man, can't help ya," or something to that effect. I don't quite remember (but yes, I did say 'man').

It kind of caught me off guard, the whole thing. I guess now that I think about it, I am walking around looking like a hip, young dude, with long hair, and I can see how one would think I would have, or know where to find grass. Most people, for that matter, would know, and probably do have Mary Jane, or at the very least look like it.

To the Lady Handing out Jesus Pamphlets to us Trick-or-Treaters...

2007-11-26T16:27:00.001-05:00

I ran across this story while reading the Craigslist "best of" section.Incredibly funny, well written, and enlightening. Click read more to read the story.

Excerpt:
I mean really, why would anyone think that on Halloween people are open to being converted into believing in some invisible sky fairy that magically grants wishes if you beg it hard enough and donate some of your money to its church? Do you not even understand the point? Again, thanks for nothing.

read more | digg story

Over the Hills and Through the Woods...

2007-11-22T11:38:00.000-05:00

... more like left on to the insterstate, and through the miles of nothingness... to Grandmother's house we go.

But alas, today is T-Day so I can deal; there will be plenty of pie. Pie makes things better.

Balmy 19 degrees outside, with light snow flurries...joy.

Yeah, I really just woke up, and not much to say, as not much happened. Just breakfast.

I'm just not sure if there is blog access where I'm going, so just being safe.

Anyway, here's what's playing on iTunes right now:

----------------
Now playing: Barenaked Ladies - Be My Yoko Ono (iTunes Originals Version)
via FoxyTunes

mmmm..PIE!
-Matt

South Dakota

2007-11-22T00:26:00.000-05:00

First day in South Dakota.
Not bad really, got a chance to see my uncle and my aunts.

But overall, not much to blog about.

Flight Day

2007-11-20T17:17:00.000-05:00

Sitting in the Newark Liberty International Airport, on my way to South Dakota for the wonderful, gluttonous holiday we call Thanksgiving. With 3 major airports in the NYC area, on top of busy regional airports to the west and north, and the fact that all 3 major airports pack it tighter than a can of sardines, its to be expected that we are delayed. With luck I'll make my connection to South Dakota, but it will be tight.. we're talking less than 20mins.

But I don't want to be too gloomy, I'll save my rant on the TSA (Thousands Standing Around) for later.

Instead, here is a link to an awesome Space Mountain enthusiast site.
They had some videos made up, recreating the entire ride in RCT3.
Very Awesome.

Testing mobile blogging.

2007-11-19T00:10:00.000-05:00

Just testing out mobile blogging so I can blog from the road.

Sent from iPhone

-Matt

Making Up for Things

2007-11-18T23:52:00.001-05:00

So I was in Boston this weekend, and it was a blast.

And I did fall behind on the blogging....

I'll do some extra posts to make up, and perhaps build a stockpile as I will be in South Dakota, and no telling when or if I'll be able to blog...

The Village Vanguard pt.2

2007-11-15T21:11:00.000-05:00

So I apparently need to write another Jazz review.

So off to the Vanguard!

Short Film

2007-11-14T23:41:00.000-05:00

For whatever psychological, subconscious reason, I continue to have difficulty in completing classwork in a timely manner. This is not to say that it does not get done, rather that I have emense difficulty getting it done over the entire period of time assinged to do it; in short: I do it during the proverbial 11th hour.

This is nothing new, by any means, but I have the feeling that getting good grades on papers done literally an hour before class time is re-enforcing the bad behavior.

The annoying part is that I fully recognize the problems, and the problem areas. I also recognize how I am doing things, and how I SHOULD be doing things. The disconnect is in the line that links the too. I have tried several different approaches to doing work in a timely manner, yet I never seem to quite get it right.

In any case, while recently procrastinating, I started to brainstorm about a paper I needed to write, and this lead to fantasy about film directing.
Well, it actually first lead to memory of stage play direction, and then lead into thoughts about great cinematography, and THEN led to the brainstorm about creating a really cool film as an experiment with the camera.

I've always loved great camera work, and I am a particular fan of the long take (Wells was a master of this, as evidenced by Citizen Kane, or Touch of Evil).

In any case, this brainstorm continues to pester me, and I'm considering investing in a small, but good DV camera to start shooting some shorts.

But first, I will glue myself to this fucking chair and get this paper done.

Other Life Notes:

Going to Boston on Friday
Going to South Dakota on Tuesday
Back in NYC on Saturday
Back in LA hopefully by the 20th of December
Major: Declaring Communications with a Film and Screen Studies minor, or a double major in Communications and Film and Screen Studies
I need to take a Science course next semester. I'm looking at Biology or Chemistry.

Trains, Planes and Automobiles.
-Matt

DRANO

2007-11-13T22:51:00.000-05:00

It works.

My shower drains were clogged before I used them, and I finally got around to clearing it out.
Glad I did.

Now...to get working on my paper....

maybe....
hopefully...

...

Pie

2007-11-12T22:30:00.000-05:00

I. Love. Pie.

I simply adore pie. Apple pie, blueberry pie, cherry pie, key lime pie, pecan pie, choclate pie, pear pie, cream pie, lemon meringue pie, all types of pie.

More importantly, I like the things I associate with pie: Autumn, Diner's, Cafés, Noir, Jazz, Coffee, friends, late nights...

It kind of sucks that I associate good times and socializing with food, but, there could be worse things.

The ~~Cake~~ Pie is a Lie

No Time

2007-11-11T20:29:00.000-05:00

Writing papers...would love to blog more in depth today, but must try and focus. I'm having tons of trouble actually starting the work.

Oh, going to Boston next weekend too.

Crossing Bridges

2007-11-10T23:59:00.000-05:00

I was walking just after dark, down to what is known around here as the “promenade.” While many may think of a shopping mall like atmosphere, this is in fact a large plaza here in Brooklyn, built hanging over the Brooklyn-Queen Expressway (BQE), and looks out over Lower Manhattan. And while you probably still don’t know what or where I’m talking about, if you have ever seen a low angle shot of the Twin Towers, or Lower Manhattan since then, it was most probably taken from the promenade.
I introduce the setting here, because I like to walk down there often, and let my mind wonder. On this particular evening, I walked the 2 blocks to the place and was instantly caught up in “what am I going to blog about tonight?” My thoughts quickly wondered into friendship, and self-doubt. That is to say, I started to feel lonely. I’ve never been good with making friends, and I certainly have had a world of trouble really clicking with the people around here. Not to say I’m isolated, I’ve met quite a few people, and have friendly interactions with many, but there are really only 1, maybe 2 people I can call a “friend”. I started thinking about fiends back in LA, who I wanted to see, people I’ve met over the years, and who has become a life-long friend, and who has become “someone I hung out with in High School?”
It was at this point in time I reached my destination and started to see the downtown skyline, the lights, the buildings, the bridges… part of me wanted to cry. I feel I have prefaced this point with the wrong thing. I wasn’t feeling this way because of my lack of friends (I’ll elaborate later), but I can’t quite specify what it was either. Perhaps the constant wind was causing my eyes to water, perhaps it was the beauty of downtown, the happiness I was feeling for just living in such a wonderful city, some other random reason, or perhaps a mixture of everything.

It sucks that you can’t bring your friends with you where ever you go. Even with the internet, and all the on demand communication methods, the picture sharing, the blogging, the podcasting, nothing replaces doing things with those you know, and sharing experiences. It’s interesting how you can know so much about a person, yet only have been with them in person 3 or 4 times.

I called this blog entry Crossing Bridges because I was going to talk about the different ways people cross the bridge from “We hang out” to “We’re friends”.
I just don’t think I’ve been able to fully develop the thoughts I wanted to lay out. I guess I just kind of have gotten home sick, and it is affecting me more than I thought. I’m not cut off from the world, far from it, but there is something that you just don’t get from video chatting or IMing.

One of these entries is going to be devoted to either politics or poetry, so look out for that.

Oh, and just to tidy up Chicago so I get it off my mind:
Bob played great, Amos is an awesome dude to hang around, already said I need to check out more Elvis Costello, while I’ve been out with people at 4 in the morning, I’ve never been standing outside of a hotel with 4 guys over 50, ordering a pizza, and having it delivered not to a room, not to the lobby, but to “5 guys on the bench in front of the hotel,” Chicago is an awesome city and I can’t wait to go back in March, and I overall had an awesome time. Even going out for steak at 1 in the morning on the morning of my flight back that was due to depart at 8… that morning….

WGA Strike

2007-11-10T00:26:00.000-05:00

I thought I would cover it a little bit. I'm wholly on the side of the WGA, and rather than giving a long and boring explanation, I thought I would show you this video I ran across: (plus, its a great use of Apple's Keynote software!)

The Village Vanguard

2007-11-09T23:18:00.000-05:00

I ended up in the Village last night for the jazz club. For $20 I suppose it was worth it, but I must say the set felt very lackluster and generic. I do enjoy jazz, and some of the musicians in the group last night were fucking fantastic, but overall I was underwhelmed.

On a separate note, I was super healthy yesterday, having a salad for lunch, and a vegetable platter for dinner. Time now, to just get committed to doing the sit ups (30 a day, and increasing every week). I did 15 last night before bed, so I'm hoping to do 45 tonight to make up.

Other notes: its raining again, I wrote some fantastic analysis for Citizen Kane but I think I trailed off too much, and hopefully I can re-write it for a better grade when it comes back as a B or B+ (as I did with my North by Northwest paper when ended up with an A when all was said and done).