"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy."

...meaning: Hooray!!
Truly a great day for America, and for the world.



Hail to the Chief!!!

***********

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe."

....meaning: we ain't outta the woods yet!


**************




*******

Please visit and welcome powerhouse newcomer:

Hello all, long time no blog... could apologize for not keeping up with fresh journals, but then it would make more sense to lament not posting more new deviations. Perhaps at the 6th month mark, the all-purpose excuse of being a new father will wear thin... but for now, I'll keep milkin' that shit, thank you very much! To Hades with regret. One can only go forward.

That said, there are a gang of journal topics that I meant to indulge in 2008, still deserving of mention, if briefly:

1st whole year on DA: Seems like I flaked on a mushy retrospective back in November. So here's the short version -there are lots of online art communities sharing my creative interests, but this one stuck very easily. Yes, DA can be juvenile and flooded by animania at times, but I feel that is more than outweighed by the countless incredible talents and wonderful worldwide artists gathered here. I'm sticking around.

WTF Quantum of Solace? Did you even watch Casino Royale? Why did you kinda suck? Casino Royale re-invented one of my all time favorite film franchises, and made it ass-kickingly better. Who knew that Bond could survive after a total campiness amputation? So WTF QoS? Why did you go backwards into mediocrity, bimbos, and gratuitous explosions? No offense to Gemma and Olga, who are undeniably delicious, but the shitty script rendered everyone's formidable talent pretty damn disposable. Sorry, Mr.Craig, you tried. The editing made me feel like I was watching the film from the trunk of a speeding Aston Martin... I'd rather be in the driver's seat, w/ a clear view, and a few quiet moments to revel in the suede interior..

Barack Obama elected President! All other offenses asside, I forgive you 2008! I forgive you, America! Finally, some leadership to be PROUD of! Selfishly, I also prayed for the chance to tell my son that he was born the year that America elected it's first Black President. That's just too fuckin' cool. For the first time in ages, I feel hope for the future at large... for democracy to transcend it's innate weakness - the fact that majority rule means rule by the strongest, and not the smartest or most just.

Best book of the year: The Name of the Wind, by new writer Patrick Rothfuss. [link] First book, is he kidding? Reads more like the work of a seasoned fantasy genre veteran. If the first book I ever write turns out this awesome, I can die happier than Jennifer Connolly's gynecologist. Back to the book -Imagine a weary tavern owner in the ass-end of a nameless kingdom, his old sword retired to a plaque above the bar. None of his daily patrons have a clue, but he was once a genius wizard, and a consummate badass. 'Till one day, trouble comes a knockin', and a famous scribe 'chronicler' shows up w/ quill and parchment at the ready, and we get treated to one finely crafted telling. Echoes of Scheherezade. It is that good. that magical.

The transformative marathon that is daddyhood: had many anxieties before becoming a father. Aside from all the late nights, and all the worry, the only important thing of note is that it is a tremendous blessing. The kid is awesome and I'm totally goofy for him. [link]

New Year's eve got 'jacked! Bad weather + car trouble= staying at home watching Spielberg's Munich on New Year's Eve? Not advisable. Not very uplifting. Not ever again. Better luck next year.

So, time now to give it up for some awesome peeps that have helped make this first year on Deviant Art very fun and inspirational. Thank you all for your generous comments, and/or for continuing to share your wonderful art here:




Best in 2009!!!

It's happening...

x 4,000!!!
I knew these guys would get on CNN: [link]

I remember when "Run for the Fallen" was just a crazy idea in its infant stages, and now this thing is really rolling...
No words.


Not about political agendas. About honoring the fallen.

Here is another amazing video at the Painted Rocks, Fort Irwin CA: [link]
Other cool vids following that one; U-Haul makeover, Kamikaze Deer, etc... not to mention the faces of the fallen...

------

This stuff doesn't seem to be too popular w/ the DA audience, but It's important to me, so I gotta post...

----

Retrospective interview w/ Jon: [link]
(Cute interviewer!!)

Arlington photos: [link]

Closing remarks at Arlington: [link]

Well done Jon. It is accomplished!
Time now for my boys to wrangle all that footage into a documentary.

That's right. The new Indiana Jones movie DOES NOT SUCK. I think it's had some bad personal reviews recently from other deviants, so I feel compelled to add my Having grown up on the franchise, I am very relieved to not be so disappointed as I was with say... the latest Star Wars installments.

Without threat of spoilers, here were some highlights:

-Beyond the fantastical stuff, [it] created a masterfully detailed portrait (as most Jones flicks do) of a recent era- this time, the Cold War... with no subtle allusions to modern politics and fear-mongering. Ballsy. And respectable.
-Had some great sequences filmed in our backyard (almost)... Yale campus.
-LeBoef is abnormally tolerable. Manages excellent cast chemistry.
-Despite his age, Ford is in better shape than I am, by far. I swear he looked beefier than he was in Bladerunner.
-Kate Blanchett's character wasn't so asexual as I feared they might make her.

-Ray

Winstone!

Go see it.

'oright mate?

Cheers!
-------
For those who have, or who aren't concerned about Jones spoilage, check out this postcard I made for some friends.
Having just seen Crystal skull, the timing, and the fusion of themes has been rendered even more rewarding: [link]

This is a cool preview for a documentary that some friends of mine are working on: [link]

Basically, they'll be filming and documenting the 'Run for the Fallen' project, happening this summer 2008: [link] A team of runners, crossing the United States, starting in Fort Irwin CA, ending at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington DC, running 1 mile for every soldier fallen in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Again, Run for the Fallen has no political objective or mission. It's not flag waving, it's not flag burning. It is simply a vehicle for remembering and activating the memory of lost friends and family.

The cinematic end of this project has been gaining momentum, and I'm excited for everyone involved. There are so many good people and creative minds invested in the endeavor. I'm really anxious to see how it all plays out.

Aesthetically, I feel this new trailer is superior to the previous vid: [link] [link] (comes off a bit redneck, imo). Digging the new official cinematographer's skills. Film will be digital hi-def format. Some hotel stops planned, but w/ lots of camping and roughin' it. Quite an adventure! Can't wait till CNN and local news catches on!

Unfortunately, my wife and I will be busy manifesting our first child while the run is taking place, which makes it tough for me to lend my legs. I'm already a bit chaffed about missing the documentary producer's wedding, also taking place while the run is in full swing, and also overlapping my son's projected zero-ith birthday. But happy at least to contribute in other ways.

If you're up for it, please check out the links and/or website, [link]
Final event in DC Aug24th: [link]
Anyone can join up. Anyone can lend support.