The Constant Gardener

Go see this movie. So powerful. After it was over, I just sat in my seat and watched the credits roll, a million thoughts running through my mind. Don't do too much research into it; just go see it. There will be plenty of time for research afterwards.

Happy 32nd anniversary to my parents!

I wanna be like Bill & Chuck

Even if you're not a sports fan, go check out this conversation at ESPN.com's Page 2. Bill Simmons (aka The Sports Guy) and Chuck Klosterman (Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs) exchanged e-mails for several days, and they cover a huge range of topics. The one to watch for in this segment covers the first third of the article, involving New Media, the value of pop culture, and the blog revolution. But the whole series is worth checking out.

I kind of aspire to be a hybrid of both of those guys. They manage to write like regular people, but they always have hysterical and/or intelligent insights into the little things of life that we all enjoy. Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs is one of the coolest books I've ever read...Klosterman is able to find meaning in The Real World, for Pete's sake. And it actually makes sense. And Bill Simmons makes me feel normal for being obsessed with sports, in part because there's about a million people out there who read him and feel the same way.

I suppose it's all about finding your voice. I'm able to express myself through my job (I'm an actor, so I tell stories for a living), but I've always been fascinated with the written word. So that's why I blog, I guess.

Thoughts? Tell me what you think of the Simmons/Klosterman conversation...

cranky connection

An on-location blog from my sleepy hamlet's library...free wireless internet! I wish I lived next door - then I wouldn't have to pay for access at all. My internet connection is on the fritz again...I've had so many computer difficulties living in that apartment. Another reason that I'm glad to move.

My beloved Steelers lost yesterday. I'll spare you all of my analysis of the game; I will say, however, that I wasn't as torn up as I normally am after a loss. That was probably because (a) they lost to the world champs, or (b) I got a free drink from the pretty bartender, or (c) I watched the game with a pretty girl. I actually can't decide.

happy birthday to me

It's my birthday. It's the first birthday in a while where I've been by myself (translation: without a girlfriend) and it's a bit strange, I must admit. Still, I've got a fun series of events lined up - BBQ for lunch, dinner with friends, drinks with the entire world at night. I had a party a couple of weeks ago, so technically I'm double dipping, but it's all good.

comings & goings

Going through a reshuffling period. Old relationships are exploding and/or disintegrating, and instead I seem to be meeting extremely wonderful people who I only get to spend a few days with.

I worry more about the old relationships. I readily admit that I like to be liked, and as a result of that it's always really difficult for me to completely sever ties with a person. It's hard even when I want to get rid of somebody. But I totally understand that you gotta do it sometimes, especially when you've been romantic with a person.

Meeting new people is really exciting, but I always kind of hate it when you have great conversation for four hours and then you leave, not knowing if you'll ever see that person again. One of my best friends told me that you should just be grateful for the experience, and be excited that you may randomly bump into one of these people again. I guess I'm a pack rat: if I like you, I want to keep you around forever. Is that weird? I don't think it is...

No Time

A couple of days ago, I came to the realization that I needed to schedule trips to the gym, because otherwise I was never going to get there, and I would lose all of the buffness that I worked so hard during the first part of the year to acquire. Sounds like a good plan, right?

But now I'm looking at my schedule, and I realize what the real reason is - I have no free time. With work and outside projects and saying good-bye to people and more work and birthday parties and football...it's crazy. And when I am free - usually weekend nights - the gym is closed. Go figure. I can't wait until I return to New York City, where half of the gyms are open 24 hours.

I just want three 2-hour blocks a week. That's all I'm asking for. And some apple pie. And a pony.

Leavin' on a midnight train

Let me clarify the reason why I referred y'all to this article in my last post. As a black man, I'm excited to see black celebrities come together and do something positive. Too many times rappers and actors and athletes stay on the sidelines...they've kind of taken Michael Jordan's famous statement - "Republicans buy sneakers, too" - to another level. So read the article, if you haven't already.

It's starting to hit me that I'm moving in eight weeks. It's the beginning of the end...some of my friends are leaving on Tuesday. I don't get down very often, but I'm going to be kind of sad when they take off. Not as sad as some significant others will be (because their ladies are leaving them behind), but sad enough.

The business I'm in involves lots of travel - I essentially lead a nomadic lifestyle. And while I love some aspects of it, I hate having to say good-bye to people every few months. That's probably the major thing I would change.

Oh yeah...I'd also up my salary by a couple hundred thousand dollars.

Overcoming together...

This encourages me. Glad to see my people coming together.

Party/Football

Birthday party on Sunday...you should come. It'll be fun, honest. I think the hot tub may be going, too. If you guys are good, maybe I'll post the exciting goings-on - who made out with whom, who wore underwear on their head, who got completely sloshed... Oh, the good times we will have.

The NFL season officially gets underway tonight. I've been a huge football fan since I was a wee lad, so I'm pretty fired up. When I was a kid, I used to refuse to answer phone calls when the Steelers were playing. I've gotten a bit more mature in my old age...now I just limit the phone calls to five minutes. (Of course, now that I've got DVR, I don't have to worry about that anymore...hmmmm...)

Kanye

We're past Labor Day, kids, so you know what that means...school's back in session. New hip-hop class posted later today or t'm'row, depending on how busy my evening becomes.

While I'm on the subject of hip-hop, there was a big article about Kanye West in last week's TIME (who has been in the news recently, in case you haven't noticed) that was essentially trumpeting him as a hip-hop revolutionary. As much as I like Kanye, he's basically just done two things:

(1) Gone back to the formula used by early '90s groups like Tribe; and

(2) Sprinkled in a healthy sense of humor, much like Eminem.

There's the secret, folks.

And, by the by, without commenting on what he actually said, don't you think it looked like he was completely freaked out on that telethon? Ultra nervous, stammering... It was almost like a comedy routine. And the look on Mike Myers's face...priceless.

Labor Day

Personally, I think it's nice that we celebrate the hard work we do all year long by not working.

Please help.

Donate to the Red Cross. Since our government appears to be completely and hopelessly inept, it's even more important that every individual helps. Give up drinking beer for a couple of nights, or eating out this week. Every bit helps - even $5.

And if, after reading this, you're not convinced, turn on your TV and just watch some of the coverage on CNN, or ABC. Read the coverage in the New York Times, or from the AP. Then re-read the first paragraph.

One more thing...read this editorial from yesterday's Times (free registration required). The press is coming out swinging.