Vacation Accomplished

Tico Time Travel

This time tomorrow I will be enroute back down to Costa Rica for a little rewind, redux, reunion, or whatever you want to call it. The Alabama Joe's, Richard and I have coordinated a much needed vacation to Manuel Antonio on the Pacific side. Francisco will be tagging along with us as well. We are staying here, which is indisputably the nicest place on the beach. Manuel Antonio is widely believed to be the most desirable beach destination in Costa Rica. I may have to disagree there, Guanacaste is much more my speed. Manuel Antonio is very rainforesty, jungly, full of monkeys, iguanas and other slithering wildlife. The beach there is a protected national park so there are very few hotels or restaurants right on the water.

I'm looking forward to seeing my old haunts and re-connecting with the people I know there. I'm also looking forward to seeing Fransicso. He is beside himself excited about my coming back, I just hope my departure wont be nearly as difficult for him as it was last time. I thought he was going to tie himself to the wheel of the airplane in some sort of kamikaze avoid-the-inevitable, go out-with-a-bang, dont-leave-me-here kinda stunt.

Aussie Bound

Thanks to an airline error that's sure to get someone fired and Stratocade's impervious ability to locate and exploit these mishaps to the travelling public (namely me), we have snagged some biz class seats to Australia for next to nothing. Looks like 4 of us will be spending 12 days down under this Christmas with enough left over to REALLY enjoy ourselves.

Good-Frickin-Day Mate.

Another Golden Moment

I recently saw Rue Mclanahan here in In Austin at the Zach Scott theatre. She discussed her long career and gave anecdotes about her life in film, stage and TV. Having seen Bea Arthur’s one woman show a few years back, I have Betty White left to see now to complete my Golden Girls, gay, trifecta. It’s amazing how you pigeon hole actors in their most famous roles and expect them to act just like you remember them. Rue was much quieter, slower and subdued than I expected. I did not realize that she was first cast as Betty White’s character, Rose. The nit-witish lady from Minnesota. Betty White had already been chosen to play Blanche, the southern belle ‘whorish’ roomate. I think in the end it all worked out. Coming from Oklahoma, Rue was much more apt to speak convincingly in a southern accent and Betty pulled off her role as Rose effortlessly.

I heard a few people in the crowd mentioning how great that show was, and I agree. I can watch every single episode today and it doesn’t feel dated. It was the first real show that showcased a group of friends living platonically together. They tackled issues like drug use, homosexuality and religion before it was en vogue to do so. Something about those old ladies connected with a greater audience that remains the same today. Kids who weren’t even alive when the show originally aired watch faithfully now and adults like myself can’t help but to stop channel surfing when we hear that fab theme song.

Finger on the gay pulse

Ultra Nate's remake of an 80's classic.. complete with internet masterbation sequence and a live blow up doll. You know you wanna see it.

New Fav Home Accoutrement

I have a new favorite product in my house. It's Method's 'cut grass' air freshener. It reminds me of the mid-90's GAP unisex cologne 'Grass'. I loved that stuff so much that when I took some old clothes to Good Will a few years ago, I could still smell it on the shirts. To me there's really nothing more soothing than the smell of freshly cut grass. It reminds me of summer and always puts me in a good mood. You can buy this stuff at Target or anywhere else they sell Method products. They also have a candle in the same scent. Basically my house smells like a giant blade of grass, and I loooove it!

Other scents I think they should consider?

1. Freshly sticken match- love that smell.
2. Grocery Store Freezer- Open the door and inhale deeply.
3. Hint of Gas pump Fume- Deadly but delicious!
4. Cookin' Collard Greens- Only true southerners will appreciate it.
5. Puppy Smell- A cross between corn chips and fresh straw.

Suite Sensations

Those of you who know me know that Im a sucker for a good Hotel. 1000 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets, turndown service and down pillows make all the difference to me when it comes to spending the night elsewhere. In a last minute debacle I snagged a hot ticket to This Event in Washington last weekend and I called my personal travel concierge to make something happen. Lucky for me, my personal travel concierge was free and decided to accompany me, so off we were to DC for a fantastic weekend at my new favorite DC hotel, The Mayflower. It’s so totally your fabulous socialite grandmother’s hotel, but who doesn’t enjoy a nice wall sconce and paneling every once and a while, even if they are a bit dated and Miss Havershamish? We both snagged huge suites and I loved every minute I spent in it.

We decided to check out the Smithsonian’s newish Udvar-Hazy Center waaaaay out by Dulles Airport on Saturday. The drive was hell but the place was amazing.

I’d also like to thank THIS GUY for putting up with our social antics. He was a gracious tour guide and im glad to have finally met him.

Full Circle Moment

Our Roving billboard in Columbia SC today

I've been quiet recently because work has overtaken my life. We launched a huge campaign today and it's been great to see the many hours of brainstorming and late nights come to fruition. ED in 08 is real today! "Ed" was born in front of my eyes about 2 months ago and now he's visible through hundreds of thousands of dollars in online media that I've placed, along with millions of dollars in tv and print..all for the largest single issue-focused campaign initiative in campaigning history. 60 million dollars thanks to Bill and Melinda Gates and The Broad Foundation is going to go along way to help reshape Americans thoughts on education and energize a non-partisan constituency.

NY Times Article

http://www.edin08.com/

For those of you who don't have kids, get involved. One of the push button issues they are championing is year-round schooling. So think about your summer vacation sans screaming kids. Hows that for motivation?

Penis Power for the People!

Atlanta's Public Access TV presents....

Nappy Beheading

I wish minority groups in this country would stop looking for reasons to be offended and focus their energies on fixing the obvious problems within their own communities.

The black community continues to deliver mixed messages about hate speech. They seem to expect the rest of the world to adhere to their standards of acceptable speech but seem to do nothing to stop their own use of the very same words within their community and outward through the media and entertainment.

I feel the same way about the gay community. We often encourage altered-over-the-top gay behavior within our community walls, yet we get very upset when we are judged or stereotyped by those behaviors outside in the straight ‘world’.

You can’t have it both ways. If you’re offended by the word nigger, then stop using it, stop buying albums that contain that word and start acting within your community to put a kibosh on the use of it.

If you don’t want to be type cast as a drag queen or effeminate queer, then stop stuffing dollars down drag queen’s dresses at the gay bars and refrain from referring to your best friends as “girls”.

There’s nothing I hate more than a good old fashioned double standard; and minority groups are full of them. Pushing a political agenda during ‘opportune’ times is a pathetic kick-em-when-they’re-down strategy that shows serious lack of leadership and direction.

Im not offended by anything really. I learned long ago not to empower idiots who spew low-brow comments by getting upset over them. I refuse to help accomplish their mission.

LA Confidential

Britney Bites!

I'm a firm believer that only risk takers and those who think outside of the box really get ahead in this world. Recently I had some training at work on presentation delivery from a company called oratorio. In preparation for our class, we had to put together a presentation that we would be delivering for the purpose of a group critique. Mine started out as a joke... "How interactive media could save Britney spears"..but as I jumped into it, it took a turn for the better and I got serious. I delivered it to the class, and received great feedback.

So,I said why not.. dug around and found Britney's new publicist info and sent it to him. Not only did I get a call back, we are now negotiating a deal to implement and manage several of the ideas I presented.

The whole experience has reiterated several things to me:

1. Dont be afraid to use pink background and a half-naked starlet on the first slide of your presentation. You gotta play to your audience.
2. Oftentimes good ideas are born out of bad ones.
3. Go Big or go home! Media is all about creativity, ideation and out-of-the box thinking. Do it!

Caribbean Casablanca

I'm going to St. Maarten this summer with 8 friends. Even though the trip is 3-months away, Im so excited I cant stop looking at the incredible photos of the island. Cant wait to do it up french-carib style.

My Social Unconsciousness

I know it's no secret to anyone who knows anything about Austin, this town is full of environmentalists, conservationists, vegans, vegetarians, hemp lovers, pot smokers, tye-dye wearin, granola-lovin people. Im the only neighbor on the block who doesnt "compost" or faithfully put out my recycling bucket every Wednesday. I drive a German car with a big ass gas tank and I leave lights on all the time. Im a bad person who's killing our earth one paper-towel at a time.

When I came home today this note was stuck to my door. It's advertising a "gasoline free" lawn service. I was intrigued, so I called these guys. Sure enough they are "gasoline free"...what they don't mention on their flyer is that their prices are almost double the cost of any other reputable lawn service in town. You would think that not having to use gasoline would actually decrease the cost of the service. Evidently not. I guess it's like buying the organic produce at Whole foods..less pesticides should equal less cost. Not whatsoever!

The 'environmental/global' movement needs to regroup and rethink their pricing strategies. Wal-Mart has recently figured it out and has started opening healthy, good-earth, environmentally-conscious grocery stores similar to Whole Foods. In typical Wal Mart Fashion, their costs are 1/3. So i guess all the socially-aware millionaires running Whole Foods better take notice or they may have to sell off a few of their hybrid cards to help pay down the mortgage on their 'green' McMansions.

Costa Rica Remembered

It was exactly one year ago Today that I left for Costa Rica. I enjoyed a full circle moment last night as I hosted the divas from Dallas, Kerri Butler and her fabulous friend Megan, at my house. Kerri actually recruited me for the position in CR and it was her dynamo personality that enticed me to push all the forward through the process. I worked under her husband Scott and I’m really glad we all got to experience the ups and downs of Costa Rica together. Being the only Americans in the crowd we often leaned on each other for a much needed sense of normalcy.

We ate at Sandra Bullock’s new(ish) restaurant here in town, Bess Bistro. It wasn’t noteworthy, but certainly a decent meal. We shared stories of Costa Rica and got each other caught up with our present lives and probably shocked neighboring tables with our wine-enhanced topics of conversation. Thinking about Costa Rica, Kerri made an observation that she and her husband both felt like our departure form CR was premature and that they found themselves actually missing it sometimes. I definitely feel the same way. While living there had its (many) challenges, looking back on it, I realize what a unique and valuable learning experience it all was. I could have stood another 6-12 months of it.

I often think of Francisco and how I must have turned his life upside down. He experienced a whole new level of living through me and it left him just as fast as it came. I still hear from him periodically and he reiterates how much he misses “us”. I know that even if the adjustment period has been hard for him, I left him much better off than I found him.

I miss the little things. Grocery clerks fighting over me when I walk in the door because I tipped them 1 dollar. Not having to fill my own car up, the view across the Santa Ana Valley from my living room windows, Loreana washing and ironing my sheets EVERY other day, the beautiful beaches, rainforests and most importantly I miss the people I got to know there. In their own ways they left an imprint on me that I still carry to this day.

As my life in the states continues to change and move on, I know that the Costa Rica I experienced will always retain a special charm that I hope to revisit and relive again very soon.

LOMA does it well.

Today is my grandmother Loma’s 90th Birthday. She’s fabulous beyond words and I am glad that I got to spend the weekend with her and my extended family. We don’t all get together too often, but when we do, it’s always fun. Family is who you turn to when you need to remember who you are. They keep you grounded and always look at you at an even keel. There’s no pretension, no judgment, just an understanding that because you’re family, it's ok to be exactly who you are.

The Mac’s workin’ Loma’s 90th Birthday at Sea Island resort.

Redneckery

If white trash ever wants to know where heaven is, I've found it in Myrtle Beach SC this weekend.

Id like to personally thank all of the blue jean shorts wearin', achy breaky hairstyled, drunk, belligerant, NAS-hole, barefoot, bud lite'rs for a fantastic weekend up on the redneck rivera. I enjoyed every minute of it...really...I did....seriously...Ok..don't believe me.

Because I couldn't possibly make this up, I had to play fotog while I was there to prove it!

Evidentially, this is how they do it in Dixie..

Redneck mating call...

Just in case you ever need a minature liscence plate with your name on it

Racist T-shirts for the whole family

Nothing screams 'real man' like a sharks tooth necklace

Mystery Solved...dolphins are gay

Hot Rednecks on the prowl

Class-in-motion

Surfs Up.

A good friend of mine left recently to go live with and work for The Couch Surfing Project in New Zealand. If you've never heard about it, it's pretty cool. Its a website that connects travellers to local commuinities through free room and board (often a couch). The site is run by volunteers who live in 'collectives' around the world and spend several months donating their time to the cause (ie marketing, technical, customer service, etc). The collectives move locations every 6 months or so to a new fabulous global destination and anyone can join one. The projects 'big picture' mission is to connect people around the world. What it's done realistically is introduced a little more humanity on the internet. I love stuff like this.

www.couchsurfing.com

The New You

Ever wish you could be someone else?

Well now you can be.

Check out Second Life.

Millions of people are doing it and major companies are taking notice. It's already big..but on the verge of becomming HUGE!

Finger...meet Pulse!

Virtually yours.

Eyeque

Web Wars

Two significant lawsuits that affect web 2.0 (life as we know it) have recently come to light and are causing major commotion among professional web-mongers like myself. The beautiful thing about the internet is it almost limitless capacity to deliver content (sight and sound) to end users at lightening speed. While I strongly believe the benefits of accessibility FAR outweigh the negatives, we wouldn’t be in America if we didn’t harp on the dark side of things to cultivate our culture of fear.

Last month the Copyright Royalty Board at the suggestion of the RIAA (The greedy bastards suing 11 year olds for downloading music) released the Internet Music Royalty Schedule for 2006-2010. How is this significant? Until now, internet radio stations that stream music to your earphones have been paying reduced per-song royalty amounts for the music they stream online. This was deemed “acceptable” by the music industry insiders because the majority of the streaming stations are FREE and run negligible advertising. At the time internet radio’s popularity was uncertain and no one was getting filthily rich off of it. Now that iradio has gained momentum among the web population, the RIAA has decided that they deserve to get paid significantly more (110% by 2010) for every song that goes out over the internet. That equals more than most of these stations make in a year. Royalties this high will force iradio stations to start requiring users to pay to listen or simply shut down altogether (the ultimate goal of the RIAA). The scary thing is, this is not a distant future situation; stations could start shutting down in the next 60 days which would signify a significant step backwards in the content and deliverability we’ve come to expect on the web.

Similarly, Viacom Networks announced this week that they are joining a joint lawsuit against Google (the owners of YouTube) over copyrighted content that YouTube users have uploaded and viewed on the site. Google believes they are indemnified because their “users” uploaded the content, not them. Viacom believes that Google is responsible for policing their video content and want damages in upwards of 1.5 Billion dollars for copyright violations. I believe that Viacom is ignorant for not realizing that yanking thousands of less-than-10-minute video snippets off YouTube is only shooting themselves in the foot. More than once users have been “teased” by a show segment on YouTube and then gone and purchased the entire episode from a Viacom supported website or even better, purchased a DVD. YouTube was founded in 2005, and has been chocked full of copyright protected videos ever since. I just find it incredibly ironic that Vicacom (et all) waited to sue until they were bought by Google, a company that has redefined the term “deep pockets”.

I think this all could represent the beginning of the end of the explosive growth of information and free content on the web. Web users are going to get real tired of entering their credit card information on every site they come across, and more importantly, the folks bringing fresh new media ideas to us via the web will be dissuaded from doing so if large royalty/copyright dollars are attached. The web will become a pay-as-you-go experience that will attract limited users, see limited reach and foster limited growth. That’s my two cents anyway.