Musings on Dance, Food, Geek Stuff
“Play the five tones.” I finally watched Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). I understand now why this film had such a profound cultural impact. Steven Spielberg’s grounded, realism based film making focusing on the human experience of “first contact” was so different from any other sci-fi made at the time. Richard Dreyfus plays…
One of my first jobs as a teen was as the designated McDLT cook at my local McDonalds. The McDLT was made on a special machine that had a bun toaster, a grill for the burgers, containers for the iceberg lettuce, tomato and onion, and hose-connected squirters for the mayo and ketchup. The whole thing…
A short video I made on the process of learning a new skill. I made this inspired by a session focused on executing the “power slide” on inline skates.
I finished watching “Star Trek Deep Space Nine” a few weeks ago, and I’m still reeling from the experience. As as sci-fi fan and Trekkie, “Deep Space Nine” (or DS9, as it’s often called) has been on my watch list for literally decades. But I never got around to it, intimidated by the seven seasons…
Bap bap bap bap-bap!Bap bap bap bap-bap!Hits us like thunderFrom a hundred drummersRocking the boardwalk. She’s decked out in a blue tee, green epaulets,blue lipstick, glitter on brown skin.Beats a fierce rhythm with her comrades.“I see you!” we shout.She points at us and drums a little louder. For a milli-second, we’re connected —Us to the…
Yesterday, Satise and I hiked around the Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, one of the many amazing local parks in the East Bay. It was such a lovely hike that included two amazing labyrinths. I knew it was going to be a great day when we encountered this sign welcoming us to the park: Robert Sibley…
This past Saturday was my first time going to the Coney Island Mermaid Parade as a spectator, not a participant. It was a very different experience, and a lot of fun. Particularly because I got to enjoy it with my partner Satise, as part of her first visit to NYC. It was so cool getting…
This is Jersey style rhythm skating, at the legendary Branch Brook roller rink in Newark, New Jersey. I was there on a regular Sunday adult night, and I’m still processing what I witnessed. Here’s why Jersey style is so ridiculous. First off, the music. Jersey is typically skated to house music. That’s fast tempo, four…
I’ve been playing around with the AI video generator Synthesia, and it’s pretty impressive. Designed for business applications, Synthesia offers a fairly easy-to-use interface that anyone who has used Powerpoint or Google Slides should understand. It offers a variety of pre-designed avatars of various ages, races, and body types as well as a number of…
“The labyrinth was designed by an intelligence we cannot fully understand. But this much I do know. The labyrinth is truly a tool for transformation. It is a crucible for change, a blueprint for the sacred meeting of psyche and soul, a field of light, a cosmic dance. It is a center for empowering ritual….