Howard Dean is smooth. Very smooth. Clinton smooth. I saw him today at the Tom Potter for Mayor rally. For some reason, I expected there to be tons of security guards and bodyguards and stuff, but when I least expected it - he came around the corner with Tom Potter, and only handful of local democrats. He was so unprotected (and the event was so unorganized) that I was getting kinda nervous.

He walked up the sidewalk towards me. I stayed within a few feet of him and kept snapping digital pics along the way, but this photo [above] was taken by an unnamed city official who grabbed my digital camera from me and unexpectedly took a photo for me. [The perspective of the photo makes me look like Andre the Giant just about to squash the Howard Dean Keebler Elf with my camera - which is on the wrong shoulder, no less]

Anyway, I ran up to him as the event ended for a sound bite. I wanted to yell something funny like, "I want my ten dollars back!" but decided that it'd be a poor attempt at humor.

I inched closer, and he kept watching me out of the corner of his eye. He saw me get my microhone - WITH THE BIG FOX LOGO - all ready for an interview. Dean was very good at watching me, and not making eye contact or engaging me in any way - very smooth. Eventually I blurted out, "Governor, you have time for a quick question?" He stopped, stood his ground and said, "Um...sure." I blurted out a question ("what will it take to win a battle ground state like Oregon?") and he instantly threw me a perfect soundbite. And, right after he had this look on his face that said, "here comes the smart-ass counter-question". But it didn't. I just said, "Thanks!" and he politely smiled and walked away.

Smooth.

But, right after that a big, creepy guy who was stuffed into an undersized blue dress shirt, said to me, "Reporting the phony news?" - which was is an oh-so-clever thing to say to a Fox cameraman. Usually I just shrug stuff like that off, but he kept following me and saying, "Shouldn't you be reporting the phony news?!" So, I finally broke my prime directive rule [do not engage zealots, neo-cons, anarchists, or anti-media liberals in any sort of debate] and had an eight minute conversation with him about the role of LOCAL media, and the differences we have from the NATIONAL Fox News Channel. How much did he understand, or listen to? Probably not much. And, I have the unnerving feeling that this guy is gonna come back to haunt me in some way (good thing I didn't give him my business card).

But, I don't really care. I got to meet Howard Dean - one smooth BAMF.

One of the largest independent comic book shops in the Northwest (of not, North America) closed down today. Here's a little retrospective of why I'll miss it:



The Collection Connection instantly became one of my favorite shops around because of the insanely huge back issue section. I don't have a lens wide enough to show the full room - it was that large.



The shop quickly won my heart when it passed my little test: back issues of the Elementals. They had the entire series and every spin-off.



And, there was a little section for all my favorites: Warren Ellis, Garth Ennis, and Alan Moore. How rad is was that?



*sigh*
Now there's one less comic shop for me to beg my reporters to let me go in. I'm still hoping that I win the lottery and go buy everything they have left.

fingers crossed.

My bitch friend Angelo just dropped me off at the Plaid Pantry by my apartment, and I was ready for some late-nite snacks. As I approached the door, the clerk was outside kickin' it with two homeless dudes - each on an opposite side of the door. These dudes looked like they were in bad shape.

So, as I'm getting myself some Aquafina and BBQ chips, I thought to myself, "Maybe those dudes want some Aquafina and BBQ chips too." I sauntered up to the counter with a bunch of chips and water, made my purchase, and then delivered the goods to the peeps outside.



The first homeless guy told me something about killing me and playing in my blood, so I didn't talk to him too much. The other guy, John, was really cool. He showed me a poster advertising some toga party in Cottage Grove next weekend, and said, "Doesn't this thing look like a good time, man?" I agreed it did. We had a quick bottled water toast, and I was about to walk away when...I saw the book.

Armor by John Steakley.

It has sort of a cult following (including this pseudo-blog) even though Steakley hasn't written published a word in well over a decade. I was all, "Dude! You have Armor!" He stopped his crazed rambling and went, "You read this book man?" and then threw me a quick quiz: "Who's your favorite characters, man?" I quickly responded, "The Engine" and he gets all excited and yells, "Felix!" (You had to have read it).

No one I know (but me) has read this book, and I've freaking loved it for the last ten or more years. John and I were talking about the book for a few minutes and I asked him if he read Steakley's other book Vampire$ (later made into a semi-retarded John Carpenter movie) and he said "No."



So, I ran a block to my apartment, ripped through a few boxes, grabbed the book, and ran back to the Plaid Pantry. I threw it down to John, and then we spent another thirty minutes talking about John Steakley - all the while, the homeless guy across the way was saying insane stuff about raping and killing invisible people.

John and I talked about where we imagined Steakley today (since he dropped off the face of the Earth). But, the real revelation came when John went into this long, and brilliant dissection of how the book ended and all the subtext beneath it. Clearly, he has more time to read (and re-read) it and construct all these vibrant ideas.

Eventually, I had to go home and watch the rest of the season of The L Word on Showtime on-demand. But, sometime next week I'm supposed to go back to the Plaid Pantry and get John's review of Vampire$. I can hardly wait.

[NOTE: I would've totally taken the guy's picture, but it was too awkward. It's really easy to throw a camera in someone's face at work, but it's somewhat harder to find an excuse for a homeless guy to pose for a photo with a sci-book without making the guy feel like he's my own personal circus midget.]

At yesterday's editorial meeting there was an obscure little news item about a lady who was bitten by a spider, and the venom ate away at her flesh - all the way to the bone. Well, you can imagine who's hands were up in the air for that one. Me and Wilson.

And, it didn't disappoint. We rolled up on this lady's apartment (after doing our daily sex offender vo/sot) and got ready for some scary arachnid action. We knock on the door and the first thing the lady shows us is her nasty disgusting wound. The spider venom has eaten away at her flesh and she had this hole, a little wider than a nickel, stuffed with a ton of gauze - yellow pus stained gauze.



She caught some spiders for us, and we spent the first half hour finding a way to get them from a clunky little tupperware jar to a clear mason jar (for filming purposes). Of course, after seeing her gory-too-close-to-her-crotch spider bite, we weren't taking any chances. Of course, I didn't really help - I just laughed and snapped photos.



We didn't get bitten, and I took the spiders with us back to the station. But, I was forbidden to take them into the newsroom (I accidentally lets some spiders loose in there last summer). All in all, a fine day's work.

I just got back from Las Vegas. It was a "no laptop" weekend, so no bloggin'. And, I'm not sure if I'm allowed to talk about 'what happens in Vegas.' I'm sure that Audio and Hasser will have plenty of Vegas posts in the next few days, and I'll probably decide to whip out some of my wild-ass photos. We'll see.

However, I do have two things for you:

1) We went to the Borg Adventure at the Las Vegas Hilton, and went crazy. I made a little photo essay for those of you who like Star Trek, or drunk people mocking Star Trek.

2) I learned a new word: "ZOUNDS".


It was on the video billboard at the Glitter Gulch. And, while I'm not exactly sure what it means (besides something about breasts), I'm using all the time now.

Something funny happened today:
I was at a press conference and I put a microphone on a person who was about to go speak in front of everyone. Well, people always forget that they're wearing microphones. So this person, and a lawyer ended up saying all kinds of crazy/mean stuff about all of the local media people that were there. So, I sat there gasping as they said stuff to each other (and the cops), and then passing it on to all the reporters standing next to me. Too much fun.

Random stuff:

Hasser made a video about our golf tournament adventure last month. There's a link to it in this post. [video link]

Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash = retarded. Maybe it's just me, but I think it's retarded. [cinescape article]

Not a day after I get all misty-eyed at not being able to liberate some poor robots from the uber-expensive toy store - I get a robot in the mail [or the robot 'underground railroad', if you will]. Today I got the long awaited purple robot - you might remember my series of brutal eBay battles for the very same model.

While thinking of some sort of photo I could take with my new bot, I glanced up and saw some of the interns in the news room - doing whatever interns do when they aren't following us around in the field. And, I decided to make a photo essay about tv interns, with my new robot in the starring role. [I was also instructed this would be less likely to get me in trouble than making fun of specific interns.]

Keep in mind: I am not mocking one specific intern, but rather an amalgimous intern-person. So, here goes...

Photo essay: Interns.

It all starts at the afternoon editorial meeting.



Eventually the interns, especially the ones who want to be "lens meat" will ride along with us for the day. Sometimes they ask too many questions. Oh..and they all want to be on TV.



They usually "watch and learn" as we conduct our work, but occasionally they like to get more involved - maybe too involved.





I didn't take any more photos past that one. Mainly because at that point in the evening I'm too busy to pay attention to the interns anymore - let alone take fake robot-pictures about them.

[I like interns and I think that it's a smart way to get experience while still in college. Usually we get a bunch of interns throughout the year, but only one (or maybe two) are ever really 'good interns'. Right now we have a good one. Melinda and I defined a good intern as one who: 1) works hard, 2) asks questions. We have a bunch of interns who do neither. Last year we had a guy who wore Hawaiian shirts all the time and watched TV all night with his feet propped up on the table. He's gonna go far, I think.]

Okay, I've lost focus. End of topic.


Special thanks to:
Orange. You know why. You rule. Thanks.

Saw several limited edition robots at the toy store today - none under $300.

I drew the short straw yesterday and was assigned to stay with the protestors (and non-wealthy Bush supporters) outside. Protester detail is sometimes fun - like when everything goes to hell with the police. I guess that sounds bad, but it's true. I'd rather be running for 15 blocks dodging riot cops and pepper spray, rather than have to sit there for 4 hours with smelly, anti-everything-even-slightly-corporate protesters. And, although they despise most large corporations they have no problem buying tons of cigarettes and tobacco.

With that in mind, I decided to remove all my corporate media logos. Since I work for a FOX affiliate, I get about 400x the hassle that any other field crew would.



I'm gonna get hassled anyway, but at least this cuts down on their reaction time - kinda like that stuff that hunters put on so deer don't know they're coming to shoot them.



This might've been going too far, but I removed the logo from my water bottle, as well. Can't protest what appears to be tap water, right?

Now that I'm all prepared, we arrive outside the (invite only) Bush rally, and walk up to the barricade to check stuff out. Here's what we saw:

Plenty of riot cops keeping things safe for Beaverton.



The anti-Bush protestors show up and mix with the Bush supporters. There's lots of repetitive drumming and people chanting opposing stuff at each other.



There were some clever anti-Bush signs. The pro-Bush people were friendly, but not very creative.



The two sides clash. There was a bit of yelling, but sometimes there was a touching little heart-to-heart conversation.
"I like freedom of speech."
"Oh my god! I like freedom of speech too!"



After my Dasani tap water ran out, I frequented the nearby kool-aid stand.



Eventually our hours of live news reports, and standing around listening people tell us, "what's really going on" was over. And, we rewarded ourselves with Molten Chocolate Cakes as Chili's.



All in a day's work.

Here is a quick shot of Leonardo DiCaprio trying to escape the crowd after his appearance at the Kerry for President pre-rally last night in Portland Waterfront Park. The PR people (and campaign volunteers) were terribly inexperienced, and didn't consider that the few hundred people would rush at Leonardo the second the event was over. Maybe they didn't see all the Titanic posters and glossy photos. Maybe they didn't see the two hundred non-volunteer-non-voting sixteen year-old girls that just happened to show up right before he did. I guess they didn't. So, Leonardo had to painfully tread through that crowd for several long minutes, all the while people were probably grabbing at his balls, as he tried to get to the getaway car.

Oh yeah, and John Kerry's daughter was there too.

####

By the time you read this, I'll be knee deep in all the local media coverage of the Bush and (at the same time) Kerry visits. I'm on anarchist protestor detail. So, all day I'm gonna have "Fuck you, corporate media whore" yelled at me. Must be Friday.

This is the first work-related photo I took with my new digital camera. [My other camera met its untimely demise in a lunchbox filled with coffee.]



I snapped this picture on Friday, while we were on a sorta-stakeout. Basically, a lady wouldn't return our calls or come out of her office, so we waited outside her work for her to leave - so we could get a picture of her (and possibly show it in slow motion). Using the internet, we got her license plates, found her truck, and waited for her to leave work. Is this overkill? I don't know anymore. i just hide behind the dumpster with my walkie-talkie.

Long story short: she didn't come out. I waited behind a strip mall dumpster-area for over an hour while my reporter sat at an outdoor pizza place pretending to enjoy reading the Oregonian. Eventually we were pulled off the story, and went and did one on kids and crack cocaine.

Seahawks Live
Since Portland doesn't have its own professional football team, we borrowed Seattle's for a day. Fox 12 covered the Seahawks scrimmage event with a one hour special, and I was one of the photogs - I shot all the feature-ish stuff. And, while the highlight of the day should've could've been the Sea Gals cheerleaders.



But, it ended up being Darby. He was this nice kid from the kids football training camp that was a SOUNDBITE MACHINE. He talked in perfect 5-10 second statements. So, right there on the spot, Angelo (the field producer) decided that Darby would be our junior reporter.



It was kinda odd that his father just let him run around with us for hours unsupervised, but the kid was too good not to put in the show. And even though I was wearing like fifteen different media credentials there were a few places I couldn't go. But, they couldn't turn us away with a little kid as the reporter. Pow!

Random stuff:
We haven't set an official date, but we're throwing another gore film festival this year - in December. Tons of drinking, gory short films, and loads of holiday cheer. I'll be launching the official film festival website, and starting up the PR machine at the end of the month. Start thinking about your holiday horror short films...

Saw this news story and I thought, "This is how SkyNet got started."

For those of you who missed Borat's country western song on Da Ali G Show last week - here it is [link].

My blogging productivity has dropped off recently - mainly because it's July sweeps, and my station takes it pretty seriously. But, also because I don't have a handy little digital camera to snap off shots from the field. Being a photographer, I'm big on visual aids, and I don't like posting without them.

I think I'm gonna go get a little camera today, but until then, I'll just write about some really-geeky-non-work-related stuff.

Here's goes:



I just completed my pre-order for Everquest 2 from EBGames. And, the dorks that order it early get a special bonus disc to start salivating over - and some special virtual items. I should just start an Everquest 2 blog with all the ranting I'll be doing about this game for the next 2 years.

When I started playing EQ over 4 years ago, I noticed a steady decline in the amount of personal projects I get done - that, and the cease-and-desist order from Russ Meyer all but squashed my blossoming screenwriting career. So, right now I'm getting into full gear on a number of things (TBA) because judging by all the rad stuff that's coming out this fall - you'll never hear from me again (unless you play EQ2, I guess).


Allow me to geek-out and give you the highlights:



Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
release date: 10.18.04
This game is the only reason that I haven't thrown out my PS2 - which I have no games for. I love to play GTA on my XBOX with a full Morrissey/Smiths custom soundtrack, and cruising the streets of South Central, bustin' caps in people's asses to This Charming Man will be nothing short of FABULOUS!




Halo 2
release date: 11/09/04
Just saying, "Halo 2" blows my mind. My eyes roll back in their sockets, and I make some weird zombie-needing-to-feed-on-brains chortling sound. I simply can't imagine how awesome this game is going to be. The LXD has had some pretty sophisticated Halo Lan parties over the last two years, and this game is going to help raise the bar on our viscous trash talk. Also, I love Xbox live. I get on that thing with my headset and lead my army of middle school teammates to victory in Castle Wolfenstein week after week, and on Halo 2 we will be unstoppable.




Dawn of the Dead DVD
release date: 10/26/04
When this fine film is released on DVD, I'll be watching it over and over again. You see: I have a thing for zombies, and this movie (and it's predecessor) are at the top of the list. I might take this out of my DVD player just long enough to watch a longer version of Lord of the Rings 3, but then it's going right back in the machine.

Off the list:
And, while I'm ushering in the new, I'll be getting rid of some of my other geek vices.

Star Wars Galaxies: Hated it at first. Grown to love it. But, I gotta cut the fat when it comes to my MMORPGs, and EQ2 wins. And, that space expansion might be too much for me. Let's have a moment of silence for Jodakai, the hard working space preacher from Tatooine.

City of Heroes: Instant fun in a MMORPG, and I love being a super hero. I'm gonna play the @#$%# out of this game until I have to quit for EQ2. It's so simple in design and gameplay that it should be on Xbox live. If you're on the Protector server watch out for our gang, The Anarchy Girls club - we'll fuck you up.


God damn, I am such a geek. Okay, I'm gonna stop now with the 'things I like' show-n-tell. Back to real blogging tomorrow.

*** SPOILER WARNING***

Firstly, I didn't expect the overwhelming email response I got from my (previous) Why I Hated the Village post. After taking everyone's comments and sorting it out, I have arrived at the following conclusions:

1. The visible boom mic(s) was the projectionist fault. And, stuff like that happens all the time.

2. The Village was screwed up all over Portland this weekend, not just at Lloyd Center.

3. It seemed that not one person didn't see the film's twist/ending a mile away. In retrospect, I thought it was cheating that there was a tombstone with the 1800's engraved on it, but initially I noticed that there weren't many - if any - other people buried in the cemetery (which led me to believe that it was sorta new). Also, I'm left with lingering questions about how many people came to the village before they raised all the dumb, puritan kids. Clearly the Elders had their kids after settling (and some of their kids had kids). But, there were other adults there that couldn't have been their offspring. Did they know about the monsters? Maybe they were brothers and sisters of the Elders/Founders? I think we need a companion guide to the movie, maybe with maps and family trees. And, eventually there's the topic if inbreeding...

4. I still liked it. Shyamalan makes good solid films - with remarkable casting and cinematography. Just because we can guess the ending of the movie doesn't make it bad, in my opinion. I think he's being held to an unfair standard because of his other, more hard-to-see-the-twist endings. Like Orson Welles with Citizen Kaine, Shyamalan is constantly measured by his first film. I think his body of work speaks for itself. But, I do agree that the marketing of the film was over-the-top, and thus disappointing.

And before I forget:
Nate pointed out that the plot had a strong resemblance to a children's book: Running out of Time

That is all.