Meet the Underdog: You

No matter how bad assed we are, there is always at least one person who will hate us. It is simply a matter of fact. No matter who you are, there will be that one person who can't wait to see you with a little egg on your face- or a lot of egg, as the case may be. Take for example, Oprah. Awesome lady, generous, successful, kind; still, plenty of people can't stand Oprah, for any variety of [stupid] reasons, I actually overheard one idiot whine, "the woman has too much money for people to like her", ostensibly, any political figure or celebrity is a target.

But before you go shedding a tear for Star Jones and Hillary Clinton and J Lo, realize this truth: we are- each of us, the ne'er-do-well of someone else's tale.

Each of us is 'that jerk' to some other person. And probably on a daily basis. For example, how many people do you think you pissed off while you sat furiously texting at the green light on the corner of Crescent Heights and Melrose? Or at the Chevron on PCH, trying to pay for that quilted Charmin with those pennies, nickels and one quarter from between the seats of your Sonata? If you now have a boyfriend or girlfriend that had a love interest at anytime before they met you, there is good potential that the person that they're no longer with (regardless of how it ended) isn't happy to see them with you. Target. And if you married that person or have become engaged, it especially goes for you. Not only do you have their man/woman but, you ain't givin' 'em back! Target! And any person holding any job can best believe that someone at work is planning/plotting/awaiting our demise or at least daydreaming of punching us in the nose/seeing us trip and fall (perhaps into an open elevator shaft)/watching us get fired- right now.

None of us are ever exempt. It doesn't matter how many people think we rule the world and rock the planet. There is, always has been and may always be some other nutherphlucker who would just as soon be quite rid of us. Our roles in life are, like art, subjective. And like art our relevance, is relative: No matter how great we try to be or believe we are- to somebody, each of us are 'that jerk' from accounting/the union/AT&T/the 405 southbound freeway this morning/yoga class/acting class/Ohio.

We've Got Plenty of Time!

We can do it together...

I feel that this is the most exciting presidential election of our time. It is certainly the most groundbreaking election year in American history. Clearly, I'm not the only one that feels this way. I cannot remember any time since I've been alive, neither any time before my birth when so many people felt so publicly passionate about their candidate. Sure, Mtv has encouraged voting and by extension celebrities have appeared in campaigns encouraging voting- but those campaigns were encouraging people to just get out and vote for someone, anyone! Never before, have I seen so many people actively advocating their candidate. Even among family members, who one elected to vote for was a question that if asked, one really didn't have to answer. It was acceptable to say, "I'd prefer to keep it to myself", until after the ballots were counted. Perhaps, we were all too ashamed to say which of the unsavory characters we punched the chad for- I had a feeling my candidate would lose. He was, in my opinion, the best of what was available. Though, in all honesty, I didn't feel any of the choices we've had in the last election years were what America needs.

I know what we have this year. An opportunity for change that improves and soothes, progress that we can see and feel and hope that yields it's promise. And while usually, I'm the first person to admit, I don't need a bandwagon to jump onto, it feels so good to see that I am not alone in my passion for the best candidate.
But you don't have to take my word for it...

Be Scandaloso.

My friend, Hadrian, lead singer of Scandoloso is performing this Saturday at Tangiers, in Silverlake. It's a cool little spot to hang out. Sweet, low-lit, low-key atmosphere. If you're around, snag yourself and your mates a little table in the back...

World Festival of Sacred Music | LA

This morning, I received the following message from my friend and favorite masseur in Los Angeles, Gustavo, about an event he recently attended.

This past weekend I spent the evening dancing to some of the most amazing, amazing sacred Brazilian music in a hillside house overlooking the ocean. This benefit gave me a small taste of what the WORLD FESTIVAL OF SACRED MUSIC is going to do for me from Sept 13-28th.

I think everybody I know should go to this event with 1,000 artists-40 events-16 days and in LA. If that is not enough the Dali Lama was said to have received a clear message from God that every three years there should be a sacred music festival to help heal the world. To get a little taste go to festivalofsacredmusic.org.

Bye my beautiful community of friends and family,

Gustavo

According to the mission statement of the official website, "The World Festival of Sacred Music is founded on the belief that sacred music has the ability to bring forth our shared human values of peace, understanding, and respect for all living things. The Festival is not a commercial venture, nor does it promote or endorse any political or religious agenda. Offering an alternative, community-oriented model to the corporate values that dominate the entertainment culture of Los Angeles, the Festival provides opportunities for people to come together and investigate issues of tolerance and diversity within our complex, urban environment."

But what to expect at the festival? The WFSM promises, "a sixteen-day celebration of the rich sacred music and movement traditions of the people of Los Angeles, with 40 events produced in 40 venues ranging from the city's major stages to intimate places of worship." Well, there are certainly no complaints here. It sounds promising. Furthermore, if Gustavo is impressed, it has got to be worthwhile; he is no stranger to the reported bliss of many music and spirituality fueled events. I think to impress someone who has experienced some of the great events of our time, like Burning Man, Coachella, etcetera, there must be more to see, do and experience than free goji berries, warm weather and beautiful people to make them fall in love.


For an idea of what may come in September, take a gander and a listen to this clip, courtesy of WFSM.

About WFSM: A largely volunteer effort, based on the intention to utilize the arts festival model to build genuine community cooperation and understanding, the World Festival of Sacred Music is presented by Foundation for World Arts and UCLA Center for Intercultural Performance.

Subscribe: info@festivalofsacredmusic.org

The Curse of Chinnery Strikes Again

Polling for Little Brown Fish

While discussing possible angles for a parody sketch, Patrick brought up the idea of our protagonist committing suicide by- get this: eating poop. I wrinkle my nose and snicker at the thought of an elegantly dressed man at formal table, silk napkin in lap with a nice glass of sancerre, fork and knife in hand to partake of a rich (and steaming), buttery log. I'm smiling but Patrick wonders why I'm not laughing hysterically until he figures that I, simpleton I am, don't know that one can die from eating ass kabobs. I jostle him, "No, you can't die from eating a turd". He swears I'm wrong so we do what comes naturally to two adults having a ridiculous conversation. We call my mom. At work. Without premise, I tell her that Patrick and I are having a debate and that we've called for her opinion on the matter. "I say no. Green and sideways," she retorts. Moms are amazing. With no information, she has still come up with the right answers...

We lay the question to her and she imparts her wisdom, "No. I don't think you can die from eating... some. Um. Uh, 'blind eels'. Eeeew and gross. But you're not gonna die." Patrick throws his head back and howls about how wrong we are. I suggest that we call his mom, in Massachusetts, too. He, of course, insists that I ask her, scoundrel that he is. I can't even say the word poop without laughing. I am even laughing as I type this..... p o o p. Hilarious!

You could have eaten a sandwich by the time I was able to get the question out through my laughter. After a few sniggles of her own and careful consideration, Mrs. T says, "Well, you'd get very, very sick. I think I heard/read that it can cause someone to go insane..." (Well, that is reason enough for me.) "But, we're just talking one serving, if you will, not a lengthy diet of bun fudge," I remind her. "No," she decides, "You wouldn't die".

Of course, if we really wanted answers, we'd go to google[y moogley] to get the straight dope but it is much more fun to ask everyone else what their off the cuff opinion is. So, without being a smarty pants and researching the matter: What do you think?

Raise Our Poll. Cast Your Vote.

Wind vs. Will

Ever since I can remember, nothing has been funnier to me than farting. I know I'm not alone. The more preposterous the situation, the funnier it is to me. That is to say, an audible blast emitted through the tails of a tuxedo is much funnier than say... a wicked grunt through a pair of khakis seated in the back of a Ford Explorer.

Of course, there are those who do their best to ignore the situation or (even worse) feign disgust. I do my best not to associate with those types because everyone who is anyone knows this simple truth: Farts are funny.

Cover Girl

Turn your speakers on and check out my virtual contact sheet from my latest photoshoot with Tomoko Matsushita in Los Angeles. See one you particularly like? Jot the numbers of that image down and drop me a note or a comment to say which one(s); I appreciate your feedback!

To Herr Is Human

10 Minutes

An Interview with My Favorite Actor: Jeremy Brett

They're Made Out of Clay...

They're Made Out of Meat

The Local Shop For Locals

Looking for a Boy

Dean Tavaloures Audition

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

While reading some article or another, I came across a reference to a personality test created by Jung and the evolution of similar test by other professionals in the same field. What?! Someone has created a test... just for me? And the answers are... all. about. ME? Of course, I had to give it a whirl...

For more information on what it is read the following excerpt from wikipedia:

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment is a psychometric questionnaire designed to identify certain psychological differences according to the typological theories of Carl Gustav Jung as published in his 1921 book Psychological Types (English edition, 1923).[1] The original developers of the personality inventory were Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers. They initially created the indicator during World War II, believing that a knowledge of personality preferences would help women who were entering the industrial workforce for the first time identify the sort of war-time jobs where they would be "most comfortable and effective".[2]

While some academic psychologists have criticized the MBTI instrument in research literature, claiming that it "lacks convincing validity data",[3][4][5] proponents and sellers of the test cite unblinded anecdotal predictions of individual behavior.[6] Moreover, the indicator has been found to meet or exceed the reliability of other psychological instruments.[7][8] Studies have found strong support for construct validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability, although variation was observed. [9][10]

The registered trademark rights to the terms Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and MBTI have been assigned from the publisher of the test, CPP, Inc., to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Trust.[11]

The definitive published source of reference on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is The Manual produced by CPP,[12] from which much of the information in this article is drawn, along with training materials from CPP and their European training partners, Oxford Psychologists Press. However, a popularized source of the model, with an original test, is published in David Keirsey's book Please Understand Me.

Want to take the test yourself? If you do, I'm interested in your results, if you care to share them. I've posted mine below; I'm an ENFP; follow the link for the short profile of my personality type. It is interesting, I have to admit.

ENFP - "Journalist". Uncanny sense of the motivations of others. Life is an exciting drama. 8.1% of total population.

Free Jung Personality Test (similar to Myers-Briggs/MBTI)