2 things:

1: It may seem that I was absent from my blog for a long time, and then, upon my return, I rudely asked for your servitude in my little project.

I realize now, that because of the longer post above it (with a similar title), it may have been easy to miss the preceding post (which offers a very polite and thoughtful transition to the demanding post). So if you felt slighted, I apologize.

2: Thanks for all your suggestions. Some of which are still in the running. However, I would like to turn this brainstorming session in a different direction. Forget about the slide shows. Instead think: "easy to associate" and "difficult to mix up". For example:

BlueAppleMusic.com (with a little blue apple logo).
There aren't a lot of synonyms or alternate spellings for "Blue" or "Apple" (both of which are common words). Plus it's an object with a unique (blue) characteristic.

"Music" is pretty good, but hopefully I would be able to get "BlueAppleRecords.com" too, in case someone was rooted in old-school understandings of distribution.

Also, be sure to post your suggestions in the comments so that creative synergy can flourish.

That 100 dollars is so close you can taste it!!!!!!

Call For Help (with reward)

It's a long story, but I have to start a music distribution company.

I'll give more details in the future. But right now I need a name for an online store that promotes and sells music for independent artists.

It needs to be a: ".com" name (not .tv or .org or .net)

It needs to be easy to remember (probably short is best).

People will be making customized slide shows on DVDs featuring their own pictures. Music that matches the theme of the pictures will be playing along. At the end of the show, there will be a picture of the Artist who's music was featured. It will invite the viewer to visit us online to learn more about the artist and get special offers on their music.

So if you saw a cool slide show, featuring your pictures (or the pictures of a friend or loved one) and you liked the music and wanted to know more....

What kind of website would you remember?

If you have a suggestion, and can confirm that its available, put it in the comments.

If I use your suggestion I will send you a check for $100 (not a joke)

Here's a place where you can check available domain names:

Attention: Please don't use Godaddy.com (long story), use this one insetad

www.networksolutions.com

Here's a place where you can get cool suggestions:
www.nameboy.com

**Please invite any of your creative friends to participate in the fun!

Quick Update: Call for Help

I apologize to everyone for general unavailability as of late.

Stock20 got an important contract with a pretty interesting company.

Securing that contract required lots of extra work (for the last 4 weeks),
and meeting deadlines will require lots more extra work (for two more weeks).
(see "Call for Help" post above if you wish to ease this burden)

Additional Complicating Factors:

This video had to be completed about a week ago, and required more work than I anticipated. But it was for my favorite (and only) video production client.

Still have to make music and stuff for Stock20's monthly releases. (Although I'm hiring other people to help with some of the songs now)

If you are interested, here are some of the recent songs that I have composed and produced.

Will and Isaac are both cutting their biggest teeth.
Isaac has had two double ear infections in the past month.
The last antibiotic led to relentless diarrhea and the worst diaper rash ever.

But... things seem to be getting better on that front.

Hoping to be human again soon...

best jack handy quote ever

“I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it.”

-saint jack of handy (via james bean e-mail)

I say put this kid in jail right now!

Could it be more clear that he is going to grow into a super-villain?




The mom is oblivious to the evil (maternal blindness), but the baby's sibling is obviously terrified.

so it's march now...

you may have noticed that februrary has ended.
And with it, my obligation to post 6 days per week.

As a consolation prize, I have updated the boys blog with some really cute footage of our trip to the circus.

advice #3: unreasonable reactions don't modify unreasonable behavior

the news commentator says it best...





For lent, I am giving up the practice of throwing stones at the heads of angry elephants (maybe it's a metaphor, maybe it isn't)

advice #2: finish first, celebrate later

Notice how the "new winner" fails to learn anything from the event which gives him a (less-than-ideal) reason to celebrate.

I'm glad I've never done anything stupid.

Also,

1) I don't know about you, but a big part of my spiritual upbringing has included a very scary event at the end of human history--

--various renderings of a massive room, where all of redeemed humanity would gather to watch every event of everyone's life (for judgment) on a massive movie screen.

Naturally, my frequent reflections on this event included only graphic portrayals those moments which I regretted most deeply, and those events which where horrifically embarrassing.

My only hope was that someone -- much worse would go before me and after me. And maybe my parents would have just slipped out to go to the bathroom.

2) Later on, I was exposed to a stream of theology that orchestrated apocalyptic events on a different time line.

Supposedly, God's justice would prevail on earth more incrementally, with humanity as his instruments.

3) So here we are now; on the brink of the rapture, world war 3, global warming, and many other civilazation-compromising possibilities...

And I can't help but notice that there are camera's everywhere, documenting every little mistake and posting them on a massive movie screen,

and every day all of humanity gathers to judge each little mistake...

what's next?

ps. send me $200 and I'll send you my "Armageddon survival guide road map".

Advice #1

1) Pick on someone your own size
*the soundtrack of this video is not intended for children

Strike First! Strike Hard! NO MERCY!

darn those cobras!

this little blast from the past is dedicated to my nephew Addison.

He's my brightest pupil in the Marshall Arts.

If he continues his dedication to the training I have given him, he may someday surpass the yellow belt earned by his Sensei through a week of free "karate-ministry" classes at my church.




Pay careful attention to the brilliant acting, amazing athleticism, and frequent outbursts of "your dead!". This is eighty's cinema at it's best.

PS. One day in junior high, my friend Jerry came up to me and said: "Look at this new move I made up." Jerry, you are so busted for ripping of the cobras and not giving them credit. I'd like you to come clean in the comments and see if you can remember what move it was. Remember, confession is good for the soul. You will never achieve your goals in karate if you carry around this guilt.

For the rest of you. Just remember: "You *ARE* the Best Around!"

Happy Birthday Vince!

vince and noel treated us to a john mayer concert last night. it was vince's birthday and we got the present.

the whole night was really fun, and the concert was amazing.

...but i was only thinking of you: my faithful blog reader.

I meticulously captured several seconds of this event so you could enjoy it in the pristine low resolution offered by my phone (and breathtaking audio).




ps. i guess stupid meredith woke up, oh well maybe she'll get a staff infection or something

head bonk

head bonk: a common rudd-boy demonstration of loyalty and affection

hit and run!

i finally figured out how to get video files off my phone and onto the net:

Isaac Blindsides Anna with a peck on the cheek,
then sprints to safety in the wake of her confusion.

quartet

if you are having a hard time finding something to laugh about today, spend some time with these guys. It is clearly contagious.

Information You Cannot Do Without!

I suggest memorizing this in its entirety, so you can work it into conversations whenever possible.






You'll never have to worry about sinusoidal depleneration again!

Lent: Part 1

From this morning's meditation at Sacred Space:

We are at the start of Lent, the time of the year when the church invites us to test our freedom, and to question the notion: I can take it or leave it alone.

Try that with grumbling, drunkenness, talking about yourself, stealing, gambling, or other habits that diminish our freedom. What habits make you hard to live with?

Lent is about regaining control of our own lives, especially in those areas that damage other people. We don't admire those whose appetites or habits lead them by the nose.

Nearly all of us have habits, or even addictions, that keep us from God, and harm both ourselves and others. These seven weeks before Easter help us to focus our energy on improving.

Life will never be as cool as the 80s again...

I sure miss George Constanza and his gang.

But do you remember THIS George Constanza?

Ready to Dance

andrea and i are going to a wedding reception tommorow night.

i've been rehearsing my (already brilliant) dance moves all week.

Here's my main source of inspiration:

moral of the story?
When you REALLY REALLY love something, it's the only thing you really want.



..


...


....


So what do I want for Valentines day?

Just my valentine...

Andrea, you really are the best thing that's happened to me, and you get better all the time.

Double Feature

Today I bring you a Haiku, and a video:

pig lips meet my lips
pig stomach meets my stomach
hotdog, a meeting of meat

(author unkown, via Ze Frank)

and the unrelated video: