Killer Karaoke

Keeeping up with the Chronicles of Jersey, I found this story on NPR about the Karaoke King of Jersey and his new book about murder and singing your favorite hits off key. Read about him in the Philadelphia Inquirer, or hear a story about his new book on Weekend Edition.

The Fall - New Schedules, New Lives, and a New Episode

Is it the Fall yet? Technically no, but your school doesn't seem to care. Just as you're starting to get used to the idea that life only consists of getting up at noon, eating a cookie for breakfast, and heading straight for the pool, those evil doers entrenched in the field of education say nay to your fun. It's time to cram that spongy brain of yours with info (whether it's useless or not - I won't cover that argument).

As for this yellowkid, I'll continue teaching, but I also have a new hat. Design Student. This week I attempted to mix in with fresh-eyed 18-year-olds and the occasional 30-50 something trying their hands at a much desired career change.

In Japan, I could only imagine myself as an English teacher. Drawing, comics, web,... all of that was lumped under the heading, 'hobbies' that I enjoyed in my own time and away from the general public. When I stepped out of my house, evey one who knew me referred to me as 先生 (sensei). I don't even think they knew my name.

Coming back to the States opened up what a certain Disney Aladdin said to be a, 'whole new world' (everyone... wait for the chorus... now sing it!).

Speaking of Japan, EPISODE 14 is up. In this comic, we explore some of these issues of wanting something new and exciting, but feeling... STUCK.

The Writer's League Brings The Justice League

in a rare event the writer's league of texas (no, i'm not a member.... yet) invited Paul Benjamin (Pantheon High), Scott Kolins The Flash, The Avengers, Green Lantern, Superman-Batman, Wonder Woman, Marvel Team-Up, Thor, and Omega Flight), Alan Porter (God Shop), Tony Salvaggio (Psy-Comm), and Matt Sturges (Jack of Fables)to give an insider's look into the world of sequential art and publishing. what a great chance it was to hobnob with established talent as well as local artist and writers. not to mention these guys were full of advice.

1. getting an idea published could take years.

2. writers - please be kind to your artists and write appropriately for the medium. you guys who know who you are thinking the artist can interpret all of that mishmash nonsense.

(read more)

Bringing Bollywood to Jersey

Continuing with the Chronicles of Jersey, NPR had a brief report on the push of an Indian firm to acquire over 200 theaters in the States (including a large number in the Indian American community of Central Jersey).

ONE UPism

with all this talk of the olympics, phelps, the juggaknot chinese team, and medal counts, thoughts of competition has crept into my daily conversations. (note: the recent discussion among my fellow teachers about competitive monopoly and ultra laser tag.) most of these things i've never felt the need to join in on, nor have i had the burning desire to beat my advisaries into the ground buying up hotels and utility works. nevertheless, i do believe that most people try to find something to be good at... nay... BETTER at. for me it was speaking japanese and traveling.

early on a friend from grad school, who we'll call SLIM, easily squashed my hopes of becoming the local japanese champion. at best compared to him, i could only be a mediocre speaker with a slight pronunciation problem. SLIM, by the way, was a 3 time jepardy champion. i can barely pass the multiple choice written driving test at the DMV.

up until recently, i had the world of airplanes, backpacking, and hosteling under my belt. 30 countries (my wife thinks it's 20). nearly all the continents except for that big, white melty one down south. this topic comes up at family gatherings or casual conversations among our colleagues, contemporaries and constituents, and people are wowed. then 10 minutes pass, someone brings out pictures of their new baby or SUV and the topic changes. no love lost there.

this week i was one upped majorly.

Olympics - conversation with mrs. fung

Day and Time: Friday Evening
Setting: Our hero has just finished din din and is beginning to clean up. He has the whole evening ahead of him to sit in front of the computer (a.k.a. dork out).

The phone rings.

MOM: Matthew. This is mom.

ME: Yeah.

MOM: What are you doing?

ME: Nothing really.

MOM: Turn on the TV and watch the opening ceremony.

ME: Well, I was going to after I clean up the dishes. I was thinking of 'casually' tuning in and out. There's also a big pile of DVDs (pirated) that I wanted to get through.

MOM: No, turn it on now.

and truly it was a moment that i was glad to catch on TV. much like the first Olympics i witnessed on TV (the 1984 LA Olympics - this might unnecessarily date me), mom plopped my brother, sister, and me down in front of an aging RCA. there we were awestruck at the sight of 88 (why 88?) Baby Grand Pianos hammering out George Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue'.

TV COMMENTATOR: Would you just look at that sight... EIGHTY EIGHTY Baby Grand Pianos...

Last week, Team China took that cherished childhood memory and plowed it over... dammed it up... outsourced it with a cornucopia of lavish images. Believe the hype. China's coming and they're taking and not asking anymore.

***A little side note: Don't try downloading that video or checking it out on Youtube b/c NBC ain't having it.

EPISODE 13 - so you wanna teach in japan...

This time around our hero explores the urge to pick-up, leave it all behind, and explore the big MONSTER ISLAND of the east. My wife and I both had those urges, and that little chapter lasted nearly a decade.

For those red-blooded Americans that are still in the closet about being Japan-curious... this comic is for you.

Comic Con 2008: Coming Back and Missing Out

this week reba and i have been fighting jet lag and drifting in and out of consciousness. just yesterday i was awake long enough to realize that missed out on Comic Con 2008. like the annual austin ice cream festival and stewart's root beer restaurants, the comic cons were one of my secret nerdy reasons for wanting to move back to the states.

++good thing i sobered up long enough to realize that

1. the ice cream festival is next week

2. i have absolutely no money to blow at any convention

++reviews of comic con

1. NPR's coverage

2. Giant Robot's blog

++things that i barely remember happening this week

1. where i dropped my keys

2. a phone conversation w/ my sister

SISTER: Are you busy with something else right now?

ME: Nothing really... why?

SISTER: b/c you don't really sound... engaged.

ME: Ummm. Well, I'm having trouble staying awake. And 'Friends' is on.