Happy Birthday to...

I think you would be surprised at how many wonderfully talented, quirky, and even some bizarre individuals that have a March 26th birthday. A quick google search revealed many composers, poets, and playwrights. It was quiet fascinating. I'm actuality a little surprised I have never done this for my own birthday (Feb 21... don't worry, you missed it). But of all those famous writers, actors, and athletes who share a March 26th birth date, I want to wish a very Happy Birthday to my personal favorite-- Jefferson Templeman, who turned 4 today.
Jefferson is my son and one of my best freinds. He is so fun and playful and he makes me laugh all the time (sometimes out of embarasement). He is very smart, witty, and sociable-- and just as talented, quirky, and bizarre as any of the individuals on this list.
Jefferson, I am excited to see what you will do with yourself. Happy Birthday buddy! Love Dad


For your entertainment a few visual reasons why Jefferson happens to be my favorite March 26th birthday.

Martin Short is 59 today, while Jefferson poses as Dr.Octopus-- that's where my trend setting goggles went.

John Stockton, Utah Jazz legend is 48-- Jefferson sporting his Spongebob Square Pants team colors. (yeah-- that's one of those embarassing laughs)

For all you nerds (like you didn't know), Leonard Nimoy (aka Mr Spock) is 78 and holding a pet cat. Jefferson here showing off his pet Fido (an imaginary fly).

Big mouth rocker Steven Tyler from Aerosmith is 61. Jefferson making his own fashion statements.

Tennessee Williams/Jefferson Templeman-- no explanation needed.

The Sky is Fallin'

WARNING: THIS POST MAY BE A BIT OF A BUMMER FOR SOME!!

So I guess the End of the World is coming. The year 2012 from what I understand from various sources amongst my Facebook friends.

"2012 is marked by a Muslim mythical end of time 'Coming of Mehdi' - God will destroy morally bankrupt mankind and true Islam will rule. Nostradamus also predicted the end of the world around that time." -- Jyri Makela

"They Mayan Calendar also states the end of the world at 2012." -- Joel Petrie

"Check out the Colony Collapse Disorder epidemic. Bees are disappearing... Within four years of that, humanity will suffer and become extinct as well...interesting article to read! Everything seems to be leading to 2012!" -- Tawnie Bowers

While certainly none of these people (that I know of) are experts on the matter, I'm sure their sources can be verified by a simple google search. In doing so myself I was able to get an exact date Yule or Winter Solstice of 2012 which is Dec. 21st-- right before Christmas :(


So I have to say I'm pretty disappointed. I mean I had some big things planned for the next 5 to 50 years and now it turns I only have 3.66 years. I've got to be honest, I don't think I can manage to do all the things I want to do in that short amount of time.

Here is a brief look at some of the things I would like to do, but likely not get around to:

1. Eat a pie... after the age 35
2. Dodge the draft for War World III
3. Be the oldest heavy weight champion of the world
4. Get a seniors discount at the movies
5. Spearhead the largest escape from a senior care facility in US history
6. Grow Old & Die



So if the world is indeed ending on Dec 21, 2012-- should I do Christmas shopping that year "just in case"?


Really what I'm looking for is some reason not to believe the world will end in 2012. If you got any, let me know.

Important Infomation for ALL Bloggers

Let's talk for a minute about the Worldwide Web-- and more specifically the exit of "Blogger Sites" on this information highway. I certainly enjoy blogging-- it is therapeutic in a way. I even enjoy reading other people's blogs (sometimes). I would imagine anyone reading this could say they find themselves in the same boat. Now I'm going to tell you something, and it may apply to you and it may not, but... I HATE THE MUSIC ON YOUR BLOG. There I said it. It's not that you have bad taste in music (though many of you do). It just doesn't mesh with my music-- literally doesn't mesh. See when I'm on my computer my iTunes is open and playing, and when I visit your blog you blast me with your Michael Bubble and what not-- and while you may feel that everyone should enjoy Mr. Bubble's music the fact is they don't especially when he tries to drown out the music they (your blogs readers) like to listen to. To help you understand what I'm talking about I've just created a little allegory. I call it the allegory of The Fearful Flea Marketeer. (I'm just making this up as I go, so bear with me).

At a flea market, the Marketeer walks the path between the booths, each displaying their own unique assortment of goods. The Marketeer is not on a quest for anything particular, simply browsing the vast selection of items at the market. Upon entering one vendors booth a yappy little dog darts out from under on of the tables and begins to bite the Marketeer. A swift kick later, the Marketeer is looking over the contents of the booth. A few booth later, the Marketeer enters a booth filled with old books only to be quickly overwhelmed by the smell of old lady perfume. The smell certainly unpleasant, doesn't detour the Marketeer from perusing the books. A few hours later, the Marketeer enters a booth filled with beautiful paintings. Upon enter the booth a pair of proselyting Jehovah's Witnesses begin spoutting their ideology for the Marketeer. The Marketeer promptly exits the booth. At the conclusion of the day the Marketeer dies and goes to the great big market in the sky, where he finds no dogs, overwhelming odors, or Jehovah's Witnesses*. The end.

I don't know-- Did that work?


*I, by no means, intent to imply that Jehovah's Witness will not be present at the great big market in the sky or any other similar post-earthy realm of existence. I'm sure there will be at least 144,000 of them there. :)

The Lawnmower Man

And the Winner is...

I'm a fan of the Academy Awards, really for no other reason than I follow movies. I don't know that I necessarily agree with 'The Academy' on what or who is nominated at times, but I certainly agree that good film-making needs to be recognized. I suppose if I followed more closely the music industry the Grammy's would be worth watching (maybe). Unlike a song or an album, the adjudication of a film just seems to fit better.


I have mixed feeling about this year. For some reason I feeling like 2008 was a disappointment in some ways in comparison to the last two years. I don't believe there is a movie (at least that I've seen) that approachs the caliber of either of the best picture winner The Departed or No Country for Old Men-- and yet that kind of exciting because it's all up in the air.


Here are my predictions for some of the catagories:



Best Picture
Will Win: Slumdog Millionaire
Should win: probably Benjamin Button, but I'm fine with a Slumdog victory.


Best Director
Will Win: David Fincher (Benjamin Button)
Should Win: David Fincher (Benjamin Button)-- I won't be surprised by Slumdog's Danny Boyle here either.



Best Actor
Will Win: Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)
Should Win: Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)-- Mickey Rourke's character in The Wrestler was more real than any other charcter I've seen in years.


Best Actress
Will Win: Kate Winslet (The Reader)
Should Win: Meryl Streep (Doubt)-- She can't win enough in my opinion. Winslet probably should have been nominated for Revolutionary Road as well so...



Best Supporting Actor
Will Win: Heath Ledger (Batman Returns)
Should Win: Heath Ledger (Batman Returns)-- 90% Preformance, 10% Sympathy, still very deserving.



Best Supporting Actress
Will Win: Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Should Win: Amy Adams (Doubt)-- What a year she has had. She'll get hers eventually.



Best Art Direction
Will Win: Benjamin Button
Should Win: Benjamin Button



Best Cinematography
Will Win: Slumdog Millionaire
Should Win: Benjamin Button



Best Animated Feature
Will Win: WALL-E
Should Win: WALL-E




So there you have it.

Late Night

I'm a pretty vivid dreamer. Not sure whether this was a conscientious or subconsciencious dream happening somewhere between falling asleep and being asleep. I don't want to make a habit of blogging about my dreams... that's just lame, but I feel I have to with this one.


I was on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.

Conan: Our first guest tonight is the star of an upcoming movie. Please welcome to the stage Mr. Ryan Templeman.

I enter as the crowd claps politely.

Conan: Welcome to the show.

Ryan: Thanks for having me. How's the new late night treating you?

Conan: I thought I would ask the questions, but okay... this show sucks. It is slowly eating me alive. And I cry myself to sleep every night... on a bed full of money. [Evil Laugh that turns to a cry and then a sigh]. So I've been looking forward to chatting with you ever since I found out you were coming on the show... fifteen minutes ago. So apparently you're psychic?

Ryan: I suppose a little bit, though I've yet to figure out how to use my power for evil.

Conan: No really, a couple years ago you wrote a blog about this very encounter.

Ryan: It's not nearly as interesting as it sounds. Just goofing around I wrote about being on your show.

Conan: How long ago?

Ryan: It was awhile ago. Maybe...

Conan: Wait. I feel like we need some creepy music. Can I get some creepy music?

the music from 'In the Year 2000' begins to play.

Conan: Excellent. Please continue.

Ryan: So I wrote a dialog between myself and you and posted it on my blog.

Conan: I actually have a copy of that dialog you wrote here. Do you mind if I read it?

I smile, try to look hesitant, and quickly oblige the cheering audience.
Conan reads the dialog [that you're reading now] aloud.

Conan: Wow. That's fascinating stuff. And you know what else is fascinating? The new movie your in. See how I did that transition. I'm a legend. That's why I get paid the 'beaucoup' bucks. [Evil Laugh that turns to a cry and then a sigh]. Alright so I understand we have a clip from your new movie. You wanna set it up for us.

Ryan: No thanks.

Conan laughs.

Ryan: It's self-explanatory.

Conan: Alright let's run the clip.

A clip of some movie plays.

Conan: And there you have it. Ryan thanks for being on the show.

Ryan: Thank you.

Conan: Go see this movie. We'll be right back with Parker Posey.

Ryan: I love Parker Posey. Mind if I stick around? I'll behave.

Conan: You have my permission, but just remember, She is mine!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So there it is. Hopefully now you can see why I felt like I needed to blog this.

Postcards from Paris

For some reason I like to think because I'm an 'artist' (in some form), I am therefore a good photographer. Why that is, I'm not entirely sure. It probably falls into the same egotistical catergory that causes actors to play the political savant on talk shows.

Reagrdless here are some pictures I took of my trip to Paris that I believe could be sold as postcards. Judge for yourself.

I'll go from what I consider best to worst. Most of them are black and white-- because otherwise there's colors to deal with and that requires real talent.

Sacre Coeur

I took this picture under great duress whilest a persistant gentleman
tried to get me to put my finger in a string.



L'Arc de Triomphe

The couple walking in the background is actually two woman, though I don't think you can really tell. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

The Effiel Tower

Why say anything else?

La Fountaine des Innocents

This is my favorite fountain in Paris (though I've never seen it working).

It is so massive and yet the only place the water comes from

is that little fountain in the middle.

Chateau de Versailles

Like everywhere in Paris,

you need to be on the look out for people stealing your stuff--

even angels are bad news.

Just some apartment building

When you're surrounded by beautiful towering monuments,

sometimes you just forget to look around at the little things in this city.

Dali Museum

This isn't really a great picture, but I'm a big fan of Dali so I included it anyway.

Here are a couple other "not great pictures-- but personal favorites".

La Jeune Martyre

This is probably my favorite non-Dali painting.

It's pretty morbid, I know, but for some reason I can't not stare at it.

The Winged Victory of Samothrace

Easily my favorite sculpture. She is one foxy lady.

These are two pictures Andrea took-- and I think they're pretty awesome.

Prayer Candles in Notre Dame

Sculptures of guys looking at their penises. Yeah she's a sicko!

My Nigerian Prince

A few years back there was this widely spoken of email going around about a Nigerian Prince. I always wanted to get that email. There was just something exciting, romantic even about it-- a Nigerian Prince sending me an email. So you can well imagine my surprise when I found this email in my inbox the other day.

It's not from a Prince, it's from a doctor (the second best thing), with connections to Nigeria (from my understanding, one of the most truthworthy places on earth). Apparently my Nigerian friends (I can only assume it's the Prince) have been trying to send me money all this time. Dr. Hassan (who thankfully had my email) contacted me about the failed wire transfers. There is some confusion we apparently need to clear up; someone owes Dr. Hassan $80,000-- I forwarded the email on to my health insurance, so hopefully they'll cover part of it. He is a doctor after all.


Man, I feel real bad for Dr. Hassan-- he is totally getting railroaded: he could lose his job, his wife could go to prison, and he's not getting paid for his work-- all this to help me get the funds my Nigerian Prince is trying to send me. Well I can make this right, I'll I need to do is:

1. Provide Dr. Hassan a good compensation (my discresion) for his hard work up to this point.
2. Not contact my Nigerian friends regarding this transaction (easy enough, I don't currently have any).
3. Stop paying the Central Bank of Nigeria Officers (oops... must be an auto-pay from my checking account).
4. Set up a U.S foreign account under my name for Mrs. Hassan and deposit the "fair compensation" (yet to be determined).
5. Endorse (which means 'sign' I think) a TT fund release approval documents so Mrs. Hassan can collect those funds. And finally...
6. Promise not to contact anyone at the Central Bank of Nigeria regarding Dr. Hassan's involvement in this transaction.

Six simple steps in order to gain the incalculable montary treasure the Pirnce has been trying to send me. I wonder how much it will be? Too much to mention in his email. Don't worry I won't forget about the little people.

This is the first thing I'm buying.

Oh and just cause you're jealous, don't try and tell me this is just a scam. It's way too complicated and complex to be completly made up. Beside Dr. Hassan wouldn't do that to me. He is a man of his word.

From the Desk of Dr. Usman Hassan

GOOD DAY,

RE: THE REASON WHY YOU HAVE NOT SUCCEEDED IN RECEIVING YOUR FUND

After waiting to hear from you or your Nigerian partner for a long time now, I decided to make this direct approach to you as my new resolution in other not to let it be if I have anything in mind against you. I do not know if you have asked yourself why each time the release of this fund is approved, all of a sudden, the payment will be stopped or one problem or the other will come up if you have not asked this question or you do not know, this is an opportunity for me to tell you.

Some time ago, your Nigerian friends, I mean the people that introduced you to the project approached me through my dear wife who work with the Federal Ministry of Finance and requested me to assist them conclude a money transfer deal they had with you. They requested me to assist them by removing the original contractor’s name, company’s name and bank particulars from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) vetting computer and replacing them with your name and bank details in order to make you appear as the rightful beneficiary of this fund.

I agreed on condition that they will pay me US $80,000.00 as soon as your name appears as the beneficiary. I did as agreed and demanded to be paid, but your friends started telling me stories, they even told me you promised to send money to me.

Do you know that up till now, I have not received a single cent from them and have not set my eyes on any of them? Based on their attitude, I decided to stop the fund release movement because I cannot be denied of my right in my own office considering the risk as it might affect my job.. Secondly, I know the source of the funds that you did not execute any contract in Nigeria , although I am the only person privileged to know this information and it is a fact. Why I am making this clear to you is that I can see that you are still making efforts in order to conclude this project. Now I am ready to forget the past.

I do not need the US $80.000.00 any longer from you but a good compensation from your mind. I need your assurance that those colleagues will be totally kept out of this transaction. I know that none of them is aware of my new approach to you. Stop spending your money unnecessarily to CBN Officers both here and overseas because you will not receive this money without my hand in it. I personally did the work at the beginning and only I can perform it. Finally,

I need your promise that no official of the Central Bank of Nigeria will be aware of my involvement in this regard because of my position. Now re-assure me that you will be willing to compensate me and that you will assist my wife to establish a foreign account in your country where my compensation will be lodged. Also a TT FUND RELEASE APPROVAL DOCUMENTS will be sent to you for endorsement after which I will remit the money within 48 hours.

I am a man of my word. If you are ready to conclude this business with me, kindly contact me on my so that we can have a chat over this issue once and for all. But if the reverse is the case, do not bother yourself to reach me and forget about this money.

BEST REGARDS
Dr. Usman Hassan
Chair Payment Verification Panel

New Year, New Blog

I'm offically launching my new blog project. It is essentially a number of short scene and monologues I've written. Fear not, I will keep this one in order to vent and post life updates.


Please check it out http://scenesational.blogspot.com/
If you enjoy it-- I'd appreciate a plug.


Speaking of plugs, here's a link to a blog I just recently discovered.
http://myregisblog.blogspot.com/
If you're well versed in the Mormon culture, it's a good laugh. Enjoy!

The Auditioner

The Auditioner - watch more funny videos

Very funny and sadly very accurate.
Being an actor is so glamorous.

Great job Kate!

2008 Acheivement Awards

I'm a big fan of fabricating arbitrary awards that are otherwise meaningless, I guess I'm like Oprah in that way.
Here we go.

Best Movie Award
Nominees Included:
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
In Bruges
Lars and the Real Girl

The 2008 Winner of the "Best Movie" Award goes to...

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

I generally try to avoid terrible movies when at all possible. My in-laws, however have a strange fasination for them, so every once in a while I will test my mental dexterity by watching one.

The "Worst Movie" Award goes to... EAGLE EYE.

The "Movie Killer" Award
Nominees Included:
M. Night Shyamalan
Mike Myers
Shia LaBeouf

The "Movie Killer" Award goes to...

BRENDAN FRASER

Congratulations on two giant flops in 2008.


Favorite TV Series Award
Nominees Included:
Dexter
House
The Office

The 2008 Winner of the "Favorite TV Series" Award goes to...

Thank you Tina Fey for making at least one of the Baldwin's relevant again.

There is a fair amount of children television being watched in our household giving that we have a 3 year old. As you would expect, most of them are painful for adults with one exception.

The 2008 Winner of the "Favorite Kids Show" Award goes to...

YO GABBA GABBA

Soundtrack of 2008 Award
Nominees Included:
The Cure
Glen Phillips
Kate Bush
Neil Young

The Winner of "Soundtrack of 2008" Award goes to...

MORRISSEY

The 2008 "Repeat Album" Award goes to...

RADIOHEAD'S IN RAINBOWS

The 2008 "Musical Discovery" Award goes to...

RAY LAMONTAGNE

(Andrea is credited with this find)

Personal Photography Award
The 2008 Winner of the "Personal Photography" Award goes to...

REDRUM TUBBY

The 2008 Winner of the "Best Photo Compilation" Award goes to...

THE MANY FACES OF JEFFERSON TEMPLEMAN

Envy Awards
Female Envy Award Nominee Included:
Amy Ryan
Misty May-Treanor
Stevie Nicks

The 2008 Winner of the "Female Envy" Award goes to...

TINA FEY

The Sarah Palin thing just fell into her lap, but as the creator/writer and self effacing star of television's best show 30 Rock-- she deserves all of our envy. She hovers around a 7 on the "Hot Scale", but can be done up to a 8 or 9 with minimal effort.

Male Envy Award Nominee Included:
Asafa Powell
Ben Foster
Michael Jackson-- (money, music, and dance moves ONLY)

The 2008 Winner of the "Male Envy" Award goes to...

DAVID BECKHAM

'nough said!

The Ultimate Jagweed Award
Nominees Included:
Bill Belichick
Michael Phelps
Sean Hannity

The 2008 Winner of the "Ultimate Jagweed" Award goes to...

KIM JONG IL

Yes I realize Michael Phelps is petty in comparison to World War III, that why he didn't win... turns out he can't win everything. Belichick leaned that the hard way. Booyah!


Best Blog Post Award
Nominees Included:
Ma'Goon-- by Its the Life
The Story of Sally-- by My Friend Sally
There Will Be Blood DVD: The 3rd Revelation Edition-- Vox Espavesco, Vox Dei

The 2008 Winner of the "Best Blog Post" Award goes to... Lost-- by The Jolly Porter.

Good Times.

So This Is Chrismakwanzika

Every year it seems the politically correct jargon of this holiday season tends to puts a number of Stockings, Dashikis, and Yamikas in a bunch. What's most interesting to me is the disdain people have for the expression 'Happy Holidays' as though it were a personal insult.

Anyone who knows me, knows I'm not necessarily one for political correctness, but I certainly understand and accept it. The right to worship whomever and however one pleases is a fundamental human right and as such any entity, institution, or governing body comprised of more than one of those belief systems should be inclusive of all parties, and thus use the politically correct 'Happy Holidays'. In my opinion even a company with 99.9% of their staff being Christian should still maintain the 'Happy Holidays' greeting. Now there are exceptions to the rule: a Catholic school with obvious ties to Christian ideology could use 'Merry Christmas' though not all the students and/or staff may be Christians.

That said, just because your company wishes you 'Happy Holidays' doesn't mean you can't say 'Merry Christmas' or 'Happy Hanukkah' or 'Joyous Kwanzaa' to your co-workers. You are a human and have the right to your religious convictions and by saying 'Merry Christmas' you are expressing your faith. You shouldn't feel guilt or shame for well-wishing a friend, colleague, or stranger, regardless of your greeting. Now if someone were to wish me a Happy Hanukkah I would think one of two things 1) they are Jewish or 2) they've noticed the pronounced profile of my nose and believe I am Jewish. Regardless, I would accept their holiday greeting, it doesn't diminish my beliefs in any way, but what do I say back? Do I say Merry Christmas and run the risk of either insulting or embarrassing them? I think I would respond with a Happy Hanukkah, but then next year, during the holiday, I would be sure to greet them first with a hearty 'Merry Christmas'-- I wonder what they would say back? You know I think I may just start wishing people a 'Joyous Kwanzaa'. I don't know that I've ever heard anyone wish any one else a 'Joyous Kwanzaa'-- I've actually only ever met one person who celebrated Kwanzaa. If you celebrate Kwanzaa let me know. I would love to get a Joyous Kwanzaa card or even a Happy Hanukkah card for that matter. I wonder if they make a "There is no God but Allah" card? Or 'Wishing You A Warm Winter Solstice' greeting? Seriously if you see one-- you know where to send it.

Merry Christmas to All!

To date my holiday greeting cards are as follows:
(I will update this list periodically)

Happy Holidays/Season's Greetings/Etc. (8)

Merry Christmas (6)

Happy Hanukkah (0)

Joyous Kwanzaa (0)

There is no God but Allah (0)

Warm Winter Solstice (1)

Other (0)