It is amazing to look at how in just 200 millennia years humans have come from a primitive ape like creatures, to a civilization standing at the very precipice of the stars.

How can I let down my genetic heritage?

“People like you and me, overcame the neanderthal, People like you and me, made it through the Ice Age” -  Dr. Alice Roberts

]]> http://geekyinthecity.com/2011/12/24/we-are-all-children-of-africa/feed/ 0 childrenofafrica The Exile http://geekyinthecity.com/2011/10/14/day-one-nycc/ http://geekyinthecity.com/2011/10/14/day-one-nycc/#comments Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:41:22 +0000 The Exile http://geekyinthecity.com/?p=325 Read more]]> After months of waiting, New York Comic Con is finally upon us.

If you have never been to a Comic Con, you should go at least once. And leave your preconceptions at home.    It’s not that you aren’t going to find what most people think of at a Comic Book convention.  Because,  you probably will, if look for it.  But what you should be looking for is the wide range of amazing and things we have to geek over in this world.

• There are movies, and TV shows, some of these are based off comics, some of which may surprise you to find out are comics like the Walking Dead.  Some are based on books, like True Blood, and Game of Thrones.  And of course movies are full of comic book characters,  Some are obvious, like the upcoming Batman, Superman, and The Avengers movies.  But would be surprised to know that movies like Road to Perdition and Ghost World both started as comics.

• Video games – lots of them,  and lots of different kinds.  Strategy games, massive multi-player games, sim games,  first person shooters.   And you can play video games practically anywhere now,  on your computer, on your TV, on your iPad, on your smart phones.   There is bound to be a game out there that you’ll just geek over.  If not, well there’s always Angry Birds.

• Clothes -  not just superhero t-shirts either.   At Comic Con, you’ll find all sorts of fashion statements.  Steampunk, Goth, Hipster, Harajuku, Cyperpunk, oh and yeah,  Superhero t-shirts

• Celebrities -  Ok it’s not San Diego, but there are a lot famous folk turning up at Comic con,  Of course you can find folks like the Godfather of Geekdom Seth Green (Robot Chicken, Family Guy, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and the geek icons like Mark Hamill and Kevin Smith.  But you might be surprised to see SNL cast members Seth Myers and Fred Armisen and comedian/30 Rock cast member Judah Friedlander, along with Rage Against the Machine/Audioslave guitarist Tom Morello.  And it’s not just on the panel stages and autograph rooms that you see these folks.  They are out there on the floor, mixing with folks, and looking for swag just like the rest of us, because Celebrities can be geeks too.

• Of course that leads us to swag.  What’s swag?  you name it.  Vintage toys, or new ones. Cool prop replicas, posters, photos, and just cool stuff.  Of course some of this stuff doesn’t come cheap, but luckily most vendors take plastic.

• Of course there are comic books,  Lots of comic books, and all that comes with them,  graphic novels and Comic book writers, artists and all of that come with the comics.

Maybe you never thought of yourself as a Comic Con person.  Maybe you never read a comic in your life.

But if you can, you should try to attend a Comic Con at least once, and release the geek with in.

Here are some sites from Day 1

Leeloo, and Leeloo and a friend

Comic con has on site robotic childcare, if you need it.

The Taskmaster (Phil Draper) needs a place to stay Can he sleep on your couch?

Optimus Prime

It's Kick-Ass!

Spidey's just hanging around

Master Chief - made of Mega Blocks

That Dress is bigger on the inside!

This is River - an amazing Service Dog

He's a nasty looking spud, isn't he?

Does this picture need a caption? No I didn't think so

The author, having a spot of tea with a friend

In a lot of ways my life is very similar as it was when I turned 30.

Shit, there are something’s about my life that I haven’t changed since I was 20.    Some are good things, like my music tastes. Some are probably not so good, like my diet.

Hell, I still eat like I did when I was 10 years old.

Another thing in my life that has not changed as much is my career.  As you may know, I have been making a living for the last 15 years as a freelance Stage Manager for various small to mid sized companies around the country, mostly in the Northeast, but some of my shows have toured and I have gotten to see most of the country.

Anyway, here’s the thing.  Back when I was 20, I didn’t set out for a career in Stage Management.  I knew I wanted be involved in a creative field, which is part of the reason I transferred out of the School of Engineering and into the Theatre Department at the University of Michigan.  We just kind of found each other. It turned out it was something that it was something I do well with my skill set.  I was good at it. In fact I was quite good at it, for a while.  I had a great mentor.  So…  What happened?  When did it stop being more than a job to me.

Why am I questioning this now?   But something happened.  Did I lose my passion for it?  Did I ever have one?   I have been stuck in circles. I guess it’s just the birthday talking,  but when you reach those milestone birthdays – you can’t help but look back… take stock.  Am I having a midlife crisis?  No, I don’t think so.

No regrets here, mind you.  It’s a life of my own making, I know that.  And it’s not like I haven’t enjoyed it.  It’s that I keep finding myself wanting to do other things, follow other paths.

I just haven’t figured out how to make a living doing it…

Yet.

It’s Valentine’s Day, and it got me thinking…  and I have realized something.

I have horrible taste in women.

Yeah it’s going to be one of those kinda of posts.

Let me clarify something.  I am not saying that these women are bad people.  Quite the contrary, most of them are sweet, h0nest, beautiful people.  They are just not right for me.  Of course most of them are as screwed up as I am.

I don’t mean to be negative about the women I have chosen to pursue. I have had a tendency to fall for the worst kind of woman for a guy like me. I don’t intend to offend or insult anyone, but I don’t want to be withholding,  sharing this is both theraputic and cathartic.  If by some chance you are reading this, and you a woman I have dated/pursued/hooked up with…  well  read on at your own risk.

Let’s start with the obvious.  I, by no means think I am a catch.  I am sometimes unmotivated.  I withhold intimacy, especially to those who deserve it.  I can be childish and selfish.  And sometimes I feel undeserving.  So for the last few years, (10 is just a few right?) I have made it my life’s mission sabotage my romantic happiness.

Sometimes the issue is a simple as a geographic obstacle.  Something like the  fact that I don’t have a car, and a woman I am interested lives in NJ.  But then again, I have been know to find the one woman at a bar/party etc that happens to be visiting from out of town…  from Indonesia.

Sometimes it’s more than just that.   I have a habit of getting interested in a woman with a whole magazine stand full of issues and more baggage than can fill a  747 hold, of course if they also happen to be a separated from a drunk boyfriend and live 120 miles or more from me and have intimacy issues, well then you know I am going to fall for her.   It doesn’t hurt that the sex always is great.  The more difficult the situation is, the better the sex seems to be.

It might be my hero complex.  If I can save you, I think you will fall in love with me in a way that you could never stop.   That it would take some great undertaking to make someone fall in love with me.  I can recall several childhood fantasies that involved saving a crush from a fire or some such threat.  (I kid you not, I recall a very unlikely scenario involving a collapse of the gym floor that led to a series of underground caverns, and this was in the third grade.)

Let’s not forget all the unrequited feelings for those out there who aren’t available.  Tons of energy and time wasted pining for women who just aren’t available.

There only seems to be one sure way to guarantee I won’t be interested in a long term relationship with you. Be smart, sane, and genuinely interested in me.  I will run from run in a heartbeat.  God forbid I ever pursue someone who is going to make me a better person, or push me forward in my development, either personally or professionally.  And if you challenge me to do more with myself, well then, you’re just pushy and expect too much from me.

Of course if you reject me, then well, I will totally fall even more madly for you.  Because I know I can win you over, and my time wouldn’t be better spent finding someone who will want me for me.

I am not stupid.  I imagine putting this out there like this might seem desperate or silly.   I just want what everyone wants, and deserves, too be happy.

Is that so wrong?

So, when you are living the freelancer’s life, such as I sometimes you have to bite the bullet and find yourself a “day job”.  But how do you find a job that doesn’t mind that you are looking for something else, or that you need time off to audition/rehearse/write/go out of town?  What if you don’t like the idea of working in the food service industry?  Temping is a great way to get short term flexible work that does not require knowledge of the Daily Specials.  Most temp jobs are good paying (between 15 and 20 bucks an hour) and as long as you get the work done, they don’t mind if you need a day off now and then.  Some temping agencies even offer benefits and 401K’s.  Of course you have to be able to sit in office for 8 hours a day.  I actually spent most of the last 2 years working a day job (albeit on the very edge of my chosen profession) but temping in an office is very different. Sometimes you are in a office for a day, or a week, or sometimes you can stay at one job as long as you want, until you find the next gig you want.

The best thing about a temp gig is you can be invisible if you are smart. The expectation for temps is pretty low. (pathetically low in fact)  As long as you have a little personality you can get by with a good attitude and some common sense.  You have to be productive, but not TOO productive. If you are very good it can lead to job offers and or added responsibilities that you might not be interested in. If you are, then great make yourself noticed. But if you’re like me, and the temp gig is just that, temporary, well you want them to be happy with you and trust you just enough to give you enough autonomy so you can slack just enough to have some time for your real career goals. Get your work done, but don’t exceed expectations too much that higher ups notice as more than a temp.

One thing I have noticed in many offices I have worked in is how low the actual expectations are for administrative staffs. It actually depresses me. The thing is about is that while the work isn’t hard but there is a lot of it. So while it’s more than 1 person can do and do well, in most cases 2 full time people end up having more than enough time to get work done, and the mentality has set in that they don’t want to get it done too fast, otherwise the bosses might notice, and then they will be asked to do more work, or worse, have their hours/staff cut. So often I see offices were the staff arrives at nine, then they order breakfast and chit chat, and it’s nearly 10:30 before any real work starts. And a lot of small to midsized companies don’t have large (or any) IT department on site, so they don’t have what I would call “productivity filters” on their systems, so a lot of time is lost to Facebook, YouTube, and other timesuckers on the internet.

Hopefully you shouldn’t be working right now instead of reading this.

What is the reason we surround ourselves with possessions?

To what end does possessory of wealth serve?

I have stuff.  Lots of it. Some of it is even pretty nice stuff.  A lot of it is, well, in anyone else’s eyes might be considered junk, but it all is evidence of the life I lead.

I have the same stuff we all have: books, pictures, DVD’s, CD’s (really, who still has CD’s and books? everything is digital media now, right?) Plus a lot of things that you probably have never seen lining the shelves in my apartment.

But what does this stuff do for me, besides distraction on end.   Do I need to surround myself with so many things?   I wish I could be that guy, who lives a simple life, with a clean, uncluttered living space.  But I meet those guys, and they all seem like douchebags, so maybe not. Maybe our things help us with character?  Obviously our possessions are a reflection of our personality. (So that must be why those spartan living guys have no personality.)  But can they actually help shape our personality?

I am a nerd, because  I surround myself with nerdy things?

This could lead to all sorts of recursive arguments, which I really don’t feel up to right now.   However, I do feel I have too much stuff.  A lot of it isn’t even stuff I have out where I can enjoy.  I have boxes of stuff in NJ in the attic and basement.  Things I have been hanging on to for decades (yes decades).  But the prospect of getting it all out and doing anything with it, even trying to sell it on eBay is just too much.  Sometimes, when I am there, I’ll go find a few little things to take back to my apartment, or I’ll see something and think, this would be great for my niece or nephew (my nephew has really enjoyed the old TOTAL JUSTICE superhero figures i gave him last year, and my niece will read just about anything I give her.)

So what do you do with all your stuff?

So here it is, my 2011 resolutions:

LOOK FORWARD, NOT BACK.

That’s it.

I have made a whole life out of reliving past glory, what there is of it to speak of, but I let my past mean more to me than my future anymore. I have to get over the fear of what if? Of not sabotaging myself, professionally and personally and more. No more bad career choices or dubious financial decisions. No more pursuing emotionally (or romantically) unavailable women.

This means some changes. I am still figuring out what that means. but I do know that means some things, and people, have to go from my life. You’ll see some of it happen right here, in this very place. Or maybe you won’t. Some of you (those of you reading this on facebook) may be some of the things I need to let go of.  I need to streamline myself, both physically and emotionally. Leave some of my baggage with the skycaps, so to speak.

The last 20 years of my life, I have been holding on to things, like a fly preserved in amber. I have had some good times, and some not so good times. I had some great times. Learn from it all, Don’t forget the past. Honor the past, but don’t dwell in it.

Ahead of me there are roads I have been afraid to go down, for fear of failure, or fear of embarrassing myself, or for fear of rejection.

That’s it.

It’s been a few weeks, I know. I apologize. My life has been complicated lately. Well probably no more complicated than yours, but I haven’t seen a new blog from you in a while either. What have I been up to? What has kept me from expressing my ever though and deed? I have been out living. At least I’m trying to.

If you haven’t heard, I am returning to the production side of the biz. I have never been an office person. In three weeks I an officially unemployed. That’s not to say I haven’t been out looking. I do have a fringe show very interested in me, and I just had a great interview with a new show opening off-Broadway in a couple of months. To be safe, I have checked with that old standby, Theatreworks, so worst case scenario, I do 12-16 weeks of touring TYA again. That being said… If you know of a situation please feel free to send me the particulars, or give my name.

Let see, oh Trains! Exciting news there. We completed the lower loop. And the upper loop is also almost finished, of course that still needs the tressel, which might take a while. I have the latest pics on FB. But maybe I’ll have to put a few new ones here too when I can.

Dating – well the job thing makes me hesitant to pursue dating in any serious way. As soon as the job stability thing works itself out I may try again to find someone serious, but for now I’m strictly casual. (but not frivolous or meaningless).

Is there anything else? Oh yeah, my writing output has obviously slowed a bit. Not just here, but at my other blogs too (Geeksville  and Writes Stuff)

I expect to get back on schedule in about a week. And who knows, if I don’t get a job, I may be writing a lot more. Not just my blogs either, but I have three scripts that need some attention.

1) My “The Mentalist” spec script is one reversal away from a finished first draft. I’ll be looking for script readers soon for that.

2) I have just about finished beating out a 13 ep arc for my as yet untitled family period(s) drama. Toying around with calling it “Skeletons” as in “skeletons in the closet”.

3). Of course I want to seriously work on “The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead” a musical whimsy featuring the music of XTC. Think one part Yellow Submarine, One part Les Mis. Does anyone have much legal experience with adaptions?

I think that about covers what I am up to these days.

How’s your summer been?

Nothing has happened, except I have made the choice to move on.  I have been working the same position for 2 years, as an assistant to a New York Music/Theatre industry professional.  My job was not as a personal assistant.   It was more of an account manager-type position, where I was responsible for the day to day business for my boss’ clients, processing contracts, doing budgets, etc.   Theatrically I equated the position to a Company Manager, except I never had to process payroll.

So the last two years I have been working in a primarily desk-bound job from 9AM – 6PM.  If you know me at all, you could imagine how hard that was.   It was something I had to do though.    I had spent the previous 12-14 years of my life as a travelling Stage Manager.  I came and went to where ever I found a show or theatre that interested me.  The Stageboard Samurai, (ooh I like that name, I think I should see if I can get that domain name) But events in my life called me home, and I made commitments.   But the time has come for me to get back to the life I chose for myself.

And I am excited about it, a little nervous even.

There are a lot of things I am giving up; the stability and certainty that came with a regular job, instead of the work for hire, the reliable and set schedule against the hectic and scrambling life of the freelancer.

The last two years have been good.  I have made some great connections, some of them professional, some of them personal.   My relationship with my family has been the best it has ever been.   I have really seen how I have outgrown some of my old friendships, some of my old habits.  And some casual friends that I have known for years have become some of my closest confidants.

I am not exactly sure what will come next, I do plan on writing more.   Check out He Writes Stuff for some of my new work.  I won’t stop posting here, but this blog me blogging about me and my life as a Geek in the City,  Writes Stuff will be a bit more esoteric.  I will try to post there weekly.   And of course those of you who can’t get enough of what’s chic in geek will want to keep up with the Exile of Geeksville .

I also hope to develop a couple of dramatic/stage/screen projects.   My Generation, a serialized long form drama about family, following them from 1989 to the present. (But not necessarily being told in chronological order.    Then there is my idea for a Storybook/Jukebox Musical based on the music of XTC.

Oh yeah then there is the whole reason I developed this blog,  my social life and forays into dating.  Yeah, I had some success with internet dating.  One of the biggest things I learned: Don’t settle.  Short term pleasure will only lead to long term resentment.    That being said, I am single and available.

I am not sure what will come next, but I will accept nothing less than unparalleled greatness.

I have been putting pics up on my Facebook, I am sure some of you who are connected to me on there have checked it out.

Well today we wired up a power supply to the rails (We haven’t completed the layout yet, but we needed to check that what we had done was working.)

So I used my Olympus Stylus 7010 to take some short video clips.

So here is the results!