Release the Butterflies!

One of the many reasons I'm dying to get out of L.A.

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:49:27 GMT

So, Friday, I'm going to see Art Brut (great band btw) and I end up chatting in line with this older fella who turns out to be a former L.A. Times journalist turned blogger. He name drops a lot, but not in a 'guess who I know' kinda way, but in a way that makes sense because we're talking about shows we've seen and music we love.

Anyway so we're on the smoking patio and he gets up to get another drink and I'm people watching. There are three guys standing near me and I can't help but overhear their conversation:

Guy 1: So..how did you end up hearing about this?
Guy 2: I was at this party and I ran into an old buddy of mine. He writes for the Office now, but I knew him way before. I was like 'hey man, what have you been up to?' and he's like 'nothing much' and I'm like 'come on...' and he's like ' Well actually, I'm writing Ghostbusters 3 with Harold Ramis right now'
Guy 3: Damn. That's cool.

Guy 3's line I sorta made up. He said something to that effect, but honestly it just came out as pathetic groveling.

Personally, I nearly barfed up my $7 beer back into my plastic cup.

If you could actually overdose on narcissicism and self-absorbtion there would never be a traffic jam in this town again.

On a more postive note, the blogger guy was really cool and the band was amazing live.

stunning

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:04:14 GMT

Harliquin3[1]
Originally uploaded by connorhalo

So, probably one of the most awesome gifts I've ever been given arrived the other day.

Sonja knew I was a big fan of Brom, the fantasy artist. I went as one of his characters, the Harlequin, a few years back in NOLA.

Well, my sneaky wife got in touch with him and actually commissioned an ORIGINAL piece from him.

This is it.

A couple of observations.

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:15:28 GMT

random observations:

1) People often don't apologize. Even when they say 'I'm sorry', it's usually followed by a 'but'. Which means they aren't really apologizing, but explaining. Explaining is not an apology, it's a justification. Justifications are fine, but not to be confused with apologies. We could use more apologies.

2) No matter how well you write, even if you are Earnest Fucking Hemmingway, you should never, ever attempt to write a story that involves any kind of authentic view of New Orleans unless you have lived there. Visits do not count. I can love every word they write, but the minute a person starts writing about New Orleans, I can tell instantly if they've lived there. So, writing rule #3486: If you've never lived in New Orleans, don't write about it (unless you are writing from a tourists point of view).

Fuck you (very much)

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:04:33 GMT

I love this song. I love Lily Allen.

"Fuck You (Very Much)"

Look inside
Look inside your tiny mind
Now look a bit harder
Cause we're so uninspired, so sick and tired of all the hatred you harbor

So you say
It's not okay to be gay
Well I think you're just evil
You're just some racist who can't tie my laces
Your point of view is midieval

Fuck you
Fuck you very, very much
Cause we hate what you do
And we hate your whole crew
So please don't stay in touch

Fuck you
Fuck you very, very much
Cause your words don't translate
And it's getting quite late
So please don't stay in touch

Do you get
Do you get a little kick of being slow minded?
You want to be like your father
It's approval your after
Well that's not how you find it

Do you
Do you really enjoy living a life that's so hateful?
Cause there's a hole where your soul should be
Your losing control of it and it's really distasteful

Watchmen merchandise that should be...

Thu, 02 Apr 2009 01:33:59 GMT

First off...I loved Watchmen. The comic AND the film. Both are great, and both are very different. Apples and oranges.

Okay, with that out of the way, let me say, the official watchmen merchanise is almost entirely lame. Lame on a huge scale. Like on a 'someone needs to be beaten with a rubber hose' scale.

It bothered me enough that I decided to come up with a list of ideas for Watchmen merchandise that I think would not only sell better, but would be WAAAAAY cooler.(This list is a reboot from my Twitter account)

1) A t-shirt with a painted bullet hole in on it and says "The Comedian got me pregnant, and all I got was this lousy t-shirt"
2) Blue glowing condoms.
3) A thermal lunch bag designed to look like an old take-out bag from the Gunga-diner.
4) A toy mechanical owl that says things when you push a button like "It's okay, it happens to lots of guys."
5) A can of beans. Served cold. Oh yeah, on the label it says 'As seen in Watchmen'.
6) An accurate replica of the mexican porn (TJ bible) that the anonymous fan gives to Sally Jupiter in the film.
7) Oh..I don't know...a smiley face pin, with a blood smear on it!? (not kidding, they aren't doing those)
8) A poster of that most amazing kiss during the opening credits with the Silhouette.
9) A bottle of Nostalgia perfume. Or alternately, a costume kit to dress your kitty up to look like Bubastis.
10) Lastly: A Tales of The Black Freighter LEGO playset.

Oh..and just so you can be aghast with me, here's the link to the actual merch: http://www.watchmencomicmovie.com/watchmen-merchandise-promo-items.php

Cheers.

Some of the best...

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 19:59:17 GMT

Lyrics ever. From one of my favorite tracks of the last ten years:
(!!! - Must Be the Moon)

1 drink 2 drinks 3 drinks 4
she had eyes that i couldn't ignore
chatted her up out on the dance floor
she was out of cigarettes so i walked her to the store
skirt pulled up pushed up against the wall
but she pauses just to take a call
joanne says "girl, what the fuck r u doing?
all these boys r gonna b your ruin."

now i can't help but overhear
as i'm kissing from her neck 2 her ear
well if any of them meant it i'd mean it back
it never meant anything but a case of the clap
girl please let me call u back
y?
cuz it's all beginning 2 sound like a rap

sometimes it's just one of those nights
ain't u never had it happen 2 u?
then u go home 2 soon go home 2 soon

u could blame it on the music
but it wouldn't b right
cuz i've gotten lucky 2 some pretty bad tunes

must be the moon
must be the moon

kissing in the cab on the way back cross the bridge
she said "love is love but a fuck is what it is"
"and what's that?" she must have read my mind
cuz she looked in2 my eyes and she said "a good time"
she kissed me on the stairs and she kissed me on the porch
she kissed me as i fumbled with the key in the front door
1 time 2 times 3 times 4
but really who was keeping score
we did it on the bed and we did it on the floor
but i was surprised when i got the cold shoulder
(the next morning)
she said 'u just got me hot, i finished off while you were snoring"

My phone...

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:24:31 GMT

has been replaced after being lost. I still have the same number and my voice mail should be active again. However, if you called over the last week, I won't be able to retrieve any messages left before they temporarily deactivated the number.

It all unravels...

Tue, 03 Feb 2009 01:46:29 GMT

I'm reading Neil Gaiman's "The Graveyard Book" currently and it's a great little adventure. The predicament young Bod gets himself into at one point got me thinking. Although it's meant to be a children's book, and in the aforementioned scenario Bod is about 11, both his state of mind as well as his dilemma seem as though they replay themselves throughout life for us all.

Without getting into the details of the book, I'll just say this: We, as humans, often lay elaborate plans, with the best of intentions and the highest of ideals. Once put into play though, they often unravel, disintegrate or go haywire on us. We're often left standing in a pile of debris, usually of our own creation, looking around us, with a large red question mark floating obnoxiously over our heads.

I don't think there's any way to avoid this. It's intrinsic to life that we repeat the pattern. I guess that the point is not to figure out how to break that cycle, but how to better deal with the question mark afterward.

...

Geeking a bit

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:31:39 GMT

Warning this post contains geekery, including references to World of Warcraft. You've been warned.

Last night was a good night for video gaming. I definitely had a need to zone out a bit. As it turns out, my longest running character on World of Warcraft was due to hit the almighty '80'. I've been playing her for about year now and it's been a lot of fun. I was lucky enough that Eric, Stacy, Scot, Stacey, Kaimi, Carrie, Kelly, Flea and others were online to pass on congratulations and invite me to do a bit of raiding with them.

I'm also itching to watch the new episode of Battlestar Galactica on Hulu. Hard to believe that show is coming to an end soon.

I've also started picking up a few comics again. Nothing serious so far, but Marvel started a 'Noir' mini-series line that has some promise (imagine if Spider-man took place in the 1930's, he carried a gun and everyone was corrupt, warped, non-costume versions of themselves). I'm also really enjoying the recent re-boot of the Green Lantern universe. Hard to believe I first read a GL comic more than 30 years ago. We recently discovered a new comic/game shop not far from here and after arranging for the owner to take most of my old comics off of me for a decent trade in value, I got a nice fat gift card to spend there on some new stuff. Should be fun.

Oh and Judson got us 'Little Big Planet' for the PS3 for xmas, which has to be one of the cutest games ever. Check it here: http://www.littlebigplanet.com/

Lyrics and Stuff...

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 19:51:24 GMT

I'm happy Obama won. I'm glad Bush is gone. However, I'm already tired of this National Masturbation Day. I just want to get on with the work ahead.

Oh..and I'm really digging these lyrics right now. From the Cinematics "Break":

I like my loneliness and the thoughts it brings
The darkness can sometimes be a pleasure to me
I stand around on the outside of it peering from the edge
Looking for the answers to the questions I'll never ask

It's from this place we'll find our peace
And reconcile our bitterness
We have to
We have to
Break, break, break, break
Washed away
Washed away

It's from this loneliness and the fear it brings
That new doors can open up and be a saviour to me
So i'll open my mind, open my heart
It's the only way to breathe
It's the static of the lights, she said
So don't panic
No, don't panic

It's from this place we'll find our peace
And reconcile our emptiness
We have to
We have to
Break, break, break, break
Washed away
Washed away
(It's just a trick of the light, she says)
Washed away
(Don't panic, don't panic)

Goodbye Indie 103.1 - R.I.P.

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 23:49:06 GMT

Today I learned that one of my favorite stations to ever grace the airwaves has bitten the dust. This is truly a sad day. My next few drinks will be in toast to this amazing wonderful station.

Where else could you hear MGMT, The Faint, Joy Division, The Pixies, Clash, David Bowie, Lily Allen, The Smiths, or Interpol all without changing the dial? Where else could you hear DJ's like Steve Jones or Henry Rollins or Crystal Method? Where else were the so many great specialty shows: Metal, Punk, Reggae, Latin alternative, Darkwave, Dreampop, Electronic.

Indie made me feel connected to the wonderful Los Angeles music scene. Now that it's gone, I feel like I've lost a friend.

You can read more about the station at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indie_103.1 It really was like no other station I've ever heard.

Larger than my body

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 23:30:40 GMT

A strange sensation took me over today on the way to work. I was driving, the weather was nice, music playing loudly. I felt suddenly bigger than myself. All my problems and happinesses seemed small, and equal. I felt like I didn't fit in my own skin. Colors seemed bigger, sounds seemed bolder. I felt like I could see all of these invisible tendrils snaking out between everything and everyone, intertwining us all. I felt like everything around me was gently bobbing in an unseen tide.

It sent shivers up my back, but at the same time, I didn't really have an emotional reaction to it. I just sat in it, and made sure to signal my right turn.

No, I haven't been doing drugs.

It Goes Both Ways...

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 21:56:01 GMT

So, I have a bone to pick with some of you of the female gender out there. Normally, I'd refer to you as 'ladies'. However, the thrust of this post is that those of you I'm referring to are not acting like ladies at all.

I was brought up by my mother and my grandmother who were both stern, strong women. I have a huge respect for women and see as both equals and as wonderfully different. I still have, what I consider to be, gentlemanly habits, including opening the doors for for women, pulling out chairs, etc.

I also have normal human courtesy habits, like saying 'please', 'thank you', 'excuse me' etc.

This last thing is where things seem to be going astray for some you out there.

I realize there are lots of sleazy, lecherous douche bags out there. I realize that if you give some guys an inch, they'll take a mile. I understand that some guys can not only be jerks, they can actually be dangerous. I really do get it.

But girls, it doesn't excuse you from being a polite human being. Case in point: I'm going through the grocery store, and coming around the corner my shopping cart nearly collides with a young woman's. I smile, back up and say "Excuse me". Not only does she not say anything back, but she won't even make eye contact.

Now, if this were a singular incident, I would chock it up to the individual in question. But it's not. I've seen this behavior become rampant. In a massive attempt to dissuade even the slightest suggestion of flirtation, you've thrown the baby out with the bath water. You've taken up a scorched earth policy. You've decided that if you can't have the interactions you want, you won't have any at all.

My reaction to this is twofold. First, it's sad that you feel that a smile or a 'hello' or a 'thank you' so compromises your personal space that you've forgone them for starring at the ground or in many cases, glaring callously. But it also makes me angry.

I'm sorry that some of you have been pestered by men. I'm sorry that you have to deal with douche bags. However, it does not give you a right to become one yourself. I deserve as much courtesy and respect as you do. Not because I'm a man, but because I'm a person.

My instinct is to just stop holding doors open or pulling out chairs. But I can't, it's ingrained in me. But the next time a 'lady' can't muster the bare necessities of civility, I'm going to call her on it. Politely.

EDIT: I realize that I come off sounding both really angry and very saintly in this post. I'm neither.

I'm a complete lech and pervert. However, I reserve that for those that have consented and no one would suspect otherwise.

Additionally, my post came out a little more angry than I actually am. Let's call it cathartic.

This weekend...

Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:29:53 GMT

I got married.

This is not a drill.

:-)

Sex While Sick

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:03:48 GMT

So, Sonja and I both got colds this weekend. Not super bad or anything, but enough for us to cancel our weekend plans, including two parties. At some point we got to discussing sex drives and how being sick affects them.

She said she knew someone who wanted far more than usual during an illness. Personally, I completely lose the desire to touch or be touched. I get a bit cranky and prefer to be left alone. On the other hand, ocassionally masturbating while sick is a welcome respite, although doing it while high on cold medicine is always a bizarre experience.

What are your experiences with sex while sick?

She Died in '57

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 01:10:38 GMT

A common question I get asked is "Is she your mother?" or sometimes it's "What happens if you break up with her?"

Both are in reference to a tattoo I have on my forearm. It's a beautiful piece of work done by Sage (Tattoos by Sage in New Orleans - defunct in the post Katrina world) involving a sacred heart, some beautiful blues, purples, reds, oranges and yellows. And one name. Bettie.

By the way, it's not Betty, or Betti, it's Bettie. Even many of the girly mags of her era got it wrong. So, no worries, if you did.

I'm not going to rehash the career of Bettie Page (not Paige). You either know her or you don't. I highly recommend the book Bettie Page: The Life of a Pin-Up Legend, by James L. Swanson. I also highly recommend avoiding anything that has Bunny Yeagers name attached to Bettie's image, as well as not bothering with either of the two feature films made about her life.

In 1957, Bettie Page vanished from the public spotlight. When it was 'discovered' she was still alive, she made it clear that she wanted nothing to do with her fame and didn't want her current image used.

Her photographs from that era meant a lot to me. Many people have asked me why I got her name etched into my arm instead of her image. My response is always 'there's no picture that could accurately be drawn that could represent how I see her in my mind'.

I've poured over almost every photo of her out there. They all tell the only story that needs to be told. She was great. She was everything I find ideal in a woman: aggressive, demure, naughty, innocent, sexy, playful, self-determined, dominant, submissive, fun, hard-working, intelligent. All of the magic was in those photos. When she stopped modeling in 1957, Bettie Page, as I know her, died. I think Bettie felt the same way herself.

Today isn't a day to mourn her loss, it's just another to celebrate her accomplishments.

Sarah Palin loves Jerry O'Connell?

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:29:01 GMT

Okay, so I have a very active, and sometimes bizarre, dream life.

Lasts nights was particularly absurd. I won't get into it - it was very involved and more than a little disturbing.

The image that really is sticking with me though is being at this cocktail party and I spot Sarah Palin, arm-in-arm with Jerry O'Connell. Someone whispers to me that they got married last week. Everyone is dressed in pretty formal attire except Palin. She's got this teal blue house dress on, with black flip-flops (which I loathe). She carrying a drooling baby.

I didn't interact with either of them. But for some reason I noticed that she wasn't wearing underwear. This haunts me.

WTF Potluck

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:24:17 GMT

What I can't figure out for the life of me, is who the fuck actually likes work potlucks. Who wins in this godawful scenario? Even if they're themed you rarely end up with a plate full of food you'd really want to eat under normal circumstances.

Some sort of broccoli casserole next to a pile of chips with salsa out of a jar, some macadamia nut cookies, a slice of pumpkin pie, two carrot sticks with some ranch dressing and a questionably grey chicken wing. Really? Come on, people, who'd eat that?

Then there's the idea of transporting whatever monstrosity you've concocted and dealing with the real possibility of either A) Spilling it all over the interior of your car or B ) Watching as absolutely no one eats a bite of it. Then of course, you resolve to bring nothing but chips and salsa next year.

I say ban them. No, lets go farther and flog the ones who instigate them. Publicly.

So, I'm a big crybaby...

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 06:43:37 GMT

Over dinner this evening, the lovely Sonja and I got into a conversation about songs that you can't help but get weepy to. As a guy, I'm a bit more sensitive than some. I've been known to cry at the end of a really poignant film - and in fact, a really well done song inserted into a well done film is the coup de grace for me.

Anyway, in that vein, I thought I'd throw out a few songs that always make me cry (you know, cause I'm that kind of postmodern guy that can admit he cries), but I'd also like to hear what causes all of you to reach for a hanky.

Connor's BawlFest: (In no order)

1) Johnny Cash's cover of Nine Inch Nails' "Hurt"
2) Gary Jules' cover of Tears for Fears "Mad World"
3) Sia "Breathe Me" - specifically in the context of Six Feet Under. The song itself is kinda meh, but it's use in the show is sublime.
4) Concrete Blonde - "Tomorrow Wendy"
5) XTC - Dear God - This one doesn't necessarily make me cry, but it definitely gets under my skin. How can this song not raise an emotion in you?
6) Dooley Wilson's version of "As Time Goes By" - I'm a sucker for Casablanca or anything from that era of Bogey's works.
7) And on a last final note, I cried like a baby hearing "Ziggy Stardust" live as Bowie's last song at the Saenger Theater. I've never felt such a palpable force as that man on stage and the presence and joy he brought to that crowd. I think it's the first time I've ever felt a true cult of personality.

Sometimes, You Can Go Home

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:39:30 GMT

Yesterday ranks pretty high in the annals of 'unusual days'.

Almost 19 years ago to the day, I left the U.S. Navy. More specifically, I left my ship, the USS Tarawa, a behemoth designed to transport 1200 men almost anywhere in the world, most of them marines, on relative short notice.

Recently, when I had a free moment at work, I did a search for the ship on Google. As it happens, each ship in the Navy now has it's own web page. The Tarawa's had a startling announcement. It was being decommissioned. On December 4th.

It turns out, the ceremony was open to any schmuck who served on the ship.

So yesterday, Sonja and I went down to San Diego to visit what many might compare the funeral of a really mean step-father. I didn't have a good time on the Tarawa. I was young, far too young, to be in the service. I was 18 going on 15 and I was still awkward, underdeveloped and immature.

I handled my job fine (in fact, rather well. I'm a pretty smart guy), but the Navy life and all it entailed was just too damned 'grown up' for me. I didn't do well socially.

Not to mention, living on a ship is hard, dirty, and stressful. It's a gauntlet for many young men in the Navy to serve aboard a ship, especially one that is doing a six month West Pacific tour.

For a year and a half that ship was my home. I saw Hawaii, Okinawa, Japan, Thailand, the Phillippines, and China on board that rust bucket. I lost my teenage love to a car wreck on her. I nearly lost my eye sight cleaning her sides one day in dry dock. I took photos of Soviet bombers off the coast of Vietnam - the pilots waved at me. I got to see the battleship Iowa sail along side me, and point all of its guns my way in a war simulation.

Most importantly, I made my best friend aboard the Tarawa. Eric and I have been friends for 20 years now.

Stepping back on board that place was surreal, to say the least. Coming on board in civilian clothes, Sonja with me, I felt like I'd stepped into a time machine. Hardly a thing had changed on the Tarawa.

It still smelled of sea water, rust, machine oil and sweat. I could still feel the almost imperceptible rocking of the 400 foot long ship.

Our tour guide (I don't think I would have needed one), wasn't much older than I was when I left. He took us around to every spot we wanted to see, including my old office and berthing, the mess hall, gym, well deck, flight deck, bridge, you name it.

But the ships passageways and ladders were different. They weren't as full of noise and life. There wasn't any sense of urgency in people's movements.

I realized that the ship I was seeing was like a living postcard. It reflected the past, but it wasn't the past itself. There were no familiar faces to go along with the sights, sounds and smells. All those youthful scars had become nothing more hazy memories, all the more diminished by time.

We decided not to stay for the actual ceremony. When my lady asked me why, I said, "They're going to speak about the Tarawa they know. I'm the only one who knows my Tarawa."

I stepped off the ship, not feeling sad or bitter or melancholy, but happy. All the anger and hurt I felt the first time I walked off that gangplank, 19 years ago, was gone. Now, I could walk off the ship looking back on my memories, the way a man does when he's not trying to prove anything anymore. When time has given you enough perspective to appreciate the bad as well as the good.

I went home, had great sex, and slept like a baby.

(Pictures to follow soon)

poking my head up

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:49:48 GMT

Looking up from underneath my LJ rock.
LJ has kindly let me know its been 148 weeks since my last post.
TRP planted the seed. It's her fault.

The Public goes up onto Ifilm!!! Support them please!!

Sat, 21 Jan 2006 19:12:46 GMT

"Ghosts", my video for the Public is now out on Ifilm!! The number of views it gets is really important - if it gets enough views it will get bumped into the top 100 and perhaps even an editors pick!

So please, watch it - more than once if you can - and spread the link around. Help the Public (and myself) get noticed. Leave good feedback too please! I'll forever lick all your feet for this!

Okay..that last part is a lie...but I'll be really grateful. No shit.

Here's the link: http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2684069

For those of you who don't read my journal or bulletins on myspace

Tue, 27 Dec 2005 22:58:41 GMT

Please check out this video:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3154743271875351964&q=ghosts

It's my first video as a writer/director/editor and its the first video from The Public - a really great band if you don't know them.

The more hits we get on this video, the more they have a chance of being noticed. We are also working on getting it on the myspace video section and on ifilm.

Please let both myself and the band know if you have comments, or places you think it should be shown.

Thanks,

Connor

Blogging on myspace and LJ

Wed, 20 Apr 2005 16:02:43 GMT

I'm more or less done with LJ blogging. I'm keeping it up so that I can read all of your happenings, but I won't be posting there anymore.

I will be posting regularly on myspace - but if you want to be in on personal posts AND are not in the NOLA area, feel free to let me know and I'll add you to the private list on my journal.

No offense NOLA peeps, but if you want updates on personal goings ons, just ask me.

The Public CD release party!!

Fri, 18 Mar 2005 16:22:37 GMT

Woohooo! I'm coming out from my cave one more time for the CD release party for the Publics new album, 'Saturn Missile Battery'.

We are doing it at the Dervish on (Saturday)March 26th. The band will be there, there will be giveaways, merchandise, and we'll play some of the songs over the course of the evening.

Yours truly will be deejaying and I have a ton of new stuff to play as well as a few of my old tracks that aren't Edwins style.

On a personal note - this album is incredible. So good in fact, that the remainder of my time in NOLA, I want to spend working on videos and concert footage of the Public. I've set aside doing my short films for the time being so that I can concentrate on this.

This album is going to take these guys to the big time! There are so many good songs on there and so many great singles - Identity Theft, Ghosts, It's Never Over, the New Victims, Lover Come Quickly - Jesus, practically the whole CD.

In fact, this album is on regular rotation with the new Bravery and New Order albums -which is saying alot, because those rock as well.

Anyway, hope to see you all soon.