Rockstar

Nasty Nate paparazzi shot:

Jerk.

A Living Legend.

I have been trying to wrap my head around the death of Michael Jackson, I feel a bit of discomfort and shock as if a distant relative has passed. Understandably, people around the globe are mourning the loss of a pop icon, friend, father, brother etc... It happened like death usually happens, all of the sudden. It reminded me tonight that although he is immortalized in my mind, he was human, a living, breathing person. I guess this tragic/sudden death is going to turn people different ways, depending upon what he meant to each individual.

Over the last decade and a half MJ's public image has been heavily tarnished due to molestation allegations, baby heaving, climbing trees, secret rooms and a number of other strange things one wouldn't expect to hear about the king of pop. I myself am guilty of making jokes about Michael Jackson, his sexuality, his facial features but at the same time I respected and listened to his music.

The truth is, Michael Jackson was a legend, a gifted, living legend who probably musically influenced more people into super-stardom than you have even met in your lifetime. I think, above everything, people have to take into account that every single person on this earth has skeletons in their closet, some not as bad as others but thankfully for most of us, they'll never see the light of day. MJ was arguably the most famous pop music icon on the planet. I said it, the planet. I read of people in the most beat up of third world countries who couldn't tell you who their own leader was but knew of Michael Jackson and his music and that right there put him in view of the all seeing, never forgiving public eye.

Part of the trouble that comes along with that title is having to be responsible for the management ( or mismanagement ) of the money, constantly being in the public eye, so much so that a huge part of your humanity is stripped from you, he became an object. Everyone knows that with more money comes more problems, the deeper the pockets the juicier you are to sue. As of 2009 I'm a firm believer that junk sites like Perezhilton.com and TMZ.com get more hits than CNN.com or any other news affiliated website. Bloggers now are the controllers of public image in Hollywood, it's all so skewed and contorted, it's almost sickening. Most of the reasons these pop stars fall so hard is essentially because of us and our expectations, our unhealthy interest in their lives, our glutton for gossip and drama. It's more than disheartening to know that the same people who created MJ are the same exact ones who destroyed him.

MJ wasn't as popularly relevant in 2009 as he once was but in the big scheme of things he is and will continue to be one of the most relevant artists of all time. As an artist MJ was, without question, amazing, which is still a huge understatement. Michael's dance moves alone were admired by great people:

“Oh, God! That boy moves in a very exceptional way. That’s the greatest dancer of the century”. - Fred Astaire

“I didn’t want to leave this world without knowing who my descendant was. Thank you Michael!”- Fred Astaire (shortly before his death)

“The only male singer who I’ve seen besides myself and who’s better than me – that is Michael Jackson.” – Frank Sinatra

I'm fond of a bit of MJ's music, anyone who isn't or hasn't attempted the moon walk at least once is clearly lying. But even more interesting than his inspiring moves and catchy music was the fact that he was universal. Michael Jackson's legendary status was absolutely universal. Music brings people together in a way nothing else does and his music did that, language barriers meant nothing at the pinnacle of his career, once he threw his hand up - it was alright.

I know that the media is going to cover this for months, even years, I understand that this is our generation's Elvis. I get that the jokes will fly, character studies will be done and he will be scrutinized long after his death. Everyone should realize that our grip on entertainers is unhealthy for both parties. I'm guilty of scanning through magazines and browsing tabloid websites that dish gossip that probably isn't true but after the death of Michael Jackson, I actually feel guilty about it. I can't help but think about how us as a fan base probably had a hand in destroying him and not just him, destroying entertainers. I live a private life that I try not to share with many people, not that many people are interested but I could understand the torture of having no privacy at all, I'd have a tough time adjusting. People out there will say that with the money and fame comes the loss of privacy, the undeserving millions upon millions give us the right to put whoever we want up on the chopping block because, as I said before, you're no longer a mere Human. You're the Jonas brothers, you're the vampire who wears flannel shirts, you're Brad Pitt who adopts kids like it's going out of style. I think any star is subject to criticism, of course, that's the human way. I don't think that we buy into your freedoms though, that is far from humane.

I pay you to entertain me, I buy your albums to listen to music that takes me away from wherever I am at any given time, I purchase the movie ticket to become an action hero in my lackluster life but I don't buy you, I don't buy your sexual preference or brand of t-shirts, your relationships, your family, your 8 kids. I say, rest in peace Michael Jackson, you entertained me and thankfully you will live on in your music to entertain for years to come. I say that whatever you did in life, good or bad, is yours to have done, thanks for the inspiration and sorry you had to leave so soon. That is what MJ is to me.

As I read this back and look at the heading, It still isn't real to me.

Israel Day 2

Boy leaving the marina at Old Akko...


View from above the Bahai Gardens, Haifa...


These kids were a riot. Old Akko...


Random courtyard in Old Akko...


Aqueduct at Caesarea. King Herod built all sorts palaces, theaters, and a harbor to kiss ass to Octavian Caeser. I love Roman history, so this really made me cream my pants.


Christian crusaders built the Templar's Tunnel in the 12th century and used it to escape from the Arabs. The tunnel was "rediscovered" in 1994, and has been open to the public a mere 10 years.

Israel Day 1

Somewhere over Kansas...


Tel Aviv at night...



Building in Tel Aviv...


On our way to the Dead Sea...


Ben at the Dead Sea...

Things not to do.

People always say that I have no filter. Some say that I am bad with other things as well....like remembering names.

I also have the tendency to do really stupid things without thinking ahead. When I finally realize what I have done, it is too late and the awkward moment has materialized.

This is the first installment of "Things not to do".

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

I am walking through Walmart looking for odds and ends for my house.

As I pass by the toy section a boy, no older than 9, yells out "Marco!". I was probably 20 feet away and I yelled back "Polo!" with a weird grin on my face. Im a 26 year old man inserting myself in a young boy's game of Marco/Polo.... in Walmart's toy section. I creeped myself out.

Things not to do: Play Marco/Polo with child strangers.

D90 Era Begins

In 2006, Nate sold me my first camera, the Nikon D50.

While entry-level, it has served me quite well the past few years.

Lately, I've been creatively uninspired. I have been blaming this on having "outgrown my camera".

There are a few things that I've been craving in a camera for close to a year:

1. Ability to shoot in low light. The D50 was god awful in low light. I always felt like I should have been able to take a decent photo of someone sitting in their living room lit only by some incandescent lamps. Nope. Boost the ISO and the pics come out noisy as all hell.

2. Video. I love motion. Nate thinks I'm crazy. But, I want my digital SLR to shoot video. I don't need amazing quality or control - just something I can vibe with and make the most of.

3. Higher resolution photos. My D50 was 6 Mega Pixels. Just wasn't cutting it.

Today, I resolved that I would make a significant upgrade. So...I bought a Nikon D90. Most photo nerds would laugh at calling it a "significant" upgrade. But, for me...this is very significant since the D90 addresses my three big issues (listed above) and gets me back on track creatively (fingers crossed).

So, here is my first picture taken with the D90. Completely unedited except for resizing:


Can you say "only eye-brows in-focus"?

Call Me "Oil Change"

Last week, Facebook announced that on June 12th, 2009 at 9:02PM users would be able to sign up for vanity URLs. I immediately compiled a list of desirable names that I would try to register to my account and then sell. In an effort to go for as many valuable names as possible in the shortest amount of time, I enlisted Nate's help. Should one or both of us manage to lock down a URL that we could flip for some cash, we would split the profit.

Certain names would be off limits. Facebook set up a form that allowed big brands to register URLs for trademarked properties in advance. Still, I knew that not all brands would be savvy enough to secure their URLs ahead of time.

As the clock neared 9:02 yesterday evening, Nate and I sat in front of our computers, trigger fingers ready. I was nervous. Nate was "Chillin', heh".

Finally, the moment arrived. I frantically typed 'poker'. URL Taken. 'money'. URL taken. 'target'. URL Taken. 'bing'. URL name must be at least 5 letters.

Nate had similarly bad luck. He settled on securing his own name as his Facebook URL.

I was not as easily placated.

'Dating'. URL Taken. 'Sketchers'. URL available...confirm?

Hell no. Fuck Sketchers.

In one impulsive moment stemming from both frustration and my longstanding hatred of Facebook, I finally settled on www.facebook.com/oilchange .

When I told Nate about my ridiculous choice, he said, "Dude! That's your new nickname! Oil Change!"

What the Hell Happened?

I randomly started browsing my earliest Force Duo posts tonight. It really got me thinking: What the hell happened?

This blog used to be pretty damn entertaining. I actually wrote, half decently and pretty often.

Now we have 5 bloggers and approximately 1/1000 the entertainment value and essentially no regularity.

I can only speak for myself. But, I believe I'm creatively and intellectually unmotivated. My cynicism about pop culture and current events is still there. I don't share it. I still get out pretty often. I don't share my experiences. I want to take photos. I don't take photos.

Instead of making a witty post about accused murderer Amanda Knox's rad herpes outbreak, I watch watch Sports Center 4 times in a row.



Well, fuckit. I'd like to try to get things back on track here. Here are few things about me:

- I've been sick for the past 4 days. Since I was in NYC, taking public transportation around, I wonder if I caught H1N1 aka Swine Flu. Unfortunately, I'll never know. I have an aversion to doctors so strong that Scientologists teach their kids about me.

- On the 19th, I'm going to Israel with Ben, Nate and a few other folks. I'm amped. I've never been to the Holy Land. But, if it's anything like it is in the bible, it's absolutely mythical....errrr... I mean magical.

- I'm pretty broke. It baffles my mind. My bank account is down to less than $200.00. I was sorta glad I got sick since it curbed my appetite and prevented me from going out and spending money. I get paid on the 15th. Monday can't come soon enough.

What I actually do for a living

Roof Top Garden NYC

Back To The Fucking Future!

Today a friend of someone at work brought his replica Back to the Future Delorean to set. Its unbelievable, everything down to the wires is exactly like the car in the film.

Heres me doing my best McFly


88MPH!!!


Robert Zemeckis even signed the dash

Jose Canseco. MMA Fail.

How horrible is this? I hope there was good money to be made.

Easy, Ladies...

"Woman bites lover's penis off in car crash"

[Image via WENN.]

Woman bites lover's penis off in car crash

A boss and his secretary who were having an affair saw their romantic tryst interrupted in a wince-inducing manner - after a car crash led her to accidentally bite his penis off.

According to reports in China. Press and Sin Chew Daily, the 30-year-old woman was performing oral sex on her boss in a car in a Singapore park, when the car was struck by a reversing van.

The impact caused her to bite the man's penis off.

Just in case this wasn't already bad enough for those involved, the incident was observed by a private detective who had been sent by the woman's husband to catch them out.

He described how, shortly after parking, the car started to 'shake violently' - but then was hit by the van. He said that the woman screamed loudly, with her mouth covered in blood.

Helpfully, the investigator called an ambulance to take the man to hospital. His lover followed him there, with part of his penis.

The investigator said he's never seen an incident like it before.