shadows + dust

Tumescence

2010-04-20T11:15:00.000-07:00

Hello friends,

Thomas Bailey, Alicia Peterson, many of our friends, and myself are all in preproduction for TUMESCENCE, a film that will be independently produced by Hand Sown Films.

Please support by following our websites:

http://www.nomagichere.tumblr.com

http://www.twitter.com/tumescencefilm

and please make a small pledge at

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tumescence/tumescence

Please spread the word!!! Thanks!

#1- Dntel- Life is Full of Possibilities

2010-01-12T16:33:00.001-08:00

2001

This album was very important in my impressionable teen years. While I was bent on exclusively listening to music with two guitars, a bass, and drums, LiFoP called to me from a different direction. The digital down tempo album was scattered and calming. Built on subtle drones, soft glitches, and guest singers, Jimmy Tamborello created one of the most intimate albums I have ever heard.

The album opens with a quiet and distorted voice over rain, giving a sense of tranquil disassociation. Building with a simple organ and a digital shuffle of a snare and kick, the song blossoms into a 21st century glitchy LA nights anthem.

"Anywhere Anyone" is the next track, sung by Los Angeles' very own Mia Doi Todd. Her voice is classic and soothing and pairs perfectly with the slow tempo of the song. The simple lyrics seem to hit home with anybody that has ever been in a failing relationship, "How can you love me if you don't love yourself? How can I love you if I don't love myself?" Simple as they are, they speak volumes coming out of her mouth over Tamborello's music.

The next few songs are very subtle and almost vacant even. "Suddenly is Sooner Than You Think" was the song that first proved to me that a good song did not have to have a cluttered pop song structure. A slow few whimsical bass notes hold together scattered train sounds, distant voices, and samples reminiscent of sirens. Meridith Figurine's soft-spoken narrating vocals are more like intimate pillow-whispers than a sung song. The song moves into a swell of distortion that sounds like an ocean, glitches of soft boops and beeps, and a calming mechanical beat as Meredith continues to whisper her melody. This song is what taught me "Less is More."

The single off the album is one of the greatest songs ever. "(This is) The Dream of Evan and Chan" features the vocals of Death Cab For Cutie's Ben Gibbard. Generally, I don't like Death Cab, however, on "Evan and Chan", Gibbard's vocals and nostalgic lyrics strike a chord in my heart when laid next to Tamborello's soft static and samples. The song resonated so well in the indie music community that not only did numerous remixes surface, a top Billboard band did as well. Gibbard and Tamborello decided to further collaborate and created The Postal Service.

I obsessed over this album in high school and in college. I started emailing Tamborello as a weird 14 year old fan would, but surprisingly, he would respond. This developed a loyalty to a musician that I had never really experienced before. One of my teenage musical heroes was making good music AND was willing to discuss it with me. When I studied in France, his new album wasn't selling in France, so he mailed it and stuffed the envelope with stickers and a burned CD that had a weird b-side. I even asked him for advice when I had my little heart broken once (which sort of sucked because his advice was just about as hopeful as his music...). I even ran into him a couple of times at LA Dublab events. He makes great music and is a REAL person living on the Eastside.

I could really geek out over this album for a week, but I'll save myself the humiliation. Most of you have probably come across this album before. It might take a patient listen, but give it a shot. Put the album on when you are getting ready for bed- better yet- fall asleep to it. Drive in the rain to it. Cuddle to it. Whatever you choose, make this album yours somehow. It's truly sentimental, intimate, and groundbreaking. This album is the most important to me in my formative years because it steered my musical tastes into a whole new direction.

#2- The Good Life- Album of the Year

2010-01-06T18:58:00.000-08:00

2004

Tim Kasher is awesome. I knew that he would make it onto this list either in Cursive or The Good Life. Though I am a bigger Cursive fan, I felt that Album of the Year was his masterpiece. AotY is one of the best concept albums I've ever heard. It's a simple yet very relatable concept.

The album spans over the time of a year in a relationship, rise and fall of, with each of the twelve songs standing for a month of the year. Beginning in April, the protagonist (Kasher probs) meets his girl, who happens to be a bartender. The story progresses as the two fall into a comfortable and codependent relationship until suspicions of adultery arise ("Notes in His Pocket"). The girl confronts him and asks "Are you cheating on me?" at the end of "October Leaves". Kasher defends himself in "Lovers need Lawyers". She gets fed up and leaves him declaring that she "won't be [his] prisoner" ("Inmates"). The story wraps up in the aftermath of the relationship after she has found "A New Friend" and moved on, while Kasher is probably still boozing at home.

The album has folk influences and rings out that Saddle Creek sound. This can be credited to being produced by Saddle Creek Records' heavy-hitting producer, Mike Mogis. The songs blend perfectly into the next as far as theme and sound goes. A nice ensemble of acoustic guitars, mandolins, and percussive instruments hints at an appalachian folk album early on, but then stirs into dreamy accordion waltz numbers like "Night and Day". Some songs develop a wily and cluttered sound (not bad at all) and then blend back into quiet more moody numbers. "You're Not You" taps into a feeling we've all felt before. The song deals with the harsh realization that a loved one changes over time to suit his or her company. The sweet cadence and soft strummed guitars really pave the road for the point to get across here.

"Inmates" is one of the most epic songs I have ever heard in my life.The song is around 9 minutes long and somehow manages to never get boring. With female guest singer Jiha Lee taking the vocal helm, the song expresses the girlfriend's frustrations and boiling point when deciding to leave Kasher. Starting with just a softly picked acoustic guitar, the song develops into a duet with soft-spoken Lee and harsh-sounding Kasher over an ensemble of instruments. The end of the song reaches an incredibly cathartic climax of violins, guitars, drums, mandolins, and vocalists (including Jenny Lewis) crying out "I won't be your prisoner". This song has had the hairs on my neck on point for years now.

While many Saddle Creek records have been a big part of my younger years, AotY is the best piece of work to come out of Omaha. Listen to it from start to finish. Truly an inspiring album musically and lyrically.

#3- M83- Before the Dawn Heals Us

2009-12-29T23:01:00.000-08:00

2005

I remember when I would spend the money I saved on a CD and obsess over it. Even in college, I would buy a CD and listen to it from start to finish several times. It would be the only thing I would listen to. I wanted to know an album inside and out. These days are dying. The album as a medium is on its last breath. EPs are released more frequently. People download songs at ease. I'll even buy a song on my phone when I'm driving. It's now considered "old-fashioned" to buy an album as a whole and digest the 12 songs.

Before the Dawn Heals Us is one of the best albums ever. Each song perfectly evolves into the next. Using influence from various 1980s-1990s rock and roll genres, Anthony Gonzalez created a dynamic set of songs that stand stronger together then they do alone (though, I think each track is great enough on its own). M83 is best described as an electronic shoegaze/dream-pop band. They take ambient noise and repetitive thrash elements from shoegazing greats like My Bloody Valentine, dream-pop textures from the likes of Brian Eno, melodramatic brooding catches from 1980's bands, and electronic glitch samples reminiscent of Squarepusher to create the unique and epic M83 sound.

BtDHU opens with "Moonchild", made of epic synths and Andrewlloydweberesque drums pounding over a whimsical female story teller and progresses into an emotional swell of guitars, drums, static, choruses, and sustained distortion. Songs that follow such as "Don't Save Us From the Flames" and "Teen Angst" are catchy melodramatic songs that provide the perfect balance of feel good relief and heart-pumping anxiety. The duet "Farewell/Goodbye" tells the story of a lover passing away and extending care from the afterlife. Even before I knew what the lyrics were about, the song was bittersweet and painful. I think this is the only album that I felt nostalgic about on my first listen (i dont think that's possible, being that nostalgia technically tugs at memory...).

The album wraps up with a song that perfectly expresses the M83 sentiment. "Lower Your Eyelids to Die With the Sun" is quite the finale. It even has the ability to make a skate video seem deeper than oceans.

I feel like this album tells a story. Not in words... but in sheer gut feeling. There are parts where you feel hopeful, angered, in love, heartbroken, anxious, etc. This album is epic and bittersweet with a timelessness that will leave you wanting more for years to come. Late night car drives, cigarettes, le metro in Paris, or in the iPod earbuds when stargazing... I've associated many of my most vibrant and personal memories with this album because it demands a nostalgic bond. Just last month, my copy of the cd was scratched in my car. Sad moment.

If you are brave/stupid enough, put your guard down and take this album for a Teen Angst test drive.

#4- Radiohead- In Rainbows

2009-12-26T18:45:00.000-08:00

2007

First of all, I know many radioheads will give me flak for not choosing Kid A. So, in Kid A's honor, this first paragraph is an iceberg tip of a hat. Kid A is an incredible album. It perfectly ushered in the new decade of internet and digital dependence. It was still rock and roll, but it was built on what the internet and binary would produce. I felt like it was melodic rock and roll that my new cable internet would sound like if it made great music. Kid A had a perfect blend of songs that brought out a distinct Radiohead feel. I personally refer to this feeling as the "holy shit" sentiment: "holy shit, how did someone write that song? holy shit, why do I feel like this?" Songs like "Everything in it's Right Place" or "Idioteque" utilized the strange glitch sounds to create layered new millennium hits. The title track is still to this very day, one of the most overwhelming songs I've heard. It's not cluttered or hectic, but it's just... complete. It was difficult not to choose Kid A, but I had my reasons.

In Rainbows was the straw that broke the physical format's back. After finishing up their record contract with EMI, Radiohead took things into their own hands. In the fall of 2007, Radiohead released 10 songs on their website available for download for any price the consumer desired. I paid two pounds. Once a band like Radiohead made an audacious move against the dying record companies, the label and cd were deemed irrelevant. DIY was the new big break.

In Rainbows took over two years to make. Since Radiohead didn't have the pressure of a record label or deadlines behind them, there wasn't a sense of urgency. Between tours and years since a prior release (and Yorke's solo album), Yorke and company felt a bit tired. However, their genius held up, tried and true. The album had a perfect mix of Radiohead songs. Distorted guitar rock and roll songs like "Bodysnatchers", sampled 5/4 glitch beats in "15 Step", and an ethereal heaven in "Nude" (this song still gets my blood pumpin). "Weird Fishes" is an anxious song that truly puts the listener in a submerged and impatient state. It gives you the desperate tremble that one would have when snorkeling in an unfriendly current. Next time you go to a car wash where you drive your car through the line of soapy flaps, put this song on loudly and think of fish. (Nerd much?) After a few more perfect songs, the album wraps up with a bareboned and vulnerably mortal "Videotape".

To further explain why I chose IR over KA, I need to be straight with you. I am a relatively fresh Radiohead fan. In the early 2000's I consciously resisted drinking the Yorke juice as a passive aggressive protest against my younger sister who had been a 'head for a long while. Regrettably, I missed a lot of the Kid A culture while it was happening (but better late than never, right?!). In Rainbows, however, was delivered when my mind was rich and hungry for anything Radiohead. More importantly, I fell in love with Scotch_mist and the radiohead.tv shorts. Radiohead had a series of homemade music videos, performances, poems, and shorts available for fans. They became an interactive band. It felt like Radiohead had transcended from musicians, into simply Radiohead.

I know I sound like any other Radioheadaholic, geekin out here and all, but seriously...

Holy Shit.

A Christmas EP

2009-12-24T02:38:00.000-08:00

Here are a handful of Christmas songs brought to you by Sundays.

JC Del Barco II

Sebastian Pardo

Michael Burrows

Jared Parsons

Jenni Westbrook

Track listing:

1) I didn't know what to buy my sister for christmas so i wrote her this song (It's Christmas Time)

2) Baby, It's Cold Outside

3) Rudolph

BONUS TRACKS JUST ADDED:
4) Baby, It's Cold Outside (SBP Alternate Vocals)
5) Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (By Jared Parsons)

SUPER BONUS TRACK:

6) O, Mac n' Cheese

Download for free and share the holiday cheer. Merry Christmas.

More to follow...

#5- Sigur Rós- ( )

2009-12-23T16:15:00.000-08:00

2002

For any of you that know me, I've got a strong knack for Icelandic music, film, and art. This album alone was the snowball that created the avalanche. While the prior album, Ágætis byrjun and touring with Radiohead put Sigur Rós on the map, I feel that the parenthesis album was their best (*Note that even if Ágætis byrjun was released this decade, I would have still chosen parenthesis).

This album solidified the distinct Sigur Rós sound of Jónsi Þór Birgisson's haunting falcetto over his reverb-heavy guitar being strummed by an old cello bow. One thing that I think is inconsistent with ( ) from Sigur Rós' other albums is tempo. This album has a really slow bpm. A simple 2/2 beat can seem much longer. While some may say that it is simply "boring", I fell in love with ( ) for this reason exactly. There is time to absorb, dwell, and digest each sound. While the album is far from cluttered, Sigur Rós manages to paint landscapes of sentiments in their notes and kicks.

The album consists of two halves, four untitled songs each. The halves are separated by 36 seconds of silence (maybe two segments of "18 sekúndur fyrir sólarupprás" for any of you diehards out there?). The former are not necessarily happy songs, but they have a soothing and hopeful sound. The latter are melancholy and gloomy. The two halves perfectly juxtapose each other, like two parenthesis. ( ) is also sung in a made up language referred to as "Vonlenska", or "Hopelandic". Built on very few sylables (You si lo no fi lo you so), the gibberish still seems to communicate sentiments and even stories at times. Personally, I think this was key in their international success; they made something transcendent of tongue.

Untitled #8 is the most distinct song on the album. While at first a feelgood pretty song with a catchy guitar riff leads the listener thinking that there is optimistic redemption at the end of the second half of the album, the song takes a dark turn. Past the six minute mark, the song shatters into a hopeless requiem of agressive drums unique from the rest of the album, distorted guitars and bass, and a howling Jónsi. Hopeless and exhilarating.

A live recording of Untitled #4 was also debuted in Cameron Crowe's 2001 release, Vanilla Sky. This was what first wet my feet into the Sigur Rós world. Also, this film captivated me and established what was to be an undying love for Penelope Cruz, Sigur Rós, and dvd menus (if you're anything like me, fall asleep to this one and wake up romantically disillusioned). The rest of the decade would see Sigur Rós' music all over film and television. They became an international phenomenon built on a sound that is completely original.

Sigur Rós was my gateway drug into many other great Icelandic artists. This album was a big part of high school for me. Also, I always wanted to get the sleepwalker image from the back of the album tattooed on me but stupid Ryan Schumaker got it done last year and I hate him. Sleepyface will have to do.

#6- Elliott Smith- Figure 8

2009-12-16T14:15:00.000-08:00

2000

I have one framed photo on my living room wall. Though small and colorless against the wall, the black and white matted portrait of Elliott Smith fills the space adequately.

Figure 8 was the last album that was released during his lifetime. It opens with a powerful punch, "Son of Sam" is a rock and roll tune with some great olde bar piany pounding the keys. By the end of the song, a listener has to wonder if he can follow up that song with the rest of the album. He does. Every song on this album is perfect. Smith made a perfect cocktail out of folky acoustic guitars, blues-grunge hybrid electric guitars, ragtime piano, and classical string arrangements. Figure 8 sounds like a divine blend made of every American rock and roll influence in the past century, country to grunge. The blues guitar on "Can't Make a Sound" just rips my heart out every time I hear it (which is often). Though his voice is soft and often nothing more than a melodic whimper, the vocal layers and harmonies create a distinct Smith sound that will sing to the back of the room and into the deepest well of your gut and heart.

His music was somberly perfect.

It's truly tragic that Smith has passed away. Having battled with years of depression, alcoholism, and a severe addiction to heroin, Smith embodied everything any solid person would never hope to be. While touring around 2000, Smith's performances were tragic at best. Audiences would often have to help him remember words, as the ungroomed and sickly Smith would space out on stage. While working on the next album, co-producer Jon Brion, confronted Smith about his addiction which resulted in an end to their brilliant friendship (seriously, two of my musical heroes here. Sad I missed this one).

2002 was a better year for smith. He began to get clean and started making music again. This light after a storm was short lived.

"Elliott Smith died on October 21, 2003, at age 34 from two stab wounds to the chest. According to girlfriend Jennifer Chiba—with whom he was living at the time—the two were arguing, and she locked herself in the bathroom to take a shower. Chiba heard him scream, and upon opening the door, saw Smith standing with a knife in his chest. She pulled the knife out, after which he collapsed and she called 9-1-1. Smith died in the hospital with the time of death listed as 1:36 p.m. While Smith's death was originally reported as a suicide, the official autopsy report released in December 2003 left open the question of possible homicide. A possible suicide note, written on a Post-it read, 'I'm so sorry—love, Elliott. God forgive me.'" (Taken from the wiki)

Smith was a hero for the angst-ridden and stifled spirits many have faced in youth. His music was brilliant and potent. Elliott Smith made the saddest music I've ever heard... and I love him for it.

Rest in Peace.

(If it means anything to you, share something you cherish/remember/etc about Elliott Smith and his music on comments. Thanks!)

#7- Jens Lekman- Night Falls Over Kortedala

2009-12-15T11:35:00.000-08:00

2007

Jens Lekman is a good time. Born in the city of Angered, Sweden, this Scandinavian churned out a good set of songs on Night Falls Over Kortedala. Built on doo-wop/soul samples and garnished with poppy guitar strums and funky bass lines, this album may have been well released a few decades back.

Lekman's lyrics have a wit sharper than his jawline and a tone rounder than his giant forehead. Often singing about petty relationship issues in a melodramatic, yet humorous self-deprecating manner, his songs make it easy to hate him just as much as you might hate yourself. His lyrics are relevant, simple, and personal:

i have a love

i have a love for this world,
a kind of love that will break my heart
a kind of love that reconstructs and remodels the past
that adds a dryness to the dry august grass
that adds the sunshine to the magnifying glass
and makes me fight for something that cant last

(from "Into Eternity")

Jens' soft voice over the elaborate songs provide a nice warming balance to the ear. I find that whenever I come to the point of being sick of everything I have on my iTunes and Jason Bentley is just not cuttin it, NFOK hits the spot and makes everything refreshingly new. This album is the cure to Los Angeles traffic stress. Have a good time in the car, sing out loud, relate to songs about silly and tender things. Also, try to catch him live in his many forms... sometimes solo with a guitar and a boombox, sometimes with a full quartet and choir.

Sidenote: Jens grew sick of Sweden and moved as far as he could from it. He now resides in Melbourne, Australia. He also caught H1N1 during his South American tour last June.

#8- Daft Punk- Discovery

2009-12-14T11:11:00.000-08:00

2001

Cheers to all the house parties we had when we were out of the house, but still too young to go to the bars. Discovery is an album full of youthful dance anthems. Songs like "One More Time" or "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" still get people cheering and dancing, almost a decade after being released.

Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo developed a timeless spin on house music that was loved by heavy digital loyalists and pop-listeners alike. Between choice samples, 70's bass lines, and soulful vocals, the album just made you want to dance. The French duo asserted France's position in the digital music world. Remember that Gap commercial Daft Punk did with "Digital Love"? That was awesome. Watch it here and go buy some denim.

Discovery is one of the best concept albums out there to date. It acts as a soundtrack to the anime film Interstella 5555: The 5tory of the 5ecret 5tar 5ystem. It's some fun film about an outer space alien band being kidnapped. Each music video off the album is actually just a scene from the movie.

This album had alot of influence on digital music for many bands to date (Justice, MSTRKRFT, all the Dim Mak stuff...). With the hits from this album constantly being remixed and revisted by various DJs and college students... Daft Punk was building a huge following. When they announced their Tour in 2007, tickets were swept up and the bar was raised for live DJ sets. Seeing them was one of the most exciting nights of my life.

It's a feel good album. Dance to "One More Time", have a cigarette to "Aerodynamic", and make out to "Something About Us." This album is a good reminder of all the sloppy and silly nights some of us had earlier on in the decade.

#9- Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavillion

2009-12-10T15:57:00.000-08:00

2009

I'd be a fool not to have an AnCo album on here. I did struggle to choose between MPP and Sung Tongs. I chose MPP not only because of the amazing songs, but also for the fan fervor upon it's release (early leak). Though the release date was set for January 6, 2009, most college students owned a digital copy long before Christmas. It was what everybody was talking about for the next few months (until Veckatimest was released). In the month's to follow, other bands and sub-genres were being labeled as "Animalcollectivish".

While I like much of their older work as well, I won't deny that some of it simply isn't that accessible for a peasant's palate (smug, right?). MPP was dynamic, eclectic, unique, and VERY accessible for easy foot-tapping listeners.

Opening with an ethereal "Into the Flowers" started the album off on a strong, yet unconventional foot. Followed up by hits and anthem sing-alongs like "My Girls" and "Summertime Clothes" made the listener hungry for more of these repetitive high energy samples and vocal melodies. Panda Bear's lyrics over Avey Tare's howls and and repetitive phrases paired up better than pizza and beer. "Guys Eyes" is melodic vocal chaos... I love it. Panda and Avey are pretty much singing two different songs on top of each other and it still holds perfectly over the mechanical breaking beat. Top the album off with "Brother Sport", an awesome piece best described as the Beach Boys on LSD. All nine songs on this album are great to listen to. They are arranged in the perfect order which makes the album good from start to finish. I was very glad to catch them live this year.

Get this if you haven't (Shame... seriously, you filthy peasant.) and turn it up loud.

#10- Kanye West- Graduation

2009-12-09T11:14:00.001-08:00

2007

However much of an asshole this guy can be, he produced one hell of an album here. This really solidified the influence of indie music samples and catches along with french-pop synths into mainstream hip hop.

Kanye was smart and collaborated with many different artists that would eventually breed curiosity and expand his fan base. Jon Brion coproduced a good number of the tracks. Jon Brion is one of my musical heroes. He plays every Friday night at the Largo on La Cienega, used to play with Elliott Smith, and has composed the scores for a number of my favorite films. Guest appearances on Graduation include Daft Punk, Lil Wayne, Chris Martin from Coldplay, Mos Def, and T. Pain.

Aside from working with Brion, I thought the most distinct collaboration was signing Takashi Murakami to do the album artwork. Murakami is a dynamite pop artist in Japan who has the commercial golden touch. His keychains sell for more than my hour's rate. Marc Jacobs signed him on a few years ago to design a line of Louis Vuitton bags (watch this interview with Jacobs). The album had very memorable images. While most hip hop artists go for a tuff-town look, West and Murakami created a stylish cute-yet-quirky hot hip hop image.

West also signed Spike Jonze to direct the 1970s-esque music video for "Flashing Lights"... one of my favorites. West's other videos also included help from Daft Punk and Murakami.

Between a catchy set of songs that are good for the club, car, or house party, West brought in some incredible artists, directors, and musicians that are all renowned in the art world (both commercial and indie). This album and everything tied to it packed a heavy punch in the music scene.

Go get your shutter shades on.

Top 10 Albums of the Decade

2009-12-09T11:03:00.000-08:00

Sebastian Pardo (http://iratepandablog.blogspot.com/) asked me to make a list of my top 10 albums of the decade. It took me a good 2 months to come up with the list. After many near regrettable cuts and surprising additions, I narrowed the list list to 10 albums. I chose them at pure personal discretion. Albums that meant alot to me, influenced me, or that I though were important to culture in some way.

As the last month of the decade unfolds, every few days I will post a new album and brief word on each, leading up to number 1.

They will be tagged as "Top 10 Albums of the Decade"

Feel free to share thoughts and make fun of my list.

-jc del barco ii

Thankful for Life (16: Moments)

2009-11-28T20:37:00.000-08:00

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. I hope it was full of life, like this: (watch in fullscreen)

A good friend, Thomas Long, pointed me in the direction of this film directed by Will Hoffman (www.anyoneeverything.com).

It's almost too intense to take in. I feel like every frame beats the warm sting of nostalgia into your heart and mind. Everything seemed reminiscent of something long forgotten. It was incredibly relevant and dear. I'm glad I watched it today. The air was brisk and clean, so the sensation just complimented the film's little tug and whisper:

"Hey, you're alive."

-jc del barco ii

alive/human/dying

23 Things I Learned This Year

2009-11-24T16:01:00.000-08:00

1) Playing the guitar is my favorite thing to do.

2) Guy friends make everyday a good day. Thanks Brothers.

3) Gin martinis are fantastic.

4) Lee's Sandwiches makes a mean sardine sandwich and avocado smoothie.

5) Girls are fucking crazy. (The band and the gender)

6) Grizzly Bear has a pretty rad drummer.

7) The fortune teller in NYC was right.

8) Black Licorice.

9) Good coworkers and bad coworkers make or break any job.

10) Smile.

11) Mike Burrows is a man.

12) If I keep the dishes done, the rest of the house sort of ends up getting clean.

13) Westside is the best side.

14) Family is still great.

15) Slunt.

16) I like children's films.

17) Bring whiskey in a flask and put in diet coke at theater. It makes even "New Moon" bearable.

18) NEVER WATCH A SCARY FILM AGAIN. EVER.

19) I love you, Runty.

20) It's ok to not be busy.

21) "It's easy to get a girl out of your league so long as she has daddy issues."

22) Mad Men

23) My life is great and I feel like the luckiest guy alive. Thanks to those of you that pitched in. I owe you one.

-jc del barco ii

23/young/old

When. Did. I. Get. So. Old?

2009-11-18T00:21:00.000-08:00

I don't wanna die... without shakin up a leg or two...

fun. :)

Broken Tongue Foods

2009-11-17T18:47:00.001-08:00

A few years ago, I made it a point to expand my palate. I figured there were too many tastes in the world to dwell for long on chicken nuggets and sweet and sour.

Between a mother who loves spicy food, some time in France, spices I can't really pronounce, and the then diminishing taste buds of a smoker (I quit)... I began to need sharper and stronger tastes.

Here is a list of some of my new favorite treats:

Sardines.

Dry Gin Martinis.

Black Licorice.

Scotch.

Apple Cider Vinegar.

Sour Beers.

Chevre.

Honey.

Rye bread.

Sourdough bread.

Mussels in wine sauce.

Wine.

Fresh water eel.

Kale.

Ethiopian food.

Thai food with too much hot sauce.

Cardamom.

Salted cod.

Perchauds bitters with tonic water and a twist of lime.

Kombucha.

Fresh ginger.

Yogurt.

Tapatio.

Pho.

Sazeracs.

Manhattans.

Sours.

Cigarettes (not a normal treat, but I do indulge every few weeks)

Old Fashioneds.

Flaming Hot Cheetos.

Ramen.

Friends and coworkers tell me I have the diet of a WWII Veteran. I'm really just a marshmallow on the inside.

What are some of your favorites?

This is awesome.

2009-11-06T16:47:00.001-08:00

Girls: Lust for Life

2009-11-06T16:41:00.000-08:00

Sebastian Pardo (aka Irate Panda Boss [blog here]) recently turned me on to San Fransiscan band, Girls.

This video was directed by Aaron Brown and shot on various formats. Makes me love life and love being young. I think it taps into a sweet nostalgic part of everybody's most beloved weekends.

IPB: Day After Halloween.

2009-11-04T13:08:00.000-08:00

Irate Panda Boss was nice enough to display my glory.

http://iratepandablog.blogspot.com/2009/11/day-after-halloween.html

50 Years of Space Exploration

2009-10-10T20:09:00.000-07:00

This is amazing! The image is way too large to post, so be sure to click on this link on a big monitor.

I'm excited for the first storm of the season to clear away all the smog and give us in LA a brief window to look at the stars. I think I'll make it up to the Griffith Observatory sometime soon.

-jc del barco ii

starstruck/brighteyed/bushytailed

Fully Flared

2009-10-05T18:04:00.000-07:00

Girl Films (2007)

Lakai Team.

Intro and other sequences directed by Spike Jonze.

Shot by Ty Evans.

Song "Lower Your Eyelids to Die With the Sun" by M83 (2005)

This film has some very potent elements and makers. It's just awesome to watch.

Coming this Christmas

2009-10-05T00:48:00.000-07:00

An album of songs that are holiday classics and songs that are holiday originals that is made by friends and myself for yourself and our and your friends and family. Stay tuned as the holiday spirit fills your veins.

The Prescott Family: Sex

2009-09-22T10:39:00.000-07:00

Hello,

If you are in the mood for a quaint-yet-potent art community, look into The Prescott Family. They are an artist collective born in the San Gabriel Valley some odd years ago. Today, many members live throughout the western US coast, reaching far as northern Washington, into Portland, San Fransisco, and down to the roots in Los Angeles. The group produces a unique variety of eclectic handmade music and art. I was lucky enough to have good friendships within the group and collaborate a handful of times.

If you want a recent sampler of their work, check out their new e-zine compilation released today:

THE FAMILY PRESS- ISSUE 3: SEX

Support some local handmade creativity. It will do you some good.

-jc del barco ii

at work/fan/sgv native

One Month Till the Rumpus Begins!

2009-09-19T12:51:00.000-07:00

Oct. 16th. 2009.

I've been waiting for a while now for Wild Things. I'm thrilled!

-jc del barco ii

counting/down/the days.

The Gentlest Gentleman

2009-09-19T12:01:00.001-07:00

It's about that time for another My Brightest Diamond post.

My Brightest Diamond - The Gentlest Gentleman from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.

It's nice to see and hear a classic performing presence. An instrument so small and a girl far from tall can sing a song with a timeless appeal. She collaborated and sung many songs on The Decemberists' recent rock opera album, The Hazards of Love. She is currently touring with them, though will sadly skip over LA. I hope to catch her live again when she visits town.

-jc del barco ii

still crushing/needs to go to a concert soon/sigh

Dreams of Flying

2009-09-01T12:02:00.000-07:00

Jan von Holleben is a photographer from Cologne, Germany. He often works out of London.

Here are some photos from one of his series

titled "Dreams of Flying".

I like it. They are simple and well composed. Fun cheap camera tricks that really rekindle that childhood dream.

You can find the rest of his series on his website @ http://www.janvonholleben.com/?page_id=4

Don't grow up too fast.

-jc del barco ii

victim of gravity/young/hopeful

The Kuroshio Sea

2009-08-17T19:45:00.000-07:00

Kuroshio Sea - 2nd largest aquarium tank in the world - (song is Please don't go by Barcelona) from Jon Rawlinson on Vimeo.

Let it finish loading before you push play. Watch it in the dark, full sized on the biggest screen you have available. It's breathtaking.

The Kuroshio Sea is the world's second largest aquarium. It is at the Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, located in Okinawa, Japan.

The film was shot by Jon Rawlinson, a Canadian filmmaker.

It reminds me of futuristic cars going down the skylanes at various altitudes in sci-fi movies, but in a nice cerulean outer space. Everything is so graceful: the little fish, the manta rays, the whale sharks, even the scuba diver. The song ("Please Don't Go" by Barcelona) is a little cheesy, but it works. I would have chosen a song with an epic feel by Sigur Rós or M83. What would you have chosen?

Argyle Smile in Print!

2009-07-23T16:08:00.001-07:00

Hello friends.

Please check out this article on some of my very talented friends, Argyle Smile.

http://www.ocweekly.com/2009-07-23/music/locals-only/

I interviewed the director of their music video a few months ago if you remember.

Check out Argyle Smile and a few tunes of their new Tipsy Turvy EP on their myspace at http://www.myspace.com/smileargyle.

Best of luck to all of your professional, romantic and creative endeavors,

-jc del barco ii

fan/friend/excited

Animals Not Welcome?

2009-07-20T18:29:00.003-07:00

Hello.

Sorry about the hiatus, reader(s). Life has been extremely busy and good!

Today I found two articles that deal with wild animals not belonging at certain locations.

1: The government hunt for late Colombian druglord Pablo Escobar's hippopotamus has been called off. He had a male and female hippo imported from Africa a while back, which then escaped his private zoo and had a kid in the wild. The governement shot the male dead and animal rights activists gave them enough guff to convince The Man to figure out a way of relocating the mother and it's calf intact.

Read the full article here.

I don't know if this makes me proud or ashamed of being half Colombian. Eitherway, I wish the best to the mother and calf. Though Colombia is a long way from home in Africa, I think the gorgeous landscape would be more exotic and fruitful for a hippo.

2: San Diego judge orders seals to be chased out of the kiddie pool cove. The Children's Pool was made to be a safe swim area, but the seals were keen on it and sort of strongarmed their way onto the turf, or sand rather.

After a turfwar between humans and seals, the judge decided

enough was enough and that the seals were to be chased out of the pool, or else Children's Pool officials would be fined.

Read full article here.

I reckon there will be some bloodshed.

Naive as it may be, I really just wish that San Diegoans, Colombians, Hippos, Seals, etc. could all just get along and play nice. Just last week my roommate Alex and I were trying to figure out how to adopt a koala that is willing to wear a diaper.

Well, this post was useless, just caught my attention to see so much Human/Animal conflict in today's modern world...

The world needs something unifying. Something good. Something Bear...

-jc del barco ii

animal/human/machine

Irate Panda Blog: Summer Prompt

2009-07-06T16:06:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends,

My good friend Sebastian Pardo (http://iratepandaboss.com) is launching some summer play today!

He selected a handful of friends to contribute to the project, I got to be one of the selected!

We recieved a prompt: "What is summer to you?"

We were free to submit whatever we wanted in response.

Check out works from Thomas O. Bailey, Daniel Kaufman, myself, and a few others this week. Each day will feature a new submission!

Check it out at http://iratepandablog.blogspot.com

Thomas' submission is up.

-jc del barco ii

friend/noisemaker/summerlover

Farewell Runty, My Dearest Cat

2009-06-16T21:58:00.000-07:00

Runty,

Though most people never thought much of you, I always vouched for you. Kitty gave birth to you on June 14th, 2005 in our house in Covina. Out of the litter of 5, you were clearly the most incompetent kitten. The siblings pushed you away from the teet and we picked you up and put you back in the action. When you and your siblings were learning to walk, we would line you up in a line and have races. You were always last. We found homes for your siblings, but I wanted to keep you. Small, slow, and silly, you were the best little girl in my eyes.

I liked coming home on weekends from college so I could play with you. You were skittish with most people, but you came to me with a kind meow and a quick rub on my leg. I felt like you knew that I loved you even though you were probably a retarded kitty. To be honest, I felt like I had to look out for you. It's probably why I liked you so much.

Don't get me wrong, I love your mother, Kitty, but she can kind of come off as a bitch sometimes. Her affection was exclusive and she was like the pretty girl at school that a boy was lucky if she glanced at. Nobody really took you seriously, but I liked you all the same. I was always excited when you wanted to play with me. Usually my excitement would scare you and you would run off.

Remember that one time I put you in the pillow case and you freaked out? I'm sorry if it bothered you, I was just teasing you.

I remember coming home late many nights and seeing you on the roof looking up at the sky, waiting for someone to come home and let you in the house. I credit you for getting me into stargazing and astronomy. There really is alot to look at in the big black night sky.

Runty, you weren't really good at being cat, but you had a good heart. I remember when you almost won the fight against the grasshopper. You were gnawing on it and I was watching and proud that you made a kill, yet it still managed to hop away with one leg. I hope it's other leg didn't scratch the roof of your mouth. You sure did cripple that son of a bitch.

I will say, you kicked up your sass when we got Bruce Wayne. You put that big silly dog in his place. I was proud to see you carry yourself well in the face of danger, even though Bruce had no cruel intentions.

I'm sorry you were scared when the family moved out of the house. You spent every day of your life at that house, so it's no surprise that moving made you scared. I don't know why you had to run off, but I miss you. I'm going to miss you sleeping on my bed and annoying me. I'm going to miss your little chirps and skittish ways. I will always miss you and I will always love you. Kitty hasn't been the same.

Good luck, Runty. You are the nicest little girl I have ever known.

much love,

jc del barco ii

Chinese Cat Grows Wings. Seriously.

2009-05-28T13:24:00.000-07:00

Where do I get one?

It's fantastic. It was a genetic mutation that has happened a few times before in cats. Evolution is at it again! The cats are beating us to the real world of the X-Men. Imagine a hairless cat with wings? It would look like a little vampire cat demon.

Birds don't stand a chance anymore. People with allergies be alarmed! Cats will own the skies.

-jc del barco ii

cat lady/stoked/!?!

Interview with Saint Motel

2009-05-09T12:33:00.000-07:00

4/20/2009- The Troubadour. West LA.
I stroll on by after work and a drink to watch some old pals perform. The internet has been enticing me with rumors of a 3-d concert for only $7. The Troubadour is one of my favorite venues, balancing nicely between divey and quaint. Upon entering, I am offered a pair of 3-d glasses. For those of you that know me, you know I'm a fan of 3-D glasses. Things were off to a good start. I missed a few of the opening bands because I was mingling with a few friends from college and talking to the main act of the night.

Saint Motel is at it again.

These four boys started up in college down at Chapman University sharing film school classes together a few years back. I have fond memories of receiving alcohol from AJ before I was old enough to have a sip on my own. and have successfully transferred their success and following into LA. Nice classic rock and roll with a modern pinch of indie and pop, their cutting edge sound, good looks, and charisma make them a great Los Angeles up-and-coming band to follow. The venue was postered with 3-d art work to encourage the use of the glasses and compliment the awesome projections upon the stage. After the premiere of their latest music video, the boys take the stage and get the crowd moving. The show was fantastic.

I got a chance to hold a phone interview with lead singer/guitarist AJ Jackson and guitarist Aaron Sharp about a week ago. Sadly bassist Dak Jones and drummer Greg Erwin weren't available. Here it goes (more or less):

(AJ agreed to call me at 9pm to do the interview).

9:03pm:

JC: AJ, can I call you back? I'm buying fish tacos.

20 minutes later.

I receive a phone call from AJ. I hear voices in the back ground. People are laughing. I think I hear AJ and Aaron talking to some female friends. I hear something about whiskey. I think they are at a bar.

JC: Where are you guys?

AJ: Aaron and I are in the car. We just got back from our friend's premiere thing. Greg and Dak couldn't make it so it's just Aaron and I.

JC: Oh cool. Well. Let's do this. In a few sentences, tell me about the history of Saint Motel.

AJ: Aaron, you wanna take this one?

I hear Aaron in the background.

Aaron Sharp: Sure. AJ was born. Aaron was born. Greg was born. Dak always has been and always will be.

JC: Fair enough. How do you guys go about writing your songs?

AJ: Usually a bit different each time. We practice in our space in downtown LA.

AS: We just start with ideas and take it from there. We always have ideas, it's just a matter of focusing them.

JC: What are some of your influences? Music, film, food, any sort of inspiration?

AJ: Dragonshark. We don't eat it too often because it's endangered. Also, Beethoven's 7th Symphony 2nd movement.

AS: Tell him Erick Satie. Erick Satie. Tell him. Beautiful music...

AJ/AS: E. R. I. Erick. C. Satie. K. S. A...

I don't know how to respond to any of this.

JC: Tell me about the 3-D show. How did you think of this? How did it come together?

AJ: We had lots of help. We have a lot of friends that are really supportive and help us get these events going. We wanted a visually mind blowing event for the 4/20 day. We like projection art, but we wanted to take it even further... make it a sort of event. 3-D art. We were able to get a bunch of these 3-D glasses from a surplus store too.

AS: I think we hit new concert levels.

JC: I agree. That was awesome. So you premiered a new music video that night as well. With your projection art and music videos in mind, tell me about your visual art elements.

AJ: Well, some of us were film students. We try to create as much visual content as possible. We love making sketch comedy stuff, candid videos, and music videos. It's so available to make this stuff. Sometimes a pain in the ass, but we like it.

AS: We always have music video ideas. We have a big pool of ideas. Ideas aren't the issue, it's just a matter of time, resources, and focusing on a single idea or theme.

JC: Do you guys like black licorice?

AS: No.

AJ: Not really, but I'm trying to get into it because i hear it opens up your throat and clears your vocal channel.

JC: I recommend anise flavored liquors. Ouzo, Absinthe, Sambuca, Anisa, or even Jager will do the trick. How often do you guys practice?

AJ: Almost every night.

AS: Maybe like every other day. Probably like 4-5 nights a week. I'd say around there.

JC: Well, you guys definitely have your stuff together. It sounds great live. Tell me a bit about Saint Motel's near future.

AJ: Uhhhhh we have a show down at the Chapman Cecil's this month. We are playing a Father's day show at the Viper room on June 12th. Oh, we are also doing our Preschool Tour 2009 this summer. We're going to perform at different preschools. Play some good shows. Gonna record more. Hopefully more music videos to come.

JC: Preschool Tour? Exciting!

They start all cheering loudly. More people are in the background. It is getting noisy. I'm pretty sure they are at a bar now. I decide to through them a curveball.

JC: Do you guys ever fight? Like fist fight?

AJ: We emotionally fight.

They get serious for some reason. I feel confused because I meant for the question to be a joke. Aaron takes the phone.

AS: I would say sometimes it's mental warfare. Sometimes we fun fight? We have never physically harmed each other.

Awkward.

JC: Hey Aaron! I was just gonna ask you to grab the phone. I'm glad you took initiative.

AS: How are you, JC?

JC: I'm fine. Aaron. Tell me about your dream show. I know it's hard to follow up an awesome 3-D show, but if you could play any concert anywhere with any other performer what would it be like?

AS: (Immediate response) The moon with Bowie. Ya. Just Bowie. Wait, is there an opener? Like a three act show?

JC: Sure. Whatever you want.

AS: Hmmm. No. Just Bowie. AJ just ordered a scotch and the bartender gave him a double!

They're definitely at a bar.

JC: Are you guys drunk?

AS: Greg probably is, wherever he is. Dak probably is too, but trying hard to act like he's not. I'm not. AJ just has scotch.

(Sidenote: I love scotch.)

JC: Well, I think I'm out of questions. Anything you want to add or ask?

AS: AJ, do you have any questions for JC? JC, Do YOU like black licorice? I have a feeling you're a lover.

JC: I am. I am also convinced you can figure a person out by the way they answer this question. Thanks a lot for the interview guys. This was fun. Hope to see you live again soon. Have fun tonight.

AS: AJ, JC's is leaving! Ya man, thanks. This was fun. Take care.

AJ: Bye Juan Carlos Del Barco el Segundo.

Phone interviews are difficult but fun. Keep updated with Saint Motel on the interweb.

http://saintmotel.com/

http://www.youtube.com/user/saintmotelvideo (AJ was upset that /saintmotel was taken)

http://www.vimeo.com/saintmotel/albums

http://twitter.com/saintmotel

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/SAINT-MOTEL/9122571522?ref=ts

http://www.myspace.com/saintmotel

Make sure to keep up with this band. I have a feeling they will get far and being on their good side will get you money, cars, and ladies (I'm still waiting for it though... patiently... too patiently). I'm never wrong with these hunches. Never.

-jc del barco ii

concert goer/black licorice eater/fan

Interview with Christopher Richmond

2009-04-21T10:20:00.000-07:00

I got the opportunity to go to the opening of "Open for Business" at the Guggenheim Gallery at Chapman University last Monday, April 13th, 2009. Artists included Patrica Burns, Jessica Riga, Sydney Snyder, and Christopher Richmond. About a year ago, I did a little review of Chris Richmond's show "I'm A Real Group Show". This year, I got the opportunity to interview Richmond himself about his art show which included 12 large portriats of his father and photo exhibit, As far as opening mail is concerned. This exhibit included a nice arrangement of photographs of unopened mail against black. Very interesting and fun to look at. I thought there was a good use of space. I'll let the man expand on the work himself. Here it goes:

JC: Hello Christopher. In a few sentences, please describe your installation.

Christopher Richmond: The images in As far as opening mail is concerned are displayed as a loose grid filled with gaps and varying size prints, to reflect the complexity of awareness and the nature of existence without signifiers to place them in context.

The photographs in this work are not windows into a known world—a souvenir of an exotic land, the face of a lover, a landscape, or a documentation of objects. Rather, the content of this work is like the knowledge concealed in the photographs of mail, and is not based upon any concrete information that is known. The meaning in this installation lies as much in the photographs as it does in the recesses of the photographs. This is hard to do in a few sentences (and there lies yet another one).

JC: What were your influences? Are they all artists, does film, music, or anything nonrelated ever influence you?

CR: Roni Horn, Hans Peter Feldman, Felix Gonzales Torres, Charles Ray, and an ever-expanding list. Usually when I look at these artists though, I don’t feel like they influence as much as they give you permission to do something. I also read a lot of theorists like Michel Foucault, Hal Foster, Jean-François Lyotard, and Fredric Jameson.

JC: Is there anything you are unhappy with in this installation?

CR: Yes. But I would never write it down.

JC: Mystery. As far as opening mail is concerned is presented very nicely. I want to ask, why mail?

CR: I am interested in the process of mail and its nature. As initially conceived, the project was to be about only these letters as displaced objects and signifiers for the knowledge and information concealed within because legally I could not open nor keep the letters, so I photographed them and sent them back to the sender. As I continued, however, I began to see that it made sense to think about other objects in a similar fashion. Why mail? Mail is a physical means of communication. This interests me.

JC: What were your father's thoughts on the piece? How did you approach him about posing for the work?

My father was and is very supportive. Granted, I didn’t inform him what I was doing when I took his picture, however, he sat down each and every time and stared at the camera without pulling teeth. What were my father’s thoughts on the piece? You’d have to ask him.

JC: Was your mother jealous at all?

CR: I took one unflattering portrait of my mother two years ago, and she hasn’t let me take another photograph of her since. She was delighted to stay out of the limelight.

JC: Explain those older photographs in your display. I was a bit unfamiliar with them.

CR: The obituaries? I think you are referring to the obituaries so I will talk about them. I am fascinated by the obituaries of old type-cast actors and stunt men who made their living doing the same part or same act over and over again for public display. I found it very interesting that the photographs of them playing these parts were selected for their obituaries and not images of them at home in their day-to-day life. After reading their obituary I felt denied a certain access into the real life and their real character.

JC: Did you steal mail? That's a federal crime I think.

CR: I am not a crook.

JC: Hm. Do you like black licorice?

CR: No.

JC: I went to your exhibit, "I'm a Real Group Show" last year. How have you seen your work progress since then? Your work then focused on photographing hallways. Do you like shooting objects, locations, or portraits?

CR: I am interested in reception and perception—enacting a loss of control in the world. My practice is a consequence of what the work does in the world. The relationship between the viewer and the work is a driving force. The content of the work changes—portraits, location, objects—as my interests evolve, however, my work always aims to create pieces that challenge the viewer to re-align his awareness of physical phenomena in order to investigate how we live and interact with objects and events often scene as ones outside of the realm of artistic inquiry.

JC: What is next for you?

CR: I will have my first solo show this June at Vienna’s C17 Gallery featuring old work and a new video installation. I am very excited to travel. After that I will move to Los Angeles and thrive like a bear cub in the wild.

JC: I like bears. You're also a cinematographer. Tell me a bit about your film work and your art work. Do they compliment each other or conflict?

CR: They are in harmonious disarray with one another.

JC: Thank you, Christopher.

CR: Thank you.

Christopher Richmond is from San Diego. He is finishing up his last year at Chapman University with a degree in film production, ephasis in cinematography, and a minor in art.

Prints of his work are available for sale. If you are interested in purchasing, please contact him via e-mail at cyrichmond@gmail.com. You can also see his work that was selected for the shortlist for Germany’s Szpilman Award at http://www.award.szpilman.de/best08.html.

-jc del barco ii

interviewer/critic/curious

Interview with Alex Lamb.

2009-04-11T11:56:00.000-07:00

Hello Friend(s).

I was recently involved with the production of the music video for Argyle Smile's "Every Song." I got the opportunity to interview director Alex Lamb about the video. Check it out!

JC: Why did you choose to shoot this video. Did you choose it or did the band choose it?

Alex Lamb: I chose to shoot a video to this song because the song inspired the idea. In fact, [band member] Jared Parsons and producer, Jon Guillen, both thought that it was an odd choice for a music video at first considering the other songs that were on Argyle Smile’s demo.

JC: How did you come up with the concept.

AL: I was listening to the song and it just hit me. I don’t’ really know why dominoes came up in my mind, but they did. The only thing that I really knew right away was that I wanted the dominoes to feel like a character that followed Jared around rather than something that he set up the previous day. I also knew that I wanted to show Jared and Dana’s dominoes dancing together.

Then after about an hour of toying with the idea in my head, I had a rough story that fits pretty much what you see in the finished video. A lot of details were filled out weeks or even months after the idea though. The art gallery was originally going to be a record store that Jared’s character worked at and Dana’s character was going to be a regular costumer that always came in and flirted with him, but we heard that we could get an art gallery for free, so we changed it. I guess it worked for the story though. In fact, the free art gallery fell through and we had to dress an empty loft up with all of our friends’ art pieces. So, even though it was an idea that came out of happenstance, it became something that we considered necessary for the story, at least in our eyes.

Also, Jared resetting his dominoes at the end was something that we came up much later in pre-production. That’s what really tells the story I think. The fact that we see that this guy goes through the same thing every day, and that even though he gets disappointed, he’s going to try again tomorrow. I think that it makes it so much more powerful to see him set up the dominoes again at the end of the video. That was never in the original pitch.

JC: How many dominoes did you buy?

AL: I think we bought six hundred and some odd dominoes. A little over 300 black and 300 white. We used pretty much all the dominoes at once in the spiral shot. I think that was the biggest domino shot, and we didn’t get it the first time, so we had to reset that whole thing. I KNOW we used all of the dominoes when we did foley. We set up another spiral and four microphones at different positions so that we could get a long track of constantly falling dominoes.

JC: What were some of the highs and lows of the shoot?

AL: I’m going to start with the low points because that’s how the video started. The first day of the shoot was one of the most nerve racking and disappointing days of my life. It started with false hope. We got the shot of Jared’s feet walking down the hall from his bedroom to the bathroom and the dominoes following him. It took about three or four takes I think, and we were really happy with what we got when we finished. We looked at each other and thought, “hey, this is going to be easy.” The rest of the day was crap. We shot for about seventeen hours. Our crew left after twelve hours and we called all of our friends who were getting off work to come and fill in as our backup crew and we shot for five more. I think we got about three or four shots in that day that we ended up using in the final video. We knew that it was going to be hard to shoot dominoes, but I don’t think we understood how much time it was going to take to reset them. Usually, after you shoot a take and it doesn’t work, you just do it again because all the lights and camera are set up already. However, when you have to reset a couple hundred dominoes, that adds forty minutes to every take.

I felt horrible at the end of that day. I wanted to cry, but I didn’t want to lose my leadership skills, so I held it in and just hugged [Cinematographer] Max. The hug said everything. We’re sort of gay that way. Fortunately, each day after that went a little smoother than the day before. So by the end of the video, we were all domino toppling experts.

I think that the highlight of the shoot for me was the third day of shooting. It was the day that we shot in the bedroom. Every day up until then was really grueling, and I was so stressed and anxious, I wasn’t sure if the video was going to work out. That day though, we ended up getting so many shots that just made me smile. I loved the dolly shots of Jared asleep in the bed and crawling in to bed, the first and last shots of the video. They both took a LOT of takes, but when we finally got them, I knew that whatever else we shot was going to be bookended with these two shots and I wanted them to be perfect. I’m really proud of those shots and REALLY proud of Max Well for pulling them off.

I also remember getting really excited about the shot of Jared’s feet stepping into the slippers. All we really planned was to show the dominoes go by and have his feet come down, but on set I decided that I wanted to see the train pass as well. This took a lot of practice. We had one guy (a certain JC) running the train, one guy toppling the dominos, Jared stepping down at the perfect time, and an AC pulling focus for all of these things. When we finally got that shot, I think I started giggling. Is that weird?

The other shot we got that day that blew my mind was the shot of Jared leaving his house. I don’t say that in a conceited way at all; I had nothing to do with why that shot was awesome. The credit can only go to Jared and Max. Max set that shot up and was able to get the crew to operate the dolly in an incredibly cramped space, and Jared amazed us all with his uncanny ability to walk at the same speed as toppling dominoes. That was something we were really worried about in pre-production, was that they would go way to fast for Jared to be able to walk naturally and keep up with the dominoes. I think he might have practiced at home. Every time we had to do another take, it had something to do with camera or lighting, it was never because Jared couldn’t keep up with the dominoes. He makes it look so effortless, jerk.

JC: Anything you would change about the video?

AL: The opening shot of the art gallery. There is so much I would change about that shot. I wish that the frame started tighter on Jared and pulled out to where it is at the end of the shot. I also wish that we had an extra or two cross the screen so that the shot didn’t seem so flat. I just don’t buy that shot. Also, I think that the dominoes could be revealed a little later. We were so rushed that whole day. Most anything that I’ve ever wanted to change in the video is from the art gallery shots. Fortunately that’s really the only shot that still bugs me though. I hate that it’s right in the middle of the video too, because youtube and facebook use it for the thumbnail. It’s just a frozen frame from the one shot I don’t like.

JC: Does it have anything to do with Mike Burrows or me in the background? Honest.

AL: Ha Ha. No. Well, actually, sort of yeah. I don't like the way that I directed you, Erin, and my mom to move. But it's not your fault, it's mine. Mike did great. Mike didn't even know he was in the video until I pointed it out to him because Jared's performance is so enthralling.

JC: Fair enough. Jared is sort of dreamy... like the glitterboy from Twilight. So, if you could shoot a video about me, what would it be?

AL: I would dress you up like the Easter Bunny and you would walk around with a basket full of Faberge eggs. You would deliver the eggs to all of the girls that like you, but instead of handing the egg to them, you’d throw it to the ground, smashing it. Somehow that would magically destroy the girls’ lives in different ways. I’ve got some ideas, but I want to talk to you about them first. I wouldn’t pitch this idea to just anyone, you’re the most bitter person I know. I think it fits you.

JC: I'm all sunshine and smiles. What are some of your music and film influences?

AL: I’m not really a musician, but I love Ozma. I guess that Argyle Smile influenced this particular video. Film on the other hand I could list so many influences. I think for this video particularly though, I would have to say Tim Burton, Wes Anderson, and Michel Gondry. Tim Burton, because we watched the opening to "PeeWee’s Big Adventure" a bunch to get ideas of how to visually show a chain reaction/Rube Goldberg kind of device. Wes Anderson, because I think a lot of the shots remind me of Wes Anderson. I don’t think we did that consciously, but people have pointed it out to me, and I agree with them, so there was probably some subliminal influence. I don’t know if any aesthetic aspects of the video were influenced directly by Michel Gondry, but I know that I was watching a lot of his music videos the week that I came up with the concept, so I have to imagine that he sparked the idea somehow in my brain.

JC: Do you like black licorice?

AL: I like Good N Plenty

JC: What is in store for you, Argyle smile, and the video? Any new projects?

AL: Argyle Smile’s EP is due out at the end of May and the video is going to be available on the CD. As for the video alone, we’re sending it to lots of festivals. It’s already generated a lot of interest from bands that want to hire us independently, but we hope to start working with some record companies soon so that we can get bigger budgets.

We’re talking to a couple bands right now that have seen the “Every Song” video and want to hire us, but nothing is official yet. Surf Monkey Pictures has two pretty big projects lined up though; both are web series. One is starring Joey Derryberry as the Long Beach independent talent agent, Mel Greenwood. The other is the original animated series developed by Nolan Wang called Stick Figures. They should both be premiering this summer if we get off our asses.

JC: If you could shoot any band's music video, who would it be?

AL: Van Halen

JC: What is Jared's email address?

AL: Just message him at www.myspace.com/smileargyle. If he doesn’t get the email, Dana will, but she’s hot so it’s sort of a win win.

JC: Thanks, Alex.

AL: It was alot of fun! (Alex Lamb insists that I clarify that I wrote that last part for him. He claims that he had no fun and was tired when he did this.)

Alex Lamb is from Long Beach, CA but now lives in Beverly Hills. He graduated from Chapman University in 2006 with a BFA in Film Production. He is now an editor and director.

http://www.alexlambeditor.com/

Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alex-Lamb/55879215871

Check Argyle Smile out on the internet:

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/smileargyle

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=506868577&ref=mf#/profile.php?id=1312540500&ref=ts

-jc del barco ii

interviewer/extra/fan

Where the Wild Things Are

2009-03-25T19:28:00.000-07:00

Full steam ahead, ladies and gentlemen.

After being in production for a couple of years, Spike Jonze finally gave us a trailer.

I ran into Spike Jonze at a bar a little over a year back. Asked him how the film was coming along. He responded with a chuckle and an "I couldn't tell ya." Earlier that month, they had some test screenings of what he had made so far, but apparently it sent children screaming and crying out of the theatre. Universal told him he couldn't deliver the film. Originally the Jim Henson company had made 9 foot animatronic suits for actors to play the wild things, but they didn't look real enough. They decided to go with CG. I was first bummed when I heard this, but am excited after seeing how great they look in the press photos and the trailer. I wonder what happened to those suits though...

I hope the remodeled film still holds Spike's vision and delivers a new classic.

The trailer filled my with an urge to yell like a child... I wonder what the rest of the film will do.

If you need me, I'll be camping outside the Arclight waiting for the premiere on Oct. 16th, 2009. Mark your calendars, friends. This film has gotten much preproduction hype and hurdles that set expectations high. This can remake or break Spike. I think he will come through.

-jc del barco ii

wild/child/fan

Avey Tare & Kría Brekkan

2009-02-28T17:18:00.000-08:00

Avey Tare from Animal Collective and Kría Brekkan (Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir, former lead singer to Icelandic band múm) have apparently been married since 2007 and live in NYC together.

How did I miss hearing about this? I've been an avid múm fan for years now and I was sad when she left the band. Her ghostly child-like voice has sung me through the rainy days for a while now.

I just saw Animal Collective @ the Fonda on Thursday... total mind blow. Avey Tare is most of the voice behind AC. His ethereal-yet-organic guitar catches and phenomenal vocal range have launched the group to the head of a new generation of expirmental music. Merriweather Post Pavillion is the talk of the town (and rightly so) and never grows old in my head.

They recorded an album together on Paw Tracks titled "Pullhair Rubeye". All the tracks are reversed and was rumored to have been released as a way of messing with album leakers. That is a whole different can of worms.

A kind Ms. Burbach pointed me towards this video:

This video is one of the sweetest most tender things I have ever seen. The song is light and sweet. The stolen glances between the married couple just fills my heart with a hope that marriage may not be dead. As much as it leaves a thick taste in my mouth, this video makes me want to fall in love.

Ya. I said it.

Enjoy.

-jc del barco ii

warm/fan/inspired

Kittens Inspired by Kittens.

2009-02-15T21:47:00.000-08:00

I don't have much to say about this. The video left me speechless. Every ounce of bitterness, betrayal, aggression, spite, jealousy... everything evil was wiped clean with this. This video is a revelation. It is rebirth. This video is the voice of God.

-jc del barco ii

i/love/cats

I think Chris Brown and Rihanna broke up

2009-02-10T17:48:00.000-08:00

http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b99434_rihanna_cops_chris_brown_threatened.html?sid=rss_topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories

Not cool, Brown, Not cool.

Just two weeks ago my good friend Laura and I were discussing how the two of them are super cute and the next Jay-Z and Beyonce. Her cute hair and stunning voice paired up with his teen-heartthrob vocals and better-than-Timberlake dance moves were a great face for Hip-hop romances.

Then he choked her and popped her in the eye. What a dynamite thing to do, man. That girl is a catch. She opened for Kanye when she was only 19! Chris brown is only 19. That's a lot of life to live with the reputation for beating the shit out of your girlfriends. Wait, he threatened to kill her too.

What's going to happen to their careers now? Jail? Anger Management? Talk groups?

Sad day for relationship role models.

Don't beat your lovers people. Have a happy Valentine's Day.

-jc del barco ii

not violent/willing to be Rihanna's rebound skank/dissappointed

Prop 8 films dot org

2009-02-03T15:03:00.000-08:00

Hello all. Here is the reason I haven't been blogging lately. Please support and check the website out and fbook, and twitter, and myspace, etc. A discussion forum will be launched this week to lead discussions. Please join in. I need your voice.

Here is my introductory post at http://prop8films.org/Blog/

Welcome to the Prop 8 Films blog. This blog will act as a good platform for discussion on the passing of Proposition 8 in California. Along with the film makers, I believe it is important to have an open discussion that is neutral and respectful. I feel that a lot of the good points in either side of the spectrum were lost to emotion and bumper stickers.

Let's take a step back and really look at specific points of views. Whether it is race, religion, financial status, political stance, or personal bias... let's take another look at why people stand where they stand.

The documentary that is in production through Bucks Boys will serve as a neutral inspection of the matter. Learn more at prop8films.org.

Follow us on twitter too! Facebook, Myspace, etc, all to come soon. This blog and forum will be as organic and interactive as possible. If there is something you want to talk about or see, we will deliver it.

Nice meeting you,

-jc del barco ii

Nude: Big Ideas (don't get any)

2008-12-16T10:29:00.000-08:00

This post is only going to be fun for Radiohead fans.

Here is something my friend Sebastian sent me a few months go.

This project was James Hudson's thesis for the Glasgow School of Arts graphic design course.

He did it for Radiohead's Nude remix contest earlier this year, but didn't finish by the deadline. It is still awesome. Watch. It starts up about a minute in.

Big Ideas (don't get any) from James Houston on Vimeo.

Sinclair ZX Spectrum - Guitars (rhythm & lead)

Epson LX-81 Dot Matrix Printer - Drums

HP Scanjet 3c - Bass Guitar

Hard Drive array - Act as a collection of bad speakers - Vocals & FX

Check his Vimeo page on it for his word on the project here.

I thought "Nude" was already an incredibly layered and intricately structured composition as it is. Seeing a few old machine parts perform the song blew my little geeky mind. I doubt it was recorded in sync with the footage, but it's still awesome.

If this got you in the Radiohead mood, check out this LA based a capella group, Sonos. They have a cool cover of "Everything in it's Right Place" on their myspace. They are playing live Dec. 20th at the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood. 21+ if you are interested. I'm not.

Hope this was fun.

-jc del barco ii

radiohead fan/geek/doesn't trust machines

Kids Getting High Off of AIDS Medicine.

2008-12-10T15:54:00.000-08:00

I was trying to think of a clever title for this one, but the story in the purest form says it all.

Teens in South Africa are stealing and selling anti-retrovirus drugs and smoking them to get high.

Read the full article here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7768059.stm

Teens grind up the pills, cut them with painkillers or marijuana and then smoke them in order to induce halucinating and tranquilizing effects.

...

I don't think I'm alone when I say this, but there's something shitty going on here. AIDS is expensive. Magic Johnson beat it because he has a bajillion dollars (and his name is Magic). International governments and NGO's spent around $10 Billion dollars fighting AIDS in 2007 alone. I'm a little chaffed that there is alot of international effort that focuses on fighting AIDS in

Africa, then the kids drop the ball and roll spliffs out of donated money. Some of these bad apples are stealing needed medicine, some corrupt pharmacists are selling it in secret. The medication requires diligent pill taking schedules. Missing any of these or abusing the drugs can render the treatment null.

Money doesn't finish the job. The world cares, but the infrastructure of these poorer countries sort of return the favor with a "fuck you" by not establishing social workers to teach people about such risks, people to track the distribution of medication, and honest workers that get paid enough to not want to make a selfish cut.

"Higher-level bodies – those at the top of funding chains – need to take a greater responsibility for the actual implementation of money on the ground. There is a great emphasis amongst the international community on raising money for AIDS, but once that money has been allocated, not enough attention seems to be paid to where it goes." (advert.org, regaurding funding allocation in South Africa with information gathered from an article by N. Ndlovu, article here.)

And aside from this, wouldn't this sort of just eat away at your guilt? Do people really want to get high at the expense of someone else's safety or health? It's like buying blood diamonds or cocaine. Seriously think about where your possessions are coming from people. Legal or illegal, everything has some sort of cost.

Maybe it's the rush of doing something totally selfish. Who knows.

It's serious business, I'm sure you know. I'm just bummed that such a great treatment is falling into the hands of delinquint prick kids that don't understand the weight of what gets them off.

Also, watch "Philidelphia". They showed it to us in high school health class to learn about AIDS and why you shouldn't have sex without a condom even if you're Tom Hanks. It's a good movie.

Learn more about AIDS and how you can help here:

http://www.avert.org/

http://www.theglobalfund.org/en/

http://www.unaids.org/en/

Read this on the AIDS situation in South Africa:

http://www.avert.org/aidssouthafrica.htm

Have a good day!

-jc del barco ii

high on life/human/likes when people don't die

An Ode to the Extinct

2008-11-29T22:45:00.000-08:00

I am writing a song in honor of all extinct animals. It is important to honor the dead. It is my duty as a citizen of Earth to honor all of its citizens... past, present, and future. Here are the playful and loving lyrics to it. I need help writing a playful-yet-mournful melody to it. Who wants to help?

Dodo,

I'm sorry, I heard about about your tragic and cold fate,

I just saw your stuffed stiff body over at the London Tate.

Was your pretty curved beak hunted or did it cause you a pretty mate?

The Seventeenth century was long ago, I couldn't help, I came far too late.

Tassy,

Tasmanian Tiger with the widest grin a foot from nose to chin,

Was it the Aussie dogs always hunting and barking that finally did you in?

1936 was a sad year to go, FDR's second term, oh did you see him win?

Your pretty black stripes are gone now, they hunted you down, they would not listen.

Pretty beasts of the pasts,

I know you don't know who I am,

but, oh, how I know you.

If the world could just give me a chance,

to bring you back,

to let you see what I can do!

T-rex,

Giant teeth and legs, King of all lizards to this very day,

Like many others as a little boy, to you I'd sing and play,

But the great meteor came and showered you in the flame,

If you were alive now, would you watch over me, obedient and tame?

Panda,

I know you're still alive but I can't look at you and lie,

Your kingdom is dwindling, bamboo is scarce, and soon you're going to die.

It's up to the San Diego Zoo and little Su Lin to give your race a try,

Black and white, so cute and shy, oh please, oh please, don't go for the world will surely cry.

Pretty beasts of the pasts,

I know you don't know who I am,

but, oh, how I know you.

If the world could just give me a chance,

to bring you back,

to let you see how I can love you...

Kiwi, you're breaking my heart, not you too!

-jc del barco ii

likes dead things/likes animals/doesn't feel like going out on a Saturday night.

Another Year Down.

2008-11-24T11:53:00.000-08:00

Today is my 22nd birthday. Every year on my birthday, I try to think of what I've learned in the past year to gauge how far along I've come. This year, I'm going public with my conclusions.

Here is a list of what I learned:

1. Whiskey is a great thing.

2. Marc Jacobs is a genius.

3. Manhattans are good on the rocks.

4. It is possible to gain total satisfaction in being good to the people you love.

5. Cardomom, though delicious, should be used sparingly.

6. Fish is better raw.

7. Cuddling is a great thing.

8. People will listen if you speak.

9. People will speak if you listen.

10. Homemade prison tattoo parties are amazing (seriously, tattoo your friends).

11. The stars in the sky will never cease to amaze me.

12. You have to earn death.

13. Shara Worden sings directly into the deepest wells of my heart.

14. There is an innate obligation to humankind.

15. Hard work is very satisfying.

16. I love wearing dressy clothing.

17. Timing can make or break a wonderful thing.

18. Jens Lekman rocks my morning commute.

19. NPR is the only productive thing to listen to in traffic (save occasional Jens solo rock out sessions)

20. Being angry is much better than being sad.

21. Being kind and warm is much better than being angry.

22. Motivation breeds hope and hope breeds motivation. It is a good cycle.

23. Love isn't a feeling.

24. I have a lot of love to give and plenty of outlets to give it to (thank you friends and family).

25. The earth is an incredible thing.

26. The mind, body, and heart are separate. The heart bullies the mind, and the body taunts both.

27. We will never stop paying for the sins of our fathers.

28. People are good.

29. I don't think I like Novembers anymore.

30. Love will never be enough.

All in all, these are some good practical life lessons I have been blessed to learn early on. I think I'm going to kick this next year's ass. I think I learned alot!

-jc del barco ii

22/growing/still alive!

Arrested Development IN DEVELOPMENT!

2008-11-20T22:24:00.000-08:00

The movie is coming to fruition! The short lived series is going to feature! Read the THR article here:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i3727898fb2739b048b1dc9309544e4d3

To be honest, I'm a little nervous for this film. The show has a large well-educated cult following. Every film-school snob has more often than not quoted Tobias.

Will Arnet, Jason Bateman, David Cross, and (ESPECIALLY) Michael Cera have had very productive careers since the abrupt end of the show. Can they all reunite and bring back the rough-around-the-edges Bluthe family magic?

We can only hope.

A word about Civil Rights in California

2008-11-05T14:13:00.000-08:00

I'm happy for Obama.

I'm not happy for civil rights in California.

Please, read this dissertation from a guest writer who wrote this. I asked her if I could share it, becuase I feel it is important to think about. She is gifted with the eloquence and golden tongue that I could only dream of. These words hold weight, and I ask that you read them and truly ponder what it means to be a human citizen.

My fellow citizens,

To this dismay of constitutionalists, Proposition 8 somehow passed in California. Albeit the victory was statistically a narrow margin, over 5 million people articulating their religious viewpoint within the public sphere is dismaying to say the least.

Let's begin at the beginning, since its such a great place to begin. The words "Separation of Church and State" have become colloquial and contextual in this country. For social conservatives who utilize their Republican party for the opposite of its expressed philosophy of minimizing state interference in our everyday lives, the phrase refers to the government's inability to restrict them from limiting the civil amenities of others through the overt interjection of their religious beliefs into the law and public policy. For liberal constitutionalists (and the world liberal here refers to the political theoretical context, not the parochial and misleading American view), the phrase refers to the inability of a majority aligned under a banner of religion to dictate what happens in the lives of those who do happen to tout that same banner.

The next argument is generally that we are a Christian nation, thereby legitimizing the interjection of so-called "Christian" values into our legal system. The response to this is double pronged. The first prong deals with the fact that we are in fact not a Christian nation, as evidenced by the iconoclasts who are for the majority responsible for authoring the values of this nation - i.e. Thomas Paine and Thomas Jefferson. The two Tommy-boys actually advocated the fact that no church would ever have the ability to impress its opinion upon the United States federal or state government. In fact, this protection was integral to their philosophy, despite using Christian inspired verbiage. You see, they understood that their views were their own to keep at home should they suggest that different persons be mistreated under the law. I implore you to read Thomas Paine, so that you may see that his writings are even more radical, calling for the all out eradication of religion's presence in the public sphere.

The second prong draws upon that last phrase - public sphere. The idea of the public sphere is that it is (gasp!) - PUBLIC! Meaning that all persons enter it with the same advantages and rights. The tricky part here is how we legally enforce this policy. The writers of the constitution formulated a fantastic way to abate this problem. They actually utilized the constitution to demand that legislation would be based upon the common good, as opposed to majoritarianism. Fascinatingly enough, this implied that laws would be based upon reason and the constitution, even if the majority of people in the country decided that their own personal beliefs on a matter were absolutely and divinely true. That is to say, in more expressly plain terms, a thousand people may want the law to enforce their own moral or religious viewpoint, and only one may want the law to protect all people from being subject to such arbitrary legislation. The one person wins, because the one person is backed by the constitution. Political culture is the second prong, and political culture refers to the activity and normative social mechanisms utilized by the civil society in response to their government, and as influential over their government. When political culture becomes religiously charged, inevitably the interest articulation of the majority who are propogating such a norm begins to be adopted be elected official - hence, they are elected. Thus the cycle is reinforced, and the opinion of the many begins to take legislative preeminence over the constitution, should the two collide.

Later, this issue would be further elucidated by one Jeremy Bentham in a framework laying, hurried sense, and one John Stuart Mill in a full, ferocious, and ardent sense. They too were concerned about an alarming dynamic in a democratic society, which they referred to as tyranny of the majority. They perceived it to be a gross injustice that political culture could superceed the constitution and allow for social norms to become legally protected (slavery not being the least of these, among the treatment of women and - double gasp! - homosexuals). Mill discusses the idea of harm versus offense, and the law should be solely based upon harm, as legislating against offense would actually use the law to attack as opposed to protect.

Now there is an interesting point - the law is intended to protect as opposed to attack. The first issue that could be discussed herein is the idea of Isaiah Berlin that refers to positive and negative liberty - that is, the difference between "freedom from" and "freedom to". We could use this model to attack the social conservative stance, as the Republican party is supposed to advocate freedom from, as opposed to freedom to. But that kind of partisan pandering is divisive and unnecessary, albeit attractive in the wake of this proposition. Instead, we will use to this concept to the draw upon the proper role of the law. To legislate based upon "freedom from" implies that your government is minimally involved in matters of the private domain, and even the public domain. State action is legitimized insofar as it is a minimal regulatory process - it does not dictate much. "Freedom to" goes a bit further, and would advocate the idea that citizens are afforded certain amenities based upon their respective constitution or like document, and that the role of the state is to take legislative action to ensure that such amenities are provided and protected.

Curiously, the passage of proposition 8 neither protects our freedom to nor our freedom from. It attacks, it divides, it segregates, and humiliates. It prohibits both the freedom form and the freedom to by suggesting that "separate but equal" laws persist, lending legal credence to discriminatory practices and prejudicial impulses. It compromises the public sphere by limited those who are able to enjoy access to its goods.

Which invites the next point. Marriage is a public good at this point in time, moderated and regulated by the state. Ergo, we face a baffling contradiction of interest. Given the fact that marriage is a public good that refers to the private sector, how can we possibly allow anyone but the law to define whom may have access to it? It is constitutionally unjust to prohibit some but not others from the right to marry based upon localized beliefs. This is not to suggest that those beliefs should not be protected - they are, via that tricky separation of church and state clause we earlier discussed. It is, however, to overwhelmingly demand that the the public sphere remain welcoming to all citizens who have yet to violate the conditions of citizenship. What we are suggesting by passing bans on marriage between homosexuals is that homosexuals, by virtue of being homosexual, are not full citizens.

There are several points that could now be expanded upon - i.e. the idea that marriage should be solely an issue of the private domain without any state investment or interest in the matter, thereby allowing you to define marriage as you like, without having to recognize anyone else's opinion of it; the violation of the separation of church and state exacted by the passage of proposition 8 and the vocal support of churches in telling their parishioners how to vote on the matter; the absurdity of words like sanctity being used as a legal argument when they are clearly the domain of the private opinion sector; etc. The argument presented by the other side revolving around how disgusting the practice of homosexuality is, the fact that a civil union is the same in effect as a marriage, or how there are proven adverse effects of homosexuality on children could also be responded to - but to even entertain such claims is to afford them validity.

These are to be neglected more over so to abstain from unnecessary digression.

However, the point that should be vehemently emphasized herein is the comparison between the treatment of homosexuals to the historical treatment of women, minorities, and the disabled just to name a few. All of these groups have been afforded the category of suspect class under the law, which dictates that any issue surrounding their treatment within the public sphere is given the utmost level of legal scrutiny given the history of discrimination that these groups have respectively faced.

Homosexuals, despite an atrocious history of marginalization, abuse, and overall discrimination have yet to be classified as suspect class. Thus, heinous discrimination has been able to persist as legally predicated due to the inaction of those who are aware of the blatant unlawfulness of this activity.

Baffling. Infuriated. Embarrassing.

Now is the time for action. Now is the time to stand against this issue. We cannot make the same mistake that we did in the previous campaign by making this a moral issue. Certainly there is an intrinsic question of human dignity involved, but if we expect such an argument to be heeded we are grossly deluded. We must make this a legal issue, because as a question of constitutional law we cannot be defeated. This piece was brief and without the extensive evidence of court cases and incidents that support this argument. With those in the hands and on the tongues of powerful leaders, and the support of a lucid civil society interested in the law as opposed to the fearful pangs of the majority, we can mobilize, organize, and defeat injustice and discrimination.

Yours in Earnest,

Kathryn R. James

Prop 2!

2008-11-03T12:12:00.001-08:00

Hey everybody. I've been doing a bit of thinking and I realized that prop 2 is a great thing, but there is a greater commitment that still exists beyond voting for it.

Animals do deserve better treatment. Period.

California doesn't have a very large lamb, veal, or beef industry, but has a HUGE egg industry. You have to realize that voting yes on prop 2 will force animal farmers to completely change their caging systems within 6 years. THIS IS A GOOD THING. Happy hens lay more eggs. Let's keep them happy.

However, this will also ever so slightly raise egg prices. High prices means tougher competition. This could squeeze out free-range egg businesses because vendors will start buying eggs from out of state or even worse, Mexico (nothing against Mexicans, I just support domestic products). Mexico's egg farmers have sloppier laws and crueler environments. In order to make sure that California Egg Farmers don't go out of business to less moral competition, NEVER BUY A NON-CALIFORNIAN EGG AGAIN. This will make sure that our egg industry still thrives under the new animal friendly laws. It will also encourage other states to follow suit. So in order to truly help out Californian animals, Californian economy, cleaner air (due to less imports), and your own conscience, VOTE YES ON PROP 2 and BUY CALIFORNIA EGGS FROM NOW ON. Thanks, don't forget to vote tomorrow for which ever presidential candidate you think will provide you with the opportunity to become a better citizen. It's like Kennedy's idea, start thinkin about how YOU can do more for your nation. This is what a democracy is.

-JC Del Barco II

Californian/Voter/Bad at making Omelettes

Ps. Veal sucks.

Elections!

2008-10-28T17:04:00.000-07:00

Next tuesday is the big day. I won't tell you who to vOte for. That's not what America is about.

I will however tell you to vote no on Prop 4 and Prop 8. These also aren't what America is about.

Not all familys are healthy. In my logic, a healthy family that has good communication usually talks about sex and deters from teen pregnancy before naive children have unsafe sex. A lot of families don't talk about sex. Getting pregnant as a teen can be quite the doozy, let alone considering an abortion. Not all parents are understanding. Some are abusive. Though I don't agree with abortion, I Believe that people have the right to choose. Being pregnant is already scary enough for the young girl, the situation shouldn't be made any more difficult.

GOOD PARENTING, PEOPLE. When/if you have kids, tAlk to them. Don't put your lil' girls in a situation where they have to do this behind your back. Try to evade the entire situation by making sure they understand how to have safe sex.

As for Prop 8,

MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS. It's 2008 people. People should be able to love whoever they please openly, so long as nobody is being harmed in the process (I can't imagine how that would be possible by the way, just wanted to be safe).

Yes on 8 advocates argue that this will require schools to teach gay marraige alongside straight marraige as normal Marraige.

This is a sack of bull poo.

The California board of education has no responsibility to teach anything about marraige, and prop 8 will not affect this anyway. It simply wants to limit marraige to straight couples.

Even if you don't support gay marraige, how will a gay couple affect your life, your marraige, your fAmily virtues directly? Homophobia is so passe, guys...

2008 is a good time. Ya, the global economy is in the toilet, but the world is ripe for change and opporunity. It is becoming easier and easier to start up grassroots movements and bitch your way into congress to actually make a difference. Democracy is becoming democracy again! Don't stifle basic human rights!

This country was founded on freedom, liberty, equal rights, and opportunity. Don't spoil it when we are on the brink of greatness.

-jc del barco ii,

American/Human/Hopeful

VP08 CANDIDATES!

2008-10-07T16:27:00.000-07:00

These are some facts I've gathered on the two.

Double major in History and Political Science at the University of Delaware, then completed law school at Syracuse. Came from a blue collar family and went to college on scholarship. Failed miserably when trying to get democratic presidential nomination in 1988 and 2008. In the US senate since 1972. His son is the District Attorney of Delaware and a Captain in the Army National Guard.

One semester at Hawaii Pacific University, transferred to North Idaho College and then

University of Idaho. Degree in Communications with a minor in Political Science. 1984 Miss Wasilla Pageant winner, than Ms Alaska runner up (note: Alaska is 75% male). Mayor of Wasilla, then elected Governor of Alaska in 2006.

In summary:

Palin went from pageant queen to possible second in command of the largest military and nuclear force on earth in just 24 years. Her opponent's son is far more appropriately credentialed.

I Don't Want To Die.

2008-09-10T01:42:00.001-07:00

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=&xml=/earth/2008/09/10/scicern210.xml

Stay tuned...

Robot Parade!

2008-08-27T14:24:00.000-07:00

This is probably the best thing ever. I don't have much to write about it, it just simply makes me happy. This is a very informal post (who knew I could get even lazier...)

Enjoy.

Robot Parade from Jared Foster on Vimeo.

-jc del barco ii
robot/human/robot

Olympics > Human Rights!

2008-08-09T22:25:00.000-07:00

"August 09, 2008

Record ratings for NBC's Olympic opening ceremony

[Updated, 1:04 p.m.] -- NBC’s Olympic dream of ratings fireworks came true.

The network’s coverage of the Games got off to a roaring start Friday with the most-watched and highest-rated non-U.S. summer opening ceremony telecast ever.

The Beijing event averaged 34.2 million viewers and received an 18.6 national household rating.

In the nearly 50 years of televised Olympics, that's higher than any previous non-domestic summer opener -- up 35% in viewers from the Athens ceremony in 2004 (25.4 million, 14.6 rating) and 25% higher than Sydney in 2000 (18.5/32). The household rating bested the 1960 Rome Games on CBS (18.1) -- a record that's stood for 48 years, according to Nielsen Media Research."

-The Hollywood Reporter. Read full article here.

Well, I'm upset about this. I like the Olympics. I think competition is a good thing. Good sportsmanship has been a timeless way for humans to entertain and challenge each other without any hostile intentions.

This year I am not watching them. I don't like this one bit, but I feel like I needed to be a responsible citizen of earth. We live in a time where people, individuals or masses, can make a difference. As many of you are aware, China has been, well, a bit rough around the edges.

We live in a modern world where any threat to civil rights will not be tolerated. China has had a disregard for such notions for too long now. They can wash the streets all they want, but looking pretty doesn't do anything for the global climate. After keeping up with news and having a few discussions with friends and family, I realized I shouldn't support China's fraudulent international appearance. Hopefully, many would share this belief and actually make a significant worldwide statement that would put pressure on China to change its ways.

Apparently not. Record breaking ratings? Really America? You're all talk. People brag about boycotting the Olympics to show political awareness, but ratings show otherwise.

Read this too: Father of former Olympian killed in Beijing

These are some bittersweet times for sports. Remember how fun little league was? I hope the rest of the Olympics run smoothly and safely. I also hope China realizes that it can't hide how it treats it's citizens or how it pollutes the earth. Also, as an American, I hope we kick ass and win golds all around.

Good luck, athletes!

-jc del barco ii
American/not-a-good-swimmer/used-to-run-hurdles

SHARK WEEK! 7/27-8/2!!!!

2008-07-26T19:49:00.000-07:00

That's right ladies and gentlemen. Tomorrow starts the 21st annual Shark Week on the Discovery Channel. If you aren't familiar with Shark Week, go ahead and skim the wikipedia article here.

Shark week is a fun time of the year for me, and it should be for you too. The Discovery Channel dedicates a week of its programming every year to sharks. Don't be confused though, they host shows ABOUT sharks... not FOR sharks. Shark week is a milestone for summer. I think it's a great way to break in the last month of summer vacation.

Invite friends over. Turn on the tele. Fire up the grill. Wear those sandals. Drink that beer. Watch that shark.

My girlfriend and I chatted about it a few weeks ago and we started brainstorming plans. I encourage all of you to make up your own plans or to expand on ours. Some ideas we came up with were making construction paper shark hats, a Long Beach Aquarium visit, chumming the swim zones with rotten squid (my idea), fishing with dynamite (again, my idea), etc. We only faced one speed bump when we realized neither of us get the discovery channel. This kink will be worked out shortly. Stay tuned.

The discovery channel set up a pretty nice website for their shark stuff though. Check it out here for info on programming and fun links. Check it out here so you can plan your day:

http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/sharkweek/sharkweek.html

Luckily, it isn't like Coachella where you have to sacrifice one great act to catch another. These are all awesome shark shows on the same great stage. All you need is sunflower seeds, diet coke, and a sofa. The website features links to news articles about sharks, info about sharks, everything. Finally, they one-upped wikipedia for results when you type "shark" into your search engine.

I was reading on the website about some of the shows that were going to be featured and I was totally stoked about the Mythbusters this week. They are going to build a 16-foot RoboShark. This has to be illegal. It's practically a weapon. I'm just hoping that it has lasers to take out the rogue U-Boats left in the English Channel (they're still there, trust me).
Aside from RoboShark, they claim that they will test whether or not dogs attract sharks. Hm.
How do they plan on testing this? I don't like the sound of this one bit. Dogs are not supposed to be tested as sharkbait.

In order to compensate for its cruelty to dogs, the Discovery Channel also posted links to its new ocean conservation blog which is full of information anybody that wants to help out sharks! I encourage you to check this out too because it is our duty as responsible citizens of Earth. More importantly, sharks will eat you if you don't. FACT.

Alright guys, I challenge you to take August into your own hands and have an amazing Shark Week. Bond with friends, watch Jaws, learn about sharks, go to the beach, get eaten, and have a blast. I'll keep you guys updated with my activities, and feel free to contact me to invite me along too!

-jc del barco ii

sharkfan/sharkbait/nerd

Gay Driving: Proibito!

2008-07-12T22:17:00.000-07:00

While drunk driving is commonly illegal in most nations, Gay driving still holds no conflicts with the law in Italy. Though worth celebrating, this breakthrough for progressive human rights around the world came at the cost of homophobic humiliation and 100, 000 euros.

26 year old Italian, Danilo Giuffrida, won a lawsuit against the state in Italy when the transport ministry told him that he would have to retake his driving license exam due to his recent "sexual idenity disturbance".

He claimed that that he was gay on his military service medical examination. They then sent word over to the Departmento of Motoroni Veihiconolli that Danilo Giuffrida was indeed homosexual. Giuffrida passed the test a second time after agreeing to take it again for being gay. They then issued him a driver's license that expired in a year. Most Italian drivers licenses expire in 10 years.

Hmm.

Read full article here.

I'm not really an Italian stereotype expert or anything, but I don't understand how being gay can make anybody a bad driver. As Nancy as it gets, jammin' out to Madonna on the piazza streets isn't gonna hurt anybody. If anything, I think they would probably just make driving more fashionable.

Upon further thought, I realized that Americans have driving stereotypes too. I'll say what everyone's thought at least once in the States:

Asians, Women, and Old People are a threat to public safety on the roads.

But why? No reason. I think we should all take this as an opportunity to calm down our road rage and let go of stereotypes. Otherwise, we're just as bad as the Italians. Yes, I just took one step backwards with my previous statement.

Italy realized it was being stupid and homophobic so they gave the guy 100,000 euros to cover up the damage and apologize to the modern homophilic community.

If I were him, I'd spend that money on building the gayest car on earth. Pink, glitter, fuzzy dice, poppers, Cindy Lauper, the works. He should get a car so flamin' that it's threat to it's own gastank.

HA! (I've lost all credibility, wit, and dignity with that that joke.)

Here's a link about the Top 10 Gay Cars of 2008.

Well. Here's one for civil rights and DMV inconveniences around the globe!

-jc del barco ii

decent driver/likes pink/dislikes The Man.

My Brightest Diamond: <3

2008-07-03T10:39:00.000-07:00

My buddy Charlie invited me to see Sufjan Stevens at the Wiltern in October of '06. I was never a huge fan, but I was excited nonetheless. Opening for Sufjan was a band called My Brightest Diamond.

A full string quartet, drums, bass, and the best part of all: a dainty and elegant girl with a guitar and haunting voice behind a microphone stand covered in white x-mas lights.
I instantly became a fan of Shara Worden and shortly got a copy of her 2006 debut Bring me the Workhorse.

The young ex-opera performer picked up the rock and roll lifestyle touring as one of Sufjan's Illinoisemakers while opening with her own MBD.

A few months later when I was living in Paris, I got tickets to see her perform in a rock trio version of MBD at Le Point Éphémère. During the opening act, I caught a glimpse of her standing alone at her merch table. I instantly abandoned my party and walked over. I introduced myself and engaged a nice conversation about the french, travel, music, celestas, music boxes, cigarettes, etc. She was kind and charming. For the first time in a long time, there where butterflies in my tummy to accompany the usual nausea.

L'amour

On June 9th in New York, Worden sent out an e-mail that she would have an in-store performance at Other Music in Manhattan that same night. I made plans with my girlfriend and our friend to swing by. I was lucky to have been in the city then.

When we arrived, there was already a line wrapping around the tiny record store. At 8:30, the crowd started piling in to a tiny shop. Shara Worden walked up with a nicely decorated polka-dot dress and her string quartet followed. I was a good 4-5 feet away from her. It was crowded, but the intimacy of the performance was deep and exciting. The strings resonated naturally in a small environment, and her powerful voice was heard well, even without the help of a mic. She looked the audience in the eyes and smiled and sang to us.

Watch this short documentary about the evening which is posted on her website:

After the set, we hung around to greet her. My girlfriend and friend were hungry, but I insisted that we say hi. She was also upset that I wouldn't hold her hand around Shara Worden. At the time I didn't see it as a big deal, but in retrospect, I was being a dick. Sorry MK. I got a chance to say hi to her, but I was nervous because she was talking to me and I could tell that my girlfriend was irritated. I didn't mention that I had spoken with her in Paris and instead asked her something stupid about her new album.

I ruined my chance of striking up a fan/celebrity friendship. Perhaps next time... hopefully...

...

The next week, her new album A Thousand Shark's Teeth hit the public. It's a lovely album. Wonderful string arrangements over some 90's reminiscent grunge guitar all lead by Shara's wonderful vocals. I'd say the new album is a fusion of jazz, 90's rock, and classical music. She is an American Edith Piaf with a song writing style of Jeff Buckley. To be honest, I felt like a 30 year old woman when I first heard the album. It's very feminine. Some of the singing cries out painfully, while other songs like Apples have an innocent playfulness to them. Pick the album up and see for yourself.

It wasn't her albums that won me over though. It's her presence. See her live. I've seen her live in LA at a huge venue with about a 12 person band, in a small shitty Parisian venue with a guitar, drums and bass, and in a tiny record shop with a quartet. Each time, she managed to have an incredible sound and had the charm to win the hearts of everyone in the room. Though I've been to plenty of shows in my life, I would defend that Shara Worden is one of the best performers I've ever experienced.

Again, see for yourself.

-jc del barco ii

fan/teenage girl/bad boyfriend

Gradutation.

2008-05-19T17:08:00.000-07:00

Cheers to the class of 2008.

I graduated from Chapman University on Saturday morning. Through the blistering heat and scorching sun, all grads and families stuck it out to watch us turn the tassels.

But seriously. I was damn hot. Commencement was not as comfy as I had hoped.

Here goes my day:

I was awaken at 5:30 AM by my frazzled English roommate saying, "Let's graduate, mother f*cker". The anticipation gave me the energy to sprout out of bed in a second and shower. After grabbing our black (note black) cap and gowns, we walked towards the Old Town Orange Circle, just a few blocks away.

We line up out side of Paul's Cocktail's and show our IDs to the bouncer. I know I look young, but I've been at this bar at least once a week for the past 2 months. I was wearing my cap and gown at 6 AM. I just wished the bartender could have cut me a bit of slack and not made me wait and show my ID. Fuck. I hate that guy.

The bar was packed with students, the bartenders were pourin', and students were chatting. My roommate and I took some shots for a toast, and then I started over to breakfast with a bloody mary. A reporter from the OC Register came over and interviewed me about the Chapman 6AM Graduation bar tradition! Check out the article if you're interested!

We then waltzed on over to the Wilson Field at Chapman to figure out where to line up.
It was already hot, I was tipsy, and I needed to go pee. Graduation was already a mess.

After seeing friends in line and sitting down, it set in. Not that I was done with college. I was amazed that we would have to spend the next 3 hours facing the hottest sun of 2008 wearing black gowns. This wasn't going to be easy. I felt as if it was the last hurdle that Chapman wanted us to leap over to get our degrees. 4 years of expensive schooling, now slow physical torture. Dynamite.

It was worth sitting through the heat though. I like ceremonial events. It was nice shaking Doti's hand when I got my diploma. It was great turning the tassel to the left side with my peers. After the ceremony was done, the Film Students gathered by the new fountain on campus and mingled with families.

My family was thrilled. I was suffering from mild heat exhaustion, hang overs, and emotional disbelief, so I was overwhelmed when my family wanted to get picture after picture with me. I actually blacked out for a moment. It was too much. After hugging and kissing were done with the family, I walked around with friends and met other families.

We were done. I've built some good friendships and some good memories these past four years. We have all come a long way. I have the best friends and family on earth.

Thank you Arthur, Audrey, Mom, Dad, MK, Randy, pets, Prescott Family, Laura, Kathryn, Darren, Anthony, Sebastian, Charlie, Thomas (Long and Bailey), Faraaz, Justin, Crystal, Enrique, Natalie, Dilshan, Ben Ras, Chris (Walls and Richmond), Dennis, Joey, Ed and Joe (may God rest his young and vibrant soul), Alan, Alex Cox, Lucca friends, everyone on every filmset I've worked on, North Morlan friends, Starbucks friends, Thunderboating friends, French friends, Professors, study Groups, Paul's Cocktails, cocktails in general, music, movies, travel, mistakes, etc.

If I forgot you, I am sorry. We can chat about it later.

For the first time in my life, I am proud of myself. I am the luckiest man on earth.

Cheers God, I'm going to destroy the Earth.

-jc del barco ii, B.F.A.

Guns = Freedom (and FUN!)

2008-05-03T18:53:00.000-07:00

First check this episode of Americana on http://www.vbs.tv/video.php?id=607689676 out. It's about a gun shop in Pearl River, New York:

Did you see it?

...

"I also like to carry a Glock 9mm, this is more of your everday gun..."
...

Seriously?

Everyday gun? Instructor Adam talks about gun convenience and utility like iPhones. Actually, Apple products are far less complicated. They don't have many options, so choosing is easy, like at the In-N-Out drive-thru. Guns, however, come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Adam continues to describe the shotgun as "the most effective home weapon on the planet". He disclosed that he casually likes to leave one "lying around" his house. Other guns can take out 18-wheel trucks driving at you, large men, ethnic men, homosexuals, liberals, vegans, terrorists, or any other threat to W.A.S.P. American culture. As a matter of fact, shop owner, Ziggy (that's right, Ziggy), said that his 50 caliber hand gun can shoot down dinosaurs.

Dinosaurs.

First terrorists, then the neo-hippies, and now DINOSAURS!?! America is under serious threat people. Charlton Heston (may he rest in peace) has left us at our darkest hour. Who will unite the NRA? Who will defend us?

I certainly hope it's not that little chubby kid with a lisp in the video. Aside from already being a total nerd, the kid has the hots for the gunpowder. That's a big no in modern urban culture (I'm pretty savvy here, see Paris BFF blo g).

Don't get me wrong, I like America a lot more than your average. I-just-got-back-from-a-semester-at-la-Sorbonne-in-Paris-college-student. I think it's a great country. Chances are someone from my country can kick someone from another country's ass. On this note, I just can't get my mind around the right to bear arms thing. I was on vacation in Sweden last year when the tragedy at V-Tech happened. When people found out I was American, they seemed a little taken back like I was going to hurt them or like I was some sort of beast. You would think that after WWII America would figure that we aren't going to be attacked. Our countrymen will not have to form a neo-minuteman militia.

Guns have always been a hot topic in the States.
Personally, I don't like them. I think they're silly. It's like smoking. It's bad for you, rude, smelly, and makes other people bitch a lot... but at least smoking makes you look cool.
Fact.

Guns don't make you look cool. That little fat lisp kid isn't gonna start chat with a hipster chick on the smoking patio of Club Bang using gun talk. That's negative game. You can't even bring guns into clubs. Stick with smoking, kids.

Adam and Ziggy did make guns seem like a lot of fun. I mean, they've been loadin on bin Laden. They're two nice guys that are really into what they're into. Ziggy buys his wife an Elvis gun, I buy my girlfriend avocados. I guess when I think about it, guns give me the freedom to buy my girlfriend avocados. I can't complain. Thanks guns. Thuns.

In summary, I conclude that smoking is cool, shotguns are handy, dinosaurs are dicks, and guns are saving my relationship.

Here is a list of gun-related links so you can study and come to your own conclusion about how guns affect your life:

National Rifle Association

Guns and Fun Forum

Wiki: 2nd Amendment

Idiots with Guns Blog

International Homicide Comparisons

-jc del barco ii

ex-smoker/ex-cool/afraid of dinosaurs and (or with) guns.

I'm a Real Group Show.

2008-04-26T15:55:00.000-07:00

Firstly, I am sorry for not blogging for three weeks. Film shoots, travel, extreme fatigue, and blatant laziness kept me from myself.

Moving on.

On Tuesday, April 15th, I went over to the Guggenheim Gallery at Chapman University to review the opening of an art show named "I'M A REAL GROUP SHOW". Though there was a lacking theme, artists Natalie Kiwan, Christopher Richmond, and Hannah Rogers had shared their mixed-media artwork.

Kiwan had an interesting hanging canvas that looked like a more sophisticated mobile, even bearing artifical clouds. That's right. Clouds.

Rogers' work was pretty modern. I personally have a fascination with projection and always approve of projection as an art. She had a sort of video mosaic of people's faces projecting onto a wall. I wish the room had been a little darker for this installation.

For the real flesh, a good friend of mine, Christopher Richmond had presented his large collection of photos of corridors as well as candid shots of people sleeping in waiting rooms. With the money recieved from a recent grant, Richmond had hardbound 8 copies of the collection, titled "This is Institutionalized Space".

The photos had a nice rhythm when flipping though the pages. Every photo had the same form looking down a long cluttered hall of a hospital or something similar, with only furniture and colors changing. I wasn't looking at the furniture in the frame, rather, I found myself lost in the hallway after each subsequent photo. Some would find the shape and form monotonous after a few photos, but I find discipline and meditation in such presentations bold.
The latter half of the book focused on people sleeping in waiting rooms. I liked this for two reasons:

a) The pictures are calming. There is a sort of cathartic peace in looking at an image of something resting. The last photo of the book uses space so well to capture a woman sleeping in a chair with vast wall above her.
b) Imagine this guysneaking around in a hospital illegally snapping photos of people sleeping. Chris told me he had to run from a woman who witnessed his creepin' on some sleepin'... I was sad that I missed this.

Richmond's Obsessive Compulsive Disorder shone through with his flawless display of the books, each with it's own podium and chair to ensure premium comfort for patron viewing (or judging, if you're a dick).
He even had neatly laid out white cotton gloves for people to wear to prevent smudging the pages...

Seriously.

Richmond brought balance to the OCD quirks with his one-of-a-kind refreshment table. Soft drinks, water, pastries, fruit, cheese, and the non-offensive usual Guggenheim installation snacks were present of course, though were dwarfed by the plate of free Chesterfield 100's. This is a surefire way to win over the heart of 4/5 college art snobs (see left). Though I recently had quit smoking, I had to indulge in the novelty of free smokes with my buddy, who also doesn't smoke. The 100's were brutal. I wished I smoked with with the white cotton gloves from earlier.

Upstairs was awesome. A dark room with one screen projected and a set of headphones. Richmond had wired a security camera to cover the live exhibit from above for the voyeuristic viewing pleasure.

Richmond's fine gift for taking photographs of hallways, voyeuristic shots of people sleeping (or live patrons), and neatly presented work all came together for a nice enjoyable evening. Whether it be the fine art, the company of friends, or the free nicotine, the patrons were bearing smiles. Success.

Chris Richmond is a fine photographer and cinematographer pursuing a BFA in Film Production and a Minor in Art at Chapman University. He consumes store bought sushi, chewing gum, and cigarettes. Please look over his work at his website at http://www.chrisyrichmond.com.

-jc del barco ii

newfound art snob/former smoker/amateur

HACK3RZ 5AVE P0RN!!!

2008-03-31T14:51:00.000-07:00

So I read this article on Yahoo! News today and was just stoked. Indonesian officials just placed a restriction on internet porn. You WILL be prosecuted for the transaction of porn over the www.

Not that I'm a porn fan or anything of the sort, but I think people have a right to handlin' business however they see fit, so long as it isn't hurting anybody else. Morals? We'll chat about that in a future blog (maybe).

In response to the porn restriction, some hackerz totally bypassed the server USB 2.0 Firewall and hacked into the mainframe of the Ministry's website @ http:/www.depkominfo.go.id and wrote up "Prove that the law has not been made to cover government stupidity" with a doctored picture of the government's tech nerd showing off his bare chest.

Now that's funny.

The gov't fixed the site already, but the Yahoo! article said you can find screenies at this site: http://detik.com/. Sadly, I can't read any of the funny language so I couldn't navigate. Let me know if you have any luck.

I thought that hackers were a dying breed in today's internet secure world. I mean, I remember being a kid and watching the movie Hackers and wanting to be some sort of 90's future playa on cyberspace. I gave up on that 2 hours after watching the movie, but it was still fun. I'm just stoked that some aggravated teenage boy in Indonesia needed to get back at The Man for cutting into his 'batin' time.

But really, we know that these were just WoW nerds in Indonesia that got pissed that they couldn't get off to their cyberloves and decided to take direct action. I'm a fan of direct action. I think it is the only way to actually make a difference. Now, I just wish that these nerdz can join forces and fight hunger instead of the prohibition of internet pornography.

Gross.

I still salute those that fight for human liberty and freedom of choice world wide.

Jerk on, boys, jerk on.

-jc del barco ii

human rights supporter/internet enthusiast/male

Save the Seas!

2008-03-22T16:12:00.000-07:00

A few nights ago, I met up with two friends from Paris in San Diego. We decided it would be fun to go to the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center to catch an IMAX film. The only thing they had playing was this dolphin movie, which was cute I guess.

Cute until the part where it showed dolphins dying in fishing nets like this!!!

Today I just read an article about a fishing boat that killed 22 dolphins of an extremely rare breed. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080319/ap_on_sc/new_zealand_dolphin_danger;_ylt=AjjNfU4Gq6BBX8jllBD0_fUPLBIF

22 was a a devastating blow to the breed, which is straddling the fence of extinction. Dinosaurs and dodo birds, I can deal with. They were stupid animals to begin with. I like to refer to them as Earth's hiccups, like Lindsay Lohan. Dolphins are smart. I think if they had opposable thumbs they would build an ocean empire and enslave mankind. We deserve it. In the IMAX movie I learned that dolphins feel emotions. I also saw a discovery channel special a few years ago that was talking about how they also have recreational sex and (as I like to call it,) "fond-flippering".

Would you kill something that could feel up someone it loved?

No.

A few days prior to stumbling across these, My mom, sister, and I went to the aquarium in San Fransisco. It was kind of a shitty one. There were kids crying and people crowding. The starfish were pretty neat though. It was nothing like the aquarium in Monaco (how pretentious, right?).

Anyhoo, Audrey and I got these little cards that I've seen a few times before:
The image is poor, but check out
http://seafoodwatch.org
for more extensive information on what fish to eat in order to support sustainable fishing that won't turn our oceans into a toilet.

I like dolphins guys. That's why you have to kill fishermen.
That's right. This is a call to arms against fishermen, sailors, immigrants, pirates, anyone that sails the seas. If you're not gutsy enough to take immediate action (MURDER), just chip in a few bucks to organizations, don't throw fishing line, bottles, plastics, etc into stormdrains, and make sure you buy good fish!

On a more important note, DON'T FORGET TO VOTE FOR ME EVERYDAY AT
http://parisbff.com/people/JSleazy
you can vote once every 24 hours! Spread the word. I'm doin' prreeeeeetttty well!

thanks guys.

-jc del barco ii

New Dolphin Lover/Ocean Terrorist/Fisherman/Lohan Sympathizer

Paris Hilton, here I come.

2008-03-14T21:25:00.000-07:00

Ho-ly-shit.

I need to catch up with what's hot and what's not. I just stumbled across http://parisbff.com/
In summary, you make a profile and put up pictures and video blogs and written blogs and random stuff that makes you look hawt.

Over the next 8 weeks, they are going to choose candidates from the site (people vote for each other, comments, etc) to go on the Paris BFF MTV show that is going to start shooting in May (just in time for graduation!).

I just made a profile. Check it:

Within a few minutes of making this profile, I've already gotten two comments! My first was this:
"sup bro good luck too ya swing by my page and lets swap votes -devindadude"
If other people are as nice and important as devindadude, they'd best know what's hot (me/parizhilton) and get votin.

Seriously, this is awesome. I'm tired of everybody hatin' on the girl. If she wants to get paid a shit load of money for not doing anything, let her. I'm jealous. If she wants to drunk drive, let her. She doesn't judge anybody (save the contestants on this divine website [and uglies]). She is just a young lady who is trying to live her life as the Hollywood princess.

Hopefully, by the end of summer, I could be her prince.

My dream is to hang out with Kanye West and Paris Hilton and just look awesome and not apologize for anything I say, but then donate to Make-a-Wish or Katrina so people don't hate me too much.

Get on that site and vote.

http://parisbff.com/people/JSleazy

Yes. My profile name is JSleazy.

Hit it up guys. Spread the werd.

-jc del barco ii

Fashionista/Diva/Paris Hilton's future ex-husband

Polar Bear Attack

2008-03-08T16:51:00.000-08:00

Earlier on in the week my gf sent me this link about a guy who wrestled with a polar bear in the Yukon and was severely injured and still managed to kill the beast.

http://www.ultimatesportsmen.com/weird/polarbear.htm

Check it out. There are graphic photos of a dead bear, the guy's brains, and more stuff on the site, stuff like that up there ^^^ (with even more gore!).

The bear tore through the tent and bit a part of his skull off. In the midst of the wrestle, the guy tries to shoot the bear, misses, and blows a hole through his ankle (check the site out, photo is too graphic for my family blog)!

Not to be a dick or anything, but that bear is at least twice his size. I'm not not a mathman, but I'd figure his odds for getting the bear instead of his own lil' ankle were in his favor.

This guy is pulling godawful luck all around. He wasn't buggin' the bear and he sure as hell didn't hope to blow his own leg off. I learned in boyscouts that people are supposed to stand up tall with their arms raised in the presence of a bear in order to scare them off. Our Yukonian victim must have just been around when this pissed off bear had the balls enough to pick a fight. My guess is that both were under the influence of methamphetamines or PCP. Imagine a bear on PCP!?! Hot damn... watch out cub scouts!

Animals are not passive.

Watch your backs guys, I think they're planning an uprising. Mark my words, I made a movie on this.

-jc del barco ii

Mathematician/Fisherman/Bear Enthusiast

un·cre·den·tialed

2008-03-07T20:15:00.000-08:00

un·cre·den·tialed (ŭn'krĭ-děn'shəld) Pronunciation Key abbr. Not having proper credentials: "the ministrations of uncredentialed healers" (James S. Gordon).
(uncredentialed. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved March 07, 2008, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/uncredentialed)

Fig. 1

I am not an important person (Fig. 1). With that said, the blog community is fun, and I want to take my relationship with it up to the next level (second base).

Once a week, I am going to snag whatever catches my attention in modern media... actually, just whatever grabs my attention: a photo, website, comic strip, current event, new album, new clothes, weather reports, junior high gossip, polls, marketing campaigns, where brittney's kids are, artists, movies, ANYTHING in the public domain.

I will then give my complete biased and un·cre·den·tialed review and opinion of said weekly topic.

If all goes as planned, these reviews will be terrible.

I hope you stay for the ride.

-jc del barco ii

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