Tomorrow I go on the road for a week and a half. I’ve got an audition for the Center East performer showcase up in Skokie IL, and then 5 days at Summerfest in Milwaukee WI. I used to perform there for the full 11 days of the festival, but since the management changed two years ago they don’t like us variety performers as much as they used to. I will get to hang out with my buddy Marcus Monroe though, so that should be fun.
Fri 16 Jun 2006
Amazing Juggling Video
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I just watched what may be the best juggling clip-video I have ever seen. It was done by Vova Galchenko and Mark Bakalor as a contest entry for Fat Boy Slim’s new video for his song “That Old Pair of Jeans” There was a lot of frustration in the juggling community when the video of Chris Bliss juggling to a Beatles song swept the internet a while back. This new video will (I hope) show you why.
After shooting the video of Fat Boy Slim’s song “That Old Pair of Jeans” with Chris Bliss, a call went out for jugglers to submit their own videos juggling to the same song. While there is no live audience in Mark and Vova’s video, it is SO much more interesting than Chriss Bliss’ performance with the same track, and it shows so much more of the potential of great juggling. This is not a totally direct comparison since it is an edited production vs. a (basically) live performance, but I think you will see my point. Make the comparison for yourself.
Check out Mark and Vova’s video.
The Chris Bliss version on Fat Boy Slim’s website. Click on Video.
My thoughts on the phenomenon of Chirs Bliss juggling to a Beatles song (w/link to the video)Â
Fri 16 Jun 2006
The Bank
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I learned WAY too much about the two ladies in front of me in line at the bank today. (more…)
Mon 12 Jun 2006
Weekend in Green Bay
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I got to spend the weekend in Green Bay WI this week. I was up there for a gig at the International Bay Fest, 3 shows on Saturday and 2 on Sunday. It was a good time. Since I was staying at my friends Jeni and Adolfo’s house I got to bring my dog Vader. I love it when I get to travel with my dog.
Jeni was gone, so Adolfo and I got to have a Man Weekend. We did Man things like make “wraps” (black beans, cilantro, green onions, sour cream, hot sauce, cheese, and green pepper on flour tortillas… and no, they weren’t burritos), eat unbelievably good ice cream sandwiches, walk the dogs, go shopping, drink smoothies (Adolfo is a master smoothie maker), and play video games. You know… man stuff. It was awesome.
Bay Fest went well, with decent crowds, especially Sunday afternoon. I had standing room only, and it was an outside show. I got to eat some delicious sweet corn. I’m still regretting that I only ate one ear. What was I thinking?
The drive home was BRUTAL (8 hours with no help from Vader with the driving), but at least I got to stop in Chicago and see my friends Harper, Hiromi (visiting from Japan!), Matiss and Erica.
Wed 7 Jun 2006
Workin’ on the Model A Ford
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I finally got back to working on my family’s 1930 Model A Ford yesterday.
This is the best picture I have of it at the moment, since I haven’t gotten to go on a real drive in it yet. I’ve taken it out a couple of times, but each time a mechanical problem has stopped me before I got all the way around the block. Last time the radiator boiled over.
So yesterday I drained the radiator again, and took off the pipe at the bottom where the fluid goes back into the radiator from the engine. I took it off to do a “flow check” to see if the radiator is clogged with funk. Although I haven’t done the check yet, I don’t see how it could possibly NOT be clogged after looking at the inside of that pipe. Yeesh. There was SO much gunk in there. I chipped it out with a screwdriver, and got an astonishingly large plie. After I eat a little food, I’m going to go back out to finish the job.
PS: It only sounds like I know what I’m talking about. I couldn’t have done it without my friend Devin. He pointed me to Snyder’s Antique Auto Parts and to a great how-to book.
Thu 25 May 2006
The Duncan Warehouse. It’s like the Holy Land for yo-yoers.
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Takeshi and I drove down to Columbus Indiana today to go to the Flambeau (aka Duncan) warehouse. Takeshi had ordered some yo-yos, and I needed to get some too. It hadn’t occured to me that I needed to place my order in advance, but thankfully Michelle in Customer Service was very kind and made things happen for me.
The warehouse is CRAZY. There are SO MANY cases of yo-yos. It’s AWESOME. It just makes me want to buy them all. I like to look at the shelves full of boxes and imagine all the joy that is going to come to all the people who will eventually get those yo-yos. It’s my inner hippy showing through, but it’s a pretty great, and pretty big thought.
I am constantly amazed at how cool I still think yo-yos are. I mean seriously… yo-yos are SO cool.
Mon 22 May 2006
Mark Goes to the Indianapolis Speedway
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Today I got to go to the Indianapolis Speedway in what may have been the best possible circumstances. I was going to see my friend Chuck’s wife Lynda ride around the track in a two-seater Formula One racecar. Chuck bought the ride for her to commemorate her 50th time seeing the Indy 500.
It’s pretty cool, they cut a race car in half right behind the driver, stick in another seat, and weld it all back together. Then for $450 or so you get to get all suited up and take 3 laps around the track at 180 mph. I had never been to a racetrack that was paved when there were race cars on it, so I jumped at the chance to go. It may have turned out to be the perfect way for me to experience the track too. There were no crowds, no drunken idiots, no parking hassles, and I didn’t have to pay to get in. I got to drive right up into the infield, walk a very short distance, sign my life away, get a wristband, and walk right up to the pit area where they were loading the riders.
There was only one car on the track, and it was LOUD. I can’t imaging how loud it must be on race day. It was really fun to watch the riders b get all set, and to watch them as they came back from their rides. Although, I was surprised that people’s reactions were fairly reserved. I don’t know if they were just trying to look cool in front of the pit guys or what, but I would’ve been jumping up and down with excitement I think. After the ride we all went over to a bar called the Workingman’s Friend. It was the perfect capper for the real racing experience.