YouTube via Fark:

Was this public access?

In the video, Crane briefly touches on the synergy between movie and game releases.

Most of the time these days, the game that is released concurrently with a film is rushed though the production process and is usually poorly received by the public.

Being the self-appointed layout editor of El Capitan’s school newspaper The Horizon, I absolutely newsgasmed when I could include elements a real newspaper would have, like continuing stories on another page, and in this case, adding an infobox previewing the Spring Band Concert.

***

X-Perience Rocks the Gym May 29th

[El Capitan Horizon, 1992]

“The theme is keeping your adolescent creativity and what your soul is made of,” explains Mark Stephan, who masterminded the idea of the X-Perience, a classical-rock fusion act to be performed on Friday, May 29th in El Cap’s Foster Gym as part of the band’s Spring Concert.

What is extraordinary about this concert is that this mix of classical piano composition with backing rock instrumentation was entirely realized by Mark and his crew, an eight person ensemble.  Mark plays in the concert piano and keyboards, along with keyboards by Chucki Parker, lead guitar by Troy Yasuda, saxophone and rhythm guitar by David Wiese, rhythm guitar by Jeremiah Myers, bass guitar by Christy Nunes, drums by Sean Preston, and on the trumpet, Chris Block.  There will also be a four person chorus accompaniment, which will sing along at times with the semi-improvised act.  “We will have to play by ear,” says trumpter Chris Block.  Mark adds, “Everybody adds their own improvisation, but the piano is the backbone.”

The primary song that will be played is Mark’s own “Sensual Mentality,” which existed only as a piano piece only two months ago, but now it will be backed up by other instruments as well.  “‘(Sensual Mentality)’ is about an adult who realizes what is important and what he needs to discover,” Mark explains the theme, “Instead of doing what is prudent for the time: the job, the house payment, etc.”

The theme of the show is enhanced by a small controversy concerning the original fliers: which was a print of Chucki Parker’s image of a doll with nails portruding from its head in the foreground, while a silhouette of a man was show in the background.  “People take things too seriously,” Mark said, “The first flier got a bad rap from administration because of its ‘vile content.’  They thought the doll was a baby with pins stuck in it.  Mark remarked the picture’s point was a man who was turning away from his youth, which is the ultimate source of inspiration.  “I think it would be shocking that people would oppress their adolescent creativity.”

Besides the photograph controversy, Mark explains why he attempted such a project.  “Thnis is (for most of us) our last year and we wanted to go out with a bang.  It is the perfect locale, since the audience is familiar, and there is no rent for the gym.”  The rigorous preparations for this event included three-day-a-week practice sessions, which not everybody could attend, but Mark says, “We have it down.  We’re ready.”  He adds, “I hope this encourages other musicians.”

[Spring Band Concert featuring the X-Perience Classical-Rock Fusion.  Date: Friday May 29, 1992.  Time: 7:30 pm.  Place: Foster Gym.  Prce: $3.00, on sale on the quad through Friday.

-Daniel Touchette

***

It’s a shame I couldn’t come up with a post-concert report, because the night was truly legendary.  As I recall, not only was the concert very good, being augmented by a surprise energetic Native American dance by Steve Curo,

but it ran so long over its allotted time that the power in the gym failed, ending the performance abruptly.  The musicians and the 400 spectators in attendance sat in the dark, waiting for the lights to power back on.

Of course, there were rumors that a certain vice-principal was quoted later as saying “this is my power failure.”

We never had confirmation (nor asked for it) that the veep in charge reset the circuit breaker, whether in panic or malice.  Any censorship in retrospect was ridiculous because the themes were largely innocuous.  However, the power failure has only strengthened the night as one of the most memorable in senior year.

THIS MAY OR MAY NOT BE A TRUE STORY.

A funny thing happened to me in the photo lab yesterday.  I was cursed.

When encountering a customer with a difficult issue, it’s best to remain patient and try to solve the problem.  This old women with pale blue eyes pointed a crooked forefinger at me and said, “How dare you reprint 15 copies of frame 15A!  It was supposed to be 16A!”

I had no idea there were gypsies in Minnesota.

“Uh, okay, ma’am, sorry about that.  You’re right, it was supposed to be 16A.  I can take the negatives back and redo them.  I’ll try to have them out in 15 minutes.”

“FIFTEEN MINUTES!” she growled, “I don’t have such time, young man.  I have to be at the Brainerd Tennis Club in five!”

“Oh, wow,”  I said.  “Okay, I’ll try to get them out as soon as I can.”

I could tell by the fury exhibited by her furrowed brow that anything short of me going back in time and redoing her prints would be unsatisfactory.  Nevertheless, I don’t actually have a timebox in my possession, so I was just going to have to draw a deep sigh and return to my work.

I ran the negatives again, careful to pick frame 15A, and then – the paper jammed in section 7!  The line was growing behind the crone, and every machine in the place was beeping at me.  The Rimage CD writer stuck its tongue out at me in disapproval.

It took 22 minutes to give the old woman her reprints.  “That is unacceptable, young man!” she told me, “All the tennis courts will be taken by the Philistines!  Oh… I curse you.  Curse you for all eternity!”

GULP!

Hey bony finger in the air shaking with ire, she said, “No matter what creative endeavor you partake.  No matter what success you find in business or in life.  YOU, DAN TOUCHETTE, SHALL ETERNALLY AND SOLELY BE REMEMBERED FOR THE DT LOG!”

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

***

I’ve got three binders next to me on the computer desk, each with about 300 pages of the DT Log, starting in March 1989.  I tried my best not to reference them too much online recently, because it sort of makes me feel like a one-trick pony.  I mean everybody blogs nowadays, and that’s all the DT Log really was, a pre-Internet blog.

Since high school, I’ve written constantly with nary a single project published, albeit the two newspaper articles I did for the TCU Daily Skiff.  Poems, short stories, screenplays.  I feel like I’ve improved tremendously since the staccato wording of the early DT Logs, and the smarmy smart-assedness of the senior logs.

I’d like to move on, but I have to admit it was fun to punch out the logs and pass them around in class.  Every now and again, I may reprint from the archive, but really, and trust me on this,

the DT Logs were a lot worse than you remembered them.    But when you have the choice between a DT Log about me wearing Hammer Pants or paying attention to Scott Lieberknecht’s calculus lecture, you know what you enjoyed more.

So, for now, I’ll have to settle for being remembered for the DT Log.  But I will keep everybody posted on the developments that my creative life hopefully will offer.

***

Thanks, everybody for the good words over the years about the DT Log,

and please don’t take action against the gypsy on my behalf.  She might actually have blessed me rather than cursed me.

Oh yes, and like always, feel free to provide public response in the space provided below.

Deep Vote Predicts the Oscars (Chicago Sun-Times)

Writes Ebert:

His code name is Deep Vote. He reads the mind of the Academy. He will reveal to me the names of this year’s nominees. Our annual rendezvous is in the Anime section of a small Blockbuster in an obscure Midwestern city. He pulls on latex gloves and uses a fingernail knife to slit open a fresh pack of 3X5 cards. He writes down his predictions.

So Deep Vote predicts a “hands-down” win for Heath Ledger, who would become the second posthumous acting winner in Oscar history.

Interestingly enough, he also predicts a best actress win for Melissa Leo in Frozen River.  She’s probably best known for being in the cast on “Homicide” on NBC.

I’ve wanted to do this for a while: compiling the list of self-imposed nose insults from the play “Cyrano de Bergerac” by Edmund Rostand and the Steve Martin movie Roxanne:

Cyrano de Bergerac:

Aggressive: Sir, if I had such a nose I’d amputate it!

Friendly: When you sup it must annoy you, dipping in your cup; you need a drinking-bowl of special shape!

Descriptive: ‘Tis a rock!. . .a peak!. . .a cape! –A cape, forsooth! ‘Tis a peninsular!

Curious: How serves that oblong capsular? For scissor-sheath? Or pot to hold your ink?

Gracious: You love the little birds, I think? I see you’ve managed with a fond research to find their tiny claws a roomy perch!

Truculent: When you smoke your pipe. . .suppose that the tobacco-smoke spouts from your nose– do not the neighbors, as the fumes rise higher, cry terror-struck: “The chimney is afire”?

Considerate: Take care. . .your head bowed low by such a weight. . .lest head o’er heels you go!

Tender: Pray get a small umbrella made, lest its bright color in the sun should fade!

Pedantic: That beast Aristophanes names Hippocamelelephantoles must have possessed just such a solid lump of flesh and bone, beneath his forehead’s bump!

Cavalier: The last fashion, friend, that hook?  To hang your hat on? ‘Tis a useful crook!

Emphatic: No wind, O majestic nose, can give THEE cold!–save when the mistral blows!

Dramatic: When it bleeds, what a Red Sea!

Admiring: Sign for a perfumery!

Lyric: Is this a conch?. . .a Triton you?

Simple: When is the monument on view?

Rustic: That thing a nose? Marry-come-up! ‘Tis a dwarf pumpkin, or a prize turnip!

Military: Point against cavalry!

Practical: Put it in a lottery!  Assuredly ‘twould be the biggest prize! Or. . .

Parodying Pyramus’ sighs. . .  Behold the nose that mars the harmony of its master’s phiz! blushing its treachery!

Roxanne/C.D. Bales:

Obvious: ‘Scuse me, is that your nose or did a bus park on your face?

Meteorological: Everybody take cover, she’s going to blow!

Fashionable: You know, you could de-emphasize your nose if you wore something larger, like… Wyoming.

Personal: Well, here we are, just the three of us.

Punctual: All right, Delbman, your nose was on time but YOU were fifteen minutes late!

Envious: Ooooh, I wish I were you! Gosh, to be able to smell your own ear!

Naughty: Uh, pardon me, sir, some of the ladies have asked if you wouldn’t mind putting that thing away.

Philosophical: You know, it’s not the size of a nose that’s important, it’s what’s IN IT that matters.

Humorous: Laugh and the world laughs with you. Sneeze, and it’s goodbye, Seattle!

Commercial: Hi, I’m Earl Scheib, and I can paint that nose for $39.95!

Polite: Uh, would you mind not bobbing your head? The, uh, orchestra keeps changing tempo.

Melodic: Everybody. He’s got…  The whole world in his nose!

Sympathetic: Aw, what happened? Did your parents lose a bet with God?

Complimentary: You must love the little birdies to give them this to perch on.

Scientific: Say, does that thing there influence the tides?

Obscure: Whoa! I’d hate to see the grindstone. Well, think about it.

Inquiring: When you stop to smell the flowers, are they afraid?

French: Saihr, ze pigs have refused to find any more truffles until you leave!

Pornographic: Finally, a man who can satisfy two women at once! (How many is that?)

(Fourteen, Chief!)

Religious: The Lord giveth… and He just kept on giving, didn’t He?

Disgusting: Say, who mows your nose hair?

Paranoid: Keep that guy away from my cocaine!

Aromatic: It must wonderful to wake up in the morning and smell the coffee… in Brazil.

Appreciative: Oooh, how original! Most people just have their teeth capped.  All right.

Dirty: Your name wouldn’t be Dick, would it?

Sources: Project Guttenberg: Cyrano de Bergerac, IMDb: Roxanne quotes

Tom Brokaw of NBC Nightly News said, “This isn’t just United States history, it is world history happening now.”

When he said that, I was watching the happy faces at Grant Park in Chicago, and I became teary-eyed.

Many hours ago, Democrat Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States.

I wasn’t getting misty over shared poltical values with Obama; I’m probably political closer to John McCain.  Being a Libertarian, I tend to side with the Republicans on most things fiscal.

No, the emotion was from the collapse and rebuilding of history before my eyes.  The salve for the wounds of this great country’s unfortunate legacy of slavery: the times when society had not yet caught up with enlightenment.  I was told many times that a black man would not lead this nation.   I am feeling the joy of the downtrodden minorities who now may believe that anything is possible.

So now I look to the next four years, at least the next two in which the executive and legislative branches are held by the blue-staters.  I anticipated this when I designed my goal storyboard, and I believe I can succeed in gaining free time, eliminating debt and building wealth under a government and an economy that may not be conducive to such things.  I can adjust my strategy.

Anything is possible.

(Graphic hosted by ImageShack.)