Being 52 - Reflections on VloMo 2010

It is Day 30 and this is just a quick reflection on how I experienced recording face to video.



This is day 30 of National Videoblogging Posting Month.

Yeah!

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Errol Elumir Acapella Video For NaNoWriMo

I'll post one one video on the last day of VloMo10 but I got time crunched toward the end. To make it up to you I present a one man cheerleader squad of four part harmony goodness.



Salud to our writing compatriots as well as those in the VlogNation. Special shout out to those that did 30 Pies in 30 Days. My hips forbade me from even contemplating such a crusty adventure but props just the same.

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Poetry In Plain Sight - Bruce Williams

I am not sure how older men see themselves. Well, I have glimmers. I think the image gets locked in at their best year and that is what they see from life forward.

I mention this because Bruce Williams has a great looking face. The white beard is working for him. He doesn't have the washboard abs that is being projected as the standard of male beauty and perfection. Bruce occupies a body well lived in that has stories and poems to share.



His poems are much like his beard, there is history in present and waiting if we would slow down and truly listen. If you would like more information Bruce has a book called The Mojave Road and Other Journeys that you can get at Tabotbach Press.

P.S. Have you tried to sleep with a washboard? I once again advocate going for comfort and not for speed. Pillow talk, not washboard abs talk y'know?

This is Day 27 of National Videoblogging Posting Month aka Vlomo10

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Do The Mouse on the Finally Friday Freakout

No ten dollar words today. I have met the challenge of the day by not spending any money or participating in any way toward Black Friday. It is time to dance, make silly and drop any pretense of maturity.



From the dust bin of time, I give you Mr. Soupy Sales and the Hullabaloo dancers doing The Mouse. For those that protest I remind you that a few months later we were all doing The Batman.

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Being 52 - A TechnoRant Before Black Friday

In the caves of the Salt Mine there were strategy meetings on getting the goods. Techniques were reviewed such as scarfing down dinner and then stand in line until the 4 a.m. opening. Miner #56 wanted first dibs on the 40" television.

Miner #39 was thinking about how many targets she could hit in a two hour window. The desk was lined with ads. She was marking her positions on her phone to graphically see if she could get to point A, B and C in time for the designated specials.

Salt Chizzler #320 questioned the need for sleep but was concerned about the biological impulses and line etiquette.

I tried to offer the voice of reason. "You could shop on-line. It will be in the store the next day. Do you really need to shop; I mean what about the meaning of the day? You know, giving thanks, talking and sharing memories, being with loved ones?"

I looked each in the eye when I said "Why the bum rush to Christmas?"

They looked at me like I just sat on a whoopee cushion.

I know when I am licked. I had more things to say so this is a short video on three techno rants about cheap netbooks, e-book readers and cameras.

This is my day 24 video for National Videoblogging Posting Month aka #Vlomo10 on Twitter

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Poetry In Plain Sight - Robert Thomas Lundy

Robert Lundy is the writing partner of Elizabeth Yahn Williams. They often write about the same topic but with different styles and viewpoints.

Rhyming poetry is deceptive in that there is a message or story that is carried by the rhyme. You might have to shift you perception antenna a little bit to really hear what is going on.



This is Robert reading his poem, Deja Vu All Over Again.

For more information about Elizabeth and Robert check out their web site atwww.hitherandyahn.com

This is day 23 of National Videoblogging Poetry Month aka #Vlomo10 on Twitter.

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Poetry In Plain Sight - Elizabeth Yahn Williams

I have to put this out there. Most of the older women poets will not allow me to record them or their poems. I totally understand and respect that decision. I think it is a mistake.

People need to see and hear from our elder poets. Not just because they are "older" but because they offer a bridge to what was and what is in the here and now. Growing older is not a toxic condition no matter what the advertisers try to tell us.



Take your choice, grow older or cease to be? Then again in Elizabeth Yahn William's poem maybe there is a choice to come back like ___________. This is her poem entitled On Reincarnation: Or, Bury the Dead at Hallow's Eve.

For more information about Elizabeth or her writing partner Robert Thomas Lundy you can visit their web site at HitherAndYahn.com

This is my day 22 video for National Videoblogging Posting Month aka #Vlom10 on Twitter.

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Poetry In Plain Sight - Julia Stein

Poetry can slice through a lot of nonsense. Politicized issues about aging, health care, faith, humanity and even pestilence are made clear line by line.

I listened to Julia's poems and I was uncomfortable, not in a bad way. It was the feelings of recognition. Of the reality of being vulnerable to other people who will take advantage. It is also the recognition of others who will rise up and overcome the darkness but not before a lot of tears.



The discomfort is the reality of remembering to focusing on what is really important. We need to be made uncomfortable if we are to deal with our ever evolving future. This is Julia Stein's poem entitled Where Love Is.

This is also day 21 of National Videoblogging Posting Month.

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Poetry In Plain Sight - Carl Stillwell

It has been too long since I've written a proper poem. I'm hanging out with the poets to find my voice that was shelved for a reason I can't remember. It might have been a job or a man.

I can't remember. Once of the things that I like about spoken poetry and poets is that there is a lot of risk taking. Can you say the words? Will they understand. Will the spirit of the poem come through.

This first poem is in memory of David Stillwell entitled REM Revelation.



Sometime you just have to let things happen. This is CaLokie with Don Kingfisher Campbell riding shotgun on Glory Golden Oldie.



This is my day 19 and 20 videos for National Videoblogging Posting Month.

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Being 52 - Software Blues

I'm a day late but just under a dollar short. I came home last night and I tried, I really tried to post something. My body was not having any part in it. I woke up around 3 a.m. to write about image sensors.

I really want to write about digital image sensors and I needed time to think and write. So that is what I did. Then went to work, did a few chores and then attempted to catch up.



I'll have you know the body will protest if you try to stay up more than 20 hours. Gone are the days when I could stay up to watch the Late Show, the Late, Late Show and the Late, Late, Late Show.

I'd sleep for two hours, go to school and then do it again the next night. Wouldn't break a sweat.

Being 52 you'd think I'd understand time and spacial relationships. I needed space in my bed and I tried to press past my allotted time.

Silly rabbit.

This is my day 18 video for National Videoblogging Posting Month aka Vlomo10.

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I Am Not A Princess on the Finally Friday Freakout

Wait, I can't find my ruby slipper! Oh, wait - I don't have one. My bad. I am learning to appreciate Twitter because the people know stuff. Liz Henry's tweet pointed me to this video by Maria and the Diamonds.



Yes. There is dancing and singing and merrymaking with menfolks on our terms.

Yo, what's not to like?

Still cranking away for days 18 and 19 of Vlomo. I fell asleep. I was tired of real life and needed to visit my dreams. Oh, well back to the sprint.

Carry on and dance why don't you. Menfolk too.

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Being 52 - Move Here

This is a place of motion. People coming and going. Things to do or at least we say so.



There is a lot of natural beauty that people really don't take the time to see. This is a visual poem of sorts. It is also day 17 of #Vlomo10.

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Being 52 - Writing A Post to A Stranger

Life was a bit simpler being a six-year old person. You could write a letter to someone you did not know. You thought about the letters that made up the words you wanted to say.

As you age up a bit you become more self conscious and hopefully a bit more reflective. I did type hopefully. Anyway this video is an answer video to Frank Carver's Vlomo10 post on the A14.



Hi Frank.

This is the California state highway 134. It is normally jammed up with folks going and coming from work or trying to get to the Rose Bowl. Lord help you if you are on it the same day as the UCLA vs USC football game.

The scenery is kinda cool. There are palm trees, oak trees, wild flowers, bougainvillea and whatever the wind blew into the land this week.

Lemme see, anything else. Oh, yes. The sound you hear is the on-board television called TransitTV. There are day old news stories from the Associated Press, PowerPoint type puzzles and commercials to ride the bus to people that have no choice but to ride the bus.

Thanks for the inspiration.

Gena

The Being 52 lesson of the day is go for it.

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Being 52 - A Burger Desire

I like really good hamburgers. I'll reconstruct the burger to make it right. I don't want mustard. I can tolerate fresh lettuce. A real tomato or nothing. I want onion rings, not chips of onion.



Pickles are optional. There is nothing quite as nice as a single burger from In-N-Out. No cheese. No fries required. Just a $1.75 burger.

I have had the Vanilla Shake with a burger. Made with real ice cream. It is thick. You'll need a spoon. I try not to order that more than once a month. Moderation of desire I guess.

So this is not only my homage to In-N-Out but to the time honored practice of animating photos.

I have to. Dang video codec jacked me up again. Part of my Thanksgiving will be spent re-building my system and clean out the cooties.

Being 52 is knowing what you want and not being swayed by other desires. It is also being ready to pull a bunny out of a hat when you have to make it happen. Steady on.

This is my day 15 video for National Videoblogging Posting Month aka Vlomo10

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Being 52 - Another Look At Manga

Well, the love that cannot be denied has struck me again. This time it is a book that helps demystify the storytelling process for those folks that want to create Manga graphic novels and comics.



I'm not one of those people. Not yet. I haven't finished the book. This is my day 14 video for Vlomo10.

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Being 52 - The Old and the New are One and the Same

I was clearing space and trying to throw things away. I found an old toy digital camcorder with a 1GB card in it. It works like a Diana/Holga camera in that the imperfections can make interesting videos. This one had a kind of meditative quality to me.

Anyway, I had recorded a video crossing Suicide Bridge. Yes, it has earned the name but the city doesn't like the bridge referred to as such.



With millions of people acting like they have drunk the equivalent of 2 cans of Four Loko (fortified alcohol drink with an added shot of caffeine = a lot of alert dumbass drunk on hype people)we need a touchstone that reminds us that this too shall pass.

The poem is The Calming Thought of All by Walk Witman from his book Leaves of Grass that can be found at Project Gutenberg.

Project Gutenberg's goal is to publish all books in the public domain.

This is my day 13 video for National Videoblogging Posting Month

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Being 52 - Seeing and Not Seeing

There are times when we are on automatic. We go shopping for stuff. Generally for the stuff we need but we are diverted by the stuff we want. Or think we want.



Or didn't know that we wanted it. Me, I go looking for what I haven't seen before and can tote home in a shopping bag. I don't want a painted Buddah or a tarted up angels.
But I did see that kitsch really does have a price tag.

This is a lemonade video on account that I didn't know that the iPod Nano will record 480 x 640 if I record in portrait mode.

This is my day 12 video for National Videoblogging Posting Month. Check out the rest of the folks via Twitter using hastag #Vlomo10. You can also find some of those rascals on YouTube

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Baby Got Back on the Finally Friday Freakout

I've got orange marmalade and leftovers in the refrigerator. I really like to mix food together. My derriere is not all fast food. Nope. I stuff it with veggies, pasta and other assorted food items.

Yet even I would draw the line at a Twinkie diet. And by Twinkie I really mean Chocodiles. Or Ding-Dongs. Chilled, of course.



And then I find this video. Merciful heavens. I've heard of cultural appropriation but this cuts the cake. As a funny parody example. I don't even like Gilbert & Sullivan musicals. I tried but meh, not for me.

But I get it. The source video is from the movie The Pirate of Penzance and the musical adaptation, well go visit Mike Hightower if you want more of the same.



In the spirit of equal time for those us with the amp in vamp and roll in the stroll I convey to you the original Sir Mix A Lot version of Baby Got Back.

Me, I wonder if you can mix Orange Marmalade with pasta?

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Being 52 - Willing to Experiement

Being 52 I don't like doing the same things the say way all of the time. I was thinking about the ruckus about the Twinkie diet experiment.

There are some people who are going to fantasize emulating eating Chocodiles for each and every meal. For the record, this is so not a good thing. Ok to fantasize but not ok to try.



Your body will rebel. So this is my attempt to try to make a video collage about that rapture of thinking about eating junk food and the rational behind it.

The good news is that I don't appear in the video. This is my day 10 video for #Vlomo10.

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Another Look At the Theater I've Lost

A few months back I wrote a post for BlogHer about the theater. This is a version of that post but I thought it would be timely to look again. The movie For Colored Girls opened this week. My heart isn't into rushing to the movie.

There has been a lot of discussions about the movie, the play, re-interpretation and so forth. My BlogHer colleague Nordette Adams wrote an excellent perspective from various stake holders.

Here is my two cents.

I attended a performance of For Colored Girls Who Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf play many years ago. It was the must see play and folks packed the theater. It was the first time that I witness black women performing, poetry as stage craft and words as power.

I had the stage album and the book. So yes, I was a fan.

The movie is something else. It is another persons creation. Tyler Perry has put his imprint on certain sections of the text, removed others and placed it in a cinematic context.

I can't judge it based on my memories of 30 years ago. It has to stand as its own work. When I am ready I may or may not view the movie. A new generation of young women will find what is valuable and what is not.

But is is not Shange's play. And the play is the thing. Speaking of which good theater is like heartbreak. There is a space missing that needs to be healed. The sad thing is that I have learned to live without live theater. I have been away from it for too long.

Part of the problem is the financial accessibility of buying a ticket. No one really wants to pay money to see a stinker of a play. Not at $80 to $150 or more a seat.

Broadway made a $1 billion in gross sales for the 2009-2010 season. They don’t need me to tell them what draws the crowd.

Producers and audiences have made decisions on the kind of theater that will be supported. A visit to The Broadway Musical blog confirmed my suspicions. Many of the plays are revivals or converted movies and television shows.

I do like entertaining plays or musicals. There are times when you need to get away and just step into an experience that isn’t going to do anything to you but give you pleasure.

I know there is a place for Technicolor dazzlers like Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.



It looks like a great production. However, I won’t be seeing it when it comes to town. You see, I’ve already seen the movie. When the original movie came out I took a chance and bought a ticket. I was rewarded by stepped into a different world. I want that same element of risk in a theater production.

The Importance of Revivals

You can get that kind of experience if you’ve never seen the play or the source material before.

Revivals of classic theater plays are necessary. Unless the play has been recorded you can’t really pass along what made the play special. Even when you do record a theatrical performance an element gets lost – the actual connection between the play and the audience.

Sara B. of Adventures in the Endless Pursuit of Entertainment would love a revival of Mame.

Yvonne Korshak of Let’s Talk Off-Broadway wants you to know that there is a theater world beyond Broadway that are producing classics, revivals and contemporary plays in search of an audience.

For those plays that I haven’t seen or experienced in another form this could by a path of exploration. Kat at Painted Air is excited about a possible Lily Allen project. For me, this would be a compromise but I don’t know about me and Bridget Jones.

Still, I need something more.

In Search Of – The Unknown

I’m willing to step beyond the sure thing. Theater is about engagement but it is also about risk and taking chances. It is watching an actor stepping out on stage and giving 100% and the audience either accepts it or rejects it.

What do you do when you like the theater but your needs are not mainstream? When in doubt, find a theater blogger.

Linda at Pataphysical Science is talking up an off Broadway production of the play The Metal Children:

The Metal Children won't leave you with easy answers about the power of art and the responsibility of the artist, but at least it raises the questions.

Jill Dolan wants you to know about Silver Stars:

Silver Stars is a community-based, devised theatre piece by an Irish theatre company called Broken Talkers, who create work by mining people’s stories about their lives and knitting it into coherent evenings of theatre. The play, which I saw performed at the Under the Radar Festival at the Public Theater on January 16, collects narratives from middle-aged Irish gay men who, because of homophobia in their native country, had to flea elsewhere to live honestly and comfortably.

Marisabidilla is a theater/culture blog from Marisa Skudlarek in San Francisco who enjoyed Giant Bones:

I know, there are a lot of plays about plays out there, and sometimes it can seem like an overdone topic. But not when it is really well done--written, staged and performed by people who truly do know and love the power of theater--the way that Giant Bones is.

Still On the Other Side of the Ticket Box

If theater means that hit movies and television shows are going to be converted to the stage then count me out. It would have to be an exceptional production to get me in the seat.

If theater means a range of plays and productions that cater to a variety of interest I could be tempted if I was properly wooed. I haven’t been lately. I will say that being able to sample a play via web video or audio podcasts would be a good way to start.

It might take those of us in new media to find ways to help communicate about theatrical productions of interest beyond the tried and true. One of the thing theater lovers could do is help out the unofficial Internet Theater Database with contributions and citations of plays seen and experienced.

Portions of this post were originally published at BlogHer where I am a Contributing Editor.

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Being 52 - Opossums

There is a story underneath every blanket or two. This is one of mine. For the record, this opossum doesn't look half bad.

This is a starting point of just how ugly the one in my neighborhood looks like. It could just be the California Opossums got the short end of the ugly stick.


Do not be fooled by the slicked up portraits of nice smiling critters or Disney animations. These beings have attitude - generally bad.


This is my Day 9 atmospherically dark video in order to hide the laundry for #Vlomo10

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Being 52 - Bookaholic

Some women do shoes. I have books. Lots and lots of books. Mysteries, computer, history, dictionaries all over the joint. I have hardback, paperback, pdf, cassette, CD and mp3 books.



I do not as yet have a book reader. The desire is there but I'm waiting for the perfect one. I'll probably will be sleeping with it.

This is my Day 8 video for #Vlomo10 - National Videoblogging Posting Month.

Oh, yeah. I almost forgot. The music in the video is from Danosongs.com

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Being 52 - Book Learning

On this day I learned that no matter what you planned to do something can happen to make you wish you never heard of computers, cameras or vlogging. I went out and shot video.

I was using my 5th Generation Nano for what I like to think of as my retail whimsy documentator. Came home, extracted the video and discovered that the Nano records video in 480 x 640 as well as 640 x 480.

I had a bunch of video in a non-standard format. Ok, no problem. I can use QuickTime to apply layers. Something I haven't done in six years. It was clunky even then. Wasn't going to happen tonight either.

Corel Studio crashed three times. Magix only will play have of each videos and Serif Movie Plus is in on the human boycott too.



So this is my lemonade. It is true, but it took three hours to admit it to myself. I shake my fist as the mentioned programs and expect better from them in the future.

Which means tomorrow. This is Day 7 of #vlomo10. Whoopee.

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Poetry In Plain Sight - Carl Stillwell aka Calokie

This is another poem by Calokie. I could try to explain or interpret but he is moving so fast I guess I'll leave it to you to latch on and ride the roller coaster.



I recorded hand held with my Kodak Z1285 that also shoots HD video. That little sucker puts out a great image but I never know then the batteries will go splat. Still in search for the perfect for me HD camcorder.

This is also my Day 6 video for National Videoblogging Posting Month.

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Poetry In Plain Sight - Pete Justus

There is such a richness in Pete Justus poems. He gives you visuals and language. You have to be present and just listen.



This is Pete Justus reading his poem, Section 60.

For more information about Pete check out his Facebook page

This is my Day 5 video for National Videoblogging Posting Month.

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Le Petit Gonzales on the Finally Friday Freakout

We take a pause for the videoblogging cause on account I'm editing and trying to upload before midnight. This is the week that the republicans and tea party participants are celebrating.

Phase 1 on taking the country back. I never can get a straight answer as to where or back to. My guess is limited government. Limited social engagement and services. Less controls over the oppressed and downtrodden business class. Let me not forget the establishment of a Christian nation codified in some governmental documentation.

Even though the founding fathers said, "No." Yep. They were happy.

I was happy too because I live in California and almost everybody that was a Democrat got elected or re-elected. I don't think Carly has conceded the election to Barbara Boxer yet.

Twisting.



Anyway, this video is for those that want to go back in time and twist away any bi-partisan or communication ideas. I say twist and work that leg something crazy.

It is also an opportunity to observe one culture emulating creativity from another culture and making it their own.

For those of you on the TP tip twist and pretend that complicated issues can be solved with a red pen, no votes and a bible.

Go on, twist and make believe that establishing a stripped down government will make you all warm and fuzzy. We'll see how much you believe when your senator has a pork barrel project for your community and you will call for him to not push it through?

I don't think so.

Other Voices

The rest of y'all might want to check out Tim Wise post on the election and the long historical view.

It really is strong stuff. If you are tenderhearted person don't read it. If your spirit demands a loving and centered place do not read it.

If you however need to know what various people are talking about this is one of the items of conversation. I'm not condemning or endorsing.

I have to say that Tim's words had me all twisted up. For another perspective check out Mark Morfold's Letter to a Whiny Democrat at the SF Chronicle.

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Being 52 - Fizzies or Does Anything Really Go Away

I have to eat a bit of humble pie. I had finished the video yesterday but I looked at myself talking. I second and third guessed that maybe I should do this kind of video. This is counter to what I am telling other folks.

I'm not comfortable. I haven't found my public voice I tell myself. This is nonsense. Half the time you can't shut me up. It was the appearance thing.

I did not look pretty. Meaning slicked up. It really is embedded that women should not present themselves unless the are displaying physical and aesthetic perfection.



For who? Seriously.

Most of the people that watch know me. Those that don't might be curious. I am who I am and I know it.

Sometimes the internal critics aka haters slide up to you and have you re-thinking that perhaps you specifically should stay in hiding. Lay low. Don't be visible on the grid.

No, no and heck no. It does not matter. After a long day at work I wanted to tell the story about Fizzies. I don't need to adorne myself to tell you that story.

I do need to check if I have something up my noise or gunk on my lips but after that, I am who I am. With or without make-up. Which I don't wear. Mostly because of allergies but honestly, I'm just not in to it.

I may have to repeat this as a mantra or something. As a side note, BlogHer has a new project about Owning Your Beauty. I might have to take a remedial course or something. Read up on the back posts



After the women bashing year that is about to close we need support. It will not come from magazines, fashion houses or the latest diet goop. It will have to come from within.

This is my Day 4 for National Videoblogging Posting Month. To find other videos use the #Vlomo10 at Twitter.

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Being 52 - Bag of Peanuts

For the record peanuts are a good and necessary food source unless you are allergic to the goobers. Speaking of goobers, this is my not so sneaky attempt to get use to writing prose and poetry again.



This isn't prose or poetry but it is a commentary riff on how age is sold for profit. This is also my Day 3 video for National Videoblogging Posting Month.

To watch other videos by creators from all over the planet zip over to Twitter, plug in the hastag #Vlomo10 and see what you can find.

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Being 52 - Silent Declaration

This is an experiment on how to express being 52 years old. I want to play with visuals, silence and poetry. So for some of my contributions to National Videoblogging Month I'm going to see if I can tell that story in traditional and non-traditional ways.



This is a short clip on being able but not vocal about how many weeks I've been on the planet.

If you are so inclined, whip up your own video, upload it and use Twitter #Vlomo10 to let folks know that you have a video to watch.

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Poetry In Plain Sight - Jon Epstein

There are days you have to look at your own personal trash to know how far you have walked from it. A poem is a safe place to revisit personal hell and tribulations. This is Jon Epstein reading his poem, Eight Milligrams.



Today is the first day of National Videoblogging Posting Month. One of the reasons I started videoblogging was that I wanted to record people and places that were not being seen. It was the environments that I found myself in just being a regular person.

I'm not a high tech cadet. I buy what I the equipment that I can afford and make it work. Recording in existing light is challenging but this was what the camera saw on this day.

Un-adorned and no special effects.

As other media snort at user generated content they forget one small thing. They ignored whole segments of the population. They created a world in their own image.

That world never included me and my kind of people. It is a washed out pastel of the vibrancy in the real world.

My kind of people are the ones that are not celebrities or are objects of ridicule for profit.

We work or not.
We love or not but that love isn't contingent on body shape and size.
We exist outside of talking points and non-conference swag bags.
We, despite the demands of our daily lives, create.

Videoblogging is a reclamation of individuals being present and showing where they are at a given place in time.

Web video can be in support of poets and thinkers that do not need to yell to make their points. On the day of this recording, I heard Jon.

This is my Day 1 post for Vlomo10.

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