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Her Morning Elegance

Cool video by Oreon Lavie. Check it out:

Maca on Colbert

I haven't had a chance to watch this Colbert interview of Paul McCartney yet, but I've been a big Beatles/Macca fan since I was 6 and my mom and I used to sing and dance to Beatles' songs. I've been lucky enough to see Paul live in concert three times so I'm curious to see what he had to say in this interview. Enjoy!

Kevin Smith at the Count Basie Theater

I took my wife (for her birthday present) to go see Kevin Smith last night in Red Banks, NJ. We had a great time, but what a drive! (2 hours). Having gotten up at 5am to get the kids ready for school and head off to work, we didn't get home until near 1am this morning.

Now I've seen Kevin Smith live before, but I hadn't seen him at a Q&A at a theater. I had only seen him at Wizardworld where he only spoke for an hour or so. Man, can Kevin Smith talk. He went on (taking questions) from the audience for 3 hours and 20 mins. without a break and we had to leave. We had heard that he had spoken for 7 hours the last time he was there and I have to say that the thought of sitting in that tiny seat at the Count Basie Theater for 7 hours and then driving home in the middle of the night (2 hours!) was not at the top of my list of fun things to do.

Thankfully, my wife agreed that we leave early and we still didn't get home until 12:45am. Having kids and needing to get up early, that was the best we could do. Kevin Smith was fun to listen to as he answers questions in all honesty. When he was asked a question from a young woman about how she can switch from the television industry to making documentary films, his answer was short and to the point: "Just make Clerks."

He admitted that he didn't have a secret to be successful and that he simply took a leap of faith to max out credit cards and borrow from family and friends ($27,000) to make his movie. Luckily, his film was a success and the rest is history. I have to say that I did feel rather happy that I had decided to podcast "Dorothea's Song" and to publish it on Lulu.com.

Here we are 14 years later and Kevin Smith is still making movies. "Zack & Miri Make a Porno" (his latest film) was number 2 in the box office last week and from the reviews I've read it seems to be rather funny! I can't wait to see it.

Lenka: The Show

Just a fun video to spice up some the day up. Enjoy!

In Honor of Randy Pausch: The Last Lecture

Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch (Oct. 23, 1960 - July 25, 2008) gave his last lecture at the university Sept. 18, 2007, before a packed McConomy Auditorium.

Carpe Diem. May we all be so inspired to live our lives with passion, confidence and such panache.

Revision 3: INXS

Lip Dub - Need You Tonight by INXS from sarahlane on Vimeo.

Stephenie Meyer: The Twilight Series

Several weeks ago I started reading Stephenie Meyer's "The Twilight Series" and I was thoroughly engrossed in reading the first two books. I passed the book on to my wife and she read the first three pages, thinking that the writing wasn't that great, but then after the first 20 pages she couldn't put the book down. I can't remember how I found out about these books--I think I read a review about them in the SFWA's The Bulletin or someone in a forum had mentioned that they were well worth picking up. I had not known what the books were about, thinking that they had something to do with Jacqueline Carey's Kushiel series.

Ah, now I remember: Life's been a bit hectic lately. I was on a plane coming back from a business trip to Atlanta and I was listening to a podcast that was an interview with Jacqueline Carey. I've really enjoyed her Kushiel series and one of the podcast hosts had suggested Stephenie Meyer's trilogy. I had no idea what the books were about so I picked them up and put them on my shelf. Imagine my surprise when I started reading them and realized that these books were written for a teenage audience. The books are essentially romance/fantasy using fairly simplistic themes: A young woman falls in love with a vampire and he with her. On paper the premise seems fairly simplistic, but Meyer builds such intensity in her characters that I also couldn't put the book down. I'm currently reading book 3 "Eclipse" and I would highly recommend the books.

Why? Well, if you're a writer, you can learn what is selling these days ("Twilight" [the first book] made the New York Times' best seller list) and also what is being purchased by publishing houses. Another tidbit of information: The book "Twilight" is currently being made into a movie. Not bad for a first time writer. She not only is able to get published right out of the gate but I believe her contract was one of the highest young adult contracts to date.

But don't take my word for it. Read it. Don't delay!

Official Paul McCartney Video

How can you not like this? Paul McCartney has released the official video for "Dance Tonight" on YouTube.
Here's the video:

What's good about this is that not only is Natalie Portman in the video but Paul and his team have agreed to release the video on YouTube. Finally, artists are realizing how great this is for them, for fans, and for YouTube. It's a win-win all around. Enjoy!

Superman II

I'm in a Superman type of mood.  I purchased Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut and Superman Returns yesterday on DVD. I started watching Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut last night and I have to admit how cool it was to sit down and see footage of Christopher Reeve that I hadn't seen before.  Sure, the new cut of the film is choppy in parts, but I like the idea that I'm able to see Donner's vision of what he wanted the film to be like.  Add to the fact that when you put in Superman Returns and look at the new special effects almost 30 years later and--it's just mind blowing.  Superman II is filled with cheesy effects, but Reeve pulls the film together with his charm.  Superman Returns (which I reviewed back in the summer) is filled with nostalgic memories of a time I can't get back--my youth. 

I still recall playing with an old record player, listening to the Superman score, but, being a kid, playing with the record's speed, changing it from 33 1/3 to 78, to 45, and then to its slowest speed. Ah, those were the days.  Kids do all sorts of stuff, don't they? 

I'm headed off to get ready for work, but I wanted to just write a little bit about memories, the past, and some fun times.  Peace.

Art School Confidential

I saw the film Art School Confidential the other night and I have to say that it's definitely worth a viewing.  Good flick! While watching the film, I recognized Jerome's love interest in the film, but I, at first, couldn't place her.  Then I realized that she was Sophie Myles who played Reinette in "The Girl in the Fireplace" in last season's Doctor Who. She's a rising young British star and she plays a good role in this film.  I think what I liked the most about the film was the tongue in cheek attitude the film had toward art and artists in general.  The most base aspects of human nature are brought to the spotlight in this gem of a film.  Great stuff.  It wasn't the best film I've seen this year, but I would recommend it and had a lot of fun watching it.

I've been rather busy the last few days with the holidays so I haven't had much time to write.  I've not had much free time to do much work on my blog, but that's how it is this time of the year.

Have a good one!