I don't support the work of imperialist stooges  //  5.23.06  [Music: R.E.M. - Reckoning]
Well, I'm sorry to disappoint again, but I'm going to have to put the latest video on hold.  I've gotten the thing cut together and everything, but I have not been able to get a satisfactory final product once the video is rendered together.  There's a few factors involved, including differing framerates, audio problems, sync problems... in the words of Ron Burgandy, "It's boring, but it's a part of my life."  I'm not lying when I say that I've tried at least ten times to get it right, and every time something else has gone wrong, so for now it's on the back burner once again.  I'm sorry to everyone who's been eagerly awaiting this one.  All three of you.

With all these problems I've been up to with this project, it's gotten me in the market for a new camcorder, one that I can do top-notch projects with.  I'll still use my current camera for stuff like video blogs, etc.  Now that I mention it, of course, I have only done two vlogs so far this year.  Wow.  Anyway, I'm looking to get a MiniDV camera with USB connectivity and the option to do 16:9 ratio. 

Speaking of videos, I do have one that I want you to see.  A few weeks back I helped Mike's Senior Focus protégé, Andrew Forgit, with his final project.  It's a short movie called "Shadows" that was written and narrated by fellow Focuser Kevin Tourtellotte.  You can go check it out at YouTube... and listen closely for the sound of rustling newspaper and trashbags at the beginning... that's my Foley artistry! 

We got the power now  //  5.18.06  [Music: Flaming Lips - At War with the Mystics]
Sorry again for the lack of updates.  I've been meaning to put something new up, but Mom went in for her hip replacement this week and I haven't had much time between work and running up to the hospital.  In fact, I'd be mowing the lawn right now if it weren't for the fact that my iPod was almost dead, so I figured that I'd charge it up while I finally updated today.  As for Mom, she's doing just fine.  The surgery went well and she's already on her way to recovery.  She should be coming home tomorrow and she'll probably be better in a couple of months. 

I would like to point out that it's been five years since NP1 got started as a humble Geocities site in one of the computer labs in the old NHBS.  Things have changed a bit, but it's still the same game here.  I'm planning on a new video that's going to take a lot of old footage I've never used and make a sort of "mix tape" style out of it.  It should be fun.  I think so, at least.  Keep an eye out.

So about this new Flaming Lips album... It's another great entry in their long catalog of slightly psychotic/thoroughly enjoyable pop rock.  This time around, it's not just another bit of "logical progression" in the band's sound.  Sure, they've carried over plenty from The Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, but they've even dug further back to stuff like Transmissions from the Satellite Heart.  Some of the songs, especially "The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song," revert to that older, much more bombastic approach with guitars reminiscent of Ronald Jones' distorted buzz.  (That brings me to a point... I've got all the albums that Ronald played on and as far as I could tell, all he really recorded was that same, grating buzz sound, although I might be wrong noting all the layers of sound they used.  From watching The Fearless Freaks and reading about their history, the guy was incredibly talented and knew how to get some amazing sounds out of his instruments.  Not to say it was talent wasted, just untapped potential from my view.)  In other places, they start to sound so much like Pink Floyd that you'd think David Gilmour was pumping out some pretty funky guitar solos, no more evident than on the instrumental "The Wizard Turns On the Giant Silver Flashlight and Puts On His Werewolf Moccasins."  Yeah, that's the song title.  The Lips' philosophy of sound engineering proves to be superb yet again, as this is one of the best mixed albums I've heard in I don't know how long.  Wayne, Mike, and Steven should be quite proud with another great release.  I'm just a bit upset that Steven's octopus-style drumming is sadly missing from this record.  Kliph Scurlock is quite capable, it's just that I rank the Drozd as one of the best drummers working today.  Oh well, it's not like the guy didn't play 90% of the other instruments on the album.

Not sure what else to tell you, kids.  Hopefully I'll get that new video together soon. 

Ch-check it out  //  5.8.06  [Music: Beastie Boys - Solid Gold Hits]
Last week, my great-grandmother passed away from complications from a heart problem she'd recently developed.  Nana was almost ninety years old, she lived a full life.  I'm going to miss her a lot.  Dad's the only person who's going to be able to go to the funeral today.  It came up to quickly for anyone else to really make plans (especially Fran, she's got a big AP exam and Mom's going to have hip surgery in a week).  Heck, even Grandpa won't be able to go because he's in the hospital getting foot surgery.  I'll be there in spirit, though.

Meanwhile, back at the store, things have been going pretty well.  Since Dave has taken over, things have fallen into place.  All the other people we'd take on since the takeover, like Scott and Roland, have been serving well, but once Dave came aboard, it all sort of snapped into place.  This weekend, we had plenty of "huddles," mostly to promote new products, which meant that we got to eat all day.  We also congratulated Nicky for selling a lot of fish with this lovely trophy/Immunity Idol:


The resemblence is uncanny

The best thing about calling these huddles is that Dave has decided to use his old wrestling microphone skills to call them.  He got them started by playing "Eye of the Tiger" very loudly over the intercom system and announcing, "ALRIGHT HANNAFORD CUSTOMERS AND ASSOCIATES, IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN... IT'S HUDDLE TIME!!!  COME ON OVER TO THE MEAT DEPARTMENT, WE JUST MADE SOME HAM" or something of that nature.  Suddenly, this place is fun to work at again.

Speaking of "Eye of the Tiger," you can check out a video clip of the NBHS school band playing the song right here.  I'm not kidding, check it out.  I'll put it up on NP1 Films soon.

Lastly... Greg and I saw the newest Spike Lee joint, Inside Man, last week.  You wouldn't think it's a Spike Lee movie at first glance, mostly because it's much more mainstream than anything else he's done (at least in the last ten years or so).  It's a great heist movie, and guys can't resist heist movies, as Dane Cook has pointed out before.  Denzel Washington is just as cool as ever, Clive Owen keeps up a string of good villainous (yet appealing) characters, and even Willem Dafoe, Jodie Foster, and Christopher Plummer help fill out the cast.  It's a great New York movie from one of the great New York directors, too.  So if you haven't seen Inside Man yet but have been planning on it, I suggest you do so before the early summer movies run it out of theaters.  You won't be disappointed.
Not for nothin', Cole  //  5.2.06  [Music: Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie...]
Before I get started, I'm going to let everyone know that there's a bitchin' new trailer up for Superman Returns.  You should go watch it and then get as pumped as I am.  I've got lots to say about this movie, but I'll leave that till it comes out. 

Sorry about how lazy I was last month about posting.  I hate to say anything like "The site is boring me," or "Posting is like a chore to me these days," but since I haven't done a whole lot of interesting stuff lately, I just don't think it's worth writing if I have nothing fun to say.  I mean, I didn't even make any videos.  I won't let that happen this month, though... because in only two weeks I'll be celebrating the fifth anniversary of NP1!  I've got a couple of ideas stewing right now, so stay tuned.

Sunday was a whole ton of fun, I can say that.  Almost everyone who works at the store showed up to play softball at the school and we played all afternoon.  It was exactly what a good sandlot-style game should be, losing track of score, not caring how many innings have been played (I'm pretty sure we exceeded nine), and just enjoying an absolutely perfect day.  I put a new bat and cleats to good use, got a couple of hits, scored a couple of runs, sucked at playing second base, and felt it the next morning.  In fact, my quads still burn. 

MEANWHILE, Dean flew up today to see the Red Sox host the Yankees at Fenway... AND IT GOT RAINED OUT!  EVERYBODY LAUGH AT DEAN!  Ha ha, just kidding.  That absolutely sucks, and I feel really really bad about it.  I bet the tickets will be honored whenever they make it up, and if it's long enough off, he might get to come back up.  But I dunno, I still haven't talked to him yet.  I will say that even though the Yankees lost last night, I enjoyed watching the Sox' newly re-acquired Doug Mirabelli jump out of the car in full uniform into the park after coming in from the airport.  Priceless... did he change in the vehicle or in the airport bathroom or something?  A Texaco station perhaps?

I got the new Flaming Lips album last week, too, but since it's in the car and I'm on the computer, I can't give you a real review.  Right now I'll just say that it's really good and they're sounding a lot like Pink Floyd these days.  Good stuff, I'll let you know next time (maybe).