PR Vegan Cooking Show

COYOTE DVD REVIEW: Moral dilemma

2009-10-06T08:10:00.001-04:00

Coyote is about 2 buddies who help Mexicans cross the border. The morality of the story is interesting. Why does the Mexican make it and the white guy suffer? The Mexican saved others in the desert. The white guy called La Migra on the extra passengers. When others wanted to call it quits, the white guy found another way to get them across. Profit over compassion. The movie works and it doesn't feel like a cheat. It's a tale of getting in over your head. The mafia is there, you just never see it as the characters don't see it. Hey, I'm happy to see a Mexican win. If only in the movies...

Trapcode Particular References

2008-11-25T21:23:00.000-05:00

Graymachine.com
Has intro to form.

Mega tutorials
Source Page:
http://homepage.mac.com/komaruyama/Tutorials/AE/index.html

Trapcode "Write with Fire" Tutorial
http://macanimationpro.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=33947-1

Great use of custom particles
http://macanimationpro.digitalmedianet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=30889-1

Steve Wright Videos

2008-11-24T19:01:00.004-05:00

As a fan of visual effect artist-educator Steve Wright, I figured others might want to see his freebie training videos: http://vfxio.com/images/movies/ Mr. Wright does the Shake training videos on Lynda.com, plus he's authored two books on digital compositing.

Future Rough Post

2008-07-23T00:02:00.000-04:00

SIMPLEST WAY TO KICK YOUR ASS IN UNDER 3 MINUTES WITH NO WEIGHTS
(Hold a stance. It hurts, but you won't break nothing)

(Man Makers- I got this from Gym Jones.com, which is a great site. Gym Jones can mean "I've got a basketball jones," strong desire, or it's a pun on Jim Jones, the drink the kool aid suicide cult leader. )

Burpees are another thing. I find- in stress- it's easier to count down than count up. Not only does it allow you to do more reps overall, mentally it's just easier to count down than count up. So start at 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 3, quit). Drop the jump part if you have issues. Just stand up, come down...

(Slow squats are good for endurance and breathing through pain, but they don't build muscle anymore than fast squats. Still, they're great for conditioning and pushing your pain barrier. The lactic acid burn in the muscles.)

The Best Answer to Why...

2008-07-20T09:04:00.002-04:00

Why are you vegan? Folks really don't want to know. They want to tell you how they rode high on the horse until they fell off. Or patronize you with talk of how disciplined you must be. Words have power, and vegan is a dietary regime that appears to be one of self-denial. It's not self denial. It's refusal. I don't want it.

Why not?
Because I don't want it.

Why not?
Because I thought about it and chose this way of eating.

Why?
Nobody ever makes a movie about vegetable eating zombies. The walking dead pillaging the farm fields... nope. Zombies eat meat.

Why?
Because I can.

The best answer was by someone close to me. They said they liked examining the food choices they took for granted and making a conscious choice to eat a specific way. They didn't like being able to count all their ribs.

It's not that veganism will make you rail thin if you're not thin to start. But it's easy to remove meat/dairy from your diet and not replace with better options. So you're eating half of what you did, overcompensating with bread, and gaining weight. WTF?! I wanted the count-my-ribs veganism.

Start to finish, vegan is a choice. Don't go into detail. Folks are interested in WHAT you do, not WHY you do. Intentions are overrated. Any arguments beyond personal choice are dumb and not worth anyone's time. Seriously, before you try to save the world, save your breath. Do what you do. Eat as you wish. The world will kill you before you kill it.

When vegetarians cheat...

2008-07-19T07:40:00.000-04:00

This post goes out to all of you at the starting line. It goes a little like this...

I saw a billboard that said "What Vegetarians eat when they cheat." It had a photo of a cow or a steak. It's dumb ad on two points. For one, vegetarians are NOT meat connoisseurs. They wouldn't know a fillet from a tongue. I wouldn't take meat recommendations from non-meat eater. For two, a vegetarian that craves meat should accept that craving and give up the label. It's just a label. And for three, vegetarian is a confusing word in practice. Vegan is simple. It's easier to keep track of 100% vegan than the porous holdings of vegetarian. A vegan says "I only eat plants." A vegetarian says "I don't eat cows, but I'll steal milk intended for their calf." A vegan can be defined by what they do- I eat plant based diet. A vegetarian falls by what they don't do. - I don't eat meat.

Folks are impassioned, even self righteous about being vegan. To you, good bye fair hypocrite.

See, that's the whole point of the billboard. It's playing on people's hatred of hypocrites. Vegetarian's cheat and eat meat- they have weak wills just like the rest of us! It's a foolish statement. Veganism is not a battle of will like alcoholism. Folks view it as a "diet," which like your first partner, are meant to be cheated on. It's a dietary choice that becomes a given, not a battle to be fought to the bitter end.. Either you feel better about yourself on a vegan diet (with proper nutrition... )
(Alcoholism is a disease, like assholism. It starts as a will problem before addiction sets in. Folks have a choice to party or not party. They stop thinking they have a choice and then the chemical dependency sets in. Then there is no choice at all. It's a medical issue.)

RANDOM MYTH BUSTING:
A lot of vegs used to eat McDonalds fries, until it was revealed that they used a beef broth somewhere in the process. The self righteous hypocrite haters said "1 billion served serves them right! If you don't eat meat, what are you doing in McDonalds?!" Well, jerk offs, those vegs don't have to eat McDonalds, but when you're in high school you want to be around your friends.
They bought a product that in good faith should be animal free. Unless you look at the product label with your own eyes, you can't trust the counter folks. (Most places will provide you with a product label. Just say "Allergies." Businesses are FINALLY more sensitive to food sensitivity, so they'll provide them. If not, walk out. Get something you can eat elsewhere, then rejoin the group for a post-meal talk.)

There's a total myth that a single vegan determines where the group eats. If it's a group of longtime friends, sure. Yet, most people are not that compassionate. A vegan will generally join the group. They just don't buy anything but the house salad, without cheese or creamy sauces. If you go out with your co-workers, they don't give a hoot about your diet. You can go eat elsewhere. It becomes a taunt to eat meat "in your face," in hopes of provoking a moral outrage or total capitulation. "Pass the meat... I cave in.." As though absurd level of cholesterol in one's blood stream is teaching a lesson. It's your bitter heart to the bitter end. It's like cigarette smoke- if only it worked faster on everyone except our loved ones.

A plant based diet, aka vegan, is not one of convenience. There aren't many places to eat. Vegan food tastes different to non-vegans. Accept it. And don't mock them. You wouldn't want someone tricking you with beef broth.

It's not like vegans can't eat meaty byproducts, allergies pending. Its a choice. Alas, veganism is not as alienating as refraining from alcohol over age 21. Staying sober is not so much a battle of will but a battle of boredom and exclusion. There's some folks who do it just fine. God bless em. I'm not them. If I missed the bottle, I could've been missing you. I don't. Goodbye.

SYMPTOM IS NOT THE CAUSE

2008-07-15T23:54:00.002-04:00

There was a report posted about how folks who lost a lot of weight wrote down everything they ate. I heard the dumbed down version. BeforeWisdom.com has the rational explanation. (FWIW: BeforeWisdom.com has a lot of interesting articles.) They kept food diaries. The summary is that if you keep a food diary, you will be aware of what you eat, and you will lose weight.

Food diaries are an important tool to track your eating habits, snacking, and cheats. They take a bit of effort to maintain. An individual motivated enough to keep a food diary is primarily motivated to work out with intensity and frequency. The food diary is secondary tool. It's a symptom of a dedicated individual, not the cause.

That person is dropping weight because they are training with weights and fast load cardio.

So, how can you get the cardio without running around the block 20 times?

PACE YOURSELF
The simplest way to pace yourself is to skip rope.
Set a timer, and go at it for 10 minutes. Don't worry about how many times you trip up. Go at it until the alarm goes off.
Don't have a timer? You're cell phone might. Your stove might. Your PDA might.

Skipping rope is easier on the knees than running. You can do it indoors if you have a high enough ceiling and floor space. If not, go outside and get at it. You'll start with 10 minutes, then build to 25 minutes.
Look at youtube for Rope Skipping Videos for variations.

But you know, just do it how you know to do it.

Pacing is important for cardio. Get the okay from your physician prior to doing any exertion, okay?
If you're of sound mind and resounding body, then work at a pace where you can't speak in sentences.
You want to be working so hard that you have to (inhale) take (inhale) breathes (in) between (in) words.
Which is why you shouldn't be carrying conversations during workouts. If you can talk, you're not a the right pace.

RISK OF INJURY VS. REWARD

2008-07-12T23:56:00.000-04:00

An injury can set you back. So buy good shoes. Ross and TJ Maxx get high end trainers from 2 years back. Don't step up or jump up to anything. Don't swing weights around your face. If you're training weights solo, have an escape plan BEFORE you lift the weight so you don't get trapped under the barbell. (Rolling it off is a good idea. If you're small enough, maybe you could bench off the floor (actually better form for shoulder. Touching the chest is for high school jokers. If high school was so smart they wouldn't have invented college.)

This said, not working out puts you directly in the path of injury. High blood pressure, heart problems, digestive issues, aches and pains that come from neglect. You'll be mesed up!

The reward of working out is far greater than the risk of injury. Anyone who gets injured will admit they pushed themselves far beyond their skill level. They ran a mile too far, an unfamiliar gym/floor, too much weight, trying to impress others. They listened to their ego and not their body. These aren't newbies. These are folks who should know better. But if folks always did what they knew, oh, what a wonderful world!

WHY VEGAN?

2008-07-11T23:50:00.000-04:00

I'm vegan without a cause.
Take your animal rights and feed them to your overindulged cats, dogs, and rabbits.

I don't hate cooking meat or drinking milk because I can't disconnect the meal in front of me from the cattle in the field. I can't mess with it because it's a mess to clean up. If you follow a vegan diet and don't get to the dishes for a week... or two... or a month... fine. Maybe some mold, but not the horrible stench of rotting scrambled eggs (give that a day... gross!) or solidified chicken or steak fat. Even milk spoils and stinks up the joint.

So, some folks see eggs and see the farm animal. I see the sink. I'm lazy, which means I'm looking for the maximum effect for the minimal effort. Though the best things in life are attained through hardwork, cooking and cleaning should be simple and fun. Go Vegan to save yourself grease spills. You'll save yourself in the process.

07.10.2008 We're Back For the Vegan Food Attack

2008-07-11T00:15:00.000-04:00

Date: July 10, 2008
Location: World Wide Web
Subject: PR Vegan Cooking Show ReLives!

Purpose: The PR Vegan Cooking show will combine vegan cooking with overproduced visual effects to create a fun, tongue-in-cheek plant based cooking show.

We do not lay claim to originating recipes. We'll modify as we see fit as we work through some valid recipes from our favorite and seldom used cookbooks. We'll credit and discredit sources as they deserve.

Viewer Benefit: I came into veganism- after many failed starts- after prepping a meal for a vegan couple. Oh, I stressed. Went overboard with research until a certain calm overcame me. I was overdoing it. The dinner was quite simple- vegan chili perhaps. Just use plant based food.

The "... But I'm not Vegan" excuse:
I'm re-doing PR Vegan NOT for the die hard in the non-wool vegans, but for the v-curious, parents whose children are demanding a vegan/vegetarian identity, and non-vegans who have to provide meals for vegans. If you're already vegan, I can entertain you perhaps, but I can not enlighten you. You know it all already, you big know it all.

The Big Fat Vegan Myth: Let's dispel it right away. You won't shed all body fat on a vegan diet. You will drop cholesterol levels because you're not consuming animal fats. You have to work out everyday of the week to drop weight. Going Vegan is EASY. Dropping bodyfat in a health fashion is hard work.

The bigger question is: do you like the way you are? If your partner is stunted at scrawny 19 year old development, and you've doubled down and then some, well, is it worth the effort to you, or are you doing it to compensate for a shallow partner? "He Got Fat" is a common exclamation after you see a scrawny pal balloon up. So what? Veganism won't put off the inevitable changes. It'll help out your workouts, but by itself, it's less effective. It's hard work to make it look so difficult.

PR Vegan Abandoned: Orlandont Established

2007-12-26T14:50:00.000-05:00

For 2008 and thereforth, I am walking away from PR Vegan and focusing solely on 1 project at a time.

I tried to multi-task. It led to busy work and ruts.

The quote says it all. It's a year to risk, and I'm gonna risk big.

I re-read all these posts today. I guess that's the good thing of being a lazy blog person- you're backups don't take a long time. Alas, I can't hold 30 interests, only one. It's establishing Orlandont through making videos, art, and graphics, financed through T-shirt sales and other merch.
Saludos,
Tony El Guapo.

VEG FEST OCTOBER 27 2007

2007-10-26T16:52:00.000-04:00

Hey! Veg Fest is going on October 27, 2007!
Saturday! At the park by... you know..

DOWNTOWN has four seperate events blocking
access. There's two races, plus a peace protest, and a counter protest.
If you want to march for peace, get downtown abouts noon. Just slide into line.

CHAMBERLAINS IS OVERLOOKED

2007-07-20T15:03:00.001-04:00

I went to Winter Park Village, with time to kill before seeing the Rat movie. I made my way to Chamberlains, which I've strangely avoided for a long, long long time. No reason. Just did as I'm less Winter Park directed. I know they have a lunch counter, but I didn't check their deli in years. And omigosh, what a plenty of vegan stuff they have!

It's pretty amazing stuff. Their produce prices are reasonable. They have a cooler filled with different drinks so you can grab and go. And their options are fresh, tasty, and affordable. (They have assorted "pies" that are under $3. I got the bean chili pie, as I was cautioned away from the Spinach pie as it's just spinach. Nothing more added to it.) I sampled the vegan chicken salad, which is savory. The employee suggested pita breads, as it has a crumbly texture that will roll out of bread slices.

They have an eating area inside if you don't have to rush out.
Surprised at their depth of products with Soy Protein Powders. Most places offer a lot of the same. Chamberlains have variety.

So if you are vegan, vegetarian, or into organics, go BACK to Chamberlains Health Food Store. They've been around way longer than Whole Foods, were the first to stock Orangina in Orlando, and they serve their immediate middle-to-low income neighbors, as well as those with more disposable income to pursue a specific lifestyle.

It's weird. I had some dislike of Chamberlains that started in 1999, and I don't know why now. I really don't. Probably some angry young man thing. I'm not so young anymore...
Saludos, Tony El Guapo

Bad Habit Breaking

2007-06-20T22:40:00.000-04:00

There's a leap of faith that comes with every entrepreneurial venture. You can do all your test marketing and research, yet ultimately you have to do the work.

"If you talk about it you won't do it" - from Grand Canyon, which I think pre-dated the L.A. Riots. I think.

Anyways, the questions "Will anyone like it?" is always fed the line "Test it! Test it!" Yet somethings can only be fully appreciated and evaluated when they are fully formed. People look to much to music as some ideal way to test a product. A song is a song. Hit or miss, unless you peddle sound-a-likes. You can play music live, demo it, then record a studio version with sound mix and such, release a 7" (when those were cool) or post MP3s to myspace.

That's great, I guess. But music is a bad bad bad business.

What I'm getting at is you have to build it. All the systems can be improvised, but you gotta build it. Plain and simple. You gotta build it. You gotta take that leap of faith and put it all together and let people evaluate the real deal. Talking and ad copy is fun. But the thing will eventually speak for itself.

The point is also because "done" is such an arbitrary timeline that you're best manifesting all the energy and excitement at once, because you may only have one shot. So have the DVD ready for sale when you post the first trailer or web clip, and advertise it within those credits. YOu don't want to be Missed Opportunities poster child.

This is more for me than for you. Saludos, Tony El Guapo in Orlandont Florida

BARRIO BOYS AT SAN ANTONIO THIS FRIDAY!

2007-06-19T22:10:00.001-04:00

Barrio Boys is an official selection of the San Antonio Underground Film Festival. That's great news. Even greater news? The picture and sound is locked! Credits are official.

Boy, does that feel great! Better than great, greater! It's said that movies are never finished, they are abandoned or forced into release. Well, after much editing, Barrio Boys is a lean and mean 21 minute movie.

Version Recap:
v.01: Short Film Slam: About 30 minutes. Very little animations. Played alright. Ending was a bit abrupt.
v.02: Florida Music Festival: John Theisen provided feedback to help secure a screening slot. He couldn't show a 30 minute Barrio Boys, but a 20 minute was do-able. He gave great notes, so it was cut down. The notes made sense, but the film wasn't working. I went into seclusion and created a slew of animations. Alas, no head or tail credits.
Had more of an ending.
v.03 Orlando Latin American Festival: Despite a crush of work, it wound up being bullshit work of translating from different versions of Final Cut Pro. All for little, as I was unable to get a DVD in time for the screening, so the Florida Music Festival version screened. All said, it played well. I did have a copy on miniDV and screened it on a little sony camera afterwards. The changes I had made were a bit unneccessary. I added an end coda, and some of the logic was faulty and undermined ALL that preceded it. Whew! Good thing I didn't show it! Had an extended "Back I'm Back" music video, full Impact Press guy scene, and others I didn't need.
v.04 San Antonio Underground Film Festival: I didn't create new animations like the OLA Fest edit. Rather, I took those animations and grafted them onto the FMF version.
Key additions are opening titles: different tone to the "Day Job" recording: Sound balanced throughout, so it doesn't cut to one channel sporadically. Sound smoothed out. More Iz on Insomniac Records meeting. Rather than end of Greg the scene ends on Iz: and majorly, an end coda I'm happy about and one that promotes the next project with Tony El Guapo titled "S_T_N_L." So I'm happiest about that cuz I really wanted to promote the next film in Barrio Boys. Get the word out, you know?

So it feels awesome and exhausting to be at this point. THe movie is done enough. I am now at liberty to share this fun musical comedy! The Rock and Roll picture I always dreamed about making has finally arrived! I'm truly at a "Next" moment. I can share the movie as it is, and probably post bits to Revver cuz at least they pay to some extent. YouTube is awesome but there's no revenue. Don't confuse famous and popular with income. And don't forget- Friday at San Antonio Texas! Best, Anthony Torres, ORlandont Florida

Si!

2007-06-16T22:55:00.000-04:00

Here's something to consider. Multifacial is a short film/performance piece by Vin Diesel that skyrocketed him to fame. He showed it to his friend, who told him to bury it. So he didn't share it for a year before seeking a second opinion. No one's talent is every terminal. No movie will bury you, per se. Most folks with a malady will seek fifteen opinions before getting the "You'll live" and settling for that answer. However, when it comes to their creativity, they take the first judgement to heart.

Now, I am not a trained actor, but I think I can pull off what I do when I do it. There are two scenes in the Barrio Boys movie that I find riveting. Riveting! My performance was trashed by someone I know who didn't know I was acting in the movie. For a second I thought "Maybe I should get better actors." But then I thought, "There are so many actors who I think are bad actors already, and they're working and everyone is okay with that." It's not that I want to be mediocre. It's just that I think I have the ability to play the fine line of likeable well meaning jerk. Whereas another person would misunderstand the words and play it as a selfish mean spirited jerk. That, I would argue, is indeed a talent. Underrated and overlooked and perhaps invisible talent, but a talent all the same.

Put another way, if my happiness is your happiness, let me make you happy making me happy.

I'm acting in S_T_N_L. I considered stepping aside, but there's more to it than doing it to spite. I'm Puerto Rican, and there needs to be more Puerto Rican's on screen. I'm proud that Barrio Boys has a majority of Puerto Ricans in it. S_T_N_L right now is represented by solely me on the Puerto Rican side. Patrick McInnis is not a latino name. And the other cast considerations are not Latino specific. I'm working with Actors, not necessarily Puerto Ricans first as the priority.

If anything, I'm pushing for a quick turnaround so my TRUE talents today can be judged, not work I did years ago. It's like being judged on 9th grade math when you're in Senior Calculus. I'm better than that, I think. I can play it, at least I can dang well fake it.

So... I'm staying in the Fun. And thanks for the support. Saludos, TOny El Guapo June 16 2007 Saturday

Mock Chicken Soup p.3

2007-06-15T21:36:00.000-04:00

June 15 2007:
TRUTH OF THE DAY:
PROMOTION NEVER STOPS. You are never too known, and you’re always doing new things. If you're not doing it, someone else is, and you're missing out. ( I'm typing this so I don't forget. And I forget a lot.)

SHOES
After shopping for shoes, I must say that the best shoes to own are the Starbury shoes available only at Steve and Barrys stores. All styles are only $15. There was an attempt before to have a canvas shoes that would be "No logo" in protest to Nike and everyone else ramping up sneaker costs. Well, Starbury is a better alternative. You have a pro basketball player endorsing it. You have a price cap and only one distribution outlet. And dammit. I want to wear these shoes and ideally have them in the movie as product placement for footwear. Why? I agree with the economics and ethics of it. If you subtract all advertising and marketing costs for a shoe, you could sell it for $15 and it would be profitable. (Note: These shoes are not vegan. The only one close is the Cyclone, which is constructed of mesh but may have a leather back. Alas, that is only for women. Gloom!)

Steve and Barry also has the Bitten line by Sarah Jessica Parker. It's nice stuff for a low price. Essentially, this is the Gap back in 1989 when everyone loved their low cost pocket t-shirts and unflattering jeans. Only the clothes look nice and are a great price point. It's heartening to see those ethics put into practice. Rather than scour through Ross, where bras pile on the floor that a child is buried in it, go to Steve and Barry and buy some nice stuff that will last through at least a season.

Mock Chicken Soup for the Vegan Soul p.2

2007-06-14T23:00:00.000-04:00

A quick post by Tony El Guapo here. I read over the first 25 pages and there's some promising stuff there! Some blue, some sensitive, some personal, mostly hilarious.

Oh, there's work to grow on. Lots of work to grow on.

BOOK OF THE DAY: I read the book "Our Band could be your life." It's an account of 80's underground music from SST and Dischord Records. Very very illuminating. If you remotely like Blag Flag, Henry Rollins, Minor Threat, Mike Watt, Minutemen, Husker Du, and that time frame, read this book. As much as I read fanzines, almost all the Minor Threat stuff was news to me. The Husker Du stuff was informative. Even the Blag Flag stuff put the situation and personalities in context, having read "Get in the Bus" by Rollins and hearing his perspective, and the perspective of events from American Hardcore movie. Even Ian of Minor Threat saying "We brought violence to D.C." makes little sense in the American Hardcore movie, but he goes into the context in this book. And strange as it sounds, it makes sense, particularly if you grew up with the same antagonism. These ain't those times. These were the "heroes" of that time frame. Others made out with lots more money. I mean, what was R.E.M. about? Makes no sense at all!

I'm thinking of doing a Husker Du cover album and calling it Husker Dude. Let's put it this way. I've owned "Zen Arcade" for almost 2 decades. And it took that book to explain what the heck the point of that double album was. Me? I'm more of a Warehouse type of guy meself. That was the first Husker album... no, wait. New Day Rising was the first tape I heard, then it was Warehouse. Loved it! I still have the New Day Rising tape. Never gave it back to the kid I borrowed it from. Punks.

That's about all. Reading and writing. Not a lot of quotes to pull from that book. I mean, those were very specific times. If anything, I'm over my nostalgia for things yesteryear. I took a lot from the Minutemen chapter, only because they spoke of "Econo" and their economics made sense.
Saludos, Tony EL Guapo

Mock Chicken Soup for the Vegan Soul p.1

2007-06-13T21:15:00.000-04:00

Wednesday June 13 2007
Barrio Boys is in the San Antonio Underground Film Festival. As much as I'd love to travel in support, I am just beginning the transformation for my role in S_T_N_L movie.

My co-star, Patrick McInnis, had mentioned a book by the Chicken Soup for the Soul dude about success. The book's theory is this: we are 100% in control of our responses. Half glass full/empty. Optimisms versus pessimiss... however you spell it. Our choices are ours to choose. So if you escape your responsibilities by going on wild world wide web benders, then you are not to blame others for pulling the trigger and setting you off. No. The bender is your choice. The bender is how you choose to respond to the stress. You could just as well choose to not have the bender. But I personally chose the Bender, and for once, I felt really empowered by my bender rather than victimized by it. No one else had the power to make me do bad things to myself in order to feel better. It was all me, me, me! I chose the bender, and I'm proud.

I put this into practice today, after getting the bender out of my system (I hear its natural to have a "death kick" on the outset of a health kick. Overinduldge in all the bad stuff so you can say "Yeah. I used it all up. Nothing left." At Whole Foods, I was presented with a sale price on Newman's O's cookies. The old me would say "Oh, it's only $6! Buy it. You can ration it out." The new me, the one that makes choices, that new me said "Forget it. Historically you eat half the bag out of desire, and finish the bag by nights end just to get the job done. You're no quitter, but there's no winning by rationing. You can't say no. So leave it in the store." Score one for Tony!

I didn't buy a crazy amount of chocolate or any of the normal stuff. No sodas or even "juices." Just soy milk, tofus, and other necessaries. Organic grapes, as everyone is bagging conventional grapes as having a heavy toxic load. They cost the same as conventional grapes, so what the heck.

I'm up to chapter 7 in the book. I think Patrick is up to 7, too. We'll see.

WHAT IS MY BIG VISION?
To sell a Million Tickets and DVDS for movies starring Tony El Guapo. How? My brain will figure it out. Logically thinking, if I'm in 10 movies, that's only 100,000 tickets or DVDs per film. That's not so hard. It's like, to gross $1 million at the box office, only like 100,000 people need to show up.

Given this, I'm kind of letting go of the "internet" scale of one to one. It's me and Anthony Torres presenting this movie. I don't care what you think of me. I want you to like the movie and laugh at the jokes and maybe feel better about life. That's my deal.

Oh yeah- I've been running 2 miles everyday since Monday. And today is Wednesday. If I'm gonna take all this angst and energy outward, I need a better outlet. Running and writing fit the bill. Speaking of, let me get to.
Saludos, Tony El Guapo

VEGAN OR NOT?

2007-04-27T13:51:00.000-04:00

Celebrate a birthday party at Johnny Rockets Diner chain. To their credit, they offer a Soy Boca Burger (vegan) at the same price point as their beef burgers. Great! So I ordered and enjoyed.

Alas, if you count your vegan points, eating a vegan burger at a regular burger joint is not vegan. The brits are totally against cross contamination. My meatless burger was grilled on a surface seasoned with animal fat. You can spray it down and maybe that counts, just depends on how hardcore you are. But by the rule book, that fails. The surface has to be 100% clean.

HOWEVER, rules were made to be broken. Do I want to join the party or sit on the sidelines? It's a birthday! I ordered and ate the Boca Burger, and became aware of what was what mid-meal. But whatever. I choose family over isolation.

This begs the question of sXe for life. Are you against alcohol or addiction? USA has a culture of glamorizing both, which is good reason to reject all drugs, legal and illegal. Yet, in other countries it is different. To not share a toast is a grave insult. Does everyone have to give a poop about your edge?

What I'm saying is there's a lot to be against. What are you for? Let that guide your principles. If you reduce the emotional, vegan is a basic meal plan. Organic is a consumer option. SXE is a branding opportunity. All you believe has been co-opted. You are a target market. A niche easily sold custom made stories. "Authentic" is the greatest ruse. You're being had.

Me? Despite the cross contamination, if there's a party at Johnny Rockets, I'll go and order that Boca Burger.
Family first. Family is compromise.

Saludos,
Tony El Guapo

WHAT I'M TRYING TO PROVE

2007-04-06T11:53:00.000-04:00

p216 Twyla Tharp
The worst is failure of nerve. You have everything going for you except the guts to support your idea and explore the concept fully. The corrosive thought that you will look foolish holds you back from telling the truth. I wish I had a cure for this. All I have is the certainty of experience that looking foolish is good for you. It nourishes the spirit. - Twyla Tharp

This is why I'm tackling the Crusader's story and adapting it to a further refinement of selective truth as El Cruzador. it's a tough story, one that's excites me to my core. It's not a dead end challenge. It's one that feeds itself, so it makes one stronger rather than exhausted.

It's fun, but a particular kind of fun. So I have to be particular with who plays with me in the early stages. This is why I'm writing, directing, and starring in this movie. El Cruzador is the hero of his journey. Defend the space so foolishness can transcend petty judgement.
Saludos, Tony El Guapo

I've discovered Photos! Wowsie!

2007-04-06T11:48:00.000-04:00

This is from the Kodak Seminar "Stop by, Shoot film." They provided us cameras and film, processing, transfer and forthcoming DVDs for FREE. I used the opportunity to do "screen tests" for forthcoming movies. How often does someone else drop the dime for you to have footage of yourself? Almost... never!
Saludos, Tony El Guapo

Canon HV20 Ordered

2007-04-03T23:19:00.000-04:00

Si Señorita! I have not forgotten my solemn pledge to bring you the finest in low-end vegan cookery.

I have placed the order for a Canon HV20 camera, which records in the "high definition." It should arrive after Easter.

Oh, the excitement about the arrival of this lovely camera! Finalmente! I will own my own camera, and it will be top of the line, brand spanking new, and nothing like it on the immediate horizon.

Mas when I get it. Just wanted to let you know I am buying it. And will soon be overdoing it on YouTube.

Mas o' Menos,
Tony El Guapo

More Quotes

2007-04-01T15:08:00.000-04:00

This quote pertains directly to the Duality project. It's in part why I'm pushing so far out, and allowing whatever to contract naturally. Rather than pulling the punches and keeping everything safe.

p133 Too much planning implies you've got it all under control. That's boring, unrealistic, and dangerous. It lulls you into a complacency that removes one of the artist's most valuable conditions: being pissed. Art.. is a special war zone where first you make the rules, and then you test the consequences.

Creativity is an act of defiance. You're challenging the status quo. You're questioning accepted truths and principles. You're asking three universal questions that mock conventional wisdom:
Why do I have to obey the rules?"
"Why can't I be different?"
Why can't I do it my way?
Every act of creation is also an act of destruction or abandonment. Something has to be cast aside to make way for the new.

Giving Up Time & Twyla Tharp

2007-03-28T11:41:00.000-04:00

There’s an American tradition of giving things up to foster self reliance… The act of giving something up does not merely clear time and mental space to focus you. It’s a ritual, too, an offering where you sacrifice a portion of your life to the metaphoric gods of creation. Instead of goats or cattle, we’re sacrificing television or music or numbers- and what is a sacrifice but a ritual. P. 28
Twyla Tharp, "The Creative Habit: Learn it and use it for life" 2003 Book

Twyla recommends Movies, Multitasking, Music, Numbers for one week. It's a mediafast as described by the editor of Viper Press. I've tried it before, but it hasn't worked out. We have DISH network so that sucks away time.

Alas, there's a result. Giving up DVDs and such makes work easier.
Best, Anthony Team Torres

Numero Uno on Google!

2007-03-15T21:59:00.000-04:00

March 15, 2007 Thursday: A day of nourishment. Rain Rain came and washed away...
Thanks to those internet spiders MataPinata.com is now listed as number one on google as that search. Engine searches are the main means of promo for me. And as more of the world gets tuned on, you want folks to be able to search for the title and have it turn up on Google.

Thanks, Google, for making it happen about 3 months after I submitted the site. Better three months than never. Googles good to me. Muchas gracias!

READING LIST:
THE MAGIC OF CONFLICT: I actually own 2 books on Aikido and this book focuses on the Aiki way. Speaks to my view of compassion and conflict. Got it from the Library, originally published 1988. Self help/martial arts genre. I wasn't looking for it, but it was on the rack and it caught my eye, so I figured I was meant to read it so I am giving meaning to that meaning.

TWYLA THARP THE CREATIVE HABIT: Found it at the Library. Tony El Guapo is a choreographer in Mata Pinata, so I'm reading this for greater insight. It's more focused on creating a habit of creativity. Good hard work and daily routine, yet more profound examples are provided beyond my glib summary. I'm digging it. So give it a read.

VIEWING LIST:
Russian Dolls: I dug it. The actors are familiar if you watch french films. The dude from "The Beat that Skipped my Heart (remake of Fingers)" and Amelie, as well as others. They do interesting framing of flashbacks within the frame. So it's no longer a cut to a flashback. The flashback inhabits the present frame. Noticed this first with Amelie back in 2001, but it's still fun. This said, this trickery didn't hold my interest. The character's did.

MUTUAL APPRECIATION: Holy mackeral! I saw Funny Ha Ha. I did not understand it. It's the anti-film, the kind of film I scratched my head and wondered what anyone else saw in it to give it such a pedigree. I didn't connect with it on any level. Acting was poor, jokes poorly formed, and sound and picture were miserable. So when I say "anti-film," I mean a film that is anti-everything I understand the potential of cinema to be beyond a recording medium. Cinema should transform life, not simply record it. I can forgive all that if it was interesting, but it signified more than it showed or built on.

Mutual Appreciation shares the writer/director and key actors of Funny Ha Ha, but it's like night and day. It's engaging, and the casting is so uncanny. Basically the lead female is such an archetype- she resembled that kind of person I've seen in other cities. It's kind of cool that culturally we've moved from the blonde bombshell to the bob-hairstyle smart and sexy gal. And yes, I found it funny. Music's good, too. I read reviews and obviously people are seeing stuff I don't see. Yet I like the movie. If he had to make Funny Ha Ha in order to make Mutual Appreciation, then no complaints on either film. To his credit, he's actually shooting CELLULOID! B&W! Who does that? It works.

GINGER SNAPS BACK: Wow! A sequel pre-quel that actually kicks more ass than the first 2 combined. The sequel was alright, until it got to the woods and the cabin. The original is a unique teen flick. But Ginger Snaps Back? Wow! It looks great, plays scary, and is smarter than your average film.

But seriously folks, today marks a watershed day in which I kiss it all hello and dive deep into Mata Pinata and Tony goes into his script.

Best, Anthony Team Torres

After Effects 7 Studio Techniques

2007-03-13T23:10:00.000-04:00

Having purchased and compared -page by page- the differences in AE6.5ST vs. AE7 ST, I went ahead and checked out AE7ST today in order to run through the tutorials that were missing in the first edition of AE6.5ST.

Why now? I don't have downtime, per se. But I realize my understanding of AE7 is quite limited and I really want to run through this book. The author really gives up the goods on how to composite shots and pull off visual effects. It's not some hokey "use this plug in." He goes into the variations, problem spots and solutions. And a new edition is due for the next AE7 update.

Mind you, AE8 will probably NOT work on my iMac G5. It's probably just being coded for the intel macs. It happens. However, AE7 can do things I've yet to discover. That's why I'm working through the tutorial.

iPods & Art: Mob Media

2007-03-09T14:27:00.000-05:00

Got this link back in Jul 2006.
It's about Ipods and art.
http://orlando.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2006/07/17/story5.html?i=49847

ALSO:
http://takedownmag.com/submissions.htm

Creative Capital Grant Chat from 2/28/07

2007-03-01T21:44:00.000-05:00

This is my re-ordering of the Creative Capital Grant Chat from Feb 28, 2007.
Hope it helps applicants. Deadline is March 5, 2007 at 5PM EST, strictly via online form.
I'm submitting Mata Pinata for consideration. My basic attitude is this: you apply to grants to learn more about your project. You have to communicate the essence of a project that is not even written. This helps me sort out what the project should be about, based on the selling points about what's so cool about it. It can radically change your focus on a project. Better to learn this at the beginning rather than scrap your final edit and reshoot. (That's happened to other filmmakers...)
Best, Anthony Torres http://www.Matapinata.com

CreativeAppEntry is online, but is away from the computer, and cannot respond to your invitation right now.
You are now in chat room “creativeappentry.”
abroad, can the cost be included in the budget?
ikehmope (4:22:40 PM): About the 10k budget, maybe I'm missing your point. If a project realistically only needs $8K, would Creative Capital lose interest? (I expect to need to full $10k but need to know if I should submit if it's less.)
CreativeCapApp (4:25:27 PM): ikehmope: no, we will not lose interest.
ikehmope (4:25:36 PM): Good, thanks.

AskSeanAtCC (4:22:56 PM): ksdine@mac.com- We will not fund project that premieres before September 2008
AskSeanAtCC (4:26:04 PM): ksdine@mac.com- You are not appling for performance are you?

AskSeanAtCC (4:23:53 PM): xcski48 - No, non-mon resources are those service we provide- see the CC Approach

Artbizgal (4:25:38 PM): As for dance for film - the final product is film. The piece depends on the camera to tell the story because it is apparatus based dance. Still put in performaning arts?
CreativeCapApp (4:26:34 PM): artbizgal: you can certainly submit this year in film. if it does not get funded apply again next yr in perf arts
.

vagnermw (4:26:45 PM): is a reference from a previous grantee better than someone else?
CreativeCapApp (4:27:30 PM): vagnermw: no better than any other as long as they can speak to your cretive practice in general.

ksdine@mac.com (4:26:46 PM): As far as advertising and target group for your piece, do you help us get the audience or would it be better to couple with a non-profit and utilize their mailing list for an event and give them some proceeds
AskSeanAtCC (4:28:31 PM): ksdine@mac.com- That is up to you. One is not better that the other from our point of view
ksdine@mac.com (4:31:05 PM): So do I understand correctly that the budget can be altered up until the next phase
CreativeCapApp (4:32:05 PM): ksdine: yes you can revise at applicaiton stage.
ksdine@mac.com (4:32:47 PM): Can you also revise projected project completion at application phase?
ksdine@mac.com (4:40:49 PM): did you answer my question about revising some elements of the project up until the application date. Is that possible? Can any elements of the project be improved / revised after that and is there a procedure?
CreativeCapApp (4:41:29 PM): ksdine: yes you can update/revise at the application stage.
ksdine@mac.com (4:45:43 PM): If you buy put equipment in your grant but buy it before you even know if you have the grant, will that be paid for if you get the grant? Or will it be considered equipment rental from yourself at that point?
ksdine@mac.com (4:51:13 PM): did you see my question about the aqusition of eqipment
AskSeanAtCC (4:51:37 PM): ksdine@mac.com- No, ask again
ksdine@mac.com (4:53:04 PM): If you put equipment in your budget but buy it because you don't want to wait and you get a grant, could the money be reimbursed to you or is it considered under equipment rental?
AskSeanAtCC (4:54:53 PM): ksdine@mac.com- Just put the cost of equipment in the budget. We don't re-imburse, but we support the project. So in a sense we are supporting the purchase of the project.
ksdine@mac.com (4:57:08 PM): For the venue, can you give a general quote on what one might cost or do you need to have a fairly solid quote up front and a date?

> FEES TO PAY SELF

matapinata (4:27:23 PM): Budget Q: What is the average rate for filmmakers on budget under $20,000? I've always paid actors and crew in food and fun, but not money because my budgets are so low.
CreativeCapApp (4:28:24 PM): matapinata: pls check with your filmmaking peers. we have no set price on such things.
dummytown (4:28:48 PM): What is a typical artist fee for a $45,000 project?
CreativeCapApp (4:30:18 PM): dummytown: we suggest 10-25% of a total budget, but check with your peers

lipnis1 (4:27:36 PM): I know you do not accept proposals from students, I just wanted to clarify, I am a student now but will not be one in June when the proper proposal is due...can I still apply
AskSeanAtCC (4:30:17 PM): lipnis1- For effieciency, email your question to grants@creative-capital.org

thethistlepixie (4:28:16 PM): Can I clarify that you answered yes to the question about using CC funds for travel expenses if they are crucial to the project?
vagnermw (4:28:41 PM): it is fine pixie, I know a person who did so
AskSeanAtCC (4:30:36 PM): thethistlepixie - Yes

matapinata (4:30:06 PM): Ref Q: I have a prof. acquantaince who knows my work, but my partner (who helps me write grants) knows my work best. Is it out of line to place her as the contact? Do I leave institution blank if she works a regular job?
CreativeCapApp (4:31:11 PM): matapinata: this person should be a professional reference. don't know if your mean romantic partner or artistic partnere.
AskSeanAtCC (4:31:34 PM): matapinata- Use the Prof.
matapinata (4:32:12 PM): My partner is my wife. However, she writes all my grants. What's the Prof.?
CreativeCapApp (4:33:18 PM): matapina: your wife is not a good match for this purpose.
AskSeanAtCC (4:35:23 PM): matapinata (- Sorry you said you had a Prof. Acquaintence- Use them as the reference

proseworks@fairpoint.net (4:30:46 PM): The reason I asked what happens if you are funded and find you cannot meet your projected finishing date is because I'm trying to project a date by which I will be finished. Is there a penalty for not meeting the date?
CreativeCapApp (4:31:51 PM): proseworks: no you will not be penalized.

ikehmope (4:31:19 PM): I curate an annual video-festival that extends my personal artistic mission. It will have already run in 2006 and 2007. The 2008 show will be the 'premier' of the 2008 show. Does that fit CC's requirement of a 'premier'?
CreativeCapApp (4:32:36 PM): ikehmope: sorry, i don't understand.
AskSeanAtCC (4:33:33 PM): ikehmope- I do not understand your question. Explain more fully and emial it to grants@creative-capital.org
ikehmope (4:37:31 PM): I'll say it differently. My project has an annual cycle. Its the same project, but different every year. It will have happened in 2006 and 2007. Can I apply for the 2008 version-cycle?
CreativeCapApp (4:38:40 PM): ikehmope: yes, but you need to explain how this is a new project. we fund new work.
ikehmope (4:38:51 PM): Thanks.
ikehmope (4:54:18 PM): About Curatorial Projects - I asked a similar question in this session and was told 'Only if you can make a case that this festival is part of your creative practice'
CreativeCapApp (4:55:36 PM): ikehmope: so far we have not duned such projects but you can certainly make your arguemetn and convince us.
CreativeCapApp (4:55:53 PM): ikehmope: i meant "funded"
ikehmope (4:56:29 PM): Sounds like fighting words... :-)
CreativeCapApp (4:56:39 PM): ikehmope: i hope you're to the challenge and good luck!

juliewyman@mac.com (4:32:23 PM): is it essential/ expected that the applicant will be paying herself, even if she has income from elsewhere (I have a fulltime teaching appointment)?
juliewyman@mac.com (4:33:20 PM): also, how do you work with academics? is it customary for creative capital (or the budget submitted) to include, for example, buyout fees for going on sabbatical?
CreativeCapApp (4:33:43 PM): julie: yes, but it is a budget item nonetheless.
CreativeCapApp (4:34:00 PM): julie: yes, that is fine.
juliewyman@mac.com (4:34:11 PM): don't understand the question: should the budget include director fees inkind?
CreativeCapApp (4:35:06 PM): julie: no in-kind at this stage.
juliewyman@mac.com (4:35:25 PM): I meant I didn't understand the last two answers directed at me: can you say something more re how an artist/ academic application and budget should look?
CreativeCapApp (4:36:33 PM): julie: you can include buyout, you cannot include in-kind. all we need at this stage is a round number, not itemized.
juliewyman@mac.com (4:39:04 PM): so: is this right?: you need a round number for a director/ producer fee (ie I must include paying myself), and I don't have to specify other sources of income, whether that fee could be supplied by "inkind" donation of my time?
CreativeCapApp (4:40:08 PM): julie: we want a total budget number for the project incl director fees and such. pls read the faqs section to clarify the rest of your budget questions.
juliewyman@mac.com (4:40:21 PM): ok, thanks

corriebefort (4:30:41 PM): I am applying with a dance film, is that considered an interdisciplinary project?
AskSeanAtCC (4:31:58 PM): corriebefort- No, it is a film
corriebefort (4:35:08 PM): Each section of my film will be scored by one of 5 composers - I consider the relationship with ea. to be collaborative but I am the choreographer/cameraman/editor/director - apply as collaboration or should they be “for hire?”
AskSeanAtCC (4:36:18 PM): corriebefort - They are for hire
corriebefort (4:43:12 PM): dance film is considered: experimental? Non-trad Narrative? Other?
AskSeanAtCC (4:45:11 PM): corriebefort - You can sub-catagorize anyway you'd like. With out seeing the film, I can't say. Dance film by itself, does not suggest a particular sub -Cat.
corriebefort (4:46:49 PM): thanks - that's what I thought - didn't know if there was a catagory that would make it more likely that i would reviewed by someone who works in dance film
AskSeanAtCC (4:48:42 PM): corriebefort - We will direct the project proposal to the appropriate evaluators.
corriebefort (4:50:20 PM): thank you!

xcski48 (4:35:43 PM): how much weight is there to the notion of "original" in content and form. we use traditional camera to make
xcski48 (4:36:22 PM): how much wieght is there to the "original" in content and form
AskSeanAtCC (4:37:17 PM): xcski48- We look for innovation in Content, Form or within your practice.

wallacemerle (4:35:58 PM): i see no clear place on resume/bio page to put completion dates of past works. I was working them in the employment section of this page. Would that be good, or put them clearly in teh Misc section on that page?
CreativeCapApp (4:36:58 PM): wallace: pls put in public presentation seciton.
wallacemerle (4:37:06 PM): great, thanks!
AskSeanAtCC (4:38:21 PM): wallacemerle- The Misc section is fine

ksdine@mac.com (4:36:52 PM): Is there a word count for the resume, mine is quite long. Do you need to go back 5 years?
CreativeCapApp (4:37:50 PM): ksdine: you can go back beyond 5 yrs, but selectively.
CreativeCapApp (4:37:28 PM): ksdien: no word coutn but pls be very selective and focus on last 5 yrs.

ocmfilm1 (4:38:54 PM): Hello. When you ask for employment history, are you asking for exclusively medium-related (in my case film/video) experience? I've worked in other fields to pay the bills while making my films. Should I include those jobs as well?
AskSeanAtCC (4:39:28 PM): ocmfilm1- You can include them all
ocmfilm1 (4:41:39 PM): Also, for the professional reference, you ask how that person will be involved in the project I'm applying for. I hope to have him as a UPM on the film but at this point I don't if he can do it. Should I explain on the app?
AskSeanAtCC (4:42:26 PM): ocmfilm1- He just needs to be familiar with you and the project
ocmfilm1 (4:46:21 PM): Also, for biography, since the app already asks for projects done and publicly shown as well as educational experience, are you looking for more inspiration and personal narrative about me in the bio section?
CreativeCapApp (4:46:51 PM): ocmfilm: just a narrative form of your art professional life.
ocmfilm1 (4:47:56 PM): FInally, could you define what CC considers to be an "experimental" documentary film?
CreativeCapApp (4:48:37 PM): ocmfilm: pls see our past funded work to get a sense of what we fund.
ocmfilm1 (4:50:57 PM): Thanks.

inkuching (4:23:21 PM): the project i am thinking of submitting was begun 4 years ago but has been inactive for most of that time. will this be considered a liability by the panelists?
CreativeCapApp (4:25:51 PM): inkuching: not a liability
inkuching (4:41:59 PM): a question about mathematical odds.... are there significantly higher numbers of applications in film or Visual arts. can you give me approximate comparative numbers? I have a project that could be in either of these categories.
CreativeCapApp (4:42:30 PM): inkuching: they're about the same, our most popular categories. we expect 1500-2000 in each.
inkuching (4:42:46 PM): ugh. thanks
inkuching (4:43:15 PM): are proportionately more grants given in those categories?
CreativeCapApp (4:43:50 PM): inkuching: pls read guidelines. we give 20 awards in each category

shanajberger (4:43:38 PM): i have a logistical question about the application--in the resume section should I format into subsections? e.g.: exhibitions, lectures, etc.?
CreativeCapApp (4:44:17 PM): shanjberger: we break it down into sections on the form. pls follow them.

sunkissrhino (4:45:25 PM): Will these Q + A's be posted on your website?
CreativeCapApp (4:46:21 PM): sunkiss: last week's is online and covers much of the same territory.
CreativeCapApp (4:45:56 PM): sunkiss: if we have time in the next 2 days, yes, but no promises. sorry.

jesrath (4:46:11 PM): I am a visual artist. I do not have "past completion "dates necessarily, since I have dates for when these works are exhibited. Is that OK?
AskSeanAtCC (4:47:34 PM): jesrath - Yes

wtania@mac.com (4:45:02 PM): I am not sure what you mean by "put the work in a context". I read the faqs but I am still not sure
AskSeanAtCC (4:46:59 PM): wtania@mac.com - What issues, topics, content are you describing with your work. Who else is working with the same issues? How are we to understand your approach?
wtania@mac.com (4:47:53 PM): ok. Thanks

Colowardguy (4:51:36 PM): Just to clarify and repeat myself: there is not place in the application to include photos of previous work?
CreativeCapApp (4:52:33 PM): coloward: correct.
Colowardguy (4:52:42 PM): thanks, bye

KumaLisa (4:51:43 PM): Does CC consider proposals for curatorial projects?
CreativeCapApp (4:51:56 PM): kumalisa: sorry, we don not.

hamiltro@mac.com (4:52:51 PM): would a web-based image+text+video project be considered film/video interdisciplinary or visual arts interdisciplinary?
CreativeCapApp (4:53:27 PM): hamiltro: pls apply in the category in which you are best known since this can fit either one.

buttersworths (4:54:49 PM): In the field for "selected bibliography" In the FAQ there is no word limit to this field. Is this one more open ended? What do you recommend?

matapinata (4:55:03 PM): For my vid proposal, dev & promo involves public pinata display. The vid itself is a structured comedy, w/ a parallel narrative on the web. (Backstory etc.) Is this too much info? Or just focus on video narrative?
AskSeanAtCC (4:56:29 PM): matapinata- Describe the whole project, include the web aspect

dummytown (4:55:10 PM): when i'm filling out the application, some of my answers seem redundant as they were touched on in earlier questions. is it understood that there will be some redundancy inside the inquiry process?

matapinata (4:57:00 PM): Thanks for answering Q's & Good Luck to all!

TOFU SALE AT PUBLIX

2007-02-07T09:54:00.000-05:00

Heads up for those trying to save dollars.
Publix has a buy one get one free promotion on Nosaya brand of
organic tofu. That ends on Thursday I believe, as they cycle on a
Friday-Thursday. Or maybe Thurs-Wednesday.

Granted, you may be able to find organic tofu at an Asian
Market for less than the get one free price, but Publix does
stock silken, soft & firm. The tofu I bought expires Mar 30.

Saludos,
Tony El Guapo
Barrio Boys.com

Buttons and Log

2007-02-05T19:55:00.000-05:00

The BarrioBoys.com counter is 1924 as of Mon Feb 5, 2007.
The mailing did NOT arrive today, despite being placed at the Post Office on Feb 3rd.
I hope the counter spikes once people get the mailer. We'll see, though.

We sent out 3 designs to http://meshedcreations.com/.
A total of 200 buttons. In addition to the 100 we ordered from Busy Beaver.
We'll see who ships first, and which has better reproduction.

Meshed was more affordable, and allowed 3 button designs per 100.
Busy beaver adds $5 for additional design.

Doing the buttons has taken about 3-4 times longer than I expected.
Alas, paying someone to do buttons is so much easier than doing it yourself.
Particularly at 20cent a button.

best, Tony El Guapo

BUTTONS GALORE

2007-02-02T09:46:00.000-05:00

We're getting the first Barrio Boys buttons made for the Super Barrio Fun Club.
As per recommended by the ever clever Brian Feldman, I went with BusyBeaver.net

$30 for 100 buttons, so basically 30/button for full color.
We'll see how soon they mail it to me, as I ordered 9:47 AM EST on Friday Feb 2, 07.
Hoping to get them in time for the Barrio Boys movie screening on Feb 17th! 7pm piragua party starts!

More Screenprinting: A PDF Guide!

2006-12-11T09:20:00.000-05:00

http://gsdye.com/Canada/Screening/screen_book.pdf

Found this through NoMediaKings.com
http://nomediakings.org/doityourself/howto_silkscreen_posters_and_shirts.html#more-317

Alright. Gonna print some stuff this week!

Bob Mould: I apologize 11.19.06

2006-11-20T11:54:00.000-05:00

Bob Mould sang "I apologize" from New Day Rising album.

He performed at the Lodge, Orlando FL, 11.19.2006

Captured using a cell phone video camera.

He also spoke about the business, that further cemented my ideas from nov 17, 2006.

Tony El Guapo Photos

2006-11-17T21:09:00.000-05:00

I got this plug in from:
http://www.db798.com/pictobrowser/

DIRTY CHEAP SCREENPRINTING

2006-10-29T19:09:00.000-05:00

I spoke to Ken Pease about screenprinting and he gave me a lot of good pointers. I thought of paying someone to burn screens for me, but then two fortuitous things occurred.

First, I saw a copy of Craft zine, which is by the same folks who do Make zine. They had a pretty detailed tutorial on screenprinting.

Then I did a websearch, just for giggles, and this came up:
http://www.instructables.com/id/EFAN6S16FTEQ2W3MOV/?ALLSTEPS

Link

This is even better than the Craft article, as it's like SO FREAKING CHEAP!

So there you go.

ADDENDUM:
I went to Pearl Art and Craft and just bought 5 yards of 12xx fabric for $24. That was easier than thrifting for curtains. It's also cheap to buy the wood frames intended for canvas painting. They interlock, and total cost is about $5 for a 20x22 frame.

As of 11/17/06, I have not yet printed, but Holiday cards are forcing our hands.

Reality Can Always Be Improved

2006-09-16T11:33:00.000-04:00

9/16/06

In clearing through some clutter, I found a paper sampler booklet that had an interior booklet on food styling for food photography.

It appears as though everything is a trick, and I find comfort on that. To make asparagus look better, you swab oil on it. Sub out a mashed potatoes for ice cream so it doesn't melt under heat lamps. Presentation matters, as we eat with our eyes as much with our palattes.

Reality can always be improved. Improving reality is not faking it or falling upon deception. It's heightening something so that the camera or recording device can capture its true essence, or flavor. Kiwis taste pretty great, but they look darn unappealing in their furry brown skin.

That's my new mantra. Reality can always be improved. A little bit goes a long way.
- Tony El Guapo

MACARONI GRILL + STRIFE OF PARENTS

2006-09-08T12:48:00.000-04:00

Oh, at long last a receptive restaurant! We visited Romano's Macaroni Grill yesterday. At first glance there is nothing on the menu that isn't touched with cheese or the possibility of butter. What to do in dire situations? In my past visit, I just ate the rustic bread they serve gratis.

This go around, we asked, and the one item that was straight up vegetarian/vegan was removed from the menu. You could go with a salad, but $9 for lettuce is too much. Even organic lettuce doesn't cost but $3. Pizza, though... So we inquired, and our great waiter checked and replied. They don't cut butter into their pizza dough. So I got the pizza with tomato paste, tomatoes, and subbed out the mozzarella cheese with mushrooms, and it was covered with sliced basil leaves. All for around $8. Nice!

Of course, you could insist that they cook you something off menu, and they would oblige. But it was cool enough as it is.

STRIFE OF PARENTS AND MANNYS
As a manny, I try to take my kids out to eat every so often. And it's not uncommon for the meal to be interupted by a child needing to use the toilet or get a change. So you oblige. They are kids- you can't make them hold it in at your convenience.

The strife is that you have to leave your table unattended, and chances are an eager busser will have cleared your barely touched meal! F******CCCCK!

This occurred yesterday at a tea spot. It would be one thing if it was a HUGE space, but the freaking seating area was dead in front of the service counter. We leave to go to the bathroom, and come back and an ice tea that was barely sipped was bussed out. So we asked what happened to our food and drinks, and the server was kind of flaky about it. "Oh, I thought you had left..." So I asked if they had dumped the food or if it was still plated. (at the Millinea(sp?) mall they are like vultures in the food court. You step away, they clear your plate. In that case, we went to the management office and they gave us cash for our discarded lunch).

I don't know if this is a good thing or not, but she had placed the food back there and it hadn't been dumped. Kind of gross, but what the heck. So we finished it off, and I was kind of annoyed. Do I have to ask your permission to use the bathroom? Or do I have to leave an obvious item- like a bag- and risk that getting ripped out just so you don't jump the gun on my food?

So, I'll say this loud and clear: I refuse any further hippy tea spots. Spacey people annoy me the most, because when they make mistakes, they assume their "spaciness" makes it okay. That their giggles somehow correct the situation. Plus they peddle some Ginseng/Lemonade Seltzer to kids, saying all the kids drink it and it's better because it has no added ingredients. Oh, my lemons always grow next to ginseng. It tastes like ass, and why would you give a 5 year old ginseng or ANY of those substances? Why not douse the child with St. John's Worts for those child blues?

The only upside to being at that tragic experience was tasting some cactus plant honey. At $12 a jug it's pricey, but it's a damn fine alternative to bee's honey. And to affirm, no mas tea spots for Tony El Guapo.

Sometimes the big chains do right and the little guy flakes it out.
That's why I think all the vegan anti-corporate stuff is a bit dimwitted.
Community is so overrated. Face it- community is a hippy way of saying "market segment." It's all about selling something. Be it overpriced tea, vegan hotcakes, or paths of enlightenment. Me? I'm catholic, by the grace of god! My God is a vengeful god, so step off!

Best,
Tony El Guapo
Puerto Ricans: We never bought into your hippy shit

Um, Vegan means no feta... or bacon

2006-09-05T18:03:00.000-04:00

Reason #25 for Not Eating Out

On a spur, we went to Panera. Normally I opt for a PBJ, but $4 for a simple sandwhich is a bit criminal. So I opted for the vegetarian sandwhich, which you could make vegan by omitting the feta cheese.

Well, I go to pick up my order and there is feta cheese on the plate and touching the bread. Worse, I move it around and there appears to be a piece of bacon underneath the sandwhich. Not in the sandwhich, but you have all this cross contamination on the freaking plate.

So I ask for a replacement. After saying "I'm vegan.." dim lights of confusion. "I can't eat this sandwhich. Can you make me another one." They obliged, and the lady tried to be cute by saying "no feta no feta no feta no feta sandwhich!" This is why I don't eat out. I'm no purist, but when my plate has remnants of the prior orders gunk on it, that's just nasty. And yes, it happened at a Panera. September 5, 2006 by Lake Eola at 1pm.

Panera features toasters on premise. You can buy bagels, but you gotta toast them yourself. The first time I was confronted by this laziness passed off as consumer benefit, I asked "Why can't you toast it?"
Reply: "We don't know how you like it."
My reply: "Toast is TOAST!"

You can fight evil. You can't fight mediocrity.
I think I've convinced myself to ALWAYS make a fucking sandwhich, cuz seriously. Paying over $5 for any meal really does make me sick, and worse when the shit's messed up.

(I recall being on the line at another restaurant, Chipotle. I said "No Cheese." She misheard me, and DOUSED the burrito with cheese. "I can't eat it." "Why not? Didn't you want cheese?" "I said No cheese." "I heard yes cheese."
There stuff is all cross contaminated anyways. I always asked for the guac with no cheese on it.

The same happened at the underwhelming Chevy's Tex Mex.
It's to the point it makes it easier to claim an allergy and have that taken more seriously than a personal choice. At least on the short term day job -zone out worker's need to get by, a personal choice that inconveniences them is frivilous. And an affront. But you know? I like affronting.

But I hate eating out anymore. And the vegan spots make you paaaaay!
- Tony El Guapo

PR Vegan Screenprinting

2006-09-01T18:57:00.000-04:00

Team Torres presents some crude motorola v360 camera video phone vids of the PR Vegan screenprint set-up. Note the band-aid on Tony's finger. Poor fool! He cut his finger on the exacto blade. The "stencil" was actually hand-cut vinyl. Basically, you take a sheet of vinyl stock, print out a mirror image on your laser printer, then cut that out. For the reverse type, you take your cut out letters and stick them on the underside of the screen. For the positive "brown" letters, you take the vinyl sheet, cut it in half, and peel it gently off the backing and adhere it to the underside of the frame.

We printed on 5.5x 8.5 oatmeal card stock (home cut) using a 50% off Super Value Speedball Fabric Screen print kit. At $50 full retail, it's really a rip off. But for $25, it's alright thanks to all the chems and colors.

Rather than use real screenprinting ink, I used tempera poster paints. You know, it's kind of the same thing. You just can't take breaks. The upside is that the clean up was super easy. The stuff washes out easy with a sponge.

The individual cards will be photographed and used for the opening credits of the PR Vegan cooking shows.

Vegan Shake Yo Booty, Piratees Style

2006-08-29T13:47:00.000-04:00

Vegan Shakes are not all made the same. I checked out a product at the Sams Club warehouse. For all the effort and disgust, the soy based protein powder in chocolate or vanilla flavor only provided 14 grams of protein. FOURTEEN GRAMS OF PROTEIN!

I use Genisoy Brand. Genisoy is vegan and it contains 25grams per serving. In context, a good whey protein power contains 25 to 33 grams, but tastes like paste. Likewise, a good tasting whey powder has only 14 grams.

I brought up the discrepancy to a GNC employee last decade, and he said "you're not drinking it for taste." His snide look said you're drinking it for protein, jerk. Stop being such a crybaby.

Alas, the canister of Genisoy I bought from my local Publix has no flavorings added. Maybe a trace of vanilla, but it's not a chocolate "shake." It's soy protein powder, to be mixed with water or juice.

WORKOUTS AND SHAKES
After a weightlifting work out, it's recommended you drink 1 protein shake within an hour of workout, as that's supposed to be the optimal time of protein absorption for muscle growth. Some magazines and lifters say 15 minutes. But an hour is good enough.

The prior post has a protein shake recipe I made this morning. The secret ingredient is the banana!
Salud,
Tony El Guapo
www.BarrioBoys.com/PR Vegan

BETTER VEGAN PROTEIN SHAKES

2006-08-29T13:37:00.000-04:00

Here's a better Vegan Protein Shake with a blender.

Ingredients and >Actions
8 oz /1 cup water. (Most blenders have this notched into the side)
1 Scoop Gen Soy Soy Protein Powder (sold in 16oz cans with a scoop at Publix.)
>add H20 first, then powder.
>Mix it up for 10 seconds. Otherwise you'll have chalk powder.
1 whole banana, broken into 3.
1/4 cup yogurt
>Add to Blender.
> Mix it up. Shake should be frothy now.
4 cubes of ice
>Add and Grate until broken up a bit.
> Pour into glass
> Promptly rinse out the blender, as that powder will harden to cement.
> After a minute or so, drink the shake. You wait because that's enough time for the drink to cool up. Otherwise it may be too warm and taste nasty.

There you go!
- Tony El Guapo
www.BarrioBoys.com/PR Vegan

VEGANAL

2006-08-23T11:27:00.000-04:00

I Post the Line

Saludos! Tony El Guapo here announcing my beloved PR Vegan cooking show titled Puerto Rican Vegan (but spelled PR Vegan for shortness sake. Rumor has it people can't remember words that contain more than 7 letters. Don't let that rumor be true! But in case it is, we made the title exactly 7 letters so as to not overtax the collective braintrust.)

FRAMING DEVICE

Though I've shot several pilots, I'm scrapping those attempts and we are going with an outlined show. The problem with straight up improv is that you get a lot of pregnant pauses and filler words. Um... Like... Sure... Um... It makes it a pain to edit. I had a lunch meeting yesterday with Team Torres and sorted out the approach. If they are able to secure cameras from PSP, then we begin shooting over Labor Day weekend. Mid September is the proposre

VEGANAL Consumer Review
Apple and Eve brand Fruit Juice
I called this company as they listed Calcium Lactate on their cranberry juice mix. Though they claim no preservatives,why in heck would you put Calcium Lactate in fruit juice? They kindly returned my call in five minutes! I was assured there was no dairy in the fruit juice, as the calcium lactate came from Limestone. Why? For flavor and coloring. "So it's a preservative?" I asked. No, we have no preservatives in our juice.

Well, our science advisor let us know that it's not uncommon to use calcium lactate in juices. I was advised that limestone is the formed from the remains of sea shells and other organisms. Here's more info on limestonel.

So is it vegan? If you're veganal, (vegan who is anal about 110% vegan, rather than those that figure 90% is still an A and so long as they are following a plant based diet the hidden ingredients are too much hassle to worry about) then no. Avoid Apple and Eve brand. I'm a fan of Juicy Juice myself. They list no added sugars, and absolutely no calcium lactate.

For PR Vegan & Barrio Boys punto com,
Stick a fork in it- we're done.
- Tony El Guapo