Waking up

I've decided to do some free form writing as a way jump start my brain.

My thesis/capstone project has to be done by December 6 and I am maybe half way done. The sand in the hourglass is quickly running out and I fear that my presentation (or defense) will be lackluster. This is the last bit of school work I may ever have to do in my life, but I'm having a hard time focusing. Here's why:

1) I got laid off from the Queens Courier. Sad, really but that's just small potatoes. Sure it was fun being a beat writer for a small, yet progressive newspaper, but it was definitely not the end all - be all. It's funny, when I was working there and writing about new stop signs and freshly paved roads, I would say to my co-workers, "I have got to get out of Queens." Now that I'm out... wait. I was right.
Still, it's been a distraction because this thesis is taking up all my time and I have yet to look for another gig. For some reason, I have all the confidence in the world that I will land another better paying position. I just have to get this done with.

2) General procrastination is quite a phenomenon. I've always wondered why some people have this innate drive to succeed; to put their head down and pound out the task at hand, while others use that time to type out free form writing blogs about general procrastination. Nothing a little hypnosis can't cure. Maybe I'll set up an appointment tomorrow or the next day.

3) Self Saboteur theory. I've read about what it means to be a self-saboteur and it's pretty harsh:

"The Self-Saboteur is the force behind every three steps you take backwards for every two steps you take forward. The Self-Saboteur is the part of you that snatches defeat out of the jaws of victory, uses gasoline to put out fires, uses a stick of dynamite with which to light your cigarettes."
Dr. Steve Frisch, Psy.D.

Nobody loves life more than Bob Doda. I can tell you that. But I do feel like I have some of these tendencies.


Time to get to work. I have t-minus 12 days to make this the best damn thesis Long Island has ever seen (by the way, it's about news website paywalls and the future of the modern day newspaper).

I'm glad I got to post in the blog in 2011. One more thing I can check off the list.

Inside the Actor's Studio: Bob Doda

Anyone who is familiar with Inside the Actor's Studio hosted by James Lipton knows that he asks his guests the same 10 questions at the end of every show. I thought I'd take a crack at them.


1. What is your favorite word?

Gumbo

2. What is your least favorite word?

Dollop. Why is a spoonful of sour cream a dollop? This upsets me.

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

People that go the extra mile to get a laugh. Off-beat comedic timing.

4. What turns you off?

People that take themselves too seriously. It's good to be organized and in control of your life but there is a flip side to that. Ferris Bueller said it best (if you don't know the quote I'm talking about, you just turned me off)

5. What is your favorite curse word?

Horseshit.

6. What sound or noise do you love?

Booming thunder. Especially when it's been muggy all day and a storm is imminent. It's a powerful sound. Madison Square Garden chants/celebrations are crucial sounds as well.

7. What sound or noise do you hate?

The sound of people eating. Chewing, slurping, forks on a plate.... That is the worst. The sound of a double up to lose a game of pong is a close second.

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

Bass player in an all-black funk band.

9. What profession would you not like to do?

Barber. There is a lot riding on each and every haircut. Every use of a scissor or buzzer has to have 100% commitment behind it. Also, there is the conversation factor. Do you chat it up and overwhelm the customer or do you say nothing, concentrate, and come off as impolite?

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

"Do you prefer Bob or Robert?"

GoldenEye remake in the works

I spent many an hour playing GoldenEye for the Nintendo 64. Maybe you have too. If you own a Wii, you should probably be excited. Check out the gun Nintendo is planning to make. They are literally arming America. With awesomeness.

Goldeneye Remake in the Works

Newsday, Everyday

I work at Newsday...everyday. Working in the Newsday library has been a rewarding experience. This year and a half, I have helped reporters with their stories and typed up 15,309 press releases. In the new Newsday commercials on Cablevision, there's a part where Sandra Peddie is looking through microfilm so she can get some sort of scoop. RIGHT NEXT to that microfilm is Bob Doda's desk. ...and that my friends is how cool I am.

Go to :24 seconds in this video to see my desk (blue lamp, yellow post-it note)

Cell Phones for Life

If you are anything like me, you keep your cell phone in your pocket next to your genitals all day long. When it's not in my pocket, it's charging next to my brain as I sleep. The only time it is off is when I am hungover, at the beach or my battery has died. I'm not a hypochondriac but am I the only person on Earth that is mildly worried about a long battle with nut cancer all because I wanted to play brickbreaker and text my friends? Check out these levels:

20 Highest Radiation Cell Phones
SAR (specific absorption rate) is an indication of the amount of radiation that is absorbed into a head whilst using a cellular phone, the higher the SAR rating the more radiation that is absorbed into the head.

I blame Zach Morris. He started this.

Completely Lost

If you looked up 'character development' in the dictionary, there should be a picture of Jack Sheppard, Benjamin Linus and the rest of the Lost crew. What a wonderful show. I had the pleasure of watching the first two seasons about 2 years ago and caught up over the past few weeks via hulu.com and the graciousness of Courtney O'Neil who let me borrow season 3 (I need to give that back soon). Tonight, the show ends. All I can say is that I'm happy I was a part of the experience. Watch the show, it's worth it.

My top 5 lost characters:

5. Daniel Faraday - Because time travel is awesome.
4. Ben Linus - Because he is a straight up murderer.
3. John Locke - Because he believed.
2. Jack Sheppard - Because he's the hero.
1. Desmond Hume - Because he is immune to electromagnetic fields, time travelling and he calls everybody "brotha" in a Scottish accent.

Gilly Hicks

There is an undergarment store in the Smith Haven Mall called Gilly Hicks, an off-shoot of Abercrombie and Fitch. I wandered in there by accident about a year and a half ago to check out the scene. When I realized it was all women's undergarments, I scurried out giving a quick wave to the model guarding the door.

Today, I was buying a pair of shoes for my mother (Easy Spirit slip-on, 7 1/2) when I passed by Gilly Hicks again. This time there was two models standing casually out front. One was an 'okay' looking 19-year-old girl; the other, a chiseled surfer dude, no shirt, watching people shop.

I figured, "what a way to drum up some business... If anything, half naked people would keep me far away from that particular establishment. I mean, Cinnabon doesn't hire fat slobs to stand in the front, maybe they should."

I am by no means am I a 'chunk' though I have gained a solid 40 lbs since I stopped writing this blog. In an attempt to shred the pounds (or at least make them look good), I decided to force myself to write a daily reflection, post a video or website, or whatever. The digibook lives once again. Enjoy this Panda freaking out.