All I want for Xmax (sic)

For those who love me and\ feel obliged to do the President's evil bidding by buying gifts this holiday season, consider these:

USB Infrared link (to communicate between my phone and computer) $40. This is one of those, don't really need but would totally love gifts.

Charcoal starter chimney for grill (range of prices; Weber offers a highly engineered, expensive one. Simple and inexpensive is perfectly fine with me).

Ski gloves (Probably best to give these in the form of a gift certificate to REI. I don't know what I want.)

Books, music, movies found here.

The future is digital, so gift certificates from this hateful store. Think in modest denominations.

Ask yourself: WWJD? What would John do?

With Feeling

For everything John-, John-and-movie-, and John-and-screenwriting-related, go to Darkness Visible. As the museum audio guides say, "I'll meet you there."

Flyover: The Left Coast trip

Screenwriting Expo: Whoa, dude!

A week in Santa Monica: Excellent!

Thanksgiving in Cornville, AZ: You can't choose your family. You convince yourself that you can choose the person you love. But you can't choose her family either. Nevertheless, the turkey was mah-velous.

Folks, it seems a little crazy to keep two blogs. Henceforth, go to Darkness Visible for everything writing and John-the-Edutainer related.

L.A.g

...jet-wise. A couple quick notes after touchdown.

The most important thing to report is that Internet access is limited until I sniff around and find a jumping on point.

Last night made a breathtaking night to arrive. The moon shone onto a scrim of clouds. Searchlights played against them from below. The city spread out like big flat city. Why does it look so good on film? Michael Mann, David Lynch, how’d you do that?

By the time I reached my downtown hotel, I found myself asking questions about people on foot, who look odder than two people sighted beside cars engaged in conversation on the shoulder of the 110 freeway. “I wonder what’s wrong with that guy’s car?” You never know where that kind of reverie will lead!

Meet with Next Generation of Screenwriting Heavyweights

Aren't we? Until further notice, you're damned right we are.

It's official. The Scribosphere (blogging screenwriters) will gather at the Veranda bar at the Figueroa Hotel on Sunday night, November 13th and dare to look at each other's god-given faces in three dimensions.

The idea for a live, in-person meeting of screenwriters from the blogosphere to coincide with the Screenwriting Expo started at Dave's site, and quickly took flight thanks to L.A. local men Warren and Fun Joel. Illustrations and other particulars can be found at Warren and Joel's sites.

Warren promises to buy drinks if he wins the Creative Screenwriting Open scene competition. The gauntlet is down. Single-malts at dusk!