New Renewable Energy Source

For years, a hot button topic has been how do we find a viable, renewable, clean energy source that will alleviate our dependence on foreign oil? Solar, wind, and ethanol alternatives among others have all been proposed to, if not replace, at least supplement our insatiable thirst for oil and the energy created by it. All have met with limited success. Well, I think I may have the solution. Let's harness all the energy created by THE BULL SHIT that flows so readily from the mouths of people in general and politicians in particular and use IT as a source for energy. There seems to be such a steady supply of it that, as long as there are human beings, there will be plenty of bull shit to go around.

We know that one of the by-products of excrement (i.e. bull shit) is methane. All you have to do is drive by a cow pasture and take a whiff to know it exists. I suspect that, on any given day, walking by The Capitol with Congress in session will produce a similar olfactory sensation. Although politicians seem to be the best source, it's not limited to the political spectrum by any means. Ordinary people spew plenty of bull shit on a regular basis. And since there are nearly 7 billion human beings on the planet, think of the limitless potential!!

The methane created by this endlessly renewable source can then be burned to generate heat. Heat can be used to boil water to create steam. Steam can power generators which, in turn, can create electricity. All we need do now is find a convenient way to harness the bull shit which flows from our mouths with such consistent regularity. Perhaps we can create depots or filling stations where people can stop in and deposit their share of bull shit which will then be stored before it can be converted into pure, clean energy.

Clean, safe, renewable: Bull Shit, energy for the future!

Brain Droppings

There are many reasons why I chose The Incredible Hulk as my alter ego. I have written about it in a past blog entry. But, for this entry, I want to evoke him for a very particular reason; to represent my enormous ego. Yes, it's about as big and fierce as the Hulk himself. I have a strong sense of who I am, what I am, what I'm good at, what I'm not so good at, and, in general, my place in the world. It allows me to write this blog. I put my opinions, my dreams, my hopes, and fears, my desires, and my very being into these entries. Without such a strong ego, this would not be possible. You guys would eat me alive!! It allows me to be totally honest, sometimes brutally so. If I didn't have such a strong sense of self, I would not be able to have such strong opinions.

Still, even with that said, I really ultimately remain very grounded. And I have some inspiration that keeps me there. One source of that grounding inspiration is a letter I received from a viewer, back when I used to host a "live" sports call-in program. It came in an envelope with no return address. Inside, it contained a simple, hand-written note that said: whoever said that a fat, disgusting slob with bad teeth could be on television. Just that and nothing more. Now, if there had been a return address, this is what my response would have been: Hey, I'm not fat!

Whenever I need a good dose of grounding reality, I pull out that fan letter and read it again. Thank god for a HEALTHY EGO!!

Photo of the Day

The irrepressible Stella Celeste Vitanza LoBuono, 87 years and still as vibrant at ever. STELLAAAAAAA!!!!!!! (she really hates that). Photo made at her apartment's porch 8/19/11.

Photo Gallery for Today

These images of the U.S. Capitol were made while I was on assignment in Washington, D.C. They were made at various times of the day and night and at various times during the year. They are in no particular order.

All photos are the property of F. LoBuono

The fountains gracing one of the plazas leading to the Capitol are often lit with dazzling color.

The Capitol is reflected at night in the pool that separates it from the Mall.

A glimpse of the Capitol bathed in a sunset glow.

Close-up reflection from the Mall pool.

From the mall, at sunset. If it's a red sunset, the building's marble tends to reflect it as almost pink.

At sunset.

A glimpse through the autumn leaves.

The Big Lebowski

My gig this past Tuesday was to shoot the Red Carpet (it was really a "Persian Carpet") promoting the BluRay Disc release of the Cohen Bros. cult classic, The Big Lebowski, at The Hammerstein Ballrrom on W. 34th St., NYC. All of the major players (Jeff Bridges, John Goodman, Julianna Moore, and Steve Buscemi) except John Turturro (too bad, a wonderful actor and fun interview) were to be in attendance.

Although not well reviewed or popular at the time of its release, over the years, The Big Lebowski has gone on to to become a so-called Cult Classic! The enormous crowd waiting to meet the stars and get the first copies of the DVD, many in costume mimicking their favorite characters from the film, was proof of its popularity now.

The Red Carpet was outside on a beautiful night. Everyone except Buscemi stopped to have a nice chat with our crew (Buscemi could not stop because he was 45 minutes late for the event!). So, all in all, it was a good gig!

Sorry Steve Buscemi lovers. He was really late (about 45 minutes) and, after a brief stop with "ET", he streaked right by us! It was so fast, this was the best I could make.

Ladies and Gentlemen, THE DUDE

Always thoughtful and considerate, he makes time for every crew - and there are always MANY for him. One of my favorites on the RC.

One of the many expressions of the incomparable Jeff Bridges.

Interestingly, during our interview, Bridges told us that The Dude was his most recognized character! When we asked him if he ever tired of it, his answer was a heartfelt, "No. Not at all".

This what I mean about A LOT OF CREWS! A little intimidating, don't you think?

The classic, timeless good looks of Juilanna Moore.

And this RC wasn't even THAT large!

T-bone Burnett in the foreground, Bridges and Moore in the background, face the media.

I enjoyed T-Bone Burnett. Talented AND humble. My kind of interview!

John Goodman. Friendly but not overly garrulous.

Nice smile here!

Goodman hits the line and the flashes go crazy!

Missing Rex

Last Friday, my stepson's girlfriend, Dana, came to the house to claim his dog Rex. Jarod got Rex from a pound, against my better judgement (I LOVE dogs - just didn't want to take care of one at that time!), about 3 or 4 years ago. He was big (a yellow lab), wild, untrained, and had a wicked case of anxiety (the poor guy had already been returned to the shelter 2 times previously). In other words, he was a HANDFUL!! Beyond the obvious issues caused by his returns to the shelter, we always felt that Rex was a "special" dog, too. He would ride the small yellow bus! In the beginning, I have to admit, he was not very "special" to me. Quite frankly, I felt that he was more trouble then he was worth. I've had dogs most of my life and I understand what they are about. Rex just had to learn to understand what I was about! I truly love animals, especially dogs, but I don't anthropomorphise them. They are just fine being dogs and that's a specific role. I'm the Alpha and the quicker they learn that, the better it is for me AND them. I give them tons of freedom when I know that I can trust them to not hurt themselves or others. So, I'm kind of a strict disciplinarian.

Well, over the course of the 3 or 4 years, we really got to know one another, respect one another, and love one another. In a word, we were "buds". But Jarod and Dana were growing, too. Jarod, who lived with us, and Dana who had her own place, decided it was time to movie in together. With the housing market providing great deals for buyers, we encouraged them to buy. And they did! They found a great, two bedroom house in a really nice part of South River, NJ. We think it's just great. We discussed joint custody of Rex, but Jarod wants him to be a full time part of his life. He also thinks it better for the dog to have that kind of consistency (he may be right!). So, Dana came for him last Friday so they could start their new lives together.

I have to say, that for as much work as he was, I miss him terribly! I took him with me everywhere I could. Even if it was to just walk the garbage to the curb, Rexie went with me. He became a DAMNED GOOD DOG. Now, there is a void. It's just too damned quiet around here without that big pain in the ass!!

Anyway, I went down to visit Jarod, Dana and, of course, THE BIG DUMB YELLOW DOG. The house is almost completely repainted and they are moving their things in, little by little. It's starting to look like THEIR house. And Rex was right there, right at home, looking happy and healthy (although LARGE as ever - he's not fat. He's big boned LOL). What a nice little family. I can rest easy now. ALL of them are at a good place. And I can visit any time I want. :)

Social Commentary: Passion/Compassion

photo: F LoBuono

If you do a quick web dictionary search for the words passion and compassion, here is what you’ll get for their primary definitions:

Passion - Any strong emotion
Compassion - Sympathy

I believe that these two, simple words provide the framework that shapes the debate that rages in our country today. On one side are the so-called CONSERVATIVES who generally favor a smaller government, less taxes, and a non-regulatory business environment. On the other, are the so-called LIBERALS. Generally, they favor an involved government, a greater tax levy on the wealthy, and more regulation of business. I believe that both sides see the obvious need for a revision in the way things are done in Washington, particularly when it comes to the Federal budget and our enormous deficit. But this is where the consensus ends and the enormous gulf between the two begins.

Both sides state their claims with great passion. Conservatives, lead by the Party of No (i.e. The Tea Party) argue passionately that this entire mess has been caused by a top heavy Federal government that punishes individualism and promotes a culture of entitlement. They passionately contend that the citizenry is already over-taxed and that more taxes would further weaken an already struggling economy. They also passionately claim that saddling businesses with more regulation only causes businesses to pull back rather than invest in the future and grow the economy. In other words, they passionately feel “less government is better government”. Anything that impedes these core principals is considered anathema by the Conservatives.

Interestingly, despite their calls for “less government” in our lives, Conservatives, particularly so-called Social Conservatives, would have the government pass legislation that would restrict the right to marry solely to heterosexual couples. In an effort to support the growth of big business, they would negate or, at least, weaken Unions and do away with any effort to safeguard the environment if it would impede business. Social Conservative would also institute an “Evangelical Christian culture” in our lives, leaving other belief systems on the outside looking in. They would eliminate a woman’s right to choose. And, of course, all would be done with the utmost passion!

On the surface, smaller government, a balanced budget, less taxes, and a free market economy seem like admirable goals. Shit, I’m so passionate about that, you can sign me up right now! However, it’s when you dig beneath the surface and ask the tough question: “how do we get there” that you realize how flawed their approach is. Why? I believe that although Conservatives are passionate about their goals, they lack compassion in their inception. To balance the budget they would severely limit funding for social/safety net programs like Medicaid and Medicare. To stimulate economic growth they would reduce or eliminate restrictions on businesses allowing for a completely unregulated environment. But at what cost? Unions, who for years have protected workers against the might of powerful corporations, would be severely limited in their roles, if not eliminated entirely. Without some type of Environmental control, Big Business would be free to rape the land and pollute the water. It’s not like they ever did that in the days before some sort of regulation! Social standards would be limited to “the Christian model”.

Sure, LIBERALS are passionately full of shit, too! They constantly make promises that they couldn't’t possibly keep. They are passionate about improving education. They are passionate about creating more so-called safety net programs. They are passionate about protecting the environment. However, they lack the planning, if not the will power, to pay for these things and STILL balance the budget. However, what they are NOT lacking in is compassion. The root, the core principal, to a Liberal, is one based on compassion, i.e. sympathy. Sometimes, this is thrown back in the face of Liberals as if it were some type of dirty word! But the value of any society is based on its ability to stick together as a community; for the strong to protect the weak, for the rich to aid the poor, for the wise to educate the uninformed, for the healthy to tend to the sick. This can only be accomplished when legislation is introduced with passion but built on a foundation created by compassion.

I am passionate in my desire to see this country change. It needs to change. It must change. However, how we change it will make all the difference. Will you be passionate about the need to change, but compassionate about where, how, and why we make those changes? Passion and Compassion; two little words, whose definitions make all the difference.

Poetry

Da I Can’t Drive Dis Here Yellow Taxi No Mo’ Blues

I gots Da I Can’t Drive Dis Here Yellow Taxi No Mo’ Blues

Been a good boy but I just can’t pay no mo’ of dem society dues

Workin’ so hard just ta live da life I choose

But bein’ good ain’t good enough

For dose who wants to see ya’ lose.

I gots Da I can’t Drive Dis Here Yellow Taxi No Mo’ Blues

Mile after endless mile

Smile after phony smile

Lord, it’s all da same

I gots ta think somebody’s ta blame.

I gots Da I Can’t Drive Dis Here Yellow Taxi No Mo’ Blues

Keep lookin’ fo’ some end in sight

Even a foe ta grab an’ fight

But I’m left grabbin’ fo’ straws

Once again a rebel witout a cause.

I gots Da I Can’t Drive Dis Here Yellow Taxi No Mo’ Blues

Poetry

photo: F LoBuono

fallen gods

How I love the rain in summer

the Thunder and Lightning

at night

when nature’s awesome power is displayed

for all to see

in a bolt

to pale even the brightest city.

How I love the rain in summer

its boastful roar

beckons a query:

“Must you bellow and exult in your fearsome power,

Old Man”?

How I love the rain in summer

to hear its gentle clatter -

a soft and peaceful music

played upon my bedroom roof

to ease a troubled mind into blissful sleep.

How I love the rain in summer

for the relief it brings

to a parched and thirsty land

Listen

you can hear the earth drink

after a day’s summer swelter.

How I love the rain in summer

filling the air with scent

Fresh, Clean, Renewed

an odor of union

between earth and sky.

How I love the rain in summer

for the gift it truly is

for the memories in my mind

Flowing

like streams of water

Tears

from some fallen god’s eye.

The Queen of Soul - Aretha!

My assignment last night was to travel to Coney Island (the motherland for me!) to videotape the first two songs of Aretha Franklin's concert to be held just off the boardwalk there (copyright issues prevent us from shooting more of the show). It was to be her first concert after her serious health issues. It was a most beautiful evening in a very historic setting. And the Queen of Soul was in fine form! She looked and SOUNDED great!! I was so close that I could practically touch her.

I guess that, somedays, ya' just get lucky. :)

Just part of the huge crowd. Check out the historic (but derelict) Bath House on the right. The famous Boardwalk is in the distance.

She rocked right from the start!

Still a large women, she was much thinner then she has been in recent years. She looked strong.

Belting out the tune! She gave it all up!

Great connection with her audience.

Playing with the crowd.

Quote for the Day

photo: F LoBuono

Here's TalkFrank's revision on The First Law of Thermodynamics:

Love can neither be created not destroyed. It can only change form.

Remember When?

These photos were made during Barack Obama's speech accepting his nomination as the Democratic Candidate for President of the United States, Invesco Field, Denver, Colorado. I just pray that we haven't lost the hope that ran so high during this heady period.

Photos: F LoBuono/All rights reserved

Social Commentary: On Image

Photo: F LoBuono

If women in general, and adolescent girls in particular, are being inundated by a barrage of images of super smart, super sexy, super strong, feminine role models, creating unrealistic and downright harmful expectations in them, than what of the images we portray to young men?

We know that we live in a society that worships beauty, youth, celebrity, and wealth. To capitalize on this, and, at the same time, perpetuate it, marketers and advertising agencies present images that come to define what is "cool" and what is not, who is "worthy" and who is not, etc. Women are constantly being assaulted by adds that present images of female characters that are all things to all people. Of course, such high standards can never be reached in "the real world". They only exist in the minds of the people who create the image. And they have a harmful effect, too, creating social/psychological disorders like anorexia and depression.

But, in a sense, at least the expectation is for a certain level of achievement for women. What is it for men in general, young men in particular? From what I've seen on TV and the Internet, young men are expected to be nothing more than lazy, beer drinking, womanizing imbeciles! Virtually any beer commercial features a group of young men gathered together over some sporting event. Invariably someone in the crowd will issue some type of moronic statement, at which time the others will grunt (or howl) in agreement. Or, someone will be accused of feminine traits, a definite no-no in the macho world of 20 something beer drinkers. Or, if it's a couple, the man must defer to a much smarter, much tougher woman. (My wife, and many women, would have no issue with this!). Even when the commercials try to be clever, they're not. One of the lite beer commercials comes to mind: it's the one where a group of beer drinking buddies are spliced into an actual NFL press conference. It's clever enough until they start asking the coach idiotic questions!

I like beer. I drink beer. I have for a long time. I like to watch sports, drink beer, and hang with my buddies. But watching others drink beer, watch sports, and act like jackasses does not make me want to drink more beer, watch more sports, or hang out more with my buddies!

Seriously, I've seen what damage this type of imagery can cause in young men. I've seen it in one of my stepsons. He is such a sharp guy, always was. But when he was younger, (IMHO) he deliberately suppressed that side of him because it was easier to fit in if he was just some dumb slob like the rest of them. Despite an extremely high IQ, he struggle in school. It was cooler (and easier) not to stick out, not be an egghead. He was just too cool for school. It took him years to realize that smart is way cooler than dumb.

And I know exactly what it means to be rebellious - the ultimate goal of all teenagers, ESPECIALLY boys. I always saw myself at least partially rebellious and often resisted formal education. But I always saw the difference between rebellion and idiocy. However, I was also raised at a time when there wasn't a constant stream of negative imagery flowing in my life - as it is for kids today.

Today's parents of teenagers certainly have their work cut out for them. It was NEVER an easy job. However, now parents have to deal with the image crisis in both their girl AND boy children. They have to let girls know that they don't have to be rich, powerful, beautiful, sexy, a mother AND a CEO of major company, all at the same time, to be happy. And they have to let their boys know that being a boy doesn't have to mean they'll grow up to be beer drinking morons.

When You Think About It: Summer's the Best

photo: F LoBuono/ The Blizzard of 2010, NYC

When you think about it, summer is the best season. Yeah, I know all about the stifling humidity, so thick you can walk "on it", not just through it! And this summer has been particularly hot and humid. Still, in summer, things are alive. There are sounds everywhere. Streets are pulsating with people and activity. Children squeal as they play in the neighborhood. The ice cream truck makes it's regular rounds, alerting the kids to its presence with the canned music playing from its loudspeakers. In the morning, thousands of birds sing me awake. At night, the crickets and other creepy-crawlies serenade me to sleep.

As long as I'm near some source of water, it can never get too hot. If I'm in the garden on a particularly hot day, there's always the hose for a quick cooling spray-off. If I have the time and energy there's always my kayak and the River. An hours worth of paddling, followed by a quick dunk in the River and I'm rejuvenated. As worst, one can always jump in a refreshing, cold shower. No matter how hot it gets, I always seem to find a way to cool off. Now, in the winter, once I get chilled, it seems that I just can't get warm again. No matter how many layers I wear or fires that I build, once that cold sets in, it just won't to go away.

I suppose that I'm more adapted for summer anyway. As I have often mentioned, my ancestors all hailed from Sicily. So, I am blessed with olive skin that tends to tan even when I'm just shown a photograph of the sun! While others are diving for the shade, I'm soaking up even more sun. Now, I don't recommend this for everyone, the sun can be damaging. And I have a healthy respect for it, sun screening, and covering when necessary. It's just that I have such a high tolerance for it. In fact, I love it.

And, when you think about it, super hot days are not that different from super cold ones: things slow down. They have to. When we get a blizzard and a serious cold snap, the City can (and does) grind to a halt. It's the same with a heat wave. When the sidewalks are melting, the City takes on a distinctively slower pace. All we need do is slow down a bit to enjoy it.

So, when you start complaining that it's too damned hot outside, call up this blog posting and look at this picture. I think that you may change your mind!