tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-353476402024-03-04T22:02:20.083-06:00federal prisoner 30664A satellite of timothybraun.comTimothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.comBlogger203125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35347640.post-64701762934446878142013-04-14T17:45:00.003-05:002014-05-11T08:43:57.287-05:00Jail Break, or The Prisoner is Loose..<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHduN1nwPQy2SxMQECdSe8yeghZQDB2x8S3JSLOBMicY6UlAgVEUwDzT-y1mh4lN06KqMWl027iRa-qJ6KKj25W03YQokTmtZpjT9NiXKCr_NZeCbfaEZevrtFPDrcIzZacdTxw/s1600/GetAttachment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyHduN1nwPQy2SxMQECdSe8yeghZQDB2x8S3JSLOBMicY6UlAgVEUwDzT-y1mh4lN06KqMWl027iRa-qJ6KKj25W03YQokTmtZpjT9NiXKCr_NZeCbfaEZevrtFPDrcIzZacdTxw/s1600/GetAttachment.jpg" /></a>Federal prisoner 30664 is on the loose. I'll be dropping a few posts here every now and then, but primarily you can follow me on <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/timothy-braun/" target="_blank">The Huffingtonpost</a>, <a href="http://www.theweeklings.com/about-the-weeklings/" target="_blank">The Weeklings</a>, and my usual duties over at <a href="http://www.fuseboxfestival.com/" target="_blank">Fusebox</a>. Follow me on <a href="https://twitter.com/TimothyBraun42" target="_blank">twitte</a>r too. <br />
<br />
Cheers.<br />
<br />
Timothy Braun<br />
Austin, TX<br />
April 14th, 2013<br />
<br />
Edited Note: It is rather fun to read the comments on this post, and I've decided to leave them up. Oh, spammers. You make me chuckle. </div>
Timothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35347640.post-33202833766762504142012-08-23T20:25:00.000-05:002012-08-23T20:25:03.907-05:00Hawthorn and Child, or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Feel a Little Sad Walter Cronkite Isn’t Here To Say "Pussy Riot" <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Hammering together the last
of “silly-busses” for my classes, but finding time to read fifteen minutes a
day for fun. Keith Ridgway’s “<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hawthorn-Child-Keith-Ridgway/dp/1847085261" target="_blank">Hawthorn and Child</a>” is an engrossing read, and as
good as anything I’ve come across in the past six months. This book will
provide a stiff challenge to the upcoming football season. More on that later
as these “silly-busses” ain’t workin’ on themselves.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Timothy Braun</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Austin, TX</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">August 23, 2012</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Five Easy Pieces (a quintet
of other matters on my mind.)</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">My friend and
colleague Ed Shirley suddenly passed away last week. Ed was a giant, a rose, a
combination of Poppa and Pete Seeger, and I miss him very much. </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">My colleague
Harald Becker is ill as well, and I will respect the privacy I know he wants,
but he is in my thoughts as edit all my assignments for the fall dealing with
Hesse, Camus, and Vonnegut.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Chipping away on
my NFL predictions for this year and I can’t help but wonder if the
Indianapolis Colts (a.k.a. The Lord’s Team) have a possibility of winning the
AFC South? I’m thinking possibly. However, the bombastic fortitude of Tampa Bay
will most certainly be the surprise of football.</span></div>
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<span class="usercontent"><span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></span><span class="usercontent"><span style="font-family: Times;">Feeling a little sad tonight
because we don't get to hear Walter Cronkite say "Pussy Riot." - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pourmecoffee">pourmecoffee</a> (best quote of
the week.)</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-fareast-font-family: Times;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.)<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Times;">Will be an
artists-in-residence at <a href="http://madronoranch.com/" target="_blank"><em><span style="font-family: Times;">Madroño Ranch</span></em></a><span class="st"> next summer working on an adaptation of Vanya. You can catch the
images I will be suing at this <a href="http://pinterest.com/timothybraun42/vanya-adaptation/" target="_blank">link</a>.</span></span></div>
</div>
Timothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35347640.post-61426959809102716082012-07-25T11:39:00.001-05:002012-07-25T11:39:26.675-05:00Moving the Blogging to Osage<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Folks,<br />
<br />
Until August 15th I will be moving my blog duties to the Osage Arts Community facebook page, now featuring two Timmy Braun photos and a bunch of my commentary, located <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Osage-Arts-Community/407005536016330" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Please "like" the page, and tell all your friends, family, and loved ones. But, please don't tell your enemies. we are trying to build something over here.<br />
<br />
I will return to this blog in early September with my annual NFL preview.<br />
<br />
Timothy Braun<br />
Belle, MO<br />
July 25th, 2012 <br />
</div>Timothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35347640.post-40960067711277661162012-07-12T11:17:00.001-05:002012-07-12T11:20:02.806-05:00Reading To The Dogs, or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Enjoy My Lunch Time Cheese Sandwiches<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Disclaimer: Dissecting
my elocution and grammar with Talmudic meticulousness will result in wrong
conclusions and potential mockery. Until the end of August I will chronicle my
work on this blog at the Osage Arts Community, and I plan to write these posts
at night when my brain and body are tired. </i></div>
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<br /></div>
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NOTE: I will not be writing in detail on what I’m working on
as I find that if I write or talk about projects I don’t actually, well, “do”
the projects. Thus, forgive the vague jazz. Also, feel free to comment or email, but don't expect a reply until after Labor Day.</div>
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My days on the farm, as I have started referring to them,
are oddly regimented. It is up before the sun, and hike with the dogs, Dusty,
Zeus and Aphrodite, for and hour. The goal is to get my blood pumping and think
about my projects for the day while I wear down the dogs so the don’t bother me
while I’m writing, then shower and breakfast (All Bran and steep coffee) which
launches directly into working on the new play, <span style="font-family: Times;">3,
or "If we only knew… If we only…"</span></div>
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I’ve been writing the play at the breakfast table with my
back to the door, something I don’t usually do in an effort to challenge my
physical environment, which usually translates to creative work. In the past
few years, and the past few residencies, I’ve been writing plays in bed, with
my back to the wall. That position opens my view to a room, but with my back to
the door it narrows what I can see around me. I’ve also been working with
multiple outlines, notes, and images I’ve been collecting on Pinterest to build
the skeleton of the play as I flesh out the rest of the world. What makes this
even more different from what I have been doing in the past is that I’ve been
using an alarm clock, set for one hour. When the alarm goes off I take at least
thirty minutes off. After my
“heart attack” (which real wasn’t a heart attack, just a caffeinated murmur) at
the Santa Fe Art Institute two years, where I was drinking buckets of coffee a
day while working on multiple projects (the ‘64’ plays, an opera, and a three
act), I’m now attempting to take my time and rest more. I got this idea by
analyzing the Atlanta Falcon defense. Their star defensive end, John Abraham,
is getting old but still has something to offer the team. His coaches designed
an algorithm to see when they should keep him in the game, and when to rest
him. So far (knock on wood) this has worked well for me in my old age.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6__alAiSR8-TOhBsWYZMtzbto0sodEGpwjZ-kyCy0eQXNLh4XC3FYxQCL-3qyeVkzKNgY8cw6QDrPTTrFK1RDOABHY3HjqxHMFxkssbNXVwokGTYD_j9ZFLX8dWSQjFydG7ddQ/s1600/GetAttachment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6__alAiSR8-TOhBsWYZMtzbto0sodEGpwjZ-kyCy0eQXNLh4XC3FYxQCL-3qyeVkzKNgY8cw6QDrPTTrFK1RDOABHY3HjqxHMFxkssbNXVwokGTYD_j9ZFLX8dWSQjFydG7ddQ/s320/GetAttachment.jpg" width="320" /></a>Before lunch I work on the novel, but change my location.
I’ve been returning to the bed for this, yet using a different writing
technique. I am not using an outline, and only very few notes on the novel, but
rather a technique in where I ask “What next” with every sentence. This to is
for one hour, and then it is a cheese sandwich for lunch, and a second walk
with the dogs, which often involves the romancing of horse, named Katie.
Pictured here, and please take note of Aphrodite rolling in the grass in the upper
right corner.</div>
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Post lunch/dog walk is work on a short story for one
hour. The goal is to start, finish, edit, and send out one short story a week.
This week’s short story is called “Between Coney Island and The Great
Existential Nothingness.” In the coming weeks I will work on “Stay Here, I’m
Getting You Out” (its about my dog), “My Wheel of Fortune”, and “…last night I
was the voice of responsibility in a quartet that encountered an experimental
puppet show, habanera mango margaritas, a DJ crucifying LCD Soundsystem, an
aviation themed bar that gave us a discount because I know a guy who worked for
Boeing, a ‘Teen Wolf’, a kind bicyclist name Justin, and countless motorcycles
from the Republic of Texas bike rally…”</div>
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<br /></div>
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Then, I have dinner, a salad every night. We cap it all off
by reading to the dogs. Right now we are reading “Trophy” by Michael Griffith.
The dogs don’t know what is going on, that is not the point. It is the communal
experience they enjoy, and they like hearing my voice. And, I like reading to
them. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Timothy Braun</div>
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Belle, MO</div>
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July 11, 2012</div>
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<br />
Five Easy Pieces (a quintet of other matters on my mind).</div>
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1.) Maybe I’ve been in the Ozarks for too long, but I’ve
been calling to trees and “squirrel houses”. </div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-weight: normal;">2.)
Chumbawamba</span></b> broke up, so make sure to pour out a whiskey drink
to the curb, then a vodka drink, then a cider drink….</div>
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3.) The boring MLB home run Derby was here in MO this week,
and watching it is like taking a trip to T.G.I. Friday’s once a year: it
sounds like a good idea, until you find out Chris Bermann bartender.</div>
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4.) I cut this line from today “If Pizza Hut bought IHOP
they could make meat lovers pancakes, and all the boys will have boners!”</div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;">5.) I’m not a fan of Daniel
Tosh, and won’t I defend him, but I will not attack him either for his rape
comments to a heckler. A good take on this is by J. Holtham (Mr. 99 Seats),
which you can catch <a href="http://parabasis.typepad.com/blog/2012/07/heckling.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div>
</div>Timothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35347640.post-33948122214676708092012-07-08T19:56:00.000-05:002012-07-08T19:57:01.464-05:00Ernest Borgnine Has Died , or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love Osage<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>Disclaimer: Dissecting my elocution and grammar with Talmudic meticulousness will result in wrong conclusions and potential mockery. Until the end of August I will chronicle my work on this blog at the Osage Arts Community, and I plan to write these posts at night when my brain and body are tired. </i><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PY10qHjaeKnCHAMGE9KBnIVSflxtBKxDMKEsJNV0TzXKacuuZD-mDss_iG-Ldt8ThC2MueSfHBr8vyPNBnYviLrWqtNUA5H5LpDp7EiYX5J1eA_igCoc-YtKr2OPUxCPP64ukg/s1600/GetAttachment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PY10qHjaeKnCHAMGE9KBnIVSflxtBKxDMKEsJNV0TzXKacuuZD-mDss_iG-Ldt8ThC2MueSfHBr8vyPNBnYviLrWqtNUA5H5LpDp7EiYX5J1eA_igCoc-YtKr2OPUxCPP64ukg/s320/GetAttachment.jpg" width="320" /></a>This is my twelfth residency program and I applied to the Osage Arts Community for specific reasons. On a farm two hours away from St. Louis in the Ozarks I’m the only artist here. I have the place to myself. Sort of. This is the only residency that I’m aware of that allows pets. The Albee Foundation will allow dogs and cats as long as the pet owners obtain the other artists to consent. But at Osage, this was a given and I have my faithful companion, Dusty-Danger, with me, to watch me play on the click-clack machine, and do other things.<br />
<br />
The one piece of advice I always give to young writers is to get a dog. When you have a good day, when the writing goes well, and you get grants, and the reviews are good, the dog doesn’t care. The dog wants to go outside, smell things, poop, play with you, lick you, eat some peanut butter, and snuggle in bed with you, because you are the dog’s best friend. When you have a bad day, when you know the play you are writing is bad, is never gonna get produced, get rejection letters, or, my personal favorite in this economy-get a phone call from your grant people informing that they can’t give you the money you were awarded because times are rough, the dog doesn’t care. The dog wants to go outside, smell things, poop, play with you, lick you, eat some peanut butter, and snuggle in bed with you, because you are the dog’s best friend. A dog keeps you grounded.<br />
<br />
I’ve had to leave Dusty three times for residency work. I view this as not only a chance to work on my novel, a new play, and a collection of short stories but to give Dusty a chance to play. There are two dogs here, Zeus and Aphrodite, who Dusty has made fast friends with. There are also two horses, more hens than I can count, fields and to sniff and poop in, and toads by the river. Dusty has always had a love for toads, let alone rivers. The only draw back, it’s getting harder and harder to get the Duster back into my studio after you walks and frolicking. I embarrassed him in front of the others dogs by picking him and carrying him to the doorstep tonight. I often tell him I’m the boss and he has to do what I say. Protesting is what I get.<br />
<br />
Timothy Braun<br />
Belle, MO<br />
July 8, 2012<br />
<br />
Five Easy Pieces (a quintet of other matters on my mind).<br />
1.) Much thanks to Mark and Tony, who know what they are doing and have made the first few days here exactly what I was looking for. And, they know sports. That is rarity on the residency scene.<br />
2.) Much thanks to Dustin, the Apple “Genius Bar” guru who fixed my computer in St. Louis at 11:15am today. It appeared my hard drive crashed last night and I drove two hours to “The Gateway To The West” hoping and praying this residency didn’t turn into a vacation for myself. Thanks to him, I start work on the new novel, a short story, and a new play after breakfast.<br />
3.) Congratulations to Kyle Haden who is now a faculty member at Roosevelt University with my man Kestutis Nakas.<br />
4.) No TV and no facebook is a nice change of pace.<br />
5.) Ernest Borgnine has died and I will forever remember him as the grandfather in the last aired episode of MST3K, “Merlin's Shop of Mystical Wonders”.
</div>Timothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35347640.post-25314325124566894552012-04-19T09:06:00.002-05:002012-04-19T09:08:05.159-05:00NFL Draft 2012, or This Dog Is What Willis Is Talking About<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mIaAsDk6d3GBIPXntCaZv2f5I5rwqYIsIvQPeYtl_F2B-xZlCBeq5dw43V1PHtuCp4FmVXSwcsMAr7kXC3R_R4rrLROqqaNwwJnpxStju1oOb6arP3VbFPJSyvevaAvLIzk84A/s1600/images.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 268px; height: 188px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mIaAsDk6d3GBIPXntCaZv2f5I5rwqYIsIvQPeYtl_F2B-xZlCBeq5dw43V1PHtuCp4FmVXSwcsMAr7kXC3R_R4rrLROqqaNwwJnpxStju1oOb6arP3VbFPJSyvevaAvLIzk84A/s320/images.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733113358254478098" /></a><br />I’ve done a great dealing and talking and emailing with what is left of my NFL connections (boy, things sure have changed over the past six years) and there is only one thing I know for certain that is rarely said: no one wants to be Jacksonville at 7 in round one. The first-round of this draft is heavy at the top six, then turns into role players and system players after that. The good news for teams like Indianapolis, St. Louis, and Cleveland is that after the seventh pick in the first round, these role players can be had for the 140. Thus, a good year to rebuild, but a bad year if you team is looking for that one last guy to push you into the next stratosphere of franchise-hood. <br /><br />With that said, keep an eye on the number four pick. You have the big name quarterbacks going 1-2, and then Minnesota will tackle Matt Kalil, because they have to. Then, comes Cleveland. I heard different things from many different people. I gear general manager Tom Heckert likes Justin Blackmon and that would be his pick; team president Mike Holmgren is still trying to decide if Ryan Tannehill is a franchise quarterback, and I’ve heard The Browns might look to trade down as well. At the same time I have heard the Rams would like to trade up to take Tony Richardson, who I think is the best running back to come out in the past six years, and Jeff Fisher loves to draft running backs. I have no logical explanation for what I’m about to write, but I get a gut feeling Holmgren has lost confidence. His first two drafts for the Dawg Pound have been safe with little risk. I think he trades away the pick, or draft Richardson and swaps with St. Louis (ala Eli Manning with the Chargers and Giants), collects another quarterback-and absorbs some of the bounty the Rams obtained in RGIII trade with redskins. I’m certain you find this boring. On with the picks.<br /><br />NFL Draft 2012 Round 1<br />1.) Indianapolis: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford<br />2.) Washington (via St. Louis): Robert Griffen III, QB, Baylor<br />3.) Minnesota: Matt Kalil, OT, USC<br />4.) Cleveland*: Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama<br />5.) Tampa Bay: Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU<br />6.) St. Louis (via Washington)* : Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M <br />7.) Jacksonville: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame<br />8.) Miami: Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina<br />9.) Carolina: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State<br />10.) Buffalo: Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa <br />11.) Kansas City: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State<br />12.) Seattle: Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College <br /> 13.) Arizona: David DeCastro, G, Stanford<br />14.) Dallas: Dontari Poe, NT, Memphis<br />15.) Philadelphia: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU<br />16.) New York Jets: Mark Barron, SS, Alabama<br />17.) Cincinnati (via Oakland): Janoris Jenkins, CB, N. Alabama<br />18.) San Diego: Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois<br />19.) Chicago: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford<br />20.) Tennessee: Quinton Coples, DE, North Carolina <br />21.) Cincinnati: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB, Alabama<br />22.) Cleveland (via Atlanta): Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech<br />23.) Detroit: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina<br />24.) Pittsburgh: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama<br />25.) Denver: Cordy Glenn, G, Georgia<br />26.) Houston: Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor<br />27.) New England (via New Orleans): Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC<br />28.) Green Bay: Shea McClellin, DE/OLB, Boise State<br />29.) Baltimore: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin<br />30.) San Francisco: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford<br />31.) New England: Devon Still, DE/DT, Penn State<br />32.) New York Giants: David Wilson, RB, Va. Tech<br /><br />Timothy Braun<br />Austin, TX<br />April 19, 2012<br /><br />Five Easy Pieces (a quintet of other matters on my mind).<br /><br />1.) With the NFL Draft this Thursday I will be live tweeting the first round @timothybraun42. I expect buckets of trades.<br />2.) This <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=y9y22VID_3w">dog</a> is what I’m talking about. This dog is what Willis is talking about. <br />3.) I have no issue with the Pulitzer Prize withholding an award in fiction, but in a year where we saw a book like “We The Animals”, I consider this a thought crime.<br />4.) Speaking of crimes, this breakfast taco is a hate crime of the colon.<br />5.) 4/20. Today is the day suburban white kids emerge from their parent’s basement and remind us all they know half the lyrics to a few Bob Marley songs. <br /><br />CODA<br />And for my Colts fans as we rebuild I think this, basically, how it will play out for us. <br />Round One, No. 1 overall: Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford<br />Round Two, No. 34 overall: Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers<br />Round Three, No. 64 overall: Alameda Ta'amu, NT, Washington<br />Round Four, No. 97 overall: Orson Charles, TE, Georgia<br />Round Five, No. 136 overall: Keith Tandy, CB, West Virginia<br />Round Five, No. 170 overall (comp pick): Gino Gardkowski, C, Delaware<br />Round Six, No. 206 overall (comp pick): Senio Kelemete, OL, Washington<br />Round Seven, No. 208 overall: Sammy Brown, LB, Houston<br />Round Seven, No. 214 overall (via trade with Jets): Chris Owusu, WR, Stanford<br />Round Seven, No. 253 overall (comp pick, a.k.a. Mr. Irrelevant): Adrien Cole, ILB, Louisiana TechTimothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35347640.post-64736137228250148272012-02-11T19:19:00.003-06:002012-02-11T19:33:44.055-06:00A Paper Mâché Rhinoceros at the Tokyo Zoo, or The Worst Play Finger Puppet Play Ever Known For Jeff Mills on His 33rd Birthday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAn5ZSAJNOtstvaXBdngA75ijkdM2Clh9Xc7gJQk-noU4xobTJ2bVuuaXTWfuqlkA5f0QnYq0Y0d5CgtY8xrsEBKA1GFbcRdvNtMbD0Poxf4EJQI8Ouc6BjiST1vJmPAti18vvuw/s1600/jeff.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAn5ZSAJNOtstvaXBdngA75ijkdM2Clh9Xc7gJQk-noU4xobTJ2bVuuaXTWfuqlkA5f0QnYq0Y0d5CgtY8xrsEBKA1GFbcRdvNtMbD0Poxf4EJQI8Ouc6BjiST1vJmPAti18vvuw/s320/jeff.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708055327961186626" /></a><br />I have an assignment I do with my advanced playwrights at St. Edward's University in which I ask them to write the worst play "ever" while still using the principles of Aristotle's <span style="font-style:italic;">Poetics</span>. The point of the exercise is to see how flexible and valuable the concept of Ol' Greek theatre is today, and to have a great deal of stupid-fun in the process.<br /><br />This week, St. Ed's graduate and current collaborator, Jeff Mills, turned thirty-three. In making a present for him (I wanted to do something more personal than just buy him a book, or cd, or six pack) I decided to drop my assignment on myself in the name of silly-fun for Jeff. In the process I got inspired (as bad theatre will do) and constructed a soundtrack on <a href="http://8tracks.com/timothy_braun/a-paper-mache-rhinoceros-at-the-tokyo-zoo-or-the-worst-finger-puppet-play-ever-known-for-jeff-mills-">8tracks.com</a> to go with this rather bad play. Oh, and, yes, I bought Jeff some finger puppets to go with the script. <br /><br />Timothy Braun<br />Austin, TX<br />February 11, 2012<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">A Paper Mâché Rhinoceros at the Tokyo Zoo, or The Worst Play Finger Puppet Play Ever Known For Jeff Mills on His 33rd Birthday <br />By<br />Timothy Braun<br /></span><br />NOTE: The soundtrack for this play can be found under the <a href="http://8tracks.com/timothy_braun/a-paper-mache-rhinoceros-at-the-tokyo-zoo-or-the-worst-finger-puppet-play-ever-known-for-jeff-mills-">8tracks.com/timothy_braun</a> profile. Also, as you read these stage directions, please use a smoky, sexy voice in your head.<br /><br />(This is world as small as kittens. A boy wears a mask with furry eyebrows, and a girl wears a Dallas Mavericks shirt. They make sounds for finger puppets from “The Royal Finger Puppet” collection. They wear these puppets because they have no mittens, and they make sounds because small talk makes them nervous. The soundtrack for this play is heard in the background.)<br /><br />(The boy makes the sound of two pair of shoes when he needed three.)<br /><br />(The girl makes the sound of small footsteps in the mourning. Or, morning, if you will?)<br /><br />(The boy makes the sound of wearing his heart on her sleeve.)<br /><br />(The girl makes the sound of a royal necklace breaking.)<br /><br />(The boy makes the sound of an earring on a dinning room table, just before tea.)<br /><br />(The girl makes the sound of a British Boy who thought Bowdoin was a good place to go to school.)<br /><br />(The boy makes the sound of a doorway crawling across a field of glass.)<br /><br />(The girl makes the sound of the sun cutting the clouds.)<br /><br />(The boy makes the sound of being a John Hughes villain. Then, the boy takes off his finger puppets. “Take off your mittens”, he says. The music stops. You should be at track 6 by now.)<br /><br />(The girl takes off her finger puppets, and the two touch fingers. Then, she makes the sound of “A Paper Mâché Rhinoceros at the Tokyo Zoo” as if all the “The Royal Finger Puppets” have heard this sound.)<br /><br />(The boy makes the sound of not being surprised.)<br /><br />(The girl makes the sound of “laughter”, and they never put their mittens on again. The music starts again, and the lights fade.)<br /><br />(Stage lights come up on a boy in old cloths. He sits in bed with his dog and writes the worst puppet play in the world for Jeff Mills on his 33rd birthday.) <br /><br />(End of Play.)Timothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35347640.post-35686716897904847242011-12-31T17:50:00.005-06:002011-12-31T19:28:34.957-06:00The Year That Was 2011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYg6WAmsF4ly6feBNPqmbUA4m8LFVnTpdZam8XQaLfR0EQPWkz9O_6bXEhJ12j81szsgSDliGz-1NT51jXt96htDTu7LIVKRUpTC_IX-UT5_ZQxTtttND4ircDBq52qQC16yuo3w/s1600/Dusty+Tired.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYg6WAmsF4ly6feBNPqmbUA4m8LFVnTpdZam8XQaLfR0EQPWkz9O_6bXEhJ12j81szsgSDliGz-1NT51jXt96htDTu7LIVKRUpTC_IX-UT5_ZQxTtttND4ircDBq52qQC16yuo3w/s320/Dusty+Tired.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5692447108661913058" /></a><br />Due to time constraints, illness, and other deadlines; my annual year in review has been postponed until, well, next year. But, for now, I will say this; the best movies I saw all year were “<span style="font-weight:bold;">The Trip</span>”, and “<span style="font-weight:bold;">Bellflower</span>”; the best book I read was “<span style="font-weight:bold;">We the Animals</span>” by Justin Torress; Most Interesting website experiment had to be <a href="http://www.nowness.com">nowness.com</a>; The Black Keys “<span style="font-weight:bold;">El Camino</span>” was my favorite album; best of the flicker box once again goes to “<span style="font-weight:bold;">Louie</span>” (the Dane Cook episode was dazzling); I saw a great deal of theatre and art this year, but none of it could be considered “Best Of” status; and the annual <span style="font-weight:bold;">Mike Vanderjackt Liquored Up Idiot Kicker of the Year Award</span> goes to the horrible Senator <span style="font-weight:bold;">Jon Kyl</span> of Arizona for his glorious burst of utter disregard for the consequences of his behavior when he said his lie about Planned Parenthood was “not intended to be a factual statement” statement. <br /><br />James Joyce ends his novel “<span style="font-weight:bold;">Eveline</span>” with the words “She was tired”, and nothing more needed to be said. As we look back on 2011, a year with political explosions and pop culture roller coasters, I can honestly say “I am tired” (much like this picture of my dog, Dusty-Danger), and pleased to see that these are the last lines to the story that was 2011. When I get healthy again, and things slow down on the deadline-front, I will return with more comments.<br /><br />Timothy Braun<br />Austin, TX<br />December 31st, 2011Timothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35347640.post-49573068948054612042011-06-19T11:50:00.002-05:002011-06-19T11:53:35.577-05:00Clarence Clemons, or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Learn To Love Friday Night Videos.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dJm77dQS9lWBmYZt_8YabKDwxdUC-pp6tK4f9orh5Hx0szCh2LOrGFpDnzK7VTWOmHjyjFj4vfxhKHEZQzqFS8CCnqgOaXYduyXqkZv5uBAVcn2WV2bqu7wLB_rGCSmIO7-sxQ/s1600/Pike+Place.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3dJm77dQS9lWBmYZt_8YabKDwxdUC-pp6tK4f9orh5Hx0szCh2LOrGFpDnzK7VTWOmHjyjFj4vfxhKHEZQzqFS8CCnqgOaXYduyXqkZv5uBAVcn2WV2bqu7wLB_rGCSmIO7-sxQ/s320/Pike+Place.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619974492819860962" /></a><br />When I was in the 6th grade I told my parents about a man playing the saxophone with Bruce Springsteen on Friday Night Videos. Clarence Clemons had a growling sound to his instrument that many in the 1980’s tried to imitate, but none could. The next week I started taking saxophone lessons and I quickly learned that I couldn’t imitate it either. Clemons was a rarity, and possible the last of now gone breed of animal. Without him, the rock ‘n roll saxophone solo is nothing more than cartoonish furniture masquerading as emotional resonance. In 2005 I was an artist-in-residency at the Edward Albee Foundation with Taylor Mac, Gabriel Ayerza, and Michael Krumenacker. We all became fast friends and spent a night building the “ultimate” Bruce Springsteen mix-disc. I insisted “Thunder Road” be in the mix, only for Clemons role in the song. The play list was in this order:<br /><br />Growin’ Up<br />I’m On Fire<br />Badlands<br />Born To Run<br />The River<br />Streets of Philadelphia<br />Down Bound Train<br />One Step Up <br />Tunnel of Love<br />Thunder Road<br />Brilliant Disguise<br />Dancing In The Dark<br />My Home Town<br />Human Touch<br />Hungry Heart<br /><br />For years after our residency I would listen to this mix everyday at the gym. When I see Gabe and Mike we still talk of mix disc, which I claim to be the best mix in the history of human sound. The saxophone solo at the end of “Thunder Road” always stones me. The song underwent considerable evolution as it was written, with an early version titled "Wings for Wheels" first performed at The Main Point in Bryn Mawr on February 5, 1975, two months before I was born. That phrase would be used in the final version of the lyrics. The original version also mentions a girl named "Angelina" (I named one my most produced plays after this) rather than the studio homage to "Mary". I love the story of that song and the raw power of Clemons, supported by the piano riff, blasts the ending into outer space. When I was a kid, Clemons looked like a giant on Friday night Videos. R.I.P. Clarence Clemons, "the Big Man" in the E-Street Band, has passed away at 69.<br /><br />Timothy Braun<br />Austin, TX<br />June 19, 2011<br /><br /><br />Five Easy Pieces (a quintet of other matters on my mind).<br />1.) Just got back from Seattle. Had halibut ceviche, tequila chamucos, and Mexican Coke braised pork belly tacos with Gabriel Ayerza on Capital Hill in Seattle. Outstanding.<br />2.) I know it is a tourist trap, but I love Pike Place Market (pictured).<br />3.) Now back in Austin, I ate at Eastside Show Room for the first time in months with my financial advisor. Had the charcuterie and antelope tartare. Why must raw meat be bad for man when it tastes so good?<br />4.) Thinking heavily about the upcoming football season (I expect the labor deal to be settled by the end of the summer) and I think I like Kansas City more than I should.<br />5.) Also thinking about my upcoming trip to New York. Much business to do (readings, workshops, my agent, ect.) but looking forward to taking a day off and hitting Coney Island, if I can.Timothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35347640.post-85584920405452382282011-04-30T10:39:00.005-05:002011-05-19T08:07:58.915-05:00Digestible Feats, or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Start Loving the Fusebox Festival<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVrqPj-3mDWe1YfwbWIqIL8tXSrNtDMRk3CD2WDfVXbEoI5HxME_XAjRRJUdTOHGcCLMmfo97hYcnr24EYUOX0yLTmO-ZPs4hZCNrWfbnSirQLnWCtxBSBUFZPc_W35mleLhOxA/s1600/Pig+carving.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjVrqPj-3mDWe1YfwbWIqIL8tXSrNtDMRk3CD2WDfVXbEoI5HxME_XAjRRJUdTOHGcCLMmfo97hYcnr24EYUOX0yLTmO-ZPs4hZCNrWfbnSirQLnWCtxBSBUFZPc_W35mleLhOxA/s320/Pig+carving.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601402037081228562" /></a><br />Let’s take a time out from my usual blogging responsibilities for Anthony Bourdain, all the jazz the kids at the Travel Channel ask me to do, football, and all that other stuff that buys my dog’s food to write about “<a href="http://www.fuseboxfestival.com/events/details/219-digestiblefeats">Digestible Feats</a>”, the collaborations between chefs and artists from other disciplines, including writers, musicians, sound engineers, actors, and graphic designers of the <a href="http://www.fuseboxfestival.com/">Fusebox Festival</a>. The new series has quickly become the most innovative and buzzed about program at the festival and for damn good reason. These spectacular “feats” satisfy all senses, from tackling the mouth and nose, to romancing the ears and eyes, and even making the patron feel warm and fuzzy with the appropriate beverages. The list of events have been outstanding, featuring the finest Austin has to offer in their respected fields (possibly the country as well), but I’d like to take the time to touch on two memorable evenings I had with the Digestible Feats series this week.<br /><br />Monday, April 25th<br />Composer <a href="http://www.grahamreynolds.com">Graham Reynolds</a> teamed with <a href="http://astiaustin.com/fino/">Fino’s</a> executive chef Jason Donoho and “beverage director” Josh Loving. The perfect pairing of one of the hottest musicians in a town known for musicians with a restaurant which is gaining steam with foodies. The audience encountered a three-course medley of specially designed vegan fair, and, without question, the best drinks I’ve had in years. First came an avocado fattoush salad with a lemon infused absinthe based drink called “White Girl”, partnered with a song entitled “The Cure”, an 80’s riff with Reynolds on piano accompanied by bass and drums. Usually I’m not a friend of absinthe (thank you for ruining that beverage, New Year’s Eve: 2001), but the White Girl was smooth and sweet and went well with the gorgeous salad and the subtle music that introduced the evening.<br /><br />As the second portion of the evening appeared the song “Rejected Beauty” was, let’s say “ escorted” with harrisa glazed vegetables and Sloe Rye with whiskey, gin, vermouth and sherry. All of this was tops, but the beverage was superlative and played with my tongue the way a good drink should. I would write more about “Rejected Beauty”, but during the song I kept wondering if I could and should ask for another one of those unbelievable drinks. Not much thrills in the beverage world the way this drink did, I even told my dog about this drink. Mind you, I used to be a bartender in New York and used my own tongue as a ginueu pig for my own concoctions. I never came up with anything this good. The third slice of culinary and artistic fusion was a desert based in a creamy coconut cup topped with tangerines and a simple drink made with scotch and orange juice. But the definition of the desert was Reynolds’ final piece entitled “Spanish Spy Movie”, which overtook Fino like a restrained thunderstorm and ended the evening with crashes of lightning. Easily my favorite number of the night, Reynolds reminded everyone in the room that the food at Fino is fine, the beverages are unforgettable, but this was his night and when performing he owns the room. Although skilled and deep, Reynolds music is fun and the evening would have been short on charm if he were not at the piano or telling stories on how he built his fantastic songs with these fine chefs. <br /><br />And Monday was just the appetizer on what was yet to come.<br /><br />Tuesday, April 26th (one of the top ten best nights of my life, wedged between the Colts winning the Super Bowl in 2007, and a Bob Dylan concert I randomly attended in Belfast during the World Cup telecast in the summer of 1998 which featured free Guinness). <br /><br />Every time Bourdain comes to Austin (about once a year now) I beg him to hit <a href="http://eastsideshowroom.com/">East Side Show Room</a> where chef Sonya Coté has quickly created my favorite eatery in town. This event was nicknamed “Digestible Beats @ <a href="http://springdalefarmaustin.com/">Springdale Farm</a>” where Coté prepared a seven course outdoor picnic style feast that included veggie terrine with carrot pure, beets and parsley, chard and kaffir lime, green garlic shredded pork with pecans in shredded chard, smoked deviled duck eggs with lemon verbena, potatoes with beet gravy and edible flowers, fennel with honey and pequin peppers, whole smoked de-boned piglet with herbs (pictured), hen eggs and green garlic aioli, with pickled beet stems and fennel fronds. The music portion of the collaboration came from Foley artist <a href="http://www.myspace.com/buzzmoran">Buzz Moran</a> and musician Ben Webster (a.k.a. <a href="http://insectrecords.org/artists/butcherbearandcharlie/">Butcher Bear</a>) as they recorded the sounds of Springdale Farm, the preparation of the meal, and the comments of the people eating this feast. The meal was as good as anything I’ve had from Gabrielle Hamilton, Mark Miller, Daniel Boulud, or one of Bourdain’s sous-chef (sorry, chief, but you’d know I’m right if you would just eat at her damn restaurant the next time you came to Austin). None of my love for Coté is meant to over shadow the work of Moran or Butcher Bear. The evening worked in concert as perfectly as the flavors of the drink I feel in love with at Fino, and I can’t imagine the night without the loops of ducks quacking and people chomping over soft rhythmus.<br /> <br /><br />I’ve been writing on art and food for a decade, while calling Austin my home base for the past five years. These combinations of Digestible Feats at Fusebox have removed the idea that Austin is just my home base, and is now simply my home. I have no problem with that. None. Not with the boys from Fino and Coté around. Not with Reynolds and Moran and Butcher Bear here to help my ears. Not with these “feats” to satisfy my senses. <br /><br />Timothy Braun<br />Austin, TX<br />April 28, 2011<br /><br />Five Easy Pieces (a quintet of other matters on my mind).<br />1.) Obama releases his birth certificate. Thank God for that "investigation team" Trump sent to Hawaii.<br />2.) As I’ve been driving home late from Fusebox events all week long, I have been listening to a late night call-in radio show called “Love Lines” which is sophomoric, rude, and completely engrossing.<br />3.) Dragon Boat contest this weekend in Austin. I’ve got make time for this. If I wasn’t old I would love to join the Austin team.<br />4.) Eeyore’s birthday this weekend too. If I wasn’t old…I’ll just stop there.<br />5.) NFL Draft this weekend. So far I love what Houston, Detroit, and Buffalo have done.<br /><br />CODA<br />This weekend Grrl Action is open to the public this Saturday April 30, 2011. It will be at Willow Arts Studio (1617 Willow St., Austin, TX, 78702) to support the “Year Round Grrls” as they present their art. If you can, please come out and support this very good program.Timothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35347640.post-15603723235483411692011-04-28T17:33:00.001-05:002011-04-28T17:34:51.755-05:00NFL Draft 2011: As Good As Facebook Friendship<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbb_vbMxUZjRFcFFgnU_HeZGCMV65-3JZMRnbxKPUkjjIVLEvLvFaTKYKwPPYwHTwa3QM90TCgP2mE7LuRQyXcmUaq3Pq0ac4G8BO7c1V2CqYZx1nqePIN4U3-ARyfgLsyruVi5A/s1600/images.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 178px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbb_vbMxUZjRFcFFgnU_HeZGCMV65-3JZMRnbxKPUkjjIVLEvLvFaTKYKwPPYwHTwa3QM90TCgP2mE7LuRQyXcmUaq3Pq0ac4G8BO7c1V2CqYZx1nqePIN4U3-ARyfgLsyruVi5A/s320/images.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600766550092087682" /></a><br />Our good friends at Bud Light have come up with a cunning contest. They will provide one lucky winner with $10,000,000.00 cash provided the contestant adds Bud Light as a Facebook friend and predicts all 32 first round NFL Draft picks correctly. Thus, by the end of this upcoming draft weekend Bud Light will have many more Facebook friends (which is stronger than the American dollar-and more appealing), and not blow a dime on the affair. No one will be calling this draft correctly. <br /><br />The 2011 Draft has few stars, yet is more balanced then a pigpen in Farmville and will offer players that fit systems and philosophies, as opposed to prospects that are “can’t miss” or “no brainers.” Trades should become the norm across the three-day event, but attempting to predict those would be a tangled, hypothetical, web of comment threads. For example, I have heard Houston loves Patrick Peterson and will attempt to trade up for him, but with whom? Peterson could go any place from the first pick to the tenth pick. So, for this year’s predictions I’m not going to guess on the trades. But, let’s see what I can do when I keep the order in place. If I’m lucky, Bud Light will fork over $10 million for my predictions. Which would make them a “friend” with benefits.<br /><br /><br />NFL DRAFT 2011<br />1. Carolina, Cam Newton, QB, Auburn<br />2. Denver, Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama<br />3. Buffalo, Von Miller, LB, Texas A&M<br />4. Cincinnati, A.J. Green, WR, Georgia<br />5. Arizona, Robert Quinn, LB/DE, North Carolina<br />6. Cleveland, Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri<br />7. San Francisco, Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU<br />8. Tennessee, Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn<br />9. Dallas, Tyron Smith, OT, Sothern California<br />10. Washington, Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri <br />11. Houston, Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska<br />12. Minnesota, Cameron Jordan, DE, California<br />13. Detroit, Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College<br />14. St. Louis, Julio Jones, WR, Alabama<br />15. Miami, Ryan Mallet, QB, Arkansas<br />16. Jacksonville, Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson<br />17. New England (Via Oakland), Adrian Clayborn, DL, Iowa<br />18. San Diego, J.J. Watts, DE, Wisconsin<br />19. New York Giants, Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin<br />20. Tampa Bay, Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue<br />21. Kansas City, Phil Taylor, NT, Baylor<br />22. Indianapolis, Derek Sherrod, OL, Mississippi St.<br />23. Philadelphia, Nate Solder, OT, Colorado<br />24. New Orleans, Cory Liuget, DT, Illinois<br />25. Seattle, Colin Kaepernick, 6-5, 215, Nevada<br />26. Baltimore, Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado<br />27. Atlanta, Muhammad Wilkerson, DL, Temple<br />28. New England, Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama<br />29. Chicago, Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland<br />30. New York Jets, Justin Houston, LB, Georgia<br />31. Pittsburgh, Aaron Williams, CB, Texas<br />32. Green Bay, Akeem Ayers, LB, UCLA<br /><br />The NFL Draft is a three-day event starting April 28th-30th, starting at 7pm on ESPN and The NFL Network. Follow my live tweeting of the draft @tab42.Timothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35347640.post-42051347058938164822011-04-25T09:10:00.002-05:002011-04-25T09:18:45.294-05:00A Personal Note on Bourdain in Japan, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying And Love the Fusebox Festival<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-bWES-Jst7MMrwfUfi_jqM13y2Wmy1WWwiM9xZjcVwmLBJvdIrn4Pu0qC4rWfLX3veV6UXXTQwLV85aOBXdpYn6yfS6M7YTfwoP9dF5mTgLvOiXjPlhhIwbGnA4kqbXoX6CWXQ/s1600/Seaholm.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq-bWES-Jst7MMrwfUfi_jqM13y2Wmy1WWwiM9xZjcVwmLBJvdIrn4Pu0qC4rWfLX3veV6UXXTQwLV85aOBXdpYn6yfS6M7YTfwoP9dF5mTgLvOiXjPlhhIwbGnA4kqbXoX6CWXQ/s320/Seaholm.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5599525401646305138" /></a><br />Weeks before the devastating March 11th earthquake and tsunami and all-around destruction, Anthony Bourdain and his No Reservation crew set out to discover Japan's northern country called Hokkaido. Cold as Hell, and looking more like Cleveland than the Japan we have seen in past episodes of No Reservations, Bourdain finds an explosion in curried soup houses. This area once had only one such establishment, but now features over 200. Catch this <a href="http://www.travelchannel.com/Video/a-hearty-winter-meal-15033">clip</a> and just try to tell me that soup would be fantastic on cold day.<br /><br />Bourdain’s return to Japan is dropping right out of the sky exactly when I’m thinking of the country. More and more we see China as a foreign threat to the American way of life as they have now overtaken the Japanese economy as the second largest in the world. But when I was young Japan was the land America was talking of, a place that is isolated and deliberate in an alien-like culture. I was just thinking that Japan is a place where it is way of life when cities are gone in a blink of eye from bombs or natural disasters. When visiting Japan, maybe more than any place, you are stranger in strange land, and now that after the earthquake I’m even ore attracted to visit and observe as the islands try to move forward. And, most certainly, get some fine soup in the process. I must admit I’ve started looking for residencies there in my free time. Anthony Bourdain’s No reservations: Japan airs tonight at 9pm, Texas time, only on The Travel Channel.<br /><br />Timothy Braun <br />Austin, TX<br />April 24, 2011<br /><br />Five Easy Pieces (a quintet of other matters on my mind).<br />1.) With the NFL Draft this Thursday I will be live tweeting the first round @tab42. I expect buckets of trades.<br />2.) If I were an NFL executive I would watch every minute of the Jon Gruden’s quarterback special on ESPN. Brilliant.<br />3.) I would love people’s opinions on <a href="http://www.ebertpresents.com/movies/the-bang-bang-club">this</a>. Are war photographers rock stars? Are they glorified? <br />4.) F.O.T. Dennis O’Leary, the Executive Director of the Djerassi Residency Program, is retiring. Dennis is a fine guy. He was always keeping Djerassi classy.<br />5.) Playing with a new lens on my camera. This picture s inside an art instillation at the Seaholm Power Plant. <br />Coda<br />As the Fusebox Festival has now kicked off, we are moving headlong into “Digestible Feats” the unique program where artists are paired with chefs. Tonight I will be joining Fusebox and FINO for a 3-course tasting of music, cocktails, and tapas. This late-night feast pairs original compositions by Graham Reynolds with brand new cocktails by Josh Loving and specially created tapas by Jason Donaho, both of FINO. This one-time event at Fino begins at 9pm, but there are still a few seats left.<br /><br />Tomorrow, Foley artist Buzz Moran and composer/musician Ben Webster (aka Butcher Bear), transform the sounds of a meal prepared by East Side Show Room’s chef Sonya Coté into a feast for the senses at Springdale Farm. This entire series can be found <a href="http://www.fuseboxfestival.com/events/details/219-digestiblefeats">here</a>.<br /><br />I love Fusebox.Timothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35347640.post-86086510864453964932011-04-16T07:51:00.003-05:002011-04-16T07:59:14.808-05:00Bourdain in Boston, Or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love Digestible Feats<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ZYC4egxY7-fKHSWTknc4hyh1ew8ot0-AbNurfRFyJQBmRiLLjEp5k2gjQWNNCh3TBkOyeko53Ys_bq_supGTczHHPTr8SAexvQ4uc_ZUN9K4I3-qgx6WCaDsAJaZHc6nM8BZXw/s1600/lasombrafood3.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ZYC4egxY7-fKHSWTknc4hyh1ew8ot0-AbNurfRFyJQBmRiLLjEp5k2gjQWNNCh3TBkOyeko53Ys_bq_supGTczHHPTr8SAexvQ4uc_ZUN9K4I3-qgx6WCaDsAJaZHc6nM8BZXw/s320/lasombrafood3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596165165789082050" /></a><br />“No Reservations in Boston is not about the fine-dining establishments, nor is it about what new, young chefs are creating on the cutting edge of Boston cuisine. This episode is about the tough and infamous side of Boston. This episode is about Southie.”<br />-Anthony Bourdain<br /><br />This week we have a lovely installment of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, the Chief visits Boston, the Mos Eisley of North America. Rarely do we see such scum and villainy as we do in Harvard Yard, or a Celtics game, or even the part of the Red Sox’s baseball field the townies call “The Green Monster”. Jabba the Hut (if that is how you spell his name, I found multiple spellings on Star Wars geek-site) was rather green, wasn’t he?<br /><br />Boston has always been a blue collared town, and, traditional, we see the best food come out of cities with the dancing-class attitude. I think the best and most telling clip of this week’s episode is this <a href="http://www.travelchannel.com/Video/the-breakfast-sandwich-11727">one</a>, in which Bourdain confronts an Irish breakfast sandwich, and discusses the merits of hangover food. Chowders everywhere should take note, as the Red Sox have played terrible to the start of this season that will only get longer. Catch the all-new Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations this Monday at 9pm, Texas time, only on The Travel Channel.<br /><br />Timothy Braun <br />Austin, TX<br />April 15, 2011<br /><br />Five Easy Pieces (a quintet of other matters on my mind).<br />1.) The last time I thought I was in Boston I had taken a red-eye flight from Denver to JFK. I was so tired I thought the pilot had taken the plane to Logan by mistake. I still blame Jet blue and Boston for the early morning feeling of dread.<br />2.) With the NFL Draft coming up I am almost positive the Colts will go with a wide receiver, a running back, and a quarterback in the first four rounds. Last year they draft defense, and their M.O. is to alternate from one side of the ball to the other each draft respectively.<br />3.) Blaine Gabbert will be a Washington Redskin.<br />4.) Typing this in a Jiffy Lube over the sound of an over-zealous infomercial about a blender. Which brings me to… <br />5.) Was on a treadmill yesterday listening to Arcade Fire while three large screens TV’s played Glenn Beck, Judge Judy, and a Spanish language interview with Anne Hathaway. If there had been midgets a warm beer I would have been in a Dirk Gently story.<br />Coda<br />This year the Fusebox Festival introduces the exciting “Digestible Feats” a program pairing artists with chefs. The idea is to collaborate on a dish that would be “satisfying to different senses.” I find this so interesting festival artistic director, Ron Berry, gave me permission to repost the original blog here.<br /><br />Digestible Feats with Lope Gutiérrez-Ruiz, Michu Benaim, and Chef Julio César of La Sombra<br />First posted by fuseboxfestival.com, Thursday, April 14th, 2011 at 7:06 am<br /><br />This year we are introducing something new and rather exciting to Fusebox: “Digestible Feats” a new program pairing artists with chefs. The idea is to collaborate on a dish that would be “satisfying to different senses.”<br />The first offering was with Lope Gutiérrez-Ruiz and Michu Benaim, the editors of The Gopher Illustrated, a magazine featuring emerging talents in visual arts, literature and journalism with interest in bringing work from Latin America to an English-speaking readership. Fusebox paired the two with La Sombra, a restaurant focusing on capturing “the vibrant flavors and fresh ingredients of Central and South America” for Austinites. Benaim explains the process:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">We met with Chef Julio César and with Cameron Lockley a few times to figure out what we should do. Evidently, coming up with some sort of philosophy that aligned our interests wasn’t all that difficult. The fact that we could easily find common ground presented a greater challenge, however, in that we needed to decide what it was that we wanted the dish to convey about Latin America, its food, its arts scene, and in particular, how we could make an authentic, fun and meaningful experience in the land of Tex-Mex.<br />Lope and I suggested that we hinge on the “emergent” aspect of the Gopher’s mission. Julio César provided an overview of emerging culinary trends in various parts of Latin America, particularly in Peru (where he was born) and Mexico. From the Gopher side of the table, we knew that we wanted to somehow incorporate a print or graphic element to the project.<br /><br />We decided on versioning street food, knowing that there is probably nothing that embodies the marriage between youth culture, the fast pace of urban areas and the everyday presence of tradition better than the anticucheras, taquerías and areperas that we’d each frequented for so long. We went through a list of countries to include in the dish, knowing that we wanted to include a country in Central America, one on the Caribbean end of South America, and another from the southern region of South America. Lope and I are both Venezuelan, a country with a vast Caribbean coastline, and Julio Cesar’s expertise with Peruvian cuisine ensured the two countries’ representation in the plates. Mexico’s taquería culture, and the vast Mexican American community in Texas settled the matter.<br />Many years of cheesy, drippy arepas taught us the importance of those faux-napkins in the presentation of the dish. Likewise, taquerías and anticucheras present their cheap, delicious fare in similar cheap not-quite-napkins. These are less napkins than they are grease blotting devices; functional, small and designed for you to eat fast and standing.<br /><br />Given that Julio César was going to gourmetize street fare, we decided to dress up the grease napkin. La Sombra already used wax squares of blotting paper, so we created three designs, one for each element in the dish. Each of these designs features a common saying from the food’s country of origin, taken from the cultural vernacular. The phrase is printed in Spanish, and an English translation is included on the bottom. The graphics that we used were designed to reflect aesthetic trends in the Graphic Design scenes in Caracas, Mexico DF and Lima, incorporating traditional elements from the countries they represent.<br />We ordered some rather large rubber stamps, researched and purchased food-safe, non-toxic inks, and hand-stamped a bazillion grease-napkin-waxy-paper-things. The dishes are plated on top of the stamped napkins, and you can use them to grab your arepa.</span><br /><br />The lowdown on the dishes (pictured):<br />Mexico: Seared tuna taco with chile lime mayo, jicama, pickle radish y serrano chilies<br />Venezuela: Arepa de pabellón with black beans and smoked and fried plantains<br />Perú: Anticucho de corazón (beef heart skewers) with rocoto sauce, rosé potatoes and chocloTimothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35347640.post-55722301860413253362011-04-03T08:20:00.002-05:002011-04-03T08:25:59.875-05:00Bourdain In Brazil, or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love the Griffith Observatory<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNr9ZgIg1WV2rDX-DwDcG-txHqFpz_LRVPAP_cHVHv9a1RrfgoY2bnSy_O7GD37yxAFMEowlBL1VE87l00SZLWYxgHIO4zM1TbiFQV5-5AbcRWYOsS4_nOj0YHZCvj63Ubt5dkYA/s1600/Griffith.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNr9ZgIg1WV2rDX-DwDcG-txHqFpz_LRVPAP_cHVHv9a1RrfgoY2bnSy_O7GD37yxAFMEowlBL1VE87l00SZLWYxgHIO4zM1TbiFQV5-5AbcRWYOsS4_nOj0YHZCvj63Ubt5dkYA/s320/Griffith.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5591347970533306786" /></a><br />This Monday <span style="font-style:italic;">No Reservations</span> will be taking the night off because only an idiot would première a new episode of a shockingly famous and profitable television series opposite the NCAA Male Basketball Final, the second most watched sporting event in the United States. However, I do have a lovely taste of what is yet to come. Next Monday, April 11th, Anthony Bourdain takes his road show to Brazil, one of the fastest growing countries on the planet. For this reason Brazil was awarded the Olympics just one year ago.<br /><br />The clip I’ve chosen to share (The Travel Channel just doesn’t provide as many as they used to) is the perfect example of a growing country, with a robust economic environment, and a taste for fine food. I’ve always believed that one can tell the most about a culture by its street food, and the people who eat it. Watch and listen closely to what Bourdain’s sidekick says about Brazilian women in <a href="http://www.travelchannel.com/travelchannel/TV_Shows/Anthony_Bourdain/Video/A_Mouthwatering_Pork_Sandwich">this clip</a> as they wait for pork sandwiches cover in coleslaw and mayo. Remember, this all-new episode airs on April 11th, 9pm Texas Time, only on The Travel Channel.<br /><br />Timothy Braun<br />Austin, TX<br />April 3rd, 2011<br /><br />Five Easy Pieces (a quintet of other matters on my mind.)<br />1.) Hate to “predict” these things, but I think Butler will beat the Huskies.<br />2.) I turn 36 on Tuesday and not a single Make-A-Wish kid has asked to meet me. Sadness.<br />3.) Breaking down the upcoming NFL Draft and I wouldn’t touch Arkansas QB Ryan Mallet with a ten-foot pole. He’s the next Ryan Leaf.<br />4.) However, I love Colin Kaepernick, the intelligent leader from Nevada. Starting to think the Buffalo Bills will select him at the top of round two.<br />5.) Sticking with football, I think some of the best offensive linemen are coming out of small schools this year. Watch for Brandon Fusco of Slipper Rock, Mike Person from Montana State, and William Rackley of Lehigh to be a steal for teams like the Colts, the Steelers, and Detroit in the later rounds.<br /><br />CODA<br />I apologies for being gone from the blog of late, I went to Los Angeles for a reading of an old play of mine at the California Institute of the Arts and returned to Austin with a vicious virus. After a round of high-octane antibiotics I’m starting feel much better.<br /><br />Among my favorite aspect of the City of Angles is the rich architecture, and dream covered views. The picture on this post is from the Griffith Observatory over looking the haze-covered metropolis.Timothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35347640.post-52328065972389154352011-03-14T10:04:00.003-05:002011-03-14T10:13:26.246-05:00Bourdain in Nicaragua, or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love The Madness of March<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Ap4m-44Uwj4ah40ZiMbAMkfZS51zPZlAenlHk9ZTUW3IQhIKIm4QQ1yLW9rgyuVoOiA0qpjQ5c7F_Go-NPwZIFYUN5axBCighy9bi80AvdI8AMmoSlrHYjHll8KokDEbG42qmQ/s1600/bourdain_ss_nicaragua-bts_001_596x334.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Ap4m-44Uwj4ah40ZiMbAMkfZS51zPZlAenlHk9ZTUW3IQhIKIm4QQ1yLW9rgyuVoOiA0qpjQ5c7F_Go-NPwZIFYUN5axBCighy9bi80AvdI8AMmoSlrHYjHll8KokDEbG42qmQ/s320/bourdain_ss_nicaragua-bts_001_596x334.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5583953419013216402" /></a><br />I think most Americans know, or think of, Nicaragua the Eagan era Iran-Contra scandal, but I question how many American scan find the country on a map. This Monday, Anthony Bourdain and the No Reservation team find Nicaragua on the map-a country filled to the eyeballs with delicious meat and potatoes, iguanas, and yummy bull testacies. I would write more, but I am exhausted from the start of SXSW and the end of Honk! this weekend. So, catch this week’s preview clip <a href="http://www.travelchannel.com/travelchannel/TV_Shows/Anthony_Bourdain/Video/Iguana_And_Bull_Testicles">here</a> while I catch some rest, and don’t miss Anthony Bourdain’s: No Reservation’s this Monday at 9pm, Texas Time, only on the Travel Channel.<br /><br />Timothy Braun <br />Austin, TX<br />March 14th, 2011<br /><br />Five Easy Pieces (a quintet of other matters on my mind.)<br />1.) <a href="http://sxsw.com">SXSW</a> still has one full week left to go, and the tourists are already getting on my nerves.<br />2.) <a href="http://honktx.org">Honk! TX</a>, the festival of community streets bands, was a smashing good time this weekend. <br />3.) I had dinner with F.O.T. Val Agostino last night for the first time in sixteen years. Had a great time.<br />4.) We have many ways to cook bacon.<br />5.) NFL labor dispute? It’ll get ironed by September. I hope. Until then, we will just have to kick back and enjoy March Madness. Keep your eye on Pitt.Timothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35347640.post-62914449848908150162011-03-05T08:49:00.004-06:002011-03-05T09:05:41.179-06:00Bourdain in Cambodia, or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Start Loving The Inspector Cluzo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMD69OYcgHoD-k4bGd6ZDZJPL2Z8dmeKXrcqOD8dHALPaJAlhjr8belh2G4xxR-xv3kEUZmH134PIUoMDgi_FPWqKwJ-xFaJ20vnMI2gGwKBVHB5hNvhr4wcFPy2j7ZwFg8eBqHg/s1600/bourdain_ss_cambodia-journal_005_596x334.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 243px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMD69OYcgHoD-k4bGd6ZDZJPL2Z8dmeKXrcqOD8dHALPaJAlhjr8belh2G4xxR-xv3kEUZmH134PIUoMDgi_FPWqKwJ-xFaJ20vnMI2gGwKBVHB5hNvhr4wcFPy2j7ZwFg8eBqHg/s320/bourdain_ss_cambodia-journal_005_596x334.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580611072090396530" /></a><br />This week on <span style="font-style:italic;">No Reservations</span>, Bourdain returns to Cambodia, one of the more mystifying and misunderstood countries on the planet, or at the very least to westerners. Over the years Bourdain has often taken on his own persona, and his show has become a representation of gonzo-journalism that weighs heavy on the watch-ability of the program, but he does include various segments in this epthat focuses on deep appreciation for what brought most fans to the show in the first place: food and travel. This clip of touring the countryside and randomly falling upon a street side eatery for some real <a href="http://www.travelchannel.com/travelchannel/TV_Shows/Anthony_Bourdain/Video/Fresh_Spring_Rolls">spring rolls</a> (not that flash fried jazz one finds at Wok ‘n Roll) is what makes No Reservations so interesting. Catch <span style="font-style:italic;">Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservation’s</span> Cambodia episode this Monday, March 7, at 8pm Texas time, only on the Travel Channel.<br /><br />Timothy Braun<br />Austin, TX<br />March 5th, 2011 <br /><br />Five Easy Pieces (a quintet of other matters on my mind).<br />1.) Finally reading Rick Perlstein’s <span style="font-style:italic;">Nixonland</span>, which chronicles the division of culture and politics that haunts America today. Deep and insightful, the book is a road map to the neo-cons and liberal punditry that sets the tone of our current political discourse.<br />2.) If you haven’t seen HBO’s Reagan documentary, it is a must. The flick takes a hammer to the mythology and treats Reagan as fair as anything I’ve ever seen, showing the former actor turned politician for what he was: human. <br />3.) My cardiologist has explained the immense level of unadulterated pain in my chest is from my recently discovered heart murmur, but this week I’m certain the discomfort comes from former Colt’s safety Bob Sanders signing with the San Diego Chargers. I was mentally prepared for the oft-injured hammer of justice to leave my favorite team and offer his services to a rival, but signing with the piss-drunk bastards that are the Chargers in the A.J. Smith era is the same as my trusted dog stabbing me in the heart with a milk bone.<br />4.) With SXSW fast approaching, I’m looking forward to catching the French band <span style="font-style:italic;">The Inspector Cluzo</span>, and unrelenting duo of sonic politics. Their song “<a href="http://schedule.sxsw.com/events/event_MS11238/">French Bastards</a>” is as fun as it gets.<br />5.) If you haven’t caught the "StarTalk" conversation between Neil deGrasse Tyson and John Hodgman, you can catch it <a href="http://startalkradio.net/2011/02/27/a-conversation-with-john-hodgman">here</a>.<br />CODA<br />Always pitied people who bought houses but after scoping a cute-little-place and talking to a mortgage broker and an agent on how to obtain the joint I'm now bewildered. Who in their right mind would buy any house? This makes no financial sense and you're stuck for 30 years. Why not burn all your disposable income and lash a bag of wet cement to your ankle? I'm befuddled. I'm nose deep in befud.Timothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35347640.post-81619762335634600462011-02-25T15:58:00.002-06:002011-02-25T16:19:36.421-06:00Bourdain in Haiti, or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love This World<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUovkn9lTfXNxCORG2uzF7ys-I99OHTOLBaFi-JXAZPxvPIIg21LfE4gGKUy69SH8xkuYpBUQhyphenhyphenAunWdEIw9ElBtO2_yetomW2uFMAHja4s1mshIxyD3RLy9bcp25aL-zqbtvJQ/s1600/bourdain_ss_haiti-tony_007_596x334.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 308px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUovkn9lTfXNxCORG2uzF7ys-I99OHTOLBaFi-JXAZPxvPIIg21LfE4gGKUy69SH8xkuYpBUQhyphenhyphenAunWdEIw9ElBtO2_yetomW2uFMAHja4s1mshIxyD3RLy9bcp25aL-zqbtvJQ/s320/bourdain_ss_haiti-tony_007_596x334.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577755343872863762" /></a><br />As Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations returns, I’m going to try an experiment this season. I’m going to (gulp) try the old fashion cliché of “showing” instead of telling. The news season kicks-off with a trip Haiti, a country dealing with a cholera epidemic and an impending hurricane. During his trip, Bourdain meets with super-actor and social activist. Sean Penn in the tent city built by his relief group. At the end of his trip, Bourdain is unsure of what the future will hold for Haiti. The most telling part of the trip is in this video, which, I am hoping will do the showing that I wish to project.<br /><br />Watch the link <a href="http://www.travelchannel.com/travelchannel/TV_Shows/Anthony_Bourdain/Video/Haitis_Legendary_Hotel">here</a> of Haiti's legendary hotel. <br /><br />Timothy Braun<br />Austin, TX<br />February 25th, 2011<br /><br />Five Easy Pieces (a quintet of other matters on my mind).<br />1.) An Egyptian has ordered pizzas for Wisconsin protesters. I love this world.<br />2.) Writing an essay to the irresponsible Texas House measure directing universities to allow concealed handguns on campus and realizing this thing could do wonders for organ donation. If the occasion arises I would like my baby blues to go to Stevie Wonder.<br />3.) I have asked precious little from this world, but I ask for a sequel to The Losers. An unapologetic thrill-omedy featuring Jeffrey Dean Morgen (a poor man's Javier Bardem) and the immensely watchable Chris Evans should not go down in B- movie history as a singular happening.<br />4.) O.J. Mayo to the Pacers…ALMOST ARGH! All we needed was one proven shooter from the outside and…ARGH!!!!!!!<br />5.) Disappointed Ken Jennings didn't smote IBM's Watson on Jeopardy and drop from exhaustion with his buzzer in hand like a nerdy John Henry. Did you miss me? Nice to be back.Timothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35347640.post-24872715409414475072010-12-27T08:46:00.011-06:002010-12-28T07:20:21.851-06:00The Year That Was 2010<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOskYdHx-ObUepFBnmRNUmPlmlJN07CKtZfibQy3O8yTrdk5wMy-oUhqez3hET0oa5Cp0ltdJh3iuvaB333wHlflGOulmJKluPMtEuh2kVKdenMM6bsQkpr622kHZgWvoo-n5JSA/s1600/2010+blog.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOskYdHx-ObUepFBnmRNUmPlmlJN07CKtZfibQy3O8yTrdk5wMy-oUhqez3hET0oa5Cp0ltdJh3iuvaB333wHlflGOulmJKluPMtEuh2kVKdenMM6bsQkpr622kHZgWvoo-n5JSA/s320/2010+blog.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555377333245054530" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">“The word is about, there's something evolving,<br />whatever may come, the world keeps revolving<br />They say the next big thing is here,<br />that the revolution's near,<br />but to me it seems quite clear<br />that it's all just a little bit of history repeating<br /><br />The newspapers shout a new style is growing,<br />but it don't know if it's coming or going,<br />there is fashion, there is fad<br />some is good, some is bad<br />and the joke is rather sad,<br />that its all just a little bit of history repeating…”</span><br /><br /> -Shirley Bassey<br /><br />With all due respect to Shirley Bassey, and to a lesser extent our good friends with Propellerhead, I begin to differ. History does not repeat. We have seen years like 2010, but nothing exactly the same. Let’s review...<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />The Paris Review</span><br />The health care debate, the first of its kind since the Clinton initiative in 1993, was slugged with lies, damned lies and statistics regarding abortion funding and death panels, but the health care bill passed this year thanks to a blue dog Dem named Bart Stupack. The conservative congressmen from Michigan, who had made his bones on the pro-life movement, stood tall and organized other blue dogs to support the bill after Obama promised no monies in the bill would lead to abortions. As the bill was voted on the G.O.P losers shouted “Baby Killer” at Stupack, an act akin to calling a Red Sox fan a Yankee, or a Shark a Jet (but worse), we could all see the look on Stupack’s face. He knew his political life was over. Like Paris leaving the walls of Troy to certain death, Stupack sacrificed himself so millions of Americans could have basic health coverage. As the years go by I doubt people will recall what this man did for America, but he did it with honor and integrity in the midst of lies. I thank him for that. Last November Dems like Stupack lost the re-election battles because of this, but I they may have won the war. Just look at this essay on <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2273708">Slate</a>.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Person of the Year: Dan Savage</span><br />With full disclosure Dan has been kind and complimentary to my writing in the past, but this award has nothing to do with those matters. With a rash of homosexual suicides across the country, the editor of The Stranger and constant This American Life contributor put together the “It Gets Better” project, where straights and gays alike tell stories and promise young gays to not abandon hope and life. But, what Dan didn’t mean to do with this website was communicate with honesty to straights how hard it is to be gay. With these stories the tellers murder gay stereotypes, and that is the only way it will ever get better for not only gay American, but also the country as a whole.<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Stimulus Money</span><br />So, where did it all go from the 2009 stimulus? Looks a lot like <a href="http://huffingtonpost.com/2010/0825/stimulus-spending-programs-reasonable_n_694755.html#s131202">The New Deal</a> to me.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Mike Vanderjackt Liquored Up Idiot Kicker of the Year: Eric Cantor</span><br />The G.O.P. representative from Virginia had stiff competition this year. Oh, we had the Tea Party faithful, Glenn Beck but together his lie-rally so he could sucker more twits out of money, and we even saw the return of my old nemesis Tom DeLay. Yet, Cantor took the cake. This repugnant scum was “owned” by Obama in the heat of the health care debate, as the POTUS surgically sliced his hollow talking points to ribbons, but when Cantor took control as the Majority Leader in the House o’ reps he has encouraged his voters to go to his website and recommend programs and funding the voters wish to have cut from the budget. How might they know what to “cut”? Well, Cantor has a sexy website called “YouCut” where you “suggest” what to cut like “Terminate Tax Funding for National Public Radio”, the “new non-reformed” welfare program (it’s non-reformed because Eric didn’t like it), and cutting grants that have the word “culture” attached to it. Cantor gives his people the chance to cut humanitarian programs, so he can say, “the people choose” what to cut, remove all responsibility from the gutless bastard. All of this comes on the heels of Cantor threatening to remove cash from the Smithsonian because he thought the art was offensive (by the way, they actually did remove the art which was ants crawling on Jesus. Hey, Eric, Google “Mapplethorpe”.) Cantor gets this award because unlike Stupack, or Obama, or even Dan Savage, he shows no responsibility for his worthless, drunken behavior. Worse yet, Obama and Stupack might be making enemies with some of their voters, but at least they aren’t pandering to them. Cantor plays fast and loose with the facts and pretends to be cavalier with the American budget, but what is clear about Cantor’s lack o' grace is that he doesn’t care about America as whole, only what he appears to be to his voters, like a drunk frat boy trying to pass a sobriety test. And, like that drinking frat boy, Eric Cantor is a danger now that he is behind the steering wheel of law making. Glenn Beck might be a fraud, but Cantor is a fraud who makes laws.<br /> <br />Runner-up: James Frey. The self-professed “Bad Boy” of the literary world has created a sweatshop of MFA students to write young adult lit that he slaps his name on, giving false hope to these kids that they will make it big under his soiled name. The infamous Frey is not the bad boy of literature, he is the bad guy and he has earned every piece of scorn that has come his way.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Arts</span><br />I saw art in Austin, New York, San Francisco, San Jose, and Santa Fe this year. Same as it is ever was, I consider SITE Santa Fe to be among the best galleries in the United States. This summer SITE ‘s Eight International Biennial featured The Dissolve, a sorely needed presentation of contemporary animation. Animation is the most delicate and visceral of the arts, and I applaud not only the fact that SITE pushed forward with the project, but bringing the haunting work of such animators as Oscar Munoz, Bernie Searle, and Brent Green to a larger audience. <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />The Webs</span><br /><a href="http://everynone.com">Everynone</a>. Pictures are worth a thousand words. With that, check out “Words”. I use this video in my writing labs emphasizing that things don’t happen one after another in writing, things happen because of one another.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Tweets</span><br />"Let's not forget who killed Jesus -- ambitious politicians pandering to religious <br />Conservatives." -Patton Oswalt <br />This year on Twitter I was placed on a “list” by @1776LibertyBell, a person who seems to watch a great deal of Glenn Beck. The list is called <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/1776LibertyBell/list-gay-hate-mongers-of-glenn-beck">“Gay-Hate-Mongers-Of-Glenn-Beck”</a>. I wrote Mr. Liberty Bell and explained that I am not “gay”, I am “happy”. Sadly, this twitter user has blocked me for my offense. I was going to send him a fruitcake for Christmas but I can’t get his address because, you know, the whole “blocking” thing. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Stages</span><br />LA based Cloud Eye Control’s “Under Polaris” was twisted, weird, fun, and very beautiful all at the same time. I don’t believe in most theater anymore, but I believe in Cloud Eye Control.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Foods</span><br />I had a hard time saying goodbye to CBGB’s, but the beyond lifeless rock club has been replaced by DBGB’s. Chef Daniel Boulud gave me the best meal I have eaten in years. The setting might be glass and steel, but the food is splendid combination of thought and reason. And I had the burger with glass of Hudson Valley Bourbon on the side. Simply fantastic booze.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Drinks</span><br />See above.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Music</span><br />Album of the Year: The National’s <span style="font-style:italic;">High Violet</span>, <br />It is best to hear High Violet as the third part of a somber trilogy that started as a game between lovers with the band’s Alligator, then continued with the famed Boxer, and now the closing act of High Violet. No song sticks out (Okay, maybe “Bloodbuzz Ohio”), rather the album functions as a Rubik’s cube poetic adjustments to post-modern, post–Bush America. Each line is like a Sunday morning crossword gone wrong. “I still owe money to the money to the money I owe” is only trumped by lines like “Lay my head on the hood of your car, I'll take it too far”. <br /><br />Song of the Year: The Hold Steady’s “The Weekenders”<br />The episodic Twin City rock band (by way of Brooklyn) has churned out the most heart breaking and thought provoking albums of the past ten years, but last May’s release of <span style="font-style:italic;">Heaven is Whenever</span> was an uneven collection of love songs and riffs on relationships. However, the album still generated the best song of the year in “The Weekenders”, about a weekend hook-up that went wrong when longing came creeping into the picture. With lines like “The theme of this party was the industrial age, and you came in dressed as a train wreck”, my envy for lead singers/song writer Craig Finn’s talents will not die easily. <br /><br />Arcade Fire (They get their own category)<br />Frontman Win Butler grew up in the suburbs of Houston, an archetype of U.S. cities designed around the automobile: a giant, sprawling mess of endless pavement, strip malls, and prefabricated buildings. Butler understandably feels suffocated by the environment, but on his band’s not coincidentally sprawling third album, he finds a romance to times and places that never were. The Suburbs can be dense and should be heard in the comfort in your own home, but it also features some of Arcade Fire’s rhythmus and riffs to date. Check out the interactive video to <a href="http://www.thewildernessdowntown.com/">“The Wilderness Downtown”</a>. Place your zip code in and let Google maps do the rest.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Movies</span><br />Only one movie knocked me out this year and that was <span style="font-style:italic;">Life 2.0</span>. An in-depth study of four people sucked into the world of the virtual reality “game” Second Life, <span style="font-style:italic;">Life 2.0</span> delivers what second Life can’t: an ice cold glass of reality to people desperately attempting to escape it. This documentary was a none-stop surprise to me, not from the fantastic, but from the subtle. With that said, <span style="font-style:italic;">Scott Pilgrim</span> was a fuck-ton of fun with its fantastical world. The fight between with the Katayangani Twins was just sick.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Flicker Box</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Archer</span> on FX was nothing less than a brilliant combination of James Bond meeting a bottle of Boones Farm on a Friday night. Gleefully stupid, and close to negligent, Archer showed a fearlessness to comedy that we rarely see this side of <span style="font-style:italic;">South Park</span>.<br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />Louis</span> <br />The people at FX should snag a Peabody for this semi-autobiographical show that portrays the life and times of a middle-aged white comic in New York with razor sharp accuracy. In this show Louis C.K. is less “funny ha-ha” and more “funny surreal”, more expressionistic, more self-aware in a dangerously dark way. I identified with every aspect and every scene in his life, all the way down to his opening credit entrance from the 4th street subway station on 6th Avenue, my old subway stop from when I was a New Yorker. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Magic & Bird: A Courtship of Rivals</span> on HBO documented the importance of enemies in ways few have. The relation between the two basketball greats was more like that of Mark Twain and Nikola Tesla than Ali and Frazer. Electric and poetic, this documentary made me pine for a great basketball rivalry once again.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Reads</span><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Mark Twain’s Autobiography</span>. Dead or alive, Twain is, and always will be, the best of American authors. His long awaited autobiography reminded us of the best Americans can be. It took Twain thirty or forty tries to get it “right”, but twain made the choice to dictate his autobiography in scenes and moments as he died. He made choices, just we have choices, and we must choose wisely, and Twain’s best line? <br /><br /> “History doesn’t repeat. It Rhymes.”<br /><br />History is not destined to repeat itself, Ms. Bassey. History offers us, humans, men, women, Americans, musicians, authors, artists, chefs, and politicians a thousand paths in the road on any moment on everyday. We pick and choose how history will unfold and reflect our times, much in the way political parties lose and gain control, or what burgers we choose to eat at fancy restaurants. This year we saw after some debate the repealing of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, the dumbest and most embarrassing acts of recent years started by the Clintons in 1993, and the introduction of health care. 2010 could have looked a lot like the early 1990’s, but we made choices and sang a different song. Clinton era failures became Obama successes. You are right, Dan Savage. It does get better.<br /><br />Timothy Braun<br />December 27, 2010<br />Austin, TX<br /><br />Five Easy Pieces (a quintet of other matters on my mind, super-sized for 2010)<br />1.) Wikileaks and Julian Assange are missing from the key points in my essay because I have no clue as to what they have been to 2010. I think we should have a better understanding of what this Assange and his followers mean for the world in the years to come. Is this an information revolution, or is this just gossip?<br />2.) This year humans cut global demand of oil by ten million barrels. <br />3.) We said good-bye to <span style="font-style:italic;">Lost</span> with the most haunting image they had generated to date: as the final credits rolled no music played, just a picture of the plane wreckage on the beach.<br />4.) Newt Gingrich said the Chinese have 0 capital gain taxes, and we should be more like those cats. So, Newt, we should be more like the communists? <br />5.) I think Obama has something up his sleeve with new tax bill. Dems may not be thrilled with it, but I believe Obama is thinking long ball and putting pieces in place for a large, sweeping chess-like move against the G.O.P. What that is, I have no idea. <br />6.) The first-ever global census of marine life was published in 2010. We have 250,000 species under the sea. Cool.<br />7.) “The Modern Century” retrospect by Henry Carter-Bresson went on tour. Amazing art.<br />8.) After seven years, “Operation Iraq Freedom” ended. Fox News spent less then ten minutes covering this withdraw. MSNBC invested days to this event. <br />9.) Citizen’s United was able to get 100 years of law killed in the Supreme Court, which will now allow unlimited corporate money to be donated to political campaigns. I’m certain this won’t come back to chew us in the ass.<br />10.) Angry Birds is an immensely enjoyable game that combines math, strategy, a full-tilt ass-whippin’. No wonder it was the top game of 2010.<br />11.) The rent is too damn high.<br />12.) All I want for Christmas is for Sarah Plain to read, watch, and study every aspect of the life of Elizabeth Edwards. <br />13.) Trains tell all. Amtrak will have a speed-train up in 15 years. On the same day this was announced a Chinese train broke a land speed record. This is not your father’s Chinese dynasty, but it sure is starting to sound a lot like the ones we used to hear about.<br />14.) Rhetorically, is the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell problematic for right-wingers who say they support our troops all the time? Don't they need to support gay rights as well? Sarah Palin can't say she supports some of our troops. That wouldn't look good on her twitter feed. Perhaps it is too early in the morning for this line of thinking. More Patron, waiter.<br />15.) Once again on this blog, good-bye to Howard Zinn. I could not teach what I do without Howard, I could not write what I do without his voice in my ear, and I never gave a damn about the Boston Red Sox until him. <br />CODA<br />5 yrs ago I was hired to write a comic for Michael Chabon/Dark Horse they never published. I got home from Houston to a package from my boy, lighting designer/artist Chris Brown, who illustrated the story for my Christmas present. Will celebrate with pizza flavored Combos. BTW, the story I was hired to write was for Michael’s “Escapist” line. It’s a trip off the Icarus myth. Mr. Brown’s art is filled with awe, and the ink is so rich it looks as if it could drip off the pages. He also illustrated one of my short plays, and an interaction I had with a British performance artist I often joke about. Outstanding.Timothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35347640.post-65436663046434004322010-09-11T08:27:00.004-05:002010-09-11T08:37:42.804-05:00Madrid, or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love The Kansas City Chiefs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVrMeoviqDaaQ7RVRTnU8pfbLIQeDzkeI4C9sUdoC2iGvWjMt-UbrZxg68PEUsAjVkkI8cMxPjX1khU-5oW9ug9HBHO8Yx2A2w2Sf94O1qEPPVqeGIPF6z6TAmPvEpEfE2tXPZQ/s1600/GetAttachment.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVrMeoviqDaaQ7RVRTnU8pfbLIQeDzkeI4C9sUdoC2iGvWjMt-UbrZxg68PEUsAjVkkI8cMxPjX1khU-5oW9ug9HBHO8Yx2A2w2Sf94O1qEPPVqeGIPF6z6TAmPvEpEfE2tXPZQ/s400/GetAttachment.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5515648407508475282" /></a><br />Spain's national “futbol” team won the World Cup on July 11th, 2010. The No Reservations crew just happened to visiting Madrid at the time (the boss always seems to end up in the right place at the right time). The win was much bigger than sports. It marked a significant day in history when this large and diverse country found a moment of pride after a less than lustrous 20th century. <br /><br />The clash between old food tradition and rebellious new creativity is especially prominent in Madrid. Bourdain hits a few spots stuck in time. These are the type of places Bourdain is known to love; young, fresh, and exciting restaurants. Bourdain visits one of the most difficult to visit in all of Europe, which is booked to a point that the owner and service manager had to open the joint specially for Bourdain…on their wedding day! Moral of the story? Never get married.<br /><br />The one thing Spanish, that both Bourdain and I love above all others, is the swine. To be more specific, Jamón Ibérico ham. It can only come from the rare black hoofed pig, and must be raised in the western region of Spain. It is then cured for about four years at a precise level of humidity. A life without sweet ham is a nasty sin. Bourdain has been to Spain on many occasions, but never has he explored Madrid in such detail. You can catch an all-new Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservation, this Monday at 9pm Texas Time, only on the Travel Channel.<br /><br />Timothy Braun<br />Austin, TX<br />September 11th, 2010<br /><br />Five Easy Pieces (a quintet of other matters on my mind).<br />1.) On this anniversary of the terrible attacks on New York, and DC (and the plane that crashed in Pennsylvania) I am always annoyed at the political twits that invoke this day who weren’t there (I am looking at you, Former Half-term Gov of Alaska). I was in New York, and the matter that made the whole attack human for me was the silence after, how quiet the New York became. The silence was terror for me, and brings me to one of my favorite Richard Foremen quotes, “Silence is not golden”. <br />2.) I love Phil Davison. He has a master’s degree <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMgyi57s-A4">IN COMMUNICATION</a>!<br />3.) The beverages at Eastside Show Room (pictured) are to die for. The other night I had a French 75 with an old NYC amigo in town. I could visit this joint every night.<br />4.) This week the AV Club asked the “Time Travel Theoretical” with Patton Oswalt and roger Ebert. You can catch it <a href="http://www.avclub.com/articles/a-timetravel-theoretical,44982/">here</a>. My answer? I would be interested in the 1920's in either New York or Paris. If I am in NYC I could hang out a speak easy, catch The Wild Party, observe Dorothy Park and her Vicious Circle (I would love to hear Harpo Marx speak), catch the birth of the Off-Broadway movement, and see Babe Ruth play for the Yankees. That, and the NY Giants where formed in 1924. However, if I choose Paris I could loiter around Shakespeare And Co. or Les Deux Magots, hang with Gertrude Stein, Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott (I'd probably flirt with Zelda) and mingle with a half-blind James Joyce. That, and try my best not make Picasso angry. Oh, and the FOOD!<br />5.) With the return of football, I think Kansas City might be my surprise team this year.Timothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35347640.post-45752701953405211402010-09-03T17:52:00.003-05:002010-09-03T22:19:10.941-05:00What Were We Thinking, or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Realized I Loved Nate Davis<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21ZjGYOab4963HJUrwRsIsX14BKnN_RuHxU5vUyS9esOz28HNkJr_zRs36ZBGG4T-RgKMixpYRMACRVRKw4s59pMsQCRTdkPXESErvW26RrfvoZhhBUhbGDdZcXGyjoYyB1Y9Ww/s1600/Austinskyline.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21ZjGYOab4963HJUrwRsIsX14BKnN_RuHxU5vUyS9esOz28HNkJr_zRs36ZBGG4T-RgKMixpYRMACRVRKw4s59pMsQCRTdkPXESErvW26RrfvoZhhBUhbGDdZcXGyjoYyB1Y9Ww/s320/Austinskyline.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512824584824241746" /></a><br />100 episodes ago, and what feels like a million years ago, Anthony Bourdain and the No Reservations crew went to Paris. It felt is appropriate that for the 100th episode, they should go back. Cuisine in Paris is often considered the best in the world. When you come from a system that is renowned, and established, there is a lot of pressure to do things the "right" way. <br /><br />The food scene in Paris however has gone through some definite changes since No Reservations was last in the city. There are exciting new chefs who dare to challenge the status quo. There is a move toward faster, more casual environments, much like you would find in New York City. <br /><br />However, in Paris, it is impossible to escape the classic and the traditional. Why would you want to? There are so many great things to enjoy in this city nobody could possibly come here and forget anything they experienced. What a perfect way to cap off the first 100 great episodes. It will be an episode that you will not soon forget. <br /><br />It takes a special kind of person to work in television, and when I mean special I mean stupid. It is rare to find someone crazy enough to think they can create a show and be successful. “What We Were Thinking” is a special behind the scene look at the No Reservations crew that gives us an inside look at the people who make No Reservations happen. Don’t miss an all-new Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations this Monday at 9pm, Texas time, only on the Travel Channel.<br /><br />Timothy Braun<br />Austin, TX<br />September 3, 2010<br /><br />Five Easy Pieces (a quintet of other matters on my mind.)<br />1.) Watching Arizona Governor Jan Brewer debate is like watching an eight year old get drunk.<br />2.) Sharon Angle claims unemployment insurance “really doesn’t benefit anyone”, and when she means “anyone” she means people who have jobs. Keep in mind, Angle is running for the senate in Nevada where unemployment is the worst in all of the fifty states.<br />3.) Glenn Beck lied about holding Washington’s stuff at his rally. (Sigh). I wonder if “The Spirit” (as Glenn likes to call it) told him to lie when it spoke to him.<br />4.) Glad to see Nate Davis made the 49ers. I think he has talent, but he needs to learn how to work harder. However, I am not pleased the NFL has cut the suspension of Ben Roethlisberger from six games to four for, well, treating women badly. What kind of message is the NFL sending with this cut? <br />5.) Playing with a new function on my camera. Having loads of fun playing with black and white right now.Timothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35347640.post-58974554886051513242010-08-27T19:35:00.003-05:002010-08-27T19:43:51.157-05:00Bourdain’s Making of India, or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love The Fraud-For-Profit That Is Glenn Beck<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Ex4-lVfmn6En7xoNzaepfarptPOPymZ78UiTfyDWk7S67J03edU4HA8mEcDVNk_mYwq1b_kNX-euYenmY5yTzrDzDCWWzk1PP9wViK84yzj_jaoTWomqdWFXKxeRKwXeMN-P8g/s1600/GetAttachment.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Ex4-lVfmn6En7xoNzaepfarptPOPymZ78UiTfyDWk7S67J03edU4HA8mEcDVNk_mYwq1b_kNX-euYenmY5yTzrDzDCWWzk1PP9wViK84yzj_jaoTWomqdWFXKxeRKwXeMN-P8g/s400/GetAttachment.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510253174924750370" /></a><br />In the spring of 2010 Zero Point Zero productions sent a No Reservations crew to Kerala, India to make some fine television. They also sent an extra camera operator and show producer to document the entire process. The Making of India episode is a candid look into the inner workings of <span style="font-style:italic;">No Reservations</span>, the Emmy Award winning travel program. <br /><br />The first step to building an episode is pre-production and research for the planned location. It begins about 4 weeks ahead of the actual trip... and it usually starts very slowly. There is so much thinking and logistics that goes into planning out every scene that "it's like planning a dysfunctional family vacation."<br /><br />Once the original planned scenes are set, it is time to call the "fixers." The crew gets a hold of someone who lives in the country and really knows the area. The fixers help out with planning and logistics and also help to suggest great scenes for the show. After the headache inducing work is done, it is time to head into the country and shoot some great television. It is tough. The hours are long. And it wears you down. Sometimes people want to know if The Boss is losing interest in travel. His honest response? "No. I'm addicted to this. This isn't going away." You can catch Anthony Bourdain’s <span style="font-style:italic;">No Reservations</span> this Monday at 9pm, Texas Time, only on the Travel Channel.<br /><br />Timothy Braun<br />Austin, TX<br />August 27, 2010<br /><br />Five Easy Pieces (a quintet of other matters on my mind: special addition for Glenn Beck and his lie-rally this 8-28-10).<br />1. Tomorrow, the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, Glenn Beck will give his own speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on how we can reclaim the honor of America. Interesting, I wonder why Beck thinks we have lost our honor? Glenn Beck, why do you hate America? Do you know the expression “love it, or leave it?”<br />2. Many people (Patton Oswalt comes to mind) have called Beck crazy. I think it is wrong to say ol’ G.B. is nuts. Crazy people know not what they do. Beck knows what he is doing. Beck is a fraud. He lies and misleads to make money.<br />3. Glenn Beck lies, you ask? Yes. Check the Pulitzer Prize winning <a href="http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2010/aug/27/glenn-beck-faces-truth-o-meter/">Politifact.com</a>.<br />4. Personally, I hope Beck has a safe, happy, health time at his fraud-for-profit event. With one exception. I hope an endangered bird poops on him while he speaks. And, I hope that bird is gay, and on his way to Canada for a soy-latte with other gay-endangered animals. <br />5. I bet your wondering why a picture of my beloved sidekick, Dusty-Danger, is linked to this post? Because I feel what Beck will do tomorrow is beyond wrong and tasteless. Beck is committing fraud on a level we rarely see. He is perpetuating fear to make money from sad people. Tomorrow, the modern day P.T. Barnum will give his greatest show, with a cavalcade of circus freaks (Sarah Palin), hoaxing heightened emotions in hard times. Dusty, in my eyes, is a better animal then Glenn Beck. I would charge the gates of Hell for my dog, my family, my friends, and my students. I wouldn’t walk to 7-11 for Glenn Beck.Timothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35347640.post-71004959614378104642010-08-21T12:51:00.004-05:002010-08-21T13:04:22.386-05:00Back to Beirut, or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Broken Spoke<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyEbJZWelhhiLpZI8X74-uW16kj9AGnxYN1mWUs_vYCAMOTRuDaFx-tTaPZwmUZYvekxQbnw3FNpLeEJ4ItMZerz5ZtI5Eg03xivB8Defv6NItqrrdd02A8G_U8RtBiuG0pIirA/s1600/GetAttachment.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQyEbJZWelhhiLpZI8X74-uW16kj9AGnxYN1mWUs_vYCAMOTRuDaFx-tTaPZwmUZYvekxQbnw3FNpLeEJ4ItMZerz5ZtI5Eg03xivB8Defv6NItqrrdd02A8G_U8RtBiuG0pIirA/s400/GetAttachment.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507922978978649618" /></a><br />The last time Anthony Bourdain left Beirut it was not a happy time for him, his crew, several of my friends or for the people of Beirut. One of the most vivid memories from the 2006 trip was looking out at the airport, and seeing it bombed. In the first few days of that trip, Beirut had a closer resemblance to Miami Beach than to a city under siege, but it soon turned sour as the Israelis’ decimated the city. Bourdain and his team soon found themselves in the middle of a war, holed up in the confines of a luxury hotel. <br /><br />Back in the 1960's Beirut was known as the Paris of the Mediterranean. Living in Lebanon are many different groups, languages, ethnicities, religions, sects, interests, and political factions. Thus, the city has problems. Downtown is trendy, new, and hip, but travel ten minutes away and you see the destruction from the war. One is just as likely to meet a model or an entrepreneur, as you are to meet a soldier or a Hezbollah supporter. However, with all of the cultural diversity comes an incredible mix of foods. <br /><br />Some Lebanese believe the reason so many people are fighting over the land is because it is so lovely. Between the gorgeous coastline, the mountains, the seafood, lamb, and produce, it is place that is not hard to fall in love with. On the face, Beirut seems like a dream city among the Arab world, but they just can't seem to catch a break. Watch Bourdain return to the cite of his darkest adventure this Monday at 9pm, Texas Time, only on The Travel Channel.<br /><br />Timothy Braun<br />Austin, TX<br />August 21, 2010<br /><br />Five Easy Pieces (a quintet of other matters on my mind.)<br />1.) 1 in 5 Americans apparently think President Obama is Muslim. In related news, 4 in 5 Americans are getting tired of tolerating that one dumb guy<br />2.) After two weeks of preseason football, the Patriots scare me. They played the Falcons in mid-season form (in mid-August) and the power running formation could be lethal against the Colts speed and the Jets aggression.<br />3.) I wonder what Sarah Palin would say if Dr. Laura had said, “retard”. Palin’s “don’t retreat, reload” comment to the disturbed doctor is a reaffirmation of that brainless stunt show Palin has become. I guess you say Palin is "retarded" for Dr. Laura. Actually, I won't guess on that one.<br />4.) The president’s dandy vacation reading material includes "Tinkers" by Paul Harding and "A Few Corrections" by Brad Leithauser. Yet another reason I voted for this guy.<br />5.) Had a great time with at The Broken Spoke with the visiting Alex Smith, Oly, Nina, and Jeanne last night. Truly an Austin treasure and historic joint to two-step, but the cool stuff that liters the place is off the charts. Just check out the picture. oh, and I think i want to learn more about this Texas two-stepping stuff.Timothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35347640.post-59490540692757718412010-08-13T17:59:00.002-05:002010-08-13T18:02:27.177-05:00Rome, or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love Scott Pilgrim<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVRd39SCB4YFICSyxU24aeWgDkARgjVGfLV2frWhyp3RJZFBzimBbBPd1suUq0MP2AcxAd5lr3eR_s5e2r-t3nv551wa_U8G2VPHEv7i-0x7zYPw6_MVnQYIMaaKgTWa4guX1EQ/s1600/GetAttachment.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlVRd39SCB4YFICSyxU24aeWgDkARgjVGfLV2frWhyp3RJZFBzimBbBPd1suUq0MP2AcxAd5lr3eR_s5e2r-t3nv551wa_U8G2VPHEv7i-0x7zYPw6_MVnQYIMaaKgTWa4guX1EQ/s400/GetAttachment.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505033677172799410" /></a><br />Rome. Anthony Bourdain has never been to Rome. Yeah, I was surprised at that too. He has been all over the world, even all over Italy, but has never had the pleasure of stopping at one of the most famous cities in the world. Bourdain's idea of Rome is mostly formed from what he has seen in films from the 1960's -- films that were of course in black and white. Since being a host of a Travel Channel does have the occasional perk, we get to see Rome in the way that Bourdain sees it.<br /><br />What unfolds is a nice look at a beautiful city with foods that many people can only dream about. Bourdain begins with masterfully crafted bread, four year old fresh cut cheese, and a perfect prosciutto. No trip to Rome is complete without trying some classic pasta dishes. It is possible, even likely these days, to eat bad food in Rome. In places that are frequently visited by outsiders, businesses are not rewarded for serving good food, but if you know where to look it is still possible to find an old school Roman family restaurant. They will undoubtedly be serving the latest seasonal ingredients from the region, because in Rome, seasonal food is not something you promote or talk about, it is something you just do. Catch an all new episode of Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations this Monday at 9pm Texas time, only on The Travel Channel.<br /><br />Timothy Braun<br />Austin, TX<br />August 13, 2010<br /><br />Five Easy Pieces (a quintet of other matters on my mind.)<br />1.) Really enjoyed the Scott pilgrim film. Above is a picture of hanging out with the kids of Austin, waiting to get into a late night screening.<br />2.) Social Security is keeping 20 Million Americans out of poverty. Not all, but portions of these United States are looking like a third world country.<br />3.) Reading David Zirin’s new book “Bad Sports”. As usual, my boy Zirin has written something horrifying and compelling all at once.<br />4.) Thinking a lot about football teams and I am beginning to have a bad feeling about the Colts this year.<br />5.) Where did the summer go? Went back to the office this week, classes start in another.Timothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35347640.post-52692665631551864672010-08-06T14:44:00.006-05:002010-08-06T15:48:35.623-05:00Dubai, or How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love Tony Ugoh at Left GuardDubai. The empire in the desert. Dubai is a city of incredible technical and engineering achievement. About 40% of the entire city was built in just the last decade. Commercial hubs, man-made islands, mega-highways, mega-malls, and the world's tallest building, have all been built not on oil riches, but on the dreams of Sheik Mohammed. His vision was to create a commercial epicenter that would be the envy of the world. However, with the economic downturn in 2008 and a default on a $60 billion loan in 2009, many are left wondering what is this capitalistic dream and what is raw reality.<br /><br />Dubai's extravagant offerings are intended only for the rich and super-rich, but there is always another side of town. Locals only make up about 5% of the total population. The people who built and maintain this city are largely from elsewhere. The workers came to find work, and they brought their food and their culture along with them. This is what Anthony Bourdain seeks out as he and his No Reservation crew visit Dubai this Monday at 9pm, Texas Time. Only on The Travel Channel.<br /><br />Timothy Braun<br />August 6, 2010<br />Austin, TX<br /><br />Five Easy Pieces (a quintet of other matters on my mind).<br />1.) The new Arcade Fire album is fantastic and is great to run to. Got the old National album “Alligator” on the same day. Great week for my love affair with music.<br />2.) Sharron Angle is among the stupidest people in politics. I though Michelle Bachmann was bad, but Angle’s comments on how the media should only ask question that make her look good is brainless.<br />3.) It is hard for me to think of the word “brainless” without ol’ Former Half-Term Governor Palin coming to mind. After Politfact.com called her a liar for, well, lying about Obama’s potential to allow the Bush tax cuts for the rich to expire, she fired back at the fact checking website on her facebook page with more made up trash. The Former Half-Term Gov claims this will be the greatest increase of taxes in American history. No, even if Obama allows the tax cuts to expire that honor still goes to Reagan. The issue that the Former Half-Term Governor has is that no matter how much she wants 2+2 to equal 5, it will always be 4. <br />4.) The report out of Colts camp is that Tony Ugoh has been penciled into the LG position and all I want to know is what the HELL took so long? When he was at Arkansas I could have told you he was a better fit at sweeping guard. This is a telegram to the rest of the league: the Colts are committed to sprinkle in more power running plays this year. More evidence to this is the dumping of pass catching TE Tom Santi for the rookie C/RT/TE/HB Brody Eldridge. While I am at it, watch out for new DE Jerry Hughes. I’ve heard the Colts have a three DE zone blitz package I am dying to see.<br />5.) Thinking about writing an essay on my dog.Timothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35347640.post-24670942264930288602010-07-30T15:47:00.001-05:002010-07-30T15:52:12.429-05:00Where It All Began, or "Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves"Monday's "new" episode of No Reservations is really a look back to 2000. This episode is a version of Dmitri Kasterine's documentary, "Out of the Pan, Into The Fire," which was shot just before Bourdain’s book and television show. It s a candid look at a younger, skinnier, less traveled...and even more arrogant Anthony Bourdain working in the kitchens in New York City while his first book was just being released. <span style="font-family:Times;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times;">Bourdain talks about the epiphany that originally made him want to become a chef. One day while working as a dishwasher in Cape Cod, a large wedding party came into his restaurant. The head chef asked him to cover the grilling station, which was remarkable, because the broiling station "was sort of like where God was." As Bourdain took over the grilling duties the head chef disappeared into the garbage stockade, with the bride in her wedding whites, engaging in rather rough sex, and that is when the boss knew he wanted to be a chef.</span><span style="font-family:Times;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times;">Bourdain's attitude has not changed much since "Kitchen Confidential" was published. After ten years of writing and filming a television show, Bourdain claims he continues to expect each new venture to fail. As a writer, he says he has learned nothing. "I write how I talk, and I still don't agonize over sentences." I must admit, neither do I.</span><span style="font-family:Times;"> </span><span style="font-family:Times;">Prepare for an inside look at the restaurant industry - a business that attracts "gypsies, tramps, and thieves" as the boss puts it. <span style=""> </span>Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations airs this Monday at 9pm, Texas time, only on The Travel Channel.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times;">Timothy Braun<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times;">Santa Fe, NM<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times;">July 30<sup>th</sup>, 2010<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Times;">Five Easy Pieces (a quintet of other matters on my mind).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="">1.)<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7pt;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family:Times;">Packing to go home to Austin (man, it has been a long summer) and just found a piece of my dog's fur in my travel bag. Tomorrow night I'll have Homeslice pizza for dinner, a little HBO, and sleep in my own bed with Dusty protecting the joint from the raccoons in our attic. Chewbacca, Han Solo is coming <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="">2.)<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7pt;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family:Times;">And, yes, I've thought Dusty would rescue me from a carbonite prison with a ragtag group of amigos if the occasion arose. </span><span style="font-family:Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in 0.1pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="">3.)<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7pt;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family:Times;">First third of the novel has been sent to the editor. The new full-length play will be sent to my agent and F.O.T.'s by Monday. 46 one-act plays out the 64 project are written. Three essays published, two book reviews, and three interviews as well. I need a time out, but have none to give.</span><span style="font-family:Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in 0.1pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="">4.)<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7pt;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family:Times;">Really enjoy “Burn Notice”. Its James Bond meets Stephanie Plum.</span><span style="font-family:Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0.1pt 0in 0.1pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="">5.)<span style=";font-family:";font-size:7pt;" > </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family:Times;">Good-bye, Santa Fe. I don’t know when next we shall meet. As Bourdain does his “Where It All Began” episode, Santa Fe was where it all began for my work 13 years ago.</span><span style="font-family:Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <b style=""><span style=";font-family:Times;font-size:13.5pt;" ></span></b><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span> <!--EndFragment-->Timothy Braunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07106474857071881707noreply@blogger.com0