About last night's event: I didn't stay until the end, but it was great fun when (because?) I was there and I heard all ended peacefully....there was a tiny bit of tension at some point, when C. Brodeur decided to take over and give the audience some of his political theories. The tension grew slightly when he proceded to prove wrong the critics who claimed he had no musical talent whatsoever.
But there were some truly interesting acts and some interesting tension between some performers theorizing about why there were no black people (darkies) present and the only black person theorizing back.

I must now engage in the investigation of a 1954 live television rendition of "1984". Will report later.

Some strategic advice for all independent/ low-budget and otherwise filmmakers. Found in Harper's:

An email sent in March by Taylor Donahue, vice president of production at Timely Studios, to Anita Lavine, senior vice president of production. Originally from Harper's Magazine, May, 2003.

To: Anita Lavine
From: Taylor Donahue
Subject: Location shooting for Codename Courage

Assuming the current situation with Iraq leads to combat activity by U.S. troops, I suggest we get a small film crew credentialed as press to shoot over there. This will solve some of the budget vs. production-value problems we've discussed. In the best-case scenario we can also get one or two of our leads over there in costume to do a scene with the mayhem of real war as a backdrop. Failing this, we can have the war as a back plate to use with blue screen of our actors. We'll be the only movie with a multibillion-dollar effects budget.

Attention: There was a problem with The Die. It's fixed now (I hope, try it).
All decisions based on the die up to now are to be revised due to bias.
Also: Last night's sushi crowd advised me to get a Wiki. I'll keep you updated.
And:

Tonight's event:
Book publishing party for the
Christopher X. Brodeur
Triangulo, 675 Hudson Street,
(14th Street at 9th Ave south) 7-10pm
I understand there will be an open bar and tons of performances.

The book is Perverted Little Creep

If you are in New York and for some reason haven't seen it: Un Chien Andalou is playing at the Film Forum. Really fun. I wish they'd screen it with Land without Bread, but they are showing L'Age d'Or instead. And I don't think their heart was really in that one. Happens with "sequels".

We are accumulating new snow, about 9 inches or so. 7 of them came down when I was on my way to the video store. Why won't anybody take that can of mixed nuts away from me? That stuff is dangerous.
While I'm on the topic, let me report from the American food front. I tried to buy milk yesterday. There was low fat, skim, no-lactose and low carb. No regular milk. I'm serious. (Well, there was Parmalat, but they are evil). And that's not all, everything has changed to low-carb. And the funny thing is, it's the same brands, the same commercials, except they are now substituting carb for fat. What's weirder, fat-free sour cream or low-carb potatoes (Ketatoes)?
And: if you have trouble with your diet, you can sue your doctor-maybe. Here are your lawyers.

I don't know what happened, but I got it into my head to knit. Embarking on a quest to find yarn and needles I realized that there is a lively knitting community in New York.... And I realized that it is a lot more expensive to knit stuff yourself than to buy it in a store.... Very strange the whole phenomenon. There is one store on 14th street where they sell yarn and serve tea, coffee and small dishes.
Anyway, my new scarf in a poisonous-green silk/cashmere blend is coming along quite nicely....