Macon International Film Festival

I'm headed to the Macon International Film Festival today. Our (Josh and I) short experimental film "Looking to Land" is being shown. We hope to win an award over the other four short films in the experimental category.

Looking to Land to Premiere at Film Festival

Looking to Land has been accepted into the 2009 Rome International Film Festival. The short film will be shown on Friday, September 11, 2009, at 11:00 p.m. at the historic Heritage Hall Theatre in Rome, Georgia.

Josh and I hope to attend to see our first film on the big screen. More to come . . . .

The Inside of Out

The Idea.org SpicyNodes WebExhibit on poetry includes one of my poems, "The Inside of Out." I was selected to participate in demonstrating how this new technology can be used in the realm of poetry about two years ago. Now it's finally online. As I said during an interview at the time, "The reader has the opportunity to connect the ideas and images together in ways that would be impossible in a more traditional form."

Guest at the Waldorf School

I had the opportunity to to be a guest "teacher" for a tenth grade class at the Waldorf School in Costa Mesa yesterday. I think it went pretty well considering the fact that I haven't been in front of a class in about eight years.

I read a few poems from The Armpit of Desire, played a few tracks from et cetera et cetera, and played the "Looking to Land" video. Then I facilitated a "show and tell" workshop that produced some interesting poetry from the students.

The best part? Well, if you ask the students, I bet they'd say the free copies of et cetera et cetera!

Thanks for inviting me Genevieve!

Tom Featured on Sundown Lounge Podcast

"Thomas Edison Was a Really Cool Guy" is featured on Sundown Lounge's latest podcast, number 173, "Yet Another West Coast Showcase."

Check it out at http://www.larrywinfield.com/sundownlounge.htm

Josh and I have selected "Thomas Edison Was a Really Cool Guy" for the next installment of our video series for tracks from my double spoken word CD et cetera et cetera.

Sundown Lounge

Larry Winfield over at the Sundown Lounge was nice enough to put "Looking to Land" on his latest show, Number 172, "Another West Coast Showcase." Thanks, Larry!

Check out the "Looking to Land" video.

Want to buy et cetera et cetera, my double spoken word CD featuring Josh Skelton? Of course you do! You can buy it at www.scottsiders.com or at CD Baby.

Novo Writing Blog

I've finally started a blog for my business as part of my ongoing marketing efforts. I'll be writing about marketing, copywriting, PR, being a marketing copywriter, and other topics about once a week. So, check out the Novo Writing Blog often. Hopefully it will be interesting and will eventually reach more than a few people. So, if you like what you see, please tell a friend.

Adam's New Scene

Adam hasn't missed a beat. If you're a fan and want to hear him everyday, the link for his new podcast is http://carollaradio.com. Granted, it's not four hours every morning (most of the podcasts (five so far) have been around 40 minutes), but at least it's something. It's kind of like methadone. It keeps us from going through complete withdrawal, but it's not the same.

His podcast is the most downloaded podcast on iTunes. There have been over one million downloads in this first week alone.

Listen. Enjoy.

Adam Is Gone . . . For Now

I heard the horrible news today that Adam Carolla (and the other personalities on KLSX) will no longer be on the air. Tomorrow will be the last show. The station is apparently switching from talk radio to top 40. Great. Another station playing bad music 24/7. Of course, in this economy, that type of awful programming is as cheap as it gets.

Fortunately, it sounds like Adam will start podcasting for an hour a day soon from his home (to start), and his "new" show will hopefully grow over time to bring back Theresa and Bald Bryan. That's the plan anyway. I'm sure his loyal fans will rally in support and he'll be back in the saddle soon. God, I hope so. I've been listening to him since around 1997 in his early LoveLine days. I've listened to him everyday since he got his own show in 2006. Now what the hell am I going to listen to while I work? Top 40? Nope. I guess I'll be listening to NPR exclusively for talk radio from now on.

It's a sad day.

Looking to Land Video

Josh Skelton and I completed production on our video "Looking to Land," which appears on my spoken word double CD, et cetera et cetera. Check it out on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=meXVXnEsB2I.

It's Almost Over

I'm terrible about keeping up with this blog, but I just wanted to stop in and express my sincere excitement that the worst presidency in the history of the U.S. is coming to an end in a few days. I won't have a good closer after January 20, but I'm more than happy to sacrifice that for the hope of some respectable leadership and sanity in the White House. I must admit, though, it's going to take some time to get used to the idea that the guy in the oval office isn't a simpleton and shameless liar.

I wish Obama all the best--for the country, the world, the many crises he faces, and . . . um . . . for the survival of my little company as the recessions deepens.

There are 3 days remaining in Bush's presidency.

Finally!

Wow. After a two-year election cycle, it's finally over. I'm predicting an Obama blowout--over 300--but I will obviously be elated if he just squeaks by. Next stop: January 20, 2009.

Don't know where to vote today? Really? Well, if not, go here to find out: barackobama.com.

There are 76 days remaining in Bush's presidency.

A New Direction for the USA?

I have been nominated but, if elected, I will not serve. Still, I cannot stop supporters and their campaign efforts: www.tsgnet.com/pres.php?id=370617&altf=Tdpuu&altl=Tjefst.

There are 109 days remaining in Bush's presidency.

Sarah Silverman on Obama

Check out the video Sarah Silverman made for the Jewish Council for Education & Research: www.thegreatschlep.com/site/index.html.

There are 110 days remaining in Bush's presidency.

Blondie

Wow, it's been awhile since I wrote anything in this space. Things have calmed down quite a bit since we moved and got settled.

We saw "Jack's Third Show" this past Saturday, which featured Twisted Sister, Blondie, Billy Idol, Devo, REO Speedwagon, and a a couple other hilarious bands. Good times. We were backstage for the entire show thanks to Matt being Blondie's keyboard player on their last world tour.

Will Congress do something this week, or are we headed for "The Great Depression: The Sequel"?

There are 111 days remaining in Bush's presidency.

Condo

Our housing "crisis" is almost over. We just purchased a condo here in Long Beach and move at the end of the month. It's a great place in a spectacular location just two blocks from the beach and about a mile from downtown. Want to help us move? Yeah, that's what I thought.

If you haven't been there yet, check out the Novo Web site and feel free to post any comments about the site here. I've been thinking about adding a blog to start blogging about copywriting, marketing, etc. Any thoughts?

There are 157 days remaining in Bush's presidency.

Check Me Out on LinkedIn

Anybody want to connect with me on LinkedIn? Check out my Novo profile and other info and be my super cool new friend.

Oasis Underground

Interesting news on the et cetera et cetera front: "Thomas Edison Was a Really Cool Guy" was selected to be on Oasis' Underground Volume VIII Radio Sampler CD, which is sent to radio people and so-called "industry insiders." I'm not expecting to be heard on the radio anytime soon. I'm not that delusional. Really, I'm not. It's just cool to be included on the CD.

Hey, if you're cool you'll be the first to write a review of et cetera et cetera on http://cdbaby.com/cd/scottsiders. But you can't write a review if you haven't bought the double CD yet. Be a pal and do that now: http://www.geocities.com/sssiders/store_page.html.

Thanks for all of your continued support. I owe you dinner, or at least a margarita.


There are 203 days remaining in Bush's presidency.

The New Farm

Down the road to the new farm

a busted Ford truck in the ditch

and above it a circling of birds.

The red rusted frame is a backdrop

for a picture we’ll never take—

the geese, those vulture imposters

gray and swooping in pairs, eyeing

the heap—the wreck finally even

an eyesore for them. When we

approach, they stream slovenly away

to the new farm, our shoes

dusting up the dry, the old rutted road

a shortcut to the new farm.

Our walking and summer sweat

are reasons for mosquitoes, flying

unafraid—their kamikaze missions.

One wasp, wings humming up

the drum, cuts its way through and finds

its airstrip on your bare shoulder.

Luckily fingers were built

for flicking. We walk on, saving

our breath for the new farm.

A crash and suddenly rain, the edge

of today’s storm pushing past

the slow hills, the sun

a thing to cower from. At the last

curve before the new farm, a dog

is dying. It’s not too late to pick

his busted body up, to carry what blood

he has against my chest.

There is no hastening in our step.

Ahead the dust is swirling

around the new farm. The workmen

are out of some painting—their blue jeans

tight and creased, their white shirts

so bright they might just catch fire.

Even the hats are clean at the new farm.

We deliver the dead dog

to the best-dressed-man

and he turns in disgust when he sees us.

Something muffled escapes under

your breath, a quiet hate or pride

falling from your mouth.

A few of the men come at us as if

they were shooing birds.

The best-dressed-man picks out

my gaze, my grimace, my grimy

ideas that he’s certain are good

for nothing. He pulls his gun

and places it harmlessly at his side.

He is not bent on murder, and means

no harm, just as we are not

meant there. Grandfather must have done

some talking some years before.

His voice is silent now, but his will

still echoes in what was built here.

The best-dressed-man plays

his game of chance with a dead man

over which is the true martyr

and it is only for the slow, swarming

and constantly growing seasons

to decide now. The best-dressed-man

places the gun in his holster, grunts

and smirks as he turns away.

He has won, but the spoils are shady.

Our long walk back begins, our new

dead dog a passenger, a hostage.

Where the weeds meet the old Ford

we stop and fit our bodies in its bed.

We say nothing. The dog is a witness.

Stars emerge from their own pick-up trucks

and show themselves. We’re steeped

in the blood of the dog, wind smooth

and running these fields, our home

up there in the balance. Night becomes

early morning. We leave the truck

holding the dog. I silently wonder

if there is something we could have done.

Finally we find our way and our feet

hit the old road away from the new farm.

It seems like one of us should

say something, but the wind, in every

trite way possible, blows up loudly

around us. The mosquitoes are ferocious

at the splintered gate, and suddenly

I come to, alert and ready

for anything, like he would have been

all those years ago in that horrible war.

My words are sharp and quick:

“Here we go again, alive and sinning—

blindly searching for reasons

where only relativity makes any sense.”

There are 234 days remaining in Bush's presidency.

"Musings of a Cockfighting Enthusiast" Wins . . . Something

Members of www.GarageBand.com voted "Musings of a Cockfighting Enthusiast" as the "Best Male Vocals" AND "Most Original Song" AND "Best Lyrics" in the spoken word genre. Check it out here: http://www.garageband.com/artist/ScottSiders.

Check out the entire spoken word double CD at www.scottsiders.com.


There are 249 days remaining in Bush's presidency.