tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57997695609803716782024-03-13T05:35:32.904-06:00m. zagst, fiction guywriter and actor Michael Zagst,
member of The Texas Institute of Letters
and The Screen Actors GuildMSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799769560980371678.post-33254140446504075692015-07-15T11:58:00.000-05:002015-07-15T12:06:09.618-05:00acting reel<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">my acting demo</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">copy and paste to watch</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5VZWdMVRco</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
MSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799769560980371678.post-43475877637491003612015-03-19T09:04:00.000-06:002015-03-19T09:05:02.300-06:00The Dallas International Film Festival<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Divine Access </i>will be at the Dallas International Film Festival on April 13 and 14. Should be loads of fun. Tickets are on sale now.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="" href="http://secure.dallasfilm.org/festivalfeature/id/23871675209902286" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;">http://secure.dallasfilm.org/festivalfeature/id/23871675209902286</a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xdj4mxRtLmE/VQrk9Kzx-_I/AAAAAAAAAQs/ym4zQyMExOY/s1600/Divine.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xdj4mxRtLmE/VQrk9Kzx-_I/AAAAAAAAAQs/ym4zQyMExOY/s1600/Divine.jpeg" height="360" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<br />MSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799769560980371678.post-88856109260961366592015-02-15T07:47:00.001-06:002015-02-15T07:49:10.766-06:00Divine Access coming soon<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Believe what you want to believe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My movie <i>Divine Access</i> has a brand new divine web site as it prepares to launch. Read all about it...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: Helvetica;" type="cite">
<div class="" style="-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; word-wrap: break-word;">
<a class="" href="http://www.divineaccessmovie.com/#"><span style="font-size: large;">http://www.divineaccessmovie.com/#</span></a></div>
</blockquote>
<a href="http://www.divineaccessmovie.com/" style="clear: left; color: #e7d0ba; display: inline !important; float: left; font-size: 0px; line-height: 1; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Divine Access" src="http://static1.squarespace.com/static/54cc1e2fe4b09efd39bbe31f/t/54d2867ee4b08b02e24d2ea0/1423204746524/?format=1500w" height="320" style="border: 0px; height: auto; max-width: 140px; width: 140px;" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<header id="header" role="banner" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; left: 0px; line-height: 1em; padding: 0px 30px; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 1360px; z-index: 1002;"><div class="header-inner" id="yui_3_17_2_1_1424007848738_1203" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: auto; padding: 30px 0px; width: 1300px;">
<div class="tmpl-loading positioned" id="headerNav" style="-webkit-transition: opacity 0.3s ease-out; box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 53px; margin-left: 14px; margin-top: -87px; transition: opacity 0.3s ease-out; vertical-align: middle;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</header>MSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799769560980371678.post-23152678280922968662014-10-30T09:17:00.001-06:002014-10-30T09:17:22.673-06:00dog language<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Someone once told me that dogs understand every word that you tell them. I didn't really believe that - until I got Fletcher. And being a Jack Russell must mean that, when he appears not to listen, he's actually just ignoring me.</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx-f8sGhiGnjGEmhAjXN-UgOfiVpHkfemHGxAd6qf-ShKsM-oIxAKpEV31RZZrCWmuha2ZztiwNYOcsbzuyFA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
MSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799769560980371678.post-60392232167042584092014-09-28T19:16:00.000-05:002014-09-28T19:16:05.798-05:00The Confederate Dead<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the grounds of the Texas Capitol is a memorial to the Texas soldiers and sailors who were killed in The Civil War. The text on the monument goes on and on about state's rights as guaranteed in the US Constitution, and how these brave men took up arms against their homeland to assert these rights. The right to own slaves is not mentioned on the plaque.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">But the memorial does have a great tableau of statues. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The figures do more for the memory of those who fought than any differences those sides might have had - differences both sides </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">took with them to their graves.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EO1npLYbSOk/VCikeQNdBHI/AAAAAAAAAQE/raR8594dyBQ/s1600/IMG_1250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EO1npLYbSOk/VCikeQNdBHI/AAAAAAAAAQE/raR8594dyBQ/s1600/IMG_1250.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>MSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799769560980371678.post-72289397551524326912014-08-27T15:49:00.001-05:002014-08-27T21:23:41.768-05:00Tai Chi<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just a reminder that I've had Fletcher two years now. He continues to be a playful, energetic, great little guy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of his finest moments happened while I walked him in the park, off-leash. Six or eight people were performing their tai chi exercise, doing that slow motion zen stuff. Fletcher did not like the looks of them, moving their arms and legs and torsos with just slightly more animation than a tree. The sight of them just didn't sit right with him, and he sounded the alarm, barking like crazy, warning anyone else nearby to stay away from these slow motion people. (Fletcher has also barked at statues.) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I leashed him up and got him out of there. Then I told him he was a good dog.</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rLJX7Zx9r3Y/U_5EDQlv6MI/AAAAAAAAAP0/x77EiEV7kIE/s1600/IMG_0969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rLJX7Zx9r3Y/U_5EDQlv6MI/AAAAAAAAAP0/x77EiEV7kIE/s1600/IMG_0969.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
MSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799769560980371678.post-49497123746873399532014-08-09T10:11:00.000-05:002014-08-09T21:29:48.670-05:00Divine Access<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A screenplay that I began 12 years ago wrapped production at the end of May. It was an idea that started with Steven Prince, the first couple of drafts written by me. Steve went to work on the script then. At one point, our work won first place in the Santa Barbara Screenplay competition. Nice to have the recognition, but the studios and production companies were not kicking down our doors to throw money at our feet. But Steve always pushed it, uphill much of the time. He ended up directing it.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Divine Access</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, starring Billy Burke, Gary Cole, Patrick Warburton, Dora Madison, and Joel David Moore. Adrienne Barbeau has a nice part in it as well. The cinematographer was Julie Kirkwood, who made the whole thing look just beautiful. As a bonus, I was cast in a role, playing a hayseed who has a near death experience after choking on a hot dog. </span></div>
</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Currently, </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Divine Access </i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">is in post-production. </span></div>
</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Inspired by this taste of acting again, I was motivated to update my head shot:</span></div>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pl8_WYsA4jU/U-Y50eLB9fI/AAAAAAAAAPk/4XP8iPVEzPs/s1600/headshot+2014+jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pl8_WYsA4jU/U-Y50eLB9fI/AAAAAAAAAPk/4XP8iPVEzPs/s1600/headshot+2014+jpg.jpg" height="400" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>MSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799769560980371678.post-13373879667548368822014-06-25T17:44:00.001-05:002014-06-25T18:04:56.005-05:00<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking through my Cuba photos from a year ago, this is one of my favorites. I shot it with the iPad mini, out a vehicle window, a quick draw and shoot. So, it's not technically the best. But look at the magic hour colors, the decaying architecture, the driver heading into the sun in a classic car. Yeah, even the hat is cool...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Click on the photo to enlarge it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BH3ULB_6ges/U6tQfkOepcI/AAAAAAAAAOs/nqeISI-ITEI/s1600/Cuba+magic+hour.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BH3ULB_6ges/U6tQfkOepcI/AAAAAAAAAOs/nqeISI-ITEI/s1600/Cuba+magic+hour.JPG" height="288" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
MSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799769560980371678.post-36204861010562433372014-06-06T13:37:00.001-05:002014-06-06T16:12:05.901-05:00corrected format<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was pointed out to me that the books of mine that had appeared in hardcover had been uploaded onto Amazon Kindle in a format that was haywire, jumbled, crazy, bewildering...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I went through the three novels, line by line, and corrected the format. The work does look good now, and reading through the stories again, I found quite a bit that I liked. The novels still hold up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you go to my Kindle page (click on a book cover up above), you can then click on an individual book for a free preview. Even if you decide not to purchase one at a bargain rate, I hope you enjoy the free samples.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7RgsoaVmgW8/U5IKA7leUOI/AAAAAAAAANc/uTpJlTuoX44/s1600/book+covers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7RgsoaVmgW8/U5IKA7leUOI/AAAAAAAAANc/uTpJlTuoX44/s1600/book+covers.jpg" height="185" width="400" /></span></a></div>
MSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799769560980371678.post-400242069350195192014-05-04T10:55:00.002-05:002014-06-27T11:23:02.588-05:00<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since I'm beginning to get some credits listed on imdb.com, I tried uploading an image for that web site to use - various photos from productions, older headshots. But imdb does not seem to want to publish them. Here they are anyway:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a headshot</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Tm0_Yk-Guo/U2ZheHR4eoI/AAAAAAAAAME/-rJxxX2fAx8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-05-04+at+10.38.17+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Tm0_Yk-Guo/U2ZheHR4eoI/AAAAAAAAAME/-rJxxX2fAx8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-05-04+at+10.38.17+AM.jpg" height="400" width="366" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a frame from Fight Club</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KeedXgzPf-0/U2ZhswrUt-I/AAAAAAAAAMM/mSLhtChyXfQ/s1600/fc.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KeedXgzPf-0/U2ZhswrUt-I/AAAAAAAAAMM/mSLhtChyXfQ/s1600/fc.png" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">growing my beard out for a western</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sFgD0vxkP5E/U2ZiXJ_aH-I/AAAAAAAAAMU/DEJyw3Rsio0/s1600/Zagst+4-10-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sFgD0vxkP5E/U2ZiXJ_aH-I/AAAAAAAAAMU/DEJyw3Rsio0/s1600/Zagst+4-10-10.jpg" height="400" width="360" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">a clean-shaven headshot</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--yfSBqaZfP4/U2Zi7N0m6jI/AAAAAAAAAMc/4A2rs2NrVUQ/s1600/Michael_Zagst_2_SAG-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--yfSBqaZfP4/U2Zi7N0m6jI/AAAAAAAAAMc/4A2rs2NrVUQ/s1600/Michael_Zagst_2_SAG-1.jpg" height="400" width="376" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />MSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799769560980371678.post-11123137926038456332014-01-16T08:50:00.000-06:002014-01-16T08:50:00.919-06:00Sundrawn art<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This entire area was swept clean a couple of months ago when Shoal Creek flooded, leaving nothing around the tree trunks except newly deposited gravel. Earlier this week, a kind of art installation appeared. Reminiscent of the old wood-burning kits, images have been burned onto logs using only the sun and a magnifying glass. The logs are standing on end for now. They seem too heavy and bulky for anyone to walk away with one of them. Sooner or later, though, the creek will claim them. Months or years from now, the sundrawn art might be a part of the debris piled up in the next flood.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/LxOub1uV0J4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />MSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799769560980371678.post-28990065925396686832013-10-11T11:32:00.001-05:002014-01-16T10:18:40.153-06:00Fletcher at the park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bg6ygpXi17Y/UlgnBFwyHmI/AAAAAAAAAKU/Sv4zj8cZLKA/s1600/IMG_0940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bg6ygpXi17Y/UlgnBFwyHmI/AAAAAAAAAKU/Sv4zj8cZLKA/s320/IMG_0940.JPG" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">My routine with Fletcher has developed into taking him into Pease Park across the street about an hour before dark. He has had his dinner, and he has learned that it's the last romp of the day...which means he feels free to completely ignore any suggestion or command from me. Such is the temperament of a terrier.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Here's a three-minute illustration:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/qoHem775oXU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
MSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799769560980371678.post-46026395455022515742013-09-07T10:56:00.000-05:002013-09-07T10:58:24.428-05:00an appreciation of Strother Martin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">This is a clip from Hard Times (1975), featuring the great character actor Strother Martin. Usually cast as prairie trash, derelicts and deviants, he is unusually dapper here in the company of James Coburn. Playing a sidekick by the name of Poe (thus the reference to the poet), Strother could well be channeling Tennessee Williams. Wouldn't that have been something? Strother Martin as Big Daddy, or even Williams himself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyXWLY-E-EHSim-H3lAwpRyXyAVasQoO_JNboaQlkubD8mA1ZN75N2q00yp6Y3BOD_QyyR2pf3C_qmHzcZiNQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>MSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799769560980371678.post-64485348306227485652013-06-30T17:37:00.002-05:002013-06-30T17:37:56.799-05:00<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>67</o:Words>
<o:Characters>385</o:Characters>
<o:Company>self</o:Company>
<o:Lines>3</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>472</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";">I've been posting
videos of my trip to Cuba on my youtube channel, "msz1923". They
should number more than thirty by the time I'm done. Some of them are very
brief - well under a minute. But they're kind of interesting and informative
little glimpses at any length. This one is a Santeria dance, whose origin is a
combination of of African and Caribbean culture. The cave is the location where
runaway and escaped slaves hid out, in the Viñales area east of Havana. Here is the youtube link to it:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PGhogLIX9c<br />
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><span id="goog_1740955338"></span><span id="goog_1740955339"></span><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->MSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799769560980371678.post-38072661433468892142013-06-18T11:08:00.001-05:002013-06-18T11:08:12.002-05:00Cuba's Vintage Cars<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I am putting together an ebook of photos that I took in Cuba of the vintage cars there. Barring computer glitches, and a minimum of procrastination, look for it on Amazon by the end of the month...</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UEeZ7kQV5gE/UcCFuJY9zyI/AAAAAAAAAJs/wrFf3nb6HNM/s1600/red+car.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UEeZ7kQV5gE/UcCFuJY9zyI/AAAAAAAAAJs/wrFf3nb6HNM/s320/red+car.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0vYRlxk2NaI/UcCFZOjj8BI/AAAAAAAAAJo/hvVxTSeUDUY/s1600/IMG_0400+-+Version+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0vYRlxk2NaI/UcCFZOjj8BI/AAAAAAAAAJo/hvVxTSeUDUY/s320/IMG_0400+-+Version+3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
MSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799769560980371678.post-81084982152644800732013-06-13T10:21:00.001-05:002013-06-13T10:23:39.696-05:00Cuba<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">My week Cuba was remarkable. Very friendly people. And with their lack of amenities, it was a rarity to see anyone fiddling with a cell phone or blackberry, stumbling around focused on the device in their fingertips. I loved it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">A couple of street artists sketched caricatures of me. I particularly like the first one - such an economy of lines, how the cheek becomes the glasses, the glasses become the forehead - all done in a few seconds. They draw on a scrap of poster paper, hand it over to you, and ask for nothing. Of course, you give them something for their effort.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tvdURSwIQuE/Ubnhpi7s_8I/AAAAAAAAAJI/YrsuUjdia-k/s1600/caricature+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tvdURSwIQuE/Ubnhpi7s_8I/AAAAAAAAAJI/YrsuUjdia-k/s320/caricature+1.png" width="282" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">The second artist was on the following day...</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BCBDduGEQRI/Ubni9E2nD5I/AAAAAAAAAJU/7yXippgxvZw/s1600/caricature+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BCBDduGEQRI/Ubni9E2nD5I/AAAAAAAAAJU/7yXippgxvZw/s320/caricature+2.png" width="274" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Take a look at my youtube channel, "msz1923" for videos of Cuba that I'm gradually putting up...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span id="goog_1303108316"></span><span id="goog_1303108317"></span></span></div>
MSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799769560980371678.post-90241982811029995162013-03-26T09:22:00.001-06:002013-04-08T18:40:13.295-05:00The Last Man in Paradise<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Rescued from a storage box beneath my bed, I have just posted a neglected novel on Amazon Kindle. Available for the first time, and at the bargain basement price of $3.98, it's <b>The Last Man in Paradise</b>. If, like me, you do not have a Kindle device, download the free app for your laptop or iPad. It works just fine that way too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My Amazon Kindle page:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=Michael+Zagst</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HfhIF_2jFfM/UVG9H4LqcOI/AAAAAAAAAIY/1cSGm2m6JuY/s1600/final+final+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HfhIF_2jFfM/UVG9H4LqcOI/AAAAAAAAAIY/1cSGm2m6JuY/s320/final+final+cover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
MSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799769560980371678.post-24385066181389220312012-08-16T09:18:00.001-05:002012-09-21T09:51:56.413-05:00Fletcher The Dog<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've gotten a new roommate, courtesy of Russell Rescue, Inc. As roommates go, you couldn't ask for much more. He's respectful of my property, housebroken, crate trained, neutered, and microchipped. Best of all, Fletcher is not aggressive with other dogs. Terriers do have to be outwitted from time to time, but it's clear that he's a good one.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oVsRY4fnIO4/UC0ALRAfR7I/AAAAAAAAAH8/ZEmmSCfTYbk/s1600/Fletcher+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oVsRY4fnIO4/UC0ALRAfR7I/AAAAAAAAAH8/ZEmmSCfTYbk/s320/Fletcher+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fletcher</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And here he is in action, star of The Fletcher The Dog Show, Fletcher the dog:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwmOFQCvfMiDeZy7drZS0jf4Iw9CZjl6luiydJCpPEDTX34oAnvL_XeinuQy33eEp2Z5qjsGURiE6EK_n7AtQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
MSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799769560980371678.post-48220673774163131002012-07-06T15:04:00.001-05:002012-07-09T08:37:10.740-05:00In Scotland<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">I was recently reading
the journal/diary my that my grandfather kept when he enlisted in the navy in World War 1. He wasn't very educated or sophisticated, or travelled, and most of the entries
just listed the drudgery of military routine - standing watch, washing his
laundry, receiving letters from home, but rarely revealing their contents. Now
and then, a detail cropped up that was intriguing, perhaps because the
specifics were so lacking:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">--On Lake Michigan, at
the Great Lakes Naval station, he saw snow falling for the first time. He was
25 years old.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">--An officer in one of
the Great Lakes barracks went insane, and had to be restrained and taken away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">--Theodore
Roosevelt addressed the assembled troops on the parade ground. But he was too
far away for my grandfather to photograph him clearly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">--The sailor running the ship store was caught stealing, and was put in the brig on a ration of bread and water.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">--On the Atlantic, homeward bound, escaping the crowded hammocks and stuffy air
below, he slept on the deck of his battleship, the USS Delaware. During the crossing, he spotted a
two-masted schooner, and a whale.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">--While
overseas, the ship and crew of the Delaware were inspected by the king of
England.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pcN5wjZ6IaU/T_dDQKJYCvI/AAAAAAAAAHU/fxrZP5TrSIw/s1600/the+king.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pcN5wjZ6IaU/T_dDQKJYCvI/AAAAAAAAAHU/fxrZP5TrSIw/s640/the+king.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Queen Elizabeth's grandfather</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">The
one incident I could picture clearly was when he was granted a twelve-hour shore
leave off the coast of Scotland, while the Delaware was at anchor in the Firth
of Forth. He decided with his brother, who was assigned to the same ship, to
walk three miles into the town of Dumfermline. On the way, the two of them were caught in the open in a sudden
rainfall. They took shelter beneath a bridge, and talked to each other for a
couple of hours, about the folks back home, about their shipmates, how lucky they were not to be in the trenches, and all the
events that had brought them to this place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">When
the rain cleared enough to continue their walk, they bought post cards and
tobacco, and found a photo studio where they had their portraits done in
traditional Scottish garb.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7PHwmKJTqU/T_dnga1JonI/AAAAAAAAAHw/_4zePC-DNPM/s1600/kilt.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y7PHwmKJTqU/T_dnga1JonI/AAAAAAAAAHw/_4zePC-DNPM/s640/kilt.png" width="388" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">my grandfather</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fv4cZGtJfz4/T_dmd5gg1EI/AAAAAAAAAHo/mOrQqZY_wCU/s1600/uncle+in+kilt.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fv4cZGtJfz4/T_dmd5gg1EI/AAAAAAAAAHo/mOrQqZY_wCU/s640/uncle+in+kilt.png" width="366" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">my great uncle</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">They
found the local YMCA, where they were given doughnuts and coffee. My grandfather, the one in the upper photo, played the piano there until it was time to make the walk back to the Delaware.</span><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><o:p></o:p></span></div>MSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799769560980371678.post-63286250725561073482012-05-24T12:25:00.000-05:002012-05-24T12:29:07.560-05:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">I stopped near Smithville on a drive from Austin to Houston yesterday. This is an overpass over the Colorado River. Too many swallow nests to count. They line the concrete, protected from the elements by the overhang. Laid end to end, both sides of the two overpasses would probably stretch for a mile, at least. Nice engineering on each nest, too.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Let's say each foot of concrete has five nests, packed with mud and grass like adobe. 5280 feet times 5 is 26,400 nests. Each nests will hatch 4 to 7 eggs. Call it 5 hatches. Two adults plus five hatchlings comes to 158,000 birds.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">And then you come to the next overpass, less than a mile away.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">(click to enlarge)</span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IqEY7xc8biY/T75ur5vUoEI/AAAAAAAAAG4/jkCtpwmoqZc/s1600/IMG_1678.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IqEY7xc8biY/T75ur5vUoEI/AAAAAAAAAG4/jkCtpwmoqZc/s320/IMG_1678.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uUQmPIELmgI/T75uwOkiAoI/AAAAAAAAAHA/Ix6XcgBci6M/s1600/IMG_1679.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uUQmPIELmgI/T75uwOkiAoI/AAAAAAAAAHA/Ix6XcgBci6M/s320/IMG_1679.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gABoP9xEmRg/T75uzbCV4sI/AAAAAAAAAHI/_V9iZ-od8XU/s1600/IMG_1680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gABoP9xEmRg/T75uzbCV4sI/AAAAAAAAAHI/_V9iZ-od8XU/s320/IMG_1680.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><br /></span></div>MSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799769560980371678.post-91534840645528730532012-05-11T21:29:00.001-05:002012-05-11T21:29:31.395-05:00The most recent short film I worked on has been posted on line. Nice little production, which I attribute to the writer/director Kael Elliott.<br />
<br />
http://vimeo.com/41922691MSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799769560980371678.post-40662010657260771292012-03-14T09:52:00.002-06:002012-03-18T21:00:54.768-06:00Winnipeg, ManitobaI worked on a music video recently - "Winnipeg, Manitoba," by The Guns of Navarone. They wanted a Grandpa type. See it at: gonavarone.com.<br />
<br />
Not a bad band, them Guns<br />
===================================<br />
Also, look way in the background behind Meat Loaf and Edward Norton in the photo from Fight Club below.<br />
That's yours truly in the support group scene. Six days hugging each other was enough, thank you.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5NiM1Ft2K_g/T2C-prBWK4I/AAAAAAAAAGw/adj9wc64yAM/s1600/Fight+Club_meatloaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5NiM1Ft2K_g/T2C-prBWK4I/AAAAAAAAAGw/adj9wc64yAM/s320/Fight+Club_meatloaf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>MSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799769560980371678.post-28897042438194224732012-03-08T18:20:00.004-06:002012-03-10T09:59:42.484-06:00The Few, The Proud, The Loud<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">I had an opportunity to speak with a representative of the Marine Corps earlier today. I tape recorded the conversation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">============================================<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">--Good afternoon. R.O.T.C.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">(MZ)Hello. Are you involved with the group doing calesthenics in Pease Park this morning?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">--Yes, we have Marine ROTC here. Yes, I do believe they were out at Pease Park this morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">(MZ) I went outside during the drills this morning at about a quarter to six. And, non-confrontationally, I said, “You know, people are trying to sleep here.” And one guy got up in my face screaming, “We have provided the freedom that allows you to sleep. I suggest you get back in your house.” Now, this is not the kind of behavior that I think appropriate in dealing with the public.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">--Mm hmm.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">(MZ) Do you know who is involved in that at all? Is there someone around who is in charge of that exercise drill?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">--Um, yes. What is your name, sir?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">(MZ) Michael Zagst.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">--Just a moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto played while I was on hold.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">--Hello, sir? Thanks for holding. I’m going to transfer you to Major Kopke, and he can help you now.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">(MZ) Major who?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">--Kopke.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">(MZ) Thanks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">--Sure.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">(Major Kopke) Good morning. This is Kopke.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">(MZ) Hi, Major. This is Michael Zagst. I live across the street where the Marine R.O.T.C. has been doing their morning calesthenics. Do you know anything about them being out there this morning?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">(Major K.) I do, sir. I know that they were out there this morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">(MZ) I went out there about six, after they had been out there awhile, and just wanted to, I don’t know, to see who they were, for one thing. What I said was, not confrontationally, to one person was, you know, people are trying to sleep here. He got inches away from my face, shouting, “We provide the freedom for you to be able to sleep. I suggest you get back in your house.” And they were all carrying assault rifles, and I thought, I don’t want to be arguing with this guy out here. I just don’t think that’s appropriate behavior in dealing with the public, and wanted to see if y’all are going to continue to exercise out there, or what the deal is.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">(Major K.) I agree with you one hundred percent, sir, and that’s been tended to this morning, after the fact. You’re right. It’s inappropriate. We do plan to continue out there infrequently. I think we probably exercise out there once or twice a semester.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">(MZ) It’s been three times in the last six days.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">(Major K.) Three times in the last six days? Really?<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">(MZ) Last Thursday and Friday, and this morning, Thursday. So, eight days.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">(Major K.) That’s news to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">(MZ) I just wanted to see…I don’t understand, really. I could have been a veteran of Hill 935 in Vietnam, but why even argue the point? Why bring it up? I could have been nobody. I could have been a janitor for the past fifty years. It shouldn’t matter.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">(Major K.) Sir, absolutely.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">(MZ) So, I hope you take appropriate measures to where it doesn’t disturb the neighborhood, at least.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">(Major K.) I don’t think that’s going to happen again. I met this morning, and we’ve definitely dealt with that. And I absolutely understand your concerns. You are one hundred percent right. That’s not </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">supposed to happen, and that’s not the right way to handle business.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">(MZ) Thanks for letting me know.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">(Major K.) Oh, absolutely. And if there’s anything else you need, please give us a call.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">(MZ) I will. Thanks.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">(Major K.) Have a good day. Bye-bye.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>MSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799769560980371678.post-65117195483475982432012-01-04T21:45:00.003-06:002012-01-05T09:35:50.696-06:00Michele Bachmann Turns Into Pillar of Salt!After claiming her run for the Republican nomination was on instructions from God, Michele Bachmann has pulled herself from the race. She thanked her supporters and staff, stepped outside into the fresh Iowa air, and promptly turned into a pillar of salt.<br />
<br />
Rick Perry, finishing just ahead of Bachmann in the Iowa caucus, and also claiming to be God's candidate, has decided after witnessing Bachmann's divine punishment, that fifth place was strong enough to continue on to South Carolina.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d4aHuZGICXQ/TwUb7l02-oI/AAAAAAAAAGg/y92XQ-tCGBw/s1600/saly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d4aHuZGICXQ/TwUb7l02-oI/AAAAAAAAAGg/y92XQ-tCGBw/s320/saly.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>MSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5799769560980371678.post-55153098514595097622011-11-15T17:53:00.001-06:002011-11-15T17:54:23.254-06:00The Lighter Side of Dick Cheney<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1s6qjX5J0yI/TsL7P3XKI-I/AAAAAAAAAGU/zhN4MEn6SvQ/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1s6qjX5J0yI/TsL7P3XKI-I/AAAAAAAAAGU/zhN4MEn6SvQ/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Now that Dick Cheney’s memoirs have been published, he’s back at home, devoting himself to house training a new puppy…twenty more water board sessions ought to do it.</span></div>MSZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12597879540047863738noreply@blogger.com0