CHUMP CHANGE (ACTUALLY, JUST THE OPPOSITE)

Saturn picture.

Stefan Stern on underappreciated management thinker Russ Ackoff; next time I hit the library, I’ll track down Management f-Laws.

Do The Chump, yes do The Chump, chump (amusing myself, no offense intended)…my friends @TheWebFiles interviewed Jeremy Redleaf of Odd Job Nation last week so I checked out his show and darn funny. Watched all three episodes and by the time they were doing The Chump at the end, I wanted more.

James Altucher, yes James Altucher has not disappeared; he has immigrated from the FT to a column for the New York Post, Huffington Post and various other venues. You can also find him on Twitter.

And I’m in the middle of a conversation about Shakespeare with new Twitter friend @feignedmischief who reviews plays and other fancies here.

So, this’ll have to cover you for a bit…TV reviews later. The Big Bang Theory both hits and misses (or should I say fumbles) and has iCarly lost all of its charms in a cloud of mean mischief and shouting? You’ll want to know. Stay tuned.

ABSENCE OF ALTUCHER, PRESENCE OF PET SHOP BOYS

No James Altucher in the FT since mid-February and when I went in search of an on line Altucher outlet, bad things tried to download themselves into my computer…not happy about that at all. I assume it’s because he is, of course, popular among the finance crowd and they have financial information(and possibly actual finances) to abscond with. That’s why I preferred reading him on pink paper.

Pet Shop Boys interview cool, including this portion which I will read to my cast on Monday. I always like to share heartening glimpses of why comedy is important:

“It was Lowe, in his younger days, explaining that he believed music should be about “making people happy and having a good time”… “It’s a lot easier to make miserable music,” the keyboardist says, sitting on the sofa, Twittering gadget returned to his pocket. “To make uplifting pop or dance I think is one of the hardest things to do. To be in your bedroom and put some minor chords together and whinge – I think that’s the easy option. To write something like a great Motown record, which has built-in euphoria and changes your mood for the better – that’s really quite an achievement.”

The Pet Shop Boys tweet; I’m going to have to look them up. Speaking of Twittering bands, had a lot of fun last weekend chatting up @gomeztheband with @blinkkittylove. They’re on tour and it was great to have a bit of fun with TK, their big fan, unable to go to a concert. I’m going to have work Gomez into an animated episode. I did get to see them on Jimmy Fallon, which I may go downstairs and watch in a few minutes as Lauren Graham is on tonight and I do like Lauren Graham.

Fallon’s show wasn’t bad, although he seemed very uncomfortable with his suit. Loved The Roots — great band. Gomez did a tight version of Airstream Driver. Some day I hope to catch them in concert — me or the Blink Kitty Love crew. We’ve offered to meet them in a Scooby Doo cartoon.

Speaking of new talk shows, caught Chris Isaacs a couple of times…enjoyable; nice to see more music than just one number and I think the singers (Trisha Yearwood is the one I remember) responded to someone who knows the tour/concert life and the language.

Sarah Hemming profile of Rufus Norris is another of her perceptive looks into someone else’s life of the theatre that makes me feel not so alone — “often drawn to plays that shred his nerves” — this sort of comment is a reminder that the best sort of projects are the ones that give you the edge of a cliff poised to fall or fly feeling.

Hemming’s Dido, Queen of Carthage review puts that Marlowe play on my list to read (once I’m done with the Moliere and the Shakespeare.) Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus is one of the most intense reading experiences I’ve ever had, second to my reread of 1984 — at 20 so much more scary and possible than 12 — and even more now in this interactive and technological age.

Cool article today(yesterday) about Taiwanese Pili puppets, updated for television and science fiction action. Might have to track them down — youTube search maybe?

And now, please excuse me because I think I really must go see what Lauren Graham is up too, although if I had Lauren Graham and a production of Guys and Dolls to do, I would have cast her as Sky Masterson (it’s the kind of thing I do). She’d probably look great in the hat and smirk usually associated with the role.

I’D BUY A DRINK FOR…

Jan Dalley, whatever she wants, up to the limit of the $20 currently in my wallet. Peter Aspden’s back on the culture beat and I will enjoy his insights, but I must admit to having had a pleasant month without him. Ms. Dalley, pick your topic and your drink, if you’re ever in the lonelypond environs. Thoughtful insights on e-altruism, opportunity and the internet business model. Loved her Kate Winslet wit and taking her Darwin/Picasso tangent transit. Thanks for the ride.

Harry Eyres also has an open invitation. Here’s his column listing Crow Chief Plenty Coups third way between despair and glory. I think this is the sort of thing that would make me a better Taoist (I’m bad at the invisible part — yes, yes, I know, major paraphrase; I’m good at the distracted by 10,000 things part).

There’s been a lot of fashion coverage in the FT recently, good tight writing, mostly tight pants, lots of Vanessa Friedman, tons of pictures, but nothing that will help me come up with a clothing theme/direction for directing Moliere. It always helps to have a style in mind (well, minor riffing on the classic me, but rehearsal indoors instead of out, with parents who aren’t used to me so slightly more formal (no shorts)). I think this situation requires a new hat.

Interesting interview with French artist Annette Messager concerning her puppet/Pinocchio pieces.

Book reviews and profile of maverick scientist and Gaia theory originator James Lovelock. Fascinating stuff.

And that’s probably enough for now, although I was glad several weeks ago when Luke Johnson admitted that perhaps he had erred in ignoring age and guile.

And I would, of course, buy Mr. Altucher or Ms. Hemming the drink of their choice any time they choose to call in my marker.

And now to sleep and dream of robots and bands and kittens and misers and jazz and if any of it is in French, I may be back. Bon nuit.

QUICK REVIEWS

Good to see the Vanessa Hudgens/Zac Efron contribution to the musical’s revival acknowledged by including them in the Oscar ceremony…would that there had been more singing and dancing by Beyonce and the High School Musical folks and less by Hugh Jackman.

Bought the HSM 3 DVD and enjoyed it; Flash is still fondest of the second, but she did trot in happy and/or worried a couple of times. Really big, well done numbers..a little too big for the small screen, but still enjoyable. “Scream” sticks around as does “I Want It All;” this one not so memorable for the love songs.

And note to Disney: admit High School Musical, the phenomenon, is a miracle of perfect chemistry/timing and don’t wreck the buzz with a fourth. Thank you.

Nice to see Andy Richter on True Jackson…still funny stuff; main character still behaving randomly in the service of comedy, but not the worst sin.

Dadnapped…Phill Lewis rocks; Jason Earles not so much a believable dire villian…really liked that so much was shot outdoors. I sometimes think about putting down some movie ideas and then I think, well, here at Lonely Pond, we’re all about the natural lighting, how the heck am I going to do that outside? Emily Osment did a good job as did David Henrie, Moises Arias, et al but weak in the script department. Trip Traps fun. According to imdb news links, Dadnapped beat Spectacular in the ratings war 4.6 million to 3.3 million.

Hey, the new Miley Cyrus video “The Climb” really impressed us. Sounded good, looked like a CMT worthy production. Seems like Disney’s setting her up for launching a country crossover career and heck, she might be really good at it. So good work and good luck.

iCarly — Fred episode fun, although I agree with Freddie. Liked the ostrich; hated the Fred voices. iLook Alike looks like fun. Oh and there can always be more Gibby…best thing about Archuletta episode.

I think this’ll cover me for awhile. Next up, Shakespeare and the a few FT articles that might interest you, but as James Altucher said in his latest column, step away from the computer for awhile and go out and talk to people. On the way to lunch and try that out.

MONDAY CATCH ALL

Yes, I seem to work on the weekends…yes, I still read the Financial Times and I get my actual fun political news from @anamariecox — Twitter suits her. FT news: James Altucher is on a diet and rather grim about everyone else’s lack of willpower (which allows him to recommend gastric bypass related stocks); Peter Aspden is cracking the list of my favorite columnists as well as causing me to want to investigate the Manchester International Festival to see if I’ve done anything that suits…there was a cool article about bloggers/people meeting up and tossing ideas around but I cannot remember what the phrase describing it was so I can’t search for it…I still stop in the middle of a Sarah Hemming review/profile, look up at the byline and say yep, guessed it right.

Sonny With A Chance was hysterical — so very funny, so packed with physical comedy and yes, Demi Lovato does well but Tiffany Thornton is a find. So here’s hoping they continue the silliness — yes, yes, I know launch food with a catapult and I’m a happy critic, yes, yes, low brow…but wait until you see the food fight in Taming of The Shrew.

Crush Night on Nick kind of fun; David Archuletta seems like a nice guy. Good to see Max take the True Jackson spotlight but story a little forced.

Started writing today whether or not I find the darn misplaced manuscript and GOOD NEWS, Withoutabox has offered Roll With It an imdb title page so Gullible and Twitchy are preparing to launch themselves into the spotlight — now there’s an idea for an animation; I’ll let you know when it’s up.

Trying to work some Twitter/Creative Commons music synergy with @AdamSinger at The Future Buzz and get the Gullible and Twitchy skateboarding video together.

Oh, and although we usually don’t deal in rumors, and never in the dating and/or cat fight type, blogs are mention Vanessa Hudgens auditioning for a role in the Twilight sequel. Now, that might get me to see it. She handled the action in Thunderbirds well, looks exotic enough to pass for native American and could use an opportunity to show off her range, which I believe she has. Next up for her though, BandSlam.

And that’s it for this Monday. Off to lunch and etc., then a play reading meeting(theatre sabbatical officially over as of Saturday when I sat in the theatre and considered Miser set options), then The Big Bang Theory and reading the FT Weekend while Gayle watches Top Gear. It’s a good Monday night; try it sometime. And now I have a lunch date. Cheers.

LEADERSHIP + DIVERSITY + DIRECTING

Well Stefan Stern completes my FT writer triumvirate. In a column earlier this week, he discusses leadership and how 1955 British Army notes on leadership given to him by a current “Captain of Industry” are still valid today. This is the kind of business column I find most useful, as general leadership notes also apply to leadership in the arts in general and directing in specific. Yes, artistic flair, creativity and genius are great things to have in your quiver when facing a room full of actors, but so is a schedule that will allow for enough rehearsals with some time built in for the scenes that just aren’t working. People underestimate the potential of pragmatism in the arts.

After casting, which is crucial and an art, the next step is scheduling. The Norton Directing Program is a three stepper: pick great play (or at least a play with some vitality), put the right actors in the right parts, and stay out of the way (this last bit actually does require work as first you have to make sure everyone’s pointed to the appropriate compass direction).

Back to Stern and his notes on notes on leadership — Stern distills books and conversations into solid principles that I can ponder without getting lost in business speak. What I’m currently reviewing is remembering to pay more attention to the individual — not necessarily in direct interaction, but by breaking down strengths and concerns as you do for scenes or lines; often you have to decide if a problem needs to be solved on a group level or an individual one and if you judge wrongly, things get more tangled.

To effectively discuss the world and politics, not only do you need a grasp of economics and politics, but you also need to be conversant in Disney. John Gapper uses High School Musical 3 to chide the Republicans for their lack of understanding of the electorate.

The War Requiem review reminded me of Ian Bostridge’s expressive tenor so I am currently in search of the Bostridge CD I acquired many many shows ago to provide a little masculine energy for Vita and Virginia; this will probably cause the unearthing of several CDs I’ve been half remembering to look for. Fun.

Oh, and another member of my FT triumvirate, James Altucher, has released his latest book into the world — The Forever Portfolio. How to be Berkshire Hathway at home seems to be the theme.

ALTUCHER AGAIN

Well, I keep thinking this is the week I won’t mention Mr. Altucher and yet, he keeps saying things that I agree with, like don’t spend $100,000 on business school, spend $20,00, start a business and meet people. I thought the same thing about making a movie — but with fewer zeroes. Plus, he lists a few stocks to buy — including Disney, which I probably would if Gayle didn’t have that signed piece of paper. I am a bit appalled by the never voting though. And now I am going to cease the sharing of my opinions with the public and have a private lunch. Enjoy your afternoon/evening.

FINANCIAL TALK

What to title this one? Yes, I’ve been affected too — parts of Gayle’s 401K lost 40+% of their value and my brother just got laid off from his construction job. Fortunately, I moved a large % of the 401K into boring bonds before the financial crisis broke, but now we are back to investing in the mutual funds purchasing American and European stocks — the theory being here’s the opportunity to buy in cheap — and we came to this conclusion without needing the stern lecture from Mr. Warren “Snowball” Buffet. It’s really the only conclusion to come to — do you have faith in the system or no. It seems to me from my perusal of the Financial Times and The Economist that the bulk of the world’s finances seem to be run by people unable to maintain their course or keep their lunch down in the face of bumpy weather — it’s sad, greed induced ethical crisis turns into crisis of confidence turns into genuine world shaking hoard your gold under the mattress apocalypse and all a person can think is, have bankers and stockbrokers ever really earned their pay?

James Altucher turns out a serious column to hearten those of us still taking a chance on capitalism.

The most cheerful thing so far about all of this is that Gayle took the news that the French Finance Minister has replaced the conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in the newspaper photo subjects that catch my eye category fairly well. She did frown at my offering to send Ms. Lagarde the French flag I inadvertently pastelled (and yes, it is possible to inadvertently pastel the French flag and if you’re really interested, I’ll tell you how.)

GOOGLE + ALTUCHER = JUNGLESMASH

Actually, I was falling into the insomniac trap of Googling lonelypond to see what odd places we end up and this led to the MyBlogLog James Altucher page which I shared with Louis Rull talking about Stephen J. Dubner talking about Altucher’s new idea — $2000 for the most creative Crest video. I assume this is one of those bad ideas that might turn into something, but for those of you with time, a Crest fetish and a need for 2 grand, here’s the JungleSmash link. Good luck…How about a Shakespeare JungleSmash next — he probably needs a new ad agency.

ALTERNATE WEDNESDAYS

Apparently, not only is there an alternate blog (welcome), an alternate office, but now there is alternate Wednesdays, the day when I can look forward to opening up my Tuesday Financial Times and reading James Altucher’s column.  

 Today, we have Warren Buffet, a cheerful bit about demographics and making money off funeral providers as well as the James Altucher method of writing a book. As he, unlike me, has actually been paid to write one, maybe I’ll try it…Let’s see — pick a theme I can get 100 small chapters out of — Creativity; first 25 chapters inspiration; second 25, movies and Shakespeare, third, persistence, and finally, how you can do it too. Throw in a little Machiavelli and Lao Tsu and voila. Or you can just read in In The Bleak December and encourage me to write a sequel so I can finally see where Sally and Jane end up. Meanwhile, maybe I’ll try to track down Altucher’s Buffet book. I seem to be in a business mood — next on my reading table is either Driving Change, a book about UPS or Peter Drucker’s Adventures of A Bystander — yes, while not on line yesterday, I went to the library, always a fun adventure.

P.S. Altucher’s pithy and I hope parodic how to write a book advice misses the most important point: The Catchy Title, something like Creativity, Forsooth for mine, I think.