My, what a lovely campaign (courtesy of Jimbo). Politics and sexuality and religion and all those other things that keep us apart aside, it's ultimately the connection we seek. Stay close indeed.

SXSW's schedule is also out. Come see come see!

David has returned and these are his adventures. Yes, drooling is allowed.

Congrats to Mr. McMahon for the premiere of his debut.

Michael's latest entry is another must-read. So is this interview.

For an absolutely guilt-free two hours of gasps and "did-you-see-that-shit??" , I highly recommend "Ong Bak." Tony Jaa has managed to miraculously top even some of Jackie Chan's earlier works.

I'm going to these shows next month. Anyone care to join me?

The new New Order is my first favorite single of the year. I'm also lovin' this song, even though it oozes heterosexuality.

For the next house party, put this on. I guarantee you: booties will shake. Funny enough, Brad (our sound engineer for "DEADROOM") had a copy sitting in his studio when I was there last. It definitely bonded us for awhile, even for ten minutes.

I've read most of them online in the past, but its cool factor is even more prevalent when I picked up the Nov/Dec 04 issue yesterday. Interviews with Amy Sedaris*, Lynne Ramsay**, Werner Herzog, Xan Cassavetes, Oksana Akinshina, and porn star Aiden Shaw***. I'm sending in my subscription!

*I thought it would be a funny idea for a children's book to open with a rabbit getting skinned alive and tossed in a pile with other skinned rabbits, but she survives and goes on a journey to the city to find the woman who is wearing her coat. Maybe a sly fox coaxes her out of her coat and sells it to some hoodlums in the city. She has to get it back before she goes home because her mother will skin her alive is she comes home without it. And, you know, hilarity ensues.

**(Do you find it hard to survive as an independent filmmaker?) It's tough, but I do think if you stay true to yourself it somehow comes through in your work. If you're a phony it comes through as well.

***In a sense I feel removed during shooting, like a spectator who just happens to be involved. Sometimes when I'm in the middle of a take, I'll think, "Look at you. You're desirable and sexy? How funny." I used to be a punky, effeminate kid, but now thousands of gay men all over the world think I'm a male icon. It's hilarious. I still see the kid I used to be when I look in the mirror. I still have the same doubts and fears.

Ebert's review of "Nobody Knows" makes me wanna fly out to NY for the next screening (thankfull y, it opens in Dallas next month). There have been other compelling pieces written about the film as well, and it truly reinforces my belief that some of the most exciting things going on in cinema today is happening in Asia.

I was reading the collaborative effort of these twosome last week (tentatively titled "Sid") and I found myself smiling as I turned from one page to another. Not only because I enjoyed it, but I felt happy; exhilarated even, that I've met my soul mates in film. Our sensibilities are more in sync now than ever before, and it's such a relief to know that I have these people to fall back on for growth and support. It was barely five years ago when I lived in this city wondering if I'll ever meet like-minded individuals, or rather, people who I can be me with. Then James came along, and David, and Nick, and Jim; and the network continues to extend with non-filmmakers like him and those crazy co-workers who have been so consistently encouraging in my endeavors.

I've been fortunate. Many thanks to y'all.