Packers Buck Rams - Favre Eclipses Last Marino Record

Favre deliver the record slant pass to Donald Driver, his favorite receiver.

Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre set another record Sunday as he surpassed Hall of Famer Dan Marino for the NFL's all-time record for most career passing yards. Brett needed only 184 yards to break Marino's mark of 61,361.

"I say it every time this happens: I'm honored, but I would much rather win," said Favre. "The fact that I've played in every game (since my first start) to me is probably my biggest feat. None of these individual records would have happened if it wasn't for the fact that I'd played in every game."

"To pass a guy like Dan Marino, regardless of what record it is... I've said this all along and I will continue to say this: I've never considered myself in the same league as Dan Marino, maybe the greatest passer ever. The way he did it is probably the way you would coach another guy to do it. The way I've done it, I don't know if you would coach guys to do it that way. To be mentioned in the same breath as him is quite an honor."

Brett giving up the record-setting ball to his sideline staff.

Favre directing traffic.

It took the Green Bay Packers to sell out a St. Louis Rams game.

Much of the capacity crowd at the Edward Jones Dome on Sunday clearly rooted for the visiting team. Cheeseheads were everywhere and perhaps half of the stadium was clad in Packers' green and yellow, helping the visitors feel right at home in a 33-14 victory.

"It's a joke," running back Steven Jackson said. "The whole first level is Green Bay Packers' fans. It's a joke. We were at Lambeau Field."

"We know how loyal the Green Bay fans are and I'm sure on Thursday there are going to be a ton of Pittsburgh fans," quarterback Marc Bulger said. "You know, this year we just haven't been playing well at home."

"You're a little surprised to see more people in your house for the opposing team than for your team but you know it doesn't make you real happy or real excited," linebacker Will Witherspoon said. "But you've just got to say, 'Hey, I'm in a game.' It just makes it a road game for us."

"Our fans are the best in the world," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "It gives our players a great lift...To see the defensive line raising their arms in the air on a big third down, it speaks volumes about the kind of fans we have."

The situation left some Rams players muttering.

"I mean, you kind of get to the point where some teams are going to travel well," Witherspoon said. "You just have to say they brought more people to the house than we did."

Next Week: Green Bay Packers (12-2) at Chicago Bears (5-8)

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Green Bay Wins Chunky Soup Click for Cans

The Green Bay Packers put the finishing touches on another championship season with the highest vote total in Click for Cans history - and a repeat winner. On behalf of the winners, a donation of Campbell’s soup will be made to each team's food bank of choice. Here's the top 5. No other fans in the NFL bothered to show up.

1. Green Bay Packers
2,542,009
2. Indianapolis Colts
902,247
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
645,167
4. Jacksonville Jaguars
566,496
5. Buffalo Bills
367,227

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UW-Whitewater Football Wins Division III National Championship!

UW-Whitewater finally did it.

After losing to Mount Union (Ohio) the past two seasons in the NCAA Division III national championship football game, My college aluma mater, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (the Warhawks) defeated the Purple Raiders, 31-21, Salem, Va., on Saturday.

Senior Justin Beaver led the Warhawks—who were a 20-point underdog in the game—by rushing for 248 yards. Whitewater opened up a 17-0 lead in the third quarter, then withstood a Mount Union threat that cut the lead to 24-21 in the fourth quarter. The Mount Union Purple Raiders had a 37-game winning streak going into the game.

Mount Union had previously won 9 NCAA Division III championships. Too bad, ya bastards. GO WARHAWKS! Class of '86 rules!

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Twenty Six Percent.

I just figured this out today. 26% of my paycheck goes to the government in taxes, as well as for my medical insurance. Obviously I'm aware of these monthly deductions but I don't make that much to begin with so it's easy for me to just take a quick glimpse at my pay stub and shirk. What I'm saying is that I actually grabbed a calculater and figured it out. That's a lot of money per paycheck and per year.

I've written several posts on the immigration subject. I've attempted to be diplomatic, empathetic and civil. But 26% is too much money to give to my government and not have every penny be spent to benefit American citizens.

That all being said, I want every illegal alien in the United States to get out. I hate to break it to you but you do not have all-encompassing rights in this country. In the perfect world that God created, yeh - we'd live in peace and harmony and we'd live wherever we'd damn well please. In a perfect world I'd be getting laid daily; the Green Bay Packers would win every Super Bowl and Brett Favre would never retire; all my loved ones that have passed away would still be alive, including Elvis; the Beach Boys would still be in tact (with Dennis and Carl Wilson alive and Brian Wilson playing keyboards); I could fish or bowhunt as much as I could possibly want; I wouldn't have had to endure my eye injury; I'd be acting in movies and/or Broadway, and every play I wrote would be performed somewhere to enthusiatic patrons.

But this isn't a perfect world. And God created Man who is imperfect and an imperfect Man has to somehow create law and order to combat anarchy, offsetting the millions of other imperfect people inhabiting this planet. Can I just plop my ass in Ireland or Mexico and say, 'this as much my country as it is yours.'? No.

I've grown tired of your manipulation of our health care system like it's a 911 call...a tool at anyone's disposal. I'm sick of you irresponsibly having anchor babies because it's the quickest route to having an American citizen in the family. I'm sick of listening to an automated operator even longer than I have to because everything's recorded in another language. I'm sick of having to repeat what I said in proper English to retail employees who don't understand English 'so well'. I'm sick of you driving on our roads putting law-abiding citizens in peril because you don't have car insurance. I'm sick of your youth getting free monies OR financial aid to attend college when there are some citizens of this country who don't qualify for financial aid. And don't worry about the tasks you perform because other Americans won't - we did it without you once; we'll figure it out again. Etcetera. Etcetera.

So get the fuck out. I was going to put this on my Santa wish list (see below) but I didn't want to cuss at Santa. When I look at the monies deducted from my paycheck knowing full well not all of it is benefiting AMERICAN CITIZENS I could puke. I apologize for my language but no one - including our corrupt politicians in Washington - is listening to me. So I have to be harsh. Get the fuck out and take your wife, husband, children, grandma, grandpa, uncles, aunts, cousins, brothers, sisters and go back whence you came. Do not pass GO; do not stop at the health clinic along the way; do not stop at Home Depot for a last minute possible cash-paying job of which you will contribute no income taxes to our government. Go home and sponge off your own God damn government. 'Cause you're spending MY money and I don't like it!

And I don't want to hear the bullshit excuse, 'your forefathers were immigrants, too'. As far as I've traced, my relatives came through Ellis Island - legally. And those who didn't probably did so because everyone came over illegally at one point...when this country was young and growing and we didn't have legislation in place to deal with immigration. We do now.

DID YOU HEAR ME? GET OUT! No one wants you here! Come back when you can contribute to our country as a legal citizen. You'll be welcomed with open arms - including my own. It's the law - you know? Thank you. I'm done venting. Merry Christmas.

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Women Celebs I Love #3 - Julie Christie

I absolutely am in love with British beauty/actress Julie Christie - my favorite actress of all time. I believe it was in Dr. Zhivago that I first became witness to one of the icons of Swingin' London in the 1960's (I liken it to the quintessential California 60's "hot-tee" of which I would include American Michelle Phillips from the Mamas and the Papas, for instance). Then of course, there's her turn in the duel role in Ray Bradbury's classic book-turned-movie, Fahrenheit 451 (my favorite actor, Mel Gibson, was supposed to direct a re-make of F451 a few years ago, but he couldn't get Tom Cruise or Brad Pitt signed on for the project, among other snafu's).

Here's a quick scene from Dr. Zhivago - my God, she is gorgeous! http://youtube.com/watch?v=BSgryyxp-cg . And here's a short interview with her after she either won or received the Academy nomination for Darling. http://youtube.com/watch?v=_dZQloqs4Us

I really love the whole package, I guess. Her lips. Her stare. Perhaps the accent. The eyes. That come hither jaw line. She's feisty and extremely independent (from what I've read). And never married. Hmmm.

You have to see her and Donald Sutherland in Don't Look Now - a weirdish movie about a couple living and working abroad who are terrorized by the memory of their young daughter drowning. There's a sex scene between husband/wife Sutherland/Christie that always makes the lists of "best sex scenes in movies". It's really a 'making love' scene. You have to see it to understand it but basically there are two scenes going on at the same time - the love-making in juxtaposition with the couple getting ready and dressed to go out AFTER the love-making session. Like I said, you have to see it to really appreciate it. Well done, Mr. Roeg.

Julie with former lover Terrence Stamp in Far from the Maddening Crowd.

To the left with hat, as Lara in Dr. Zhivago. Other movies you might recognize her from include:

Away from Her, Afterglow, Heaven Can Wait, Demon Seed, Shampoo, Don't Look Now, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Far from the Madding Crowd, Fahrenheit 451, Doctor Zhivago and Darling (for which she won the Academy Award in 1965)

Julie today. As independent and vivacious as she was 40 years ago. As recent as this week, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced their nominations for the 65th Annual Golden Globe Awards. Julie Christie has been nominated for her work in Sarah Polley's debut feature directorial debut, Away from Her. She plays Fiona, a woman whose long, sometimes shaky marriage to a once-adulterous but now steadfast husband, Grant (played by veteran Canadian actor Gordon Pinsent), goes into decline as her memory fades from Alzheimer's. To ease Grant's pain, Fiona checks herself into an institution while she still retains most of her faculties. But she deteriorates so quickly that she no longer recognizes Grant, who suffers through quiet jealousy as his wife begins a flirtation with another aging patient.

Julie Christie. I love you.

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BRETT FAVRE received 1,140,863 votes to lead all NFL All-Stars in balloting for the 2008 NFL Pro Bowl!

Enough said.

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Green Bay Packer Brady Poppinga and Detroit Lions John Kitna = Lost Brothers?

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Blackmon Named Special Teams Player of the Week, Grant Nominated for FedEx Ground Player and More Pro Bowl Stuff

Packers CB/PR Will Blackmon was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Blackmon became the fourth player in NFL history with a punt-return touchdown and a fumble-return touchdown in the same game (last done in 1974) as the Packers clinched the NFC North with a 38-7 win over Oakland

RB Ryan Grant rushed for 156 yards over 29 carries and one touchdown in the Packers' 38-7 win over the Oakland Raiders. and was nominated for the FedEx Ground Player of the Week.

Fan voting for the Pro Bowl ended and AJ Hawk finished No. 4 among NFL defensive players, while cornerbacks Charles Woodson and Al Harris were sixth and eighth, respectively. Fan voting accounts for 1/3 of the final vote.

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My Wish List for Santa

After all these years, I think I've written one Christmas list to Santa - I used as part of my own Christmas card. THIS list really is for Santa. I hope he reads it - there's some prit-ty important stuff on it.

You're supposed to be able to click on the list and it'll open up bigger for you but that feature doesn't seem to wanna work for me (one more thing to add to the list). If YOU'D like to find out what I'm asking the Big Fat Man in the Red Suit for, I've spelled it out for you below:

Dear Santa,

You know how 'you're never too old to...'? Well here's my Christmas list:

1. U.S. soldiers out of Iraq. The indigenous peoples there will continue to fight and kill each other so why put our men in uniform in harm's way for nothing? The rewards are fruitless.

2. I want my enemies to get their just desserts ON EARTH while I'm still drawing a breath. This includes my former employer - Barbara Bollenbach - in Bel Air. She knows what she did.

3. How 'bout one of my full-length plays produced in 2008? Anywhere.

4. The move this Spring. Let's make it happen.

5. Continued good health for my eyes - and no more health scares. This goes for my family and friends. And to those who've lost a loved one in 2007, please say a prayer for them, would you, Santa?

6. I want to be loved by someone who takes my breath away. She knows who she is. She just has to reciprocate.

7. The Green Bay Packers to win the Super Bowl; preferably against the New England Patriots.

If I think of anything else, I'll let you know. Safe travels, Santa. And to anyone reading this,
A Very Merry Christmas to You All - and A Happy New Year!

Love, Jeff

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"PTSP." Shortlisted for Short & Sweet/Sydney 2007

By the way, my award-winning 10-minute play - "Pass the Salt, Please.", was Shortlisted for Short & Sweet/Sydney, the World's Largest 10-Minute Play Festival. That's Sydney, Australia. And shortlisted means it didn't make the final cut. Final cut, as in it won't be performed there in January/February. But it did make the original cut from 1550 to 317, so that's good. It's like being a semi-finalist...only shortlisted.

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Favre: A 250th Retrospective Look

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel photographer Tom Lynn took the occasion of Brett Favre's 250th regular-season consecutive start at home against the Oakland Raiders (we won, 38-7) to focus his camera exclusively on the Green Bay Packers quarterback, from the time he emerged from the tunnel at the beginning of the game to the time he waved his farewell to the Lambeau Field fans at the end. Great B&W photos with audio of Favre taken from his press conference after the game. Check it out here: http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=694927

NOTE: (1/4) This slideshow is supposed to start on its own - with audio. As it stands, you have to manually flip through it and there's no audio. I talked to a rep at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and the NFl threatened to pull the paper's credentials (to get into games) if they didn't pull Brett's audio. Apparently the NFL owns the rights to those press conferences and any snippets used. Bummer.

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A boy and his dogs.

A few shots of my brother Jason's dogs - Molly (the larger one) and Zo (the whacky one). Look at those little baaaaaaaabies! standing together. Zo's one hyper little bitch - that's why Jas can't get a picture of her alone. Oh - they're sisters, separated by two generations.



Molly and Zo are American water spaniels - a classic hunting dog...first bred in Wisconsin. Apparently, there's only around 3,000 in existence at any given time so they're considered rare.


Can you find Molly? She thinks she's hiding. The cattail pictures are the trio hunting duck at the Castlerock Flowage in Mauston, Wisconsin - where Jas, I, dad, Uncle Fran, Cousin Gerry, Schmidy and Bruce go bow hunting (Bruce's brother, Dave used to hunt but he's golfing now - we still fish together though). Sorry, got sidetracked. Anyway...the forest pictures are of a grouse hunting trip in the Chequamegon National Forest in Wisconsin as well. Trying pronouncing that one - it's Ojibwa for, "place of the shallow waters". Anyway you look at it - pretty country. Damn pretty country. Have you found Molly yet?



Jas shot these with his digital camera, and quite frankly, they are superb. He just needs to email them to me NOT as thumbnails - that's why they're small. Nice eye, brother.

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No. 250 - In the Can!

Favre smiling on the GB sideline in the 3rd quarter of the Oakland game. Brett started his 250th consecutive game in front of the home crowd and we won, 38-7.

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The Trouble with Sports Predictions

You see it on all the news sportscasts, the sports networks, online, radio and in the newspapers. Sports know-it-alls and fans alike predicting the outcome of games.

Not me. I never predict or have predicted the Packers would win any particular game. I say, "they're favored to win so they should" or "they're the better team, so they should win", but you will never hear me say, "the Packers will win the NFC Championship this year" or "the Pack is going to the Super Bowl this season". If you're wrong, you come across as a total moron, which is pretty much what I think of sports columnists and broadcasters AND fans who make such bold assertions. Hey, if you've got a crystal ball and KNOW for certain the outcome of a game, please - let me borrow it for a while. I have lots of questions to ask it.

You predict one team will win over another. Big deal. You have a 50/50 chance of being correct. Ooooooo - what a soothsayer you are. You're a top-notch seer, a wizard who knows all. Won't Gandalf and Merlin be jealous. Impressive. Your friends will love you and think you know a lot about sports. And you'll get laid by hot chicks with no more of a brain than you.

Case in point (and I'm being brief 'cause I could go on and on and on). Not that much was expected out of Brett Favre or the Green Bay Packers at the start of the 2007 season. Pro Football Weekly projected a modest 7-9 record for Green Bay, and a second place finish in the NFC North behind the defending champion Chicago Bears, who were picked to go 11-5. In addition, Pro Football Weekly released a player ranking based on 2006 production, current value to the team, career numbers and potential. The Top 10 quarterbacks included Donovan McNabb (No. 5), Marc Bulger (No. 6), and Chad Pennington (No. 9). Woof, woof, woof. Rounding out the Top 15 were Vince Young, No. 11; Steve McNair, No. 12; Michael Vick, No. 13; Favre, No. 14; and Tony Romo, No. 15 (Romo, an undrafted free agent, came into the league with no expectations or fanfare).

Now you see why I don't make predictions. IDIOTS.

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Green Bay Packers = NFC North Champs, Plunder Raiders 38-7 / 11-2

Brett Favre, with NFC North Division headgear, acknowledges the Lambeau Field fans. Brett finished with 266 yards and 2 TDs.

Favre to Ryan Grant, who opened up the run game with 156 yards and one TD.

Greg Jennings finishes his 80-yard pass play from Brett by doing the Lambeau Leap (that leap - any leap - was invented by the Packers).

Will Blackmon was the first player to score a touchdown on a punt return (57 yarder) and a fumble recovery in the same game since Cincinnati's Lemar Parrish had a 90-yard punt return and 47-yard fumble return TD against the Redskins on Oct. 6, 1974. And it was the first time another Packers player accomplished the, Travis Williams - on Nov. 2, 1969, at Pittsburgh.

Next Week: Packers (11-2) at St. Louis Rams (3-10).

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No. 250

Favre at Oakland, December 22, 2003. The last time these two teams played each other. Favre had 4 TDs and 399 yards - the day after his father passed away.

Tomorrow/today, Brett Favre will make his 250th consecutive start for the Green Bay Packers - the most of any QB and 2nd most in NFL history for any player - 20 games behind Jim Marshall of the Vikings.

I was 27 when it began in 1992. Three presidents have served the span of the streak. Favre has set every major QB record in the NFL - save total passing yards, which he will set this season. During this remarkable "Ironman" run, 17 different quarterbacks have served as his backup in Green Bay - with over 207 (as of his #249 start) QBs starting in the league since his streak began. 60 different QBs have started this season alone. And then...there's Favre.

Game time temperature for Sunday at Lambeau is predicted to be a high of 23 degrees, a low of 6 degrees, and slight chance of flurries - with wind NW 5-10 mph. At home, Brett holds a 40-5 record including playoffs when the kickoff temperature is 34 degrees or below; possesses an impressive 90.7 passer rating in those 45 cold-weather games, based on 890 completions in 1,441 attempts (61.8 percent) for 10,242 yards, 79 TDs and 37 INTs.

Take care of that elbow, Brett. Make those passes fly true, and let's wrap up the NFC North TODAY!

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Favre, Crosby, Make A Wish, Chunky Soup, Pro Bowl and #250

First things first. The Oakland Raiders are coming to Lambeau Sunday and Green Bay can win the NFC North Division with a win. Or an Arizona Cardinal or Detroit Lions loss. Just hope that Favre doesn't aggravate his elbow injury. All indications are that it's coming along fine. I mentioned some of these items in a previous post, but I wanted to give you an update.

*Speaking of starts, Favre will make his 250th start this Sunday in Green Bay against the Oakland Raiders. The last time Brett faced Oakland was in Oakland the day after his father died - he threw for 399 yards and 4 TDs. Hasn't missed a game since 1992. Something like 240 QBs have started for teams in that time frame. That's unbelievable...AND playing at the level he's playing at (SI Sportsman of the Year 2007, remember?). Anyone with half a brain understands this feat and acknowledges it as amazing. Those who don't are idiots. Here are his current rankings with four games to go in the regular season:

#4 comp., #3 attempts, #3 comp. %, #6 TDs, #2 total passing yds., #5 ave. yds. per play, #2 ave. yds. per game, #5 QB rating

*Brett needs 450 more yards to surpass Dan Marino's all-time passing yards record.

*The Make A Wish Foundation honored Brett Favre at a ceremony in Green Bay this week. Brett was one of eight recipients of this award. Check out the video - fast forward to the 3:30 minute mark and watch for a couple minutes. It'll be worth your while - http://packers.com/news/releases/2007/12/06/3/

*Kicker Mason Crosby - NFC Player of the Month. The rookie led all NFL kickers with 54 points during the month and tied for the lead with 12 field goals as the Packers posted a 4-1 mark. For the season, Crosby ties for the NFL lead with 107 points scored and his 24 field goals rank first in the NFC.

*Chunky Soup's Click for Cans promotion ends in a week and it'll be a landslide victory for the Green Bay Packers, 6th year in a row. Each click for your favorite team translates into food to feed the hungry. Here are the top two - the rest of the NFL was a no-show.

1. Green Bay Packers = 2,320,491 clicks
2. Indianapolis Colts = 839,804 clicks

Pro Bowl Votes end in one week - Green Bay Packers quarterback BRETT FAVRE, with 842,167 votes, leads all NFL All-Stars in balloting for the 2008 NFL Pro Bowl, NFL.com announced Thursday. Presented by Sprint, 2008 Pro Bowl voting will continue on NFL.com and on wireless phones with Sprint service through Tuesday, December 11. New England Patriots quarterback TOM BRADY (776,475 votes) ranks second overall while, Indianapolis Colts quarterback PEYTON MANNING (740,302 votes), New England Patriots wide receiver RANDY MOSS (606,238 votes) and Dallas Cowboys quarterback TONY ROMO (604,027 votes) round out the top five on NFL.com. The teams will be announced at 4 p.m. (ET) Tuesday, December 18 on a special NFL Total Access 2008 NFL Pro Bowl Selection Show on NFL Network. The Pro Bowl will be played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii on Sunday, February 10 and will be televised by FOX.

NFC LEADING VOTE-GETTERS - Offense
QB Brett Favre, Packers -- 842,167
RB Adrian Peterson, Vikings -- 557,873
WR Terrell Owens, Cowboys -- 507,620
TE Jason Witten, Cowboys -- 436,997
KR Devin Hester, Bears -- 446,643

Defense
CB Charles Woodson, Packers -- 263,551

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Remember Pearl Harbor - December 7, 1941

66 years ago - a day which will live in infamny - Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan, propelling the U.S. into WWII.

"Pearl Harbor 0755...While the Giant Slept" by Dru Blair

Sunday 0755 hours. Time to wake up the "Sleeping Giant". Battleship Row lays peacefully below moments before Lt. Commander Takahashi's Aichi D3A1 Type 99 "Val" Dive bomber rolls in on Hangar 6 on the southern tip of Ford Island. By accident, Takahashi was the first to drop his ordnance because of a mistake in interpreting the signal flares beginning the attack. Takahashi's bomb struck the water's edge in front of hangar 6 located at 5 o'clock in this picture.

For more information on Pearl Harbor, go to http://plasma.nationalgeographic.com/pearlharbor/. Also, check out http://acesofww2.com/Bombers/Bombers_1941.htm for more paintings on Aces of WWII like the above Dru Blair painting.

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It Wasn't 2 Corey's - How 'Bout A Hobbit and A Corey?

Two celebs dropped in at work today - Corey Feldman and Dominic Monaghan. You know who they are. Just thought I'd name drop. I talked to them both - nice guys. They and they're "peeps" were "pitching" ideas to PorchLight (they company I work for).

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Did Sinter Klaas Come to Your Home?

Today is St. Nicholas Day. What did you find in your stockings or shoes?

Saint Nicholas (Greek: Άγιος Νικόλαος , Agios Nikolaos, "victory of the people") is the common name for Saint Nicholas, a Lycian saint and Bishop of Myra in Anatolia (in modern-day Antalya province, Turkey, though then it was a Greek-speaking Roman Province). He was born during the third century in the village of Patara. He had a reputation for secret gift-giving, but is now commonly identified with Santa Claus.

Saint Nicholas Day is a festival for children in much of Europe related to surviving legends of the saint, and particularly his reputation as a bringer of gifts. The American Santa Claus, as well as the Anglo-Canadian and British Father Christmas, derive from these legends. "Santa Claus" is itself derived from the Dutch Sinterklaas.

Some elements of this part of the Saint Nicholas tradition can be traced back to the Germanic god Wodan (Odin). The appearance is similar to some portrayals of this god. In the Saint Nicholas tradition in the Netherlands and Flanders (Northern Belgium), he rides a horse over the rooftops, and this may be derived from Odin's riding through the sky. Also, his assistants, the Zwarte Pieten ('Black Petes'), may be a remnant of the twin ravens that accompanied Wodan.

The history of the festive Saint Nicholas celebration is complex and reflects conflicts between Protestantism and Catholicism. Since Nicholas was a canonised saint, Martin Luther replaced the festival that had become associated with the Papacy with a Christkind ("Christ child") celebration on Christmas Eve. The Nicholas celebrations still remain a part of tradition among many Protestants, albeit on a much smaller scale than Christmas. The Protestant Netherlands, however, retain a much larger Saint Nicholas tradition. Many Catholics, on the other hand, have adopted Luther's Christkind.

While feasts of Saint Nicholas are not observed nationally, cities with strong German influences like Milwaukee (my hometown), Cincinnati, and St. Louis celebrate St. Nick's Day on a scale similar to the German custom. On the previous night, children put one empty shoe (or sock) outside, and, on the following morning of December 6, the children awake to find that St. Nick has filled their previously empty footwear with candy and small presents (if the children have been "good") or ostensibly, coal (if not). For these children, the relationship between St. Nick and Santa Claus is not clearly defined, although St. Nick is usually explained to be a helper of Santa. The tradition of St. Nick's Day is firmly established in the Milwaukee community, with parents often continuing to observe the day with even their adult children - like my mom does with us.

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"Pass the Salt, Please" Shortlisted for Short & Sweet/Sydney

My award-winning short, "Pass the Salt, Please." has made the shortlist - 317 out of 1550 - for Short + Sweet/Sydney.

How does "shortlist" sound on a resume? Hmmm...let's call it, "semi-finalist", eh? This is a record number of entries for this competition, dubbed as the world's largest 10-minute play festival, with entries from every state and territory in Australia, as well as from Canada, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, New Zealand, Singapore, the USA and the UK. The largest percentage of the 317 are from Australia - with 45 from the U.S., 13 Singapore, 9 UK, 3 New Zealand and Ireland, Croatia and France rounding out the rest. And me! Its parent competition - Short + Sweet/Melbourne - maybe that one's the largest. Anyway, neither of my plays were selected for Melbourne but the kind folks there forwarded my entries to Sydney, free of any fees (standard for Melbourne entrants). The festival runs over five week-long blocks from Jan 16, 2008 until February 23, 2008.

The Short+Sweet Sydney 2008 adjudication team was comprised of 60 theater professionals - writers, dramaturges, directors, producers, actors, designers and literary managers. All plays were read and assessed anonymously. If the play scored high with the first two judges, two more read it. If the play scored high again, you made the shortlist of 317.

What happens now? From the 317 shortlisted entries, 130 will be chosen to form the production season for the festival in January-February, 2008. There are the “Top 90” plays that will run in a weeklong season of 10 plays at the Seymour Centre and Newtown Theatre venues, plus an extra 40 “Wildcards” that are shown in programs of 10 for an industry-focused one-off matinee performance, also at the Seymour Centre and Newtown Theatre.

A little re-cap. "Pass the Salt, Please." won BEST OF SHOW in the inaugural juried show, UNcover: An Art Exhibition with An Erotic Vibe, which was this past March in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It also had its LA premiere at the grand re-opening of Drake's Erotica Emporium on Melrose in West Hollywood this past August. Big success. For a synopsis on this 'dirty little play' (as my friend, Justyna refers to it), to my play blog at http://playsofjeffreyjamesircink.blogspot.com/2007/07/pass-salt-please_27.html
I normally wouldn't mention even this honor, as the final list will be ready next week. But when you're a writer - well, you have to enjoy the little victories as I may not make the final cut list. Wish me luck!

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Happy Birthday, Denny!

The incomparable drummer Dennis Wilson, who with brothers Brian Wilson and Carl Wilson, cousin Mike Love and Al Jardine, formed The Beach Boys. Dennis was the only one who surfer; he suggested "surfing" as the theme for the first hit song, cleverly titled, "Surfin'".

He passed away in 1983. I miss him terribly. You know how when you've never met someone but have an idea of what they may have been like? Dennis' music is truly a window into his soul. I never got the chance to meet him but I'm fortunate to have met and talked with people, at length, who did know him - his ex-wives, Barbara Wilson and Karen Lamm; his sons; John Stebbins, author of Dennis Wilson, The Real Beach Boy and Ed Roach, friend to Dennis and photographer for The Beach Boys, among others. Whatever picture I had painted in my head about Dennis was true - all of it. Here are some of Dennis' more lively quotes:

"They say I live a fast life. Maybe I just like a fast life. I wouldn't give it up for anything in the world. It won't last forever, either. But the memories will."

"Brian Wilson is the Beach Boys. He is the band. We're his fucking messengers. He is all of it. Period. We're nothing. He's everything."

"I made a dollar a day sweeping a laundry out. Then we made a record that was number two in Los Angeles. We got so excited hearing it on the radio that Carl threw up."

"I hope that the karma will fuck up Mike Love's meditation forever. That album is an embarrassment to my life. It should self-destruct."
- 1979 on M.I.U.

"If there wasn't The Beach Boys and there wasn't music, I would not even talk to them. But through music I fell in love with my brothers."

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Happy Birthday, Mia Stone!

She's a Hungarian porn actress. Do you know how hard it is to find a picture of her with ANY clothes on? Dennis Wilson would've liked her. 'Course he liked most women.

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Sports Illustrated names Brett Favre 2007 Sportsman of the Year!

Atta boy, old man! Well deserved.

Brett Favre's standout season for the resurgent Green Bay Packers has earned him the title of 2007 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, making him the fourth quarterback to win the award in its 53-year history.

The 38-year-old Favre joins fellow quarterbacks Terry Bradshaw (1979), Joe Montana (1990) and Tom Brady (2005) as recipients of the award, given to an athlete who symbolizes the ideals of sportsmanship.

If you'd like to read the entire story, click here:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/magazine/specials/sportsman/2007/12/03/sportsman.2007/?cnn=yes

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Why I Blog.

There are a number of reasons I blog.

Most of my family and my largest network of friends are in Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois - with a few others scattered throughout Minnesota, Arizona, Washington and Pittsburgh. This is the best way for them to keep tabs on what I'm doing with my life in California. And they do care.

I'm a writer - a playwright, to be more precise. My blog is a writing exercise. Like one of my plays that may never see the light of day on a stage, this blog may only be seen by a limited amount of people, but it's one of a number of creative outlets at my disposal...like a journal, helping me to organize my thoughts.

I've had visitors from 50 countries. Some spend a minute perusing. Others spend a half hour. Many check in weekly. Others may never check in again. I can see who's been on the blog - mostly I do it to see what visitors from other countries I've had. Today, someone from Armed Forces Europe - Middle East/Canada - visited one post in particular, and downloaded a picture. It was the following: http://jeffircink.blogspot.com/2007/07/happy-4th-of-july.html

The picture downloaded was of the American flag, circa 1812. I'm certain it was someone in uniform. For that reason alone, this blog has brought joy to someone very far away. Someone who is helping to protect you, myself and other Americans so we can sleep safely at night.

And that makes me smile.

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A Walk in Culver City

For the last year or so, I've been walking 15 miles a week. Pretty faithfully, I might add. One big circle around Culver City, California. 4.8 miles. I round up. And I've always wanted to document my walk with photographs. It was a perfect day today - it had rained the night before so the air was clear, no smog and everything just felt CLEAN.

So...let's go for a walk.

I've seen these muscle builders at the community center before. This is part of a regional qualifying competition. I didn't ask a lot of questions - just took the shot and got outta of there. It's prit-ty intense - those bodybuilding competitions.

I've been in Culver City now for - it'll be two years in April. Here's a quick history of the city.

Since the 1920s, Culver City has been a significant center for motion picture and later television production, in part because it was the home of MGM Studios. It also was the headquarters for the Hughes Aircraft Company from 1932 to 1985. National Public Radio West and Sony Pictures Entertainment now have headquarters in the city.

Culver City was founded by Harry Culver in 1913, and the city was incorporated on September 20, 1917. The first film studio in Culver City was built by Thomas Ince in 1918. In the 1920s, silent film comedy producer Hal Roach and Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) built studios there. During Prohibition, speakeasies and nightclubs such as the Cotton Club lined Washington Boulevard.

Home to Sony Pictures Studios (originally MGM Studios), Culver Studios, and the former Hal Roach Studios, hundreds of movies have been produced on the lots of Culver City's studios, including The Wizard of Oz, The Thin Man, Gone with the Wind, Citizen Kane, Rebecca, the Tarzan series, and the original King Kong. In fact, the Yellow brick road from The Wizard of Oz is still inside the lot on Stage 27 of Sony Studios. More recent films made in Culver City include Grease, Raging Bull, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, City Slickers, Air Force One, Wag the Dog, and Contact. Television shows made on Culver City sets have included Las Vegas, Mad About You, Lassie, Batman, Arrested Development, The Andy Griffith Show, and Jeopardy!.

A girl I dated works at Sony - I've GOT to get a picture of the Yellow brick road!

Local movie theater.

This guy's on one of the lot buildings at Sony. He's got three arms - not sure what his story is.

This is Lincoln Street. And it's the prettiest road in Culver City and my favorite part of the walk.

'Tis o'bit a Ireland on Lincoln Street. I've never seen anyone walking about outside this place. Always wanted to ask them if the owners were Irish.

Birds of Paradise. I trimmed a few of these on "idiot's" property in Bel Air. They make great floral arrangements in the house but they can be messy as they have a tendency to drip.

The LA river basin.

And why not a little culture while walking? National Public Radio's West Coast HDQ is here - I listen to NPR daily. KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic gives me my much-needed dose of new, hip adult indie music that I don't get anymore from Top 40.

I have a mile and a half or so to go yet on my walk, but I veered off to get a haircut down the road. So we're done. This is a shitty way to end my walk, I know. But all good things must come to an end. Maybe it'll serve as a wake-up call. I despise graffiti. I think anyone caught tagging should get an automatic 5-year jail term. A bit much? I don't think so. Can you honestly tell me that if these gang bastards for once thought that spraying property would land them in jail for that long instead of a getting a fine and a slap on the wrist they wouldn't think twice? And for the stupid taggers who ignore the law and continue, cut a hand off - works in Asia for theft.

Where will your next walk take YOU?

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