A friend of mine over at R Galaxy Comics called me one day and said, “Greg, I gave a friend of mine some info about your film and you got to get in touch with her. You are working on similar projects and you guys would really hit it off.” There began my quest to meet with the elusive Liz Danforth.
After several weeks of banging our calendars together, I was given the opportunity to meet with her. I strolled into the coffee shop and found a woman plugging away on her iPhone and wearing a Burning Crusade t-shirt. It had to be her. After a few minutes, we settled into our respective views and began to get silly from there. She is a very interesting person who has had her pulse on the gaming world for years. I learned about her artwork, the historical power inherent in a library and her current project that delves into the mystery surrounding games and their public perceptions. After jamming for several hours, I came away with a sense of her passion and desire relative to games and gaming.
Take a look at her project and decide for yourself. It is currently in its exploratory phase so look for more information as she works to finish her independent research study later this year.
Needless to say, the reward was worth my efforts. Thanks Liz.
Filed under: Greg Stuetze
There is no better way to be inspired than to plop down on a comfy sofa and watch Runnin’ Down A Dream, the quintessential documentary about Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. It might just be the best rock n’ roll documentary I have ever seen, and I have seen a lot of them. The film is fantastic, full of tons of archival footage and rare interviews. Plus, their story is nothing short of an inspirational wonder. You may be able to catch it on IFC or pick it up at Amazon.
I have always loved their music, but I saw it only as great music. As I watched the film, I recalled more of their music and realized how much their music has catalogued my life. There is a passion in their music that is so tangible and accessible that I think everyone can apply its emotion to their own lives.
They are playing at the Super Bowl this year so catch the half-time show.
Filed under: Greg Stuetze
For once in a long while, I was side-lined tonight by a bout of illness. If the truth be told, I would have opted for a quiet night at home anyways, but this year I have the luxury of blaming my calm New Year’s activities on that of being victim of a sinister virus. So, I won’t have to laugh at myself for another year. Yes!
Needless to say, I am up now not because of my raucous ways but because my throat is sore and I could no longer endure my own discomfort. For the record, I am not looking for pity, but am venting my absolute disdain for illness. I hate being sick. Whenever I am sick, I find my natural instincts kick in immediately; I want to be alone and let nature take its course, like our primal ancestors.
And so I am here, pondering the new year and all that 2008 has in store for the next 365 days. It is now that I really appreciate my situation. I’m glad I’m sick and that I slept through the transition from 2007 to 2008. Let me explain…
In the past, the new year was always an event. It was an opportunity to witness the passing of the previous year and take hold of whatever promises or changes we wanted to make for the new year. But, as I mentioned earlier, this was an event, a moment of joy that passed as quickly as the last ten seconds of the previous year. By the time we got to bed that night, the New Year was over and we awoke in its midst.
In missing this year’s ‘event’, I think I may have successfully dodged the hype and stumbled upon a hidden gem for me to ponder. We often look to the New Year’s holiday for a bit of what may have eluded us in the previous year. It’s an opportunity to purge ourselves of our mistakes and we want to believe that the ‘event’ itself will manifest all of our dreams and ambitions for the year to come. But, in recognizing the holiday itself as an ‘event’, we may be failing to really institute all of the changes in our lives that will be necessary to truly make our goals for the year tangible. In essence, we have sold ourselves on New Year’s Day while we should have invested in the entire year. 2008 is going to be one of the most exciting times of my life because it is no longer a solitary event; it’s a consistent way of thinking that will follow me throughout the entire year.
I never thought I would say this, but it’s a pleasure to be ill right now.
