http://www.johnbyrd.org/blog/ John Byrd en-us Nucleus CMS v3.23 © Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://www.johnbyrd.org/blog//nucleus/nucleus2.gif http://www.johnbyrd.org/blog/ http://www.johnbyrd.org/blog/index.php?itemid=372 General http://www.johnbyrd.org/blog/index.php?itemid=372 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 10:26:48 -0700 http://www.johnbyrd.org/blog/index.php?itemid=371 The OC Weekly liked it. Well they seemed to like me at least. I seem to be getting cast more nowadays as madmen. I suppose I have some relevant experience. The play has finally shaken off a mass of technical glitches and stumbled onto its feet. You got one more full weekend to see. Theatre http://www.johnbyrd.org/blog/index.php?itemid=371 Sun, 26 Oct 2008 11:44:03 -0700 http://www.johnbyrd.org/blog/index.php?itemid=370 On November 4, Californians will vote on Proposition 8. The text of Proposition 8 is: "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid and recognized in California." The purpose of the proposition is to make same-sex marriage illegal here. The Orange County Register published a database of donors both for and against the Prop 8 cause. By searching this database, you can learn who is financing this campaign against same-sex marriage. Some examples. The National Organization for Marriage, based out of Santa Ana, has donated $1.4 million in a bunch of small pieces. The National Organization of Marriage's money is mostly pass-through donations. The Knights of Columbus has donated $1,000,000, plus $250,000 under the cover of National Organization for Marriage. This is a Catholic fraternal benefit society with a strong pro-life slant. The neo-conservative, pro-war John Templeton Jr. apparently gave three donations of $450,000 each, under the NOM cover and directly. The ultra-conservative Christian recluse Howard Ahmanson, Jr. donated $900,000, under the title of his Fieldstead and Co. society name. He has donated to numerous political candidates and organizations associated with the United States Republican Party. Some of his donations have been returned because of his views and associations. Ahmanson's wife was once a reporter at the highly conservative Orange County Register. Examine and research the database yourself in order to learn more about who's paying for this initiative. General http://www.johnbyrd.org/blog/index.php?itemid=370 Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:59:57 -0700 http://www.johnbyrd.org/blog/index.php?itemid=369 This picture is from Tommy's highfaluting video game party. I'm getting checked from all sides, and one girl is checking my ass. The frightening old man getting ignored happens to be Nolan Bushnell. And Nolan is the guy who invented video games. Leonardo diCaprio is going to play Nolan in an upcoming film. I didn't invent video games, but geek girls apparently prefer to check my ass over Nolan's. Shit, I could play Nolan. Clicky for biggy. Computers http://www.johnbyrd.org/blog/index.php?itemid=369 Sat, 13 Sep 2008 12:24:49 -0700 http://www.johnbyrd.org/blog/index.php?itemid=368 As if my ego weren't ridiculous enough. These were designed by the highly awesome Jay Fraley for Seven Deadly Sins. Clickies for biggies. Theatre http://www.johnbyrd.org/blog/index.php?itemid=368 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 15:46:35 -0700 http://www.johnbyrd.org/blog/index.php?itemid=367 Oh hell, my picture seems to have made it into the LA Times and nobody bothered to mention it to me, probably because the review kicks the shit out of the show. Most scenes in this show need rewrites. I did what I could with what I got. Theatre http://www.johnbyrd.org/blog/index.php?itemid=367 Mon, 18 Aug 2008 23:46:47 -0700 http://www.johnbyrd.org/blog/index.php?itemid=366 One of my favorite possessions is a scrawled note: "To John Byrd: You were the best one in the show. Love, George Furth." An extremely funny and friendly fellow all around. Thank you, sir, for the many kindnesses. Theatre http://www.johnbyrd.org/blog/index.php?itemid=366 Tue, 12 Aug 2008 05:08:43 -0700 http://www.johnbyrd.org/blog/index.php?itemid=365 Oh fuck a pig! My play, The Death of Ayn Rand, will be performed as part of the impressively sponsored San Francisco Theater Festival. It will be produced at the terrifyingly corporate Metreon in San Francisco on Sunday, July 27, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. The play will be performed in the Action Theater on the second floor. Sorry for the late notice, but I just found out. Theatre http://www.johnbyrd.org/blog/index.php?itemid=365 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:33:35 -0700 http://www.johnbyrd.org/blog/index.php?itemid=364 So I’ve written at length elsewhere about my thoughts on organized religion. Ultimately, I’m a deist, but I never begrudge people their personal understandings of divinity and the infinite. However. If you actively try to sell me your philosophy, I consider it my responsibility to question your philosophy, and perhaps I’ll even find a way to sell you one instead. Fair warning, proselytizers. So this morning I’m getting ready for work. We live in a conservative section of a conservative county. I’m dressing for work. I put on a tight wifebeater T-shirt, and skimpy black briefs. Without warning our doorbell rings. We know who it is, without even looking. They come every couple weeks or so. I look at Amanda and she says, “No, you’re really not going to.” “Watch me,” I say. I go to the door, fling it open, strike a pose and smile. I’ve been working out a lot over the past few weeks, and I’m buffer than normal. I see two girls; twenties, long skirts. The white girl has a dog-eared Bible with a red ribbon for a bookmark. Her shy smile rapidly fades. An Asian girl in sensible shoes fiddles with another Bible. She’s wearing a digital watch. “Hello, we’re just visiting people,” says Red Ribbon, “Across the neighborhood and sharing some scripture with them. May I read you this bit of scripture here?” I beam at her and snuggle against the doorway. “Go ahead,” I purr. “Today we’re looking at Proverbs,” says Red. She has clear polish on her fingernails. “Um. Chapter three, verse five. Trust the Lord your God with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.” “Mmm,” I smile, lean, and run a hand through my hair lazily. “You know my favorite book of the Bible? Song of Songs.” “Which book did you say?” Digital Watch senses trouble. “Song of Songs,” I breathe. “Can you look it up for me?” Red Ribbon riffs through the book. “I don’t think that my bible contains that book. We’re not Gideons –“ “Song of Solomon,” I coo, and laugh. I hook one thumb into my shirt at the neck, tugging it subtly, slightly, exposing my pecs a little. Digital Watch shifts nervously on one foot. “There. Chapter one. How does it go again?” Digital Watch checks the time. “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth,” says Red Ribbon, paling. “For your love is more delightful than wine.” “Mmmm,” I moan. “I love reading the Bible. I’m an ordained minister, did you know that?” Red Ribbon blinks three times and swallows hard. “Well we’re just here to share Bible quotes with people and get their opinions and we really appreciate you talking in the spirit of Jesus with us and have a really great day.” And they both scatter like field mice. For them that have been following my progress, I apparently seem to be returning to my normal level of assholery. God love and bless you all for all your support and love over the past few weeks. You've helped bring me back. General http://www.johnbyrd.org/blog/index.php?itemid=364 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:28:05 -0700 http://www.johnbyrd.org/blog/index.php?itemid=363 Love to my friends. I was surprised to find out how many I had on my side. Every day, I am a little more like me. It comes and goes. Your support means more than you know. I'm doing one of the Seven Deadly Sins shows at Rude Guerrilla from July 25 through August 3. The material is pretty wacky... I'm the World's Most Eligible Bachelor, and a couple dark hooded figures show up and beat the shit out of me with whips. It's a comedy. In any case, it's good to get some of this negative energy out in an artistically positive way. The table read of The Hermit Bird at Long Beach went well. It's locked for a production in 2009. Also, The Death of Ayn Rand is apparently getting a production in San Francisco sometime this month. I'll let you know when I know more. General http://www.johnbyrd.org/blog/index.php?itemid=363 Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:48:29 -0700