The Wyoming Kid

First 24 hours after Current TV laid me off

2008-11-12T11:14:00.000-08:00

Since Monday I was discussing my promising future at Current with my manager I was more than a little shocked to be shown the door yesterday with some 30 others.

In the last 24 hours I've gone through a range of emotions, but mostly I'm happy to be outta there and I think I will soon be back in LA with good friends, good weather and good fortune.

Here's some of the press I've come across in the last day.

Mentioning me:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10094101-36.html
http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2008/11/10/daily51.html#tp_newCommentAnchor

Mentioning lay-offs:
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117995673.html?categoryId=18
http://gawker.com/5083790/al-gore-just-outsourced-your-job-to-twitter
http://feeds.paidcontent.org/%7Er/pcorg/%7E3/450099587/
http://culturite.wordpress.com/2008/11/11/current-tv-wired-and-six-apart-slash-jobs/
http://www.smalldeadanimals.com/archives/010005.html
http://www.inquisitr.com/7964/current-tv-cuts-32-employees/
http://valleywag.com/5083592/current-tvs-official-body-count-30-gone-30-shuffled

Mentioning other Current news:
http://www.publicbroadcasting.ca/2008/11/zed-20-coming-to-canada-via-al-gore.html
http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2008/11/a_web_20_summit.html
http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/news/entertainment/story.html?id=6d1af377-2220-4a6d-b428-bb3df3b823b1

I've been let go from current tv

2008-11-12T01:14:00.000-08:00

The VP of development and programming @ezracooper pulled me into an office with David Harlston (sp?) our head of business affairs to let me know that 11/11 was my last day at the company. It seems that I was the second SF staffer to receive that news (after @severshed) that I was no longer needed along with some 30 other people of whom i've only accounted for a dozen or so in our close knit UCG/VC2 family.

At the moment I've just finished bonding with some of the many let go and the few left behind and we're all returning to our google news feeds to find links to stories about today's events and hoping that the 30 unemployed don't get marked with a scarlet letter A for "Aborted UCG experiment". UGC (dubbed VC2 by @Current)is not a failure.

what we need are people inside and out of current to comment on all the press, anonymously if need be, and to give recommendations and connections to the talented people looking for work now.

Will Al Gore's revolutionary network fall prey to the golden parachuting that is being called out from coast to coast? I hope that Current responds to the better angels of its nature.

Find the people you should be hiring for your UGC programming through my linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/malaise
and my twitter contacts: http://twitter.com/kalisti.

Shelf-life of a meme

2008-09-27T03:57:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting exchange pulled from my inbox history on a very disreputable site. I've replaced the actual link with the word meme for safety sake. The evaluation stands without it.

25 Sep 2008, 22:33
You: have you seen this meme?

25 Sep 2008, 22:56
skinnyboi: I've not seen that before.... it is totally ridiculous!

25 Sep 2008, 22:57
You: i know. i know

25 Sep 2008, 22:58
skinnyboi: i will cherish that site forever!

25 Sep 2008, 22:59
You: let's not make promises we both know we can't keep

25 Sep 2008, 23:27
skinnyboi: I feel there's a lack of trust in our relationship....
oh screw it, you're right. I'll cherish it for a while and then probably forget about it.

Wow Report's Earthquake Coverage

2008-07-29T15:54:00.001-07:00

Check out my face and twitter tweet, along with others at the WOW Report. http://worldofwonder.net/archives/2008/Jul/29/facequake.wow

I am Rambo

2008-05-15T15:26:00.001-07:00

I went to see I am Rambow and it was great. Funny and sweet, dramatic and unpredictable, etc. etc. etc. etc.

Welcome to May

2008-05-12T04:29:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Dan Levine and all my new friends and old friends for jump starting May with a great weekend party.

Thanks to Maker Faire for getting me out of the city. Thanks to the forces that be for getting me back into the city.

Vice Party @ Mezzanine Early May

2008-05-12T04:19:00.000-07:00

What do you want to know? I went for about half an hour. Everyone there was really cute. I saw a black-haired Zackary Drucker would-be.

They should have hired Pop Levi to play instead of Thunderheist and Black Ghost.

Read someone else's take HERE.

MGMT @ Slim's in SF

2008-05-12T04:02:00.000-07:00

I had a chance to see MGMT at Slim's a couple of weeks ago with some Current folk and a very nice young man from YouTube named George.

Here is an account of the concert from my twitter tweets. I used them to reflect on my experience as I was sliding farther and farther from sobriety at the hands of my friend's generous drink buying.

Sober at work:
MGMT tonight @ slims. 03:50 PM April 24, 2008 from txt

Walking to Slim's to get tickets, sober:
A pretty tree laying on the side of the road is sad. Eco-vandals be damned. 10:33 PM April 24, 2008 from txt

At Slim's where no tickets were to be found, sober:
I am @ slims waiting 4 tix to b released for MGMT. Feeling unglamorous but hopeful. 10:45 PM April 24, 2008 from txt

Tickets from heaven (t/y Leah) we head to the liquor store and then to George's lovely pad:
Hanging with the head o partnerships for youtube. He's cute, young and probably brilliant. Going 2 mgmt for sure tonight with him. 12:17 AM April 25, 2008 from txt

After a 6-pack of Fat Tire we head back to Slims to catch the last song of the opening act and the set change over. Shots of Whiskey and PBR begin to slow me down. I think I will give a profound review in realtime using twitter:
Mgmt's first offering is queen meets flaming lips 01:48 AM April 25, 2008 from txt
more beer, someone starts passing around pot
Secong offering is an abstract of beck 01:52 AM April 25, 2008 from txt
someone gets busted with pot
Now we are in the edm mode before we do the hits parade. 02:06 AM April 25, 2008 from txt
Still standing but far from sober
Here it is. Time to pretend. The dropout anthem. Visions of preraphielite sex ensue. 02:24 AM April 25, 2008 from txt
Having heard the song that brought me out I lose all thoughts of twittering the rest of my review.

Walking home, wasted and tired:
What an epic night on 2 main levels. Learning to abolish shame and being apt to deeper friendships. 02:59 AM April 25, 2008 from txt

Techno, Ya Know?

2008-04-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

Last night I got to attend a terrific intimate screening of Director Amy Grill's fantastic unfinished documentary. The film is about "minimalist techno," but like all great art it is about so much more. The characters are fascinating, the story is beautifully woven in many layers, and the music and visuals are AWESOME. Congratulations Amy. I don't want to jinx anything but I think you've got a hit on your hands.

Everyone else is just going to have to wait for it to be released. It's worth waiting. I'll post info here when it's available.

back and better than ever

2008-04-24T08:56:00.000-07:00

Hi,

If you're reading this it's because I told you you had to. Thanks for following instructions.

I'm returning to my blog because it's an easy way to keep everyone up to date despite my nutso schedule.

Please leave me comments and updates of your own!

Luv ya, mean it.

I've been a bad blogger...

2007-01-24T10:42:00.000-08:00

Sorry to keep you in the dark so long. Here's what's up.

Last week we started rehearsals at The Atlanta Opera for Romeo et Juliette. Everyone in the cast has great energy and has been lovely to work with. Our Juliette had to cancel days before reharsals began due to health and we managed to find a stunning replacement in Lyubov Petrova. She was already engaged in Atlanta to sing two concerts with the Symphony, so we lucked out that we could get her here for our second day of rehearsal to learn the staging. Romeo is Fernando de la Mora and he is great as well - probably the best you could get or want. The fight choreography has been completed and looks fantastic (choreographer David Coyle). I had a cold Monday that kept me home, so I haven't seen all the staging, but we should be done with everything Thursday and begin reviewing Friday, run-thrus Saturday through Tuesday and then after a day off we will move into the Civic Center Theatre for rehearsal Thursday - a week from today.

The great news is that my mom is coming to see the show. It will be the first show of mine that she will see since highschool. I plan to take her to the gigantic Atlanta Aquarium to see the whale sharks and everything else. I can't wait to see her and show her Atlanta.

I'll be back in LA 3 weeks from last night... the day before Valentine's day for all you keeping track.

Andrew's First Fondue

2007-01-14T16:49:00.000-08:00

In celebration of Heidi's birthday the Atlanta gang headed out on a culinary adventure. What lay in store for our modern day Magellans? Crocodiles, vats of boiling oil, a voyage aboard a sailing ship and a jazz trio?

We took Heidi to "Dante's Down the Hatch" for some fondue. When you walk indoor the restaurant is fashioned into an outdoor wharf with a big 1500's ship sitting in a moat with crocodiles! We sat in the ship right next to the jazz trio and had a blast. It's a hard place to describe, very unique and "experiential." See for yourself:

After dinner we went back to Casa de Heidi (which is also cada del lighting designer Ken) to sit by the outdoor fire in the cool night air. See Sherrie Dee stage managing the fire into submission with that red hot poker?

Never open your mail.

2007-01-14T15:07:00.000-08:00

You might get a jury summons. I did... for the day I'm supposed to fly back to LA from Atlanta. At least the Judicial System has a sense of humor. Now, I'm not going to shirk my civic duty, but I do have to postpone. I'm actually looking forward to the whole thing. I hope I get on a jury and get to make a decision - otherwise it feels like a waste to sit around in the selection process all day to not get picked. If I wanted that I'd try out for a basketball team.

Busted

2007-01-14T14:57:00.000-08:00

Heidi, The Atlanta Opera Production Manager takes a break with Sara from props and the stage managers for some brews and food at our regular hiding spot, Manuel's Tavern.

Back in "Da ATL" aka Atlanta, Georgia

2007-01-12T05:41:00.000-08:00

Yes, that's right. Your fan mail and urgent calls have beckoned me back to the scene of the crime. I'm glad to be back. Nobody does it like you Atlanta. Nobody.

I've revamped my MySpace

2007-01-07T15:38:00.000-08:00

Since even my mother has MySpace now, it's important to stay current or people will know just what a loser you are. It's been 4 months since my last update, but now it's all new and shiney. Check it out CLICK HERE.

Where's Andrew Now?

2007-01-06T01:23:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again. Time to head down to Atlanta to put on a little opera. I will be in Atlanta Jan 11th through Feb 12th working on Gounod's Romeo and Juliet. I'm going to come right out and say that it's not my favorite opera ever, but maybe by the time it's all said and done I will have a new appreciation for it. It promises to be a big show, so grab a date y'all and head to the Civic Center Auditorium for the best ole' Opera in Georgia.

Click Here to visit The Atlanta Opera for pictures and performance info.

Happy NewNew?

2007-01-06T01:03:00.000-08:00

I'd like to know why everyone is saying "Happy New New!"
Here in LA the phrase seems to have staged a coup, overthrowing the traditional "Happy New Year!" I may never understand.

Happy New Year everybody. I'm thinking 07 will be good.
As evidence I offer the following image from my New Year's Eve celebration.

View the rest of the album by Clicking Here

Absence makes the heart grow fonder, but it sure makes the rest of you lonely." -Charlie Brown

2006-12-30T12:21:00.000-08:00

Ugh. Chris, the fella I've been seeing left me a message that he isn't coming back to LA before I leave to ASM Romeo and Juliet at The Atlanta Opera. My flight leaves Jan 11 and his comes in Jan 12.... Not that I'm counting but he left 2 weeks ago and I won't see him for another 8.

Ain't that how it goes? No sooner do you start to enjoy yourself and you get kicked out of the garden of Eden.

2006-12-30T00:00:00.000-08:00

It's nice to be on PCH as the sun slips into the ocean.

Going out around Christmastime

2006-12-28T19:03:00.000-08:00

Christmastime is usualy when people stay home with loved ones. It's tradition, which is a big word for something you do over and over again because nothing better has occured to you. This year, I decided to buck tradition and stay home in LA alone - with friends. I can't talk much about what might have gone on over Christmas weekend, but I can tell you that Dorian Grey would have been as green as his carnation with envy. In fact, this posting must be cut short so that I can get ready to go to Fubar with a small group of my fellow tradition-bucking buckos. Lets talk more about tradition when I get back.

For those of you searching the archive, this is the first posting on this blog. Thanks for visiting. Y'all come back soon.