Impulse

Team OC Quattro, the team I filmed three years ago for my documentary, will be crossing the finish line again in the Race Across America 2009.  They’re currently in third place, and have maintained an average speed of 19 MPH (and that includes the Rockies & Appalachia!).  Not only that, they’ve raised over $100,000 for their charities.  By the time I wake up tomorrow, they’ll be celebrating their finish (probably by going to sleep!). 

I’m psyched that they’re doing so well, and really wish I could be there with them.  Congratulations to the team & crew! 

Posted by Rob McKaughan in Pure drivel at 12:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As thousands huddled in winter coats & hats in D.C. yesterday morning, I shivered in layers of blankets in my living room (no, it wasn’t an act of solidarity—my heat’s been out for a week), glued to the TV to watch Senator Obama become President Obama. It was a great moment that I’d been looking forward to for a long time—especially the inaugural address. I’ve long been a fan of great oratory and had high hopes for this speech from an excellent orator on a momentous, long awaited day. I was a little disappointed.

Continue reading "Hello President Barack Obama"

Posted by Rob McKaughan in Casual commentary , Politics at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

A recent support call proved to me a few things about service.  I called to start the transfer process of my domains from register.com to another registrar.  The operator convinced me to stay:

Everything is negotiable.  My reason for switching registrars was price: Register.com charges $35/y/domain; the competition charges $10). Talking with the operator, it turns out that there’s some flexibility in pricing. Now I’m renewing at $8/y/domain. 

Small talk goes a long way.  The operator didn’t put me on hold while she was working—she asked about the weather. We chatted about grey winters & snowstorms between trading information for the domain renewals. The net result: I felt like I was being treated as a real human by a real human instead of being a participant in a machine-like, protocol-driven transaction. It made a huge difference and all it took was the age-old conversation tactic of talking about the weather. 

Posted by Rob McKaughan in Casual commentary at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

After almost two and half years, I’ve finally completed my Race Across America movie. No, really! It’s done, finished, fertig, finis. It’s ready to show.

Wow! It’s still sinking in that it’s done. I’ve been working on, thinking about, worrying about, and fussing over this thing for over 2 years. It’s defined my thinking for that entire time. The idea that there’s nothing left to do feels kind of alien.

And extremely freeing. I’ve got so many projects I want to start.

Continue reading "RAAM: Finish line"

Posted by Rob McKaughan in Movies , My creative work at 09:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)

(poster designed by the talented Jonathan Hoefler)

Posted by Rob McKaughan in Politics at 11:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I meant to post this a few days ago after finishing my ballot.  It was to be accompanied by inspiringly patriotic text.  Now, though, I’m just glued to my browser; too addicted to the statistics and tallies to even go make myself dinner.  Instead, I guess I’ll just look at this cupcake (from world renowned Trophy Cupcakes down the street).

Posted by Rob McKaughan in Politics at 06:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

There’s a guy standing outside the coffee shop I’m typing away in. He’s canvassing our very blue neighborhood, raising money for Democratic candidates in battleground districts throughout the country. I know it’s legal and that everyone seems seems to be doing it nowadays (moveon.org and the DSCC are constantly at it) but I don’t like it. I don’t think it’s my place to put my thumb on the scales of another district.

Continue reading "Thumbing the scales of democracy"

Posted by Rob McKaughan in Casual commentary , Politics at 04:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I’m convinced that I run on chocolate chip cookies.  In the last two weeks, there have been a number of times when I felt unproductive, slow, moody, ill.  Each of those times that I then had a chocolate chip cookie, I soon became happy, productive, and loving life. 

Proof positive that cookies make Robs go.  If I donated blood, it’d probably be 65% cacao.

(And yes, earlier today, I did the calculation of how many cookies I would have if I were paid in cookies instead of dollars (market resources report that the cookie is up vs the dollar and euro in late trading today)).   (photo by wenday :D)

Posted by Rob McKaughan in Life , Pure drivel at 03:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It’s always entertaining to watch as an adult cartoons that I’d seen as a kid.  It can be very disappointing (which is why I’ll never re-watch the classic Speed Racer cartoons).  Sometimes, though, it’s fascinating: seeing all the little jokes and subtext that no child can decipher.  Chicken Little just blew me away.  Sure, it’s the story of Chicken Little, but the political overtones are huge.  Watch it and think about politics over the last 10 years, or the recent economic crisis (or any recent crisis).  It’s a good example of how we retell stories to teach ourselves, and how to make a clear political point using creative media.  (Thanks to 4HWW for reminding me of the cartoon).

Posted by Rob McKaughan in Craft and technique , Politics at 11:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Race Across America took a detour to the UK the last few weeks as I headed off to Cambridge.  A very nice city Cambridge is; I’d happily spend more time there.  The place positively reeks of knowledge & learning.  Great ancient buildings (giving it a Harry Potter atmosphere), twisty roads, good curry, and I got to work with very cool people.

In the meantime, though, I’m back in Seattle where a little work on the titles for the movie, and a lot of reading await me. 

Posted by Rob McKaughan in Life , Travels at 02:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)