i feel i've let you down...

All of you. I haven't blogged for a week or so!

The worst part about this scenario is that I don't have any excuse. Well, I've been somewhat busy but actually less busy than usual. Perhaps the lack of business has created a vacuum, sucking away purpose and therefore keeping me from blogging.

That's as good an excuse as any.

I am reading a great book, though. It's a kid's book, and it's been so long since I read a good kid's book that I'm loving this one. Only You Can Save Mankind, by Terry Pratchett. Since I've mostly read only his Discworld novels I thought it would be cool to see what his other novels are like.

But I'm not blogging about that. The reason I'm blogging is to tell you all that I won't be blogging.

I know, drag me off to the dungeons, put me in the Comfy Chair (oops, some of those Monty Python references left over from last week...), I'm not a true blogger.

You see, it's a little thing called NaNoWriMo, which, despite sounding like some sort of psychotic Anime cartoon, is an online phenomenon whose full name is National Novel Writing Month. From Nov. 1-30, I will be writing a novel whose blurb you will see at your right. Hopefully. I mean, not hopefully you will see the blurb at your right because you will unless some maniac broke in and cut your screen in half, but hopefully I will write the novel whose blurb is at your right.

So there it is. My confession. I won't be following blogs for the month of November, and I don't think I'll be blogging much. I'm so sorry. Please don't poke me with the Soft Cushions!

Scott Free

P.S.; Some GOOD news; new videos coming soon from Rock of David, so keep an eye on the channel or that video bar. ;)

ode to python

Or, Why Being A Fan of Monty Python Is Way Better Than Being a Fan of Anything Else.

For those of you who don't know what Britain is, Monty Python was a group of five British actors and one American animator that blew up penguins on top of the world's television sets from 1969 to 1983 and were to comedy what the Beatles were to music. From their show Monty Python's Flying Circus to their movies And Now For Something Completely Different, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python's Life of Brian and Monty Python's Meaning of Life, they had Europe and the Americas laughing so hard that many died.

And October 5th was the 40th Anniversary of the first show of Monty Python's Flying Circus. To celebrate there's going to be a whole big documentary that I am most certainly getting, but that's not important.

What's important is that you should be a Monty Python fan.

Why? Here's a few reasons.

Well, yeah, they're all cute, but they're all in their sixties today, except for Graham Chapman (top left), who's dead.

So here's some more reasons;

1. The shows and movies are some of the most random things on earth. From llamas to parrots to exploding old women, you can always reference a Python skit. Say you're hanging out with friends and you see a bowl of bananas. All you do is grab one and say 'Now! How to defend yourself against a man armed with a banana!' As long as they're Python fans as well, they'll laugh. If they're not, well...a self-defense course is in order.

2. The actors are all amazing and recur in all the material. Most of the cast with speaking parts in every movie and show is played by one of the six Pythons--so it's like seeing Ewan McGregor over and over again and playing a different role every time (and we all know we can't get enough of his acting). It gets so intense that you start laughing right when the skit starts and you see which Python is playing what role. (My favorite of the moment is Michael Palin, on the bottom right in the picture there.)

3. It flies by the seat of it's pants. If you have a fast mind that is really easily distracted (like me) or you're ADD, you will never be bored with Monty Python. For one thing, you never know whether a character is going to shoot somebody or float away, and for another, the show and, to a point, the movies all have a stream of consciousness format. You'll be watching something about a barber one minute and the next there's lumberjacks singing. If you like a good, well-developed plot, however, you're not going to find much in the movies; however, there are some really well-developed jokes. I often walk up to random people and ask, 'What is the air velocity of a laden swallow?'

4. There's a lot of semi-old pop culture references. And only the baby boomers and the middle-agers will get them so--want to suck up to your English teacher? Show them your ability to quote the Black Knight scene from the Holy Grail. Just don't let them get too into it and chop off your arms and legs.

4 1/2. They've even got a musical. And the Fish Slapping Dance is not one to miss.

So don't just stand their gawping like you've never seen the hand of God before! Get out and watch some sketches, rent some DVDs and celebrate the 40th Anniversary!

Scott Free

P.S. Do I get an award for Most Monty Python References In One Blog Post?

P.P.S. If you followed all those links and watched all those videos I will give you a medal.