05.31.07
Posted in Books at 21:34 pm by Josh
It was a good month for reading, partly because the books were good and partly because the books went fast. I’m hoping to keep this momentum for the summer but it’s not likely. Without further ado:
The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice- Continuing with my vampire adventures/inspiration, I thought I’d read the “queen” of horror for a change from Mr. King. The novel was beautiful and captivating to start, but gets very slow and tedious midway through. Gothic immortality centered around human blood is only entertaining for so long before it becomes depressing and gross. 3.5/5
Christ Our Lord: Out Of Egypt by Anne Rice- I was curious, and you know what they say about curiosity. I can’t say the book was a let-down; it’s actually exactly what I expected. The only thing that caught me off guard was that Rice was bold enough to write in first person about a seven-year-old Jesus. It was particularly not believable because of this. Of course, I may be slightly biased since I don’t really believe that Jesus Christ had a coming-of-age struggle with who He was destined to be. Especially not at seven. 2/5
Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut- Inspired by his recent death 
, I’ve always wanted to read this Vonnegut classic and just never got around to it. Cynical, witty, and quite amusing. I’ve wondered if I should add a little sci-fi to my war novel. So it goes. 4/5
Wise Blood by Flannery O’Connor- Alissa has been promoting O’Connor lately so I thought I’d give it a try. This was O’Connor’s first, and it was interesting enough. It is the story of a preacher man who comes home from war no longer a believer. Trouble is, everyone looks at him and thinks he’s a preacher. So he starts the Church Without Christ, and preaches a new gospel. Blasphemy at it’s best, I’m especially tickled that this was written by a Christian 
. 3/5
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis- Whoa. This book oozes theological clarity like you’ve never read it before. If you are a Christian, or if you have any desire to understand the Christian lifestyle and philosophy, read this book. Likewise, if you enjoy posh, British cynicism, read this book. 5/5
About The Author by John Colapinto- Yes! Finally, a work of fiction that is unequivocally, indisputably, brilliant. Never before have I so loathed a character as I did Les and never before have I so wanted to loathe a character as I did the narrator. Best of all, never before have I so wanted to publish. The plot turns, the details, the intensity, the humor…I don’t even know how to put it all down here. Read it, read it, read it. 6/5
Yes, I can break the rating scale. In case you forgot, it’s my weblog 
See you next month!
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Posted in Life at 08:49 am by Josh
When paying off a credit card, be sure that you are paying from the correct bank account.
:-/
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05.30.07
Posted in Writing, Life at 20:25 pm by Josh
The trouble that I have with being a writer is that I can no longer type something in an entirely succinct fashion. That is, I seem to be unable to write simple e-mails like, “Hey, how’s it going? What are you up to this week?”. Even my text messaging suffers because I have to write out whole words (most of the time). Like, I know when I could abbreviate, I think about the abbreviation, but then my brain says, “No, you can type the whole thing out. Really. It’ll be more fun.” So I do. By the way, if it takes me a minute to get a text message back to you, that’s why
This week’s personal assignment: write only what I need to write in e-mails and blog entries. Save the rest for fiction.
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05.29.07
Posted in Announcements at 08:57 am by Josh
Okay, I’ve gone back to the old appearance of this blog for a couple of reasons, but most notable is my desire for italicized writing to actually come out in italics rather than bold. I’m sure this is a quick code fix but remember, I know nearly nothing about code. If I did, don’t you think I’d create my own skin so I don’t have to mooch off of other people all the time? Yeah, I would.
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05.28.07
Posted in Announcements, Writing at 21:42 pm by Josh
Dark Island is done. For real. No, seriously…for real. Thanks to Alissa’s home-stretch crunch last week, I was able to engage in an epic editing session which saw about an hour on Thursday, three hours on Saturday and (get this) nine hours today. This story is now as good as it’s going to get which, I hope, is good enough to get published. Time will tell. For now, I will say that Alissa is a fine editor and unless you’re the sensitive type, you should pay her to critique your work. If, however, you tend to get teary-eyed and self-loathing when people mark up your creation, don’t even give her your work or else you might be tempted to take your own life. She’s brutal 
And now back to a movie…alone…still…*sigh*
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05.26.07
Posted in Writing at 16:55 pm by Josh
Separate and so far away
Those days when all we did was play
Am I the only one You chose to save
Would You not have just one friend to stay
Someday I’ll know and then I’ll cry
For all the souls that were born to die
Who brought me joy in my youthful days
Separate and so far away
~Joshua Cacopardo
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05.25.07
Posted in Today, Announcements, Life at 08:51 am by Josh
Happy Birthday to Star Wars! 30 years! Anyone a big enough dork with me to have a theme party?
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Posted in Theater at 08:48 am by Josh
I saw .0. last night which was quite impressed (as well as relaxed in the outdoor setting). The show was conceived by my dear friend Katie (whose website is soon to come) and it was done (illegally) in a small park on the far side of the Williamsburg Bridge, right on the water. A very old friend happened by with a large container filled with fruity white wine which was very nice and the show itself was quite lovely; a dance piece loaded with unique percussion and very Dr. Seussish sort of movements. If you are interested it is happening again tonight at 11:30 and tomorrow at 9 (I think). Check the website and if you are looking for The White Rabbit, we now must make a distinction: It is the boy White Rabbit as last night, by the most bizare of coincidences, there was a lovely girl white rabbit who came by and stood on the same corner. It was a good laugh, but also one of those surreal New York moments where your brain goes dark, the night lights get brighter and you wonder what, in fact, was in that Pabst Blue Ribbon the bar gave you for free.
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05.24.07
Posted in Funnies, Life at 11:24 am by Josh
Alissa has tagged me in another blogging fiasco aimed at disclosing things about me a person should only really learn as they get to know me. If I keep spilling my secret past this way it is possible that I shall never find a wife.
The rules:
1: Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
2: People who are tagged, write a blog post about their own 8 random things, and post these rules.
3: At the end of your post you need to tag 8 people and include their names (I will likely tag fewer than 8 ).
4: Don’t forget to leave them a comment and tell them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.
1: When I was little my legs were pronate and so this silly doctor put me on bars to correct the problem. He over-corrected it and now my feet are supinate. Jerk.
2: Though I enjoyed an extensive collection of Thundercats and Star Wars action figures, I also fancied tea parties with my sister. I am comfortable enough in my masculinity to share this, however, it has dawned on me that it, too, will be of little help to my dating situation.
3: I didn’t like beer until I was 19 (for those of you who know me well, you understand how shocking this may be )
4: When I was in second grade I began writing a short-story series called “House of Horrors”. It involved lots of that smelly beige paper, stick figures, rather gruesome scenes of death and torture (for a seven-year-old) and dialogue which probably rivals my current talents in the same category. No one took me to counseling, I didn’t grow up to be a serial killer, and I’m as generally sane as anyone else who lives in NYC.
5: Being the younger of two boys, I was always made to play the bad guy when my brother and I were imitating our favorite movies. I believe this contributed to some developmental issues down the road as I was always losing because, after all, good guys always win. Of course, when Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade came out I was elated because that movie had two good guys. That was when we realized it was really hard to play together if we were both good guys. So I had to be a Nazi
6: I used to be an excellent basketball player and once upon a time, I could jump high enough to dunk on a regulation size hoop. I attended basketball camp for seven years and was one of the best rebounders around. Sometimes I wish I still played…anyone for a pick-up game?
7: I have always weighed under 140 lbs. Always.
8: I got one Discipline Slip when I was in elementary school which I was supposed to have signed by the principle and put in my official file. I was given the slip and sent to the principle’s office for this procedure to take place. When I got there, they told me the principle wasn’t in which I already knew because I had passed him in the hall and said, “Hello”. I returned to my classroom and, when the teacher wasn’t looking, I threw the Discipline Slip out and never told anyone about it. My record stayed clean until my first detention in September of 1996 which eventually led to my two-week suspension from school in October of 1997. You’ll be glad to know that most of my disciplinary problems are over.
So, about that tagging…I don’t actually read blogs (I’ve discovered that I’m a blog-hog). Since Alissa already tagged me and I obviously can’t tag her back, that leaves me only with Kyleen whose blog I’m happy to motivate into more regular updates If I think of someone else, I’ll let you know.
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Posted in Announcements, Theater at 08:50 am by Josh
If you like bizarre outdoor theatre for FREE, come and meet The White Rabbit tonight on the south side of Suffolk & Houston at 8:30 (or earlier). F to Delancey is your best bet, J to Essex if you’re coming from Brooklyn. The show is at 9, runs 50 minutes, and we’ll be led there by The White Rabbit. For more info (but not much), visit http://point0point.net I hope to see you there
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