Will photographers and models be essential in the future when anyone can just tell AI to create a photo shoot with a virtual model such as this simplified one above?
Friday 5 for June 20: What color is your parachute?
1. Which job on a film crew would you most like to do, and which would you be best suited for?
I was a producer for our student TV show many moons ago in college. That involved trying to round up a ton of chickens (talent and crew) to be in same place at the same time doing the tasks they signed up for. We had about a dozen people working on this for a short time and it was always a pain to get everyone there at the right time, rent the studio and finish the shoot within a prescribed time. And then there was post production which back in the day was all on 3/4 inch Sony U-Matic tape.. going from master to slave, etc. and cutting it in electronically on this big analog mixing board thing.
Today most of the stuff can be done on computer(s) depending on the size and scope of the production. Surely professional level movies and TV shows take a lot of people to put together... just watch the credits at the end of these... all kinds of specialists employed to get a show produced. Hence the huge budgets to get anything made.
Lisa and I wrote this for Assistance League of Hawaii and I storyboarded it out. We had it produced at Olelo TV in November. Somebody else coordinated the other parts like scheduling time, and bringing in the talent. It took a while to put together and it is only 40 seconds in length.
2. Which job on a hotel staff would you most like to do, and which would you be best suited for?
Probably working in their marketing department producing newsletters, taking photos, maybe updating their website, doing social media photography... who knows. I don't stay in hotels very much but I am sure they do a lot of marketing and media.
3. Which job in a hospital would you most like to do, and which would you be best suited for?
I am probably best suited for dying in the hospital. Got close to that once. That will probably happen again.
4. Which job on a cruise ship would you most like to do, and which would you be best suited for?
Um... probably similar to hotel. I would rather work onshore for their marketing department. Can't stand the thought of being cooped up on a ship, in crew quarters for most of the year. If I had to work on board ship, probably ship photographer, but I would prefer not to.
5. Which job on a fashion magazine would you most like to do, and which would you be best suited for?
I don't have any fashion industry experience, but then again being a fashion photographer may be nice but very demanding. Models can be difficult to work with. I'd probably be better suited for working as a production artist on a computer doing the graphics, page make-up. etc... though I have been out of mainstream print media for quite some time now. A lot of the Mac programs have changed over the last 20 years, much of it not good... especially Adobe products with their horribly expensive subscription model. I used to work in advertising many years ago. A lot of jobs above may be replaced by AI.
Haven't done one of these in awhile... so here goes... May 21. Ha! 1969 was a good year. Man landed on the moon. The Beatles were still a band, but only hangining on. They came out with at least two #1 hits that year. The Rolling Stones had a huge #1 hit. - "Honky Tonk Woman".... and Zager and Evans had their only #1 hit ever... "In the Year 2525".
1. How do you feel about bowling? (May 9: Billy Hardwick wins the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America all-star bowling tournament)
I don't bowl, and generally don't do sports because I suck at them all.
2. How do you feel about the comedy of Monty Python, and do you have a favorite bit? (May 11: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, and Michael Palin form Monty Python)
Not a fan of Monty Python, though I think I saw one of two movies... they were mostly terrible. Not a big fan of comedy movies in general.
3. How many Cate Blanchett films have you seen, and do you have a favorite? (May 14: Cate Blanchett is born)
I saw four of them, of which three were The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Never got around to seeing The Hobbit trilogy. The other movie of hers that I saw was Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull. As a group, the Rings trilogy was great.
4. What would you like to get back? (May 14: “Get Back” by the Beatles is the number one song in America).
One of the lines in the song is "Get Back to where you once belonged..."
Someday I need to move back to the Big Island... before I die.
5. Who’s your favorite Joni, and who’s your favorite Mitchell? Alternate spellings and forms of the name are allowed! (May 17: Joni Mitchell is on the cover of Rolling Stone #33)
I can't think of any Joni's except for Joni Mitchell... and she is NOT my favorite singer by miles. So that said, in terms of Joni's....NONE.
Mitchell? Hmmm. Don't know any except for you here on the blog and elsewhere online.
The following questions come from the Friday 5 blog.
1. Has the death of a famous person (not connected to you personally) ever made you cry?
Anyone famous is far removed from me, so the answer to this is "NO".
2. Have you ever sent money as relief aid after a disaster?
I sent $40 many years ago as disaster aid after Hurricane Iniki in 1992.
3. How will the recent declaration affirming alcoholic beverages as cancer-causing affect your consumption?
It won't. I don't drink alcoholic beverages at all. Never did. Never will.
4. What is the most bizarre (or difficult to understand) movie you’ve seen?
For the longest time it was 2001: A Space Odyssey until I read the book.
5. How willing and able are you to separate art from artist when a musican, actor, writer, or other creator is discovered to have behaved very badly?
Yep. I am able to separate the recordings the artist made from the bad behavior that they display in the public record. This would include The Rolling Stones, The Who, Rod Stewart and many other music artists who have trashed people, hotel rooms or worst, taken drugs. Many such as Jim Morrison, Keith Moon, Janis Joplin and others have died from drug abuse. All bad behaviors, but none of it has prevented me from enjoying the musical recordings they produced.
1. Among people who are professionally funny, who most reliably makes you laugh?
For my entire life since I was a kid, The Three Stooges have provided me years of laughs with their slapstick comedy shorts. I still laugh at them today.
2. Which films have made you laugh most?
One of them is Splash with Tom Hanks, Darryl Hannah, John Candy and Eugene Levy. To me Levy stole the show with his Dr. Walter Kornbluth character... "Behold the Mermaid!"
I get more laughs out of funny TV shows, especially older ones.
Various episodes of the TV series Seinfeld. "The Parking Space" episode is one of my favorites of all time, followed by the one with The Soup Nazi.
Other comedy TV shows that I like include:
- The Addams Family
- Gilligan's Island
- Green Acres
- The Beverly Hillbillies
- Beavis & Butthead
- The Simpsons
- South Park
3. Whose comedy leaves you flat?
Most modern comics who I can't recall their names, I find lame or offensive.
4. When did you most recently laugh aloud at something you read?
The breakdown of electoral college votes for the recently completed presidential election the day after... 270+ votes ending up with 312 for Trump. MAGA!
It was funny to read about all the goofy crybaby reactions from the liberal left losers. The videos were even more funny.
5. What are some of your favorite novelty songs?
Not in any order:
- The Three Stooges - Swingin' the Alphabet
- Jump in the Saddle Band - The Curly Shuffle
- Ogden & Edsel - Dead Puppies
- Barnes & Barnes - Fishheads
- Chuck Berry - My Ding A Ling
- Ray Stevens - The Streak; Ahab The Arab
- Napoleon the XIV - They're Coming To Take Me Away
- Elmo & Patsy - Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer
Hello, and welcome to this week’s Friday 5! Please copy these questions to your webspace. Answer the questions there; then leave a comment below so we’ll all know where to check out your responses. Please don’t forget to link usfrom your website!
1. What is the most grownup thing you did this week?
Completed the monthly newsletter for Assistance League of Hawaii. Got it emailed out on time - October 1.
2. What is the most adventurous thing you did this week?
Went to Diamond Head lookout early Wednesday morning, October 2 to take pictures of the partial solar eclipse.
3. What is the most foolhardy thing you did this week?
I did not do anything I consider foolhardy this week. I generally try to avoid that due to cost and/or embarrassment.
4. What is the most community-conscious thing you did this week?
Same as #1: Completed the monthly newsletter for Assistance League of Hawaii. Got it emailed out on time - October 1.
5. What is the the quietest thing you did this week?
I went to sleep early the other night.... around 9:00 pm.
Babylon 5 remains my favorite science fiction TV show of all time and here is a small reason why:
2. If you are forced to choose only one, what is the greatest opening line of a song, ever?
I first heard this song at the age of 10 in 1967. We got this old Brenda Lee album that was released in 1960 after my Uncle Robert died at a young age of 29. The album was seven years old by then, but when I played track 1 on side 2 of the record, my 10 year old self thought... oh my this song sounds naughty but I did not know why.
After a few nondescript seconds of hard to decipher whispers, the first three words spoken by Brenda Lee caught me and has remained with me ever since:
"Aha Honey, Alright...." I did not know what it exactly meant at the time, but I always associated the song with something naughty or sexy. After all it is about "Sweet' Nothins'" and Brenda Lee herself was only 14 when she recorded the record in 1959. Wow! Take a listen. It is one of my favorite early pop music tracks ever.
3. If you are forced to choose only one, what is the greatest movie kiss of all time?
That wet kiss in the original Spiderman movie from 2004 is quite memorable. Kirsten Dunst and Tobey Maguire, from the first movie series released from Sony and not from Disney's crazy franchise.
Otherwise most kissing scenes are not very memorable to me, though I have probably seen too many. I tend to gravitate toward sci-fi and action movies where kissing is not central to the story.
4. If you are forced to choose only one, what is the greatest building of all time?
I think for a building to be great, you must have gone to see it for yourself. That said I hardly ever traveled out of state in my life since it is so expensive. The last time I left was in the last century when I took that long trip on a Boeing 747... Gotta love those big 4 engine jets.
That said, while I never went inside them, I did see the twin towers of the original World Trade Center back in 1974 when they were still being built. The one building I went inside to visit was the Empire State Building in NYC. I guess for me it is the greatest building that I have ever visited, but definitely not the greatest building of all time... I don't know... maybe that gigantic vehicle assembly building where they put together Apollo Saturn 5, the Space Shuttle and now Space X Falcon 9s and Super Heavys at Cape Canaveral Florida.
5. If you are forced to choose only one, what is the greatest candy — not a candy bar — of all time?
M & Ms Plain or Peanut.
I also liked Horlicks Milk Chocolate tablets that came in a small jar with a red cover cap. They are no longer made.
Hello, and welcome to this week’s Friday 5! Please copy these questions to your webspace. Answer the questions there; then leave a comment below so we’ll all know where to check out your responses. Please don’t forget to link us from your website!
1. How do you feel about vending machine food?
Candy, potato chips and other junk foods are the highlight of most vending machine food fare. My feelings about them? Is this all there is? They are expensive! Cheaper at the supermarket for better food. It is a good thing none are near me.
2. Where on this planet is the vending machine you’ve given the most money?
My bank ATM machine when I make deposits to my own account(s).
3. Have you ever purchased a non-food, non-beverage item from a vending machine?
Yes.... Money! A Bank ATM vends cash when after you insert your bank debit card or any credit card.... in denominations of $20 usually. I only use my debit card for these at my own bank. Don't want to pay for the fees for using my card in some bank that I don't belong to.
Another type of vending machine I used a long time ago is a Jukebox...where you could play a recorded song on a 45 rpm record for about a dime back in my kid days, and a quarter later... long before the Walkman, iPod and other personal music audio devices.
And of course who can forget a payphone? I've used these off and on more than 35 years ago. There are still a few of them around, though the best ones can be found in posh hotels and at big international airports.
4. Where’s the nearest vending machine right now, and what would you get from it if you were to go immediately?
There is a Coca Cola machine four floors down in the building I live in.
5. What would you like to see in a vending machine?
1. Which obscure song is better than well-known songs by the same artist?
There are plenty... but for now I will go with Paul McCartney. Here is a guy that goes all the way back to the 1960s and most well known for being one of the four Beatles. However his career continued moving forward from the 1970s til today. Over those decades he has churned out many memorable and popular tracks on his own, as well as with his next group, Wings. That said, here are my Top 5+5 "obscure" hits by Paul McCartney.
1. I'll Give You A Ring (1982)
2. Ou Est le Soleil (1989)
3. Temporary Secretary (1980)
4. Seize the Day (2020)
5. Country Dreamer (Paul McCartney & Wings - 1973)
From Scrivener's Friday 5 blog, here are the questions and answers nearly a week late.
1. How much experience do you have with tobacco?
Personally ZERO - and all instances that I ran into damn tobacco smoke have been NEGATIVE. Stinky. Awful. Foul. Why burn good money on this crap????
2. What have you made with wood?
When I was in middle school I made a wooden napkin holder and doorstop for woodshop class. I have a picture of those somewhere... can't find it now.
3. What do you think of farmers markets in your area?
I rarely go, though when I do go I like looking around and buying some fresh veggies and fruit. Some of these markets also sell too many non-farm produced trinkets which I never buy.
4. What’s a good movie, novel, or TV show containing a shipwreck?
While the fictional love story is basically crap, the re-creation of the sinking of the Titanic is great... Gotta love the special effects of that sinking in the movie.
Other great shipwreck movies:
The Poseidon Adventure (1972)
Mysterious Island (1961)
The Final Countdown (1980) - what if a massive shipwreck event could be prevented....
And the ultimate shipwreck TV series.... Gilligan's Island... a silly but classic TV show of all time.
5. What’s a good song with the word magic in its title or lyrics?
Here are a few quick titles...
Magical Mystery Tour - The Beatles
Magic - The Cars
You Can Do Magic - America
Magic - Olivia Newton John
Magic's In the Dancing - Lighthouse
Black Magic Woman - Fleetwood Mac; famously covered by Santana
Water is the only thing I drink 98% of the time during my day. Since I have to take my morning medications, I almost 100% take them with water.
2. What was the last song you heard?
This changes by the minute or at the most a few hours. Except when I am at work, I always have some music playing. Right now that song is "The River" by the fictional rock band Daisy Jones & The Six from the Amazon Prime TV series of the same name. This is what I was listening to when I was typing up the responses for this blog on Google Docs a few hours ago.
You can keep up to date on what I last listened to by checking out my Last FM profile:
I love music, music genres, lists and tracking the songs I listen to through a process called "scrobbling" at the Last FM website. I also publish music charts on my blog and at the M4B Personal Charts site online where chart geeks hang out.
M4B Charts Website- my username there is macprohawaii.
My current most favorite song since September 2023 is "Angry" by The Rolling Stones. It is quite surprising that these three remaining 80 year old guys can still rock it along with their much younger back-up musicians. So in the end of my most recent scrobbles, you'll find "Angry" as the song I last played.
3. What are your feelings about ghosts?
The day I see and photograph one I'll believe it. Currently: No.
4. How do you feel about camping?
Inconvenient but could be fun. The last time I camped out was on July 11, 1991. I slept in a car waiting for a total solar eclipse to occur early the next morning.
5. What are your thoughts on showers vs. baths?
Showers are quicker. Both can be fun if you can do something creative with them. But for the most part I'm in a hurry and have to move on.
The following questions come from the weekly Friday 5 blog. Scrivener says, "Please feel free to define TV anyway you wish." - For me TV is well, TV, computer, tablet and smart phone. Mostly I watch TV on my Mac.
BTW, when was the last time you saw a TV with a dial on it?
1. What’s the most boring thing on TV?
Too much to mention. There are so many boring things on TV, but I would guess a test pattern, snow (on old analog TV sets) and the blue screen of death are probably the most boring things on TV. I mean a test pattern. How long can you stand watching this:
2. What’s the most enlightening thing on TV?
Nothing is really enlightening on TV. Perhaps if you are of faith there may be some types of religious programs that you might find enlightening.
3. What’s the most comforting thing on TV?
Free streaming from YouTube, Pluto TV, TUBI TV and other streamers... plus TV stations that you can catch for FREE using an antenna. It is comforting to know that despite annoying ads, a lot of content is available and you don't have to spend a single penny to get it...re: no subscription fees. All the free streams are good for background noise while you do something else. My favorites are music mixes and Airline Videos.
4. What’s the tawdriest thing on TV?
Currently any press conference coming out of The White House.
5. What’s the most thrilling thing on TV?
That changes a lot from time to time. Thrilling can be anything from rocket launches, Dragon spaceflight, Starship, Falcon 9, Falcon Super Heavy, etc. (think Space X) to science fiction TV shows and movies that I watch over and over again: Babylon 5, Star Trek (various), Star Wars, The Expanse, The X Files, The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits; anything in space and sci-fi oriented. I also like the Taylor Sheridan produced shows, many which I have yet to watch.... think Yellowstone and several spin-offs.
A lot of Space X content streams live on YouTube and NASA TV. All free of charge. Yay!
I was going to use The Brady Bunch's "hit" single "Time to Change" for this Friday 5 Answer. However I am late in answering and saw that two other bloggers used the song in their responses. That said I offer this song of "Change" from 2013. It was my favorite song of that year... the band is Churchill, who disbanded shortly after this became a #1 alternative rock hit and a free iTunes giveaway.
1. If you could change one minor thing about your life right now, what would you choose?
What I do is usually safety check my car about 1 or 2 days after the expiration date. That way my next safety check deadline is pushed to the next month of the following year. Been doing this now for several years.
2. What’s your favorite bubblegum?
Bazooka Bubble Gum.. if you combined two or more together they could make the biggest bubble ever that broke on your face. Plus it had that funky Bazooka Joe comic strip folded within the gum wrapper. It was back in my day only a penny per gum. I haven't seen this bubble gum in ages. I looked it up, the company Bazooka is still in business making the gum, though the comic strip is no longer offered.
3. When did you most recently need an unexpected change of clothing?
While it was not expected, a few times I was caught in a rainy downpour... but then I was just wearing very casual clothes so I did not much care... plus I was close to home. We haven't had rain in a long time here.
4. Where do you keep your (currency) change?
Dollar bills assorted - Mostly in my wallet.
Loose Change / Coins - In plastic 35mm film containers and prescription pill bottles. Also some loosely in desk drawers, car console area.
5. When did you most recently need a change of scenery?
I haven't traveled out of the Honolulu urban core for more than three years now. I probably do need a change of scenery, even if only temporarily.
Hey! In keeping with this week's theme... I'm late with my reply to the Friday 5 questions. Yay!
1. When did you last miss a scheduled appointment?
Hair cutter back in May of 2023.
2. What’s usually the reason you’re late for something?
When I don't really want to be there and I know there will be no line to wait in.
3. What have you recently finished well in advance of a due date or deadline?
Usually the Assistance League of Hawaii monthly newsletter.
4. In your daily life, what strategies do you use for not being in a hurry?
The main one is BE EARLY. Leave early, especially if what you need to do is on some other entitie's schedule that you rely on... like... um... airline travel. I am always at the airport 2 or 3 hours before flight. You can never tell if there will be some long ass line at TSA, ticketing or both.... I like being early at the airport because that gives me an excuse to take pictures, though often times of numerous planes that are the same airline as the one you are flying on.
I hate missing planes especially if you have someone at the other end who will pick you up at the airport.
1. When did you last visit a building where legislation or executive governing take place?
Hawaii State Capitol - May 2023.... will be visiting again next week.
2. What do you carry on your person, in a bag, or in your car, just in case?
Either my primary smartphone (Google Pixel 4a) or my secondary "dumbphone", an Alcatel Smartflip 2. I was opposed to cell phones for a long time until I needed one in 2014 to communicate on the go and at work with my slowly dying Mom. I got a cheap 3G Smartphone at that time, which eventually saved my life in late 2015 after I suffered a mild heart attack at a public park. After that I always have one of them with me.
3. When did you last lower yourself (physically) through an opening of some kind?
It was either in 2010 on a tour aboard the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier, or more recently in 2015 on another tour on the historic battleship U.S.S. Missouri. Lots of climbing up and down, especially the carrier.
4. How do you feel about the death penalty?
I'm all for it in its use in capital crimes such as murder, serial murder, treason against the United States of America, and for serial rape.
5. Which vocalists most impress you with their ability to sing in the upper register?
Off the top of my head Art Garfunkel comes to mind... and maybe Jon Anderson in the group Yes. Of course there is always the late Tiny Tim... "Tiptoe through the tulips with me...."
However females can naturally hit high notes and for me the most famous locally is Genoa Keawe, a Hawaiian music singer who could hit high notes and sustain them with aplomb. See video at the top of this posting.
Below inside the Hawaii State Capitol Senate Chamber earlier this year. I work there part of the time.
Shades of The Hues Corporation for a song that is only a few years younger than you Mr. Scrivener. "Don't rock the boat, don't tip the boat over." I remember when the song went to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 as Casey Kasem counted the hits down on American Top 40 back in the summer of 1974.
Anyways here are my answers to these disco music inspired questions.
1. When did you most recently feel you should be dancing?
Not in this century. Back in the late 1970s and early 1980s I did some stints as a disco DJ... that was another lifetime ago, though all of the songs linked to in these questions were popular dance numbers at the time I was working.
2. What hot stuff have you recently consumed?
Black pepper? Mostly seasoning on stuff. A recent Saffron Road microwave dinner was quite spicy hot.
3. What kind of side-hustle would be fun to try?
I don't know if I would be relevant now, but mobile DJ again. However today it is probably real easy as you can load your entire dance trax and much more into a laptop computer(s). Back in the day it was a couple of crates of heavy LPs, 45s and 12 inch singles - and then there is the heavy gear.. nope not going there. Plus no one worried about copyright and public airplay back in those days.
Probably a better one would be radio DJ if that were available, but most radio stations are all computerized.
Other than that I have done freelance desktop publishing and wedding photography in the past. The latter is too stressful to cope with at my advanced age. Was fun in the film days because not everyone was good at shooting photos in those days, and no one had a smartphone or digital camera.
4. What were some of this summer’s good times?
None. I'm just plodding through life at my slow, mundane, old way.
5. What are your plans for Saturday night?
More than likely staying home, watching a movie and maybe ordering a pizza to go.
1. What is your system or routine for paying bills?
Some are on auto pay, others are manual via online payment. A few are done the old fashioned way, "send in a check". I don't do any mobile payments. Only my wired Mac computer.
2. Forced to choose from a lion, bear, and panther, which would you keep as a pet, which would you put on your family crest, and which would you be reincarnated as?
Crest - Lion
Pet - Bear
Reincarnated - Panther
And all of these are names of NFL football teams.. maybe I should be reincarnated as an NFL team owner?
3. Who in your life is (metaphorically!) a saint?
No one is perfect. So the answer is NONE.
4. Assuming no negative impact on the environment and all expenses covered by someone else, where would you go (and what would you do) right now if someone offered you use of a private jet?
First back to the Big Island and then traveling in different places around the United States. Of course it would depend on the size and range of the jet.
5. Brown gets a lot of hate, but what are some lovely brown things?
One of the cars I used to own was brown. Dirt is mostly brown but you need it to grow things. I don't have any hate of brown. Heck I am brown skinned myself. So there.
1. Which charitable organizations do you think do especially meaningful work?
There are many that do good work. But from my biased perspective, I will go with Assistance League (of Hawaii). I am their website administrator, photographer and newsletter editor. Our mission statement:
"Assistance League volunteers transforming the lives of children and adults through community programs."
In other words, we provide needy children and families with school clothes, supplies, baby items, emergency supplies, education services reading enrichment (through our OWL and literacy services programs) and much more.
2. When has someone recently appreciated your giving them your time?
The member volunteers from Assistance League of Hawaii like the work I do for their website and monthly member newsletter.
3. When have you asked someone to give you a little space?
I keep my distance and rarely have to ask anyone to give me more space.
4. What do you simply not give a darn* about, despite its mattering to your friends or relatives?
Dogs. High maintenance, costly waste of money, messy, noisy, smelly, jumpy and sometimes biting. Yuck! How can people put up with such creatures... especially indoors, on bedding, furniture and everywhere else these stinky things go. Ugh!
5. What are you close to giving up on?
Hulu, Paramount+ when the 1 year promotional trial rates expire.
1. What is an ideal career for someone who’s your exact opposite?
Communist party chancellor, president or dictator.
2. What do most people not know about your job?
That for the last few years, I occasionally work there.
3. Which stereotypes about people in your job are pretty close to accurate?
Government bureaucrats.
4. Which movie or TV series has a pretty good portrayal of your job?
I can't pinpoint any to the nth degree. But thinking back on most of the jobs I had, it would be within the legislative profession, photography or the advertising/marketing area.
5. Which wild animal would be best suited to doing your job?
Donkey... plenty of those there.
The public arena where I have spent several years working, lately though only part time.
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