I'm all pooped-out today. It's a good feeling (relatively) to face exhaustion. I think I picked up my sister's cough though, so it's not entirely from exertion. I still have a lot of catching up to do. Tomorrow is another day.

Back in SF now... I got bumped on my Delta flight which separated me and my baggage and kept me in Atlanta for several extra hours. The upside is that if I want to fly Delta again in the next year, I have 200 "Delta Dollars." The downside is that I have to go to Oakland to get my bag. For the additional layover and trip to get my bag I earn 40 Delta Dollars an hour and have the satisfaction of knowing someone who was on a tighter schedule than I did got where they needed to be on time. For a minuete it looked like my man Rupert at gate B-28 was going to be able to bump me to first class, but it fell through. I did get seated next to an italian (?) couple who were in their late 30s/early 40s and madly in love. Acting like teenagers really. Kind of neat.

So I'm back in the Mission, listening to The Streets. Gonna hit the cafe and then ride the Bart. All my batteries are dead (chargers in the bag) so I can't make any calls for a while.

Things are moving. Movement is good.

Overheard at the conference.

Hip-Hop is the new Cotton

Think about it...

I'm in DC at the Free Culture Phase 2 conference in DC, meeting some friends again, and some internet heroes for the first time. It's an interesting mix, a good group. I haven't been in this part of the country in years. It's an interesting scene. Striking experiences seem to focus around cabs.

You might run into Zack Exley while you're bumbling into a taxi to head home from a strange and soulless bar on one of the hip strips outside the city. You might have an energetic driver from Trinidad with a sign on his dashboard that said "I AM COVERED WITH THE BLOOD OF JESUS" who's got big dreams of learning to fix computers and going back home to make it big. You might find yourself talking about hopping freight trains crammed in the back of a hired station wagon that's hauling nine people away into the night.

Now we're seated around in a great horseshoe

Note to all, movement has begun o'er at Vagabender dot com. Join the mailing list if you want to be informed when the next steps come to fruition.

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In other news, I watched the 2nd neo-Star Wars movie with my sister tonight. I think I'm content to wait for Episode 3 on video. The truth is, in spite of the mythical status of the franchise -- and that's the word for Lucas's little empire: franchise -- "Attack of the Clones" simply wasn't a very well made film. The script had very little rhythm. None of the characters were really engaging or well-explicated; the acting was uniformly weak, even from quality talents like Ewan, Natelie and Samuel; and the special effects were cartoonish and mostly distracting (the 45-seconds of Yoda wielding a light saber being the notable exception).

A few bright moments were the inclusion of the Fett story, which was carried off nicely, and the intentional irony of seeing Yoda lead stormtroopers into battle. The grand "political" storyline clicked once or twice, but without quality acting and a consistant script it's hard to sell anything that depends on actors communicating information to the audience. The film was mildly entertaining, but nothing more.

I have little recourse but to conclude that George Lucas is not a good film-maker. His original films succeeded because of an engagingly epic story which managed and artful balance of character, action, and galaxy-spanning plotline. They were executed by actors who brought life to their roles and backed by revolutionary special effects which even today seem highly realistic. The current run, by contrast, feels like a B-grade videogame -- complete with clunky dialogue, poor narrative rhythm and off-target acting, all glossed over with an over abundance of flashy 3D graphics which are supposed to make up for the lack of substance.

Of course, Lucas will still make out fine. Production costs have already been recouped through product placement and merch deals, so ticked sales and three rounds of DVD release are all gravy. Keep on humping that dream, George. Maybe your next act should be another TV special.

Just saw the Emerson BFA Film presentation. Lots of really good work. Inspiring.

My sister is a damn College graduate!

It's a small world I move in now; at a BBQ with my sister not only were her old friends there, but a girl who I'd met on friday at my birthday, and an MFA volunteer I met in NYC during the RNC. Brie's biting commentary: "It's like MySpace but in real life." It was a good little moment there.

Being on the move has brought some zip into my step. It helps me think like a revolutionary, and by making me a little bit of an observer I'm more likely to see good things. The stickers and sencils all up and down Pratt St; the shirtless wildmen working the grill; the filmmaking, householding and wild mix of different kinds of people.

It was quite a contrast with the actual commencement the next day, which I tend to think is more for the sake of the Institution and the people who support it (read: parents) than the students so much. But the Emmerson kids in general are a different breed. Reminded me of NYU's general population in somewhat disappointing ways. I like my sister's scene. It feels more robust and organic -- oddly mature compared to the kind of aura of mainstream comfort and institutional approval that floated around the college graduates.

Anyway, I'm feeling more free and easy. It's good to be on the road. It's good to meet new people. It's good to laugh and good to talk big and good to flirt with pretty girls (even when you get the heads up via [txt] that she's gulp just eighteen) and good to get a slice on the way home. I'm looking forward to really opening it up for the road. It's going to be amazing.

Party photos are up! Click any to get the page with all 28.

The party was a raging success. We demolished the comestables, including a clutch 2am air-drop of two cases of beer from none other than Jay Carson, who arrived from DC just when the keg kicked. I think everyone enjoyed. Truth is, I never really know what to do at such things, tending to run around doing whatever seems useful to help people have the best possible time, to "increase the fun," but there's something deeply life-affirming for me to wander around in the swirl of a popping social mixture.

Anyhow, thanks to the hosts who were generous enough to open their amazing loft apartment; to Andrew for being my chauffer early on; and to all who came and made it a great night. If I missed you, I'll catch you next time.

The show went over good last night. It was a big ETW reunion with pretty good vibes all around.

Party Arty tonight -- we'll have a keg and goodies; you bring friends to split a car home with. It will be fun.