Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Off To The Other Coast

So, I’m heading to LA tomorrow for a few days vacation and to attend the Script PIMP awards ceremony in Santa Monica on Friday.

I’m wicked psyched – looking forward to meeting some new industry contacts and 19 fellow spec writers. Always good to expand the circle. Ready to shake some hands, share some stories, make some plans.

It’ll also give me a chance to reconnect with some friends out there that I haven’t seen in a while. But the dance card’s not full so if anyone’s gonna be in town and wants to grab a beer, I’m game.

Unless you’re a lunatic.

You’re not a lunatic, are you?

Friday, August 22, 2008

Hometown Crime

I grew up in Montpelier, VT -- an awesome place to live for reasons that will soon become clear.

My little brother still lives there and just sent me a link to the city's police log, which is regularly published in the local paper. Take a look, and you'll see why it's such a great place to live. Whoever writes these must be having so much fun.


Montpelier police log
August 22, 2008


These are some of the major calls Montpelier police responded to from Aug. 6-13.

Aug. 6

One Cummings Street resident wasn't very happy with a stinky visitor. Police received a call about a skunk that had made numerous visits to the property.

Police received a call around 9 p.m. about three kids in dark clothing on the path behind the high school. When police arrived they found no one at the scene.


Aug. 7

One College Street resident learned that a newly adopted dog named Tank was afraid of thunder. Police were called around 12:45 p.m. by the new owners about the dog's escape during an afternoon thunderstorm. A neighbor found Tank and he was returned to his owners.

A black purse was found in a Main Street doorway with no one around. The purse was turned in to police.


Aug. 8

Vermont State Police contacted Montpelier police to let them know a woman had called on her cell phone to report protesters on River Street. When state police received the call the protesters were in front of Tractor Supply. Around 11:45 a.m. Montpelier officers found a group of about 20 people protesting Vermont Yankee and the use of nuclear energy walking on Barre Street.

A woman called police to report witnessing a vehicle cutting off another, causing the second to drive off the road into the parking lot of Walker Motors. The same vehicle had cut off another at the intersection of Barre and Granite streets. The driver of the vehicle was identified as a 73-year-old woman when she called police. She reported a woman had approached her in the parking lot of the Dollar Store and yelled at her for forcing other vehicles off the road. The driver told police she did not recall forcing anyone off the road while behind the wheel. Police did not hear from the affected motorists.

Around 11:30 p.m. police received a call about an alleged theft of a left-handed banjo from a dorm room on College Street.


Aug. 9

A woman called police to report her daughter's apartment may have been broken into because the deadbolt was unlocked. There were no disturbed items in the apartment.


Aug. 10

A woman called police after a neighbor came by around 10 a.m. on Aug. 9 and found a pot of coffee made. The caller had not been up before the neighbor's arrival and suspected that someone had entered the residence and brewed a pot of coffee. Later that day police retrieved the pot of coffee to test it for fingerprints.

Police received a call from a New York man who wanted a case on stolen art be opened and offered police the name of the alleged thief. The accused party later called police and reported being harassed by the first caller.


Aug. 11

Karl Hammer was issued a citation for a charge of violating a city ordinance around 8:15 a.m. Hammer's neighbors called police to report that his chickens were loose on their property. Hammer is set to appear in court on Sept. 25 to answer to the charge.

A sick-looking pigeon on Main Street was reported to police. Upon investigation, police discovered a bird that appeared to be sleeping out of the rain.

A caller reported loud people throwing balls around in the street that had hit parked cars. The caller was concerned the people may be drunk. Police found kids having fun at the reported location and asked that the activity be moved to Hubbard Park or be done more carefully.

Aug. 12

A man called police to report another man was waiting for him outside to beat him up. The man waiting was accusing the caller of stealing from another friend.

Police received a call from a woman who said she had paid to ride the bus, handed over her ticket and then was told the bus was full as it drove away. With police assistance, the ticket purchase was confirmed and the woman was allowed to ride the next bus.


Aug. 13

Police received a call from a person reporting their vehicle registered in Mass. was stolen. When police arrived the caller reported the car had not been stolen, but it was a rental and the caller forgot what color it was.

A man called police to report that he'd been hit by an SUV while crossing Main Street. The vehicle struck him, knocking him to the ground. The driver stopped and asked the man, "You cool?" to which the man replied, "Yeah, I'm fine," according to what police reported. The man refused to be transported to the hospital and was treated at the fire department for minor injuries.

Monday, August 11, 2008

BlueCat Hates Me

So I didn't make the BlueCat semifinal cut. Poor me.

But I will be heading to LA at the end of the month for the Script Pimp awards ceremony, to press some flesh. Hoping to catch up with some friends in the area, too. Should be fun.

The 48 Hour Film Project was a blast. Tiring, but fun. Hopefully our post guys will create an uploadable file and I can post it here. Winners are announced on Wednesday.

Each team had to include the required character of Harold Ralston, lifeguard, the required prop of a tray and the required line, "That's not the way I see it." Each team drew a different genre -- ours was Holiday Film.

We did a little twist on a Valentine's Day movie. Turned out pretty well, for 48 hours of work. Hopefully you can judge for yourself soon...