Jamie Engber - Personal Blog

Another Disappointing Loss for a Wisconsin Sports Team. Ugh.

2012-01-16T11:17:00.000-08:00

It was an exciting year for Wisconsin Sports fans. The Brewers almost hit their way to the World Series, the Badgers sniffed a Rose Bowl Victory, and the Packers looked almost invincible on a campaign to defend their Super Bowl Title. Unfortunately for Wisconsin Sports fans, all three promising seasons fell short.

The Brewers losing to the Cardinals was tough. They had a great team, but the pitching just wasn't there at the end of the season. I'm just glad that they beat the DBacks at Miller Park, cause I sat through two of the worst stinkers of baseball games in Phoenix and worried that I might be bad luck.

When the Badgers got served in the Rose Bowl, it wasn't too worrisome cause they weren't supposed to win anyway. My friends and I still had a great day grilling out and drinking beers. The worst part was before the game, watching the exhausting Rose Bowl Parade coverage with head scratching camera angles and a news anchor obsessed with getting a free In-N-Out Burger.

At least we could let it ride on our Green Bay Packers to keep our sports dreams alive and pick up the slack, right?!! Um, no. I guess not. The Packers loss to the Giants was surprising to say the least. The Packers looked sluggish and out of sync. Absolute credit to the Giants, but if the Packers played anything like they did all year long, I would have liked their chances.

Too bad at least one of the teams couldn't seal the deal, cause it was an awesome year for Wisconsin Sports. Go get em' in 2012!

The death of Google Reader hit me hard. but opened my eyes.

2012-01-11T12:49:00.000-08:00

Google Reader isn't technically dead, but the forced facelift that has completely changed the program has left me wondering the best way to share on the internet.

For those of you that didn't use Google Reader before the overhaul in November, it was once a wonderful RSS Reader that also allowed you to share articles with friends with one click. For me it was where I read 95% of the internet, as all of my websites were loaded there and updated in real time. The social aspect was minimal and non-intrusive. If you wanted to share something you were reading, you could. The best thing was being able to read what your friends have shared. You could follow people and they could choose to follow you. It wasn't a social network where you would weed through status updates and pictures, it was a place to share what you were reading on the web. And that was it.

Those I followed ranged from good friends to people I have never met but share the same interests. It was a place for me to share articles about baseball, local music, cooking, and cool things that my friends were up to. Those I followed did the same.

Google's decision to take the minimal sharing aspect from Google Reader and force users to share everything in their new social network Google+ has taken away a small part of the internet that was special to me. They also changed the layout of the page that I had grown fond of. I guess it was more of a tweak to most users, but to me it affected my relationship with the internet and felt personal.

I have not embraced Google+ (though I do have a neglected account). I'm not sure I am ready to join a new social network. I wonder if anyone (especially in my age group who have been on Friendster, MySpace, and Facebook) have the energy to move social networks again. I certainly don't want to be forced to.

This Google+ forced takeover has sounded alarm bells in my head that I am getting to a point of over saturation. I'm actually trying to share a bit less. I am starting to find the over-sharing (myself included) a bit narcissistic. When digital cameras became available, I jumped at the chance to chronicle every gathering like the world was going to end and we need proof that we were at a bar in Burbank last Tuesday night. Not only am I sharing less pictures, I am taking less pictures, preferring to enjoy the moments instead of capturing the moments digitally for all time.

As for Google Reader, I thank you for a good run. I want to get better at sharing what is important to me. That's exactly what Google Reader allowed me to do.

I got my copy of the Brewers on the cover of Sports Illustrated!!!

2011-08-25T13:43:00.000-07:00

Happy July, everybody!!

2011-07-14T16:40:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share that for Milwaukee Brewers fans like me, this was the most exciting MLB All-Star week, ever. For the first time in franchise history, THREE Milwaukee Brewers were voted to START the All-Star Game! Growing up, you would just watch the introductions to see one token Brewer introduced (He would most of the time never even play). To have the Brewers well represented was pretty cool. Prince Fielder made Brewer fans proud when he hit a three run home run to win the game for the National League. This was the first Home Run for a Brewer in an All-Star game, and it earned him the All-Star Game MVP Award, also a Brewers first!

I was so happy for Prince I took a picture of him giving a post-game interview.

Brewers Home Opener today!!

2011-04-04T09:35:00.000-07:00

So, The first weekend of the 2011 MLB Season is in the books! How about a Mulligan on the Brewers 0-3 season?!! I am not gonna go into panic mode yet. This is a good karma post for a first win!!!

The Brewers are playing their 11th Home Opener today at Miller Park today, making it a 10 year Anniversary! Congratulations to Bud Selig! The first time I went to Miller Park it was tough for me because it replaced the best stadium of all time, Milwaukee County Stadium! As you can see in the above photo, Miller Park was built adjacent to Milwaukee Stadium. I loved Milwaukee County Stadium cause it was where I saw the Brewer greats like Robin Yount and Paul Molitor play.

In Milwaukee County Stadium whenever a Brewer hit a home run, the team mascot, Bernie Brewer would slide into a giant fake mug of beer! At Miller Park the Beer Mug was replaced with a huge Home Plate with a more elaborate slide.

Still cool, but I miss that Huge Beer Mug!! Here's your good karma for the day guys, I know you can get on the board with a win today! Go Brewers!!!

Starting up a series of bad fake tourist photos.

2010-09-06T22:58:00.001-07:00

Jamie and I enjoyed visiting The Griffith Park Space Center.

This picture I took of a friendly police officer was featured on LAist today.

2010-08-27T13:37:00.000-07:00

LAPD's Union Endorses Prop 23

Levon Helm at The Greek!!!

2010-08-16T21:57:00.001-07:00

It was a wonderful night! We were much closer than this iPhone picture suggests. Levon and the talented musicians in his band were amazing. So glad we went. www.levonhelm.com

Movie Review: Tender Mercies (1983)

2010-05-30T17:40:00.000-07:00

Awaiting my full attention paitently on my DVR for a surprising four months, I am elated that TCMs showing of Tender Mercies survived my DVR delete button it must have been up against hundreds of times. It was worth the wait.

Winning an Oscar for his portrayal of a once famous and successful Country Mega-Star Mac Sledge, Robert Duvall plays a man who has lost everything in his life to his alcoholism. Waking up in a motel in the middle of nowhere, he is given a chance to put his life together and build a new life. When the past creeps back in he must find out if he is strong enough to deal with the past and be true to his new life.

It is a touching and emotionally open performance from Duvall that is not over the top or telegraphed. You never for one moment not believe him as his character. When he sings and plays the guitar his wonderful voice and gentle sensibility opens up in a beautiful way that you dont see too often on the screen.

I wish they would make more films like this. Horton Foote won an Oscar for the Screenplay. Directed by Bruce Beresford.

Aroldis Chapman Published Photo

2010-03-08T11:56:00.000-08:00

Aroldis Chapman published photo.

My Photo of Neftali Feliz Featured on MLB Fantasy Prospects.

2010-01-27T10:54:00.000-08:00

It has been great to have some of my baseball photography featured on MLB Fantasy Prospects. I am a huge baseball fan and I am proud to have my work available for others to see.

I will be shooting some more stuff for them when I go down to Spring Training next month.

One Vote for Jane Lynch.

2010-01-22T14:02:00.000-08:00

I was randomly selected to be on the SAG Awards nominating committee this year. Noticeably absent to me on the ballot was one of my favorite comedic actresses, Jane Lynch.

Not only is Jane hilarious on GLEE, but she also was at her best on Party Down. I was so bummed she wasn't on the ballot, I called the SAG office to ask why she was left off. The nice guy on the phone at the SAG Awards said that he believes that Jane's reps didn't submit her in time. Total Shame.

If you have time in your life for more television, please consider tuning in to Party Down. You and your TiVo won't be disappointed.

I put in my final ballot yesterday, and felt compelled to vote for her in some capacity. As much as I LOVE 30 Rock (I have voted for them the past few years), I felt that ultimately, the best true Comedic ensemble on Television in every sense of the word is the cast of GLEE.

And, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED: One vote for Jane Lynch.

PS: Don't forget to watch the SAG Awards on Saturday!

Time Well Spent.

2009-12-08T12:26:00.000-08:00

Frank Black AKA Black Francis played a free show last night at Spaceland with his newly formed band, Grand Duchy. The former Pixies front man truly rocked an eager hipster crowd on a night that most of LA was bundled up at home avoiding the cold.

It is midnight and the crowd has multiplied since I got here at 10. The rumor seems to be true and yet I don’t believe my luck to be front row standing in front of Black Francis’s vintage amplifier, which he has just propped up with an empty glass corona bottle to get the perfect angle. The sound is everything I hoped for. And it is loud. To say I am enjoying the songs I’ve never heard before would be an understatement.

Up close he has a simple and quiet quality I didn’t expect from a true rock legend. There is an ease about him. A quiet contained focus that fuels the music. And yet the music is killer.

Say what you will about LA, but this kind of thing doesn’t happen in too many places in the world. I’m glad I got out and braved the cold weather.

Thanks to Kevin at buzzbands.la for the tip on the show. Photo by Carmine from a show earlier this year.

Half Nelson.

2009-11-29T18:19:00.000-08:00

I am glad I spent the last of my wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday watching a film I have been meaning to see for some time. Rarely is a film as touching and emotionally raw as Half Nelson.

Ryan Gosling stars as a high school history teacher living with his addiction to drugs. Getting through the grind of the workweek living a dual life of teacher/drug addict is further complicated when one of his students discovers his secret. The student, played by Shareeka Epps possesses a wiseness beyond her years and yet has to deal with her own growing pains. A unique and powerful friendship is formed as Epps struggles to find a role model she can count on.

In his powerful Academy-Award Nominated performance, Gosling shows the full scope of his talent. He is likable despite his faults and the vulnerability exposed is nothing short of heroic. To keep the audience with you on a long journey of drug use without them leaving you is tough. He does heavy lifting without working too hard.

Directed by Ryan Fleck. Written by Fleck & Anna Boden.

NEW Silver Lake Library Opens Today!

2009-11-16T14:41:00.000-08:00

I took a trip over to see the new Library in Silver Lake today. I hear it has been a long process to get this opened. I skipped the fancy opening ceremonies and stopped by after all the commotion.

The building is just beautiful and seems to have a bunch of study space, which is the main drawback for me at The Los Feliz location.

I'm a little worried about the high tech automatic book returning conveyor belt snagging someones sleeves, but hopefully eveything will go according to plan.

I used the self-checkout to borrow True Grit (A Novel) by Charles Portis & The Coen Brothers Classic, Raising Arizona on DVD.

A Short Film: I miss my favorite bar in the world, The Kettle of Fish in NYC!

2009-10-20T15:18:00.000-07:00

Jack Kerouac in front of the Kettle of Fish. Photograph by Jerry Yulsman.

A Short Film by Dave Coleman and David Doyle.

My Picture of a Bike Cop Featured.

2009-10-13T11:19:00.000-07:00

LAPD Hiring Freeze

Photo by Jamie Engber via Flickr

A picture I took is featured on LAist today! Sweet!

2009-10-12T16:51:00.000-07:00

Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

Photo by Jamie Engber via flickr

Dead Man's Bones in LA.

2009-09-19T13:45:00.000-07:00

Dead Man’s Bones, a band getting buzz in part because of Oscar Nominated Actor Ryan Gosling’s involvement, is about to perform with a puppet show and children’s choir. Formed with his friend and fellow actor, Zach Shields, this is the second of three shows in Los Angeles before they pack up to tour Canada and the US.

Sitting on the floor in the middle of Bob Baker Marionette Theater, surrounded on all sides by red theatre curtains with gold & silver bows, the place hasn’t filled up yet – but seems comfortably full. The old –timey music and atmosphere reminds me more of a show I might see at Circus World in Wisconsin Dells than Downtown Los Angeles. The young female contingent has come out to support the effort in force, and many of them will someday be allowed into Spaceland. Gosling seems relaxed before the show and peeks his head out behind the curtain, eager to share what he has up his sleeve. We are treated to an opening act of a duo that play Somewhere Over The Rainbow on what I believe to be a vibraphone and theremin.

Enter the Zombie kids. Dressed in white face paint and skeleton costumes, the 25 or so kids take their place off stage right to the duo’s rendition of The Willy Wonka song, Pure Imagination. The kids range from very young to perhaps early teens; and they seem a bit nervous. With the choir assembled, we are greeted by a drunken marionette; who appears from behind the red curtain. The apparent host of the evening clad in a black & white plaid suit, straw hat, and cane trips over his words with hiccups.

The curtain opens to reveal Gosling and the band back lit by a colorful backdrop of a haunted house and rolling hills. The effect is special. As the marionettes take the stage, and sing along to the music, I realize I have never seen anything quite like this.

The children’s choir quickly leaves all their nerves behind and gets into the performance with their voice and body. In The Room Where you Sleep is delivered with feeling, and the puppeteers do a phenomenal job of keeping the marionettes animated (I’m not going to tell you what happens to the pretty lady marionette).
The collaboration between the children and band is especially fun to watch. Gosling and Shields help cue the children when it is time for them to sing with a nod or a thumbs up; they lead a cheer of “Z-O-M-B-I-E,” and encourage them to dance. This has to be the first time I’ve seen a six year old do the worm.

There are only moments in the production where Gosling is the center of attention. Channeling Tom Waits and Elvis Presley in a few spots, you can tell he loves music and believes in this project. This is an ensemble piece. Shields along with the other members of the band deliver in music and energy.

This is a really fun project, and I hope everyone gets to see it if it comes your way. The combination of seasoned professionals and children make for a fun – spontaneous atmosphere; and ultimately a night of theatre not to be missed.

Reservation Road.

2009-09-17T15:23:00.001-07:00

I made the mistake of starting Reservation Road last night at 11:30PM. I guess I should have known that the phenomenal cast of Mark Ruffalo, Joaquin Phoenix, Jennifer Connelly, and Mira Sorvino would keep me up. Reservation Road deals with all sides of a hit and run accident that leaves a young boy dead. Dwight Arno (Ruffalo) must decide whether or not to turn himself in; and Ethan Learner (Phoenix) becomes obsessed with finding out who “murdered” his son.

There is great conflict in the story; and the filmmakers give you the feeling that this could happen to anyone. Even with a simple story and compact cast; this film feels like a gripping thriller. It doesn’t get too overly dramatic; crying and screaming for the sake of emoting. The performances are spot on. I have always admired Ruffalo and Phoenix; and in this film they do not disappoint. I’m not sure I totally buy Ruffalo as a lawyer; but that isn’t a huge distraction. Connelly is so believable; at one point I was worried the neighbors would think there was a real argument going on next door; and I lowered the volume.

Writer/Director Terry George (Hotel Rwanda) offers another engaging and important film.