Blog of Josh Hall

Don’t make anyone wait for you.  This can be applied to so many things, but it can be summed up as “don’t be the weakest link.”  If you’re meeting people, make it clear that you’re going to be late, or make sure they’re not depending on you to bring something to start.

First off, if you have never seen a Cirque De Soleil show, right off the bat you’re obligated.  It will be the most amazing thing you’ve ever seen.

If you’re in Pittsburgh, you have until June 5th to see Totem.  http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/totem/default.aspx

I saw Quidam twice, O in vegas, Alegria, and now Totem.  Each time I’m left awestruck by what the performers just did.  I think the general public has an impression that Cirque Du Soleil is just some acrobatics and flexible people.  As if you’ve seen it once, you’ve seen it all.  Cirque is not that show. What any Cirque Show is though:

1. Absolutely beautiful – from the costumes, to the tent, to the dance, to the interaction between the performers.  No detail is left untouched and no corners are cut.  Everything is exact and precise, and it shows.
2. Engaging – from the all live music, to changing stage and scenery, to all the movement on the stage that is supplementary to the actual performers.  You simply can’t look away.
3. Entertaining for everyone – There are clowns, love stories, danger, skill, feats of strength, and examples of dedication to their talents.

One of the other things I love about Cirque is that it’s not some big greedy corporation trying to make a bottom line.  They are  environmentally aware and raise money for clean drinking water around the world.

If you do go see them, don’t feel the need to buy the most expensive tickets for right up front.  It’s actually worse in my opinion.  You want to sit back a little higher than the stage so you can see everything going on, because believe me, there’s a lot going on.

You might be asking why I went to see Quidam twice.  The answer to that is that a performance includes about 10 acts, but there are more like 15 acts for each show.  Sometimes it’s just in case they need to make changes to the lineup, but they do keep rotating performers and acts, so what you saw one night could be different by a couple acts from the next night.  Basically, never think you’ve seen it all.  After my 4th Cirque show, I’m still wanting to see more.

As for highlights specifically in Totem, the stage is a lot more “active” than previous traveling shows I’ve seen.  When I saw O, I actually said that the stage itself is one of the main acts.  That was true for Totem too.  To pick out one act seems unfair, but the most mind blowing for me were the two twirling girls.  I want to see you lay on your couch, stick your foot in the air, throw a dish towel on it, then start spinning it.  Then do the same thing on the other foot at the same time.  RIDICULOUS.  The things done with hula hoops is amazing as well.

Go.  See it.

The folks at Festo have created a mechanical bird that is as graceful as the real thing. Our technology is not just getting smaller and cheaper, but it’s getting smoother.
Soon, we won’t be able to tell the robots from living creatures.

I’m not sure there’s a global norm or scientist/hygiene recommended expiration date on sheets.  There especially confusion (for me, at least) around sheets in the guest room.  Do you only put on the sheets when they arrive?  How long can you leave the sheets on there before someone uses them or they need to be washed again?  Do you just wash the sheets or do you wash the blankets at the same time intervals?  Does it really just depend on who you are?

Write it down.  You’re not that smart to remember everything.  Plus, if you get hit by a bus, a lot more is lost than your life.

I stumbled on Austin Kleon’s list here.  I’ll break down his list, and add in my own advice and support for each of them.  After all, all advice is autobiographical and all I’m doing is stealing like an artist.  A lot of these are already similar to a Hall’s Rule of Social Order, and some others will be soon.

1. Steal like an artist.

   It’s kind of the art of progress.  You pay tribute to the original idea or author of the work, in the form of imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, but then you also add your person style to it.  As in Ecclesiastes 1:9, there is nothing new, everything has already been done.  Maybe if theirs didn’t “take off” yours will.

2. Don’t wait until you know who you are to start making things.

   Sometimes, it’s the journey, not just the destination. Trying new things is how you get to learn about yourself. Look at Seuss’ green eggs and ham. He was so sure he knew himself, but really, he didn’t have a clue. Maybe a bad analogy, heck, all of these could be terrible interpretations of Austin’s list, but who cares? I’m doing something.

3. Write the book you want to read.

   I want to write books. At the moment, I don’t want to read any though, and I think that is what holds me back from making something.

4. Use your hands.

   Sometimes the digital world doesn’t cut it. Go meet people, shake some hands, feel mud, get dirty, experience life instead of just watching it on a screen.

5. Side projects and hobbies are important.

   TRUFE. projects and hobbies are so key to my mental health, it’s not even funny. I need to feel like I’m creating something, expressing myself, like I’m working towards something. Sometimes, it’s the waste of time that is the most important way to spend your time. It’s grounding to realize that you are in control of your time, and ultimately, you need to be happy, not just a to outside forces.

6. The Secret:  Do good work and put it where people can see it.

   Definitely a secret I’m guilty of exploiting. I’ll type up a good email, and send it off to someone to proof-read, just so they can see what I’m doing and how I take care of things. Part of it is ostentatious, but, really, it’s just giving people the opportunity to see truth and know you more.

7. Geography is no longer our master.

   I’ve worked on PHP code with friends from all over the world. I supported the computers of people in Europe from my phone in Pittsburgh. I know more people in Australia, a place I’ve never been, than people 1 block away from me.

8. Be nice.  The world is a small town.

   heh, alright, I’m not very good at this one. It’s still true though. Always be grateful for the things you learn and the people that teach you, because chances are, they still have something to teach you later on, or you’ll need to go back and ask them for a refresher course.

9. Be boring.  It’s the only way to get work done.

   Certainly easy to contradict #5 here. When all your friends go out every night, sure it’s fun, but at the end of the day, you haven’t done anything but hang out with your friends. Sometimes saving your money for investing in something tangible is the greater decision

10. Creativity is subtraction.

    Church. This is my biggest pet peeve with the advent of the youtube sensations. Adding in so many vocal effects, mastering, looping, video editing, all take away from the creativity put in creating the music. The sad thing is, people don’t care.