- Bomb Texas for freedom -

3/25/2008

Don’t Hold Your Breath

File under... Heart 'o' Darkness — mylo @ 9:42 pm

I do have some news about Heart-o-darkness.

Ok breathe, in and out.  Yes, into the paper bag, it really does help.

I decided a little while ago to try and get some sort of sponsorship.  I figured if I pitch the story around at the same time I pitch it to a scooter and moped manufacturer, I might be lucky enough to get a nibble.

One nibble, leads to a bite, and a bite gets you a fish.

Tomos So I’ve been working on some pitch letters, and it’s one of those things that I really should have paid more attention with at school.

So far they’re pretty good.  They’re polite, honest, and I think funny at one part.

Jessica who has been incredibly supportive (as long as I promise to wear a helmet) pretty much thinks the whole project is crazy.

We discussed it today, and she basically thought at one point when I mentioned “support of my girlfriend and friends” that made me look daring instead of “lone madman”.

Of course that’s what I wanted to go for, I wanted the image of a prophet of doom riding the earth.

She says take it out then.

“But they’ll think I’m crazy.”

“Oh no, we wouldn’t want that dear.”

So, the most important letter is to the moped guys.  I pretty much have my real choice which is a Tomos LX, heavily modified for some more speed, carrying capacity, and looks.   Also with a new paint job, and get rid of those side fairings.

But all that being said I still need the moped.



Business Broker

2/9/2008

Damnit

File under... My Shitty Life, On Writing, Heart 'o' Darkness — mylo @ 3:47 pm

Ok I decided to keep busy at least with projects. I have three major ones that I want to concentrate on.

Heart ‘o’ Darkness

Just to review, this one is a cross country road trip to find the heart of darkness that lurks within the heart of man. It’s current status, is stalled. I’m still trying to raise up the cash for a vehicle, and/or sponsorship. I think I should stop starting my emails and letters “The heart of darkness infects our nation like a malignant tumor, it is fed through ignorance and fear. This tumor’s name is Gibby. I plan to hunt down and cut it out of it’s host. Gimme money”

    Seriously, isn’t that so much better than “I’m going to drive the roads in a pattern to form a mis-shapen peace sign, freeload as much as possible, and harass countless people to conform to my version of peace. While I’m at it, I’m going to look down at them and be surprised when actual activists for peace think I’m on a joy ride”

    The Novel

    After 100 re-writes, attempts, read throughs, and trashings in workshops, I’m still working on it. I took a couple of breaks mostly because Ms. Brit was leaving and I wanted to spend time with her. Starting monday I’ll be returning to the WR, to start working on it again.

    On a side note, I hate the WR. Sort of, I like the concept and technically I like the room itself. I find the majority of people in that place sort of suck (sadly I only have one person in the whole thing I talk to), but the rest are rather snotty.

      Photography

      I’ve been photographing more, with the Holga mostly. I figured out the issues with the frames on it. I found most of my developing stuff, I need some minor stuff in the way of bottle and chemicals. I found a lab that I really like to handle my color needs. At home though, I have the room for my scanner, and the plan was simple. Develop my b&w here at the apartment, scan in the negatives, then photoshop and print.

        Guess what broke?

        The scanner, God hates me.



        Business Broker

        9/4/2007

        Call to Arms

        File under... Heart 'o' Darkness — mylo @ 5:30 pm

        Look guys, some stuff came up that’s really jeopardizing the heart-o-darkness.

        I’m not backing out, because I still very much want to do it.  I still could actually handle the trip itself, but the problem is vehicle.

        I need one.

        So this is what you’re going to do (pretty please)

        Moped This is a moped.
        I know you seen them being driven around by Peter Parker in Spidey 2, and 3.  I talked about them (at least I think) for moped to south america, and I know for a damn fact they’ve been spotted cruising Williamsburg.

        They can be modded and brought up to produce more power and speed for cheap.

        Although I would prefer a scooter for the heart of darkness, beggers (me) can’t be choosers (you).

        What I need, if you can is scour the tri-state area (and new england).  Look in barns, garages, basements, anywhere that one of these can fit.   See if you can find a running one, and if the owner is willing to part with it.

        Models you’re going to be looking for is puch, motorbecane, and general 5 star (the one in the pic) you can use this as a reference http://www.mopedarmy.com/photos/view/
        Whoever can wheel one up to my apartment (and passes my inspection) gets a prize.

        No not some cheap chintzy thing, but an actual usable prize.

        Hit me up on my myspace page (http://www.myspace.com/radiofreenyc) if you got any leads.



        7/21/2007

        Damn Straight, unless you’re goin’ all the way

        File under... Heart 'o' Darkness — mylo @ 10:11 pm

        Ok, fine there is actual sort of news in the heart ‘o’ darkness stuff.

        The actual destination hasn’t been determined yet.  To be honest I don’t think there will be one.  I mapped out a path and it’s an oval.  Sooo…  I’m still working on that.

        On that note, I picked up some books.  Most notably Road Trip USA (too lazy to link, look it up) I’m finding that I’m less interested in the road side attractions, than the road itself.  I mean there is some definate things I want to see, but it’s like how I went to Ireland.  I would rather choose a path and let the force take me where it will.

        Although it is rather funny, google maps has no maps of mexico.  I was definately thinking of there.

        Finally I found my scooter shop, Brooklyn Bretta, I took a day off and decided to check it out.  It was cool but when I told the owner what I was planning to do he stopped, looked at me and said “Just like Fuckin’ Kerouac man!”

        I knew this place was key for this mission at hand.

        When I told the GF this she sort of stopped in her tracks, blinked and I know (although she’ll deny it) in her head she said “Oh bloody hell, that man signed mylo’s death warrant”
        I’m still have to find my steed, my PBR Streetgang, my HMS Endevour, my Apollo 11.  I’m down to about 5 models.

        The top 3 are…

        1. Genuine Scooters, Stella
          • She has enough power, made of solid steel, and it has been done before on one.  She also has the right price point, and there are plenty used.  If not used she’s coming back new really soon anyway.
        2. Vespa et4, or LX 150
          • Enough power, also made out of steel.  But really expensive.  It’s possible to find one used, but it will be harder.
        3. Finally Genuine Scooters , The Buddy 125
          • Peace scooter is using this model, so I’m going to have to see her results.  It’s plastic, and the engine isn’t as powerful.  But there has been talk of the Buddy beating out the LX 150’s in races.  Advantages of this model it’s cheap, and has a really good service plan.

        Also I’m still making the timeline up, as it stands September is when I get the MC license, Jan (hopefully) is when I purchase my scooter.  October is when the official Heart ‘o’ Darkness page will be up, and with luck I’ll have google ads, and a paypal thing for donations.

        Of course yet again, tentative.  There is a number of things ready to stop this already so we’ll have to see.



        7/9/2007

        Planning

        File under... Heart 'o' Darkness — mylo @ 8:12 pm

        This will be the last of the Heart ‘o’ Darkness section until I get some real juicy news (around sept).

        The girl to encourage and warn me bought me a copy of The Motorcycle Diaries.  I spent part of the weekend watching it, and in itself it is a beautiful film.  But I can see her concern.

        So smartly I decided to look into other people who did it, I figured I’ll get an idea of the gear they had, scooter, travel time, routes, etc.  With the exception of one group, who are currently crossing with 50cc’s the most popular choices seem to be 150cc’s and bigger.

        And although I’ve been trying to soak in as much knowledge as possible, I’ve been getting half accounts, poetry, and hippies who are getting corporate sponsorship.

        Surprisingly none of this really helps.  Although looking at the hippies thing, someone called her courageous, does that make me courageous?

        So as I’m telling Miss Brit, the best way to approach this is look at it like it’s a camping trip.  I’ve been camping before, so I sort of know what to do.

        On top of that, I decided to sniff out to see if there is any help out there at least locally in my area.

        Finally, I decided to set up a doc that covers everything.  Plans, routes, supplies, milestones.

        So until this stuff is finalized I’m shutting up.  Stay tuned though.



        7/5/2007

        Research, Research, Research

        File under... Heart 'o' Darkness — mylo @ 8:48 pm

        Still on the initial high of planning one of the greatest adventures of my life, I decided to research.

        I decided the best things to do was start a new category.

        Done, shit that was easy.

        Ok after that, I figured I have really think about what I want to see in this giant mess of a coun… Oh I mean figure out what I want to see in beautiful bountiful land that the lord has truly blessed us with, and we built nuclear missile silos in.

        Well I saw all types of land pretty much, I saw swamps, bogs, plains, mountains, coastal, marshes. The only three that are missing are artic (no fuckin’ thanks), jungle (I hate mosquitoes), and desert.

        Moonlight in the Desert! You may have cities and electric lights, movies, dancing parties, and surging crowds; but, for a thrill, an emotion, a sense of peace, and a confidence in a God who cares, give me moonlight in the Desert.

        So that leads me to two places, the badlands, and death valley.

        Not bad, they’re only 2,000, and 3,000 miles away prospectively.

        So, for this whole thing we need to do some calculations.

        Lets see, gas.

        To fill up the tank, it’s about 7 bucks.  That’ll take me roughly 160 miles.

        For 7k miles (there back, and wiggle room for detours) that’s going to be 44 fill ups.   154 bucks!  Sweet, very do-able.

        The top speed of the scooter with me and gear, might be about 50 mph.  With 5 hours of driving, 250 miles a day.  28 days…

        Hmm, rather ominous sounding isn’t it?   That’s straight through no stops.

        I can arrange a month off, but still what good is it if I can’t stop by a town for a day or two.  Not all, but some.  What if I go through a reservation, and have a spirit journey with a shaman?  That might eat the schedule a little.

        Ok by spirit journey, I mean smoking peyote, and Shaman I mean dumb teenagers, still what if I meet an ancient Shaman!  What if I decide to talk to prairie  folk, to get salt of the earth wisdom?  “I’m sorry I’m sure how your great great grandfather settled the land is very interesting but you know tick tick tick.”  is just rude.
        More calculation, more planning is in order.



        Theme Designed by Business Broker