First Confession

Here is a scary story for your Halloween. Follow the tribulations of young Jackie, who is about to make his first confession. If he makes a bad confession, he risks an eternity of hellfire! But he does not want to confess at all ...because he wants to kill his granny.
This short film is based on the fantastically good short story First Confession by Frank O'Connor [PDF]. If you haven't read the story yet, you may want to give it a quick read beforehand—just to see how much the filmmakers got right. This is richly entertaining.

S.O.S.

The best way to view this video for the first time is to know nothing about it—even better to watch it with someone else who hasn't seen it.
So here are some vague recommendations:

• It starts off pleasantly enough, but there are some surprises along the way
• It is less than 30 minutes
• If the McComb Home had had this VHS in 1987, it would have had a lot of viewings

Q: Pat, do you recommend I watch it with my young child?
A: Mmmm, actually no. Not on the first viewing. You'll see why.
No spoilers please. Pop some popcorn and I do hope you enjoy this. I'll have a follow up in the coming days.

Mocha Says Maria

Mocha commission a song from me for Mariah's birthday. 

Here is me springing the song on the unsuspecting Mariah:

Here are the lyrics and chords:

Mocha Says Mariah

by McLir and Mocha Jean Herrup

       C                       Em

You’re Texas academics and you both were single

    F                               G    F    Em  G6

And how you both stood out from the Christian mingle

C                   Em                F      G5

Code name “Buddhist War Power” on the phone

As you two drew near, it grew increasingly clear

That both of you are quite enthusiastically queer

And your Yin-Yang complimentary styles do flow

REFRAIN

     A                       Amaj7

And “Mocha,” says Mariah, “I love her so much!”

    Em6                    D

And Mocha says, “Mariah, I love her so much!”

         Dm         Faug       F         G       

The most beautiful, wonderful, in my life.”

So this birthday song is a tender celebration

Of a Founding Gender Bender of the Supper Nation

You build community with food and art

You can do the hardcore academic demands

You can also do the crunchy, hippie catch-as-catch-can

Intelligent and generous of heart

And “Mocha,” says Mariah, “I love her so much!”

And Mocha says, “Mariah, I love her so much!

The most beautiful, wonderful, in my life.”

Mocha loves your stripes, your strapping elongations

And she loves your scientifically astute fascinations

Wonders of the universe in store

Your view is deep, your view is wide

You’re defying false dichotomies in leisurely stride

And you make each other happy, what is more

     A                       Amaj7

And “Mocha,” says Mariah, “I love her so much!”

    Em6                    D

And Mocha says, “Mariah, I love her so much!”

     A                       Amaj7

And “Mocha,” says Mariah, “I love her so much!”

    Em6                    D    Dm6 Fdim A

And Mocha says, “Mariah, I love her so   much!”