First things first... Two of my favorite movie lines are from Jerry Maguire.

1. Help me help YOU.
2. Show me the money.

Enough said about that subject. So, my children.. How is everyone doing these days??? There are a couple of awesome new things going on around here! Thanks to April and some new and incredible artwork, I am going to be offering some Brochspot.com schwag. If any of you are interested, it can be viewed over at Cafe Press.

The next exciting thing going on is that I am going to begin doing some mini-micro publishing. If any of you have any stories or poetry lying around that you would just love to see in a publication or have in printed form, please feel free to send it my way in an email. If it is pre-edited, that will be even better. This is not a money making venture for me, I am purely interested in helping get previously unpublished (Dead tree method) writers into print. Im not going after any hardcovered editions at this point, just something simple that people would enjoy getting their hands on. Sales will be strictly through a website and through small mom&pop boutiques.

Ooooh projects. The leaves are going to begin to change colors soon, and will then fall to the ground. Once that occurs, the snow will by flying before too long. This is the Brochman's project season. Several are in the works, and I am excited to get them all up and running. When I do, Ill be sure to share all of them with you.

I still don't really have much more to say, so I am going on hiatus. Check back with me in a week or two and I might have something to say by then. Ciao.

Is that too much to ask? Unfortunately, both events fall within a six week period, and both are very far from here. The first event being DEFCON, a data security (hacker) convention that is held in Las Vegas each year. The second event, starting this weekend, would be Burning Man. My level of planning was so understated and my financial preparedness was nil. This year, I get neither trip.

I do, however, get to fly out to Maine in October to photograph the peak season of fall foliage. I am very much looking forward to that.

That is really all that I have to say for right now. =-P

I guess that I have failed to mention to any of you that I have a little Benz. I've had it for about 10 years, and will never forget the day that It was brought home. My dad was dying in the hospital, and we all thought that it would bring a degree of comfort to the family. Before any of you go on a tyrade about how a material posession could bring solace during a time of pain, let me explain something. Benz is a Yorkshire terrier.

Right now Benz is laying at my feet, and it is very noticeable that his breathing is quite labored and shallow. To see his little body fight for each breath absolutely tears my heart into pieces. I know that our time together is going to be short and I am not ready to say goodbye to a very loyal and dear friend. I have always been the one in my family to take our previous dogs to be put down when the time came, yet I somehow cannot bring myself to do that this time. I guess that I am being selfish, but Benz has been with me through so much.

I received an email this morning from a former college classmate, John Wang. John has apparently survived the dot-com blunderings of our generation, and is doing extremely well for himself, as I always imagined that he would.

Our email exchage further cemented my beliefs that if any of us are going to experience a high degree of success and fulfillment, that we have to go out and make it happen for ourselves. John is a first generation American born Korean, and didn't come from a wealthy family by any means. (Don't worry, I have his permission to air his life story, Im not pimping a friend for content.) He also loves the United States and has always reminded me how fortunate we are to be in a free country where we can speak as we please and come and go as we please. I have always taken those things for granted, as I have never known anything else, other than from travel.

While most of us were out getting our drink on during college, John happily stayed behind to work on projects for classes, or worked in the school cafeteria to help offset the cost of his tuition. An eighteen to 20 hour course-load was not uncommon for him and he often took courses outside of his field of study, business administration, if he thought that they were interesting or would better prepare him for the business world. After finishing his BSBA, John has gone on to earn an MBA, a JD (Law degree) and a second bachelor of science in computer information systems.

With the combined knowledge and skillset John has earned through blood, sweat and tears, he is enjoying a wonderful life right now. Some of you might guess that he would be an attorney, a highly paid computer programmer, or maybe even a manager for a fortune 500 company. Before I go into what it is that John has done with his life, let me tell you what he let me in on about what exactly he learned during his time in the classroom. The primary thing that he wanted to get across to me was that knowledge is empowering and that the control and dissemination of that knowledge is where it is all at. Empowering others is where he has chosen to spend his life and I would have guessed no less of him. John teaches kindergarden in an inner city setting. When he told me that, I all of a sudden got it. Not only does he teach kindergarden, on a completely volunteer basis he works with other inner-city schools as a grant proposal writer and helps them to receive computers and software for the lower grade level classrooms, therefore opening up the childrens worlds to see things outside of there current life and existence.

More than ever, it is apparent to me that a label of "Successful" cannot be ascertained by where someone lives, what they drive, or anything material at all. It isn't earned by being part of a hipster crowd, drinking red wine with beautiful people on the veranda of a SOHO loft. The label is earned by those who touch lives and make a difference in their own community. If each graduating class at each college had a John Wang, imagine where this country would be today.

When a resident of Bloomington/Normal opens their door today, they are greeted by a wave of heat and humidity that should not have to be tolerated by any living creature. Oh September, wherefore art thou my beloved cool weather?? Todays weather is generally a harbinger of impending tornadic activity. Bring it on, at least it will cool things off.

I long for the day when I can don my LL Bean flannel and take a walk in the crunchy fallen leaves. Fall also brings about the best photo-ops, and I am anxious for them to arrive as well. Ill go ahead and list my top five favorite things about fall... Maybe that will make the season arrive a bit faster.

1. Having a fire on the deck and drinking beer with good friends.
2. Camping
3. I'll be able to open up my apartment and air it out without worrying about little critters coming in for a visit.
4. Being outside in general.
5. Did I mention camping?

I am pretty sure that the council will be holding court on many occasions at local and somewhat distant campgrounds this fall. All other pending orders of business, such as having babies and getting married, are finished up for the year, so it is time to relax a little bit and kick back. When is the first trip guys?

Hi all, there is a new blogger among us, and she will start blogging in the next few days. Her name is Jacqueline and she is from sunny California. She will be appearing at http://www.jacqueline.brochspot.com/blog.

Jacqueline is a wonderful writer, and I am sure will have some really cool stories as she has lived all over the place. I don't want to give everything away, as that wouldn't be fair. Watch for her to start posting sometime in the next few days.

All is well in brochland and I hope that it is in each of your worlds as well.

MTV, you have gone way too far. I am not a fan of censorship, nor do I believe in it whatsoever, there should at least an advance warning when something so far beyond public standards is going to be aired.

I watched the season finale of The Osbournes last night in complete horror and disgust. I hope that PETA and other animal rights advocates, people with a sense of decency, all cable subscribers and anyone with a voice will join me in a letter and editiorial campaign against MTV for allowing that episode to be produced, much less aired.

In the season finale, Jack, Ozzy's son, was laying in bed watching one of their beloved family dogs walk around the floor of his cavernous bedroom. When the opportunity struck and the dog got close, Jack grabbed the dog and pulled it into bed with him. In the following seconds the dog growled, whimpered and then there was silence. All the while you could see Jacks legs twitching and shaking. Fade to the next morning..... Ozzy and Sharon are frantically searching for the family dog while the viewers get to see cut aways of Jack loading up the lifeless body of the dog into a duffel bag, sneaking out of the house.

Moving on to the end of the show, it is made known to the audience that the entire episode has been entirely falsified and scripted, as a message to us all that reality tv shows, in essence, are all done this way. I have first hand knowledge that the "Real World" episodes are done this way, with interaction between the "Cast" being set up and scripted by the production company. Too little, too late. Those images will never leave my mind and I don't appreciate it.

MTV, a wild and wonderful journey we have had, until last night. The past 21 years of my life have been spent with you, I want a divorce. Your programming is increasingly devoid of anything "Real" and you just don't do it for me anymore. I can promise that your channel will never again be viewed in my home.

I spent my day in Chicago yesterday, and that is one helluva city. I forget how beautiful it is, and each time I visit there, I get a hankerin' to move my butt up there.

Bloomington/Normal is a wonderful place to live, if you want to raise a family in a microcosm that is isolated from the rest of the world. Until the past two years it was believed that this town was recession proof, and that with several major employers in town, layoff proof. Layoffs are happening all over town, salaries are dismal, and people are leaving the area in droves. It is still a wonderful area to raise a family, as it has wonderful schools, good jobs are still to be found, and it is a VERY conservative atmosphere. I don't exactly know if I would like to raise a family here though, as it is so shut off from the rest of the world. I have friends that have either never seen the ocean, never been outside of the midwest, or never left the country. Folks, that is SAD.

I hope that everone is having a great week, I am much more in a mood to write this week, so you'll be hearing more from me.

Snarl like a gremlin... We are each capable of both. I had a conversation with my good friend M earlier today about some current trials and tribulations that we are each experiencing. The quote that sometimes you are the windshield, sometimes you are the bug holds so many truths.

Even with some completely unexpected bs that I was made aware of earlier today, I am feeling really good about life. My turning point was when I decided that I was going to take control of my own future and quit wondering when my windfall would arrive. I am my own windfall. God gave me a good mind, an able body and the creativity necessary to bring everything together.

I have got an excellent start on putting together my project studio and am highly motivated to begin work on my other entrepreneurial endeavors. Fuck the naysayers, this isn't their life to live. This truly is a land of opportunity, and I realize that there is some extra coin out there to be made, and I can make it doing things that I love to do. No, I am not going to begin having sex for money.

Ive been spending the past few days up on the proverbial mountain top. Here are a couple of things that I have come up with...

1. We all came into this world alone, we all go out of this world alone. Spending a little of the time in between alone isn't such a bad idea either.

2. Friends who come around when it is convenient and to their advantage aren't really very good friends at all.

3. Crutch, Nose, Soda, Knuckledragger and Wendel are some kick ass friends. I wouldn't trade them in for anything.

4. We are each very different and unique individuals. It all breaks down to "The Breakfast Club." That is one of my generations best pieces of film. In each of us there is truly the Prep, Geek, Jock, Freak and Hood. Each of us has a little bit of each. Only one of them usually manifests itself externally, and we struggle with the ones that don't.

5. I struggle a lot with where I'm supposed to be right now. Part of me wants to chuck it all and become a mountain man. Part of me wants to continue to build my 401k and build a great retirement.

6. Part of me knows that there is a happy medium. I have no idea where it is.

7. Hooter bars and beer are a lot of fun once in awhile.

8. Very few of my friends remain single and childless. I consider myself to be EXTREMELY fortunate to be one of them.

9. Being single at this time of your life is really cool.

10. Being single at this time of your life is really lonely.

Whoa, hold on to your hats!!!!! If you haven't heard the new Jane's Addiction album, get your ass to the nearest music outlet and grab it.... Makes me wanna do the Lollapalooza!

Come round, my wonderful thirtysomethings! Lets show the teeny-boppers of today what some great tunes really are!

We were at the original Lollapalooza, we defined what the kids today claim as theirs. Screw em.

My last post was a bit on the narcissistic. Sorry bout that. I don't really give a damn whether I end up wealthy, poor or otherwise. I want to take some pictures that make people smile (Shut up A-thee-listers) and make enough money for it that I can pay for shelter and food. I want to have a great woman share it all with me and smile all the way as well. It is all really simple. I want to party with the a-thee-listers until we all die, and maybe even after that. If I end up with a Ferrari in the process, no harm, right?

Night all.

To the cities which traditionally bring high rent prices and high real estate prices, I laugh at you. Wanna hear about some expensive Chicago real-estate?? Here you go... How about Prarie House??? 1.8 million for a 2 bedroom condo...

I have decided, among all other things, that I am going to be a wealthy city dweller. At 33, I may be starting a little late, but that is what I want to do.

1. What time do you wake up on weekday mornings?

Usually between ten and 11, I work second shift.

2. Do you sleep in on the weekends? How late?

Sometimes until one or 2... Depends on how the week went.

3. Aside from waking up, what is the first thing you do in the morning?

Have a nice cigarette and a Dr. Pepper.

4. How long does it take to get ready for your day?

Twenty minutes or so, if I don't shave.

5. When possible, what is your favorite place to go for breakfast?

Parkview Inn, hands down!!!

Over the past few days I have done a side by side comparison of a G4 Powermac and a spec'd out PC running Windows XP. This comparison is hardware non-specific, because they are rather evenly matched. A few of my own opinions shocked even me.

First, let me say that Microsoft has done wonders with Windows XP. I have never been a fan of Windows, and have always preferred the Macintosh operating system. The playing field is becoming more even.

One criticism of Microsoft has always been that they include so much with the operating system, that they have pushed many smaller companies out of the way because we haven't needed to go buy certain utilities that we used to. Watch out Microsoft!!! I found that a G4 comes with WAY more goodies, partially due to it now being a unix based box. Within five minutes of having the machine set up, I had Apache web server up and running, and ready to serve my blog. A few minutes later, I had Movable Type configured and running, and was able to view my blog from my windows system on the network. Fear NOT!!! I am going to continue to have my site hosted professionaly, as I am not about to subject my home computer to the amount of traffic that roles through here. All I have to say is, try that on your Windows XP home computer!!!! iPhoto is another piece of included software that really shines. It gives you the ability to organize photos from your digital camera with no hassle. There are no drivers to load or any of that mess either.

My absolute favorite piece of included software would be iTunes. Windows Media Player absolutely sucks ass in comparison. If you want to import music from your cd's on WMP, you have to PAY ADDITIONAL FEES to do it... Bah, what good is that??? Another wonderful feature of iTunes is the connectivity that you get to the new Apple Music Store, as well as the oh so sexy iPod.

Okay then, now to the other side of the coin. OS X on the Macintosh has a VERY high-tech feel to it, and has a very bright and vibrant user interface. Widows XP has a much more "Organic" feel, in my humble opinion. OS X left me with a bit of a headache after about three hours in front of it. I really need to learn how to change the appearance, and make it less techy. Moving back over to the Windows XP box, my eyes were instantly relieved and my headache began to go away.

Before all of my Mac friends out there begin to get outraged, let me remind you that this is the first time that I have ever stood up for the XP os, and that my loyalties still lie with the Mac. To my Windows friends I say this... Microsoft has done something great here! Windows XP is very responsive, and has a great new feel and look to it. XP brought us to an era that is much more friendly feeling and has taken their user interface to the next level. BIG KUDOS to Microsoft!!!

My money is still going to go with Apple for now, as the tight integration between their software and hardware is flawless. Their "Commercial" downfall has also been their greatest assett. They control the hardware AND software, which gives the ultimate in user experience.