"A Rose by any Other Name: An Alphabet of Tales About a Man and a Woman"

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A Rose By Any Other Name: An Alphabet of Tales About a Man and a Woman

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful 5.0 out of 5 stars stranger than short fiction, June 13, 2012 By  Odorono25 - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: A Rose by Any Other Name: An Alphabet of Tales About a Man & a Woman (Paperback) Last night, I bought it and read it before going to sleep...when I finally rested, I dreamed I was the size of a brownstone, with NYC tap water running through my veins. When I woke up I had 26 girlfriends and spoke 17 dialects of English. CHECK IT OUT! Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 5.0 out of 5 stars God, I loved it., June 6, 2012 By  Byron C. Go "gostop" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This review is from: A Rose by Any Other Name: An Alphabet of Tales About a Man & a Woman (Paperback) Each story had enough to suck you in. And keep you riveted. And then left you wanting. And if you know anything about seduction, well...consider me seduced. 26 times. It was lovely. I put the book down to go out into the world, and I would fantasize about coming home to read it. I can't remember the last time that happened, and certainly not with short stories. I loved it. I'm actually weirded out by how much I loved it. Do yourself a favor and bring this one home. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely, May 4, 2012 By  Chris "Cat J" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This review is from: A Rose By Any Other Name: An Alphabet of Tales About a Man and a Woman (Kindle Edition) As someone who rarely ventures away from non-fiction, I am thoroughly grateful to have indulged in this quick, riveting read. Whether you're trying to get the girl or get rid of the girl (or boy for that matter) you just might learn a trick or two while being fully entertained. Mazo is quick to turn a phrase, twist a plot and tug at your heartstrings. This book is a perfect balance of what a collection of short stories should be. Only wish there were more letters in the alphabet... Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet smell of Rose, April 26, 2012 By  christine Heath (NORTHPORT, NY, US) - See all my reviews This review is from: A Rose By Any Other Name: An Alphabet of Tales About a Man and a Woman (Kindle Edition) Just finished my copy.. really enjoyed it, read through it so fast you would have thought it was on fire. Thank you for the smiles, laughs, and the tears from the story about your grandfather. for some reason I really want a pickle and I am considering going to NYC to obtain it. I think I have been everyone of those 26 roses at one point or another.. well except for the doctor... so far. LOVE&KAOS Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!, April 24, 2012 By  Teresa Velasquez - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: A Rose by Any Other Name: An Alphabet of Tales About a Man & a Woman (Paperback) Mr. Mazo creates characters and story lines that grab your attention and make you want to know more. In fact, that may be my only compliant, I was left wanting to know more about all the characters. It was gratifying to see the cross pollination between some stories but let it be known, "Brian Mazo, novel please!!" Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment 5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book Of Shorts, April 19, 2012 By  Virginia I. Heath (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: A Rose By Any Other Name: An Alphabet of Tales About a Man and a Woman (Kindle Edition) The stories in this book leave you wanting more, which is exactly what a short story should be. They are all different, totally readable and every one created an emotional reaction. I especially appreciated Mr. Mazo's ability to accurately describe the feelings of the women in the stories. As an avid reader I often find male writers unable to give an accurate voice to their female characters. I am a female, so I don't find myself able to judge the reverse - female authors writing from a male perspective. I also really enjoyed Mr. Mazo's ability to put voice to feelings and emotions he could not ever have felt himself - a woman suffering a miscarriage - the writing just felt true and real, like it was from the mind of a real person. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | Permalink Comment Comment

Buy a copy here or download the Kindle version now right here. If you would like an inscribed copy drop me an email at 26tales@gmail.com ($14US + shipping/handling)

Thanks much and happy holidays,
Brian

Well, it's official- Nick Swisher is no longer a Yankee. Poor bastard will be plying his trade for the Indians for the next four years. And Raul Ibanez is gone now too- off for his third go around up in Seattle. Both were fan favorites- Ibanez for his homerun barrage this past post-season when seemingly no one else in pinstripes could get the ball out of the infield. Swish, on the other hand, delighted the fans with his antics out in right field and played a respectable first when needed, but was diminished when the "real" Yankee season started and that, along with the contract demands, is what lead him out of town. Very happy at least that Swish, of whom I was already a big fan from watching how he played the game out in Oakland, didn't wind up heading north to Boston. Wasn't quite ready to hate him.

But with Cody Ross "down off the board" as the free-agent tracker sites like to say, the prospect of signing a righthanded outfielder to supplement the now-all lefty one of Gardner, Granderson and Ichiro is left to Scott Hairston. Story is that he would like to stay in New York, but re-sign with the Mets, makes you wonder where the guy's drive to win is. Right?


Been spending much of the last month or so buried in books. Just followed up the excellent prequel, "Kings of Cool" by Don Winslow with its predecessor, "Savages" which is the last Oliver Stone movie. Having read a bunch of Winslow after the aforementioned KoC, it's been interesting to watch his prose style - lots of white on the pages, lots of lingo - develop over the course of a number of books that intersect characters like "Dawn Patrol," "The Gentleman's Hour," and "The Death and Life of Bobby Z." (an unwatchable movie version exists of that one, too) and "The Winter of Frankie Machine."

Having adored the more recent Jeffrey Franzen work, "Freedom" I have an older one on the shelf - "Strong Motion" lined up on the bed-stand as "next."

Can really recommend the trilogy by George Alec Effinger that starts with "When Gravity Fails," followed by "A Fire on the Sun," which lead me to some of his other work. I put away "The Nick of Time" in a day and its follow-up, "The Bird of Time," should follow the Franzen. Interestingly enough, I took a flyer on an old Jonathan Lethem novel, "Gun, with Occasional Music," which, coincidentally enough, turned out to be quite the homage to the Effinger trilogy to surprise me that I read them in succession having no previous knowledge of their clear connection.

I had read some of his magazine pieces, but I think "Downtown Owl" was the first novel I have read by Chuck Klosterman. His Mid-Western settings and music references will see more of him on my shelf. If you're buying me books - or yourself, I suppose as well - there are new novels out by the likes of Jess "The Financial Lives of the Poets" Walter, Mark "House of Leaves" Danielewski (sic?), Junot "The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" Diaz (check out my book's Facebook page for a very cool picture/quote by that author here.) and Michael Chabon.

Okay, happy reading to you all especially in these cold weather months. My book is available here or by emailing me directly at 26tales@gmail.com for an inscribed copy.

Cheers
B.

As of this writing it's not official, but it sure does look like the Toronto Blue Jays are continuing their winning ways this off-season with their potential acquisition of 2012's NL Cy Young award winner. RA Dickey was a great story in New York - not quite Linsanity - but from a financial point of view, getting a good haul for a 38 year old pitcher - albeit a knuckleballer - may benefit the Mets more than holding on to the righthander for another season, one that won't make a difference when it comes to making the playoffs, and receiving the best catching prospect in baseball along with a power pitcher.

Sandy Alderson, Mets GM, made the fans as happy as they are capable of, by re-signing other fan favorite, David Wright, to a long-term extension earlier in the hot-stove league, but by all appearances, Dickey was on the way out, either having pitched 1 more season without a contract for the next, so to get a great package from the win-now Jays is about as good as it gets for the other New York team.

And as much as the Yankees and Cashman have seemingly stood pat, taking care of the veterans they wanted back for one more go around before the lesser-Steinbrenners make good on their plan to get beneath the luxury tax cap in 2014 of $189M, this is a team that was capable of more than 90 wins equating to the best record in the AL in 2012, outside of the Toronto team, the rest of the division didn't get any better. The Bosox will be different, and they can't be much worse than last season, but their willy-nilly signings of character-guys isn't going to equate in the 25-30 more wins they will need to compete in the division, although getting to play the Astros this season should benefit most teams at least a little.

Looks like Ichiro is up next now that Youkilis has been signed to play third in A-Rod's absence. I suppose he's a better option than the names, like Troy Glaus and Cody Ransom who wanted the gig. There's still the absence of a powerful right-handed bat and as of now, the catching spot is available for the combo of Cervelli, Romine and Stewart to battle with whiffle ball bats over.

It's only two more months until pitchers and catchers report for spring training and one has to suspect that Cash has a trick or two up his sleeve. I bet, despite how crazy this may sound, that he misses answering to The Boss, who always wanted to win as much, if not more, than pretty much any fan. I miss the man...

Hey! If you're X-mas present hunting, my book is available either directly through me signed or from one of these sites:

paperback or Kindle

Thanks much,
Brian

If you were expecting to read about baseball today, you're out of luck when it comes to me and original material. But I present someone else's pieces -- and really a baseball whopper of a tale -- about dads, bats and the late, great Roberto Clemente. This is a fairly lengthy piece, but you should read it.

Meanwhile, if you're planning on being in Minneapolis for New Year's Eve or if you're looking for something to do, this is it:

Event 1 Blink = Dance This new year's eve, there will be thousands of parties  but only one where the DJ uses only his eyes to make the magic happen Our new years eve party at Old Arizona combines a great time and a great cause with an extraordinary story. The story centers around David Anderson overcoming the limitations of an ALS diagnosis to creatively express himself by uniting the party goers with music. David has activated and inspired a group of artists, musicians, videographers, engineers, software and hardware experts to create the experience. Bringing together the technology to enable David to DJ with his eyes, and uniting the people at the party in a larger experience, is just the beginning. Everything that we learn and earn will go toward creating a more robust affordable solution for others like David, to control the technology that most of us take for granted, with their eyes. The combination of an intimate venue with a team of inspired creatives, united by the goal, will offer an experience unique to Minneapolis and most NYE parties.  The experience will activate and inspire,  stretching our understanding of the possible. Guest will be swept into a magical interactive world of inspired cirque performers Entertainment does not occur on a single stage at a certain time, it bursts all around participants at all times encouraging guest interaction. Performances by aerialists, body painters, life action painters, body balancers and more will immerse you in the enchanting celebration.  Interactive photography and projections by Playatta will bring you into the ambiance of the event.   Dress: This is not your typical New Year's Eve party.  Dress to express!!  Adorn yourself in your fondest eye candy.  Bust out your glitter, fur, sparkles, dangles, feathers and leathers.  Dare to leave a little untouched to be brushed up by our body painting artists.  Come as the most creative you!  We will be providing some amazing and zany costume pieces for you to borrow for the photobooth and/or for the evening if you are challenged in that department This event will sell out. Get your ticket now! Learn more at www.1blinkequalsyes.com As for me, working on getting Rose on some shelves here in Minneapolis to go along with the couple in Wisconsin that I had little to do with. Readings, signings, etc. will be the call of business for the new year-- if we get that far. Thanks B

Well, unlike last year, Winter showed up yesterday here in the upper Mid-West. Over a foot of snow was dumped on our heads over the course of the day. Having planned on shutting down for the weekend regardless, it was all the excuse I required. Made it a cooking and Netflix kind of a few days, but it's back to the toil today.

It was a far more active weekend around the hot-stove league of MLB. As expected, the Dodgers signed Greinke for an outrageous amount of money -- although they have that and in spades now -- the most ever for a righthanded starting pitcher. And while I haven't seen him pitch all that much, I don't think he's all that. But LA doesn't seem to mind; they have the money so they're going to spend the money. The log-jam of other starters should start falling like dominoes with Lohse and Sanchez most likely the next free agent pitchers to get signed somewhere.

Big deal though in a trade for TB's James Shields going to Kansas City for whom many are calling the best hitting prospect in the game. KC gets Wade David as well with a few more prospects going to the Rays. At least for this season, this should make things a little easier in the AL-East as the return for investment that Tampa Bay received won't be ready to start the season in the bigs.

The Yankees meanwhile have done little other than re-sign their own, although the additions of Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera and Hiroki Kuroda cannot be considered anything than major. You wish your team had signed them this winter. Word on the street is that Ichiro is next to return although Eric Chavez and Andruw Jones have signed elsewhere. Now that Reynolds signed in Cleveland - where many thought Youkilis would go and re-unite with his ex-skipper Tito Francona - the expectations that the hated Greek god of walks will likely be in pinstripes this season are become more and more a reality. Well, perhaps he figures out a way to right his oft-injured ship and stick it to his former club and hated rival much like Clemens, Boggs, Damon and others have done.

But if you asked me, I don't want him...

Cheers
B.

The contracts going out this MLB off-season have already gotten fairly ridiculous and the big fish have yet to be reeled in. Word on the street is that Zach Greinke is going to get the biggest contract in the history of pitchers and that is just idiotic for a guy who's had one great season only and is a risk due his personal make up. Biased naturally, but CC Sabathia had long proved to everyone that he is a horse, an ace and a guy onto whose big back a lot of trust could be committed. That could be one of the better free agent pitcher signings even with the opt-out clause that lead the Yanks to extend him. Greinke is no CC and who ever overpays for him will feel that sting.

Although right now the Dodgers have all the monopoly money  in the world so they will most likely be his landing spot.

And while Texas makes the most sense for Josh Hamilton that still hasn't happened and the Ranger brass did some early seed-planting in order to ready the fans should their stud CF'er depart for other pastures. One rumor spreading a little is that Cashman trades Granderson and goes after Hamilton. At least the Rangers didn't overpay their on-the-decline catcher, who's really a part-time backstop and should be DH'ing and maybe some first.

But the bosox in their attempts to re-build with better clubhouse guys went all-in on Napoli after signing a bunch of guys that just don't make much sense on the field. They still have done nothing to address their lousy rotation and with the steps taken by Toronto this off-season, the nation may prepare itself for another last place finish.

Speaking of last place, the marlins just jettisoned the prize major league piece in their salary dump trade with the Jays. Escobar and his $5M salary for 2013 was traded across state to the Rays for a minor leaguer. Perhaps Cashman can grab Stanton making the player happy and answering the right-field job for the Yankees.

But the Giants overpaid in re-signing Pagan and Scutaro. Keppinger just got a huge deal too. I am rooting against the Yankees picking up either youkilis or aj pierzinski (sic) as I don't like either -- and the world of MLB seems to agree on AJ- he's apparently the most disliked guy in the game. Who needs that?

Not so much a hot stove league you ask me...

B

Yeah, yeah, it's been a few weeks but when you don't have anything nice to say...

But I'm pretty adamant that MLB commissioner Bud Selig has got to go. His term has been all about the business and damn the game of baseball. Really the 'why' behind his treatment of the McCourt/Dodger fiasco was all about making more money for his friends and from keeping anyone else out. Was McCourt bad for the game, bad for the Dodgers? Hell yes he was, but it wasn't until he threatened to undercut the MLB TV deal that Selig wanted was he ousted.

Meanwhile, down in South Florida, all hell has broken loose. Loria and his team of skeevy carpetbaggers have done it again and when it was in the power of Selig to block a trade all he was roll his eyes and say what can you do. Lies to players and taxpayers mean not a damn thing. I'd watch soccer if I lived there before going to another Marlins home game. Loria recently just nudged out Fidel Castro in a popularity contest. Ozzie Guillen is lucky to be gone.

Meanwhile, despite selling 49% of the YES network to Rupert Murdoch, the new Yankee brass seems set in stone about keeping under the $189M salary mark to avoid the newest rounds of luxury tax. Sharing the wealth and the payments to smaller market teams would be one thing but if the owners just put the money in their pocket then really -- why subsidize then. Brian Cashman is probably hamstrung by 1-year deals this winter as the signings of Pettitte, Kuroda & Mo (although we're all rather happy to have them in the fold for another season) bear out. Losing Russell Martin to Pittsburgh is okay- he's more noise than thunder. Even the fan favorite Swisher had to go as he fails to show up in the post-season. As for who catches and who provides some thump from right-field, remains to be seen.

Meanwhile out in LA, the 'new' Dodgers got their sick TV deal - even far more profitable than YES is for the Yankees and they will be the team for the next few seasons that drives up free agent salaries. Scott Boras must be licking his chops. Funny that in the midst of all of this and when PED tainted stars Bonds, Clemens and Sosa hit the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time, Marvin Miller, the head of the players' union who was the man behind free agency and the boon to the salaries of the players died at the age of 95.

I am seriously considering boycotting Opening Day and the All-Star game (ok, I rarely watch the latter anyway) until Selig resigns and Joe Torre is made the new commissioner. That, indeed, would be best for the game.

B

Well, as expected none of the 3 players the Yanks offered qualifying $13.3M bids for the 2013 season were accepted by the players. Swish and Soriano are most probably going elsewhere. Hopes are high that the Yankees can get another 1-year deal for Kuroda, but he may head home to Japan to finish up his very respectable career.

Ex-Yank fan fav' Tino Martinez will be in Florida as their hitting coach. There was some talk of him being hired for the same position by the bosox and glad we don't have to see him in wrong team colors, Don Mattingly is bad enough in Dodger blue.

First nearly real snow up here in the Twin Cities overnight. Just a dusting and should be gone this week but hopefully there's some good inside time upcoming: great for writing.

I will be re-ordering copies of Rose this week and I will continue to offer inscribed copies for the same list price of $14 -- plus shipping for the next 12days or so as I continue to donate $5 from every sale to this amazing kick-starter campaign for my friend David. Click here to see what I'm talking about.

Meanwhile still awaiting receipt of screenplay toward potential re-write as well as hopefully a writing deal and/or interest in some of my pre-existing completed work. Project seems much more up my alley than the dour/dark script I read a few weeks back.

Just had to turn down my 2nd request as hitchin' preacher man as I have a travel conflict.

Stay warm today.

Cheers
B

So, I am still having odd technical issues with this blog. It won't let me post using my main method of getting on this here interwebby and pictures? Fuhgeddaboudit. Although I will try again, now.

Yeah, that didn't work. I'll get someone who should be permitted to touch computers to touch mine again.

Meanwhile, the plan for winter and Rose is to finally get out and read some of the tales, hopefully not only in bookstores, but also in venues where people may be drinking, may be more inclined to drop $14 on a book. I am still donating $5 from every sale for the next 15 days to the kick-starter campaign for my dear friend, David. Click here to watch it. It will make your day. Helping out will make your month. Coming to the NYE party that David will be DJ'ing at using but his eyes to control will make your year.

Still waiting to receive a screenplay for which I am up for the re-write gig. Toes and eyes crossed. I did read another project recently sent my way toward similar need, but it was quite a dark and dour piece of work that needs quite a bit of work. There's an offer to work on a spec' with an old friend bubbling around as well, but if you've paid any attention to my kvetching about the film biz, spec doesn't pay...

I have been getting some decent early responses to the novel that I plan publishing next year after I have exhausted my avenues on Rose.

In Yankee world, looks like Mo is coming back for another, hopes are high that Andy Pettitte and Kuroda (offer made) come back for one more go around too. Jeter and CC are recovering well from all reports. Granderson and Cano's options were picked up, but sounds like the deal that Robbie's agent-from-hell is looking for may make #24 someone else's second baseman come 2014 and the intended goal of Yankee payroll being below the $189M luxury tax threshold.

Should be an interesting winter, but not expecting any earth-shattering moves from the likes of Brian Cashman et al, but you never know...

Cheers
B.

Wisconsin, a native word meaning, I believe "well, at least it ain't flat" was very very good to me. Despite the faux 'hound bus getting me there an hour later, I tasted 3-4 local beers including a powerful Scotch Ale over the couple of days.

Was invited to a home cooked dinner from a Saddam Hussein-look-alike chef who no longer has a restaurant so an invite is the only way to get his sensational Lebanese cooking. I don't think I had had a full-on Lebanese meal in over a decade since an exceptional meal at Mamlouk on my old East Village 4th street. Not sure if that place is still there, regardless the lamb stroganoff made with both heavy cream and the expected sour cream was rich, warm and creamy as all get out. The lamb - cooked perfectly - fell apart if your fork even looked at it.

Meanwhile, I got to stop into Driftless Books, housed in an old tobacco house in Viroqua, WI which is the only retail outlet so far to carry my book, "A Rose by Any Other Name." As soon as I figure out this posting pictures snafu, I'll post a couple pictures of the place. Word on the street is that I will be able to do a reading -- perhaps even for the radio -- and a signing there sometime soon.

Okay, the bus was late getting me home and so I've got to fly.

Later,
B.

Well, it looks like I had some techinical issues earlier in the week. The last blog post -- think it was my initial take on the Yankees hot-stove moves -- got eaten by the interbunny. Such is life...

But the dedication page on my 1st book, "A Rose by Any Other Name" reads: "For DTA and his strength" which is about my friend David Anderson and his battle with ALS. As mentioned before there is a kickstarter campaign going right now: click here and while we surpassed the stated goal of $15K after but a few days, that was really just the beginning. Getting David to DJ a New Year's Eve party in Minneapolis is just part of the plan. There is a bigger, far reaching plan to make all the technical developments created for David's use available to other people in the world suffering from diseases such as ALS, MS and others that limit those stricken to communicate effectively with the rest of us.

And while I appear in the video, I also want to put my money where my mouth is and offer up the profits from sales of my book for the remaining twenty-two days on the kickstarter which is now over $17K in donations.

I will donate $5 from every print edition copy sold in the next three weeks from either me personally (inscribed if you would like) or if you purchase from the print-on-demand location here.

I would include soome pictures - actually tried - but tech issues persist: sorry.

Meanwhile, working on the novel. A small handful of people have had it in their hands. I am awaiting feedback so that I can move on to the next draft toward a 2013 publication date, but there's still so much to do this winter with Rose so I am in no real rush to push it out before it's fully gestated.

There's some screenplay stuff bubbling around as well, but I'm not jinxing that by mentioning it to the likes of you and you and you...

Thanks
Brian

So, today's blog is more a request to go watch a video. And yes, I am in it, but unlike the music video for The Boxing Lesson, I am fully dressed and more a talking head than anything else. The real deal in the short video is my dear friend David who was diagnosed with ALS two years ago this month. David is a DJ, but now he is one who can really only use his eyes to communicate with the world. But despite the ravages of this awful &(@&*#@ing disease, David is going to to get a dance floor moving and shaking -- and "only" with his eyes.

Please take the 10 minutes to watch this. If you are moved to share this video or to donate to assist making this dream happen, better still.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2112412404/1-blink-yes-an-eye-controlled-and-created-dj-set

EDM artist David Anderson records a live New Years Eve set using just his eyes. Did we mention that's all he can move? He has ALS :)

 

• Launched: Oct 24, 2012
• Funding ends: Nov 23, 2012
• Remind Me

Produce 1 Blink = YES a music DVD from the DJ David Anderson

David Anderson is a Minneapolis based DJ known for his genre spanning music that aligns around the single purpose of getting a dance floor to move, and to move like it never has before.  Having spun music for the greater part of 10 years - from Seattle to NYC to Burning Man, and lots of places in between - David has yet to formally record and release one of his live sets.

This Kickstarter project will enable David to perform a New Year's set this December and record that set for production into a special release CD and DVD.  Sounds simple right?  Well...read on...

Getting David to perform this New Year's Eve and produce a live set is a bit more challenging because he is in the later stages of ALS. This degenerative nerve disorder has left him without the ability to meaningfully move any part of his body except his eyes and has confined him 24/7 to a hospital bed with a ventilator to assist with breathing.  While David has access to some great eye tracking hardware, the complexity of integrating it with DJ software and enabling the scenarios to DJ live are not for the faint of heart. To support this crazy idea of getting David to lay down a live DJ set for NYE, and to have it recorded and cut into a CD/DVD, a team of software and hardware experts, hackers, engineers, musicians, videographers, project managers and other talented individuals have banded together to produce this live set and ultimately the CD/DVD that follows.

Work has already begun on building the necessary software bridges between the eye-tracking hardware and David’s software DJ platforms of choice. The custom code and hardware hacks will be documented and eventually open sourced.  The mods and hacks are accounted for in the budget. All of this experience will inform a follow-on project where the team takes what we learn and generalize it to a broader, more dynamic communication platform for David and others.

Even before ALS encroached on David's life, his music and his message was one of inspiration and hope and love.  Watching him make music with just his eyes amplifies that power, and capturing a live set will take it to a whole other level.

Budget

Our current operating budget for this project is allocated as:

• Hardware acquisition and hacking mods:  $3000  
• Software licenses:  $500.  We anticipate needing to acquire a few pieces of software for both testing, operations and coding.  
• Middleware and client side programming:  $1000.  While most of the coding hours will be donated, we do anticipate needing to hire some specialized engineering work.  We will beg to have it donated but we can't count on it.
• Video Support:  $1000.  For the DVD portion of the set
• New Year's Eve Party Support.  $1500.  This line item includes a small amount of budgetary support for the party.  The largest line here is for medical support for David to attend the party and DJ the set live.
• Post Production Work:  $3500
• CD/DVD Production:  $2500
• Kickstarter Reward fulfillment:  Much of the monetary value of the rewards are being donated, but we anticipate an outlay of $1500 to cover shipping and other related production costs.
• Cost overruns:  $500

Closing

Our project is laser focused on creating an amazing CD/DVD of some inspiring and beautiful music.  But as you have seen in the video there are some other "softer" goals as well.  The team is embarking on a multi-phase, ambitious project to knit together the necessary pieces of hardware and software to create this event and this music - this Kickstarter is the first phase.  We are visionary forward thinkers and in many ways we see this project as the first step in a process of rethinking and redesigning how people with mobility limited to their eyes can have more effective and expressive ways of communicating.  Rest assured, that any money above and beyond what we raise will serve this goal.  In fact, as we stated above, this project will directly inform and lead into a future project to build better technology for David and others with ALS, MS and other situations where eye movement is the primary mode of communication.  The technology is there - we just need some super smart people to knit it all together :)

FAQ

Q.  Why is this whole thing written in the third person?

A.  The artist, David, is deeply and daily involved in this project.  But, as it stand now, typing out a long and detailed kickstarter description with his eyes is a pretty laborious.  Instead, the team has worked with David to author this description and we chose to use the third person for convenience.  Great question, btw.

Q.  Why a live set?

A.  While David's music is central to this project, the other key piece is capturing the audience vibe, reaction and energy when the DJ plays his set with just his eyes from his hospital bed.  We believe that the exchange between David and the audience is just as important to capture as the music itself.  In fact, we expect the audience at the party (as well as everyone who watches the DVD after the fact) to be profoundly moved by the experience.  An obvious interpretation of this project would be "what a great thing for David", but David (and his team) see this the opposite as just as important - "what a great thing for the world - to see connect with someone DJing with just their eyes".  David's gifts are enormous and his presence with ALS has only amplified those - he has a lot to say and to tell us.  We are creating the forum for that. 

Q.  There seems to be a lot of engineering work required to pull this off.  Can you do it in time?

A.  Although we have just launched our Kickstarter, the planning for this CD/DVD has been underway for several months and we are hitting all of our planned milestones and deliverables.  We see little execution risk at this point.

Q.  You are putting a lot of work in to create just one event/CD/DVD.  Is there a plan to reuse all this work?

A. Absolutely.   While this Kickstarter is about creating the CD/DVD, we are approaching the entire scenario as a learning opportunity to figure out the best ways to enable David to communicate with just his eyes.  Our long term goal is to take this project of enabling him to DJ again and roll that out into a more general communication platform for anyone who wants to use their eyes as the primary input into their devices.

Q.  Have you seen this?  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/571943958/tempt1-and-eyewriter-art-by-eyes

A.  YES!  this was a huge inspiration to us.  And if you know these people please tell them to get in touch with us....we've tried to reach them!  Since the time of that project, eye tracking hardware has come super far.  There are really cool companies like Grinbath and others making super affordable, high quality eye tracking hardware.  What's missing is the software side of the house.  Part of our project will involve a deep dive into the hardware side of the equation.

Q.  I don't have money to pledge right now, but I want to particiapte!

A.  yes!  we need you.  Don't be shy - reach out to us.  We need volunteers for the party in Minneapolis.  We need software geeks and hardware hackers.  We need creative minds and awesome problems solves.  And we could always use more project management help.  let us know you want to help and we can figure it out.

Q.  Is there more information?

A.  We have a little web site at www.1blinkequalsyes.org as well as a Facebook page www.facebook.com/1blinkequalsyes with some more information on this project and our larger goals

Q.  Enough already with all this "technology this, ALS that"....what about this party!?  give me the details!

A.  The specific details of the New Year's Eve Party are still being worked out. But, it will be in Minneapolis and it will be New Year's Eve.  Stay tuned for more details on that.

RISKS AND CHALLENGESLearn about accountability on Kickstarter

We are already well underway in the technical implementations required to enable David to produce music. We are knitting together the hardware and software and have prototypes working.

The greatest risk comes from the day to day situation of David's health and the chance that on the day of New Year's Eve he may not be able to physically attend the party. We have already developed back up technology to allow a live link from his house to the party to allow him to DJ regardless of where he is.

Thanks so much.

Brian

Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.