Awklord of the Rings, (via Laughing Squid)

Oh man, these guys are awesome. I'm pretty sure this photo was conceived and, in the most part, executed by the son who stands tall behind his noble parents. This is just a taste of the awkward glory that awaits you at AwkwardFamilyPhoto.com. My other favorite photo (below) includes a reference to my favorite movie, "European Vacation", which makes me love it all the more. I won't repeat the quote here, but it's pretty easy to find.

Thanks for the inspiration, Awkward Family Photos!

Exclusive: his Orchestra Rehearsal Footage

Here is some rehearsal footage that Shine On media filmed of us. Good Times.

"Exclusive SO-M Interview with his Orchestra"

Here's an interview we did with Shine On Media recently, talking about where from we come and about our new record and plans for the futchah.

I like new-age hippie books (even though they're gay*)

Above, Below: Tough book covers for mushy books

I have a totally not-secret habit of reading new-agey hippie books with humiliating cheesebag covers. Heart-shaped rainbows, sunset skies with flocks of birds, and sandy beaches grace them all, and it kills me that something I so guiltily enjoy is so poorly presented. You CAN judge a book by it's cover, especially when it's completely gay and retarted.

This sort of thing doesn't happen with sci-fi. My "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" is an elegant black leather number, embossed with gold, which has proudly traveled with me around the world. Biographies make you smarter and more distinguished just by proximity-- Winston Churchill's "The Last Lion", for example, which features a black and white portrait of Sir Winston, above a coat of arms and atop of regal navy blue. Highbrow by default.

But if you get caught reading "Ask and it is Given" just ONCE you look like a turd-burglaring yoga instructor (or a tarot card reader, whichever is worse) and all your collegey literary cred flies straight out the window. You instantly "manifest" and "attract" whatever is the exact opposite of Bukowski, Rand, Joyce, and Thomas.

I therefore create book covers, a la high school (pictured above), for every pastel, new-agey palated cover that graces my path. This satisfies my inner snark, initiates interesting conversations, and allows guilt-free consumption of the inspiration and affirmations I so obviously need to undo the years of constant berating by my mother: "I have beautiful hair." "My arms are not too long." "I do not need to be more like Thomas Pearson in order to succeed in life" "Everything will be okay, even though I didn't go to Yale."

(*and by "gay" i don't mean "homosexual gay", because I like that kind of gay. In this context, "gay" means "lame")

LA Weekly Interview: "SXSW and The Future of Media: Impromptu Core Conversation on Content Distribution at RVIP Lounge"

We got back from SXSW Interactive, Film, & Music festival in Austin, TX last week. We cruised in the RVIP Lounge all week long, saw new and familiar faces, and definitely had the best year ever. LA Weekly's Alexia Tsotsis came on-board, sang some NIN's "Closer" (our friend Rebbeca's pick), and afterwards we chatted outside of the mayhem. At which point, I got all excited talking to her editor, Erin Broadley, while she turned on her phone voice recorder, and here's what happened:

SXSW and The Future of Media: Impromptu Core Conversation on Content Distribution at RVIP lounge

Tuesday, Mar. 17 2009 @ 8:24PM

By Alexia Tsotsis in SXSW, Tech

Photo by Erin Broadley

Some of the best discussions at SXSW Interactive happen in the corridors, where visionaries in their respective fields talk shop between panels and during cigarette breaks. I had the fortuity to be a party to one such conversation between Los Angeles musician and {RV}IP Lounge Executive Producer Kestrin Pantera and our own L.A. Weekly Web Editor Erin Broadley on the future of creative content. Quickly pulling out the TapeMe app on my iPhone, I managed to capture the spontaneous late night exchange between the two media minds (as well as a really poorly executed karaoke version of Nine Inch Nails' "Closer," if you know what I mean) on an Austin street corner outside the {RV}IP "party on wheels."

Erin Broadley: Why do you think [the entertainment community] has gotten itself in a position where ignoring the tech community is doing them a disservice?

Kestrin Pantera: It's a double-edged sword and a two way street. What is happening right now is that we're opening a channel of communication and figuring out how it works. Everyone has been hiding and trying to protect their content but it's the [tech] companies that have the platforms for distribution who are giving it away.

Why has the entertainment community allowed it to get to the point where they're actually losing money?

Kestrin Pantera: I think that the "why" is that [tech] is an absolute immediate threat to their business model. Well then how do we change the business model? I think the business model change will come through embracing the platforms.

Before I came here one of my co-workers asked me, "So do the Interactive people party as hard as the music people?" Yes, they do party just as hard, so is there a danger when the tech community becomes the entertainment?

Kestrin Pantera: Yes and no. That's what this space {RV}IP is about - what we're all creating. Who are we and what are we and what do we want to do? What are our goals? How are we going to survive and create something beautiful and meaningful that elevates us as a community? At the end of the day, if we all have is a bunch of bloggers that are putting forth beautiful but unchecked content, that's a dangerous situation. But how do we work with the unions? How does it happen?

By getting people to realize that [the change in media] is not something to be fearful of. It's like the analogy of when radio came along and people were so freaked out that it was going to cripple album sales.

Kestrin Pantera: Embracing platforms is essentially what it is; embracing the right platforms and embracing the right artists and giving them the space to create, and also the resources that they need to create.

You have two options: you can sit there and be fearful [of new media] or you can open up that part of your mind that says, "What can I do to make progress? How can I merge the two trains of thought?"

Kestrin Pantera: How do we do that?

By talking - once you stop talking it's done. A lot of people stop talking and all they do is litigate.

Kestrin Pantera: So the opposite of litigating would be communicating? Let's imagine that we had a space where everyone wasn't fighting where everyone was communicating openly. I feel like the best case scenario is a space where ultimately content hits the widest range of people with the widest range of acceptance.

We have to, because at this point if someone can broadcast what they ate for breakfast and it hits the entire world, then you have to accept that your music or your band or your art is going to do the same. So what are you going to do now? That involves getting back to the merger between the tech community and entertainment. And "start communicating" -- does that mean we have to be on a bus doing shots and eating Nachos? (Cheers from inside the RV, someone is giving their all to Boston's "More Than A Feeling.")

Kestrin Pantera: It starts with intimacy and discussion.

Exactly, so stop litigating and start conversing.

"More Than A Feeling" continues in the background as Erin and Kestrin take a stab at unraveling the Gordian Knot of content distribution, Ghandi maxim, "Be the change you want to see."

Follow us on Twitter at @alexiatsotsis and @laweekly. Also, check out Village Voice Media's SXSW Festival site for more coverage.

Tags: Blog, Content Distribution, Creative Content, Music, New Media, Old Media, SXSW, Tech

1 Comment(s) / Post a Comment

Steve says:

This is why I love SXSW. (And why I love your coverage of it.) The really good stuff happens when you get smart, savvy, creative people in one place and start riffing on topics.

Posted on Monday, Mar. 23 2009 @ 10:47AM

From Facebooks 25 Things About Me..

Thought this was worth a re-post here, since my poor lonely blog has been neglected due to facebook/twitter activity. Things are going well in the world...

1. i was called "cat woman" in elementary school because i had 5 cats, no siblings, and tons of cat-related clothing and paraphernalia. i saw "cats" 5 times and cried every time it ended. (i now have a dog.)

2. a pretty anti-social child, i preferred reading and singing (alone) to playing with other children during recess. i read the 400 page unabridged version of "gone with the wind" in 4th grade and was very proud.

3. i recorded my first radio commercial in 4th grade for "visalia lumber". it played for over 10 years. i bought a gameboy with the money i made & saved the rest.

4. whenever i write songs, they always come out sounding like country music.

5. i used to be one of those girls that asked guys to fix stuff on the computer for me. then i watched the documentary "tom dowd and the language of music" and decided i had to get "good at technology". i learned as may programs as i could and started paying attention to trends. am now a pseudo-geek.

6. i hate reggae. sorry 'mon.

7. i chose to play the cello because i could both sit down and talk while playing.

8. i am half southern. my mom's side of the family is as southern as you can get, and i love them more than anything (however i HATED living in north carolina for the first two years of college. i later moved into a massive house on 1/2 acre of land and learned how to throw a party--then it was great.).

9. i have instant and unconditional love for canadians, texans, atlanta-ians, and new jersey-ites.

10. when i was 9 years old, i started an underground girls' "fight club"-esque fighting ring. it was all about exercise & defense.

11. i boxed in college and pretty much always won. not that my technique was any good, i was just an enthusiastic "flurry of punches".

12. a random crazy person assaulted me in a doubletree hotel (and cracked my jaw-- my only broken bone) when i was twelve. i think the "girl's fight club" helped me fight back when it really counted.

13. i used to be vegan and run 1-3 hours a day, do pilates 3x/week, and weight training. i wanted to be healthy and skinny. when i quit running all the time and started eating chocolate and cheese again, i got skinnier and happier. i have continued with the "chocolate and cheese" diet ever since.

14. i love being silent. i reached a euphoric peak during a solo week-long "vow of silence". no wonder the monks on the mountaintop are so blissed out-- not having to communicate with people ROCKS! i want to do it again, but unfortunately, work usually requires talking.

15. i read new-age hippie books, but make fake book-covers that say stuff like, "the ultimate badass report" to hide them.

16. my favorite people are david bowie, katharine hepburn, freddy mercury, and stevie wonder. and jonathan grubb.

17. i have a car named 'jackie' and a car named 'marilyn'.

18. my oldest friend is tania boniske. i was jealous of her in the 5th grade b/c she was the "star" of the Hanukkah segment of the Christmas program and got to ding the triangle. this was because she was the only jew in my grade. i subsequently decided to become jewish. i later got over it, but the boniskes are still my favorite family.

19. i was raised with no religion, but was made to go to bible school so that i would "know what everyone else was talking about".

20. i had one seizure in my life, when i was two. don't remember it.

21. the night jerry garcia died, i was at dinner on haight/ashbury. i was in a goth phase at the time, and was grossed out by the exceptionally high volume of hippies strewn about the street while leaving the restaurant. shakedown street later become my favorite song in college.

22. my dad taught me base 10 when i was eight and i HATED it.

23. i think matching socks is a waste of time and mental/physical energy. i refused to wear socks (at all) for the first 7 years of my life.

24. i write 5-year plans and always get what i want. sometimes my timing is a little off, but it always happens.

25. i love making movies that are kind of dark, t.v. shows that are really funny, and commercials that air nationally and internationally.

Obama Inauguration Live Streaming: Here!

CauseCast Holiday Party Video

I decided it was probably a good idea to drink champagne & vodka cocktails and talk about what changes I'd like to see in the world at the CauseCast holiday party. Ta-da!

Hello, 2009: Let's Rock. KCRW Show at the Roxy Jan. 24th

We all know that the international & domestic economic climate has gone to hell, the unemployment rate hit a 16 year high today, and I, for one, fret for my oldest childhood friend's saftey (she is in med school in Israel). But there is some really fantastic shit going on around the world at the moment. This is our time, and I, for one, will take it. 2009 = TwoThousandMINE!

So many musicians in Los Angeles are going through a creative renaissance right now-- I'm literally barraged with fabulous original music every time I walk out the door. I'm so grateful to be a working "creative type" during this "downturn", it is such a special time to be alive.

5 More Reasons Why 2009 is Great:

1. This year marks the most legendary presidency in American history. Who's going to D.C. for the Inauguration?

2. My friends Cary Brothers, The Brandi Carlile Band, and Sarah Carter are recording un-f-ing believable music. 2009 will be music's own reward...

3. Have you checked out IReallyLikeCats.com yet? It will make you glad to be alive in '09.

4. Love is in the Air. I, for one, am like, totally engaged (along with a ton of friends). This means we can all conspire to create the best wedding-season ever. And you're invited to the awesome party!

5. his Orchestra just mastered our new record. We're so, SO proud of the way it's turned out (we should be releasing the album in the next month or so, as soon as we finish the artwork).


We are also starting to play live again! Our first show of the year is a KCRW sponsored gig at the Roxy on Jan. 24th, with West Indian Girl. Shortly after that, we're playing Bordello on Jan. 28th. Come rock out.

Happy New Year, from TwoThousandGreat to TwoThousandMine!

Future Dog, God-Willing:

I found the most beautiful dog in the world on the internet. Now I just need to reassure the pet rescue that I'm the most responsible person in the world for this hound. I've been looking for a future-50lb puppy to be my soulmate/life partner for months, and I firmly believe that this is the dog for me. 


Here's 5 Reasons Why They Should Give Me The Dog Right Now:

1. I locked down permanent dog-sitting back-up before I decided to adopt. The Pantera's will take care of their grand-doggy if a situation ever occurs where I must get on a plane. Forever.

2. I've been reading dog training books (instead of doing anything else) the last 3 months-- and implementing the techniques on Batgirl, who's responding beautifully.

3. I have interviewed and found our Obedience Class (Pasadena), Doggie Daycare (1 mile away-- they have web cams!), and spent $300 on supplies today, including:

• collar
• crate
• baby gate
  
• pee pads/newspaper
• chew toys (lots)
  
• portable doggie bed/car carrier
• clicker
• waste bags for walking
  
• food & bowls
• buster cube
• kong ("find it" game)
• Nature’s Miracle
• bitter apple

4. I'm going to use the "clicker" method of training her, in addition to other positive reinforcement techniques, rigorous socialization and obedience training. And Batgirl needs a big best friend.

5. I'm going to teach her how to ring a bell when she needs to go to the "bathroom".

In addition to the fact that I'm going to be the best dog owner ever, this dog looks like a giant version of Batgirl:

Elf You!

Part of me feels embarrassed for buying into a viral video marketing campaign.

That part of me is waaaaaaaaaaay overshadowed by the
other part of me, which loves disco and thinks that elves are hilarious. Good job, JibJab!

The Cuteness Hath Come...

I've been visiting this little doggie angel at the pound every week. Can you feel the cuteness? This dog will be about 30lbs (I'm looking for something a little bigger), but I've had so much fun hanging out with the little thing & helping it socialize.

Give Peace a Chance Already. Geez.

I've been bitten by the holiday (and, apparently, the hippie) bug. I'm re-posting this awesome video from John Lennon and Yoko Ono, in which they brand and market the concept of peace worldwide. Seems an appropriate time of year and history to reiterate the message, enjoy!



Thanks, Sloane, for posting!

State Your Change: Kestrin on Causecast.org

Causecast.org asked me to "State My Change", ie: what changes I would like to see happen in the world. Here goes:


(Link to actual video)

On the Street with Causecast.org

Sarah Carter and I hit the streets with Causecast.org, asking people if they knew what was in their make-up... and here are the results.




(Link to original video)

P.S. Yay, Obama!

Election night was a blast, I'm so happy that the rest of the world is stoked as well. I'm reading The Audacity of Hope right now. It's grand to see a president-elect reflect on the history of 20th century government and share his views on opportunity, politics, and his vision for the future.

Hopefully he will stay true to his vision now that he has been elected into office. I highly recommend-- it's an inspiring read.

The Kids in Montreal get TRASHED

I am in Montreal recording a record with Sarah Carter and producer Ross Golan. A highlight of the trip thus far (aside from making beautiful music) was going to see Girl Talk at Metropolis, an iconic Montreal venue, with my friend Phillippe and his best pal, music journalist T'Cha Dunlevy. The show was fantastic, the company divine, and the kids were WASTED.

Never have I seen so many drunken teenagers squished into one space. Because the drinking age is 18 years old here, all of the subtle house-party, hidden alcohol consumption of rookie high-school American kids disappears and is put right in the central of the, well, metropolis.

The night of trashed teens started with a young hipster falling on the sidewalk in front of the club, smashing her head into a parked bicycle and swatting at her friends who tried to help her stand. Once inside the club, the girls (and boys) just kept falling the whole night long-- on the street, the dance floor, the bathroom floor... it was incredible... Almost like getting plastered and collapsing was the new moonwalk.

Hopefully people won't need to get so blasted in order to enjoy Sarah's new record. Though we all have something to learn from GirlTalk's slick shirtless dance moves and hilarious strip routine-- what that is exactly, I'm not quite sure. (Photos by: Brooke Doyle)

Axe and Ye Shall Receive: 5 Things I Learned About Male Models

I worked on a project last week that involved stupidly gorgeous male models with extremely bad hair. Here are 5 Things I Learned About Male Models:

1) The movie "Zoolander" is pretty much accurate on every level: many are arrogant, beautiful divas who preen and strut willy-nilly, checking themselves out in the mirror more than any woman ever possibly could.

2) As in "Zoolander", there are also exceptions to the rule-- those "chosen few", with a great sense of humor-- self-deprecating, despite knowledge of their inherently superior Adonis-like beauty.

3) Male Models take their shirts off in public and flex, without rhyme or reason.

4) Male Models are ALWAYS posing when on-set.

5) Male Models have accents from Sweden, Algiers, or the UK. No matter where they're from.

Seeing as how I (and all the other girls on-set) are all into tall nerds, it was pretty much a Derek Zoolander/Hansel rejection-fest, and they were dissed by every woman present.


Above: two male models with bad wigs, unintentionally striking poses. Note the girl on the right, looking at them with confused apprehension.


This handsome gentleman rode around on a bike during lunch. Note his rippling abs. He instinctively took his shirt off and started flexing, without provocation.



My new friend, Kim Haden, and I, baring our best cold, hard, "blue steels". The fact is, we were totally the "Matildas" in the situation, no matter how hard we mugged. The awesome necklace I'm wearing was provided by Jewelry by Nola.

On a completely unrelated note, I found this picture of me and my bass player, Winthrop. Just wanted to formally acknowledge how cool this guy is:

Burt Reynolds is Hilarious

This man is awesome and funny. I can't really explain too much about why I'm in this photograph (at this time), but I will say that Burt Reynolds pretty much kicks complete ass all around. If you still have and/or watch T.V., you'll know exactly what this is all about in a few weeks.

Here are 5 Facts You May Not Have Known About Burt Reynolds:

1. He was the number-one box-office attraction for five straight years (1978-82)

2. He is 1/4 Cherokee Indian

3. He co-owned the Tampa Bay Bandits & a NASCAR team

4. He is a brilliant comedic actor

5. He helped his best childhood friend (who was abused) get adopted by his parents

...Look at him. He's the man.

P.S. My next (& final episode, this season) of "Alter Eco" airs this Monday, October 20, @ 9pm on Discovery's Planet Green.

The Weezer Show @ the Forum

Inglewooooooood was so good to me. The evening started off a little shaky-- I couldn't get into the parking lot at The Forum and was very frustrated--even considered going home for a split second, when the drummer (of Weezer's) wife found & took care of me, like an angel from heaven.

I took it as a good sign, met up with the other "hootinanny" players, and manned up to rock. Some of the people in the "hootinanny" had won a contest through KROQ to be onstage and "play" with Weezer--they were given a myriad of percussive instruments to rattle and did a great job. My friend Ray and I were apparently wrangled in as "real musicians" at the last minute.

It was interesting to see a band open up to such an extreme level of engagement & interaction with their fans. It was a cool concept that was executed very well.

We rehearsed with some of the band members-- all of whom were awesome. It felt surprisingly normal: we worked out the chords, ran through each song a couple of times. Then we walked on stage:



I talked to Rivers, introduced my electric cello (and myself), and played a spacey little cello solo:

and rocked! Here's the view of the 10,000 seat venue from the stage:

Kestrin & Sarah on CAUSECAST.ORG

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we’ve been shooting video and spreading the word about the preventable causes of cancer and harmful chemicals found in cosmetics. This month we are honored to be featured leaders on Causecast.org, a wonderful community that gives people the tools they need take action for whatever cause they may have. Here’s the first video we shot for them– there’s more on the way!


posted with vodpod

I'm performing with Weezer next Tuesday!

I'm playing in a "hootenanny" with Weezer next Tuesday, October 14th, at The Forum in Los Angeles. Woo Hoo!

Opening for Jackson Browne, Colin Hay, & a big Obama fundraiser

Today we played a gig opening for Jackson Browne and Colin Hay ("Men At Work") which was legendarily awesome.  We were then invited by an audience member (at the last minute), to play an Obama fundraiser this afternoon which raised over $60,000.  That's like 10 times as much as our last fundraiser.  Hopefully tomorrow's Obama minute will be a complete success and we'll break a million big ones at high noon this Monday, Oct. 6th.

I'm Totally Sci-Fi

I'm playing some solo-distortion-nerdtastic electric cello for the Women's Science Fiction Book Club tonight at the Museum Of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Ahmanson Auditorium in downtown Los Angeles tonight. Proceeds go to The Wonder of Reading, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing children's literacy in Los Angeles public schools.






Combining social consciousness and entertainment via the questioning nature of science fiction and contemporary art, "The Intergalactic Discourse" should prove to be a landmark event, investing in the future both of the speculative arts and the significance of keeping reading, literacy, and imagination alive in Los Angeles school curriculums.

O.M.F.G. She Got Dumber

Just when you thought Sarah Palin had already "worst-case-scenario" humiliated herself... it just. got. worse. The most recent CBS interview of both Vice Presidential candidates, by Katie Couric, takes Palin's lack of knowledge of United States history and current policy to a new level: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/01/eveningnews/main4493062.shtml



Couric: What other Supreme Court decisions do you disagree with?

Palin: Well, let's see. There's, of course in the great history of America there have been rulings, that's never going to be absolute consensus by every American. And there are those issues, again, like Roe v. Wade, where I believe are best held on a state level and addressed there. So you know, going through the history of America, there would be others but …

Couric: Can you think of any?

Palin: Well, I could think of … any again, that could be best dealt with on a more local level. Maybe I would take issue with. But, you know, as mayor, and then as governor and even as a vice president, if I'm so privileged to serve, wouldn't be in a position of changing those things but in supporting the law of the land as it reads today.

Obama or Bust: Barack-toberfest Pre-Party

The "Obama or Bust" Fundraiser was a complete success. We raised tons of cash and His Orchestra had one of our best performances ever.

I helped produce a photo booth (at the last minute) which turned out to be my favorite part of the event-- and a great way to promote Obama after the fact: on participants' social network profile pictures!











Massive thanks to photographer, Josh Reiss, who came on at the last minute and shared his brilliant ideas and talent to create these images.

Sarah Palin & Miss Teen USA

miss teen usa:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvuDdeFMG9Q



sarah palin :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLhVGDy-ZXc

Comparative Video: Obama on Letterman, Palin on Couric, Letterman on McCain

humiliating interview with sarah palin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9YiVXRqBLo



obama blows the crowd away on letterman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xcr9uAqeUqs



letterman REAMS mccain for skipping out on the late show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjkCrfylq-E


joe biden on fire:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=955Y3NJTRIE


--
kestrin pantera

Obama Fundraiser: Thursday, Sept. 25

My band, His Orchestra is playing the OBAMA OR BUST FUNDRAISER, this Thursday, with Shepard Fairey

(Shepard has donated an original signed print of his iconic HOPE poster which will be auctioned off--if you already own an unsigned poster, bring it and get it signed. He will also be dj-ing)

Can't wait to Barack the vote with you! more info & opportunity to donate at:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/fundraising/gs5372



When:
Thursday, September 25th 6:30-9:30pm

Where:
@ Visionary Boutique
8568 1/2 Melrose Ave
West Hollywood, California 90069
310-659-1177
www.visionaryboutique.com

Who/What:
-His Orchestra Playing Live
-Shepard Fairey & Simon Bennet DJ
-Raffle for awesome prizes
-Live T shirt printing (Bring your own blank T to get printed, or get one at the event.)
-Catering by Green Truck
-10% of the evenings sales from all vendors will go straight to the campaign!

Admission:
Change for Change: Bring your loose change to add to the pot.


RSVP: Sign up to donate to the campaign & RSVP to this event at www.my.barackobama.com or rsvpvisionary@gmail.com

Bring a printout of your online donation of $100 or more, and receive an organic Visionary T-shirt!

Make a difference in the future of the planet, our country, & "the humanity".

Conversations with a Conservative Republican & Obama Headquarters

I recently spoke with a very fiscally Conservative Republican who favored Sarah Palin because, ultimately, he cares about the bottom line: he wants to retain his tax cuts/benefits from the Republican party. Here's what happened:

1) Why She Is Different:
My Conservative friend is neither pro-life, nor pro-war, but considered it a brilliant strategic move: for the first time in modern politics, a politician was "living the talk": Palin gave birth to a Down's Syndrome baby (knowing ahead of time the child would be developmentally challenged), supported her pregnant 17-year-old unmarried daughter in not having an abortion, and is very proud of her 19-year-old son going to war this month. And she leads congregations in praying to God for oil pipelines.

2) The Bottom Line
In less than 5 minutes, I referenced points from Palin's fiscally reckless track record and my Conservative friend was swayed. His question: Why did he not hear these arguments against Palin from the Democrats the week after she was announced?


3) On the Phone with Campaign Obama
I spoke with Obama headquarters this morning and asked them the same question: If I can sway a Conservative Republican against his own party in 5 minutes by citing financial stats, then why can't the Obama campaign do the same? Palin's name gets zero search results on www.barackobama.com


4) Barack Obama Loves You
The woman on the phone listened to me, considered my questions with utmost respect, and told me that they were receiving 50/50 feedback on the issue: 1/2 of people want Obama to continue taking the high road and focus on the issues, the other 1/2 wants him to address the "Palin Issue" and fight back. She thanked me graciously and said my feedback would be submitted, and my faith in the Obama campaign (and America) was restored.


5) Obama: Take High Road Action, Leave the Dirt to Us
I would love Barack to take some "High Road Action": address Palin's track record in a statistical manner, referencing only facts relating to her spending (as opposed to character slander. It is our job to slander her on his behalf ;) If you haven't read the famous "Anne Kilkenny email", here it is. Please pass it on to your friends who vote Republican just for the "tax break" they think they'll receive. I would love to hear people's thoughts on this letter, and other information they have on Palin.


ABOUT SARAH PALIN, by Anne Kilkenny

5 Reasons Why 2008 was the Best Burning Man Ever

This was my best year ever at Burning Man.  We created a solid community, formed beautiful friendships, laughed hysterically, and made up rumors that circulated throughout the entire 50,000 person event (and made it all the way back to us). I am endlessly grateful for the blissful times had at Hammock Hangout, 2008, and know that I am truly blessed.

1) With the right team, you can do anything

Our team this year included CEO's, software engineers, technology/product managers, Hollywood writers, directors, & producers, artists, entrepreneurs, and a dominatrix. Our combined vision, skill sets, and ability to tie really good knots were critical to our success, but nothing was stronger than our combined sense of humor. Best. Camp. Ever.

2) Vision, Organization, Execution (using SCRUM at Burning Man)

I hate chore wheel camps-- the reason I go to Burning Man in the first place is to exorcize my anarchist demons. That means ain't nobody gonna tell me to do nothin'.

On the flipside, when we tried to execute a large-scale project in the past without a plan, we ended up with no project. This year I made a website, assembled an awesome team, and together we built the "Hammock Hangout": several giant Vietnam-era parachutes held up with a 1.6 ton Eucalyptus log and 42 "smaller" logs, filled with 30 hammocks. It worked, and the people came.


3) It's All About the Love

We made a conscious decision to be "all about the love" this year.  This does not mean "hippie", "un-funny" or "non-snarky".  It DOES mean "listen well", "provide positive solutions at all times", and "help people as much as possible with an air of light-hearted hilarity".  

Sometimes the best way to help someone is to make a joke, do a shot, and/or sing karaoke in the dust storm... and sometimes you get to save people's lives (which we did, twice, thanks to our general awareness, concern, & crisis management skills). 

4) Partly Naked

This year we were "fortunate" enough to be placed across the street from a camp called "Party Naked", which requires no more explanation. 

Though they stood around in the street wearing nothing but "buttercups" on their privates, creeping out pretty much everyone, they were actually the best neighbors ever because they provided a never ending source of joke-fodder.  And they took our constant jibes with good humor-- especially when we renamed our camp "Partly Naked", aka "Pants Required". Thanks, Nakeds! 

Above: "The loneliest man in the world" (Photo credit: Josh Reiss)

5) Starting Celebrity Rumors

Did you know that Madonna was at Burning Man this year and went to Ashram Galactica?  Or that Gavin Newsome was a member of the LampLighters this year?  That Sting eats a whole watermelon every day when he's in the desert? And Robbie Williams went to the 70's roller disco and skated in a circle? (That last one is true)

OperationUglyBeauty.com

Operation Ugly Beauty: ACTIVATED

“Operation Ugly Beauty” follows Charlie’s Angels-esque trio, actress Sarah Carter, rock star Kestrin Pantera, and revolutionary make-up artist Victoria Rowe, as they purify the beauty regimens of celebrities and tastemakers. There are thousands of easily identifiable toxic ingredients in American cosmetic products that have been directly linked to cancer for the past 25 years (and consequently been banned from the European Union). Americans are beginning to know and care, but feel helpless…

“Operation Ugly Beauty” is entertainment, education, and EMPOWERMENT.

View Trailer:



Our three heroines go on-site to celebrities’ and tastemakers’ homes/studios/sets and perform a cosmetic coup, destroying all toxic products* with hilarity and faux violence. The demonized products are then replaced with healthy alternatives and the subject is treated a pure makeover. Afterwards, the girls go out in sexy, healthy style and celebrate with their freshly made-over subject, causing hot and hilarious trouble while leaving a trail of beautiful people reconsidering their toxic attachments.

operationuglybeauty

Two cat-related videos that give me belly laughs:

1) Pinky the Cat: Yes, it sucked to be there for everyone involved. And I still cry tears of laughter years later.

2) Treadmill Kittens : Cats running on a treadmill is just stupid funny. This video probably could have gone on for 5 more minutes and I would have still been riveted.

In other news, I've started a new project called "Operation Ugly Beauty," (also funny) and will now get back to work.

RVIP Lounge LAFF: Video Rockage

The RVIP Lounge, LA Film Festival : our highest levels of rocking yet.


It began with an epic night of glory: we stole people from the VIP room at the LA Film Festival, cruised the Sunset Strip, stopped by the wrap party of Adrian Grenier's show, "Alter Eco", saw an amazing rock show by His Orchestra, interviewed Planet Unicorn, and went to the opening night Hollywood premiere party for "Expired"-- who's roster of guests included numerous Academy Award Winning producers ("The Godfather", "Ali", "Lost in Translation", etc). Pretty much the blingy-est night ever.

Needless to say, we were completely beat-down the next day. We got up early, went to the festival, watched dogs frolick on the lawn as "Hellboy 2" premiered in front of us... and were so buckled we almost didn't think we'd make it through sunset.




Fortunately, our close friends banded together and rallied up to hit the Sunset Strip for "one last ride". On Hollywood Blvd, a random group of Canadian guys (who had been desperately searching for karaoke, to no avail) saw our RV and literally chased us down in the street. We picked them up and rode around together for hours in hilarious bliss as they sang at the top of their lungs, shared stories, played with our lightsaber, and were all-around AWESOME. These guys are our heroes, who truly helped us "bring it on home".

Here's a glimpse of a night on the RVIP Lounge--our first official video!

Iteration/Organization

Lately I've learned a lot about iteration and organization, the general ideas of:

a) Do something over and over again until you get it right, and

b) Put everything in one place.


I indexed things people have written about my work over the last 12-ish months--with great thanks to those who made it possible. It's evolving into my new "news" page on kestrin.com:

LA TIMES Cover: "Fest Train Rollin'" (Kestrin en route to Coachella) (Spencer Weisnick)

Metromix: "The RVIP Lounge: Organizer Kestrin Pantera may be one of our favorite humans ever" (Alie Ward)

Cinevegas Interview: "Stars and Suns"

New York Magazine: "Expired" review

PlanetGreen.com: Home of "Alter Eco"

LA TIMES Article: "The RVIP Lounge: The Funnest (and Wierdest) Way to Get Around SXSW" (Tony Pierce)

XLR8R Magazine: "SXSW Interactive: Nerds Gone Wild" (Matt Earp)

Paper Magazine -- "The 100 Most Interesting Faces in Los Angeles"

StreetPeeper: "Right now on the Streets of Los Angeles: Kestrin @ LA Film Festival" (Lisa Borodkin)

LAIST.COM: "Hop on RVIP Lounge at LAFF This Weekend" (Andy Sternberg)

Laughing Squid: "RVIP Lounge & Karaoke Cabaret at SXSW Interactive 2008" (Scott Beale)

Yahoo News/E! Online: "Beck Down with "The O.C.", Guero Record Release (Charlie Amter)

Virgin Magazine )-- "Vigorous Benefit Rocks LA..." "...another unforgettable moment" (Spencer Robinson)

Indie Music 101 Review: Cary Brothers Tour (Danny Brown)

"His Orchestra: the best new band, ever!!!" ;)

RVIP LOUNGE BLOG

kestrin.com

RVIP Lounge LA Film Festival: This Weekend, June 27-29th

This weekend, June 27-29th, the RVIP Lounge is heading to L.A. Film Festival with a group of up-and-coming filmmakers & actors, inspired technology startups, and our favorite bloggers & press, to rock the RVIP Media Lounge

We shuttle people to screenings, throw down our own red carpet, and connect the press with celebs & tomorrow's indie superstars on an R.V. with a karaoke bar and H.D. video den.

All Aboard!
For location updates, follow us on twitter: text "follow rviplounge" to 40404

Tentative Schedule:
Friday (6/27):
4:30-6:30pm : LAFF, Westwood
10:30pm : TBA

Saturday (6/28):
1:30pm 11pm: LAFF, Westwood

Sunday (6/29):
12pm-10pm: LAFF, Westwood

Sponsors:
www.Cinefamily.org
www.GoodnightBurbank.com
www.AbigailsTeenDiary.com
www.3jam.com

(more TBA)

www.rviplounge.com
Hop on!

(and a special pre-thanks to www.mickipedia.com, www.skampy.com, and www.hustlerofculture.com

Sweden Rules! 5 reasons why...

Sweden is probably the best country ever--it's "The Shire". The highlight of our trip was literally dancing around a maypole with a group of grown adults in the forest, holding hands and singing on Midsummer's Eve--their primary national tradition. Here are 5 more reasons why this country rocks:

1.) The sun never sets during summer.



2.) It always smells good-- be it roasting meats, baking breads, or jasmine flowers.



3.) Absolutely every place you go, there's good music playing: train station, bathroom, hotel lobby, friend's house, bar, club, shoe shop, wierd antique store, boat, party, dorm room, etc.



4.) They take their food very seriously. It is ALWAYS good: restaurang, friend's house, kebab stand on the corner, etc.


5.) The Swedes truly are as hot as we imagined-- and they all spoke to us in SWEDISH, which mean they thought we, too, were well-dressed and good looking.




I'd post pictures and the legendary video I filmed, if that creep in the Copenhagen train station hadn't stolen my purse. As a traveller, it's one's sole responsibility to guard the bag with their passport, drivers license, credit card, video camera, digital still camera, and all the tapes to their film project, with their fullest attention, but OUCH! Granted, it was a 2-man operation and the guys were serious pro's who basically took it from my lap, but it's still my fault it's gone. On the plus side, my Danish friends apologized to me on behalf of their country and then fed me, so it worked out alright!


Apparently, this film-- Starmonster 2 (in Europe)-- was too visionary for this world, and I was meant to just finish editing "Marathoners" already!

New York Magazine loves "Expired"

Opens this Friday, June 27th, in Los Angeles. It's very dark and funny, and act with Samantha Morton in it. Check it out!

Portrait of a Bat

There's something you should know about me-- I'm a drooling idiot dog owner. I recently succumbed to my crazy dog-loving genes and got schmancy professional portraits taken of my noble hound, Batgirl.




It started when Jonathan's sister, Flora Grubb, said, "Let's get a dog that looks like a bat and namer her Batgirl!" Jonathan obsessively cruised the web for dogs until he found the weirdest looking animal ever, and said "I must meet this dog." At the petsunlimted.com rescue center, he was introduced to a little pooch named Batgirl.



1 year later I stole her and took her to photographer extraordinaire, www.furtographs.com, to get dog portraits taken of her (behind Jonathan's back) as a surprise birthday gift.

It is the gift that keeps on giving-- since every person I know will also receive framed prints of Batgirl for the next several years.




We're now formally accepting applications from those who want to make her a star.

Kestrin on "Alter Eco", Adrian Grenier's new show

I recently made an appearance on Adrian Grenier's new show, "Alter Eco" , the details of which I shall not speak, you'll just have to see for yourself. I'm deeply humbled and honored to have worked with the wonderful cast and crew of the show, which has a timely, profound, and sincere message which I whole-heartedly support.

"Alter Eco" educates viewers on how to build a life and community in an ecologically mindful way, through conservation and a "green lifestyle". It features musical guests, incredible excursions, as well as abundant hot and hilarious guests. Adrian's co-host is supermodel Angela Lindvall , who is as cool as she is gorgeous, and every single person working in front of (and behind) the camera is an angel.

Keep your eyes peeled. The show premieres June 9th!