Gone to America

I don’t have much to report, but I will anyway.
First, the poll. I should have taken it down a few days ago, when I actually
decided not to buy the laptop, but I didn’t. The results:

2 people felt I should buy the laptop
3 people felt I should take the money to the track. Thanks, guys
7 people think I should save my money. They are, of course, correct.

I need a new poll, but I don’t know what it should be. Maybe you can help.

I’ve spent the last few days taking tours with Julian Voloj. He is the husband of Lisa Keys, the girl who used to live in my room. They got married just this past Saturday. I haven’t actually met her yet, which is a shame, because I owe her money, but I have seen a fair bit of Julian. He comes around here to check his email on my computer, as they don’t have internet access in their new flat.
Julian is half Colombian, half German Jew. Before he came to New York he was the chair of the European Union of Jewish Students, an NGO based in Brussels. He’s also edited and written a few books.
Now he can’t work, because he hasn’t got a Green Card. He’s married an American, but he still has to jump through a few hoops, and it will be next year before he gets anywhere. He applied for the lottery the same time as me, and he didn’t get it. I feel so bad. At the weekend I met an English designer who would like to leave his company and go freelance, but can’t, because they are the ones who sponsor his work permit. He’s lived here for about five years, and would cheerfully kill me for my Green Card if he could. I feel so bad when I think how casual I was about the whole thing, and how much it would mean for so many people. I really had better make a go of this.
Anyway, yesterday myself and Julian took a boat tour around Manhattan. It was fantastic. I forgot my camera, but took some photos with my phone. Here they are, for what it’s worth.

I may get some of Julian’s proper pix and put those up separately. Spectacular place, is New York. Today we took a free walking tour of the financial district. Julian is very interested in the history of the Jewish communities on the Lower East Side. Last week he took me on an interesting mini walking tour of his own, pointing out the various Jewish landmarks. Much of them have been absorbed into Chinatown now, which is fascinating in its own right.
He’s at a loose end much of the time. He’s painting his flat, he likes to get out a bit, and he’s kind enough to invite me along if I’m at a loose end. Tonight he’s taking part in an academic panel of some sort, although of course unpaid. I’m telling you, the calibre of the unemployed here is pretty extraordinary. Here’s a picture of him, taken by Lisa with his T610 (everybody in America has them).

I’ve been in touch with Mark, the other ProTools guy from the midnight madness competition. I keep seeing ads, like this one on mandy.com, looking for a sound designer/mixer for low budget work. I’m quite prepared to describe myself as a sound designer if it will make a director happy, but I’m a very long way from being a mixer. Mark has no real film/TV experience, but is a music mixer, and does have a mixing room with a desk. I’m proposing that we could perhaps team up, and marry my editorial experience with his mixing experience for these low budget jobs. He seems keen, but he’s getting married on Saturday and going away on honeymoon. I’ll meet him soon. Everybody’s getting married!

In other news… Rented my DAT recorder to Will, the sound recordist from the midnight madness thing, for a couple of days. Just a little cash, but welcome nonetheless. Ah… desperate students. Hallowe’en tomorrow. Going to some kind of gig with Marilyn, Liza and Liza’s boyfriend John. Liza wishes me to wear a costume, but I am undecided. I may play poker tonight with some of the C5 guys – I’m waiting for a call back to see if there’s a space for me. I’ve only ever played online, never at a home game. This should be interesting. And I suppose you should always let potential employers win…

Screw that!