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  <channel>
    <title>Janice</title>
    <link>http://virb.com/janice</link>
    <description><![CDATA[I'm Janice, and this is my new little corner of the internet on Virb!

I like to write.

My first novel, "Voice", is <strong>NOW AVAILABLE</strong>
from the Fake Plastic Books Publishing Company and Lulu:
<a href="http://www.lulu.com/content/982814">HERE</a>

I'm currently concocting a second novel, "Canvas".

Here, have one of my headphones.
<a href="http://www.last.fm/user/neoncurrents">I love this song.</a>

]]></description>
    <generator>Virb 2.0 (@janice)</generator>
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    <item>
      <title>A Word On Owls (They Are Not What They Seem)</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/janice/posts/text/765662</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Unintentional Twin Peaks reference.

Well, Virb kids...it's been too long.  Keeping myself occupied on long plane flights with a shiny new Kindle and the Hammock discography.  Put some more good books under my belt ("Everything Is Illuminated" by Jonathan Safran Foer, re-read "The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand, and "No Mans Land" by Greg Rucka - just in time for The Dark Knight), and some more hours of sleep under my pillow.

Thought I'd take a break from editing "Story(ies)" to do a little shameless promotion for a few friends of mine.

Those who might have followed my blogs a few months back (when I actually made a difference in this community, and hadn't turned into a lurking, bitter ex-MySpacer) should know about my Denver friend, Jordan, and his music (most recently, Pareidolia).  Well, MacBook and ProTools aside, Jordan and fellow rockers Elise (violin), Marb (bass), and Kyle (drums) are getting ready to release a brand new EP for a brand new beginning.

I am honored to introduce <b>Jane Lane</b>.  Here's what Jordan has for me:

"We are Jane Lane.  Manic expressive rock.  Blues.  Folk.  Ska.  Emo without the "mo" part.  Musical Jackson Pollock.  We are Denver, Coloradans, but we don't support The Fray.  We'd like to introduce you to <b>"Stories"</b> - a brand-new 7-song EP.  Featuring some old songs, some new songs, some pieces of songs.  Coming September."

<center><img src="http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/7556/webcoverrj7.jpg" /></center>


They're going into the studio in a week to finish mixing/mastering; from what I've heard, the EP is incredible.  I think my friend Ben hit it right on the head - "It's absolutely absurd that these guys aren't signed yet".  Not to mention - their EP mirrors my book!  Well, not really, but at least they share names (sort of).

Their musical revolution begins September: http://www.myspace.com/janelanemusic]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:56:20 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/janice/posts/text/765662</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>These Are High-Voltage Hardeners, From Greece</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/janice/posts/text/542511</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Oh my dear, I'm so in love with Miranda July.

http://www.vbs.tv/video.php?id=1454975012]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:30:47 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/janice/posts/text/542511</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Help bring 'Channel' to the 2008 After Dark Horrorfest</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/janice/posts/text/511591</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Massify.com is hosting a competition called 'Ghosts In The Machine' to find the next generation of horror movies for After Dark Film's Horrorfest 2008. People are submitting their pitches for a movie, and come March 17th, the fans will vote to determine the top 10 film ideas. From there, a single story will be selected to be turned into a film for the 8 Films To Die For film festival.

My friend Jordan and I have submitted a pitch called <b>'Channel'</b>.

<center><a href="http://www.massify.com/pitches/channel"><img src="http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/44/channelpostertv5.jpg" /></a></center><br />

Come vote for 'Channel' at Massify.com and help move it up in the ranks! I'd really appreciate everyone's support on this; horror movies are a big deal for me, and the thought of getting one of my own ideas made into a film is like a dream come true. It takes only a couple of minutes to vote, and there are no weird gimmicks/scams/newsletters/blah de blah.

<b>COME VOTE!</b>

<a href="http://www.massify.com/pitches/channel">CLICK TO CHECK IT OUT!</a>

CHANNEL
Synopsis:

On a day just like every other day, in every other month, and every other same old year of Phillip Kersey's life, he finds himself alone again in his studio apartment, eating reheated takeout food and watching late night programming.

On one of these nights, just like every other night, that programming changes. He stumbles upon a channel he has never received before - a channel that shows one program with one character only: himself.

As he watches a new life, a new fate, and a new existence unfold in front of him, Phillip becomes obsessed with the prospect of a better future as laid out in front of him in scan-lined Technicolor.

Then things begin to happen. Slowly at first, but as a nightmare of unspoken violence and horror start to take over the channel, the television begins talking back.

As the real world falls to shambles, and the channel falls into darkness, the real Phillip Kersey becomes...well, what? The line between who he is and what comes through that deadly screen has blurred so much, neither Phillip knows who is watching who.

And now the remote becomes the knife in Phillip's hand, and the screams just keep getting louder.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 13 Mar 2008 01:59:11 -0700</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/janice/posts/text/511591</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Light Fantastic, For Janice.</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/janice/posts/text/497170</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Well, it's been a busy few weeks to say the least.  To say the most, I haven't had a good night's sleep since before my last blog post.  Things on the grocery list: melatonin, permanent markers, mouthwash, printer paper.

I told a few of you I was flying out to Denver for my friend's single release.  The trip was awesome - spent the flight down from Oregon talking to an incredibly vibrant 'dogma' (mother and dog owner) named Jan, and within two minutes of leaving the plane my bag was waiting for me patiently like a well trained puppy.  Janice 1, Airport 0.

It was nice to see old friends again - their apartments straight out of dusty old trunks, smelling of bowling alleys and nostalgia.  Met up with my old roommate to drink Jack and Coke from paper cups and talk about the future; saw an old boyfriend who actually cheered me up instead of making me feel guilty.  Finally met up with Jordan for the concert; he played me a few of his new songs before retreating to the booth within the darkness to make the masses dance and sway to his unearthly concoctions.

You might have given him a listen?  Ex-Oregonian and master of illusion, Pareidolia (http://www.virb.com/pareidolia).

Left me a little dizzy from the bass (in the good way!) and excited for the Gwen EP.  Hope he makes a 10 inch.

Got home after the weekend of no sleep and Eluvium played on repeat, and retreated to the studio to get my mail.  Two good things awaited me:  My final copy of 'Voice' - printed and smiling at me - and the intense smell of paint from a large canvas that had miraculously appeared next to my desk while I was gone.  A picture of a mountain made of white light; exploding in fiery red, yellow, and a whole rainbow of splattered excitement.  Oh, it's beautiful.  "The Light Fantastic, For Janice".  I love my friends; pics later.

A wonderful way to end my least favorite month of the year.

So, Voice is finished and ready for all of you who are interested.  You can buy it here:

http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=801783



]]></description>
      <pubDate>Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:43:11 -0800</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/janice/posts/text/497170</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Rock And Pop Swirl</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/janice/posts/text/462830</link>
      <description><![CDATA[I should be asleep.  Can't.  Ugh.

At least tomorrow is my day off.


Sort of.

Good news though...the reason I can't seem to switch off my brain and get some sleep is because I've finished my final proof edit of "Voice" (2nd edition).  In English, once I review the final mock-up/proof copy, we're 100% good to go.  We should know by the 22nd-23rd of February.

I even have a fancy picture of my scribbled-upon print copy...but my camera and my computer don't want to play nice.

Until then, I'll be 'researching' (listening to) and writing a review of Merzbow's Merzbox for my friend's music zine.

...

Wish me luck on that; I'm going to need it.

Hugs and selected kisses,
Janice.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Wed, 13 Feb 2008 05:27:18 -0800</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/janice/posts/text/462830</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Today, I Stopped Dying.  Today, I Learned To Live.</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/janice/posts/text/458315</link>
      <description><![CDATA["Voice." 2.0 is days away from completion.  Proof copies here I come!  More proofreading.  Just...awesome.

I was digging around in my computer, and I found some old pieces of a screenplay I wrote called "Easy Lucky Free" (yes, I am aware this is also the name of a Bright Eyes song, that's the whole point).  Just thought I'd post a little bit of it that I don't remember writing/made me laugh a little:

# # # # #

Show car driving in town
C/S of car driving past street signs, and houses that all look exactly same
Music fades back as Emma speaks (camera from backseat angle 1)

EMMA
Turn here.  Yeah, right.

KAREN
So, what's your name?

EMMA
Emma.  Emma Spinelli; my mother's overly Italian and my dad doesn't matter.  I think he was the missing link or something.

KAREN
(Laughs a bit)

EMMA
So, do you usually invite complete strangers into your car to careen down twisted, unknown streets of a cold, unforgiving city...well, minus the cold, unforgiving city, I think we could pull it off.  I'll be the attacker with the hunting knife, and you can be the helpless woman with the pearl necklace.  Give me the fucking beads, miss.

KAREN
Beads?  These pearls were a gift to me!  How dare you, you scoundrel!

EMMA
Uhm, hello?  Big ass knife?

KAREN
(Laughs again)

# # # # #

I should really dig up the rest of it one of these days; I haven't read it in years.  I'm sure I'd have a few things to say about it now.  Oh, and if anyone is randomly interested in making it into a film, then *nudgenudgewinkwink* you're welcome to keep in touch.

P.S. I'm listening to Mates Of States' "Bring It Back"...if these two were any more cute I think the world would end.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 10 Feb 2008 15:28:37 -0800</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/janice/posts/text/458315</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>These Are The People We Are Trying To Impress</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/janice/posts/text/456641</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Shh, don't tell anyone I was on here procrastinating instead of making my deadline!

We got the new Virb design up today...what do you guys think?  Thanks to my inspiration (curtsey's) and help from my art director/genius/friend, Kevin, we've got a fancy new way to peek through the window into my little internet life.  I also set up a Last.fm profile so I can impose my music tastes on the rest of the world (just kidding).  I put a handy-dandy link to it in the 'About' section on the main page.

I'm getting really excited about the new edition of "Voice".  Funny how that works.  I remember being so happy with the final product when I first released it - so proud of seeing it printed out and bound.  I remember thinking how cute it would look on a library shelf.  I also remember making the effort to stop by Powell's just to see if they had any copies of it on the shelf.  Now, not much longer than a year later, I'm tearing pages out of the book and hitting myself in the head for taking out certain paragraphs and leaving others in.  I'm running around in a frantic cloud trying to organize and get everything "just right" this time around.

Speaking of which, we developed a new idea for a book based off "Voice" which really puts the fate of the book into the hands of the reader.  We are currently developing my personal web site (I feel so special having my very own .com), and we're starting a live community through it/Virb called <em>"yourVoice"</em>.  For those who haven't seen/read anything out of "Voice", the book is organized in a way that really allows the reader to interpret the text in whatever way they see fit.  It also encourages the reader to write a lot into it.  What we're going to do is try and get everyone who writes in their copy of "Voice" to either 1) physically mail or 2) scan it in so we can develop a constantly growing, reader-built edition of the book called <b>"Voices"</b>.  More on this project to come later.

Otherwise, today was full of brainstorms...electricity firing off everywhere trying to decide what font set to use for the larger text in my book, whether or not rework all or half of chapter ten (and in concordance, what I should add or take away), and if I should type in and organize all the handwritten notes I have in loose sheets of paper scattered all over the floor of my office.  They seem to be getting up and walking away from me, so tired eyes and carpal tunnel awaits.  I swear I have a small fortune's worth of composition books and spiral notebooks.

The week ahead should be interesting to say the least.  Well, the atmosphere seems just right to finally get some work done (threw on a little Ivoryline and got some more coffee - thank god).

How was everyone's week?]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sat, 09 Feb 2008 01:51:20 -0800</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/janice/posts/text/456641</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>1s and Os Congregate For One Last Vicious Dance</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/janice/posts/text/453168</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Spent the whole day trying to install Leopard on my PC.  Oh yes, it was extremely worth it.  One step closer (in a way) to actually owning a new Apple (as I hug an invisible Mac Pro).  Now if I only had that ridiculous amount of money...  A lot of coffee was consumed, some phone calls were made, and a lot of music was spat between my stereo and half-functioning computer to pass the time.  Worked a little bit on the book, but otherwise, tried to spend my day off from work as an actual day off.

I was supposed to go the gym.  Shudder.  Another day awaits.

I find myself listening to a lot of electronica and ambient music lately - some middle ground between pure oscillating sound waves and pure bleeding-from-the-eyes violence at 220 beats per minute.  Throw in a little AFX and Merzbow, and you can probably get a general idea of how much my brain is fried.  Still awake, still pulsing to an invisible endless beat.

I've been making a lot of new friends on Virb, and along with that, discovering a whole boatload of interesting music.  A few mentions of my friends: some incredible atmospheric ambiance in the form of Glowworm (virb.com/glowworm), the electrical seizures and calculated spasms of Qalephd (virb.com/qalephd), and the jazzy undertones of the magnificent Driftkikker (virb.com/driftkikker).  I look forward every day to discovering new sounds, new people, new creations.  I love the magical, chaotic workings of the creative consciousness!

A few more recommendations (not from Virb, but from my personal library) include (categorized by their greatest situational benefit):

Soundtracks To The Apocalypse:
Six Organs Of Admittance - Shelter From The Ash (On the floor with the bag over your head; waiting for the bomb to drop)
Jesu - Silver EP (Waking up to realize that all of this - your entire life - has been one dream)
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - F#A#Infinity (Best. Album. Ever.)

Watching The Weather Change:
Eluvium - Talk Amongst Trees (Your first and last memories)
Pareidolia - Glow (Patterns and randomness become one and the same)
Brian Eno - Another Green World (Arguably one of the best ambient experimental records ever made)
Ef - I Am Responsible (So beautiful it hurts...)

Electric Neon Slide Parties:
The Chemical Brothers - Dig Your Own Hole (Hallucinogens optional)
Clap! Clap! - You Love This! (Dance, dance, dance, until your lungs decay)
Polysics - Polysics Or Die!!! (DEVO + Japan = What?)

Well, my eyelids are beginning to wage war on my eyes.  Until that next time we look forward to so much...I love you all!

Oh, one last tidbit of music I forgot.  An all-time favorite I'd love to share with everyone:
http://www.myspace.com/lengthsofwire

If you have a chance/the time/the desire.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:57:56 -0800</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/janice/posts/text/453168</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>The Portal</title>
      <link>http://virb.com/janice/posts/text/447826</link>
      <description><![CDATA[What a strange and uneventful day.  Ended up not having to go into work today because of the complete lack of human activity downtown due to the game.  Everything seemed a lot emptier.  The roads less manic.  The air a little clearer.

Spent the day looking for inspiration under the bed and in all the cabinets in the kitchen.  Pulled myself away from the computer for as long as I could get away with, before returning to the exhausting task of proofreading and the trivial pursuits of the internet.  Strange things on the internet - and Wikipedia and StumbleUpon are not helping.  I mean, it used to take some genuine work - nay, skill - to fully lose yourself in time and space.  Now, before I even know it, I've somehow gotten from 'serial comma' to 'Betamax' and I have no idea how.  Hours of my life gone forever.

On the other hand, a little randomness never hurt anyone.  Looking across the pages of 'Canvas' - jumping from red and white polka dots to palpable sexual tension (you can palp it!) over an uncomfortable phone call - I wonder if my work will be as easy to get lost inside.  I KNOW what the big picture is, but will anyone else?  Will they see that universe, that place?  Will they become part of it?  I want people to pick up a copy and stand there reading until they startle themselves back into reality.  I want people to be able to sit down and spend the whole day with the book.  I want people to really only exist inside their minds when they crack the spine.

I can imagine this is the desire of many fiction writers.  Somehow though, it seems different.

The early morning has crept up on me again, and I can't keep myself in this bad habit of falling asleep when I'm waking up.  It's really not good for my sense of direction or my balance.  I have a few more thoughts, but they're running scared around the room, so I'll get to them tomorrow.  Until then.

Oh, and my least favorite holiday of the year is neigh.  Who is going to give Janice pretty things this 14th?  Hint.
]]></description>
      <pubDate>Mon, 04 Feb 2008 04:21:52 -0800</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/janice/posts/text/447826</guid>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>Women prefer the traditional monsters. </title>
      <link>http://virb.com/janice/posts/text/446349</link>
      <description><![CDATA[Rainy again.  I should have expected this.  It's February.  In the Pacific Northwest.

The grocery store was PACKED today - almost an obscene amount of people pushing and shoving to stock their grocery carts with far too many sale items.  Baskets piled high with some kind of meat or alcoholic beverage; sugary drinks or snack foods (buy two twelve-packs of any Pespi/Coke product, get THREE free - who do they think they're fooling?).  How many chips can one consume within the course of one day?  I also assume they are making there they have the token 'mess' foods - the ones that always get thrown in the air or knocked over onto the carpet at the scream of "TOUCHDOWN!".  I don't even know who's playing, but it gives a great reason to sit around and act American until work rolls around.

Why are we the ones who get to sit around getting drunk and fat when other people are being athletic?  Should it not be the two best teams fighting for places on the couch or taking the last hot wing instead of suiting up in oversize plastic padding and bashing into each other for hours?  They don't even get to see the commercials.

...

I watched Tim Burton's "Ed Wood" yesterday for the first time in a very long time.  It made me want to go digging through boxes to find my copy of "Plan 9".  I wish I could've been in Hollywood during the time of Edward D. Wood Jr. - a time when no talent, budget, story, quality script, or paid actors were needed.  It's funny to me that I own that movie.  I mean, I know how absolutely terrible it is, yet I still bought a copy of it.  Oh, bad movies - a unique joy for the rest of us.   I also thought it was intriguing that the film (Ed Wood) made to recognize the "worst director of all time" and the cult classics he created is, in itself, a cult classic.

And now for some fancy book news:

Art direction for "Canvas" is 100% underway now.  I've seen the test pages, and so far they look great. As for "Voice", the first edition has been pulled from distribution for revision.  I'm going to be adding a lot of the original text that I cut out, and reediting the format of the book itself to look a little nicer.  The second edition will be out soon in hardback and paperback.]]></description>
      <pubDate>Sun, 03 Feb 2008 02:46:10 -0800</pubDate>
      <guid>http://virb.com/janice/posts/text/446349</guid>
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