Look out! It's the "Argh!" Webpage
2009
A CALIFORNIA GUY IN SEARCH OF A CAREER


Welcome to
 ARGH!

Yes, folks, it's my generic Netscape-created web page. Who am I? Just your friendly neighborhood working class fellow trying to make a living in the insane business of entertainment. I've labored in television and feature films since the late 1970s.  I was born and raised right here in beautiful Los Angeles, California (aka Smogsville). I recently discovered that someone entered my name into the IMDB. How cool is that?

I've worked in many studios, big and small, and I've worked many jobs -- some good, some not-so-good, and some that were truly a nightmare -- but it is a career, of sorts, and I enjoy doing it.

I own a modest little residence in the foothills North of L.A. where I can still occasionally see deer, coyotes, foxes, snakes, lizards, toads, quail, road runners, raccoons, ground and tree squirrels, and skunks. Have yet to see a bobcat,  mountain lion or bear though.

A few years ago some new homes were built on what used to be open land behind my house. That human encroachment will put additional pressure on the local wildlife, forcing many animals to retreat further into the hills. Still, some of the smaller species put in occasional appearances.

Living on the edge of civilization means finding nature arriving on your doorstep when you least expect it -- or in this case, on the step down into my attached garage.



This little guy is a member of the Masticophis family -- you know them as racers -- in this case a California Whipsnake (Masticophis Lateralis). This guy is a hatchling, probaby as recently as a week or two ago.

Evidently he's been hanging around my house because there are lots of baby lizards scampering about, his favorite food.

He crawled into my garage this morning (08-21-08) while I was loading my car for a trip to the mechanic.

Ain't he cute? And no, he is not poisonous.

And that is your herpetological lesson for the day.

Now, here is another cute little guy. Cute -- but dangerous.


This Southern Pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis helleri), probably less than one year old, was resting on the curb just in front of my house this morning (4-19-09). I hooked him into this red drink carrier, took some snaps, then carried him off into the open land for release. A few years ago, one of my less enlightened neighbors pounded one of these to a bloody pulp with a shovel as his kids watched. While I can understand his concern for the safety of his kids and pets, I think the lesson was horribly mishandled. I'd worry more about coyotes, bears or mountain lions.


STUFF FOR SALE!
Yes, I'm selling off all my worldly possessions. Well, some of them....

The best home video tape format ever produced:

BETA

I bought my first betamax recorder in 1978 from the aptly named Madman Muntz. It wasn't long before I had a good sized collection of tapes, both pre-recorded and off-air. In early 2000, my favorite machine, a Sony SLHF-900, finally shuddered to a halt. I found a place that claimed it could repair it, but what I got back barely operates at all. It is time to modernize.

For all you betaphiles out there who may still be looking -- I have a large library of pre-recorded betamax tapes for sale. I'm also in the process of putting all my blank beta tapes, and eventually all my Beta hardware, up for sale as well. This is the final blowout. Once they're gone, they're gone forever!

Click the "Chunk of Stuff for Sale!" link to the right --->
to begin, then click "Beta format video."



A Chunk of Stuff for Sale!

Click the above link for the massive and ever growing  webpages of my own "for sale" site.

 What's in there? Computer software, computer hardware, audio and video hardware, magazines, books, beta and vhs videos, laser disks, DVDs, CDs and audio cassettes. Toys, musical instruments, and whatever else I can throw up there. I'm adding new stuff from time-to-time so check back often for updates!

Here is a page of stuff that interests me.

My Links



Michael Serrian can do it for you.

 Whether it's web design, photography, videography or digital imaging.

Planning on buying a computer real soon? Michael can be your PC personal shopper.

Let Michael Serrian of Graphic Instincts make your technological needs blossom with style and originality.  Click the link to the right to visit that site. -->

Graphic Instincts


The Bargain Camera Shows
is a one-Sunday-a-month mini-convention held at the Pasadena Elks Lodge
in beautiful Pasadena, California.

Click on the link above to visit that website and check the schedule for show dates.
Photography fans will find lots to choose from -- Everything from vintage to digital equipment.

Showtime: 10AM -- 3PM
Parking is Free!
Admission is NOW ONLY $2.00

Need more info? Call 310-578-7446
or snail mail to:
Bargain Camera Shows
Box 5352, Santa Monica, CA 90409


More of those Pesky Links

One of my goals is to travel the Alaskan Highway, stand on the Arctic Circle, dip my pinkie into the Arctic Ocean, and see and photograph the northern lights, hopefully before global warming destroys the arctic region. Here are two pages of fantastic photographs of the aurora borealis.


1) Photographer Jan Curtis is here.
2) Hutch has a really amazing site here.

Image at right is by Jan Curtis -->

I want to chase down a tornado with the storm chasers. If the prospect of seeing a tornado, nature's most awesome force, strikes you as a worthy experience then you need to check out:


 
Tim Marshall's Storm Track Magazine.

Infrared satellite image of storm passing through L.A. -->




The weather outside my window


National Weather Service, L.A. (Oxnard)

Virga falling from clouds over Mt. Palomar, Ca. -->
Virga is rain that evaporates before reaching the ground
Photo by Neil Viker




Steve and Jon want to teach all of you the "secrets" of making animated cartoons. This is the "No Bullshit" Animation Meat web site created by two professionals. Only the finest slabs of beef go on this barbeque.
Also, read all about the industry with rants by the butcher.




My computer guru (well, one of several) and human host of this site's server: Dave, The Rogue Film-Maker.

That's Dave right there -->

You can also call him, Mister Linux.
Or jeep man
Or porta-pottie specialist

He is also an expert on how not to dress for Casual Day at a major corporation.

In fact, that picture ended up in the corporate inhouse newsletter. Now, what exactly did they mean by "casual"?

"It's a very strange world we live in, Master Jack" -- 4 Jacks and a Jill

Updated: APRIL 2009

Email me; just click here.