Forced to move: 100% wind-powered music-animated Christmas lights raised over $10,000 for the Make-a-Wish Foundation—Richard Holdman’s Amazing Christmas Display

UPDATE! All the 2008 videos are now up.

Below in high-quality (click here if you have a slower connection)  is a selection of my favorite Christmas light displays synchronized to music, by the amazing Richard Holdman. Be sure to click the icon to the left of the word “vimeo” on each video to view it in high-quality full screen mode—it looks like this:

His 100% wind powered, computer-controlled display raised over $10,200 for The Make-a-Wish Foundation in 2007 (45,000 lights on a 176 channel controller) and for 2008 it has been moved and upgraded to 150,000 lights on a 215 channel controller. He started in 2006 with an 80-channel system.

2007 display before animation

Community forces display to move in 2008
Update ►2008 video “Frosty the Snowman” added at bottom!!


After the 2007 season, the gated community where Richard lives, by a vote of 13-11, decided to close the gates during Christmas to prevent the traffic that comes with the display. A number of people volunteered to host the display, and for 2008 the new location is 12 Denali Drive, Lindon, Utah, which is his parent’s house. It went up Dec 1 with one song to start. Video should be up by mid-December. They wrapped 20+ trees—some over 20 feet tall!

Richard provides answers to common questions about the display , has a video showing what he did, and and even some very helpful do-it-yourself videos. Below are some of my favorites from 2007, and the last video is from 2006, “Jingle Bells Techno”:

Carol of the Bells

Amazing Grace

Miracle on 34th Street

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Click here for ALL the videos from the 2007 display

2008 Video #1

How can you get a better job, better friends and a better life? One word: Twitter

If you were to meet people who appreciate who you are, what you do and what you love, and can help you do more of it and get paid for it, would that be a bad thing?

BEGIN: Find people in two or more of these 5 categories:

1. People who have needs or interests you can help them with; 
2. Supportive people you enjoy being around;
3. People who work doing something you love;
4. People who work doing something you are good at;
5. People who work doing something that you could (or do) get paid to do.

...Read more

One of my favorite actors, Kevin Spacey, on Inside the Actor's Studio

Kevin Spacey is possibly my favorite actor.

One of the things I love about him is that he doesn't watch dailies, and he chooses roles based on the story, irrespective of money, who else is involved, etc. He's an actor’s actor. He trusts what he is experiencing when he plays a role more than the words in the script and relies a lot on instinct and spontaneity.

Spacey has said in not watching dailies he has to trust the director, and that he has very rarely been let down.

Kevin Spacey: Impersonator?

Kevin is also a fabulous impersonator! If you just want to skip to the part where he shows what an incredible impersonator he is…skip to 1:30 in part 2 below. (He also does a great Christopher Walken & Walter Matthau in “Star Wars auditions”) Here is just a small sample of awards he has won:

• Two Oscars;
• A Tony;
• Four New York Film Critic’s awards;
• Two National Board of Review awards;
  
• An Olivier award;
• A London Critic’s Circle award;
  
• …and dozens more.

Part 1: Upbringing; road to Julliard;
Long Day’s Journey into Night
 

Part 2: Jack Lemmon; Standup Comedy; Impersonator!
As good with the Improv as the characters
 

Part 3: Mike Nichols; Lost in Yonkers; GlenGarry GlenRoss;
The Usual Suspects; The Oscar experience
 

Part 4: Choosing parts; dancing; directing; LA Confidential
 

Part 5: The Iceman Cometh; American Beauty
 

Part 6: The questionnaire, and Q&A with students
 

Tell someone the best thing you can about them today!

Ready to smile your biggest smile? A short film about the magic of validation in the form of a fable about the magic of free parking:

• Winner - Best Narrative Short, Cleveland Int'l Film Festival, 
• Winner - Jury Award, Gen Art Chicago Film Festival, 
• Winner - Audience Award, Hawaii Int'l Film Festival, 
• Winner - Best Short Comedy, Breckenridge Festival of Film, 
• Winner - Crystal Heart Award, Best Short Film & Audience Award, Heartland Film Festival, 
• Winner - Christopher & Dana Reeve Audience Award, Williamstown Film Festival, 
• Winner - Best Comedy, Dam Short Film Festival, 
• Winner - Best Short Film, Sedona Int'l Film Festival.

Starring TJ Thyne & Vicki Davis.
Writer/Director/Composer - Kurt Kuenne

“Ever since happiness heard your name, it has been running through the streets trying to find you.” - Hafiz

If you haven't seen this video, watch it at least until the people start dancing with Matt. Or until the traditional dancers in India. Or heck, all the way through. Sure to bring a smile to your face!

And one more video that makes me smile, from zeFrank:

Twitter's “Billionth Millionth” Day

November 12, 2008—Twitter had it's one BILLIONTH tweet today, and TwitPic had it's one Millionth pic. The odds of both of these happening on the same day have to be astronomical!