Touring the world without leaving your bedroom
A very cool guy named Torodd Eriksen from a town called Kirkenes (in Norway, on the Russian border) asked me to come tour the region with DIY or DIE and do Q&A and filmmaking seminars. He wrote me:
And after Kirkenes and Norway - you do the same thing in Russia. Russian societies are so hungry for artistic and political impulses. Generally speaking Russia is a safe country, but still it is one of the most unsafe countries for journalists. For that reason alone the skills and tools of citizen-journalism and documentation is very important in Russia……..
Beautiful sunny downtown Kirkenes:
I replied:
Three years ago I would have jumped to do this, and probably would have tried to meet a pretty girl there, get married, and stay.
However, now I’m married here, really happy, and feel I don’t want to travel in an unstable region where journalists get kidnapped. I basically believe I would be considered a “journalist” by some people, because I write for this well-known media company O’Reilly, for the O’Reilly Digital Media site:
http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/au/3220
How about this. Why don’t you tour this region in my stead, show DIY or DIE, keep the money, and you can bring a laptop and I’ll do a Skype Webcam question-and-answer period at each show? You can hook me up to the video projector, you’ll take questions from the audience, translate to English, ask me, I’ll answer, and you can translate back.
Much respect,
MWD
January 23rd, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Hi Michael! Thanks for the kind words. I think the possibilities with skype and inexpensive video-conferencing should be utilized to the maximum. But on the other hand - no matter how good the video is, it can’t beat the real thing. So even though I love russia and russian people and would love to tour the kola penninsula with your movie, I still think you should come.
Russia is not unsafe for foreign journalists - is the russian journalists that get the heat. And regarding your marriage - there is no danger in going to norway. There are no such things as beautiful norwgian girls
January 23rd, 2008 at 6:45 pm
I’m also not inclined to go because I’m still getting over the death of my daughter, and don’t feel like extensive traveling. I just got back from walking in the cold rain to get the mail and told the wife, “I’m not going to Norway, I don’t even like going to the end of the driveway.”
You’re still welcome to do this tour if you’re into it.
MWD
January 23rd, 2008 at 6:56 pm
I understand and I totally respect that of course. The first time I stumbled over your movie I also read some of the words you wrote for your daughter. It gave so much meaning while and expressed a very honest love and pain. I will always remember your for that and even though I’ve never met you or your daughter I felt a real pain in my heart and soul. Maybe because I have a daughter myself and the bare thought of losing her is too difficult. Reading those words thaught me something very important about being a father.
I hope you are learning to live with your loss.
torodd
January 23rd, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Wife thought the comment about “No such thing as beautiful Norwegian girls” was damn funny.
I think you misunderstood. I’m not afraid I’ll cheat on my wife, I just love nesting at home with her.
But we both got a great laugh about that.
MWD
January 23rd, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I dig Norwegian chicks!
I vote for Michael going. Why isn’t voting enabled for this thread?
Go Michael, go!
January 23rd, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Howie, I’ll hook you up with this guy if you want to go in my stead and run the laptop and coordinate my trim for yourself.
Torodd doesn’t seem to be jumping to do it.
MWD
January 24th, 2008 at 4:29 am
Sounds like a good deal and I will certainly think about it. There is 0 chance I would do it until spring. I hate cold and if I remember correctly that area is friggin’ freezing until July or so. I’m pretty snuggly in my relationship so, as tempting as the local flavor might be, I doubt I’ll be picking up your slack. (I don’t know but I’ve been told - Russian pussy’s mighty cold) Seriously, I am already thinking of how I can swing it. I am selling my house soon so I won’t have to worry about bills. I’m planning on being in the general area anyway. Hmmmm,,, I’ll get back to you on this one.
January 29th, 2008 at 9:11 am
I think you are wise. Being able to make a difference without leaving your home is one of the immensly cool things that technology affords us.