Etsy Showcase-O-rama!

I am in the Etsy Showcase for the second time! Free shipping on any item purchased today!

Please visit ~ please gift a friend or loved one with something special. I will be most happy to create something unique at your request. Take a peek HERE!

Plaid Nation: For Those About to Truck

For those about to truck, we salute you. The fine folks at Plaid will begin the Plaid Nation '08 tour in just a little over 48 hours. Mothers, lock up your sheep. All of the madness will be broadcast live on vancam, Twitter and on the Plaid Nation blog from July 21 - August 1st. I have a feeling there could be an APB or two, so check TMZ or Defamer periodically.

When the Plaid Van rolled into Boston last year, I had the genuine pleasure to meet Big Bill Green of Make the Logo Bigger and Darryl Ohrt of Brand Flakes for Breakfast. (Darryl also joined in the madness at Blogger Social in April, so he's having an awesome run of fun in 2008.)

In addition to the fun of meeting cool, smart, talented peeps (whose blogs I actually read) I got to be on the Plaid Nation webcam. I got to be on the webcam at the exact moment that my friend Paul McEnany in Dallas tuned in on the web. The exact moment that I actually fell out of the van. On webcam.

You can't write this stuff.

So I was super excited to return to the office today (not) and find a package (yes!) from the kids at Plaid with this year's tour shirt. It's minty green and awesome.

Check out my new motel-stylie keychain. Yeah, I'm thinking it complements the Audi key in just the right way.
And just so they know I'm thinking about them - this is the cocktail napkin from my trip to the van last year. It was in my scrapbook taped to my cubicle wall work enclosure.

Godspeed my friends, I'll be laying bets on who falls out of the van first.

And anyone who picks this as their tour theme song totally needs some karma, so send them some good thoughts.

And yeah, that's a little Plaid love in the new banner.

Interview With a Madman: Scott Parkin

I have written about Nolaf.org genius Scott Parkin, but was delighted to have the chance to interview him by phone a couple of weeks ago. (When I say interview, I mean laughed my ass off for an entire hour and occasionally guffawed out a carefully prepared question.)

While I did prep some actual interview questions in advance, they were quickly thrown out the window when the improv started to roll.

I started with a simple question "where were your born?" I learned Scott was born and raised in Sacramento, California 46 years ago.

Then Scott asked me a question: "How many conservatives does it take to screw in a light bulb?" I replied "I don't know." Came the answer "Why do you hate America?"

Then I spilled my tea and had to leave the room for a moment. That's pretty much how it went for the hour we spoke.

All right, serious interviewing now.

Me: Tell me about your background. How did you come to acting?

Scott: I was always outgoing. I got started in the third grade playing an Israelite. After that it was the standard route; class clown, gifted English. I got sent to the drama teacher with note that said Starbuck? We were doing (Richard Nash's play) The Rainmaker, so I auditioned. I also did the Crucible. I was kind of a jock, but the drama class girls were wild and the teacher was young.

My dad was funny, and at my house if you wanted to get your piece in at dinner, you had to tell a story. Later my Sierra College drama teacher, Michael Hunter, introduced me to Improv in a big way.

I started in radio at age 21, worked in Tulsa and did improv in Dallas. I lived life and had fun.

Me: Who are your comedy heroes?

Scott: John Cleese, Jonathan Winters, Andy Kaufman, Chevy Chase (in Fletch/Christmas vacation years)

Me: Tell me everything about the Nolaf experience.

Scott: I got be a real jerk in the audition. They auditioned something like 500 actors. The director set up the audition with this; "This is an institute where they try to stamp out fun” and then they asked me for the names of some graduates. I tossed out Clarabel Clown and Ricky Stalin. I got to be a real uptight tool and I channeled every idiot I could think of.

They asked me for some names of inventions from Nolaf, I told them they include the following:

Farnsworth Puppy Kicker
Menthol Catheter
Pogo stump
Anger melon
Rusty Duvet

The team that put Nolaf together was amazing. Element 79 was great. Mekanism was great. The client was really great. The director, Tommy Means, gave me so much freedom. It was written so well, and the crew was so supportive and funny and smart that it was easy to go "way the hell out there" with the character. (A small prayer that the many of the outtakes never see the light of day until I'm to senile to care...)

This is the most fun I've ever had on a shoot. Right for me and right for them, and I am so proud of it.

Me: Well I have to tell you, the link to Nolaf was emailed or Twittered to me at least half a dozen times over two days and it was totally worth the time to take the Nolaf adventure. Do people recognize you from Nolaf?

Scott: No, not for Nolaf - I gained weight and had a comb-over for the role, so it's okay! It's really flattering that people liked it enough to email it around.

Me: What else are you working on? Where else can we get the "Scott Parkin Experience"?

Scott: I did a bunch of work for Sobe Life Water's Thrillicious. I'm the voice of a lizard (Donny.) I'm very happy about the work. This Internet (series of tubes) may take off yet.

Check out the newest episode:




Scott: I did a Honda Pilot commercial that's running right now. Naked balloonists. I think they were method nudists or Methodist nudists or method balloonists. They were naked and old. Things that don't work together, like tequila and waffles - ya know?




Me: What else is happening in your world?

Scott: My friend of 25 years, Ed Yeager has a new show coming on CBS this fall (Wednesdays at 8:30pm) called Project Gary (*update!) Gary Unmarried. It's kind of loosely based on me. We did improv in Dallas together and have remained best friends through all kinds of stuff. He did the toast at my wedding and his wife Linda decorated my one room guest house when my wife asked me to stop being married.

He has watched me stumble forward though being a single dad, to dating again and figuring out how to keep a girlfriend and try and be a dad.

Hanging out with Ed is great and watching the show come together is surreal and amazing. I was psyched and fearful. It was intimidating going into a room full of people who are exceptional seasoned TV and feature writers, but I am finding my way and beginning to get some stuff in the scripts and learn the process a little bit as we go forward.

Jay Mohr is hilarious and absolutely nails it and is so fun to watch. Jaime King and Paula Marshall are hilarious as the girlfriend and the ex-wife. It is all so new for me but even the jaded people are excited about this one.

Me: What's up next for you?

Scott: Surfing, camping, writing. Hanging out with my daughter, the most amazing 8 year old on the planet. Voiceover work is going well and I still get enough on-camera commercials to keep my headshots and drive all over and audition. When I do get stuff it is often people (agencies or directors) that I have worked with before so that makes it very loose and creative. We get to know what each other can do and that makes it easy to work. The last 3 auditions someone in the room has mentioned NOLAF which is so so kool. I'm gonna swing for the fence and try my hardest. It's intimidating, but ridiculously fun.

Me: Thanks Scott!

Scott: You are welcome Magno.

It's Etsy Showcase Day!

Yowza wowza! Moda di Magno is on the Etsy showcase on Friday, July 11th!

Go check it out HERE! Make any purchase on Friday, July 11th and receive free shipping and a special surprise! Go visit!!!

Still Overwhelmed

In a word, crazed.

Scott Parkin, I'm writing about you in between ridiculous thingies. Watch your email.

One aside, NikeID rocks. ROCKS! Wearing my new sneaks tomorrow. Howls of derision about my pink sneakers shall be punished accordingly. ACCORDINGLY.

Oh Twitter Why Do You Fail So Much?

Twitter is down until 8:30 PST at the moment. Can't live-tweet the Red Sox crushing the Yankees. Thank God our friends at Despair Inc. have a fabulous DIY page, so I whipped up a little inspirational poster for them. Twitterers who are suffering at the moment should do the same.

Joe Buck Will RUIN My Weekend

The fine gals of Babes Love Baseball took the words right out of the bees in my brain.

I hate Joe Buck and the Fox idiots, and the Stankees are playing the Sox this weekend and idiot boy is calling the game. Suck.

I enjoyed their take and choked back rage listening to the poofy-haired wonder's interview.

Read the post and rage along with me.

Stylish Jumpsuit Capris - OMFG!

I'm swamped in preparation for the Independence Day weekend, but I took a moment for a little search term mania. (I have a big *overdue* post coming this weekend about the awesomely talented Scott Parkin, but amuse yourself with this until the weekend.) Here are some things people searched for and found their way to the Moda di Magno blog:

Botox platinum member (I don't even want to know what that means)

Dos Magnos Tequila (A Magno tequila? That would be awesome if it existed.)

Breaking Bad (Awesome! I love this show and was thrilled to see AMC order season 2.)

Prostitutes tokyo blogs recommendation (I'm dumbstruck at the thought)

Moda boobs pictures (Wah???)

Clunk click every trip chastity belt (*shudders*)

Impertinent question etiquette (I LOVE that question!)

What type of tuxedo goes best with belle yellow gown (Yikes. Hard to say...)

The aforementioned "Stylish jumpsuit capris" (There is no such thing - Fug Girls, please be on alert!)

And my favorite: Anne Coulter is a crack whore. (She must made another bitchtastic statement because there were a lot of folks searching on that phrase.)

Have a safe and happy 4th of July. Please wear sunscreen and balance your alcohol intake with food and water. And don't blow your fingers off.

Totally Stolen from Drew McLellan

My dear friend in Des Moines Drew McLellan (hi Suzy!) wrote a post yesterday entitled "You Have Six Months Left" which was a real sit up and take notice title.

Here it is in its entirety, with tweaks in RED from me:

It's July 1st.

Officially, you have burned the first half of '08. Maybe it's time to dust off your LIFE plan (you do have one, don't you?) and see how you're doing.

What's working better than you expected?

What's not performing and needs a tweak?

What have you neglected and need to tend to?

What haven't you started that you meant to get going?

You've got six months left in the year. What one thing could you
do/fix/start/stop that would have the most impact on your LIFE?

Could you get started on it today?

That title (and text) hit me like a ton of bricks, so I think I'll spend a bit of time reassessing priorities over the next few days. Thanks Drew.

A Sweet Day

I love surprises, and today my friend Rebecca brought me the best kind; a lemon cupcake from Sweet Cupcakes in the Back Bay. A totally thoughtful and lovely gesture - the thought of which shall last much longer than the cupcake. Thanks Bex!



Marketing hat here: I LOVE LOVE LOVE the logo and the packaging and I will reuse the recycled paper box. The website is lovely too (though I usually object to music.)

CNN, Really?

This is a sad story about the apparent suicide of a 20 year old model in New York City on Saturday. CNN must be using the interns again to load the copy in the template. In the story bullets (above right) they point out that in 1995, British Vogue considered the young woman a "face to be excited about." Really CNN? At age 7? **NOTE, CNN has fixed that bit of wrongness.

CNN Needs Better B-Roll

CNN did a video story on the verdict in the horrendous Neil Entwhistle trial. Stock shots of the Massachusetts State House led the piece, along with footage from the verdict being read.


Then as the voiceover intoned what steps may happen next in the case a little b-roll courtoom footage floated in. But, uh, that's not the flag of Massachusetts in that courtroom - that's Tennessee. Oops.
See, Tennessee:
Massachusetts:

CNN, I'm not opposed to using interns, hell, someone has to get my lunch - but this is just plain stupid. Fix it.

Loving The Postman Today

Oh Etsy, you make me feel so good. Specifically SplitYarn on Etsy (a near-Boston homey!) I got this sassy little notions bag in the mail today, beautifully presented I might add, the Smarties candy such a nice touch. I shall carry jewelry tools in it, and they shall be happy.

Descent Into Dorkdom

The delightful Thinking In Vain turned me onto the blog-as-pretty-graph thing (via the always thoughtful yet manly Make the Logo Bigger) and I was excited to see all the pretty colors and offshoots and things. Go make your own HERE.

On a completely unrelated but totally dorkdom note, I saw an ad for the Gong Show with Dave Attell. Um, I enjoyed Insomniac with Dave Attell, but I have scary and/or awesome memories of the Gong Show with Chuck Barris, Rex Reed, Jaye P. Morgan et al and I'm not sure I'm up for a new version. Feeling like it could be the early part of American Idol. You know, the crazy people part. TBD.

Do you think "America's Got Talent" is too tame? Does "Dancing with the Stars" make you cringe? Well, Dave Attell and Comedy Central are bringing back the original and best comedy variety show, "The Gong Show”! The Gong Show with Dave Attell will consist of eight - ten unusual, absurd, bizarre, twisted, unique and hilarious acts that will be judged by a panel of three revolving celebrity judge. Stars will be made. Feelings will be hurt.

Greater Boston Legal Services Needs Your Help

I have complained, more than once, about the morons who devalue a sporting team's win by acting like Massholes. Yvonne Abraham of the Boston Globe wrote a column today and posted some heart-fucking-breaking video of a band of morons breaking the windows at Greater Boston Legal Services after the Celtics NBA Championship last week. GBLS has a truly honorable mission to provide legal representation to low-income people.

The video made me weep at my desk. Now, while I am a very sensitive girl (my brothers can stop snickering NOW,) my tears were tears of rage. WTF people? There has been a suggestion that the Celtics donate something to help with repairs, and that doesn't seem unreasonable (given that they auctioned off, for charity, a sweaty, Gatorade drenched shirt for $55,000) but this stupidity isn't their fault.

Please donate to Greater Boston Legal Services who need help every day, but this was just beyond the pale. Even for sporting idiots.

Don't Know What to Name This

New work from this weekend, up on Etsy. I don't know what to call it. The Sky is Crying? Purple Rain? (Don't want to get sued.) Please make a suggestion for a name for this piece.

Fare Thee Well, George Carlin

I am speechless. Fare thee well motherf*cker.

Do I Have to Say It AGAIN?

Dear sports "fans," I have some (old) news for you; you are not on the team. 

You weren't even asked to try out. In fact, you couldn't even get tickets.

So why the hell are you tearing up my city in "celebration" of the Celtics NBA championship victory? Go ahead and think of an answer. I'll wait. On second thought, no I won't.

Current version idiots, meet last fall's idiots and more idiots by name (courtesy of the Boston Police department blog.)

I hope the judge does not impose essays this year, I hope these morons are put in orange jumpsuits and clown wigs and made to sweep up after tourists at Faneuil Hall all summer. And Fourth of July at the Hatch Shell. 

Congratulations Boston Celtics, NBA Champions

Boston Celtics - 131, Los Angeles Lakers - 92

As a proud Bostonian, I am thrilled you won. But LA still has the best "town song" ever.

My Visit to the NBA Trophy at Boston Garden

The City of Boston and surrounding parts for oh, a bazillion miles, are wild for the Boston Celtics in the NBA Finals. There is a gigantic trophy set up outside the Boston Garden and visible from the highway. I took a walk over on Monday with my friend Donna to thoroughly document the scene. Wicked. The Flickr set with captions is HERE.


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