Iowa

We made it to Iowa this evening but had to drive the last 20 miles on diesel due to a completly clogged grease filter on the engine. I replaced the filter when we landed and we're going to transfer oil from the barrel to the tank in the morning and start looking for more oil.

We spent last night camped out under a gas station awning to prevent hail damage to the satellite. It only hailed for about 20 minutes and they were small but the gusty wind was sending the rain in sideways.

Heading West

After having the easiest oil score ever at Sitar of India in Charleston, WV; we have hit the road and are currently perched a few miles from I-70 in Ohio. We are expecting thunder storms and possible hail to pass over us this evening and give us a 2 day window of clear skies to make it to Ohmaha before the sky falls on the midwest again.

Vote for me in the Cinemocracy Film Festival

My 5 minute short film 2004 A Year in Dissent is in the online voting phase of the Cinemocracy festival. The Winning videos will be screened at a festival in Denver during the Democratic Convention. The Winners will be flown to Denver and given accomodations. and have a chance at 25 grand. Please vote me 5 stars.

Finally Stopped Raining

I've been inundated with videos that have to be produced and we are finally able to take care of the exterior work still needed on the bus before the push west. The satellite was a huge pain to set up the first time and now that it's getting sunny and clear we will be able to break it down and set it up again, for practice and to prepare to attach it to the roof.

1st Post from Satellite

After 4 days of clouds and rain, we were finally able to find, lock-in and Use the satellite internet system. It's suppose of be cloudy and rainy for several more days but todays break in the weather gave us just barely enough time to figure out how this thing works. We're currently sharing the internet connection with wifi coming out of my computer but as our confidence in the system improves we'll use a wireless router instead.

Batteries Not Included

Well, the satellite system and oil collection system have arrived and so far both seem to be missing parts. The satellite set up instructions are by far the worst instructions I've ever read. I did actually read them because I was told repeatedly how important that was...
We were able to find a satellite for about 15 seconds yesterday.. cloud cover seems to be a problem. I'm updating you from a hotel lobby... 150 dollars in internet connection fees per month.. and I'm still sittin' in a hotel lobby...

N.O. Going Away Party

Friday night I VJ'd at a benefit concert for Common Ground Relief in the lower 9th ward of New Orleans. Headliner was Michael Franti and Spearhead. This morning we left Louisiana. Tomorrow I'll be filming a campaign video for Chris Lugo who is running for US Senate in Tennesse on the Green Party ticket.