Check another thing off the to-do list: I have a new blog!

I’ve officially released my general semantics blog titled “Off the Map.” It can be found at the following address:

http://benhauck.com/offthemap

You can also access it via the “GS Blog” box at the right.

This blog is special in that it will have a companion Feature regularly running in ETC: A Review of General Semantics, the journal for general semantics. To subscribe to ETC, become a member of the Institute of General Semantics. You can do so by clicking here.

The blog will feature my current ideas and understandings about general semantics. I regularly have a flow of ideas, so the content should be updated fairly regularly but I have no set schedule for writing in the blog. My best guess is that I’ll have a new entry every few weeks, though it may be more or less depending on my interest and time. Currenty I have 3 entries already posted.

I hope you’ll check it out. You can also subscribe to it via RSS. The design is pretty stylish. It’s a typography-centered blog that also includes some slick animation. It’s just about what I was looking for in a theme for this blog.

Tonight I attended the wrap party for Season 3 of the television series Gossip Girl.

I’ve been working on a website dedicated to the work of the TV/film stand-in. It’s called Stand-In Central and I officially released it earlier in the day.

Stand-In Central is aimed at being a friendly and helpful resource for learning how to do the job of the stand-in. It features a Tips & Tricks Blog, a definition of the stand-in along with a list of responsibilities, an outline of equipment needed, a narrative of the typical routine, and a glossary. You can also discuss posts or ask a question about standing in and have Stand-In Central answer it in a future blog post.

In the coming weeks, I’ll be circulating promotional materials to put it on people’s radars. For now, pass along the website to anyone who looks as if he or she might benefit from the website.

Today I helped a friend of mine, Amy Rivard, by playing photographer and took photos of her in preparation for her cabaret titled Barenaked Canadian Lady at the Metropolitan Room on March 30th, 2010.

My friend Victoria Libertore invited me to perform my comic improvised sermon act as The Reverend Raymond Nader for the fundraiser for her new one-woman show Girl Meat debuting this spring. Here are the details and I hope you can make it out–the sermons are completely improvised based off of audience suggestion and they are a rip-roarin’ good time!

Girl Meat Fun(d)raiser!

Join Victoria Libertore and friends in this celebration of her ten years devoted to making performance in NYC. It’s a party and performance with Cynthia Hopkins, Maddy Mann & Lexie Miller, Comedian Robin Cloud, The Reverend Raymond Nader as well as burlesque beauties making their debut: Kstar, Jazabel, Maya Lusion, Poisoned Ivy and Reverend Harness! DJ Cray Cuban aka/Alberto Denis will take us from the performances into partying and dancing. Light food and beverages for you! All funds go towards her new show Girl Meat.

Silent auction and raffle items include: headshot/portrait session, audition/feedback with a theatre, TV and film agent, theatre and dance tickets, one-on-one yoga session, one-on-one drumming session, reiki session, Body Talk session, trapeze lesson, high-end hair cut, framed photography, intuitive reading. If you can’t make it and want to donate, go here: BAX/Victoria Libertore

ABOUT GIRL MEAT
According to legend, Countess Elizabeth Bathory is the most prolific female serial killer in history. Drinking and bathing in the blood of her victims, she tortured and killed hundreds of women. Intrigued by this true story, solo performer Victoria Libertore channels Bathory’s essence with intensity, a dose of camp and a hint of insanity. All the while exploring why as a society we find naked, twisted-up, bloodied bodies of women so damn fascinating. Direction by Rosalie Purvis. Dramaturgy by Jen-Scott Mobley. Set design by Jono Lukas. Costume design by Jeff Sturdivant.

WHEN IS THE FUNDRAISER?
Friday, February 26th, 7pm. Performance at 8:00.
Party until 11:00.

WHERE?
The Brooklyn Arts Exchange
421 Fifth Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11215

View Larger Map

ADMISSION?
Suggested admission: $15
But all are welcome.

SEEING THE SHOW?
If so, make a comment below!

Early this morning I released the brand-new version of the website for Milton Dawes.

I have been webmaster for Milton for a few years, inheriting a simple, out-of-date website that served as an online library of his published and unpublished writings. I had been wanting to redesign Milton’s site for him for some time. Continually dangling the carrot in front of Milton that I’d been giving it some thought, I finally buckled down, found some time, and had some inspiration to overhaul his website. I found a Wordpress theme that fit his design interests (and the color scheme in his shirt!), and sure enough, he liked it, too. Very quickly, I was able to build a demo site for him, and not very long after, I went ahead and redesigned his website. The whole process of redesigning his website took me I believe less than 24 hours. I did most of it yesterday and finished off some touches today. It could have gone faster had I not had to take out some ugly code that was creeping into the new site from the old site.

Technically the new website is in beta as I learn about its kinks and get Milton contributing blog content (that will round out the design). Milton last-minute explained that he wanted to title the website “General Semantics” and have it be about that rather than about him. I think that’s an interesting shift in light of his domain name. I am curious how that branding works with his site.

As for the design, it’s pretty exciting, and I might dare say it’s the most attractive website related to general semantics that currently exists (and I know about). When you refresh the page or visit a new page, the whole color scheme changes randomly. There are little boxes showing blog content that automatically move in and drop off of the homepage. I’ve named a few categories for posts, and given some room for tagging. I still have to teach Milton a bit about how to use Wordpress, but I think he’ll like it and he’ll be able to write more often about general semantics.

If you have any feedback, comment below, else send Milton a message on his Contact page. If you like the website and his writings, I bet he’d love the feedback!

Recently I realized with the revamping of my website and the creation of new headshots, all around a font a really liked, I best also update my website to align my brand better.

That I did, and I’ve put online my brand new acting résumé. You can find it on my Acting page, or just view it by clicking here.

Here’s a link to a Brooklyn Arts Exchange newsletter with an exciting interview with my friend Victoria Libertore (I designed her website for her), who is also co-hosting “Stone Skipping” at BAX February 5-6, 2010. In that show, I’ll be doing improvised sermons as The Reverend Raymond Nader. In the newsletter link, you’ll find a photograph of me as The Reverend.