Stories, serious articles, satire, tech trends, how to guides and ideas from David August. Actor. Writer. Acting coach.

25th Anniversary of 9-11

I flew into New York City 25 years and about 12 hours ago. I was excited and nervous: I was scheduled to do stand up comedy for my first time that week at Carolines on Broadway . My stomach was unsettled. I sort of noted the towers from my cab into

Math Counts, Even in the Arts

Years ago, in Chicago, there was a successful improv comedy theatre company. They were so successful they got the city to include them in a major downtown “theatre district” build-out. They got a beautiful set of intimate spaces. Spaces with rent that could not be covered even if they

David Ellison Convinced Me He Should Never Own a Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery

David Ellison wrote an editorial in the New York Times (gift link) in which (I think) he tries to make the case for why he should be allowed to have his Paramount acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. He accomplished the opposite. He should not own them. I read his writing with

Movie Review of The Odyssey: title read, movie not seen

What’s with starting “into the middle of things” (Latin: in medias res)? It is crazy, right? Who would do that (except all the movies that do that)? Who would do that enough over multiple millennia so that people over centuries would have to come up with an entire phrase

War's Going Great

Brilliant gambit: the U.S. will now allow Iran to hit some of what they shoot at because that will surely lead Iran to capitulation. It has nothing to do with the fact we are running of of air defense interceptors (that's exactly what it is). Thankfully, the

The world is on fire and we are trying not be its kindling.

Too many, the storm drains run red, too many more and I fear within my bones that then justice so far deferred and delayed, dissembled and denied will with the unfocused rage of millions demand and extract ten thousand thousands of ice in bags, as if to staunch the swelling,

Nothing to Worry About

The 15 protestors arrested by the federal government in Minneapolis this week are, according to the Justice Department’s own account of things, responsible for denting a government F-150 (by kicking it), and tipping a trailer (said to be owned by the accused) onto its side. Kicked a car

Social Media to Be Banned for Under-16s in Landmark Government Move for More Control

A power grab and embellishment of the surveillance state that is merely being dressed up as an effort to protect people.

The Expertise Gap: Why AI Doesn’t Replace Human Creativity

And Why Business Leaders Keep Getting It Wrong A guest post/repost of a thread by fadeinpro.com (posted with permission): Been thinking about the psychology behind "business leaders" pushing for "AI" in creative usage. Part of it comes down to the nature of the job:

Be More Human

We each get to, and need to, decide that our humanity is partly what drives whether or not we book work: who and what we are.

Mandate Safety Interlocks With Penalties for DHS Equipment

Federal law enforcement must use safety tech, and disabling it should mean prison.

Professional Roles (stage)

The Old Professional Roles Email Forward (with no insult meant, good intentions and tongue in cheek): Producer: • Leaps Tall Buildings In A Single Bound • Is More Powerful Than A Locomotive • Is Faster Than A Speeding Bullet • Walks On Water • Gives Policy To God Director: • Leaps Short Buildings In A Single