Last Saturday was the Los Angeles [Urban Challenge](http://urbanchallenge.com). Through a combination of considerable luck, exhaustion and power-Googling, my team was able to place in the top 10.
News
Back from vacation, and the Urban Challenge
I’m back from a much-needed vacation on the East Coast, where I was literally on an island, away from all movies and television. Cell-phone service was spotty, and internet was of the dial-up variety. Like Robinson Crusoe, it was primitive as can…well, it wasn’t that primitive, actually.
The truth is, I was staying in a perfectly comfortable house with friendly people and an ocean view. But God help me, I’m addicted to my 21st century media. It’s not enough to know Spider-Man 2’s Thursday grosses; I need to know [how other people feel about these grosses](http://www.boxofficemojo.com/forums/viewforum.htm?f=2&sid=413b057dc57069cc0fdb62cf83e0da43).
My name is John, and I have a problem.
But I also have a tan. At least, the closest I can get to tan. So it’s certainly a trade-off I’m willing to make.
Also, for those familiar with the [Urban Challenge](http://www.urbanchallenge.com/), my partner Mike and I placed in the top 10 in the Los Angeles race on Saturday, which means we may go on to the national race in Miami come November 20th. The event is a lot like [The Amazing Race](http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race5/) compressed down into a few hours. I’d definitely recommend it. Check the upcoming cities on the Urban Challenge site to see if it’s coming to your town.
Everyone in London smokes
For the past week, I’ve been in London working on the last details for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. My eyes have been really dry and scratchy, which made me worry I was geting conjunctivitis (a.k.a. “pink eye”) or a stye (a.k.a. “who hit you?”). For various reasons — stress, lack of sleep — these eye disorders tend to plague me when starting production.
Imagine my relief when I realized the real reason for my miserable eyes: everyone in London smokes.
Now, this is not a slag on Londoners or their great city. Lord knows I love both. But I quickly realized the term “non-smoking room” means that the blankets are not currently on fire. And the non-smoking section of a restaurant is the table without an ashtray.
Yes, I know I’m spoiled coming from Los Angeles, where smoking indoors, or in the presence of any living creature, is considered abhorant. But here’s to social shaming. When I come home from dinner, I want to feel it in my stomach, not smell it on my clothes.
Truthfully, in my week here, I have seen a few people not smoking. But they were children, and looked a little daft.
Panelist at the Nashville Screenwriters Conference
For readers in the Nashville area — or those up for drive — I’ll be speaking on one of the panels at the [Nashville Screenwriters Conference](http://www.nashscreen.com/nashscreen/) this coming weekend, June 4-6, 2004.
I don’t know the full schedule yet — or even the specific topic upon which I’m supposed to dispense wisdom. However, I do know that the other panelists include [John Lee Hancock](http://imdb.com/name/nm0359387/), [Brian Helgeland](http://imdb.com/name/nm0001338/), [Anne Rapp](http://imdb.com/name/nm0710828/), [Mike Rich](http://imdb.com/name/nm0723692/), [David Self](http://imdb.com/name/nm0783100/), [Larry Wilson](http://imdb.com/name/nm0933733/) and [Les Bohem](http://imdb.com/name/nm0092018/). All smart and accomplished writers. So even if I fumble, I’m sure one of them will make up for it.