Over the past couple of years, some of you may remember hearing me talk about my idea for a ‘Hula Jesus’ Dashboard Doll and other variations–the Hula Mary and Hula Moses. Well, in actually deciding to work on prototypes, I decided to do another search to see if the idea had been taken yet. I found a dashboard Jesus on a spring and a ‘Buddy Jesus’ (from Dogma) dashboard doll– that I was thinking of actually purchasing for Phil (or myself) as a stocking stuffer this Xmas, but there was no Hula Jesus for sale.

What I did find, however, was a blog titled “Have the shins changed your life?” on a website www.alexandericinla.blogspot.com After seeing Garden State when it was in theaters. I got a copy of their first album and have listened to it an unhealthy number of times. And to answer his question, in a weird way, yes, the shins probably have changed my life. I guess. It’s possible. You’re wondering what this has to do with Hula Jesus. I know. Actually nothing. But my search for a “HULA JESUS” in google did lead me to this kid’s blog. Well, I read the appropriate entry and after he goes on about work (he’s an assistant in film) and his fondness of googling his name to see what the other people with the exact same name are up to.—which I have to admit I also do. There’s Mike Yurchuk, the video game designer, as well as the deceased high schooler-whose-family-started-a-scholarship fund-named-after-him Michael Yurchuk, and Mike the sales manager for a candadian based store fixture manufacturer and installer. as well as the Concordia University Alumni, class of 1959 graduate who incidentally, Concordia has lost touch with and is looking for anyone with his current information to invite him to this years forty fifth reunion. At least they can rest assured it’s not the Michael Yurchuk who died in May of 1963 in Maine because that one was 76 years old. So, Concordia Alum, there’s still a chance he’s alive and kicking. Sorry. Hula Jesus. Right.

After Eric mentions this similarity we have (which I’ve gotta beleive everyone has googled their own name) he starts to talk about getting an ipod and that it’s not nearly as cool as his Hula Jesus dashboard doll which he calls his invention. And that if anybody steals it to please send him some money via paypal.

I was like, wait a second. Do I know this guy? He’s in film. I’m in TV. we might have crossed paths. Was I drunk at a bar talking loudly about the Hula Jesus? OR did he actually just come up with the idea himself? I mean the hula girl and the jesus statue are popular dashboard items. I guess other people would have thought to meld the two together. OR maybe, Jesus himself is trying to get this idea off the ground, gently passing it along to people in the hopes they would get off their ass and invent this thing all ready. Maybe he was like, ok, i gave this idea to Mike two years ago, and he’s done shit with it. Let me try this kid Eric, he seems ambitious. Who knows?

All I know is that his blog was written just seven days ago. The first blog he ever wrote was on the 10/26/04. My first was two days before that. Coincidence. yeah. But still, kinda weird. It makes me think though that maybe this isn’t such a bad idea afterall. I mean this guy would probably buy one. Maybe there’s more of us out there. I’m going to finish my work on the prototype. Maybe we could do a whole line of Hula Jesus dolls and toys. Like Malibu Barbie but Jesus will surf and drive a woody, wearing an Array of Hawaiin Shirts. I mean I would think Jesus spends a fair amount of his vacation time there… I think that’s where the footprints thing happened…somewhere on the North Shore.

Also, it just makes me think about how ideas are in the air and you can choose to do something about them or not but your first instinct is probably a good one. It made me think of an interesting concept for a movie where a guy discovers that someone else is having exactly the same thoughts (possibly through a web log) and decides to try and meet up and all the weirdness that follows. Clearly not a well thought out treatment, but an interesting concept none the less. Well, if nothing else comes from all of this–Hula Jesus or my new film idea, at least it inspired me to write my second blog. And don’t worry, lack of popular demand will not affect the writing of my third web entry due out on a crack team website near you!