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The Buddha's Braid: A Webstory

The Buddha's Braid is the comical story of an American over consumer that meets his destiny in the Eastern world. Popular Paul represents the worst of all things American. President of Popular Paul's Pepperoni Palace, where the catch phrase is Man, that guy's got some pepperoni, Paul lives the American dream of capitalism, gluttony, instant gratification, and ethnocentricity. Popular Paul is also vain as the oceans are wet. He wears his long hair braid in direct defiance of position and bearing. In fact, nothing is more important than to Popular Paul than his lovely locks. Only trained professionals are allowed to touch it, and never to cut it - only to wash, rinse, and repeat.

Popular Paul eats more, buys more, cheats more, and lies more than any non-presidential human in history. And yet, you can't help but be infatuated with Popular Paul as he shakes his booty in a Reggae bar, bad mouths the competition in the boardroom, or talks nonstop on 3 cell phones while interacting with the "common" people. A series of humorous encounters lead Paul to take an extended vacation as far away from home, his 3 fiancees, and corporate 'recipe' problems as possible.

The "other side of world" means South East Asia, and thus begins Paul's month long sabbatical in the Land of Smiles. Arriving in this strange land, Popular Paul is greeted by his interpreter and faithful companion through the restaurants, shopping districts, red light districts, and eventually some actual cultural sites. Initially, Popular Paul overindulges even beyond his US capacity in the open market of the third world. We see Popular Paul eating for 6, buying 10 of everything, and enjoying a relaxing bath with 4 companions in Geisha style. The opportunity to save money has never been more appreciated. Just when it appears Popular Paul can ingest, indulge, and consume no more, he meets his spiritual Waterloo.

After wandering down the wrong path at an obligatory tourist stop, he is saved from a pack of stray dogs by a Buddhist Monk. Stranded in a temple overnight, Popular Paul is forced to do without even the creature comforts. A night spent with a simple monk and his view of life transforms and reawakens Paul. This encounter leads Paul to an orphanage that the Monk sponsors, and a return to his childhood and the reason for his success. The Pepperoni Palace was built on birthday parties, little league teams, and kid's nights out before it became another link in the corporate chain. After witnessing the simplicity of a Monk's march for breakfast, daily reflections and the children's appreciation of attention and love, Popular Paul is renewed. He soon realizes that his material possessions, gluttonous ways, and over consumption are not only his own downfall, but the division between Western and Eastern thought. The Buddha's Braid is a humorous look at how divided the material and spiritual worlds have become.

At a time when our world is torn by nationalism, terrorism, religious schism, and environmental malfeasance it attempts to show that our most basic needs are those that we must re-embrace to survive. From the decadence of South Beach to the inherent spirituality of Thailand it mixes humor and compassion to show we are all capable of change and the only hope for human kind's continued existence is reduction, recycling, and sacrifice.