Saturday, January 26, 2013

Movie & Book Club - Pathfinder and The Words

Dudes. Time for another iteration of my media breakdown for all outcasts from real book and movie clubs.

PATHFINDER - This is the first book in a new series by Orson Scott Card. After having multiple people tell me that I must read this book, I broke down and listened to it on a two-day marathon trip through the mountains. If you have read any of Card's work, you'll know or love the following elements of his writing:

  • Genius or gifted children
  • Multiple fart or other ridiculous juvenile jokes
  • Time travel or people skipping through time
  • MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF TIME being covered (rise and fall of empires and civilizations)
  • Bizarre pseudo-scientific explanations of theoretical physics
  • A ton of talking and debate about said physics 
  • Political intrigue
  • Smart kids mouthing off to adults and ROCKING their world view
  • Very little fighting
  • Main character that should be a total Haas, but just talks his way out of everything
So while it may sound like nothing is original here, I choose to say its everything I love about his writing in a complex plot that is very engrossing. I'll admit some things could have been shortened, but I always love the huge scale and scope of his books. I don't want to spoil the books, but they are another very interesting take on humanity's potential and their relationship to the planet and the things they create. So just go read it and don't be like me. 

One small complaint. If the people in this book are so smart but lack fossil fuels, I find it hard to believe they would still be living in such squalor. A society with as much advanced knowledge could surely do better than the mid-evil world portrayed in this book. 

THE WORDS - The Boss and I did our usual Red Box run last night for a movie that she picks and I finish. Before you go any further I must give a spoiler alert! I'm not sure how I can discuss this movie without giving a few things away, but its a predictable film so I don't feel all that bad about it. 

Simply put, this movie is INCEPTION using authors. Layers or stories within stories, massive amounts of guilt and the desperate struggle to escape or cope with that guilt. It also has a somewhat ambiguous ending.  

I was surprised at what is a very star-studded cast with Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Irons, Dennis Quaid and Olivia Wilde. I'll say it right now, this is not a typical popcorn feel-good movie. It probably ticks a lot of people off which is why it was not a large commercial success. So if you are more indy-minded in your movie selection, this may be in your wheel-house.   

So let's get down to it. A struggling writer steals another man's long lost book and is treated as the next great American author. When confronted by the true writer of the story, can he live with the lie or will it destroy his life? Seems like an obvious answer, but it was interesting to see how this film shows the writer's attempt to explain what happened and blur the lines of fiction and reality to numb his guilt. I think the story shows the power of finding your true self (voice) in the midst of suffering and why we can't fake the stuff that matters most - even if we have succeed in fooling everyone. 


A good example of finding voice comes from JK Rowling. I recall her explaining that the death of her parents was with her the entire time she wrote the Harry Potter series. It wasn't really about the boy who is a wizard but doesn't know it. It was about a boy dealing with life after losing his parents. Those books are not literary classics, but the power of her grief gave her a voice that rang true for millions (billions) of readers.

Writers or not, I think everyone comes to develop a voice. Some call it identity, brand or "your offer to the world." What do you genuinely do well and have to share with others? Life can be sweet when you pay the price and make the world a better place. Fiction and fantasy cannot replace it. Perhaps its why most of our media choices leave us feeling so empty. Hard to be fulfilled by someone else's work.    

Monday, January 21, 2013

No to Thank You

I was brought to my attention about a year ago that the staff at Chic-fil-A is trained say "my pleasure" whenever you say thank you. At first this didn't bother me but over my next visit or two, it started to annoy the heck out of me. I had a day trip for business a week ago and I made it my goal not to say thank you at any point during the transaction.

Rather than saying thanks I say:

Yep
That's fantastic
Good deal
Cool
Sweet
Word
Solid

Not once have they responded with "my pleasure" to any of the above.

Am I being a jerk or saving these poor workers from saying something they don't mean? Am I not saving them from four extra lies in a given day?

People don't typically say my pleasure any more instead of the more common "you're welcome." It implies something more intimate than just common courtesy or performing one's duty. Maybe our society is so over sexed that the word pleasure simply can't be attached to anything non-sexual without some level of discomfort. Regardless, I'm going to carry on in my private crusade to have a more honest interaction with the Chic-fil-A staff. Join me if you are tired of the lies.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

How Bitter It Is

I can't bear to say much more than this about our loss yesterday.


I think I may have urinated vinegar at some point last night. Here's to doing better next season once the next genius head coach in the NFL is no longer jacking up our offense. 

Friday, January 04, 2013

One-ups & Youtube

Just loved this... my kids will probably know this much problem more intimately than I ever will.

YouTube Parties

Tuesday, January 01, 2013

EXCALIBUR - The Greatest Christmas Gift... EVER.

Here is the video I made for the presentation of a Royal Gift to Queen Julievere this last Christmas. There are some black screen moments with music. This was intentional to allow time for gathering the present from the tree and the Lizard to shine her green finger light on the blade as it was unsheathed from its box.

Tears were shed. Heads shook in disbelief.

It was a moment to remember. See if you can guess what I gave her.