As I write this, Neil Patrick Harris is hosting Saturday Night Live. Dr. Horrible himself. If you haven't seen this, created by Joss Whedon and costarring Nathan Fillian, then you've really missed something special. It's a musical. It's a comedy. It's a tragedy. You should see it. It's Today's Pick.
Today's Word: Pathos.
Today's Story: Life and Death in the Year of the Comet. If you've read my two most recent tales, then you know about the Comet. This is my new serialized tale at PCityLive, and I started it with two chapters in a row. Others will appear periodically as I figure out next steps in the storyline (with various freestanding flash fictions and poems in between).
Peace.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Friday, January 09, 2009
Sure Happy It's Friday Tonight
... Or whatever.
ANYway. Everyone at work seems to be in one stage or another of the creeping head/chest cold. Hope it's not Captain Trips. I'm looking forward to sleeping through the night at some point in the near future. 'Til then, let's talk about:
Today's Pick: Stargate Atlantis. That's right, one of the cheesiest sci-fi action shows on TV, but tonight marks its final episode. I generally DVR these and watch them in bursts; that is, I watch a minute, jump ahead a few minutes, watch a few minutes. That kind of thing. But then came the final season, and the crew decided to show us what they could really do. This season's shows have broken out of the formula, and even offered an alternate reality episode that was as stylish and action-packed as anything you ever saw on TV -- and actually had repercussions in the regular timeline. Start picking this one up.
Today's Story: Let me recommend a free online web comic. Freak Angels explores the idea of what would happen if the Midwich cuckoos had grown up and changed the world. Six new pages are published each Friday. It's by Warren Ellis, which means it's not for everyone, but if you're a grownup with an ounce of imagination, you ought to take a look. The first volume of the story is even available in book form:
Today's Word: Persevere. (Hint: He was the real Superman.)
Peace.
ANYway. Everyone at work seems to be in one stage or another of the creeping head/chest cold. Hope it's not Captain Trips. I'm looking forward to sleeping through the night at some point in the near future. 'Til then, let's talk about:
Today's Pick: Stargate Atlantis. That's right, one of the cheesiest sci-fi action shows on TV, but tonight marks its final episode. I generally DVR these and watch them in bursts; that is, I watch a minute, jump ahead a few minutes, watch a few minutes. That kind of thing. But then came the final season, and the crew decided to show us what they could really do. This season's shows have broken out of the formula, and even offered an alternate reality episode that was as stylish and action-packed as anything you ever saw on TV -- and actually had repercussions in the regular timeline. Start picking this one up.
Today's Story: Let me recommend a free online web comic. Freak Angels explores the idea of what would happen if the Midwich cuckoos had grown up and changed the world. Six new pages are published each Friday. It's by Warren Ellis, which means it's not for everyone, but if you're a grownup with an ounce of imagination, you ought to take a look. The first volume of the story is even available in book form:
Today's Word: Persevere. (Hint: He was the real Superman.)
Peace.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Back Inside the City Limits ...
... Which is my way of saying that the second volume of the Official Literary Anthology of the Panama City Centennial is now available for purchase.
This collection of fiction, poetry, memoirs, art, photography - and other stuff that's more difficult to categorize - features the talents of:
~Writers Peggy Willis-Aarnio, Emily Boyle, Anthony S. Buoni, S. Brady Calhoun, Louis J. Columbus, N.W. Garrett, Betty Wright Kearney, Bobbie Lowe, Jack Saunders, Nathan Simmons, Douglas R. Young, and editor Tony Simmons
~Artists Paul Brent and Bill Valle
~Photographers Debra Simmons and Ryan Yessman.
(Yes, there's a bit of a family connection in there, but I'll take quality submissions where ever I may find them.)
You can order the books directly from the printer using this handy-dandy button:
City Limits will also be available for purchase at Books Alive in February. (I won't have them in hand in time for next Friday's event at the Unitarian church.) I'll give more details on Books Alive in a later post.
That's it for today. It's got to be my Pick of the Day, and the word of the day is ... Finally.
This collection of fiction, poetry, memoirs, art, photography - and other stuff that's more difficult to categorize - features the talents of:
~Writers Peggy Willis-Aarnio, Emily Boyle, Anthony S. Buoni, S. Brady Calhoun, Louis J. Columbus, N.W. Garrett, Betty Wright Kearney, Bobbie Lowe, Jack Saunders, Nathan Simmons, Douglas R. Young, and editor Tony Simmons
~Artists Paul Brent and Bill Valle
~Photographers Debra Simmons and Ryan Yessman.
(Yes, there's a bit of a family connection in there, but I'll take quality submissions where ever I may find them.)
You can order the books directly from the printer using this handy-dandy button:
City Limits will also be available for purchase at Books Alive in February. (I won't have them in hand in time for next Friday's event at the Unitarian church.) I'll give more details on Books Alive in a later post.
That's it for today. It's got to be my Pick of the Day, and the word of the day is ... Finally.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Coughing and Hacking
I hate having a chest cold. Up most of the night for the past couple of nights, because the coughing seems to be constant then. Hazy days under the effects of cold formula. Ick. So this will be a short one.
Today's Story: Let me point you at a friend of mine, and a neat story he posted. You should read it. And leave a comment for him to tell him I sent ya.
Today's Pick: When my kid was a kid, there was a neat little adventure show that tried to be one part Tim Burton Batman noir and one part Adam West Batman farce. Only it was about a scarlet speedster. I recently picked up the box set of the series, having not seen it in more than 10 years, and I sat down for an episode with my son (and his girlfriend). To be kind, it was not quite as we recalled it, but to be honest, we still enjoyed it quite a bit. It tried really hard, and it reminded Nathan of his oh-so-long-ago childhood. He said it has a special place in his memory in the same way I treasure classic Star Trek. I said no, that's not fair. Better to compare it to classic Battlestar Galactica, I said. Cheesy but compelling? You should check it out:
Finally, in honor of that which afflicts me, Today's Word: Hack.
Peace.
Today's Story: Let me point you at a friend of mine, and a neat story he posted. You should read it. And leave a comment for him to tell him I sent ya.
Today's Pick: When my kid was a kid, there was a neat little adventure show that tried to be one part Tim Burton Batman noir and one part Adam West Batman farce. Only it was about a scarlet speedster. I recently picked up the box set of the series, having not seen it in more than 10 years, and I sat down for an episode with my son (and his girlfriend). To be kind, it was not quite as we recalled it, but to be honest, we still enjoyed it quite a bit. It tried really hard, and it reminded Nathan of his oh-so-long-ago childhood. He said it has a special place in his memory in the same way I treasure classic Star Trek. I said no, that's not fair. Better to compare it to classic Battlestar Galactica, I said. Cheesy but compelling? You should check it out:
Finally, in honor of that which afflicts me, Today's Word: Hack.
Peace.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Living in the Moment
... is just about the only way to get through some days. My son was reminded of that over the course of the last couple of days, as he tried to navigate the strange landscape of admissions and registration at FSU-PC. I was with him in the early going yesterday, and Debra accompanied him for most of the morning today, and not only did every single person give different instructions, but some of them treated you like you were crazy when you reminded them what they had told you earlier, some esoteric procedure that they now were contradicting.
Anyway.
Today's word is PATIENCE.
And my Pick of the Day is Life on Mars. I've been catching up on the Americanized version with episodes on my DVR, but I first became a fan of the original British series when it ran on BBC America. The big concept is that modernday police detective Sam Tyler is hit by a car and wakes up in 1973, with David Bowie's song playing on the eight track in his car. He may be dead, or in a coma, or maybe he's actually in the past. He tries to figure it out while working for a rotten police unit and trying to drag them into the 21st century with his modern methods and sensibilities. Highest recommendation.
Sam Tyler isn't even sure what moment he's living in. In order to make his future real, he has to make his now work.
Wow. That was almost deep.
Peace.
Anyway.
Today's word is PATIENCE.
And my Pick of the Day is Life on Mars. I've been catching up on the Americanized version with episodes on my DVR, but I first became a fan of the original British series when it ran on BBC America. The big concept is that modernday police detective Sam Tyler is hit by a car and wakes up in 1973, with David Bowie's song playing on the eight track in his car. He may be dead, or in a coma, or maybe he's actually in the past. He tries to figure it out while working for a rotten police unit and trying to drag them into the 21st century with his modern methods and sensibilities. Highest recommendation.
Sam Tyler isn't even sure what moment he's living in. In order to make his future real, he has to make his now work.
Wow. That was almost deep.
Peace.
Monday, January 05, 2009
Invitation to a Happening
The second annual Arts Night will take place at the Unitarian/Universalist Fellowship of Bay County on Friday, Jan. 16, from 7 - 9 p.m. The Fellowship is located at 1410 Airport Road in Panama City, FL, at the intersection of Lisenby and Airport roads. Admission is FREE. Light refreshments will be served, free of charge.
I've been invited to read selections of my prose or poetry (I'll probably go with something from the 366 Days project). I will also have my books available for purchase.
Jeanine "Dr. Jazz" Normand, from the sister U/U Fellowship in Fairhope, AL, will start out the evening with her jazz piano. Lynn Wallace of Gulf Coast Community College will read selections of original prose and poetry, and his books will be available for purchase.
Local artist Jim Davis' paintings will be displayed throughout the building. Jim will be featuring some of his work from the 1970s and '80s that has never had a public showing before. His artwork will be available for purchase.
Rug-weaver and jewelry-maker Emily Pritchard will have her work set up for display and for sale. The Panama City Belly Dance group will perform. Group leader Kira Burdeshaw will talk about the history and ancient traditions of the dance.
Last year, I'm told, they had a full house, and I hope it will be just as successful this year. Please join us in our celebration of the arts!
For more information contact Paul McAuliffe: ravenbear47@yahoo.com
Today's Pick: I've been listening to lots of different music in recent weeks as I put together a couple of mix CDs for Twitter pals. One artist in particular has had me hooked for a while: Ben Gibbard and Death Cab for Cutie. His "Passenger Seat" will haunt me for the rest of my life.
Today's Word: Zen. (Be prepared to participate.)
Peace.
I've been invited to read selections of my prose or poetry (I'll probably go with something from the 366 Days project). I will also have my books available for purchase.
Jeanine "Dr. Jazz" Normand, from the sister U/U Fellowship in Fairhope, AL, will start out the evening with her jazz piano. Lynn Wallace of Gulf Coast Community College will read selections of original prose and poetry, and his books will be available for purchase.
Local artist Jim Davis' paintings will be displayed throughout the building. Jim will be featuring some of his work from the 1970s and '80s that has never had a public showing before. His artwork will be available for purchase.
Rug-weaver and jewelry-maker Emily Pritchard will have her work set up for display and for sale. The Panama City Belly Dance group will perform. Group leader Kira Burdeshaw will talk about the history and ancient traditions of the dance.
Last year, I'm told, they had a full house, and I hope it will be just as successful this year. Please join us in our celebration of the arts!
For more information contact Paul McAuliffe: ravenbear47@yahoo.com
Today's Pick: I've been listening to lots of different music in recent weeks as I put together a couple of mix CDs for Twitter pals. One artist in particular has had me hooked for a while: Ben Gibbard and Death Cab for Cutie. His "Passenger Seat" will haunt me for the rest of my life.
Today's Word: Zen. (Be prepared to participate.)
Peace.
Sunday, January 04, 2009
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Finally got to see the new movie with Keanu as Klaatu, and while it won't survive time like its forerunner starring Michael Rennie, it was a diverting entertainment. Definitely one for the big screen, as swarms of nanites devouring everything manmade just won't translate to the ol' 19-inch, I think.
Ultimately, unsatisfying, however. I like an ambiguous ending more than most, but in this case I'd have liked to have seen something more, like a "Six Months Later" epilogue or something.
The original was a true marvel of its time, coming as it did in the early days of the Cold War, and having a message of worldwide peace. (Also using Christian symbolism in its portrayal of this saviour from beyond the heavens.)
It's my Pick of the Day.
And just for fun, click here for Today's Word.
Peace.
Ultimately, unsatisfying, however. I like an ambiguous ending more than most, but in this case I'd have liked to have seen something more, like a "Six Months Later" epilogue or something.
The original was a true marvel of its time, coming as it did in the early days of the Cold War, and having a message of worldwide peace. (Also using Christian symbolism in its portrayal of this saviour from beyond the heavens.)
It's my Pick of the Day.
And just for fun, click here for Today's Word.
Peace.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)