...the fifth of November.
Today's Pick (part uno): We got sidetracked today by many things, but the most entertaining was watching V for Vendetta, the movie based on Alan Moore's graphic novel. Stylish, literate, violent, politically powerful, thought provoking. Filled with great actors, marvelous action, brilliant effects and direction and editing. Highly recommended.
And then, I changed out the old vinyl albums on the wall. I have a set of six album frames and I periodically change out the albums in them. Recently, they held Christmas records. Today, I put some soundtracks by pop bands: Toto's Dune, Queen's Flash Gordon, Tangerine Dream's Legend, Pat Matheny/David Bowie's The Falcon and the Snowman, Giorgio Moroder (and various artists) Metropolis, and Queen's A Kind of Magic (music from Highlander and Iron Eagle).
Today's Pick (part duex): I put an old ELO album on the turntable in Nathan's room: Time. As close as I can tell, it's a concept album about a man from the 1980s sent to 2095, a media/news-saturated era, and despite the wonders, the moon flights and robot loves, all he wants to to get back home. Sonme great operatic/electronic rock and roll, and one of my all-time favorite albums. It ends with the upbeat and rollicking "Hold on Tight to Your Dream": "When you see the shadows falling, when you hear that cold wind calling, Hold on tight to your dream."
Today's Word: Dream.
Peace.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
The Remnants ...
... of the day are fading fast. And what a strange day it has been: Weird news all day at work, and my wife has come down with pnuemonia. So I'm going to keep this short and sweet because my attention is elsewhere.
No story. No real "pick of the day" that you can rush to Amazon and purchase. But here's a really good pilot for a well-written and somewhat eerie web series about life after the end of the world. I found it through John Rogers. It's the word of the day (a pretty good one, I think) and it's absolutely free entertainment. Enjoy The Remnants:
The Remnants from John August on Vimeo.
Peace.
No story. No real "pick of the day" that you can rush to Amazon and purchase. But here's a really good pilot for a well-written and somewhat eerie web series about life after the end of the world. I found it through John Rogers. It's the word of the day (a pretty good one, I think) and it's absolutely free entertainment. Enjoy The Remnants:
The Remnants from John August on Vimeo.
Peace.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Blogging from Books A Million
...and drinking a tall decaf.
I just posted the latest chapter in my ongoing 366 Days project. It's Chapter 13 in the story, "Life and Death in the Year of the Comet," and it reintroduces a favorite character of mine. She'll show up again as the tale continues. Whether or not you've been following it, you might get something out of this segment. Consider it Today's Story.
Today's Pick: Luc Besson. Yes, I know, that's a person, not a product. But he's a talented screenwriter and director, and just this evening, I was watching his Transporter 2 before I headed to the cafe. He's of course the creator of The Professional and The Fifth Element, as well as Arthur and The Invisibles and many more. He wrote the new movie, Taken, starring Liam Neeson.
Today's Word: Tempus Fugit
Peace.
I just posted the latest chapter in my ongoing 366 Days project. It's Chapter 13 in the story, "Life and Death in the Year of the Comet," and it reintroduces a favorite character of mine. She'll show up again as the tale continues. Whether or not you've been following it, you might get something out of this segment. Consider it Today's Story.
Today's Pick: Luc Besson. Yes, I know, that's a person, not a product. But he's a talented screenwriter and director, and just this evening, I was watching his Transporter 2 before I headed to the cafe. He's of course the creator of The Professional and The Fifth Element, as well as Arthur and The Invisibles and many more. He wrote the new movie, Taken, starring Liam Neeson.
Today's Word: Tempus Fugit
Peace.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Humpday chill
Another day at the races comes to a close. I've taken up walking again after a long winter of over-eating. Also drinking more water, eating less snacks, smaller portions, all that. Had a blood test today and have a Doc checkup next week.
Today's Pick: Serenity. A coworker asked me if it was any good. I nodded vigorously. You don't have to have seen the Firefly TV series to "get" it, but if you have seen Firefly, then it will have an even bigger impact on you emotionally. So okay, a double pick:
Firefly (and Serenity, which is the sequel to the series and also the name of the ship featured in the series and movie) is the story of Malcolm Reynolds, a man of conscience who was on the losing side of a civil war in deep space. Now he just tries to get by running cargo among the rim worlds. Until River and Simon Tam fall into his lap one day, on the run from the central government. Somebody did something to River's brain, turning her into a weapon and taking her sanity. The show stars Nathan Fillion (soon to appear in a new series, Castle, on ABC). Adam Baldwin (now featured on Chuck), Summer Glau (the teen Terminator on Fox's Sarah Conner Chronicles), Gina Torres (a familiar face on various series including Criminal Minds and Eli Stone), Jewel Staite (most recently seen on Stargate Atlantis), Ron Glass (Dirty Sexy Money, Barney Miller), Sean Maher (various small roles), Alan Tudyk (CSI, Knocked Up, Dodge Ball), and Morena Baccarin (Also recently a regular on Stargate SG1). Here's the kicker: Created by Joss Whedon (Buffy, Angel, Dr. Horrible, and the upcoming Dollhouse). SEE IT. Better yet, OWN IT.
Today's Word: Serenity.
Peace.
Today's Pick: Serenity. A coworker asked me if it was any good. I nodded vigorously. You don't have to have seen the Firefly TV series to "get" it, but if you have seen Firefly, then it will have an even bigger impact on you emotionally. So okay, a double pick:
Firefly (and Serenity, which is the sequel to the series and also the name of the ship featured in the series and movie) is the story of Malcolm Reynolds, a man of conscience who was on the losing side of a civil war in deep space. Now he just tries to get by running cargo among the rim worlds. Until River and Simon Tam fall into his lap one day, on the run from the central government. Somebody did something to River's brain, turning her into a weapon and taking her sanity. The show stars Nathan Fillion (soon to appear in a new series, Castle, on ABC). Adam Baldwin (now featured on Chuck), Summer Glau (the teen Terminator on Fox's Sarah Conner Chronicles), Gina Torres (a familiar face on various series including Criminal Minds and Eli Stone), Jewel Staite (most recently seen on Stargate Atlantis), Ron Glass (Dirty Sexy Money, Barney Miller), Sean Maher (various small roles), Alan Tudyk (CSI, Knocked Up, Dodge Ball), and Morena Baccarin (Also recently a regular on Stargate SG1). Here's the kicker: Created by Joss Whedon (Buffy, Angel, Dr. Horrible, and the upcoming Dollhouse). SEE IT. Better yet, OWN IT.
Today's Word: Serenity.
Peace.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Updates and Anecdotes
First, my favorite author was awarded the Newbery Medal for children's books - even though he's not strictly American, he has lived here for nearly 20 years. He announced today that Neil Jordan is developing the movie version. Even if you think a kids' book isn't for you, you'd be surprised by his. Coraline is a spooky favorite, which has just been made into a 3D stopmotion animated film by Henry Selik. And the Graveyard Book is simply incredible. It is, for obvious reasons, Today's Pick:
Today's Word: revenant.
Update: The Frak Pak is no more. It has ceased to be. It is an ex-Frak Pak. Apparently, someone told Col. Sanders what the word meant. It is now the "You can't say that word on TV" sweepstakes. See here.
Peace.
Today's Word: revenant.
Update: The Frak Pak is no more. It has ceased to be. It is an ex-Frak Pak. Apparently, someone told Col. Sanders what the word meant. It is now the "You can't say that word on TV" sweepstakes. See here.
Peace.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Just Another Manic Monday
And it's late, so I'm gonna make this quick.
Today's Pick: Saving Grace. Starring Holly Hunter, featuring the story of a hell-on-wheels cop who blames herself for her sister's death in the Oklahoma City bombing (it's a long story, but I'll tell it to you if you want to hear it), who gets regular visits from the Earl "the last chance angel." We became fans last season. Just got the chance to view the original pilot tonight. New season starts March 2 on TNT.
Today's Word: Redemption.
Peace.
Today's Pick: Saving Grace. Starring Holly Hunter, featuring the story of a hell-on-wheels cop who blames herself for her sister's death in the Oklahoma City bombing (it's a long story, but I'll tell it to you if you want to hear it), who gets regular visits from the Earl "the last chance angel." We became fans last season. Just got the chance to view the original pilot tonight. New season starts March 2 on TNT.
Today's Word: Redemption.
Peace.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Sunday at the Library
So I'm sitting in the lobby of the Bay County Public Library in Panama City. The circulation desk is busy and loud, the "Read Again Book Store" has several folks browsing the shelves, and every department is full of people.
And I'm thinking about Books Alive! 2009.
The event is Saturday, Feb. 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Gulf Coast Community College. Most of the sessions take place in the classrooms ringing the second floor, with book sales in the main conference room. Admission is FREE. There's a "literary luncheon" at noon in the cafeteria, which is $20 a plate, with a keynote speaker.
I will be introducing my friend Janis Owens who will team once again with Michael Morris to discuss Southern storytelling. They have two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Last year, I had to leave early because we were trying to get to Jay Hospital to see Grandma Massey. It was a troubled day for all of us in my family for one reason or another. But we got to the hospital and spent some time with her, and that's what's important.
This year, I may have to leave early again. We will have visitors at our house that weekend (Debra's sister and her family), and we planned to go to the Mardi Gras parade in Panama City, which starts at 3 p.m. Meaning we'll want to get a spot along the street by 2 or 2:30 at the latest.
Add to this that Jessi will have a district choral event that morning at Gulf Beach Baptist Church, and we will be spread thin at the very least. We have some transportation logistics to figure out.
But back to Books Alive. I plan to bring copies of CITY LIMITS volume 2, as well as Volume 1 and a few other books. But I don't expect that to be the draw. If you like books or writing then you should really try to make it out, as there are so many different kinds of writers involved that there's bound to be a topic you're interested in. Check out the link above for specifics on the featured guest writers who will lead sessions, as well as the local authors who will attend to sell their books in the conference room.
No pick or word today. Back to that tomorrow.
Meanwhile, check out my blog (which is a reprint of my Sunday column today): Navel gazing in a holographic universe.
Peace.
And I'm thinking about Books Alive! 2009.
The event is Saturday, Feb. 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Gulf Coast Community College. Most of the sessions take place in the classrooms ringing the second floor, with book sales in the main conference room. Admission is FREE. There's a "literary luncheon" at noon in the cafeteria, which is $20 a plate, with a keynote speaker.
I will be introducing my friend Janis Owens who will team once again with Michael Morris to discuss Southern storytelling. They have two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Last year, I had to leave early because we were trying to get to Jay Hospital to see Grandma Massey. It was a troubled day for all of us in my family for one reason or another. But we got to the hospital and spent some time with her, and that's what's important.
This year, I may have to leave early again. We will have visitors at our house that weekend (Debra's sister and her family), and we planned to go to the Mardi Gras parade in Panama City, which starts at 3 p.m. Meaning we'll want to get a spot along the street by 2 or 2:30 at the latest.
Add to this that Jessi will have a district choral event that morning at Gulf Beach Baptist Church, and we will be spread thin at the very least. We have some transportation logistics to figure out.
But back to Books Alive. I plan to bring copies of CITY LIMITS volume 2, as well as Volume 1 and a few other books. But I don't expect that to be the draw. If you like books or writing then you should really try to make it out, as there are so many different kinds of writers involved that there's bound to be a topic you're interested in. Check out the link above for specifics on the featured guest writers who will lead sessions, as well as the local authors who will attend to sell their books in the conference room.
No pick or word today. Back to that tomorrow.
Meanwhile, check out my blog (which is a reprint of my Sunday column today): Navel gazing in a holographic universe.
Peace.
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