Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King.
Goodness how I enjoy this book. Some great, and sad, moments for Jake. Callahan and his entire #amazeballs
story. That scene where Eddie is walking Andy out to his death.
Callahan's horror at discovering his back story exists in a fiction
novel. . .
I really enjoy almost every element of this novel. I
have always hated Susannah and all of her personalities. The addition of
Mia here, and to come, exacerbates this hatred but I'm looking forward
to all of the Susannah-free Eddie when I get on to book 6 again. And I
get the ridiculousness of the wolves themselves sure (and I've already
discussed that in detail here: https://plus.google.com/u/0/117177089600960301954/posts/1e4P7oYLJ1C
My
edition of the book has these fabulous full-color illustrations by
horror legend Bernie Wrightson. Very early in the book there's an
illustration of the Wolves. That, plus the very early naming of the
"sneetches" and description of the wolves sight unseen I think better
prepared me for the shocking silly reveal at the end. I think writing
the series off or getting too frustrated with the while thing over
characters that are in only 1.4% of one novel is serving ourselves a
disservice, but I also understand the nature of straws breaking camels'
backs, so this could be a moment where that happens for readers. I'd
hope not...but everyone has their own roads to take on their journeys to
the clearing at the end of the path.
I still hope to see you there.
Sunday, September 02, 2012
Domestic Violence = "Relationships Have Their Ups and Downs"
I'm finally getting around to dragging myself through the Avengers vs
X-Men crossover story event in all of its ridiculous and this particular
page demanded comment.
Overlooking the "family vs family" scenario has already been overdone in every major cross-over event of the last 20 years for Marvel, I think this stood out as more heinous because of the dismissive commentary added to it.
We have 5 X-Men teams vs 5 Avengers teams spread across the globe, so family vs family match-ups could have been more easily avoided. But no, Captain America sends Black Panther and Quicksilver to Storm and Magneto's locations (their spouse and parent respectively) where they do battle. Even then, enough people are at each location that the family members could have been at ideological odds without physically confronting each other.
But that's just not cool enough.
So instead, we get a shot of Black Panther bashing his wife from behind and knocking her out. But don't worry, these things happen because, as Magneto tells you (and teaches everyone reading this comic) "ups and downs are common in relationships."
Overlooking the "family vs family" scenario has already been overdone in every major cross-over event of the last 20 years for Marvel, I think this stood out as more heinous because of the dismissive commentary added to it.
We have 5 X-Men teams vs 5 Avengers teams spread across the globe, so family vs family match-ups could have been more easily avoided. But no, Captain America sends Black Panther and Quicksilver to Storm and Magneto's locations (their spouse and parent respectively) where they do battle. Even then, enough people are at each location that the family members could have been at ideological odds without physically confronting each other.
But that's just not cool enough.
So instead, we get a shot of Black Panther bashing his wife from behind and knocking her out. But don't worry, these things happen because, as Magneto tells you (and teaches everyone reading this comic) "ups and downs are common in relationships."
Beautiful
People are really fucked in the head when it comes to their looks and
self-esteem. I want to tell you all: just let it go. Society has fucked
you up. Pop culture has fucked you up. Your friends and family have
fucked you up. You fucked you up.
Just let it all go. It's a hard lesson to take. It's a hard path to follow. But no one's opinion of you matters. You look fine.
There is no perfection. There is no ideal to chase. Some people like anorexically thin people. Some don't. You are never going to catch the perfect ideal that everyone else finds attractive, because everyone else will never agree upon what is attractive.
So be you. Dress however makes you happy. Eat what you want. Or eat healthier because you care about your health, not because you care about what other people think of your waistline or dress size. Wear make-up, don't. Shave, don't. Stop putting your image of self-worth into how you perceive other people judge your appearance. Be free.
Months ago I was watching a program on Palladia--some music program like Storytellers (but not Storytellers ) where an artist talks about their song or process and then performs the song, etc. This particular episode had Christina Aguilera talking about the first time she met Linda Perry, how she came across the lyrics to one of Perry's songs and sang it to herself while Perry was in another room. How Perry heard her singing and realized the same thing I'm trying to say here: we all have fucked up images of ourselves, no matter how pretty the rest of the world does or does not see us. We all face the same insecurities and struggles. Aguilera reports she went on to record that song, "Beautiful," in only one take.
More recently, a discussion broke out in one of my circles, where one of the people involved was incredibly down on themselves, making worth statements so tied in to their appearance that they seemed unable to see anything else or to recognize the beautiful wife, family and friends who all love him just as he is.
People, I know most of you who've gotten this far are going to nod your heads and then forget all about this. But if you can find it in you to take this message and to strive towards something better then make it a part of your daily routine to accept who you are, to let go the concerns over how you look, and work on things that really matter instead.
Just let it all go. It's a hard lesson to take. It's a hard path to follow. But no one's opinion of you matters. You look fine.
There is no perfection. There is no ideal to chase. Some people like anorexically thin people. Some don't. You are never going to catch the perfect ideal that everyone else finds attractive, because everyone else will never agree upon what is attractive.
So be you. Dress however makes you happy. Eat what you want. Or eat healthier because you care about your health, not because you care about what other people think of your waistline or dress size. Wear make-up, don't. Shave, don't. Stop putting your image of self-worth into how you perceive other people judge your appearance. Be free.
Months ago I was watching a program on Palladia--some music program like Storytellers (but not Storytellers ) where an artist talks about their song or process and then performs the song, etc. This particular episode had Christina Aguilera talking about the first time she met Linda Perry, how she came across the lyrics to one of Perry's songs and sang it to herself while Perry was in another room. How Perry heard her singing and realized the same thing I'm trying to say here: we all have fucked up images of ourselves, no matter how pretty the rest of the world does or does not see us. We all face the same insecurities and struggles. Aguilera reports she went on to record that song, "Beautiful," in only one take.
More recently, a discussion broke out in one of my circles, where one of the people involved was incredibly down on themselves, making worth statements so tied in to their appearance that they seemed unable to see anything else or to recognize the beautiful wife, family and friends who all love him just as he is.
People, I know most of you who've gotten this far are going to nod your heads and then forget all about this. But if you can find it in you to take this message and to strive towards something better then make it a part of your daily routine to accept who you are, to let go the concerns over how you look, and work on things that really matter instead.
This is me, take it or leave it
I am neither Republican nor Democrat, though I have been both. I believe we, the people, have lost the way.
When I was much younger my grandparents taught me to fish and to hunt (slingshot, bow, gun) and how to care for and respect my gear. I've also actually experienced a high school shooting; I know the feeling of abject terror, of people gunned down and still I do not support the idea of removing the right of the populace to own guns. Because crazy and evil, they still find a way. It's time we worked on the crazy and evil of the world, and stopped focusing on tools.
I do not care who you do or do not believe in. The odds are extremely high it isn't the same as me. And I'm all right by that. And it's ok with me if you talk about your faith--as long as you understand the difference between talking about your faith and proselytizing. And don't take my acceptance of your faith as an agreement with it.
I believe drugs should be decriminalized. This does not make me a druggie. It makes me someone who believes people should be able to do whatever they like to their own bodies without our impediment. I think we should all recognize our own high horses and cast aside our alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, prescription drugs, sweets, sex, internet and Indian casinos before we think it's at all not hypocritical to judge drug users for their use and addictions.
I wholly support a woman's right to choose. I also expect any woman I am with to accept that while I am Pro-Choice, if a fetus of mine were ever aborted, our relationship would be aborted with it.
I am a member of the LGBTQA community and that's my business, as who you choose to spend your days with is yours. I believe in equality in all ways for all people, not in all ways for some people and some ways for none.
I believe the world is decidedly short on people who are logical, who believe in personal accountability (and practice it) for their actions and feelings, who are trying to make the world in any way a better place and that it is long on people who are selfish and willfully ignorant.
I am who I am and I work on the issues I see in myself. If a person can't take this, they can go with my blessing. My promise is this: whatever I believe, I will endeavor to not be a dick to you. All I expect back is the same.
Peace out.
When I was much younger my grandparents taught me to fish and to hunt (slingshot, bow, gun) and how to care for and respect my gear. I've also actually experienced a high school shooting; I know the feeling of abject terror, of people gunned down and still I do not support the idea of removing the right of the populace to own guns. Because crazy and evil, they still find a way. It's time we worked on the crazy and evil of the world, and stopped focusing on tools.
I do not care who you do or do not believe in. The odds are extremely high it isn't the same as me. And I'm all right by that. And it's ok with me if you talk about your faith--as long as you understand the difference between talking about your faith and proselytizing. And don't take my acceptance of your faith as an agreement with it.
I believe drugs should be decriminalized. This does not make me a druggie. It makes me someone who believes people should be able to do whatever they like to their own bodies without our impediment. I think we should all recognize our own high horses and cast aside our alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, prescription drugs, sweets, sex, internet and Indian casinos before we think it's at all not hypocritical to judge drug users for their use and addictions.
I wholly support a woman's right to choose. I also expect any woman I am with to accept that while I am Pro-Choice, if a fetus of mine were ever aborted, our relationship would be aborted with it.
I am a member of the LGBTQA community and that's my business, as who you choose to spend your days with is yours. I believe in equality in all ways for all people, not in all ways for some people and some ways for none.
I believe the world is decidedly short on people who are logical, who believe in personal accountability (and practice it) for their actions and feelings, who are trying to make the world in any way a better place and that it is long on people who are selfish and willfully ignorant.
I am who I am and I work on the issues I see in myself. If a person can't take this, they can go with my blessing. My promise is this: whatever I believe, I will endeavor to not be a dick to you. All I expect back is the same.
Peace out.
50 Book Challenge 2012 #36
Watership Down by Richard Adams.
It's probably been 26 or so years since the last time I read this novel, 22-23 since I saw the film. Re-reads of the Tower and talks with +Adrienne Kent have set me back on the path to reading it again after such a long time. It's nice to remember how much I loved this book, and it's nice to be able to come back to it with such a cloudy memory of it so that I could experience it again almost as if experiencing it the first time.
It's probably been 26 or so years since the last time I read this novel, 22-23 since I saw the film. Re-reads of the Tower and talks with +Adrienne Kent have set me back on the path to reading it again after such a long time. It's nice to remember how much I loved this book, and it's nice to be able to come back to it with such a cloudy memory of it so that I could experience it again almost as if experiencing it the first time.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
So now I am completely paranoid about driving my car.
Around 4:30 pm I rolled in and paid the $870 for the work that was done
(about $250 more to go on repairs I can put off a short while) and I
completely forgot my checkbook so I use my ATM to pay it off--no big
deal except it's almost 5 and I forget there's a cash limit on my ATM
per day. So I drive the car to the gas station and am totally denied
because of my spending limit. Thankfully, my bank is across the parking
lot and closes at 6 so I rush there and withdraw $40 and return to the
gas station.
About 4 gallons into my pumping I start to hear liquid splashing against the pavement--my gas tank is leaking. I Immediately call the shop and get their automated recorder (they close at 5 too) and decide I'm driving it back to them immediately anyway: if there isn't someone still there, I'm parking it on their doorstep and confronting them first thing in the morning. Thankfully the owner and his brother are still there and the owner immediately starts getting to work on fixing their screw-up while the brother calls the mechanic responsible to ream him one and demand he come back to work to fix it.
It's 105 degrees Fahrenheit, I am dirty and sweaty and am supposed to meet someone for a platonic coffee date at 6:30--I call them to cancel and they decide to come out to me in case I end up needing a ride from the shop. The mechanic shows up and takes over from the owner and fixes the car.
So now I get in and it won't even start. Meanwhile, as I'm trying to turn the engine over, every time I crank it, my friend says she sees gas gushing out from under the car. It turns out the mechanic didn't pay attention to the owner's communication about what still needed done and missed a few crucial steps.
Yes, they fixed it and I was able to start it just fine, drive it to the gas station, fuel it up, etc. and make it home.
But now I am absolutely paranoid about trying to drive it again. Hopefully, my recognition of this irrationality will be enough to erase it by morning. And hopefully the mechanic didn't forget anything else crucial. We'll know the answer to both of these things tomorrow.
About 4 gallons into my pumping I start to hear liquid splashing against the pavement--my gas tank is leaking. I Immediately call the shop and get their automated recorder (they close at 5 too) and decide I'm driving it back to them immediately anyway: if there isn't someone still there, I'm parking it on their doorstep and confronting them first thing in the morning. Thankfully the owner and his brother are still there and the owner immediately starts getting to work on fixing their screw-up while the brother calls the mechanic responsible to ream him one and demand he come back to work to fix it.
It's 105 degrees Fahrenheit, I am dirty and sweaty and am supposed to meet someone for a platonic coffee date at 6:30--I call them to cancel and they decide to come out to me in case I end up needing a ride from the shop. The mechanic shows up and takes over from the owner and fixes the car.
So now I get in and it won't even start. Meanwhile, as I'm trying to turn the engine over, every time I crank it, my friend says she sees gas gushing out from under the car. It turns out the mechanic didn't pay attention to the owner's communication about what still needed done and missed a few crucial steps.
Yes, they fixed it and I was able to start it just fine, drive it to the gas station, fuel it up, etc. and make it home.
But now I am absolutely paranoid about trying to drive it again. Hopefully, my recognition of this irrationality will be enough to erase it by morning. And hopefully the mechanic didn't forget anything else crucial. We'll know the answer to both of these things tomorrow.
Tuesday, May 08, 2012
Depression
Today has been the kind of day that reaches down and crushes me with the
reminder of just how alone I am in the world, or just how close one bad
misfortune can lead to absolute disaster.
The day began like any other, with me driving the kids to school. My car is 21 years old, but I keep it maintained; I take care of it. And it died in the parking lot of the kids' school. Between license renewals and a very expensive 6th grade field trip for Aeia, I have $8 discretionary income this month (and savings was destroyed last year when I had to keep the lease on our old, far too expensive, place on one income--since then it's been month-to-month and being frugal) and my insurance company dropped roadside assistance from my policy when I changed it to remove my ex-wife. I couldn't even afford the $50 for a tow truck and have no friends in the area who I feel close enough to to borrow even that little (or, because they're struggling students, have that little to offer). All the while I'm getting glared at by my son's asshole principal (see my post from about two weeks ago as to why I have that opinion of him) as I'm checking the very few things my limited mechanical knowledge knows to check.
This is when it comes home just how much it sucks to be a single parent with no support structure in place. Living in a college town, as soon as you grow close to someone they graduate and move away. My nearest family is hours away. My nearest family that gives a damn is farther. I always feel very alone in the world, but I try my best to mask it with the friends I have here, even as we all keep each other at an arm's distance.
How I manage dropping and picking kids up from school, dropping and picking kids up from their mother's (don't even ask why she can't do it...the answer is best summed up as she is ridiculous), groceries, 3-4 doctor's visits per week (most of them not even in town ), laundry...other emergencies without transportation...I don't know. What I know is I feel myself literally getting older under the crushing weight of it all.
I won't have the discretionary income to have the car diagnosed, let alone fixed, until August 18th. Still, if I can make it to the end of May, the kids will be out of school, I can stop seeing the doctor for three months and try to figure something out regarding transport of kids to/from the ex.
Serotonin
My son Rael has finally made a friend at school. It's been about 4 weeks. It's going well enough I've encouraged a sleep-over here a play date there. His friend's mom saw my situation at the school today and arranged to have my car towed home. And helped me out with picking the kids up after school today. Between her and another newer friend I have some help tomorrow and the next day as well. If I can figure out the next three weeks, the last three weeks of May and of school, I can get out of this completely overwhelmed feeling.
This other friend has also been asking around his own circles for help finding someone with mechanical aptitude who can at least help me discover the problem and work towards an estimate.
My favorite Canadian and some of you here have been a good despair distraction today, most of you not knowing it. And I appreciate it.
About an hour ago, the girlfriend of one of my tabletop gaming group members, who goes hitchhiking every summer for fun, has offered me her car for the months of June through when she needs it back mid-August. There are insurance and other logistics to work out so it's not 100% a sure thing at this point. But it's still a kindness I never would have sought or expected.
I still don't know how I'm going to get through the next three weeks. I can't see my friends having the patience to let me mooch that much, be that much a taxi for me, and the whole thing with the loaner car afterward can still fall apart. But for the moment, I have a little hope.
Sometimes people surprise you.
The day began like any other, with me driving the kids to school. My car is 21 years old, but I keep it maintained; I take care of it. And it died in the parking lot of the kids' school. Between license renewals and a very expensive 6th grade field trip for Aeia, I have $8 discretionary income this month (and savings was destroyed last year when I had to keep the lease on our old, far too expensive, place on one income--since then it's been month-to-month and being frugal) and my insurance company dropped roadside assistance from my policy when I changed it to remove my ex-wife. I couldn't even afford the $50 for a tow truck and have no friends in the area who I feel close enough to to borrow even that little (or, because they're struggling students, have that little to offer). All the while I'm getting glared at by my son's asshole principal (see my post from about two weeks ago as to why I have that opinion of him) as I'm checking the very few things my limited mechanical knowledge knows to check.
This is when it comes home just how much it sucks to be a single parent with no support structure in place. Living in a college town, as soon as you grow close to someone they graduate and move away. My nearest family is hours away. My nearest family that gives a damn is farther. I always feel very alone in the world, but I try my best to mask it with the friends I have here, even as we all keep each other at an arm's distance.
How I manage dropping and picking kids up from school, dropping and picking kids up from their mother's (don't even ask why she can't do it...the answer is best summed up as she is ridiculous), groceries, 3-4 doctor's visits per week (most of them not even in town ), laundry...other emergencies without transportation...I don't know. What I know is I feel myself literally getting older under the crushing weight of it all.
I won't have the discretionary income to have the car diagnosed, let alone fixed, until August 18th. Still, if I can make it to the end of May, the kids will be out of school, I can stop seeing the doctor for three months and try to figure something out regarding transport of kids to/from the ex.
Serotonin
My son Rael has finally made a friend at school. It's been about 4 weeks. It's going well enough I've encouraged a sleep-over here a play date there. His friend's mom saw my situation at the school today and arranged to have my car towed home. And helped me out with picking the kids up after school today. Between her and another newer friend I have some help tomorrow and the next day as well. If I can figure out the next three weeks, the last three weeks of May and of school, I can get out of this completely overwhelmed feeling.
This other friend has also been asking around his own circles for help finding someone with mechanical aptitude who can at least help me discover the problem and work towards an estimate.
My favorite Canadian and some of you here have been a good despair distraction today, most of you not knowing it. And I appreciate it.
About an hour ago, the girlfriend of one of my tabletop gaming group members, who goes hitchhiking every summer for fun, has offered me her car for the months of June through when she needs it back mid-August. There are insurance and other logistics to work out so it's not 100% a sure thing at this point. But it's still a kindness I never would have sought or expected.
I still don't know how I'm going to get through the next three weeks. I can't see my friends having the patience to let me mooch that much, be that much a taxi for me, and the whole thing with the loaner car afterward can still fall apart. But for the moment, I have a little hope.
Sometimes people surprise you.
Sunday, May 06, 2012
Love This
she said,
cinching the ropes
holding my wrists at my lower back--
as she’d already done my ankles.
Behind me,
her lips at my ear:
“Open your mouth.”
Pulling my hair, my head back,
two fingers slide past my lips;
they taste like her cunt,
sticky
savory...sweet.
And then gone.
“You want more.”
She does not ask.
My mouth opening,
she shoves a hard rubber ball in
mid-reply.
Straps clasp behind my head,
locking it in place.
The bed bounces as she moves,
holding my kneeling pose
becomes a strain.
And there she is:
naked, glorious, bare
standing before and above me,
grabbing my chin,
forcing my gaze up her body--
the full curve of her breasts
and the ceiling light above her
conspiring to hide her face
in flesh and shadow.
“You’re too pretty boy.”
Three sharp, stinging, slaps
spread her words
across my face,
bringing water to my eyes
her laughter to my ears.
Fingers in my hair again,
pull my face into her belly:
the hint of baby powder
and vanilla
caress my senses,
my lips centimeters close--
so far away.
She shoves me flat to the bed,
rests her weight on my arms,
crushing them to my back,
her feet on my shoulders
tell me she’s facing away.
Heat spreads across my ass
as the stinging cedar paddle falls
louder than my muffled screams,
stronger than the hard-on
crushed between me and her bed.
When this stops everything is gone:
her weight
the pain
my breath--
waiting for her,
for her breath
warm against my neck,
her hips atop my tender ass.
Penetrating fingers and words
call me her toy.
The fire of her hard cock
spreading me open.
“Love this”
she says.
*********
Written for the +May I? writing project. New poem by me 5-6-2012
#MayI #NewPoem #DEvanPetersonPoetry
cinching the ropes
holding my wrists at my lower back--
as she’d already done my ankles.
Behind me,
her lips at my ear:
“Open your mouth.”
Pulling my hair, my head back,
two fingers slide past my lips;
they taste like her cunt,
sticky
savory...sweet.
And then gone.
“You want more.”
She does not ask.
My mouth opening,
she shoves a hard rubber ball in
mid-reply.
Straps clasp behind my head,
locking it in place.
The bed bounces as she moves,
holding my kneeling pose
becomes a strain.
And there she is:
naked, glorious, bare
standing before and above me,
grabbing my chin,
forcing my gaze up her body--
the full curve of her breasts
and the ceiling light above her
conspiring to hide her face
in flesh and shadow.
“You’re too pretty boy.”
Three sharp, stinging, slaps
spread her words
across my face,
bringing water to my eyes
her laughter to my ears.
Fingers in my hair again,
pull my face into her belly:
the hint of baby powder
and vanilla
caress my senses,
my lips centimeters close--
so far away.
She shoves me flat to the bed,
rests her weight on my arms,
crushing them to my back,
her feet on my shoulders
tell me she’s facing away.
Heat spreads across my ass
as the stinging cedar paddle falls
louder than my muffled screams,
stronger than the hard-on
crushed between me and her bed.
When this stops everything is gone:
her weight
the pain
my breath--
waiting for her,
for her breath
warm against my neck,
her hips atop my tender ass.
Penetrating fingers and words
call me her toy.
The fire of her hard cock
spreading me open.
“Love this”
she says.
*********
Written for the +May I? writing project. New poem by me 5-6-2012
#MayI #NewPoem #DEvanPetersonPoetry
Monday, February 06, 2012
Revival
I'm thinking of reviving this blog as a mirror for my Google+ writings since their archiving is pretty shit there. Of course, some things I post there aren't to public, but this blog is only open to 24 trusted readers, so... if you've been missing my posts here and haven't followed me to Google+ yet, start watching this space again.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Well, pt 2
I've come to a decision about the future of the blog here as discussed a couple posts back in "Well." I think it's time to close Shade and Sweet Water's doors. I expect this will be the last post extant on this blog.
The reality of it all is that Google+ is the answer to my entire dilemma. From there I can blog and adjust the privacy of each blog post on a case-by-case basis. I can share the pop culture write-ups with one audience, and the personal tales with another and not have to worry about shutting it all off from the casual reader unless I specifically want or need to given the context.
If you want to keep reading my future writings and you don't already know how to find me on Google+, send me an e-mail at thewritestuff@gmail.com and tell me who you are and ask;I'll hook you up with how to find me from there.
To everyone who has read me over the years, whether I know you personally or not, you have been a part of my life and I hope you've enjoyed your time here. I'll be seeing you around.
Shade and sweet water,
Evan Peterson
The reality of it all is that Google+ is the answer to my entire dilemma. From there I can blog and adjust the privacy of each blog post on a case-by-case basis. I can share the pop culture write-ups with one audience, and the personal tales with another and not have to worry about shutting it all off from the casual reader unless I specifically want or need to given the context.
If you want to keep reading my future writings and you don't already know how to find me on Google+, send me an e-mail at thewritestuff@gmail.com and tell me who you are and ask;I'll hook you up with how to find me from there.
To everyone who has read me over the years, whether I know you personally or not, you have been a part of my life and I hope you've enjoyed your time here. I'll be seeing you around.
Shade and sweet water,
Evan Peterson
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Why I am Liking Google+
By far the biggest attraction for me to Google+ thus far is the implementation of circles and what they mean for privacy.
I've seen friends who fell victim to workplace reprimands over things they post on Facebook. Where one "my boss sucks" post can make or break the rest of your tenure at that employer. One in particular led to a friend enduring years of harassment and estrangement from coworkers who had no business being in her business anyway.
Myself, I've dealt with an ex-wife blocked on Facebook who hacked our teenager's account in order to read what all I had to say about her or anything else, leading to having to create a filter there for sharing NOTHING with my kid other than the ephemeral friend connection with no social interactivity.
Circles have allowed for me to categorize and re-categorize everyone I know, or don't know, into groups I easily define as "ok to share this with" or "don't post this kinky link to" or even "hey everyone, I'm now dating so-and-so." Can't 'friend' mom on Facebook because she might disapprove of things you post? No problem here: just don't put her in your "100% Uncensored" circle--or better, make a circle of one and call it "mom" she'll never know.
This ability to pick and choose my privacy on a post-by-post basis is far more intuitive and easy-to-use than has been Facebook's (every time that site changes something major, it tends to reset my settings and I don't always catch it--now I don't feel as if I have to worry about that level of vigilance).
This has been heavy on my mind a lot since my recent quandary over whether to make my blog accessible to the public again. Doing so would mean exposing some raw personal stuff to people who I don't want exposed to it (or deleting it), but keeping it hidden keeps the most mundane movie review post, etc. blocked from all but my approved readers as well. Zero middle ground there...
So, Google+ you and I might just end up being pretty good friends.
I've seen friends who fell victim to workplace reprimands over things they post on Facebook. Where one "my boss sucks" post can make or break the rest of your tenure at that employer. One in particular led to a friend enduring years of harassment and estrangement from coworkers who had no business being in her business anyway.
Myself, I've dealt with an ex-wife blocked on Facebook who hacked our teenager's account in order to read what all I had to say about her or anything else, leading to having to create a filter there for sharing NOTHING with my kid other than the ephemeral friend connection with no social interactivity.
Circles have allowed for me to categorize and re-categorize everyone I know, or don't know, into groups I easily define as "ok to share this with" or "don't post this kinky link to" or even "hey everyone, I'm now dating so-and-so." Can't 'friend' mom on Facebook because she might disapprove of things you post? No problem here: just don't put her in your "100% Uncensored" circle--or better, make a circle of one and call it "mom" she'll never know.
This ability to pick and choose my privacy on a post-by-post basis is far more intuitive and easy-to-use than has been Facebook's (every time that site changes something major, it tends to reset my settings and I don't always catch it--now I don't feel as if I have to worry about that level of vigilance).
This has been heavy on my mind a lot since my recent quandary over whether to make my blog accessible to the public again. Doing so would mean exposing some raw personal stuff to people who I don't want exposed to it (or deleting it), but keeping it hidden keeps the most mundane movie review post, etc. blocked from all but my approved readers as well. Zero middle ground there...
So, Google+ you and I might just end up being pretty good friends.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Netflix is Putting Me in the Poor House
Yesterday I got an e-mail from Netflix telling me that on my September billing cycle the cost of my current plan (1 disc at-a-time plus unlimited streaming) would be raising from $9.99/month to $15.99/month as they are splitting the streaming and disc rentals into two separate services and this new price would reflect that. Me, I shrugged and figured I would figure out whether it is worth it to me or not later.
See, the kids alone watch an enormous amount of streaming content on Netflix. Enormous. I so very much get my money's worth on that and will likely never have to buy a kids' dvd again so long as I have streaming content available (granted, I am so tired of them watching certain kids' shows but I digress). As for myself, I've found myself less and less interested in the movies flying in via disc (I used to be on a much larger plan and so my queue shrank significantly this year). I have maybe 30 films in it right now and with the 1 at-a-time plan I see an average of 9-10 disc movies per month while I might add a total of 3 or 4.
I understand we hate changes in the status quo, I really do. And I understand that masses of people were up in arms yesterday when they received this price hike announcement. For me, I continue to shrug. Maybe I also shake my head a little. Don't we have anything more important or significant to be irate about? If I rented 9 movies a month at a rental store it would cost me at least $20. That's 125% Netflix's new price point with ZERO streaming titles included.
I think we should find something new to shake our fist at.
See, the kids alone watch an enormous amount of streaming content on Netflix. Enormous. I so very much get my money's worth on that and will likely never have to buy a kids' dvd again so long as I have streaming content available (granted, I am so tired of them watching certain kids' shows but I digress). As for myself, I've found myself less and less interested in the movies flying in via disc (I used to be on a much larger plan and so my queue shrank significantly this year). I have maybe 30 films in it right now and with the 1 at-a-time plan I see an average of 9-10 disc movies per month while I might add a total of 3 or 4.
I understand we hate changes in the status quo, I really do. And I understand that masses of people were up in arms yesterday when they received this price hike announcement. For me, I continue to shrug. Maybe I also shake my head a little. Don't we have anything more important or significant to be irate about? If I rented 9 movies a month at a rental store it would cost me at least $20. That's 125% Netflix's new price point with ZERO streaming titles included.
I think we should find something new to shake our fist at.
Well
I've been struggling with the decision as to what to do about this blog.
Having the time and inclination to write hasn't actually been a problem. I've been needing to figure out whether or not it would be best to keep this lot going or to shut it down and start somewhere new. If I stay here, do I keep it set to "invited readers only" or open it back up? I can't seem to get past the deadlock in my brain as to what I should do in this regard.
Thoughts?
Having the time and inclination to write hasn't actually been a problem. I've been needing to figure out whether or not it would be best to keep this lot going or to shut it down and start somewhere new. If I stay here, do I keep it set to "invited readers only" or open it back up? I can't seem to get past the deadlock in my brain as to what I should do in this regard.
Thoughts?
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Two Months
Has it really been that long? It seems like only yesterday I was composing my New Year's "word" post in my head... and yet it isn't here either.
Sorry, friends. I guess I need to write more here again and will do so soon.
Sorry, friends. I guess I need to write more here again and will do so soon.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Dear Santa,
I just want to start by saying that, especially given all the circumstances, I've been pretty darn good this year. Last year for Christmas, a year I had been feeling even better about, the kids and I were served a whopping serving of heartbreak and feelings of betrayal and the shattering of our family unit. In the year since then, we've endured the struggle to remain a strong and loving family, the realized fear of abduction, absolute poverty, medically insane flatmates and a growing appreciation for our inner strength and ability to come back together as a family.
This year, do you think you could work on dropping off a little happiness? I've already handled the whole presents-for-kids situation--just send the kids the ability to find happiness on the anniversary of their mom's decision to jack things up; give them the ability to be happy with the holiday again, and to be able to enjoy it with each of their parents.
I could go for some happiness too. As much as I'd like, I won't ask for meteors (that's a request I continue to reserve for The Universe) or a booty call. My brother Jeremy says I should ask you for the red limited edition Wii anniversary bundle I want so there you go.
This year, do you think you could work on dropping off a little happiness? I've already handled the whole presents-for-kids situation--just send the kids the ability to find happiness on the anniversary of their mom's decision to jack things up; give them the ability to be happy with the holiday again, and to be able to enjoy it with each of their parents.
I could go for some happiness too. As much as I'd like, I won't ask for meteors (that's a request I continue to reserve for The Universe) or a booty call. My brother Jeremy says I should ask you for the red limited edition Wii anniversary bundle I want so there you go.
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Scary Math
Naturally, when it was announced there was going to be a television series adaptation of the comic book The Walking Dead (the only book I continued reading when diminished resources forced me to drop comics altogether) I would be makingdamnsure I would be watching it. And naturally, given my love of the parent work, I would either love the show or hate it.
So far, I love the show though it does have some problems for me. One of these problems is the large cast of extra characters who didn't exist in the original. Some of them really feel like they were just thrown in to add filling to the episodes and this is so unnecessary when the original characters could all use a good bit more of on-screen development. I want to get to know TV-Glen, Andrea and Dale a bit more and have a lot less of the T-Dogs and Dixon brothers (though hurrah for a Boondock Saint in casting one of them) who never existed in the first place. There are too many new characters waiting to be introduced down the line for the viewers to be bogged down with a cast that shouldn't exist. My only hope is that all these extra characters exist so that there can be cannon fodder for some requisite producer-mandated zombie bloodbath.
I'm also finding myself very impatient. I've lived with these characters through about seven years now and they are so far past this stage in the story that, while I love revisiting them like this, I'm very antsy for them to get to future scenes and stories I love. Especially, ESPECIALLY with Carl. This actually leads to my first serious problem.
The Carl Problem.
Even if the six episode first season ends the way the six issue first storyline of the book ends, and I really hope it does. I am more eager than anything for that to happen and it would make damn good TV for the season to end on that particular event. Even if it ends there it still leaves us with the greater Carl Problem. In 77 issues of The Walking Dead barely a year has passed. There are far too many excellent stories and subplots of Carl's that just will NOT work if Carl ages too much. As this actor ages through the seasons he isn't going to be believable as the little kid he's portraying for too long and way too many of the best Carl moments will lose their poignancy if Carl gets too old season-to-season. What worries me is how this dilemma might be addressed by my second issue with the series.
The Frank Darabont Problem.
Honestly, Darabont has done a remarkable and stunning job adapting books to the screen. Books I love now movies I love. It's a rare gift and he does have it. But the motherfucker also changes shit and when he does it often really pisses me the fuck off (I'm done channeling Debra Morgan now). The man has shown a willingness to make dramatic changes that piss me the fuck off (I lied). Look no further than my archived review of The Mist for the most glaring example of this fuckery. Knowing this is Darabont means knowing that things are going to change. Not just because of the nature of television, but because it's the nature of Darabont to add/embellish/change shit up. I have a dark feeling that character who is destined to die very soon is not in fact going to die because the drama would be "better" with this character around. This is wrong; trust the source material. It's strong enough on its own. I have a darker feeling the answer to the Carl Problem will be 1. Assign future Carl moments to new young characters (no!), 2. Assign them to Carl regardless of how much he's grown (as stated, some of these issues would hold nowhere near the poignancy if this is the case), 3. Don't write them into the show (I'm going to go rogue here and say that Carl is the heart of the BOOK and doing this would be a horrible disservice).
The Carl Problem + The Frank Darabont Problem = Scares Me.
I will say this: they've done an excellent job making Lori the bitch she really grows to be.
So far, I love the show though it does have some problems for me. One of these problems is the large cast of extra characters who didn't exist in the original. Some of them really feel like they were just thrown in to add filling to the episodes and this is so unnecessary when the original characters could all use a good bit more of on-screen development. I want to get to know TV-Glen, Andrea and Dale a bit more and have a lot less of the T-Dogs and Dixon brothers (though hurrah for a Boondock Saint in casting one of them) who never existed in the first place. There are too many new characters waiting to be introduced down the line for the viewers to be bogged down with a cast that shouldn't exist. My only hope is that all these extra characters exist so that there can be cannon fodder for some requisite producer-mandated zombie bloodbath.
I'm also finding myself very impatient. I've lived with these characters through about seven years now and they are so far past this stage in the story that, while I love revisiting them like this, I'm very antsy for them to get to future scenes and stories I love. Especially, ESPECIALLY with Carl. This actually leads to my first serious problem.
The Carl Problem.
Even if the six episode first season ends the way the six issue first storyline of the book ends, and I really hope it does. I am more eager than anything for that to happen and it would make damn good TV for the season to end on that particular event. Even if it ends there it still leaves us with the greater Carl Problem. In 77 issues of The Walking Dead barely a year has passed. There are far too many excellent stories and subplots of Carl's that just will NOT work if Carl ages too much. As this actor ages through the seasons he isn't going to be believable as the little kid he's portraying for too long and way too many of the best Carl moments will lose their poignancy if Carl gets too old season-to-season. What worries me is how this dilemma might be addressed by my second issue with the series.
The Frank Darabont Problem.
Honestly, Darabont has done a remarkable and stunning job adapting books to the screen. Books I love now movies I love. It's a rare gift and he does have it. But the motherfucker also changes shit and when he does it often really pisses me the fuck off (I'm done channeling Debra Morgan now). The man has shown a willingness to make dramatic changes that piss me the fuck off (I lied). Look no further than my archived review of The Mist for the most glaring example of this fuckery. Knowing this is Darabont means knowing that things are going to change. Not just because of the nature of television, but because it's the nature of Darabont to add/embellish/change shit up. I have a dark feeling that character who is destined to die very soon is not in fact going to die because the drama would be "better" with this character around. This is wrong; trust the source material. It's strong enough on its own. I have a darker feeling the answer to the Carl Problem will be 1. Assign future Carl moments to new young characters (no!), 2. Assign them to Carl regardless of how much he's grown (as stated, some of these issues would hold nowhere near the poignancy if this is the case), 3. Don't write them into the show (I'm going to go rogue here and say that Carl is the heart of the BOOK and doing this would be a horrible disservice).
The Carl Problem + The Frank Darabont Problem = Scares Me.
I will say this: they've done an excellent job making Lori the bitch she really grows to be.
Strain
I think things are beginning to degenerate for Denise in her living situation with the Taylors. Not caring at all about her relationship with them degrading, but for how it may impact the way the kids are being treated.
Over the past couple weeks Denise has been asking me to watch the kids when she needs a sitter before asking them (something she's required to do by the court but has ignored as a requirement for months and months) which, due to our history and no improvement in attitude towards each other, I just didn't/don't trust is her being a more decent and respectful ex-partner. For the scantest moment I grasped at the delusion she was doing it because word got out of whatever plans I had made otherwise and she would have me take the kids in order to foil those plans. Not generally being a person who holds long to paranoia, this feeling passed and I started forming my opinion that maybe things weren't going as well with her and them as they once were.
Reports from the kids that the Taylors were being more strict with them and not letting them enjoy the same activities any more have been helping this, especially Aeia's report that they blame her and Lash for a lot of things that are actually being done by the Taylor's own boys (I know that this could be kids talking BS but I also trust my kids when pressed to tell the truth to tell me the truth, and I've done a lot of pressing them to tell the truth when topics like this come up).
Anyway, this theory ended up proving more true after talking with the girl I use as a sitter when I work on Wednesdays (Tonia). Tonia revealed to me that she was starting to be used more and more by Denise as well, and that Denise told her that Chrissy told her she wouldn't watch the kids anymore. Frankly, this pleases me just fine; I trust Tonia a billion times more than I do the Taylors with my kids. With anyone's kids, including their own. I'm just glad Rael isn't reporting getting hit by Chris anymore.
None of this surprises me though. Denise is difficult to live with even when you really like her, and our entire prior roommate situation with the Taylors in 2001 disintegrated entirely due to incompatible household styles between her and them so it has been something I'd been expecting to see. Coupled with her telling them, and the courts, that she'd be out and in a place of her own BY August and it now being months past that I'd be running out of patience and charity too. I just hope they're starting to realize just what they've signed themselves up for because two things are going to keep Denise with them indefinitely:
She is far too stubborn and insists on getting a place all to herself,which is something she can not realistically afford without drastically lowering her standards or resorting to getting roommates. Neither of which she's going to do.
She'll never get a place on her own because her credit is abysmal, her income is too low and she broke lease when she moved out of here.
I honestly wish she could provide a more stable living environment for our kids. She could flounder the rest of her life for all I care, except for my wanting the best for our kids so she needs to get her act together or start working her ass off to mend the strain she's putting on the only friendly relationship she still has.
Over the past couple weeks Denise has been asking me to watch the kids when she needs a sitter before asking them (something she's required to do by the court but has ignored as a requirement for months and months) which, due to our history and no improvement in attitude towards each other, I just didn't/don't trust is her being a more decent and respectful ex-partner. For the scantest moment I grasped at the delusion she was doing it because word got out of whatever plans I had made otherwise and she would have me take the kids in order to foil those plans. Not generally being a person who holds long to paranoia, this feeling passed and I started forming my opinion that maybe things weren't going as well with her and them as they once were.
Reports from the kids that the Taylors were being more strict with them and not letting them enjoy the same activities any more have been helping this, especially Aeia's report that they blame her and Lash for a lot of things that are actually being done by the Taylor's own boys (I know that this could be kids talking BS but I also trust my kids when pressed to tell the truth to tell me the truth, and I've done a lot of pressing them to tell the truth when topics like this come up).
Anyway, this theory ended up proving more true after talking with the girl I use as a sitter when I work on Wednesdays (Tonia). Tonia revealed to me that she was starting to be used more and more by Denise as well, and that Denise told her that Chrissy told her she wouldn't watch the kids anymore. Frankly, this pleases me just fine; I trust Tonia a billion times more than I do the Taylors with my kids. With anyone's kids, including their own. I'm just glad Rael isn't reporting getting hit by Chris anymore.
None of this surprises me though. Denise is difficult to live with even when you really like her, and our entire prior roommate situation with the Taylors in 2001 disintegrated entirely due to incompatible household styles between her and them so it has been something I'd been expecting to see. Coupled with her telling them, and the courts, that she'd be out and in a place of her own BY August and it now being months past that I'd be running out of patience and charity too. I just hope they're starting to realize just what they've signed themselves up for because two things are going to keep Denise with them indefinitely:
She is far too stubborn and insists on getting a place all to herself,which is something she can not realistically afford without drastically lowering her standards or resorting to getting roommates. Neither of which she's going to do.
She'll never get a place on her own because her credit is abysmal, her income is too low and she broke lease when she moved out of here.
I honestly wish she could provide a more stable living environment for our kids. She could flounder the rest of her life for all I care, except for my wanting the best for our kids so she needs to get her act together or start working her ass off to mend the strain she's putting on the only friendly relationship she still has.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Ass-Hat TV
OK, I'm at a loss on this one: what the fuck keeps making TV shows where basically the entire cast are total assholes, floor-mats or irredeemable pricks insanely popular?
I don't understand what is attracting so many people to these shows (and I am guilty of watching them too). First, I'm not talking about trashy reality television shows either. I don't even want to understand the mental imperative to watch a show like The Hills, Jersey Shore or anything on VH1 (remember when VH1 was the classy music channel?).
Good writing can only take us so far, and many of these shows do indeed have good writing, and good acting, but at what point do we have to say "wait a minute. This entire show is devoid of decency. I shouldn't waste my mind on this."
So, since I can't quite crack what makes me watch them, hopefully you can help me see the light here. What attracts you to fandom of ethically bereft television? What redeems Mad Men? Sons of Anarchy? Breaking Bad?
I don't understand what is attracting so many people to these shows (and I am guilty of watching them too). First, I'm not talking about trashy reality television shows either. I don't even want to understand the mental imperative to watch a show like The Hills, Jersey Shore or anything on VH1 (remember when VH1 was the classy music channel?).
Good writing can only take us so far, and many of these shows do indeed have good writing, and good acting, but at what point do we have to say "wait a minute. This entire show is devoid of decency. I shouldn't waste my mind on this."
So, since I can't quite crack what makes me watch them, hopefully you can help me see the light here. What attracts you to fandom of ethically bereft television? What redeems Mad Men? Sons of Anarchy? Breaking Bad?
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
Dexterous
A good friend has repeatedly complained that because he's a "big name actor" John Lithgow's season four character in Dexter was allowed to live far too long than any logic would dictate being permissible. I will agree that as far as our logic goes, Lithgow was allowed to live too long. I'll come back to this, first I want to address a common trend in how 'guest appearances' work on tv shows.
TV shows have guest stars all the time and they almost always fill one of two functions: they are a very short-lived character (1-3 episodes TOPS, almost always just on sitcoms) added in as a gimmick or ratings stunt (see Brad Pitt on Friends, Matt Damon on 30 Rock, John Larroquette on Law & Order and Jenifer Aniston on Cougar Town), or they are a long-term guest star, almost always brought in for an entire season, almost always on hour long dramas, and almost always as the season's major antagonist (see Adam Arkin in Sons of Anarchy, John Lithgow, Jimmy Smits and Julia Stiles in Dexter, and Garret Dillahunt in Deadwood, Terminator: the Sarah Connor Chronicles, The 4400, etc.) . Sometimes they're brought in for a different purpose, but then you can expect them to die. Often these season-length guest stars outlast the amount of time logic dictates they should.
This is so much the case in Dexter that I am going to go as far as to say that defiance of logic and sensibility is precisely a major character flaw of Dexter's. Dexter, because he sees traits in others that don't exist, but he desperately wants to exist because he wants those traits for himself lets characters live much longer than he really should. Dexter lets Miguel live too long because he mistakenly believes believes Miguel represents an idealized version of himself, and so he refuses to see the dangerous psychopath barely contained in Miguel until it is well and beyond too late. Trinity is allowed to live too long because Dexter is dumb and thinks he can learn how to be a good father and be a serial killer from Trinity when he should already know that Trinity is not him and can not model for him how he should operate his own life and livelihood. Lumen is going to be allowed to live too long as well. Like Miguel she is unhinged and Dexter is ignoring it. Why? Because he sees her rape revenge as an outlet for his own need to avenge Rita, even though he has already killed her killer.
In a nut shell, Dexter is a consistent idiot when it comes to not killing the right people when their time has come.
TV shows have guest stars all the time and they almost always fill one of two functions: they are a very short-lived character (1-3 episodes TOPS, almost always just on sitcoms) added in as a gimmick or ratings stunt (see Brad Pitt on Friends, Matt Damon on 30 Rock, John Larroquette on Law & Order and Jenifer Aniston on Cougar Town), or they are a long-term guest star, almost always brought in for an entire season, almost always on hour long dramas, and almost always as the season's major antagonist (see Adam Arkin in Sons of Anarchy, John Lithgow, Jimmy Smits and Julia Stiles in Dexter, and Garret Dillahunt in Deadwood, Terminator: the Sarah Connor Chronicles, The 4400, etc.) . Sometimes they're brought in for a different purpose, but then you can expect them to die. Often these season-length guest stars outlast the amount of time logic dictates they should.
This is so much the case in Dexter that I am going to go as far as to say that defiance of logic and sensibility is precisely a major character flaw of Dexter's. Dexter, because he sees traits in others that don't exist, but he desperately wants to exist because he wants those traits for himself lets characters live much longer than he really should. Dexter lets Miguel live too long because he mistakenly believes believes Miguel represents an idealized version of himself, and so he refuses to see the dangerous psychopath barely contained in Miguel until it is well and beyond too late. Trinity is allowed to live too long because Dexter is dumb and thinks he can learn how to be a good father and be a serial killer from Trinity when he should already know that Trinity is not him and can not model for him how he should operate his own life and livelihood. Lumen is going to be allowed to live too long as well. Like Miguel she is unhinged and Dexter is ignoring it. Why? Because he sees her rape revenge as an outlet for his own need to avenge Rita, even though he has already killed her killer.
In a nut shell, Dexter is a consistent idiot when it comes to not killing the right people when their time has come.
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