Friday, February 26, 2010
Nip/Tuck
Next Wednesday is the series finale for "Nip/Tuck."
I really enjoyed the first three seasons of that show; I think those were the best. I think they lost their way in the fourth through sixth seasons, and had some good moments in this last season, although it seems very much a show "out of time" -- that is, the world it began in (2003) isn't here quite the same way, anymore. Hopefully the ending will have some edge to it, and it won't be mawkish. It's nice to see Famke Janssen return (aptly cast as the quietly evil, controlling hermaphrodite, Ava). Lord knows what her presence in the story is going to do in that finale. I keep hoping Quentin Costa will return, but that's likely too much to hope for. Sean McNamara is so nuts, he's potentially capable of anything. Although deliberately amoral, Christian Troy is likely to end up hurt by Sean. Julia has returned this season, and her absence has been keenly felt -- the seasons without her always felt empty to me -- she anchored Sean and Christian so well. There was just something very good in the three of them that was lost when she was off the show, so her returning makes this last season brighter. Anyway, one more episode. We'll see how it goes. The first three seasons are well worth your time, if you haven't ever bothered to watch the show.
I really enjoyed the first three seasons of that show; I think those were the best. I think they lost their way in the fourth through sixth seasons, and had some good moments in this last season, although it seems very much a show "out of time" -- that is, the world it began in (2003) isn't here quite the same way, anymore. Hopefully the ending will have some edge to it, and it won't be mawkish. It's nice to see Famke Janssen return (aptly cast as the quietly evil, controlling hermaphrodite, Ava). Lord knows what her presence in the story is going to do in that finale. I keep hoping Quentin Costa will return, but that's likely too much to hope for. Sean McNamara is so nuts, he's potentially capable of anything. Although deliberately amoral, Christian Troy is likely to end up hurt by Sean. Julia has returned this season, and her absence has been keenly felt -- the seasons without her always felt empty to me -- she anchored Sean and Christian so well. There was just something very good in the three of them that was lost when she was off the show, so her returning makes this last season brighter. Anyway, one more episode. We'll see how it goes. The first three seasons are well worth your time, if you haven't ever bothered to watch the show.
Weekend
I am enjoying this long weekend, most definitely. Sucks to not pass the first round of eliminations in the Amazon competition, but judging from the titles of some of the works that DID pass, maybe not such a bad thing...
I'm going to work on some new stuff this weekend, now that the Olympics is winding down and is freeing my mind to non-Olympics-related stuff. ; )
The Ghost of Laurie FloydJust saying. Oooh, sour grapes, blah blah blah. But I guarantee I'm a better writer than most of the participants.
Passage To Brazil: The Travelers
From Across the Room
Manufactured Thoughts
Wishing for Credence
Driving To Kansas For Dresses
China White
THE BEACH AT HERCULANEUM
Temp: Life in the Stagnant Lane
THE REENGINEER
FoxTheft - War on the Bayou
When Spirits Beckon
All About Betty
Sanctuary
Deep Fried
The Cozen Protocol
But Can You Drink The Water?
Shifted
Strip Kids
The Katrina Contract
Patent Mine
The Glory that was Glass
The Patriot Spy
The Dies Irae
The Emptying
Treasure On The Frontier
The Season After The War
Tepui
SHEDDING CATS
Wife Seeking Wife
A Lone Palm Stands
The Chabóchi
Pretty Cockroaches
View from Masada
I'm going to work on some new stuff this weekend, now that the Olympics is winding down and is freeing my mind to non-Olympics-related stuff. ; )
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Well, Hell
I didn't make it to the next round in the Amazon competition. Damn. I guess my pitch wasn't good enough or something. Oh, well.
On the bright side, somebody's story, "Fried Green Zombies," DID advance. So, if you were banking on that one, good for you!
On the bright side, somebody's story, "Fried Green Zombies," DID advance. So, if you were banking on that one, good for you!
Worky Workington
It's sunny today. Cold, but pretty. Like you can almost see Spring flexing its toes a bit, despite that odd snowstorm last night.
This clip always makes me snicker...
I just love how the bassist and drummer try to keep it together as the frontman melts down, and how visibly disgusted the other guys are with it. I also love how the frontman's guitar is de-tuned from the initial wipeout, and he's basically just playing from muscle memory, but like a few octaves off-kilter.
*snicker* <-- See? I toldja!
This clip always makes me snicker...
I just love how the bassist and drummer try to keep it together as the frontman melts down, and how visibly disgusted the other guys are with it. I also love how the frontman's guitar is de-tuned from the initial wipeout, and he's basically just playing from muscle memory, but like a few octaves off-kilter.
*snicker* <-- See? I toldja!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Snow Way!
Wow, it's really snowing tonight! We've had more snow this year than any winter I can remember in Chicago.
Kindling
I'm still watching lots of Olympics, enjoying my "staycation" of sorts (mostly just not fiction-writing at the moment, but I am doing a lot of blogging, obviously). Exene goes off on yet another marathon this weekend, so it's just me and the boys. Good times! (honestly) The month of March will live up to its name, lemme tellya! I have so much to be done. My last month of being in my 30s -- I intend to put the time to good use.
Speaking of writing, I should find out tomorrow whether the novel I entered in the Amazon competition advances or not. We'll see. I can't get my hopes up, but it would be nice to at least advance past that first round of eliminations (then only three more rounds to go -- *GAK*)
On the bus, which was pretty crowded (well, my second part of my commute, up the Mag Mile), I counted 19 people in my immediate area, and took stock of what they were doing:
Speaking of writing, I should find out tomorrow whether the novel I entered in the Amazon competition advances or not. We'll see. I can't get my hopes up, but it would be nice to at least advance past that first round of eliminations (then only three more rounds to go -- *GAK*)
On the bus, which was pretty crowded (well, my second part of my commute, up the Mag Mile), I counted 19 people in my immediate area, and took stock of what they were doing:
- 1 writing on notepad (me)
- 4 reading books
- 1 reading newspaper
- 2 listening to their iPods
- 2 reading Kindles
- 2 using cell phones (one texting, the other on the phone)
- 1 using iPhone (I can't be sure what she was doing -- either playing a game or texting)
- 6 just sitting there
Stoicism. Epicureanism. Romanticism. Classicism.
My rule of thumb:
That simple axiom can be applied in so many ways, in so many settings. Stoicism likely has its place in life, but Epicureans should always be entrusted to the things that make life worth living. I'm an Epicurean to the bone, without a doubt. I savor the pleasures of life, in all their forms. And it's true -- I think it's part of what lets me be a generally happy camper, even when things are rough: I find the fun, and I find the funny. I savor life -- even when life hurls a cream pie in my face, I'm one to take a lick and say "Hmm. Tasty." Not really. I HATE cream pies.
*shudder*
I feel that love is best understood by Romantics, and not by Classicists. I remember in high school, for sure by my junior year, realizing in an epiphany that I was a Romantic. I told a friend of mine (himself, a tried-and-true Classicist), in English class: "Tom, I'm a Romantic!" and he laughed, said he was a Classicist, and that he knew I was a Romantic, just from the stuff I'd say in class. That amused me.
Byron's works, Shelley's poems -- they really hit me hard, framed so much of my sense of self, and of the world. I remember reading Shelley's stuff out loud in my room and just loving the dance of his language. It was so clearly-defined to me, I can actually remember that conversation, can see it in my mind's eye so well. It's funny to me -- I think Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" is a bit of a sly answer to her own father's Romantic, revolutionary spirit, and, of course, to her husband's Romantic vision. But I'll talk about that some other time.
Epicurean. Romantic. Yup. Me. Okay, so, maybe idealistic, but so what? What's the opposite of idealism? Realism. In other words: ZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZzzzz
Anyway, if you know a Stoic, remember those words. Never let'em buy the groceries, buy the gifts, pick the music, or plan the parties. Just don't. Seriously. Don't.
Never let the Stoic buy the groceries.
That simple axiom can be applied in so many ways, in so many settings. Stoicism likely has its place in life, but Epicureans should always be entrusted to the things that make life worth living. I'm an Epicurean to the bone, without a doubt. I savor the pleasures of life, in all their forms. And it's true -- I think it's part of what lets me be a generally happy camper, even when things are rough: I find the fun, and I find the funny. I savor life -- even when life hurls a cream pie in my face, I'm one to take a lick and say "Hmm. Tasty." Not really. I HATE cream pies.
*shudder*
I feel that love is best understood by Romantics, and not by Classicists. I remember in high school, for sure by my junior year, realizing in an epiphany that I was a Romantic. I told a friend of mine (himself, a tried-and-true Classicist), in English class: "Tom, I'm a Romantic!" and he laughed, said he was a Classicist, and that he knew I was a Romantic, just from the stuff I'd say in class. That amused me.
Byron's works, Shelley's poems -- they really hit me hard, framed so much of my sense of self, and of the world. I remember reading Shelley's stuff out loud in my room and just loving the dance of his language. It was so clearly-defined to me, I can actually remember that conversation, can see it in my mind's eye so well. It's funny to me -- I think Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" is a bit of a sly answer to her own father's Romantic, revolutionary spirit, and, of course, to her husband's Romantic vision. But I'll talk about that some other time.
Epicurean. Romantic. Yup. Me. Okay, so, maybe idealistic, but so what? What's the opposite of idealism? Realism. In other words: ZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZzzzz
Anyway, if you know a Stoic, remember those words. Never let'em buy the groceries, buy the gifts, pick the music, or plan the parties. Just don't. Seriously. Don't.
Video: Song of a Baker
I really like the Small Faces. They were a great band. The exuberance of this tune always psyches me up. Just powerful stuff...
And I love the Mod kids grooving to it, the babes doing their groovy 60s dancin' to it, too! Hee hee!
And I love the Mod kids grooving to it, the babes doing their groovy 60s dancin' to it, too! Hee hee!
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