It’s all the rage

Kindle, it’s everywhere. E-readers are inescapable and aren’t going anywhere.

As a matter of fact they’re multiplying, like bunnies.

Barnes and Noble announced that they’re jumping into the fray and effectively sucker punching Amazon and Sony with their increase in e-book titles. The advocate watch groups are heralding this turn of events.  Increases in competition, lower prices and insures more e-readers all kinds of new toys.

But really, is this a good thing?

Amazon came under fire this week for an Orwellian action, they removed copies of 1984 from owners devices. Without prior notice.  Which brings into question ownership rights.

This would never happen with the old fashion models! it’s illegal to come into a readers sanctuary and remove their prized property.

Along with legal ramifications, what about the cultural ramifications?

James Walcott muses in this months Vanity Fair on ‘cultural snobbery’ and how the up-ward mobility of digitizing is working to erase it.

He comments on the audacity of a women reading a Kindle on the subway, the subway being the natural cultural highway, ” An anonymous block of pixels on a screen, making it impossible to surmise the state of her inner being, erotic proclivities and intellectual caliber.”

On the other-side of the argument, Walcott asks “How can I impress strangers with the gem-like flame of my literary passion if it’s a digitized slate that I am carrying around trying not to get all thumbprinty?”

As a passionate reader and an owner of 426 books, including 1984 and  ( yes I counted and no this doesn’t include all the loaned out copies which could be any where from 20 to 50) all I can say is that it will be a long, long time before you see me without a shiny, hefty book cradled in my arms.

And if you think this makes me a cultural snob, thank you!

The History of Coloring Books

my coloring books

Coloring books are slowly disappearing off store shelves or priced right out of the average American family’s budget. It’s a shame the art of the coloring book is being phased out.

Sure they’ve gotten so expensive, but only because they are tied in with so many other products. Movies, TV, Toys.

At there conception they were used as tools to enhance education. A British artist and two Swiss educators created the concept, they hypothesized that an arts education strengthened cognitive abilities and conceptual idea’s of the tangible.

The first coloring books were created to be painted, it wasn’t until the 1930’s that crayons became popular. The first coloring book was “The Little Folks’ Painting Book”

The brothers who created it produced it with Kate Greenway.

It was in 1907 that Coloring Books became the tool for advertising that they are today. For that, you can thank the Milton Bradley Company, as well as, the Stokes Company.

No matter the purpose of creation, Coloring Books mean more and have had more impact on our society other than to sell the latest kids movie. (though I did own four Finding Nemo coloring books and I’m itching to turn EVE purple)

The education uses have moved beyond kindergarten right up to the graduate level in the 1980’s. Grad students took a cue from the younger generation to teach themselves anatomy and physiology.

This idea may have stemmed from the political uses of the 1970’s. The FBI used coloring pages secretly as propaganda against the Black Panther Party.

Also feminist artist, Tee Corinne, used them to promote female exploration.

Today, coloring books might be disappearing of book shelves but there are now computer coloring programs and also, more adults are using them for stress relief.

I do. Right now, I own 10 coloring books and with the research of this blog, I have found a handful of websites that offer free coloring pages for print.

For me, coloring allows my mind to switch off in a good way, not a reality TV way.

It’s a return to a time when the only thing that mattered was completing something that was pleasing to me.

Also in a strange way, it reminds me what matters and what doesn’t.

So next time you’re stressed, take 20 minutes, print out a coloring page, grab whatever is handy to color with and unleash your creative spirit.

And if anyone says anything about it, tell ‘em it’s therapy.

Nothing shuts people up faster than therapy!

A Question and then Answers

He Dugg It

The end of the semester is in sight and the stress is mounting over finals. So to ease some tension, give and receive some laughter I posed this question to a few near and dear beings in my life.

“Is it wrong to blame Jesus for finals since Warner University is a Christian university?”

The responses were laughter, appreciative laughter, some nervous, moral laughter and two of the best responses I could ever ask for, but we will get to those in a bit.

It was the nervous, moral laughter that told me “Maybe it was wrong to blame Jesus” that got me thinking about how serious everything in life is. I mean if you can’t make Jesus the butt of your stress-letting than who can you?

I think Jesus would’ve dug it.

Now the answers that made me proud, got it, not only got it but took it to a whole new level.

The more serious answer, “HAHAHAH!!!!LOL.Yes….Don’t blame Jesus. Blame the Legalistic and Ritualistic Christians.”

The less serious, the still true answer “no you can’t blame Jesus for a Christian school anymore than you can blame Elvis for one of his impersonators blowing up a building.”

How to write a good Television Show and Effectively Get it Cancelled

Joss Whedon, being himself

Joss and his creations aren’t alone, lets see if any of these others ring any bells. Arrested Development, Dead Like Me, WonderFalls, Studio 60 on Sunset Strip, Veronica Mars, and most recently Life on Mars. All of these shows exemplified talent, creativity, and for a mix of reasons failed.

They were well, with that I mean there was structure, literary even. They had character development, themes, episodic plots, season long plot arch’s driven by a hero’s quest, a mystery in need of answers or a search for self discovery. Also, the language in each show was distinctive. Google should thank Whedon for becoming a verb.

Dialogue wasn’t talking, it was an adventure. Were they serious or joking? Was that subtext? What the characters had to say elevated dialogue to an art, even spawning fans of the shows writers.

Maybe that’s why almost every television show has it’s own writers blog?

Next what made these shows excellent was the creation of worlds that looked like ours, could be ours but in some cases were too fantastic for most to believe. The final ingredient in writing a good T.V show is giving the audience what they need, not what thye want.

Take them on a journey that expands their worldview of life, the universe and everything.

Inspire yourself, imbue it with love and passion, which is what creates a connection and the identification is what makes it good. This is however, as the next four and a half catagories, show is also what gets you tossed from T.V.

1.) Life as Metaphor

Buffy did it. Whedon uses his Angel and Demons as metaphors for the troubles of adolescence. For those who got it, unlocked a rich story full of wise answers to the teenage dilemma. Those who were turned off by the title or seemingly juvenile subject matter missed the joys and heartbreak of watching Buffy Summers and her Scooby Gang literally fight for a world they wanted to live in.

The same could be said for another perky blonde, though her weapon of choice, keen intellect. Veronica Mars didn’t fight literal demons yet she took on the human variety as a private eye in training. Along with her own team of misfits, they also fought injustice while learning life lessons along the way.

2.) Think, think, think (and Believe)

Lost hasn’t been cancelled but it would’ve if the show runners didn’t save themselves with an end in sight or network exes too scared to be pelted with coconuts.

But Lost requires, nay, demands you think! Not only use your noodle, but pay attention! It teaches to notice details because isn’t that what life is all about.

In fact all of these shows require human thought. However 47 minutes once a week has been deemed too much to ask.

3.) Is that a Frying pan or Dead Pan?

The art of deadpan is lost on most people but shows like Arrested development, Studio 60 and Dead Like Me, took it to new heights.

Now for the millions who missed these shows dead pan is a comic art form.

These shows revolved around ‘getting the joke’ but also each used the best tenants of good writing too.

4.) This World isn’t my World ( It’s way more interesting)

Firefly was a ‘space western’. The setting was a post apocalyptic world where everyone was struggling with a new world order. It was funny, sweet, charming, and romantic. It tanked before it even debuted. The two-hour pilot movie aired only after all 12 episodes aired.

Life on Mars, a cop show set in the 1970’s. The twist was that the main character woke up there from 2008, with none of the how’s, what’s or whys. Just as the Characters, their development in movement, the situation and players established it was yanked. Never mind the same show in England is a huge hit.

4 ½.) Subsection on alternate communications with the Lord.

WonderFalls was placed in Niagara Falls where a young woman begins receiving mysterious messages from inanimate objects. It was fresh, quirky and new. It was supposed to be about her quest to find God behind the messages but it got pulled before they could talk.

Another Whedon one, Angel, was one vampires search for redemption. His fight was to save his soul. Did he find redemption? I doubt we will ever know.

There are exceptions to these rules. The Office is one, another is House, M.d. and lets not forget that Grey’s Anatomy started out as a mid season replacement.

But these shows don’t reach beyond the limits of the human imagination and inspire people to long for a better world, life or a better you.

How to accept change and learn to love the new facebook

Change is good. Our President promotes it. The coke machine still takes it and it’s what makes the world go ‘round.

Adapting to change is one of the most sought after skills today and something no one likes to do. However, everyday things change. Most recently, Facebook, the world’s most popular social networking site came under fire for its newest face-lift. Before that, it was the Pepsi Co.

 

So. How does one go against nature and accept change?

Throw a light on it like the monster in the closet. How do you do that?

Define it. Here we come Wikipedia:  Change 

Ok. It’s defined. Now, what is it?

 

Well it’s different for everyone. According to Dr. James J Messina, on the Live Strong website ( Yes, that live strong) it involves a loss, a break or an altercation to ones lifestyle that challenges, requires or motivates one to reshape, redefine or revalue a relationship, lifestyle or reaction.

 

By now you are either grumbling, “changes sucks, stay the course!” which would suggest one head back over to Wikipedia and search caveman

 

Those still here, its time to examine why. Because lets be honest, changes sucks. It’s scary, exhilarating, confusing, and causes sudden outburst of anger anxiety, avoidance, dread, disappointment and strange excitement.

 

Why in Jesus’ name would anyone chose to jump off the cliff? Change is not easy stuff. People write books and articles about how hard it is. Books, whole books! That just shows how hard it is, so avoid it, right.

WRONG! Unless of course you think, the only good changes were the wheel and fire. Because there are far more benefits than irrational fears for accepting change.

 

The first being growth. Who doesn’t want to be the smartest, know it all, done it first in their group? Not only do you get the distinction of being smart, adventurous, and wise but you also have stronger relationships, personal, social and emotional.  

 

Second, you will have more order and purpose to your life. You’ll have found resources and strengths that you didn’t know were there. Lastly, you will find more energy for desirable activities once you stop plotting against change.

 

But before you go jumping off the cliff of change, lets start small. How about you unjoin the “I hate the new Facebook group” and start to accept the new Facebook and here is how.

 

 

 

Step1: Face book has changed

           

            -Accept it.

Push aside all the emotion about your past relationship and see this change as a chance to move forward the relationship.  The new Facebook is all about you! Remember that, it’s the super significant other. It does all the work, so you don’t have to.

 

That friends, is a positive change.

 

Step 2: Explore the change   

 

The Facebook team has a blog, in the blog they share all the important info pertaining to Facebook.

 

Imagine that.

 

Now part of your accepting and moving on is to read about the redesign. Learn how it was designed for you and your needs. Learn how to use it, and love it.

 

Step 3: Six months later

 

Do you truly see that there has been any major life altering change to your everyday because of this?

 

Now, try this with something that really matters.

 

 

Saving Something

National Geographic’s March 2009 issue deals with Saving Energy. The cover has an infrared picture showing all the energy escaping the house; it’s reminiscent of a horror film. With the ominous headline, “It Starts at Home”.

The tag doesn’t just say it, it screams it with bold caps, negative leading, and its split coloring. The first half is this garish green, the second a halting, cautious yellow.

It’s not possible to describe the fear this cover inspires. Or maybe it’s guilt.

Damn hippy, tree hugger guilt.

Over the fact that the recycling, unplugging and using organic and sustainable products won’t be enough any more. Not after the new wheels parked in the driveway.

I’m a hypocrite. Take that guilt!

I feel in love with a shiny four-door, navy blue, 2007 Saturn Vue. It’s a “mini SUV”, as if that changes the fact that it only gets 19 mpg.

My Video tie-in

Watch Yourself

On Fridays the “Entertainment Weekly” arrives in the mailbox, last Friday’s was the “Watchmen Exclusive” issue. On the cover, The Comedian, played by the fantastic Jeffery Dean Morgan, but that’s not important.

The important thing is, if the “Watchmen” doesn’t ring any bells, go get yourself educated, this story isn’t going anywhere (pun not intended, but it stays).
Graphic Novel
Movie Info
Movie Site

Now that we all know that “Watchmen” is a celebrated comic, er, graphic novel, that has been placed on both Time Magazine’s “The 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to the present”, also, that “Entertainment Weekly” named it in their list of the New Classics. Lets hope you read enough to know that the heralded un-filmable graphic-novel, was filmed after bouncing from Hollywood studio to Hollywood studio.

However, no one’s favorite studio, money hungry Twentieth Century-Fox (home of the most canceled and shelved movies and T.V shows of all time), sued Warner Brothers, claiming that the studio did not properly gain the rights to the film from them. Thus, effectively putting a halt to a release date and causing a ripple of disappointment spanning the likes of fan boys, to the curious pop cultured, right down to the average movie goer who knows a good movie when they see one.

With teaser released, a major display unveiled at July’s Comic-Con, it came as a shock when Fox sued, and further more when in January, the courts sided with them. Yet, it shouldn’t have to fans of the series, as the story of these “superheroes” is politically charged and parallels today’s issues and of course, stands to make a boatload at the box office.

The W.B. smartly folds and readies for release, which brings that shiny new “Entertainment Weekly” to the mailbox on Friday, February 20.

This is the cause of the tragic event of last Saturday, February 21, that leads to major embarrassment and disappointment.

We all have sources of information we trust, my source is none other than my reliable mother. She mentions over breakfast Saturday morning, while devouring the very shiny, new “entertainment Weekly” that she noticed there was one showing for “Watchmen” that night, in Lake Wales. Excitement over takes logic, plans are set thinking a gift of the rare sneak peek had been bestowed upon Lake Wales of all places.

This was the only topic discussed, “Watchmen” this “Watchmen” that Jeffery Dean Morgan, Billy Crudup, superhero costumes, you get the gist.

It’s a rarity these days when our household does a night on the town, the economy and all, but we got dressy and decided to do dinner out too! On the ten minute drive to the mall, it suddenly dawns on me that maybe I should have checked. That something this good couldn’t be right. I start quizzing my mother, but you can guess how well that went over.

It wasn’t until standing inline at the box office, which was free of any fan boys, or tell-tale marketing that I knew that I wasn’t seeing the movie. It was a flashback to the dread of seeing the trailer, procuring the novel, and then the very next day hearing about the lawsuit.

Again, the movie died, only this time till the sixth of march.
However, the wonderful, stubborn woman I call mother, marched right up to the box office and demanded tickets to a movie she swore they were advertising; they were, just in the form of advance sales.

fog: 12.5

Localize

Thomas Wynn

Olivia

I haven’t felt up to much these last few days, but promises are promises and as one of my favorite bands sing “only selfish people can’t keep promises.”

This weekend in Orlando there was a  C.D. release party for Thomas Wynn & The Believers.

They put on a good show which is evidence that the band enjoys what they do.

What’s  enjoyable about them is that they are truly family.

Thomas, the lead singer, is the brother of Olivia and the two of them struck out on their own after their father retired and their brother got married. They were originally a traveling family christian band, think the Von Trapp’s but cooler.

While they may not be considered a christian worship band today, the theme’s are still there under the heavy rock and most certainly can be found in their very kind and welcoming behavior.

Check them out

Spreading a message of peace

The Warner University chapter of the Student Peace Initiative is inviting the students and faculty out to celebrate peace at Bok Tower Gardens eightieth anniversary Saturday.

The event’s theme is “Sharing the Gift”, so admission is free from nine a.m. to five p.m.

The SPI will have a limited number of reserved seats for the hour-long commemorative ceremony starting at 11 a.m. After the speakers have shared their message of peace, there will be several opportunities to cross the moat and view the Great Brass Door depicting the biblical creation story. The other festivities include free cake and juice, a Carillion concert and tree plantings. If you would like to join the SPI, please contact Sara Fasel Kane at her Warner email.

For those not in the know, the SPI began in the spring of 2007 due to a study,  provided by Kane, the result of that study showed that young people are less likely to promote peace because they believe that war is part of human nature.The Student Peace Initiatives goal is to spread information that counteracts that myth.