1. I’ve often longed for a Professor Kingsfield-style class of fiction writing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx22TyCge7w&t=12s&ab_channel=TheIowaStateBarAssociation 2. At work today, someone brought up the African Shoebill: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93xRBQHPfWs&ab_channel=AnimalTales Add it to the list of things that ought to be too ridiculous to really exist. 3. Reading lately has included Generation Y: The New Lost Generation, a collection of essays … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Generation Y and Then Some
Musings: On Certainty and Uncertainty
There is an idea – almost an axiom in our world – that strong, dogmatic belief leads to intolerance, social oppression, and the decay of reason, while an uncertain agnosticism that subjects everything to reason and logic leads to tolerance and open-minded harmony. Actually, it’s almost the opposite. I say almost because dogmatism certainly can … Continue reading Musings: On Certainty and Uncertainty
Low-Effort Blogging: Mst3k Shorts
For your amusement, a few shorts from Mystery Science Theater 3000: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmjegYYYlUE&ab_channel=BoBalderson A spendthrift teenager gets financial advice from the ghost of Benjamin Franklin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEY9uRknRRc&ab_channel=Flaggboy42 A farm family spends the day at the fair (which is held on the fairgrounds, in case you were wondering) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNJdWWDkjOs&ab_channel=jjpistols Joe Doakes goes before the Eternal Judge to see … Continue reading Low-Effort Blogging: Mst3k Shorts
Actions Make Words Speak Louder
One mistake that a lot of writers make is to over-explain things (hey, that's me!); to put everything you want the audience to understand into dialogue so as to ensure that they ‘get it’. To be fair, this isn’t (usually) a huge deal; just clumsy and amateurish. But it’s more elegant and often much more … Continue reading Actions Make Words Speak Louder
Poetry – “A Psalm of Life”
Tell me not, in mournful numbers,Life is but an empty dream!For the soul is dead that slumbers,And things are not what they seem. Life is real! Life is earnest!And the grave is not its goal;Dust thou art, to dust returnest,Was not spoken of the soul. Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,Is our destined end or way;But … Continue reading Poetry – “A Psalm of Life”
Words of the Saints: St. John Henry Newman on the Hour of Death
"Well is the hour of death described as the evening. There is something in the evening especially calm and solemn, fitly representing the hour of death. How peculiar, how unlike anything else, is a summer evening, when after the fever and heat of the day, after walking, or after working, after any toil, we cease … Continue reading Words of the Saints: St. John Henry Newman on the Hour of Death
Thoughts on ‘Sing’
The other day I checked out Sing, Illumination’s 2016 animated jukebox musical about anthropomorphic animals trying to save a koala’s theater. Overall, I found it pretty enjoyable. It’s probably not going to be a favorite, but it was fun, uplifting, and made some good use of its premise. The story: Buster Moon is the owner … Continue reading Thoughts on ‘Sing’
Friday Flotsam: Fable World Building, ‘Safety Last’, and Reading
1. A week of little progress and a lot of crashing. As often happens when one loosens the reins after Lent, Brother Ass takes off and goes wild. But on the positive side, he’s gotten a taste of discipline and so bringing him under rein again should be a bit easier than it was in … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Fable World Building, ‘Safety Last’, and Reading
Thought of the Day: Stranger than Fiction
Yesterday at work I learned about a mortgage company called ‘Buy or Refi Financial’ (which is rather like having a store called 'Get Food Grocery'), located in ‘Surprise, AZ.’ Yes, they’re a real company. Doing quite well, as a matter of fact; nearly a full 5-star rating on Google. I can only imagine that they … Continue reading Thought of the Day: Stranger than Fiction
Low-Effort Blogging: The Statler Brothers
The Statler Brothers were not actually brothers named 'Statler'; two of them were brothers named 'Reid' (Harold and Don), while the others weren't related. The name came from a tissue box. But, from what I can gather, they're one of the more revered groups in Gospel and classic Country music. In any case, I really … Continue reading Low-Effort Blogging: The Statler Brothers
Serpent's Den 