Some things are just too terrifying to talk about.
Terrifying
Written by jamesb on November 1st, 2008Stones, Sweaters, Fire and Rain
Written by jamesb on September 23rd, 2008For lunch today, I bought a chicken bowl and a chocolate shake from Hogi Yogi. Why? I don’t know…call it feel good food. It’s food that invokes happy feeling. music does that same thing as feel good food, except that we can invoke more than just happy feeling with music. Of course, food can invoke a lot of different feeling as well, but the range of good feeling is somewhat limited with food. With music we can enjoy a wider range of emotions, even feel negative emotions and still ‘enjoy’ the experience.
For example in You Can’t Always Get What You Want by the Rolling Stones we can experience the liberating realization that sometimes in life we can’t get what we want in life, but somehow things work out and ultimately we get what we need. At least in the midst of trials, it’s nice to hear someone else tell you such sage words of advice.
Who hasn’t felt their spirits rise as the result of hearing the refrain of Bobby McFerrin’s Don’t Worry, Be Happy. The song was worn out in it day, but only because it was so therapeutic to it’s listeners who longed to be uplifted and encouraged.
Weezer’s hit the big time in 1994 with Undone – The Sweater Song. 1994 was a hard year for me, kind of like last year, and that song really hit home. I felt like I was unraveling little by little. Thankfully I’m starting to feel better. But my point is that Weezer really seemed to be able to put into a song the way I was feeling. Here is a case where a song can make one feel good and bad all at the same time. “If you want to destroy my sweater, pull this thread as I walk away, watch me unravel I’ll soon be naked, Lying on the floor, I’ve come undone.” Now those are insightful lyrics. It’s funny to talk about a sweater unraveling, but the imagery is unique.
Finally, James Taylor on his album Sweet Baby James sings about the loss of a friend in his song Fire and Rain. Part of it is a story about a friend, Suzanne, who committed suicide while he was in London. His friends didn’t tell him about the suicide for six months for fear it would shake him up. You can feel the regret in his voice at this loss. “I’ve seen fire, and I’ve seen rain, I’ve seen sunny days that I thought would never end. I’ve seen lonely times when I could not find a friend, But I always thought that I would see you again.”
Where would we be without music…and where would we be without good food? I’m going to go finish my chocolate shake.
The Bush from the Black Lagoon (minus the Black Lagoon)
Written by jamesb on August 11th, 2008
Since moving into our house in 2005 I have been haunted by a monster. 
But this summer the monster was cut to the ground and hauled away in little pieces. (I wonder if I’ve been reading too much Steven King?)
The monster that had haunted my dreams for 3 years was a pyracantha (firethorn) bush that measured 75 feet wide, 18 feet deep (to the fence) and more than 20 feet high. Presumable planted when the house was built in 1960, the bush had more than 40 years to amass it’s hold on my backyard.
We attempted to get bids from experts trained to deal with green pests and garden giants. One yellowpage add said, “no job too big or too small.” He would not even give us a price quote, nor would anyone else. I note now that his ad did not say, “no job too scary.”
So in mid June, with chainsaw in hand and a 40 foot dumpster on the way, a select group of brave comrads and I (family and neighbors) slew the monster and chipped it’s remains into a million little pieces. The battle was won, the foe has been vanquished.
What worries me is what lies under the ground. The battle was won, but what of the war? Already I see signs of life. Ever see Tremors?
The Price of Magic
Written by jamesb on August 3rd, 2008
What’s The Price of Magic? It’s a “game” or exercise taught by Orson Scott Card at a writing class I attended in San Diego recently. The purpose of which is to define rules of a fantasy world where magic is possible. For magic to be possible, there is bound to be a price.
Uncle Orson’s writing class was a wonderful two day course that finished off my relaxing Southern California trip. The class was more than inspiring, it gave me some real world experience with the writing process.
OSC talked about everything from characterization and viewpoint to submitting manuscripts. It was fun and fascinating to learn from someone so intelligent and prolific. When I read OSC’s books I’m always amazed at his understanding of human nature. For anyone interested in the writing process, I highly recommend his class. Maybe if he does one next year I’ll try for his boot camp, an extended course whepre you write a complete story under his tutalage. Sounds fun, huh!?! What’s the price of magic? $175 and two days with a master of his craft.
Home:Theater
Written by jamesb on May 28th, 2008I’ve been meaning to make this post for several months now It just took me a while to get around to it. (Or to get a “round tuit” as my mother used to say…never did figure out what a round tuit was, but wouldn’t you know it, they sell them on online.) Anyway, already off topic.
Last December I started turning my living room into a home theater room. It was a big project, but it turned out nice! It’s wonderful to be able to watch a movie on my own 150″ screen. It has almost all the benefits of being at a movie theater, without the drawback. Plus a few advantages such as pause, rewind, subtitles, light control, etc.
I was going to put a picture of a kitty, or a T-Rex on the screen, but I didn’t get around to it.
The wall of my home theater screen all taped off and ready to paint. The screen is 150″ diagonal, I could have gone 170″, but then I wouldn’t have room for the speakers on the side, and the electrical plugs at the bottom would have been in the way.
I applied the special screen paint that I purchased from DIY Projection Screens.
The finished project. I have the room lights on and the camera flashed, so the screen is washed out, but in the right conditions, it’s really amazing.
Here is the reverse look. You can see the projector mounted to the ceiling in the top, somewhat to the left.
The projector is the Panasonic PT-AX200U
I'm Burning, I'm Burning, I'm Burning for you!
Written by jamesb on May 14th, 2008
Okay, title is a lame reference to an catchy Blue Oyster Cult song…but it somehow seemed appropriate. You can almost feel the heat coming off those candles. And, yes, There ARE 38 of them. I’ve been saying that I’m 62 this year…since I’ve decided to count backwards. It’s been a birthday full of surprises, one worth remembering!
Looks Are for Free
Written by jamesb on May 1st, 2008
100 Year Picnic, one of my favorite independent bands has released their newest full length release, Tales of a Modern Splash. The album is full of great songs; multi-layered and perfectly textured, each song has it’s own story to tell.One of my favorite songs on the new album is Looks Are for Free. It, like a few other songs on the album has properties that remind me of the Beatles, though to call Jeff Greeneberg and Edwin Pierce another John and George would be to misunderstand their motives. 100 Year Picnic’s music is mostly based around their families that they both love and tolerate, and this can be seen in their songs.Another favorite from the album is Isolation, an alt country ditty that paints a picture of a run down yard and a neglected relationship. The chorus is full of truth:
She said, you and your isolation,What are you trying to escape from,Can’t stand to walk away,So let me back into your life,It takes two to make one wrong thing right.
Don’t miss the song, Come On. It’s about living life to its fullest. It’s wonderful. I’m sure that I’ll have Tales Of A Modern Splash on my mp3 player quite a bit this year.BTW: one of my all time favorite songs is also by 100 Year Picnic, It’s called Mary Faye Tucker. It’s the story of an annoying sales-person selling resort timeshares.Enjoy! Life’s a 100 year picnic…
Simple Together
Written by jamesb on April 8th, 2008
I was sadly mistaken that I would have my ‘93 Pathfinder forever. Actually, I still have it, but just upgraded to this new ‘08 Toyota Yaris for my daily commute. The color is said to be “olive mist”. To me is just a nice shade of green. I like green. Some people would even say I look good in green. At 35 miles per gallon, I’m saving over $100 a month in green gas money and I’m living a little more green to help the environment. I didn’t go for anything fancy. It has just about manual everything…locks, windows, breaks…I like simple. Together I hope we have many happy miles going down life’s highways.
Book: The Penal Colony by Richard Herley
Written by jamesb on March 16th, 2008
I just finished reading The Penal Colony this morning. I started reading it Wednesday and had a difficult time putting it down. It’s a fast read and a great story. I’ve been simultaneously reading another book, but this one clearly held my attention. The great thing about this book is that the author, Richard Herley only asks you to pay him if you enjoy the book. I sent him my payment a few minutes ago. It came out to about $2 U.S.
Here is the book synopsis from his website:
It is 1997. The British government now runs island prison colonies to take dangerous offenders from its overcrowded mainland jails.
Among all these colonies, Sert, 25 miles off the north Cornish coast, has the worst reputation. There are no warders. Satellite technology is used to keep the convicts under watch. New arrivals are dumped by helicopter and must learn to survive as best they can.
To Sert, one afternoon in July, is brought Anthony John Routledge, sentenced for a sex-murder he did not commit.
Routledge knows he is here for ever. And he knows he must quickly forget the rules of civilized life.
But not all the islanders are savages. Under the charismatic leadership of one man a community has evolved. A community with harsh and unyielding rules, peopled by resourceful men for whom the hopeless dream of escape may not be so hopeless after all …
The story is one that fascinated me from the start. With the state of the prison system in the U.S., I have naturally wondered what would happen if convicts were placed on an island to work things out for themselves. This is a fascinating study into human nature and the nature of civilization in a vacuum. It also makes one grateful for many significant and insignificant luxuries we live with each day.
As for the writing and the story, you can’t ask for more. Mr. Herley is a writer in charge of his craft. The plot progresses steadily and the characters are developed carefully and expertly. I like a story that has deep and meaningful characters.
Again from the website, a note about age appropriateness:
The Penal Colony is exceedingly violent, although the worst is not so much described as alluded to. It also deals with homosexual rape and other matters which are best left to an adult sensibility: the book is not suitable for children.
This statement makes it sound worse than it is. Truly, this is not a kids book, but Mr. Herley handles the situation in the book with careful sensibility. Nothing is said for the shock factor as much as to paint a clear picture of what would probably be.
Book: Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Written by jamesb on February 28th, 2008
I bought Pillars of the Earth before I knew that is was Oprah’s Book Club pick for January…honestly! But I’m not sorry I did. It’s a great book full of all the elements of a great story. Ken Follett finished it in 1989, and it’s popularity has been growing for years through word of mouth.
Ken Follett has long been fascinated with the cathedrals of Europe, but it takes a work of genius to make others fall in love with those same ideas through the use of fictional characters in the middle ages.
He spins a wonderful tale of hardship and passion. His characters are truly believable; all have strengths and weaknesses and no one is perfect. Certainly, some are closer to perfection than others, but he doesn’t hide people faults and short comings. Maybe that is what I like best. The book also makes me thankful for everything we have in our modern age, especially the things we take for granted like food, security, compassion and reinforced steal.