Just saw Quantum of Solace with the family. I don't think any of us understood what the hell was going on but it was good Bondy fun. I didn't like the direction during the action scenes. The cuts were too fast. Otherwise, I did like the direction. We got to see snapshots of the civilians going about life or being affected by the craziness and violence going on around them. Not a lot, but enough to get a sense of people and place outside of Bond himself.
I found myself thinking outside the film a lot. I kept looking at the two-bit bodyguards that would go after Bond and I would think, "What are you, crazy, fellas? That's James fucking Bond! In the world of these films he is the deadliest man alive! To take a phrase from Michael Caine, why don't you just lie down?"
The other thing, and I know this is stupid, I started wrestling with the continuity. This Judi Dench M was around for his last adventures, but also his first, after the cold war but also before (or is it before?). Like I said I know it's stupid. These are movies, the land of make-believe, just shut up and watch.
There was a nice little Goldfinger nod in this one. And what's the matter with the title? Some dinks have complained about it. Who cares? You can have a James Bond movie that doesn't have "kill," "die" or "gold" in the title. It's not like it was called "Tea at Rosemary's Cottage." Stop being dumb.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Saturday, November 29, 2008
The Chase Is On!
I probably should mention that my ankle works again. It was fine after a good night's sleep. The boy and I just spent an hour and a half catching up with our cakewrecks posts and now I'm fried. It's 1:30 am and the boy is wired after much napping today. Joy.
And hey, big thanks to Cronan for being my one and only follower! You rock! Now please, everyone, click the little "follower" clicky to the left so he doesn't get lonely over there. You can hear the echo in this place.
I see this cover all the time at the job and I could just think, "Gee, that's pretty stupid," but what I always think is, "Holy shit! That's one hell of a chase!" I mean, if you're chasing someone underwater, in a train, with a steam engine - off the track! - then Jesus Christ, you've got yourself a chase! There ain't no stoppin' you my friend. That's sheer dogged determination. What the hell can't you do! I mean how the hell could Cussler possibly follow this up? A snake on a unicycle in outer space?
And the light on the engine is still working, which is nice. You know, so you don't hit a fish or anything.
And hey, big thanks to Cronan for being my one and only follower! You rock! Now please, everyone, click the little "follower" clicky to the left so he doesn't get lonely over there. You can hear the echo in this place.
I see this cover all the time at the job and I could just think, "Gee, that's pretty stupid," but what I always think is, "Holy shit! That's one hell of a chase!" I mean, if you're chasing someone underwater, in a train, with a steam engine - off the track! - then Jesus Christ, you've got yourself a chase! There ain't no stoppin' you my friend. That's sheer dogged determination. What the hell can't you do! I mean how the hell could Cussler possibly follow this up? A snake on a unicycle in outer space?
And the light on the engine is still working, which is nice. You know, so you don't hit a fish or anything.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
My Little Hunter
The boy and I spent Thanksgiving at the wife's house. She stuffed us magnificently as usual. I got in a little golf on the Wii and dragged my score down. I'm out of practice, but at least I'm still pro.
We watched the new Futurama movie, Bender's Game. I'm sure there'll be a lot of haters out there like for the last one, but I loved it. It had a Dungeons & Dragons theme as the ads made clear, but they didn't spend as much time in the fantasy setting as I thought they would. Lots of Lord of the Rings jokes, D&D jokes and an inordinate amount of dwarf-eating. The family mostly slept through it as I laughed.
After my nap, I got up to see that my wife and her dog were gone. My dog, Cutie (I didn't name her), was whining to go out so I took her out and she struggled to run as she always does. She's a hunter and I assumed that she was on the scent of my wife, daughter and their pug, Pepper. I figured we'd catch up fast so I jogged behind her (as best I could). They weren't to be found right away, but I knew the dog was on the case.
She's the kind of dog that can take care of herself if left to her own devices. Years ago, when we would let her run loose, I'd find pieces of rabbit in the front yard. She ate well. She's almost ten, but she's got a clean bill of health from the vet and she's young at heart. I trusted her. We searched.
My wife sometimes takes rather long walks, so I wasn't put off by the lengthening journey. I kept thinking that we were about to find them around the next corner and my wife would say, "How did you find us here?" and I'd point proudly to my dog and say, "She tracked you here!" My wife would say, "No way." And I would say, "Yeah way." And then my wife would be so impressed that she'd call her sister on the other side of the state and her mother in Brooklyn and tell them about my incredible dog and they would be equally impressed.
We probably got past the mile and a half mark when I realized that Cutie had brought us around in a small loop and into a new direction I didn't think my wife would take. I checked the next street sign, walked a little farther and looked down at the dog.
"Bitch, you don't know where the fuck you're going, do you?" I said. She sniffed and tried to keep on. "No, I'm taking over now," I said and we made our way back. It was dark, it was cold (yes, it was only Florida cold, but if you live here for twenty years, it's the same as regular cold), and all I was thinking was, They're all just going to laugh at us now. My wife, my daughter, her sister, her mother, maybe even the pug. Cutie had seemed so confident!
Finally we got back. My wife said she had just walked around the corner, sans daughter, maybe two blocks away and come back, surprised we were gone.
My little hunter.
Now I walk and walk and walk, it's been part of my job for years. I can walk for miles and it doesn't bother me. But on this excursion, I moved pretty quickly, using my muscles in a running way more than a walking way, so three miles or so have messed me up. For some reason my left ankle told me to go screw. It doesn't hurt, but it doesn't want to bend upwards any more, either. So I've been walking around like some sort moronic monster movie creature for the last four hours, having to lift my leg up more than normal to move my foot forward. My wife and daughter got good laughs. Not Futurama type laughs, but good just the same. Here's hoping I'll be closer to normal in the morning.
We watched the new Futurama movie, Bender's Game. I'm sure there'll be a lot of haters out there like for the last one, but I loved it. It had a Dungeons & Dragons theme as the ads made clear, but they didn't spend as much time in the fantasy setting as I thought they would. Lots of Lord of the Rings jokes, D&D jokes and an inordinate amount of dwarf-eating. The family mostly slept through it as I laughed.
After my nap, I got up to see that my wife and her dog were gone. My dog, Cutie (I didn't name her), was whining to go out so I took her out and she struggled to run as she always does. She's a hunter and I assumed that she was on the scent of my wife, daughter and their pug, Pepper. I figured we'd catch up fast so I jogged behind her (as best I could). They weren't to be found right away, but I knew the dog was on the case.
She's the kind of dog that can take care of herself if left to her own devices. Years ago, when we would let her run loose, I'd find pieces of rabbit in the front yard. She ate well. She's almost ten, but she's got a clean bill of health from the vet and she's young at heart. I trusted her. We searched.
My wife sometimes takes rather long walks, so I wasn't put off by the lengthening journey. I kept thinking that we were about to find them around the next corner and my wife would say, "How did you find us here?" and I'd point proudly to my dog and say, "She tracked you here!" My wife would say, "No way." And I would say, "Yeah way." And then my wife would be so impressed that she'd call her sister on the other side of the state and her mother in Brooklyn and tell them about my incredible dog and they would be equally impressed.
We probably got past the mile and a half mark when I realized that Cutie had brought us around in a small loop and into a new direction I didn't think my wife would take. I checked the next street sign, walked a little farther and looked down at the dog.
"Bitch, you don't know where the fuck you're going, do you?" I said. She sniffed and tried to keep on. "No, I'm taking over now," I said and we made our way back. It was dark, it was cold (yes, it was only Florida cold, but if you live here for twenty years, it's the same as regular cold), and all I was thinking was, They're all just going to laugh at us now. My wife, my daughter, her sister, her mother, maybe even the pug. Cutie had seemed so confident!
Finally we got back. My wife said she had just walked around the corner, sans daughter, maybe two blocks away and come back, surprised we were gone.
My little hunter.
Now I walk and walk and walk, it's been part of my job for years. I can walk for miles and it doesn't bother me. But on this excursion, I moved pretty quickly, using my muscles in a running way more than a walking way, so three miles or so have messed me up. For some reason my left ankle told me to go screw. It doesn't hurt, but it doesn't want to bend upwards any more, either. So I've been walking around like some sort moronic monster movie creature for the last four hours, having to lift my leg up more than normal to move my foot forward. My wife and daughter got good laughs. Not Futurama type laughs, but good just the same. Here's hoping I'll be closer to normal in the morning.
Bonk Bonk On The Head
If you know Star Trek, you know Miri. And if you know Miri, you know "Bonk Bonk on the Head." Here's a video by The No Kill I, a Star Trek punk band. Again, if you know, you know the Horta and if you know the Horta . . .
The vid was edited and posted on youtube by fellow sofanaught, Church H. Tucker. I had no idea he'd done it and found it quite by accident looking for my favorite Star Trek quote of all time, "No blah blah blah!" A great vid and a great song. Enjoy!
The vid was edited and posted on youtube by fellow sofanaught, Church H. Tucker. I had no idea he'd done it and found it quite by accident looking for my favorite Star Trek quote of all time, "No blah blah blah!" A great vid and a great song. Enjoy!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
StarShipSofa - Aural Delights No. 52
The StarShipSofa is proud to present an Elric story by . . . Well, the guy who writes Elric stories! Michael Moorcock on Aural Delights No. 52. Blast off!
Aural Delights No 52 MichaelMoorcock
Editorial: Tony C Smith
Poetry:Cabazon by Samantha Henderson
Flash Fiction: Godzilla’s 12 Step Program by Joe R Lansdale
Fact: Science News by JJ Campanella
SF ART: StarShipSofa Art Cover No 1 by Skeet
Main Fiction: Portrait in Ivory by Michael Moorcock
Narrators: Julie Davis, Larry Santoro, Grant Stone
www.starshipsofa.com
Follow The Blog
Check out the new little clicky over to the left and follow this blog. Do it fast so I don't feel like that pathetic kid, all alone at his own birthday party.
And thank you.
And thank you.
Baby Steps
But in the right direction.
Florida Gay Adoption Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/25/florida-gay-adoption-ban_n_146323.html
Florida Gay Adoption Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/25/florida-gay-adoption-ban_n_146323.html
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
For Me To Know And For You To Find Out
Here's an odd little thing to heap atop the mountain of odd little things that make my psychology: For the past few months I've found that if I tell people what I'm working on (literarily speaking), I end up not doing it.
I used to be a self-help freak, reading all the books, stopping well short of actually doing anything, but I read again and once more that you should never tell people what you're going to do because it sucks all the energy out of it for you. Now I never bought into the magical aspects of the modern self-help movement, but I believed that a lot of the mumbo jumbo parts could easily be reinterpreted as the workings of the subconscious mind. Have I lost any of you yet? When did you give up on this post to check your e-mail for the hundredth time?
Anywho, I think that telling people what I'm working on might fill a psychological need for me that fulfills the same role as the need to show the work itself. If I want to write my story about the Jolly Green Giant and his penchant for wearing women's underwear, telling you that I'm doing it might satisfy my brain as much as actually writing it and showing it to you. So the thrill is gone and I am left a husk.
What I don't know is why this started happening only recently, or maybe it happened and I hadn't noticed it, hence my struggles with my archenemy, Process Five.
In summary I won't be telling you what I'm working on anymore. I'll just tell you when I've finished something, sent it out or had it published. We'll see how that works.
I used to be a self-help freak, reading all the books, stopping well short of actually doing anything, but I read again and once more that you should never tell people what you're going to do because it sucks all the energy out of it for you. Now I never bought into the magical aspects of the modern self-help movement, but I believed that a lot of the mumbo jumbo parts could easily be reinterpreted as the workings of the subconscious mind. Have I lost any of you yet? When did you give up on this post to check your e-mail for the hundredth time?
Anywho, I think that telling people what I'm working on might fill a psychological need for me that fulfills the same role as the need to show the work itself. If I want to write my story about the Jolly Green Giant and his penchant for wearing women's underwear, telling you that I'm doing it might satisfy my brain as much as actually writing it and showing it to you. So the thrill is gone and I am left a husk.
What I don't know is why this started happening only recently, or maybe it happened and I hadn't noticed it, hence my struggles with my archenemy, Process Five.
In summary I won't be telling you what I'm working on anymore. I'll just tell you when I've finished something, sent it out or had it published. We'll see how that works.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Meet Me On The Sofa
I'm on the StarShipSofa this week with Fiction Crawler #3. Aural Delights No. 51. Blast off!
And here are the links to the great stories I mention on the show:
Night of the Living POTUS by Adam-Troy Castro
Aural Delights No 51 Jeff VanderMeer
Poem: Fading Signals by Mikal Trimm
Flash Fiction: The Pilots by L. E. Modesitt Jr
Fact: Fiction Crawler No 3 Matthew Sanborn Smith
New Titles: Charles Stross, Christopher Moore, Russell Kirkpatrick
Main Fiction: The Third Bear by Jeff VanderMeer
Narrators: Diane Severson, Travis Kennedy, Mark Nelson
This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com. Download a free audiobook of your choice today at audiblepodcast.com/sofa
www.starshipsofa.comAnd here are the links to the great stories I mention on the show:
Night of the Living POTUS by Adam-Troy Castro
Shibuya no Love by Hannu Rajaniemi
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Another Bullshit Night in Suck City
Only one of the best book titles ever! And you thought the title of this post referred to my life. It could, yes, but I didn't mean it that way.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
The Good, The Bad and The Ukulele
Morricone's The Good, The Bad and The Ugly performed by the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
StarShipSofa: Aural Delights No. 50
This week the StarShipSofa proudly presents Aural Delights No. 50. Blast off!
Aural Delights No 50 Paul di Filippo
Poem: Cinderella's Funeral by Samantha Henderson
Flash Fiction: Fork Bomb by Sebastien Cevey
Fact: Plot Part 2 Terry Edge
Article: SF Signal by John DeNardo
Main Fiction: Escape From New Austin by Paul di Filppo
Narrators: Amy H Sturgis Ray Sizemore Julie Davis
www.starshipsofa.com
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
We're not All Equal Yet
Obama's win was historic and uplifting and all that good stuff. When you look at the black experience in America today compared to fifty years ago, the progress is astounding. It's a great thing for America.
However . . .
What's not such a great thing is the ass-kicking that human rights in America took last night. Gay and lesbian marriage was banned in California, Arizona and Florida. In Arkansas it's no longer legal for same sex couples to adopt or take in foster children. That asterisk next to the word "free" in "the land of the free"? It's still there.
We grew up a little last night but we still have a lot of growing up to do. Please write to your people in Congress.
However . . .
What's not such a great thing is the ass-kicking that human rights in America took last night. Gay and lesbian marriage was banned in California, Arizona and Florida. In Arkansas it's no longer legal for same sex couples to adopt or take in foster children. That asterisk next to the word "free" in "the land of the free"? It's still there.
We grew up a little last night but we still have a lot of growing up to do. Please write to your people in Congress.
StarShipSofa: Aural Delights No. 48
StarShipSofa is proud to present the lost episode, Aural Delights No. 48! Blast off!
Aural Delights No 48 Gord Seller
Poem: Clockmakers Wife by Mikal Trimm
Flash Fiction: UFO by A Bertram Chandler
Book Review: Sean Keogh:
Fact: Arkham House Sample by Amy H Sturgis
Main Fiction: Dhuluma by Gord Seller
Narrators: Diane Serverson, David Munger Dale Manly
This podcast is brought to you by Audible.com. Download a free audiobook of your choice today at audiblepodcast.com/sofa
www.starshipsofa.com
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Welcome to StarShipSofer!
That's my boy! Young Ian Alexander Sanborn Smith can be heard on the intro and the outro of StarShipSofa No. 101, the Bruce Sterling show. Give it a listen:
http://cdn3.libsyn.com/starshipsofa/StarShipSofa_No_101_Bruce_Sterling.mp3?nvb=20081103040526&nva=20081104040526&t=0ac8c2bfc21c40a867b3a
On the NaNoWriMo front, I'm currently at 5,444 words, most of them crap, but there have been a few good ideas peppered here and there. I'm hoping for at least one or two stories to come from it that I can really be proud of.
http://cdn3.libsyn.com/starshipsofa/StarShipSofa_No_101_Bruce_Sterling.mp3?nvb=20081103040526&nva=20081104040526&t=0ac8c2bfc21c40a867b3a
On the NaNoWriMo front, I'm currently at 5,444 words, most of them crap, but there have been a few good ideas peppered here and there. I'm hoping for at least one or two stories to come from it that I can really be proud of.
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