Thursday, October 03, 2013

R.I.P.

R.I.P.
The Writing Life II
2006-2013


As part of the personal and professional downsizing I've been doing for some months now, I am bringing this blog to an end but keeping it online as an archive. I'll continue literary blogging at A Writerly Retirement. Now you see him, now you don't.



You will follow. You must, for I have a parting gesture in mind but it depends on your following in order to make sense, and I give no value (absolutely none!) to gestures which do not make sense. You will follow and so I say, Welcome, my friend, Welcome to the Valley of the Waters of Fire, where you will be consumed. And sooner than you think, even as I will be consumed sooner than I think, since we all get tired of waiting and jump from the rope in the end. As we fall our hands trail over our heads, making the hand the last organ to go and the appropriate vehicle for whatever parting gesture can be mustered by flesh heated in agony. What do you think it will be, my friend? An erect middle finger? Perhaps you'll be surprised. I may give you the flat palm of my hand, raised horizontally to cushion your own fall, which so quickly follows mine. But hurry! For I am burning.

Very sad

UCLA plays tonight

Thursday night football of special interest to me. Before then, will make a batch of scrapple using the leftover brother from yesterday's Bowl of the Soup of the Wife of Kit Carson, which was first rate! This is a fine soup: make turkey broth from scratch, then filter and add back the turkey, garbonzo beans, avacado slices and cheese squares (melted in broth). Man! Been a specialty of mine since I discovered it in grad school. Can't resist the name, of course.

Haven't made scrapple with a turkey broth base before ... curious how it turns out.

Playoffs in baseball have started, too, so I have lots of sports diversion from the utter madness of the news cycle.

I started watching Dark Skies last night, which I got because I admire the novel I'm reading by the creator of the 90s TV series, which I missed when it came out. So far, so good ... not great but entertaining.

Need to catch up on writing things tomorrow. I am making a lot of grunt work progress here in the office, which is nice.

How the Shutdown Is Devastating Biomedical Scientists and Killing Their Research - Wired Science

How the Shutdown Is Devastating Biomedical Scientists and Killing Their Research - Wired Science:

'via Blog this'

Oregon Poetic Voices- Charles Deemer

Oregon Poetic Voices- Charles Deemer:

'via Blog this'

Human Assault Pushes Ocean to Limit Unseen in 300 Million Years | Common Dreams

Human Assault Pushes Ocean to Limit Unseen in 300 Million Years | Common Dreams:

"'We are entering an unknown territory of marine ecosystem change,' warns report. 'The next mass extinction may have already begun.'"

Is this a horse race? Do we destroy ourselves by immediate political stupidity or will Nature do the job for us, consequences from earlier arrogance?

Are the Republicans Crazy? No! | Kathleen Reardon

Are the Republicans Crazy? No! | Kathleen Reardon:

"The Republicans have chosen not to be good, not to be fair, not to be rational in the common sense of these words. The needs of the "folks" pale by comparison to the distributive demands of the moment. Since they can't win -- and since where they have positioned themselves anything less than a win is a shameful loss -- they have chosen to bring the game to a halt. Their goal is to "win" by disallowing a win by the opposition and then to worry about explanations later."

...The ball in not only in their court right now, they think they own it. Laugh as we might at the ludicrous nature of their behavior, they aren't playing to the same audience as Democrats. They're in an entirely different theater. The show is underway. The die is cast. Now all they care about is how they look on TV.

Oops, missed!


Daily Kos: Poll: Tea party approves Republican shutdown, everyone else disapproves

Daily Kos: Poll: Tea party approves Republican shutdown, everyone else disapproves:

'via Blog this'

Tea Party Reality

 When I was a freshman at Cal Tech, we had an incredible, creative final in our Physics class. You are an astronaut and have landed on a distant planet. Here, the laws of nature on Earth are different. Instead of F = ma, for example, here F = ma^2 ... and so on. All the basic equations describing physical reality were different! Our job was to express the new planet's various physical laws, changed by and derived from these differences. It was a challenge for us but also a lot of fun because it was so creative.

I think the Tea Party lives on such a distant planet where the laws and principles of LOGIC are different from what is established here on Earth. They are, in other words, aliens in the realm of logical discourse.Maybe someone can figure out their new reality.

Meet Butch Matthews, A Republican Who Came To Love Obamacare After Realizing It Will Save Him $13,000 | ThinkProgress

Meet Butch Matthews, A Republican Who Came To Love Obamacare After Realizing It Will Save Him $13,000 | ThinkProgress:

"But after doing a little research, Matthews eventually realized how much the law could help him. And on Tuesday, his local Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) provider confirmed that he would be able to buy a far better plan than his current policy while saving at least $13,000 per year through Arkansas’ Obamacare marketplace."

'via Blog this'

Hanging out

Yesterday after taking H to PT, instead of reading in the waiting room I drove to a nearby Starbucks, got my ritual iced coffee and ... hung out. I love hanging out. I especially liked hanging out when my two best friends were alive, hanging with either (never together: my two best friends hated one another!). This was more fun because of all the laughter. We were on the same wave length with a dark comic view of the world and things cracked us up that others would ignore. Man., we laughed a lot! Between discussing literature, etc, solving the world's problems, etc, going from bar to bar in our drinking days, coffee shop to coffee shop when we were older and a tad saner, but these were great shared times and we could communicate almost through thought waves. I really miss that. D has been dead 15 years now, G a decade. I could do the same thing with L in Los Angeles if we lived in the same town. That's about it. Sometimes I think Sketch is almost on my wave length ha ha. Or maybe it's the other way around.

So I do my hanging out solo these days. But not often.

Good question

Why Are There Still So Few Women in Science? http://zite.to/18T9oIu

What actresses go through

Jennifer Lawrence 'told to diet' to save career http://zite.to/1aNSxs4

Demon of self-promotion

Franzen: writers 'coerced' into social media http://zite.to/GAJGQU

What a different world! Young today, I can't imagine becoming a writer, other than privately. So much disrespect for content. So much hype and bullshit.

Cal Tech #1

Caltech, Oxford and Harvard lead world university rankings

http://gu.com/p/3j8ne

Wednesday, October 02, 2013

Spiritual equation

Homer + Lombardo + Iliad = Sanity in an insane world

Happy birthday, Graham Greene!


Should have been given the Nobel Prize.

Have they no shame? Nope.

Exceptional, yep

World baffled by America's self-inflicted wound http://zite.to/15JD7GU

Surreal

These Republicans In Congress Really Hope You'll Forget The Government Shutdown Is Their Fault http://zite.to/170In3d

Storm the White House!

Mothers whose kids are being deprived of health and nutritional benefits lead the march, followed by at least a million citizens being hurt by this immoral ideological posturing. At root, this is founded in the blatant racism of birthers. You can't convince me otherwise. Fed by the chickenshit shameful Republican leadership. To the streets! Don't let them get away with this racist hatred of Obama.

But actually this won't happen. Pardon the fantasy.

Bowl of the soup of the wife of Kit Carson

Cooking therapy. First step, fresh turkey broth, which takes all afternoon. Perfect.

Fracking and other obscenities

Dangerous levels of radioactivity found at fracking waste site in Pennsylvania

http://gu.com/p/3j89b

The game is called marketing

Guerrilla Screenwriting: PowerPoint Presentation For Movie Financing http://zite.to/1fJ1lW8

I had an indie producer believe in a splay of mine so much she optioned it annually for five years ... I made good 5 digits on this ... she finally had enough investors lined up ... done deal she told me ... breakfast meeting in Vegas to sign papers ... then she made a newbie mistake and told too much ... she had packaged Jennifer O'Neill (sp?) for the lead, great choice artistically ... but she had several MOWs that bombed ... this was her comeback ... an investor got scared, I ain't paying for no comeback! Then another. Poof! the entire deal crashed! That easily and quickly. Producer never recovered. End of story.

This is relevant because she had regular dog and pony show in pre power point days, poster, original music. She spent a ton out of pocket in marketing this to investors. Watching her, I knew I could never be a producer.

Mum's the word!

Are You Unwittingly Sabotaging Yourself by Talking About Your Writing? http://zite.to/16gEpI5

"The problem is, if you spend too much time talking about your story or blog or other writing plans, you’re likely to find that your writing energy dissipates."

Votes are there!

The Two Basic Facts That Should Be in Every Shutdown Story http://zite.to/19kSuR2

The new civil war

America’s Long-Simmering, Semi-Civil Civil War http://zite.to/16gD1F9

Tuesday, October 01, 2013

Day 1

Great start to my class. No complaints.

Quotation of the day

" ...there is something more here. How does one party that has lost two presidential elections and a Supreme Court case – as well as two Senate elections - think it has the right to shut down the entire government and destroy the full faith and credit of the United States Treasury to get its way on universal healthcare now? I see no quid pro quo even. Just pure blackmail, resting on understandable and predictable public concern whenever a major reform is enacted. But what has to be resisted is any idea that this is government or politics as usual. It is an attack on the governance and the constitutional order of the United States." --Andrew Sullivan

Timothy Leary's Transformation From Scientist to Psychedelic Celebrity - Wired Science

Timothy Leary's Transformation From Scientist to Psychedelic Celebrity - Wired Science:

'via Blog this'

Guess who still gets paid?


Quotation of the month

Fellow from New Zealand on bombing after a big lead to lose the America's Cup ... "You won the cup but we have free health care!"

CNN Host Asks GOP Representatives Whether They'd Give Up Their Salary During A Shutdown, Hilarity Ensues | ThinkProgress

CNN Host Asks GOP Representatives Whether They'd Give Up Their Salary During A Shutdown, Hilarity Ensues | ThinkProgress:

'via Blog this'

Just 30 Out Of 233 House Republicans Actually Want The Shutdown Fight | ThinkProgress

Just 30 Out Of 233 House Republicans Actually Want The Shutdown Fight | ThinkProgress:

Tells you something.

Obamacare Enrollment Is Beating Expectations | ThinkProgress

Obamacare Enrollment Is Beating Expectations | ThinkProgress:

Anything to piss off the Tea Party, man, ha ha.

PHOTOS: World War II Veterans Force Open WWII Memorial During Shutdown | ThinkProgress

PHOTOS: World War II Veterans Force Open WWII Memorial During Shutdown | ThinkProgress:

'via Blog this'

For the last time ...

In my office for the new term. It occurred to me, everything this year is "for the last time", i.e. my last "first day of a fall term" and so forth. I want to make sure I appreciate it. This term might be more fun than I was thinking a few days ago, when I was wondering if I stayed on one year too long. Nope. I am going to have fun this year and maybe teach some future screenwriters to boot.

It is REALLY nice that L. got her for-hire gig at my recommendation, and with a much better contract that I expected she'd get. Five digits. Nice. Better than most of my for-hire gigs in the 80s. I did half a dozen, only one more lucrative than what she is getting.

School of hard knocks for her: working with a producer who has very strong opinions about the story. Usually such notions look at the small picture, and she has to make it work within the big picture. She can do it. Moreover, she is taking a work study while she is doing it, so I can give her feedback. But the producer is boss, that's the real trick, especially when he wants somethiing that will do more harm than good. Happens often.

Only have to go downstairs for my class this term. No long hikes like two terms ago.

I look forward to this year of transition. Amen.

Getting ready: JFK assassination 50 years later

4 essential books of the event, 1 thought-provoking read, 1 poem and a ballad.

1. Who Really Killed Kennedy? Recent overview of the various theories, what we know, what is speculation, good overview.

2. Trauma Room One. Most important book establishing a conspiracy, i.e. the medical evidence, more than one shooter, medical cover  up. Written by doctor who was there.

3. JFK and the Unspeakable. A religious scholar puts the assassination in international and moral contexts.

4. Mary's Mosaic. Story of one of JFK's lovers. Author, the son of high CIA agent, makes the case against his father and cronies, and he puts the assassination in convincing personal context.

5. Surrounded By Enemies. Gripping political thriller based on concept that JFK survives assassination attempt and fights back.

Here is my Ballad of JFK, which I wrote a few days after the assassination and performed for years thereafter. (To the tune of "Dust Storm Disaster" by Woody Guthrie.)

From In My Old Age ..

American History In My Lifetime

So there was this President
and he actually was going to
change the power structure in
the country, which of course
threatened those who held the
power. They conspired to protect
what they considered theirs
and successfully assassinated
the sonofabitch President who
dared to think he could change
the status quo. They killed the
sonofabitch. They actually did.
And the plan was so good they
even had a fall guy and they
killed him too so he couldn't
talk. And there was so much
dirty laundry everywhere that
an actual honest investigation
was impossible without dire
consequences,"national security"
and all that, so they made
a half-ass investigation they hoped
would put the matter to rest
forever. Unfortunately a few loonies
didn't buy the official results
and investigated on their own
and came up with unbelievable
frightening theories about what
actually happened, which in fact
was pretty close to what happened,
and many people believed them except
for some reason they didn't get
pissed off enough to take to
the streets and demand full
disclosure. Instead they just
shrugged and said, Well politicians lie
and there's nothing to be done
about it. So nothing actually
changed even though many folks
realized they'd been duped.
They went shopping and forgot
about it. And the original
criminals who assassinated the
sonofabitch President in the
first place retained power
and now could relax because
they learned a profound lesson:
in the end shopping wins out
and if you let people shop,
hell, they'll put up with
anything.


Scandanavia rules

The best - and worst - places to grow old are... http://www.cnbc.com/id/101075450

U.S. 8th. I believe it.

Monday, September 30, 2013

Best high school football logo

Orofino Maniacs

Song butchers

Stumbled on Monday Night Football in time to hear 5 seconds of butchering the National Anthem. I didn't have to hear more.

There are two kinds of singers in our culture: those who use a song to show off their voice, and those who use their voice to communicate a song. In our age of hype and packaging over content, the latter is an endangered species.

Lombardo's Homer

"Soldiers sprawled on the ground, closer now to vultures than to their wives." Still listening to, enjoying, impressed by Lombardo reading The Iliad.

Engaging historical speculation

Screenwriter and producer Bryce Zabel (Dark Skies) has written a gripping novel, SURROUNDED BY ENEMIES, based on the premise that JFK survived the assassination attempt in Dallas. Really thought-provoking stuff ... more after I finish. I like it so far.

Stooges film

Three Stooges film discovered in garden shed

http://gu.com/p/3j6d6

War stories


How we made Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

http://gu.com/p/3j6nd

SuperPuddle City

Oregon storm 2013: Portland, Astoria see highest September rainfalls on record http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2013/09/oregon_storm_2013_portland_ast.html

Sanders on health care

A Single-Payer System, Like Medicare, is the Cure for America's Ailing Healthcare | Common Dreams:

"I start my approach to healthcare from two very basic premises. First, healthcare must be recognized as a right, not a privilege. Every man, woman and child in our country should be able to access the healthcare they need regardless of their income. Second, we must create a national healthcare system that provides quality healthcare for all in the most cost-effective way possible."

'via Blog this'

75%

Not running on all cylinders this morning.

The new term begins. A year of transition. Many personal changes ahead.

From bees to us

The Sixth Mass Extinction Is Upon Us: Can Humans Survive? http://disinfo.com/2013/09/sixth-mass-extinction-upon-us-can-humans-survive/

AP

Associated Press Top 25 Poll

Updated: Monday September 30, 2013 01:28 AM
RankTeamRecordVotesPrevious
1Alabama (55)4-01,4951
2Oregon (5)4-01,4222
3Clemson4-01,3543
4Ohio State5-01,3054
5Stanford4-01,2805
6Georgia3-11,1719
7Louisville4-01,0917
8Florida State4-01,0698
9Texas A&M4-11,01210
10LSU4-19796
11Oklahoma4-083814
12UCLA


Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/polls/#ixzz2gNQD1Prf

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Our dismal schools

This Year's SAT Scores Are Out, and They're Grim http://zite.to/1eT2Pfm

Manning breaks record

Thanks a lot, Chip!

Denver is beating you so bad (49-13 early in 4th), TV switched games so I can't watch in awe as Manning picks you apart.

A Sunday poem

http://cdretire.blogspot.com/2013/09/sunday-mourning.html

The Wallowa County Who-Who

I believe this is the last story I published in a print journal, then only because The Portland Review asked for something.

http://cdretire.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-wallowa-county-who-who.html

Nez Perce victory

Climate chills

Quits flying as moral issue

Saturday, September 28, 2013

She got it!

The grad student screenwriter I'm mentoring got the for-hire gig with a very sweet contract. Hey, this makes my last year. So fine.

Tweet trouble

News from @AP: Professors chide KU for sanctions over tweet: http://apne.ws/1aAfLld

TV v. film

Why TV Is Pummeling the Movie Industry http://zite.to/16TKF57

R.I.P.?

New York City Opera near bankruptcy; Kickstarter effort falling short http://zite.to/16TJUc5

College football at its best!

WV upsets Ok St, 30-21, in Morgantown, homecoming, and I heard it on WV radio, first rate old school announcers, exciting to listen to. Doesn't get much better than this.

West Virginia

First rate announcing team! I'll listen to more through the season.

Underdogs

Great fun to listen to underdog's radio station when they are competitive. My morning team ends up being West Virginia, leading Ok St in 2nd. They are excited ... and so am I. Go Mountaineers!

Duh

Screenwriting venues don't like promoting my free tutorial because it competes with (and is superior to!) products they advertise. Makes sense and makes it harder to get the word out.

Football Saturday

Wind and rain outside, good day for the entertaining escape of college football. Navy and Harvard games early, later two good Pac games tonight. UCLA off, plays Thur I think.

I usually don't watch pro ball but tomorrow might watch Denver rip Chip Kelly.

But serious work tomorrow on my last day off from a teaching mentality.

Learn something new

According to the LA Times, Portland is the strip club capital of the world. This came out in an article about a NJ politician having a Twitter flirtation with a lady who works at a VEGAN strip club here. What will they think of next? Guys don't beat their meat, they beat their zucchini?

There are lists and then there are lists

Friday, September 27, 2013

Aristotle riffs

Red = David Mamet
Black = George Cohan
Purple = Contour software
Blue/green = Charles Deemer

Pandora

This is a spectacular music service. I was late to discover it.

Priorities

DC Mayor Declares Libraries “Essential,” Will Stay Open If Government Shuts Down http://zite.to/15zWPzv

Agents

I've had six agents over my half century career. The best was the first, at Fifi Oscard, but she fled the profession in dismay at the corporate hijacking of the arts. The last was a few years ago, a boutique agency trying to sell my screenwriter mystery as a detective series. Thank the gods he failed! Sounds like writing EMPLOYMENT and I've been there, done that.

Right now I couldn't be better off, except financially. I've had a great ride and am still in the saddle. I'd do my "mistakes" all over again because they led to engaging experiences. "It's all material." (Wm Goldman)

Two more martinis over here!


We Are Terrifyingly Close to the Climate's 'Point of No Return' http://zite.to/15AfCjB

Overdrive

The new narrative form is growing on me. When the experiment is done, after I've reshaped stories that already exist, I might continue to add new, original stories to the series. We'll see.

Funk

Thy name is Deemer. Still not in teaching mode. A few days to get there.

I thought old age would be more mellow, more rewarding, slower, warmer, funnier and more coherent.

Overdrive plans

I'd like to add one or two titles a term through the academic year. Next fall I'll bundle 3 stories and begin a series of paperbacks. This should keep me busy with grunt work.

Early chore

Take H to PT first thing in the morning. Trick is to get to work upon return. Easier said than done.

1975: a favorite early short play

The Stiff:  http://cdretire.blogspot.com/2013/09/a-favorite-early-short-play-1975.html

Collapse

Vikings fall apart in second half and lose. Next week to Missoula, another favorite. Lose, which is likely, and it's an 0-2 start in Big Sky.

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Playing great, looking stupid

Portland State, underdogs against ranked Cal Poly, dominated the first half, 21-7. Bad news is they are the latest victims of the Nike Fashion Czars, wearing stupid new uniforms called White Camouflage, which don't hide Nike's bad taste from anyone. For the record, Cal Poly looks like a football team.

Turning off TV to hear 2nd half on radio, even though the announcers are just so-so. Otherwise I might throw up from over-exposure to Fashion.

A favorite early story

In praise of vegetables

In a mood to vegetate, listen to football, VT and later PSU, which also is on TV!, take it easy to discourage a feeling of impending germ attack, a cold coming on, need to be healthy for class next week. Decided.

Trend

Better late than never

George Zimmerman's wife has doubts about his innocence http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/26/justice/shellie-zimmerman-interview/index.html

Noble try

King speaks

Stephen King Hates All the Popular Books Right Now http://zite.to/1dMD2Cm

Fascinating

Six Brilliant Illustrations of Chinese and Western Cultural Differences http://zite.to/1dMCGf1

Dr. Big Brother

All ok, more or less.

Job insecurity

Drip drip

Faux Pause: Ocean Warming, Sea Level Rise And Polar Ice Melt Speed Up, Surface Warming To Follow http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/09/25/2562441/faux-pause-ocean-warming-speed-up/

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

What happened?

Oracle Team USA wins America's Cup http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/25/sport/americas-cup-oracle-team-usa-team-new-zealand/index.html

I watched the race but didn't understand the course or the strategy. Impressive win, down 8-1 before winning 8 straight to get to 9. New Zealand blew it.

Brown at Harvard!

Televised this Saturday! I can get it!

Pdx food rocks

Why Portland's Food Scene is Better Than S.F."s Right Now http://blogs.sfweekly.com/foodie/2013/09/why_portlands_food_scene_is_be.php

New matter created

Ken Burns' Civil War

My run of extraordinary literature continues: rewatching this 1990 masterpiece on my Fire. More intimate and powerful than ever. And so many contemporary echoes! Astounding. And a little sad, how little changes, how little we learn from history.

Saved

America's Cup in San Francisco
I get the cable channel for the yachting final live at one. Perfect timing: I'm in need of mindless diversion.

12/12

Today day and night are each 12 hours long.

Ready to rock

Up early finishing syllabus. Off to copy shop. Not sure I'm ready for this but what can I do?

Mobile screenwriters

If you write screenplays on the move, you don't need a mobile app to get the format right. You can write in anything that saves a text file, import it later and your screenwriting program, like Celtx, will format it for you IF IF IF you use the following rule: disregard all tabs and regard faithfully all vertical spacing.

Thus, on your phone or tablet, a script would look like this:

INT. OFFICE - DAY

Charles at the keyboard on his tablet. A student stands behind him.

CHARLES
We just write as usual without using tabs.

STUDENT
That's awesome.

Charles writes something.

EXT. HOUSE - DAY

Outside the kidnappers take position.

*

Save as .txt text file, import to Celtx or whatever, and the format is reproduced properly. In many ways this is much easier than using the various apps out there. There's nothing to it! Really opens up possibilities.

Stating the obvious

Leading climate change economist brands sceptics 'irrational'

http://gu.com/p/3j3xk

Comebacks

In the America's Cup, New Zealand had it won. Then America won 7 straight races, and now it's down to today, winner take all this afternoon in SF. I don't understand yacht racing but I'll check it out.

This is being called the greatest comeback in the history of sports. Nope. That happened decades ago in Iceland when Bobby Fischer beat Boris Spassky in chess after forfeiting games out of his usual eccentric, arrogant self. My letter about it at the time got published in Sports Illustrated.
1972, Fischer makes move in greatest comeback in history of sports

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Crunch time

A productive day, and I need another tomorrow, focusing on school prep.

Man, summer raced by.

Inequality For All

Robert Reich takes the fight to the streets in a new film. Bill Moyers calls it a game changer. Well ... we'll see.

Banning comments

The Case For Banning Internet Commenters http://zite.to/1eEZJeR

Photos

A century of National Geographic photographs

http://gu.com/p/3j2y2

Underdogs

Finally saw the Akron- Michigan game, down to last play. Sloppy! But exciting because Akron almost won.

Weather and food

Rain and wind. Feels like a good time to make spring rolls for dinner.

Screenwriting reality

About adjuncts

Care over cure

 There's a new movement afoot, centered in Europe, that challenges the "prolonged dying" of mainstream medicine. It emphasizes care over cure, the goal a peaceful transition to natural death. Let it grow!

The next novella in the Overdrive series


An old writer blames his agent for lack of fame and fortune.

'It's Your Fault' Parody Video Takes On India's Rape Culture And Ends Up Going Viral | ThinkProgress

'It's Your Fault' Parody Video Takes On India's Rape Culture And Ends Up Going Viral | ThinkProgress:

"“Let’s face it, ladies — rape is your fault! It all begins with what you wear. Scientific studies suggest that women who wear skirts are the leading cause of rape. You know why? Because men have eyes!”"

Climate Change Devastating Ocean Fisherman: 'Sometimes We'll Catch 5,000 Pounds Of Jellyfish' | ThinkProgress

Climate Change Devastating Ocean Fisherman: 'Sometimes We'll Catch 5,000 Pounds Of Jellyfish' | ThinkProgress:

 "For many U.S. fisherman, there’s no debate about climate change. It’s here, and already majorly impacting their industries."

'via Blog this'

Extraction Extremism: Connecting the Dots on Global Warming | Common Dreams

Extraction Extremism: Connecting the Dots on Global Warming | Common Dreams:

"We can’t burn all the fossil fuels in the ground without destroying the Earth as we know it.  We know that the situation is already bad and it will get worse the longer we continue to burn it. These are simple dots to connect—we need to transition off of fossil fuels, and we need to do it soon.

So to paraphrase Winston Churchill:  If not now, when?  If not us, who?

These dots are connected, and they form a coherent whole and that whole leads straight to the most devastating tragedy humanity has ever faced. The bad news is time is running out; the good news is, we still control a measure of our future. "

'via Blog this'

Interview with Katy Butler

Bookstores

Browsing the bookshop of the future http://zite.to/18SenwM

Monday, September 23, 2013

Elway on Manning

John Elway

Peyton Manning
On the radio pre-game tonight, John Elway talked about Peyton Manning and the incredible start he's having. It's hard to imagine, said Elway, how Manning can improve. This is as good as quarterbacking gets. Quite a tribute.

Book editors

What Ever Happened to Book Editors? http://zite.to/18T3mWc

Caruso, 1904



In his film Match Point, Woody Allen uses this aria to considerable dramatic effect. It may be my favorite Caruso.

Here's Pavarotti:

Cool

Second thoughts on SCREENWRIGHT

When I get down, which happens more often the older I get, I need to read those "ipress clippings." Remarkable.

I kept waitng for a corporation to run with my pedagogical concept and blow me out of the water with an interactive DVD with film clips, interviews with stars, and high production values. Never happened. Still, 16 years later! It still could be done and still would blow away everything out there. SCREENWRITE has no frills, no sex appeal, but you can't beat the content.

It really hasn't been "found" as a free resouce yet. I should publicize it duh. I hate marketing duh. Even when something is free.

At any rate, a dumpy day somewhat improved by those distant, long gone, pats on the back.

Greatest hit

I suppose in numbers of critical and consumer raves, the greatest "hit" of my career is the original 1997 electronic screenwriting tutorial SCREENWRIGHT, which became the basis of my later screenwriting products. You can't do much better than these reviews and testimonials:

Check it out.

Screenwright is now FREE
Yes, FREE!
.

Commerce

Why Fake Reviews Will Never, Ever Go Away http://zite.to/1fv7UsP

Attn: Screenwriters

Attention Screenwriters: Why Your Script Needs Suspense, No Matter What the Genre http://zite.to/16CphRw

Richard Toscan: "American movies are about what happens next."

At the hospital

At the hospital

H getting a follow up ... Listening to Caruso on the Fire in waiting area ... glare on screen, all the windows here, Fire's great weakness.

Published Recovery ... need to choose #9 ... thinking of A Writerly Revenge ... Also need to finish and print syllabus.

Not ready for summer to end. Tough.

LATER. Almost two, finally home but energy shot, doubt if I'll get anything done. Maybe finish Hamlet.

Reading Kindle books

Some folks still don't realize you can read Kindle books on any electronic device (including on your computer). All you need is the appropriate free app.

Select your free app for reading Kindle books.

A Writerly Retirement: At Marie's Memorial

A Writerly Retirement: At Marie's Memorial:

'via Blog this'

STORIES IN OVERDRIVE: new title published

STORIES IN OVERDRIVE: Recovery

'via Blog this'

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Now walk the talk

Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet

Started film, which I'd never seen before. Ah, something else to rave about, delivered with power and integrity. I'm being overwhelmed by extraordinary good works.

Katy Butler

Only one chapter in, I already sense how important this book is, addressing ignored issues important to me for years. "The autumn of natural old age" v. the "prolonged dying" of our times. Butler is the author.

Important new book?


A review suggests "Knocking on Heaven's Door" is a book I've been waiting for. A memoir by a daughter helping her mother get her father's pacemaker turned off because it's keeping him alive as a vegetable. Doctors oppose them every step of the way. She argues we desperately need a new way, a new attitude, of death. Hear, hear! Must check this out.

Fine player

Last week

Only one week before classes start. Where did the summer go?

I wanted to publish the first 3 novellas in the Overdrive series. I am about to release #8.

I wanted to downsize the basement. Barely got started.

Not on the wish list: prepared ms of new book of poems, which Round Bend Press is publishing October 26.

H had successful knee #2 surgery, now in physical therapy.

Not enough summer weather.

R.I.P. Carolyn Cassady

Writer Carolyn Cassady of Beat generation dies http://zite.to/19pDCTC

Maybe

Bigger days ahead for unbeaten Bruins http://zite.to/17TxcN8

If they bring their first Q lethargy to Eugene, by the time they wake up, Nike will be leading 35-0!

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Mantra

Dejavu all over again

Terrible 1st Q for UCLA: lose ball twice in red zone, and Hundley twice misses open receivers for TDs. 28 lost pts.

PSU women runners rule

Portland State Athletics http://www.goviks.com/mobile/index.aspx?story=7859 Sent from Maxthon Mobile


Men runners, too!

Join the APU, join the APU ...

Eureka!

Found a resource for hearing Harvard football games online. They have a bye so I can't test it till next week.

Sex at Amazon

Another reviewer reduced her rating because of "descriptions of sex acts" ... however, there are no such descriptions, there are only MENTIONS of them. Takes all kinds, of course, and Sarah Palin can see Russia from her window, hence is a foreign policy expert. Where are Mencken and Pound when we need them?

A good son

Jack Klugman's Son on Emmy Tribute Omission: 'I Think It's Criminal' http://zite.to/15fZJtd

A rare admission

Utah State announcer about USC defensive line: They're just really good athletes and get there much quicker.

The New Yorker wants to know

Is It O.K. to Watch Football? http://zite.to/19rUVSD

Cannabalism in the NW

Listening to football

Random thoughts

Listening to San Jose State at Minnesota ... close in first quarter ... gray day outside ... Dr. Big Bro is out there ... how long before they monitor more, like the mind, thoughts ... this won't be a hard world to leave ... sad to say but true ... tomorrow need to do final read of Recovery, publish ... finish syllabus ... Minn about to pull away ... check score board, visit other games.

Dr. Big Brother

Call from hospital last eve ... my pacer had sent distress signal at 130pm Thurs, beating too fast ... had I fainted, had chest pains, on and on? ... nope, just a normal day to me ... but I go in next week so they can check me over. Occurred to me later I mowed the lawn Thurs afternoon! Can't recall hour but it does get me tired. Must have been it.

Of course it took them over 24 hrs to get to me on this. Assume they have priority list of distress signals.

Dr.Big Brother is tracking my every move. Jeeeeezzz ...

Shocking

Why suicide rate among veterans may be more than 22 a day http://zite.to/15eUwBK

Makes me nervous

Record point spreads for Miami, Ohio State, UCLA http://zite.to/15eTF47

Not walking the talk

Democrat Flaunts Vodka, Caviar To Protest Food Stamp Cuts http://zite.to/16muzj1

Oscars

Best Screenplay Oscar Predictions Update: A Look at Both the Adapted and Original Categories http://zite.to/15eSTnN

Dream$$$ in LaLaLand that came true

Most Expensive Screenplays http://zite.to/15eSzWa

Climate

Climate: Growing certainties on warming and human role http://phys.org/news/2013-09-climate-certainties-human-role.html

Friday, September 20, 2013

Fresno St 41, Boise St 40

7 year losing streak ends. Should have been blow out ... Fresno gave Boise 18pts on a golden platter! But they got it together at the end.

Noise

The Fresno crowd is so loud, and maybe the mics not set right, very hard to hear ... watch on tv sigh ...

Why not?

Since Boise St already has a loss, I'm rooting for the home Fresno St upset. Listening radio/ Fire over Espn tv.

When Bob Dylan Met Walt Whitman

Agreeing with Sen. McCain!

Senator John McCain calls the Dodgers ‘overpaid, immature, arrogant, spoiled brats’ after pool celebration http://zite.to/18glehu

Damn socialists

House Republicans Line Up for Free Annual Physicals Before Defunding Obamacare http://zite.to/18Ikcae

2013???

North Carolina County Bans Ellison's Invisible Man http://zite.to/19kKGAR

Good new writing app!

Progress

Finished first reading of Recovery in waiting room. Pretty decent iced coffee from stand in hospital lobby.

Ice stop on way home. Then H has visitors coming. I'll go to basement office and input corrections, then send to Fire for second reading.

Time to pick #9. Have an idea.

Testing new writing app ... easier, quicker than what I was using.

Really good LA Times Op Ed about hearing early Dylan at highway rest stop ... will try and post it. About our serious historical amnesia.

No ideas for #9 cover yet.

Here comes H ...

Infographic

There are 793 million illiterate people in the world [infographic] http://zite.to/15bEZCN

Lucky timing

Glad I did yard work yesterday ... next 6 days = rain. Ah, Puddle City!

PT and polish

Take H to Physical Therapy first thing in the morning. While waiting, I can read/polish Recovery on the Fire ... or wait at a nearby Starbucks and contemplate my navel.

Want to finish new syllabus today.

Not a beach bum

My Name Is Jason, I'm A 35-Yr-Old White Male Combat Veteran...And I'm On Food Stamps http://zite.to/1gFu4qb

Free history course in November

Free online course on ‘England in the time of King Richard III’ http://zite.to/15aPrul

Thursday, September 19, 2013

The comfort of simple voices

Listening tonight to Mills Bros, Four Freshmen, Four Aces. etc. Cheaper than drugs.

Portland weather

http://roundbendpress.blogspot.com/2013/09/trapped.html

TS on disliking much of the weather here. And feeling trapped, though maybe immobile is more accurate. Know the feeling!

Frat life at LSU

LSU and Kent St play football ...


Cornell men's lacrosse team suspended following hazing incident

Cornell men's lacrosse team suspended following hazing incident

Good! We need more tough reprimands like this.

The yard

I actually mowed some grass today.

Oh brother ...

Justice Scalia Forms Search Committee for New Pope http://zite.to/1bu98EB

Iliad, a contemporary war story

About a quarter way through listening to Stanley Lombardo read his own translation of Homer's Iliad. In our present war culture, no story sounds more relevant, more powerful, more moving. If we learned from literature lessons that changed behavior, war would have disappeared centuries ago. But we haven't. At one point Helen says war is tragic so poets can write about it afterwards. So it is. But this is the mother of all war stories and Lombardo has given this classic a fresh, modern vitality that makes it more powerful than ever.


I'm doing a book a day and this moment has become precious, as spiritually important as church can be for some. I cannot overstate my admiration for this audiobook.

Pins and needles

A screenwriter I've been mentoring is being considered for her first for-hire gig. On pins and needles, hoping she gets it. They don't know what a gift she is. A talented collaborator as well as screenwriter.

As I get ready to retire from teaching, she's one of 6 or 8 screenwriters I've successfully mentored over the years, all of them "professional" whether they pursue(d) a career or not. One, in fact, only wrote 2 scripts but came very close to selling both, strong interest in her work, DeVito a fan, but walked away to do something else. It's not a secure profession.

After the Navy Yard Shooting: Why This No Time to Despair About Gun Control : The New Yorker

After the Navy Yard Shooting: Why This No Time to Despair About Gun Control : The New Yorker:

"Nothing seems to happen in the wake of massacre after massacre. No legislation, just a preening, self-congratulatory dance among the members of the gun lobby, which wholly owns the Republican Party and too many chunks of the Democratic one: Not even twelve more dead can shake our grip! Yet I don’t detect despair on the side of the sane, though despair might be helpful."

'via Blog this'

Daily Kos: End the Cultural Genocide in South Dakota against Our Lakota People

Daily Kos: End the Cultural Genocide in South Dakota against Our Lakota People:

"For far too long our people have been ignored by the United States. Many who are willing to learn of our struggles are kept in the dark by corporate-controlled media and other institutions. Genocide has survived in various forms after the Massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890 and after the deliberate kidnapping, haircutting, beatings, sexual-physical abuse, rape, and other crimes against humanity that happened to our grandmothers and grandfathers at the hands of Christian Churches and the United States Government during the boarding school era."

'via Blog this'

Daily Kos: Breakthrough in Quantum Physics May Do Away with Space-Time, Lead to Ultimate Theory

Daily Kos: Breakthrough in Quantum Physics May Do Away with Space-Time, Lead to Ultimate Theory:

'via Blog this'

This Extraordinary Pope, Ctd « The Dish

This Extraordinary Pope, Ctd « The Dish:

Andrew Sullivan on the new pope, and I think he is right. I'd love to see a radical humanist pope: one of the few institutional pulpits that can get a huge prime time audience. I hope he does more than talk, however.

Food waste

Use browser to enlarge.


What an encouraging observation ...

Top Climate Scientist: Today’s Leaders Will ‘Determine the Fate of Humanity’ | Common Dreams:

'via Blog this'

A Writerly Retirement: The Tourist

A Writerly Retirement: The Tourist:

'via Blog this'

Love this film

Blue Jasmine – review

http://gu.com/p/3tpnf