"A Friend to All is a Friend to None." -- Aristotle

Ah, Saturday! Though it's kinda pointless to mention what day it is as I'm writing this, since it could be Tuesday or Wednesday by the time you actually read this... and by then my thoughts on Saturday will be old... so, so old...

Hmm, I suppose I could lead in like this: Ahh, last Saturday!

But then, what if it's, like, a month or two before you read this?

OK, fine, here: Ah, the Saturday that is represented by the date at the top of this post! There, ya happy?

Got a lot done today, and it's just 2:45 pm! Are you proud of me? Vacuumed the whole house, picked bagfulls of lemons of our backyard tree, dismembered and trashcanned our Xmas tree, cleaned the inside of my computer with compressed air... hmm... now that I write it out, it doesn't seem like much...

Still, it's a beautiful day outside in San Diego... a perfect day to stay inside and play games and/or write a movie script! Or put stuff in the microwave!



So after reading Riddler's Gift, I decided to sample a couple other titles before beginning the sequel Second Sight. I got more than 70% through a book called Edge by Thomas Blackthorne, which is sort of a near-futuristic urban fantasy tale, but the author was too heavy-handed with his anti-global warming and anti-violence messages, and the tale lacked depth. Once I saw where the book would be going for the climax, I decided to bail on the book. No doubt it will be turned into a "made for TV" movie in the next five years or so. Seems like it was written with "optioning to TV" in mind. Bleh.

I then decided I wanted to learn more about snipers, so after nosing around online a bit, I settled on Marine Sniper, by Charles Henderson. It's a biography of the greatest sniper from the Vietnam era, a legend named Carlos Hathcock. It was mentioned by many reviewers as the best sniper-related book available. However, it seems to me like it was written for simpletons. It reminded me of the biography of Bill Watterson I read a year or two ago (review here). I can't stomach dumbed-down books that insult my ability to "get it"...

So I abandoned that book (cost me $8 dangit!), and moved onto one of the many samples I have in my digital library, a new book called Rook by Daniel O'Malley that is getting a lot of buzz. It's another sort of sci-fi urban fantasy type of book, which I may buy when it goes on sale for a few bucks, but I wasn't hooked enough to want to pay $13 at the moment.

So I'm reading Second Sight now, and it is very solid so far.

So my trainer Mark was destroying me last Monday during our workout, and I felt like I was pushed to my limit, out of breath, heart pounding, weak-kneed, etc. So I asked him how I'm supposed to know when I should "listen to my body" and take a break for a time, or forget how I feel and push through it. I didn't want to negate in any way the progress we had made during the workout thus far by stopping when I should keep pushing... but I also didn't want to keel over. He said that it all depends on the day - there is no formula to it. We took a break so I could recover, then modified the rest of the workout to avoid hitting that place again.

But I bring it up because I wonder if there's a spiritual parallel, as far as God testing us in certain areas. I know there's that verse that says we won't be tested beyond our ability to handle it (1 Cor 10:13). But I also know that many times I've worked with my trainer where, if I had been by myself, I would have stopped, thinking I'd hit my limit. But then he would make me do another set, and then sometimes yet another, and to my amazement, I could do it. I hadn't hit my limit after all. So when it comes to tests, etc., I wonder if there are times when we need to push through (so to speak) and times to take a break before we keel over.

Or is that forcing an analogy where one doesn't exist/belong?

Shifting gears, here, watch this full screen-high def.



I never even knew what a Teahupoo was before this video!!!

While you're in the mood to full-screen, high-def a video, here's another jaw-dropper...



Wowza, I says. Wowza indeed.

Go here to read about a Giant Tortoise named Adwaita that lived more than 250 years, plus other animals that lived way longer than they should have... and go here to watch Naader Reda eat a 12-pound pizza in one hour. No human being should have the capacity to eat that much food! I am stunned. And finally, Go Here to watch the infamous Camp Video that I've been working on for eons. Yes, it is done. Unlike the other videos, it doesn't look good full screen.

Those that went to the camp will be getting a DVD copy of it in the mail soon.

Well, I think that's it for today. If anything interesting happens, I'll mention it in the next post. I hope your week is a good one.

Dave

"Facts Are Stubborn Things." -- Ronald Reagan

Yes.

Whatever you were about to ask, the answer is yes. There, that saves you the embarrassment of actually having to ask me. I was bitten by a radioactive hipster spider with left-leaning political views and it gave me mind-reading super-powers. I can see right into your brain! I know what you're thinking! MUAHAHAHAH!!!!! Run!!! Run for your lives!

OK, fine, I stretched the truth a wee bit there... I can't read minds. Not even my own.

So, yeah, today was, like, Monday or something, I don't know. I can't read calendars either. It was a rainy Monday, which always alters my mood and makes me want to lie about super-powers-related things, like, say, mind reading. Now, now, I know what you're thinking... you're thinking, "Dave, you are a babbling simpleton who suffers from bowel angst, caffeine addiction and spotty self esteem, so quit jabbering you toolbox, and actually say something of substance, or so help me I will never set foot inside the hallowed walls of this blog again."

That was what you were thinking? My super-power is real after all!

OK, here is a funny pic for you, to assuage your increasing disgust/frustration...

Did it work? Is your anger assuaged? No? OK, fine, more Star Wars stuff, coming up!

I don't know where I've been, when it comes to this next video, but I'm sorry I missed out on it. There was a project called Star Wars Uncut, spearheaded by a chap named Casey Pugh, that is ridiculously creative fun... his goal was to re-create the entire first Star Wars film, one "15-second segment" at a time, using scene snippets submitted from random people around the world, using any style they wanted. The results are amazing (to me) and completely engrossing. Here, skip to a random point in the video and watch for a few minutes...



Talk about diversity, I love it. There are a handful of segments that push the envelope, as far as "family friendly", and only one that I recall (The one referencing The Big Lebowski) that has any offensive language in it, but the vast bulk of it is entirely awesome. My favorite clip might be at 1:29:30, during the light saber fight between Obi Wan and Vader...

The run time for the whole vid is a shade over two hours, so unless you're Logan, I doubt you'll want to watch the entire thing, but you could watch it a bit and see how fun and creative it is. I only found out about it a few days ago, now that the project is complete. I would have loved loved LOVED to have filmed a 15-second segment or two for the project. I'm going to keep an eye out - perhaps after they've taken a break and regrouped, they'll start on Empire Strikes Back... and then I'll definitely sign up.

Speaking of film projects, I've had a couple creative meetings with my friend Todd F. recently, and it looks like we're beginning pre-production on our first legitimate film project. I won't go into too much detail about it at this point, but here's a hint...

Yep, it's about cats.

No, actually, it will be a detective story (no cats), and will be a (hopefully) fun mix of genres/eras. Sort of a modern detective tale, but heavily sprinkled with noir-style black-n-white scenes. It looks like it will be fun. I'll certainly keep you informed as it develops.

I'm kind of amazed at what Todd is capable of doing, as far as post-production special effects. We are going to be able to do A LOT with this script, in ways I've never even been able to consider before. Super stoked about it.

Yeah, I know what you're thinking (I can read minds, remember?) You're wondering why on earth I would start another big creative project when I have a whole plateful of half-finished projects already, crying out for my attention. Honestly, I don't have a good answer for that. I'd like to claim to be a victim of a particularly annoying strain of A.D.D., but that strikes me as a rather sizable cop-out. But I;d like to think there actually is a legitimate reason beyond the basic "I'm just lame, that's all".... the good news is that I'm almost finished with the Camp Video from last year! It's only a half a year behind schedule!!! Are you proud of me!?!?!

No? Well! I guess I'll have to try harder to impress you then!

How about this: Last post, I wrote a very positive review for a book I recently read, and the author left a comment on the post. While that isn't the first time an author has left a comment here, it is the first time that a review I wrote was mentioned on the author's website (in a positive way, I mean, lol)! Check this out! I've been quoted! I'm official now! An official what, you may ask? Heck, I don't know... but once I figure it out, I'll be sure to add "official" in front of it...

And now, two minutes of destruction...



Mixed feelings about real-world footage like that. Odd that I can watch movie violence and explosions and it doesn't phase me... but show me something "real" and I get a bit queasy... loved that train slamming into that barricade at 1:10, probably because it looked like a planned event, for test purposes or something. But the burning passenger plane at 1:28 was rather shocking...
OK, well I think that's enough nonsense for tonight. I'll hit you with more again in a couple days. I know what you're thinking... "Hurry back, Dave!"

Ok!

Dave the Nutter

The Riddler's Gift: An Effusive Book Review

What!? Another week is ending?! What gives! Man, where does the time go? Oh, wait, nevermind... a weekend is a good thing, I forgot. Yeah, I'm forgetful like that. Sometimes it's hard to remember my own name. Umm...

[Dave checks his driver's license...]

Dave here! Time for another blog post, eh. Surprise surprise. Gee, I bet you never expected that. I mean, you don't normally go to a blog and see blog posts, right?

So, where to start?

Ah, a book review!

The Riddler's Gift, by Greg Hamerton
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Everyone knows I'm a sucker for a good fantasy tale. I've also been known to gush over novels that click with me, and recommend them forcefully to anyone that will listen. This has yielded mixed results over the years, for a variety of reasons. The obvious reason is that, hey, people are different, and like different things. What appeals to me strongly might be of little-to-no interest to you, and vice-versa. No big deal. But another reason for the mixed results might be my tendency to jump right onto this here blog in the immediate aftermath of finishing what I feel is a great book, and get caught up in the afterglow. I then break forth in a torrent of praise and adulation that might not have been so unrestrained had I taken a day or two to let the afterglow fade and look at things a bit more objectively. I cannonball in, hype things up, and, in some cases, the book can't live up to it. With the best of intentions, I inadvertently set the expectation bar too high.

So with this in mind, it is with a good, solid two days distance that I take keyboard in hand to write this review of a terrific book, The Riddler's Gift, by Greg Hamerton. If you haven't guessed yet by this build-up, I am a big fan of this book. I resisted the strong urge to immediately hop on here and fire both barrels of my praise gun, and chose instead to let my thoughts simmer. Here are my thoughts!

Other than The Heroes, by Joe Abercrombie, this book by Greg Hamerton is the most enjoyable fantasy book I've read in the past year. That includes all the noteworthy books listed in my 2011 Reads list over there on the right side of the blog page there. GRRM's entire series, Pat Rothfuss' latest, books by Brett, Parker, Scalzi, Sanderson, etc. All of them. I'm belaboring this to let you know that I am not saying this lightly, or off-the-cuff. (By the way, I don't consider Gates of Fire to be fantasy - that's still my favorite book of all time...)

The Riddler's Gift has many character types and fantasy tropes that one would expect from a (shall we say) "traditional" fantasy tale. A council of wizards, an "apprentice" over her head and swept up in an adventure, a noble master-swordsman, a wandering sage, an evil Lord and his unstable, cruel henchman, bent on world dominion, a magical trinket, and impending doom. Nothing too original here - so what's so special?

1) The Characters: The author does a fantastic job (pardon the pun) of crafting rich, complex characters. They lend themselves to shades of grey that are unexpected and yet feel oddly natural. You expect the heroine Tabitha Serannon to remain naive and good-at-heart, in spite of her trials, but as she accesses magic that is well-beyond her experience and expectation, it impacts her, changes her, in ways that catch you off guard. In fact, I can't think of a single main character, good or evil, that doesn't go through some level of transformation, or that isn't blind-sided by an unforeseen event (or series of events) that forces them to course-correct. It is all deftly handled, and thoroughly entertaining to read.

2) The Action: The story moves along at a brisk, occasionally break-neck speed. Let me qualify that for a moment: Once the storylines and characters are established, it takes off. It takes a bit to get rolling, but nowhere near as long as other books I've read in this genre. Give it a couple short chapters to hook you, and then buckle up.

3) The Dialog: Of course, on one hand I mean the spoken interactions between characters, but I'm also talking about the internal dialog that the characters have with themselves, as they wrestle with events and decisions that they've made, and assimilate the repercussions of their actions. The general themes of "good vs evil" and of "compromising with your moral code" are relatively-well worn paths, true, but that doesn't mean they can't be handled effectively anymore. Greg Hamerton wrings a lot of marrow out of those old bones, and I caught myself several times pausing while I was reading to contemplate what a character had just said. In fact, at the beginning of each chapter, there are these wonderful little proverbs (if you will) that are attributed to a certain character that always made me think -- and always ended up announcing what was to happen in the chapter, as though the chapter was the answer to the riddle that prefaced it. I loved those little touches.

4) The Craft: The book is well-crafted, solidly-written, and carries with it an intelligence and playfulness that was refreshing. Full of wonderful moments, unexpected events, humor and weight. Being the author's first book (in the series, anyway), I don't know whether this is the result of scads of polishing time and revising, or if it is a true indication of the talent and skill that will be evident in all of his books... you know how follow-up books can be. The first volume gets all of the blood, sweat, tears, polish, agonizing, tweaking, etc... and if/when it's a success, the second volume is expected quickly, and in order to hit some arbitrary deadline, subsequent volumes hit the shelves feeling unpolished and rushed and blah, lacking the spark that the initial volume was able to attain. Hey, I understand completely - the same can be said of music albums... a decade goes into a debut album, all the best songs from over the years sifted and hand-selected and polished to perfection in hopes that the album will take off and be a hit... then when it is, a new album is expected straight away, so dive back into the studio and crank something out!

All that to say, I have purchased the next book in the series, Second Sight, and will see for myself how it holds up.

Now, wait a minute, yes The Riddler's Gift is part of a planned trilogy. However, the story arc in the book is wonderfully complete, in and of itself. The blistering climax is thoroughly satisfying - and while there is an avenue left open to take things to the next level, by no means do you need to wait for the trilogy to finish before reading this book. It works very well as a stand-alone title, well worthy of your attention.

I have to be honest here - initially, I wasn't expecting much from this book. I mean, it was among the .99 cent fantasy books on holiday special on Amazon, with all the self-published and/or "unknown" authors - Kindle-stuffing, so to speak. When I bought the book in December, I saw that it had a few reviews, but that it's average rating was close to 5 stars, and figured, after skimming the reviews, I'd pull the trigger and buy it. Hey, for a buck, it was minimal risk. So I went into the read with an open mind, but not expecting to be blown away. But as I finished reading the book, and set it down, the first word that came to mind was "magnificent." And after having let it stew for a couple days, I believe I shall stand by my initial assessment. The Riddler's Gift is a magnificent book.

Summary: 5/5 A wonderful ride, terrifically-realized characters (if not wholly original), excellent dialog and action, and plenty of food for thought.

----------------------------------------------------

Wow, that took longer to write than I had anticipated. I still have work to get done before bedtime tonight, so I'm going to have to cut this post short.

I will, however, post a video for you to chuckle at - I'm in it! My trainer, Markshane, videotaped part of our workout on Wednesday, and then surprised me by sending me this edited video he put together, which he uploaded to his YouTube page. On the one hand, it's kind of embarrassing. On the other hand, it's pretty cool. Here, you decide.



Kinda cool that Markshane did that.

Well, I have other nonsense to share, but it will have to wait. Go buy The Riddler's Gift - it's only 3 bucks! Read it and let me know what you think.

Dave the Effusive

13 Shades of Ennui

Well, hello there! You come around here often? You do? Why?! I mean, look at this place! It's a dump! And it smells funny in here. Doesn't it? Well, if it smells so funny in here, why ain't ya laughin'?

Greetings, and Happy St. Bryan's Day! Dang, 12 years since my brother Bryan died. That punk. Didn't he know we'd all miss him? What the heck! He'd be 38 this year, if he was still roaming the earth. I wonder what he would have accomplished in that time? Married, with children no doubt, traveling, playing golf with Johnny boy... who knows? Gah! The thought of Bryan as a dad, with a toddler son on his shoulders, big goofy smile on his face! That mental picture just took the wind out of me!

Made me think again of the idea of writing your own eulogy... write out what you want to have said at your own funeral, running down all the accomplishments you would like to think you'd do from today to that day... then start living that way now. Use it as a bucket list or something, I don't know. Personally, I'd like to have a couple novels finished, maybe a handful of movies. I'd like to understand, experience and be able to convey important spiritual lessons, and have it be said that God used me to impact people in unexpected and lasting ways. I don't want to be one of those annoying, hypocritical religious people, but one of those people that even skeptics and people hostile to religion would see and say, "that guy gets it. He's doing the God thing like it's supposed to be done."

I'd like to love my wife the way she deserves to be loved, as opposed to the hamstrung, nerfed, method-acting way that I'd been forced to limp along with for a pair of grueling decades. She deserves better.

I'd like to live, and quit hiding in my office.

I'd like to move onto a new topic.

Check out this hilarious Workplace Complaint...

Come on, that's funny.

Not as funny as my Youngest trying to pronounce "Martin Luther King Jr. Day." She says it like this: Marthin Lootner King Jr. Day. Yes, it's a riot. "Mom, do I have to do schoolwork on Marthin Lootner King Jr Day? It's a holiday!"

Yeah, like, you know how people with kids are always talking about all the "funny" little things their precious young ones do and say? And they're always those sort of "you had to be there" kind of things? And you just politely smile and nod and silently hope they move on to a more interesting subject?

Yeah, that sort of thing.

So the Golden Globes were tonight, which means the Oscars are not that far away. Frankly, I didn't see much this year, as far as new films. I believe I saw Thor 3D, 9MM, the new X-men flick, the latest Mission Impossible flick, and, if memory serves, I saw some movie with DeNiro/Statham in it, with my friend Carey... I *barely* remember it... lemme go track down the title... to tide you over, here's a mash-up of the movies of 2011...



Ah, it was called Killer Elite. Meh, must have been forgettable. Oh, and I have a vague, painful memory of taking the wife/kids to see the latest Transformers turd as well. I'm feeling waves of nausea at the recollection of it, so I will change the subject yet again. 6 movies in the theater, I saw! That might be a record for me for a year!

Actually, no, when I used to go on snowboarding trips with my step-dad, brother Johnny and pal Joseph, we'd see a buncha movies too... Bah, like it matters. Nevermind.

Lots of great images in that movie mash-up clip. Makes me want to get into film making! MUAHAHAHA!!!

Gah!!!! I'm almost done with the camp video! From July, yes, that one! It's taken me half my life! I'm finally at the "gathering music" stage, which is an art unto itself. Trying to find fitting music for each of the segments involves a lot of trial and error, but it really is the last step. I've already told Lloyd I won't be doing any more camp videos. All he keeps saying is "we'll see"... which, frankly, kind of angers me. I'm done with these. Let someone else take a stab at it.

Here, lemme dig something out of my archive. This song is still amazing, every time I see it.



Man, what talent. Love the look of intense focus...

Oh, that reminds me! They're building a new Target at the mall that I live by! How awesome is that? For some reason, I am inordinately excited about the idea of having a Target at the mall. Isn't that odd? Yeah, must be a sign that I don't have enough problems in my life... I better prepare for the worst...

Well, in any case, guess I better bring this meandering, snooze-inducing post to a swift and painful ending. Hope your St. Bryan's Day was a good one. Happy Marthin Lootner King Jr. Day.

Dave the Shlub