The Open Author

Watched a great movie last night–Lars and the Real Girl–thanks to a recommendation from my sis-in-law. I think what I liked most about the movie was that no person played the antagonist. To be sure, there were things being fought by the protagonist, but it was great to see that every single person in the movie stand next to Lars, and fight with him.

I always feel bad when I miss these shows in the theater. I would have liked to thrown my $7 toward the folks who made the film.

Ever wondered how a book goes from the author’s brain, to a finished book? Well, behold this youtube video, and wonder no more.

I’m sure everybody who has played Guitar Hero or Rock Band has asked themselves, “why not make this for a real guitar, and teach kids how to play an instrument?” Well, somebody’s done it, and it’s coming this summer.

I’m saving my pennies right now.

If I was pressed hard enough to pick my favorite band of all time, it would have to be They Might Be Giants. I first fell in love with John and John after listening to Istanbul (not Constantinople) on their album Flood. It was such a bizarre song with crazy lyrics and a catchy tune, I couldn’t help but play it over and over again.

I’ve been a fan ever since, and have loved the wide variety of their songs. By variety I mean not only style of music, but also the breadth of topic. They sing about mammals, James K. Polk, astronomy, Homer’s Odyssey, palindromes, conifers, nightlights, Belgian Painters, and more. It’s just astounding.

Anyway, the reason I’m blogging about this is my son sent me a report he had written. The report was on Hammurabi, the great Babylonian King and lawgiver. Yep, you guessed it, They Might Be Giants sing about Hammurabi and the rest of the Mesopotamian kings.

So, the next time your kid is working on a report, don’t send him to the encyclopedia, don’t send him to the internet. Send him down to the local music shop, and have him pick up a CD by the Giants. There is a good chance they’ve already got it covered.

So apparently I have a contradictory sense of self.

“Psychologists in America have interviewed ten male members of the Latter-day Saints Church (i.e. Mormons) who’ve grown beards despite their church preferring members not to have facial hair. Michael Nielsen and Daryl White argue the stories these men tell provide rich material for exploring issues of social control and individual identity.

“The researchers say these cases show men attempting to manage “contradictory senses of self”.

“Faced with unnecessarily invasive requests to shave, requests that sometimes took the shape of ultimatums, some men expressed resentment at having to choose between a mere show of compliance and deeply felt, even intimate identities: discomfort, embarrassment, and shame are exchanged for a token show of obedience, with resentment likely to follow.”

I didn’t realize I was so rich and complex.

Can I get a Hal Uh Lou Yuh? Or a Hallelujah, if you insist on proper spelling.

Just watched a great move called The Visitor. I think my favorite line in the movie was when Walter said, “I sound a lot better when he’s playing with me.”

I highly recommend the movie.

Interesting read over at Book Oven.

“Imagine: what would happen if every publisher in the world went out of business tomorrow? If every book store closed it’s doors?

“Here’s what I think: I think we would see a flourishing of innovation and the kind of excitement the book business has not seen since the paperback was invented. These companies (sellers and publishers) aren’t all going to close their doors, but a good number might.

“Lamentable? Maybe. Or maybe this is a fabulous opportunity for something new.

“I’m optimistic. New technologies are coming along that change the economics of books: ebooks, ipods, print-on-demand, the web, and more to come yet. The readers are there: just about everyone I know loves books. The writers are there. And let’s face it, if the doom and gloom in the business is right, whatever model these companies were using hasn’t worked all that well.

“So it’s up to us — all of us who care about books — to figure out what the book business is going to look in the next decade or so.”

Dad: “I saw your Christmas list.”

#1: “Oh yeah?”

Dad: “Yeah. I saw the first thing on your list was a ‘fake eye’.

#1: “Yep.”

Dad: “Uh…why do you want a fake eye?”

#1: “So I can scrunch it into my eye, and when somebody pats me on the back, I’ll drop it on the floor.”

Dad” “Oh. Of course.”

Dear Mr. Obama,

My kids love to tattle. We’re trying to get it under control, but alas, it still happens. The other night #2 comes up and says, “Dad, #3 called President Obama a poop head!”

This came as quite a surprise to me. I don’t talk politics with my kids, but even if I did, I would never call any sitting president, or president elect, a poop head. My criticism is much more eloquent than that. When I talk about politicians, I use words like knucklehead, or fanny muggin.

Anyway, my son came up and I asked him why he was calling you a poop head. I wondered if it was your foreign policy, your recent selection for cabinet positions, or perhaps your social policies. Sure enough, it is your social policy.

“I can’t go to school unless I get my shots,” he wailed, “and it’s all president Obama’s fault! He won’t let me go unless I get poked!”

And thus we see the downside to being president. It is a two edged sword. When things go right, they assume you are the one to thank. And when things go wrong, you’ll be to blame, even if it’s not your fault.

So, good luck, and don’t worry about reconsidering the immunization laws. My son is only 7, and won’t be voting until you’re well out of office.