Bart "J.B." Hopkins's Blog, page 21
March 4, 2015
LIKE Excerpt
“Whatcha playing, Jennie?”
“Candy Crush Saga … it’s addicting!”
“Hmm. Done with Farmville?”
“What?” she asked, distracted, not looking up.
“Never mind.”
He realized it had been a while since she spammed his Facebook account with Farmville requests. He had tried to play it, briefly, but it bored him silly. Plus, it took too much time.
Before Farmville, he had played this game for a while that required you to park different cars in different places to make varying amounts of money. You also had to re-park the cars at certain intervals. That game had held his interest for several weeks. He even began to wake up early to ensure he moved his cars at the right time to maximize the money he made.
Until Claire busted him.
On one of those mornings, he inadvertently woke her up as he tried to extricate himself from their blankets and get quietly out of bed. He was unsuccessful—the bed was annoyingly noisy—and she asked where he was going.
“Oh, um, I just wanted to check something out.”
“What? It’s early,” she replied, her voice muffled. She was lying on her stomach, face into the pillow.
“Yeah, just something online.” He tried, but couldn’t think of anything else to say. It was always when he couldn’t think of something to say that she seemed most interested… or most suspicious.
She rolled over, sat up, hair poking out in weird places, and gave him a questioning look. She knew him well… that he hated mornings passionately. He was worthless until he had coffee, and that was preferably after 8:00 a.m. Her interest was quickly piqued.
The clock on the bedside table said 5:00 a.m.
“Well,” he began, and then started giggling. “Okay, this is going to sound silly…”
“What?”
“I was gonna go move my cars.”
“Huh? Cars?”
“On the game.”
“The Facebook game?”
“Yes.”
“Uhhh!” she groaned, turned, slammed her face into the pillow. “Don’t come back and wake me up!”
And, so ended that car-parking game. Rest in peace.
LIKE is on sale through March 8th:
March 2, 2015
Like = 99 Cents
February 27, 2015
Farewell, Mr. Nimoy
I learned today that Leonard Nimoy passed away.
I grew up watching reruns of the Star Trek series. And, I enjoyed all of the Star Trek movies, my favorite being Star Trek III: The Search For Spock.
Several years ago I came across a DVD copy of the animated Transformers movie I’d watched as an 11-year-old, and yeah, I bought it. Leonard Nimoy was the voice of one of the Decepticons in that one. How cool is that?
While he wasn’t my favorite actor, he played a lot of iconic roles, and was part of the landscape of my life. As far as I know, he was a pretty decent human being, too, which is kind of a rarity these days in the acting biz. I respect that about him.
I’m getting older and it’s given me a glimpse of my own mortality. Time flies, and I’m trying to live my life better, for the things that matter.
Mr. Nimoy, your time on Earth, and in Space: The Final Frontier, won’t be forgotten. Thanks for the great memories & God bless.
~BH
February 8, 2015
Garbage Gyres
On this somewhat peaceful Sunday, I found myself watching a program called Innovation Nation.
This show is, apparently, nothing new to my kids, though I had never heard of it. That means nothing since my tastes are eclectic, and I watch more movies than television. Or, maybe I’m just getting old…
Anyway, one of the topics today was cleaning up plastic trash in the ocean. I grew up on the beach, I love the water, and the dwindling state of our mother ocean has been something that’s bothered me for some time. I try to be a good citizen of Earth. I’ve been donating to the Surfrider Foundation for about 15 years because our beaches and oceans are important.
I learned something new today, however, and frankly I don’t know why I haven’t heard of it before now. Or maybe I did hear about it, but didn’t get it. And, as a weather guy, it makes such perfect sense. I’m talking about the existence of Garbage Gyres.
You see, the oceans have some convergence points where all of the little currents lead. Sort of like how all rivers lead to the ocean, except you’re already in the ocean, so the currents lead to places called gyres. Since all the currents lead to these areas, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that trash, plastic, and waste of all types are forced along to these spots.
Spots? That gives the illusion of small size. The Great Pacific garbage patch is midway between California and Hawaii, and it is about the size of Texas. You can’t see it on satellite images because much of it floats below the surface, but it’s there.
Naturally, there’s an impact on the sea life and habitat. The ecosystem is changing.
I encourage you to learn about it. Become conscious of your surroundings. Advocate and foster change and awareness.
We go through a natural cycle of maturation, which is a whole other topic, but it sometimes prevents us from truly realizing the impact of what we do until its too late. I’m guilty of that at times. You don’t know what you don’t know, right?
Teach your kids about it now; reduce the learning curve on these things. A peaceful Sunday is the perfect time to do it.
(Information drawn from Innovation Nation, Wikipedia, and NOAA)
February 2, 2015
Yikes
Okay…
Some things don’t need any introduction.
Exactly.
Sweet Dreams.
January 20, 2015
Death Karma
Death Karma by Wally Runnels
I recently stumbled onto this novella by Wally Runnels called Death Karma. The genre is a blend of action and adventure, sprinkled with some humor, set on the border of Mexico and the USA. Mr. Runnels calls it Border Pulp … a good name.
The book has an engaging cast of characters … Clyde Stockwell and Cat Boy, Rocky and El Funerario … there’s even a guy named Ford Tough. None of them are good guys in the classical sense. They have issues. At times, they do bad things. And, yet, they grow on you and you find yourself rooting for some of them.
The story is raw and edgy, but I found myself laughing multiple times from the unique & dark wit. In some ways, it reminded me of the movie From Dusk till Dawn, minus the vampires.
No doubt the authenticity I sensed behind the story is due to the author’s experiences along the border.
It’s an easy and good read: 4 of 5 stars.
Rated R for violence and sexual content.
You can read the full synopsis on Amazon HERE.
Learn more about Wally Runnels —> HERE
January 17, 2015
Wild
I don’t dislike Reese Witherspoon, but I’ve never been a huge fan.
We saw WILD today at the movies, and I thought it was really fantastic. Realistic, emotional, turbulent, and gritty. Definitely Witherspoon’s best performance, and a wonderful movie all around.
Several people around me had tears in their eyes a few times. As for me, I had some sort of allergic reaction that may have moistened things up, ocularly.
Some people will think there is a little too much nudity & sexuality. I can understand that opinion. My kids won’t be watching it for a while, but I did think the adult content made things more authentic versus cheapening the film.
Overall, very good!
January 14, 2015
Two new 5-star reviews of LIKE
I had a pleasant surprise after work today … another nice 5-star review of Like!
Nothing brings me more pleasure than readers who connect with my writing. Thank you!!
Check out those reviews at the links below…
January 9, 2015
Go Ahead, Be A Snob!
(As originally published in TrueBlue Magazine, November 2013)
Go ahead—be a snob
Snobbery isn’t always bad. Sometimes it’s justified. In life, the genesis of wisdom comes from, and evolves, through experience. The perpetually inexperienced, or unadventurous, may never get the wisdom. And that’s fine—not everyone can be Plato.
But anyone can learn about good beer.
Young people the world over drink bad beer. Cost, and inexperience, lead college kids astray. They traverse a road littered with pale, watery ales and brews. The cheap stuff serves the (sometimes) ignoble purpose of inebriation. It’s a common stepping stone—a bridge—meant to be crossed.
Because with experience comes the ability to discern good from the evil.
Dublin, Ireland, is home to (arguably) the world’s finest beer: Guinness. A recent excursion to Dublin led me to the front door of the Guinness Storehouse, where Arthur Guinness’s legacy thrives. Let me tell you—this isn’t just a factory—it’s an interactive combination of hands-on and virtual touring that activates all the senses and gives you a first rate introduction to the beer’s history and brewing.
Arthur started making his beer in the middle of the 18th century, over 250 years ago. Early on, he finagled a 9,000-year lease on a factory, some property, and water rights. The price was more than right, and is a key factor in the sustained success of Guinness. If more than 10,000,000 glasses of Guinness being served annually is any indicator, the world is a happier place as a result.
I learned from a virtual display that, in the old days, the Guinness factory was revolutionary in its humane treatment of employees. Sick workers need not be concerned that they would lose their job—and medical care was provided. Widows were taken care of by the Guinness family. It’s rumored that local daughters were often told, “Marry yourself a Guinness man,” by their mothers.
In addition to the history, there are a host of activities designed to let you fully embrace the beer.
Your olfactory senses and taste buds will pack their bags and go on a pleasant journey. Move between “scent stations” and dip your head down into the smoke being released in different spots around the modern room. Smell the different ingredients of Guinness in raw form. Close your eyes and enjoy. Complete the experience with a sample—wonderful.
After that, satisfy your tactile cravings on level four of the Storehouse, where you are taught how to pour the perfect glass of Guinness for maximum flavor. Learn where to put the tap, and what angle to hold it. Let it settle—then top it off.
Once you’ve graduated, and poured your beer, hop on the elevator and make your way to the top floor, the Gravity Bar. Find a seat, sip your pint, and enjoy a great view of Dublin.
It’s a one-of-a-kind experience that can’t be beaten. If you haven’t crossed that bridge already, the view, the sounds, the smells, and the tastes, will change you forever. You’ll find you have become a beer snob, the Plato of good beers, chock full of beer wisdom.
And that’s just fine.
January 4, 2015
Legit
I’ve noticed the term “legit” has been gaining momentum the last 2-3 years, rising in popularity, primarily amid the Millennial Generation and Generation Z.
The other day I mentioned something was “awesome” and my friend’s 16-year-old son replied, “Yeah, it’s legit.” I also hear it multiple times each week from the early twenty-somethings at work.
According to Urban Dictionary, the modern definition is closest to “ill” or “tight” or “dope.” If you weren’t aware, these words are all used when something is good.
That’s a slight deviation from the meaning I learned as a kid … that something is real, valid, or legal. Not fake. Legitimate. I have a legitimate claim to the British throne.
But, I do recall MC Hammer telling us all that he was 2L2Q … Too Legit To Quit. Was his legit the bridge to this newer iteration? Did it just lie dormant in our subconscious, waiting for the right moment, like the aliens in War of the Worlds?
I have to wonder.
Despite setbacks and a career that seemingly vanished before our very eyes, Hammer did celebrate some success, and I still remember the lyrics to his songs. Please Hammer, don’t hurt ‘em.
You know what I’m talking about.
How long will legit last? Will it fade away, only to be brought back in future decades by those clumps of people that thrive on the periodic revival of retro? Groovy?
I guess we’ll just have to wait and see … in the meantime, I hope you’re 2015 is legit!
