Matthew Arnold Stern's Blog, page 59
February 9, 2014
How to find true love
This year, my wife and I are celebrating our 25th Valentine’s Day. That’s an accomplishment, considering that many relationships don’t make it to their first Valentine’s Day. How do you find true love? And how do you make it last? I don’t claim to be a relationship expert, and I made my share of mistakes. …
February 4, 2014
When your younger brother turns 50…
My younger brother Randy is turning 50. Out of all the things that can make a person feel old, this is up there with your child graduating high school or your doctor telling you that your persistent pain “is typical for someone of your age.” But there are a lot of good things about having …
February 1, 2014
An iPad…in 1991?
Ever had an idea that was ahead of its time? Or if you went ahead with it, it might have been revolutionary? This is the case of a memo I wrote in 1991. At the time, I worked in the Technical Publications department at AST in Irvine, California. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, …
January 30, 2014
Fun a Day Reseda – Day 31: Closing Thoughts
I had fun with Fun a Day Reseda. I enjoyed developing the discipline to write every day, seeing my ideas get visualized, and inventing memes. The hard parts of creativity were fun too. Even looking at the beast can become an enlightening experience. More importantly, Fun a Day Reseda gave me some important insights about creativity …
January 29, 2014
Fun a Day Reseda – Day 30: Finis Coronat Opus
It’s finals week at my son’s high school. Sure, it doesn’t seem fair that at a time when the semester is winding down, you’re slapped with a huge test worth 20% of your grade. (Just wait until you get to college where finals are worth 65%.) At times like this, consider the motto of my …
January 28, 2014
Fun a Day Reseda – Day 29: The Benefits of Discipline
Is it hard to write a blog post every day? Yes. The hard part is sitting down to write. Once I get started, the words flow. It’s the act of getting to my favorite chair and starting that’s hard. Some days are harder than others. I may have a busy day at work followed by …
January 27, 2014
Fun a Day Reseda – Day 28: “The future…belongs to the brave.”
I’m not a fan of Ronald Reagan, but his speech in the aftermath of the Challenger disaster was one of the best I’ve ever heard. It struck the right tone in the aftermath of a national tragedy. More importantly, President Reagan provided the best response to any setback or defeat, “The future doesn’t belong to …
January 26, 2014
Fun a Day Reseda – Day 27: Do People Need Reasons?
Today, I added the following exchange in my manuscript (edited to remove spoilers): “I want to know why you keep messing with…me!” “Do I need a reason?” “Yes!” “Did the Nazis need a reason for what they did?” “They had reasons.” “No, they didn’t…” When I wrote about villains, I said, “We want to be …
January 25, 2014
Fun a Day Reseda – Day 26: Make This a Meme!
Doge is officially dead. There are too many cats. We don’t need to see Justin Bieber’s mug shot again. The Internet needs a new meme. May I present the Reseda Park Squirrel. I met this little guy when I went to Reseda last October. I had forgotten about the squirrels in the park and how …
January 24, 2014
Fun a Day Reseda – Day 25: Can the Past Be Saved?
The Mysterious Heart Maker of Reseda struck again. This time, it’s a plea to resurrect the Reseda Theater. I expressed my doubts about whether this theater should be reopened in its current form. I wrote, “The best thing that can be done with that theater is to tear it down and build something new. It’s …
